At Frontier, our mission has always been clear: to bring people together in ways that unlock opportunity, build relationships, and shape the future of the upstream sector. Since founding Frontier in 2011, I have had the privilege of watching our community grow - connecting governments, industry leaders, and investors across continents and across the value chain. Our work has always centred on collaboration, partnership, and the belief that progress happens when the right people are in the same room.

The Africa Strategy Briefing embodies that spirit. This exclusive, pre-Summit gathering offers a rare moment for senior leaders to connect ahead of the Africa Energies Summit - away from the pace of the main event and in a setting designed for genuine, high-level engagement. It is an opportunity to meet early, exchange perspectives, and set the tone for what we hope will be a productive and energising week for all.

This year’s Strategy Briefing holds a particular meaning for me. My uncle and mentor, Dr. Duncan Clarke, delivered the industry’s most legendary Strategy Briefings for decades -intimate forums that shaped thinking, challenged assumptions, and brought leaders together in powerful ways. In many respects, today’s gathering feels like a continuation of that heritage, carried forward with some modern twists to meet the needs of today’s upstream landscape.

Unlike traditional sessions or presentations, the Strategy Briefing is about people first: creating space for meaningful conversations, early introductions, and the strengthening of relationships that are vital to Africa’s upstream future.

Whether you represent a government, an IOC, an independent, an investor, or one of the many organisations contributing to the continent’s upstream journey, your presence here matters. These early discussions often spark the alliances, ideas, and momentum that carry through the Summit and beyond.

Our Global Summits—whether here in Africa or on the world stage - have earned their reputation because of participants like you. The calibre of leaders who join us, the openness of discussions, and the willingness to collaborate across borders and business models form the foundation of everything we do. The Strategy Briefing is an extension of that ethos: a focused, invitation-only environment where meaningful engagement comes before microphones, stages, and schedules.