DIInternational

Our Experts

Nick Robinson, CEO

Based in the UK, Nick has been managing information and data provision services to the E&P business for the past 25 years, gaining a unique insight into the needs of the business in all corners of the world and building high performance teams to fulfil those needs.
Prior to his present position as CEO of DII, Nick was a founder member and Director of IEDS in 1987, until acquisition by IHS in 1998, where he was appointed head of International operations.
Nick holds a B.Sc. in Geology from Hull University and in 1984 was awarded his Ph.D. in Stratigraphy and Sedimentology from Kingston Polytechnic and has various technical publications to his name.

Malcolm Steel, Senior Vice President, Global Data

Based in the UK, Malcolm has over 14 Years experience with International E&P content database integration, backed up by 3 years experience with the cartographic unit of the British Government.
His global expertise in E&P information, specializing in global geodetic information was previously employed managing the global data for an international data company
Malcolm gained his B.sc. in surveying for resource development from Glamorgan University and a Graduate Diploma in Mineral Surveying and Engineering from Wales Polytechnic.

Alvaro Rios, Director Latin America

Alvaro Rios is a former Executive Secretary of La Organización Latinoamericana de Energía (OLADE), and former Minister of Hydrocarbons in Bolivia. Presently he is Latin America Director for DIInternational and Partner Director for Gas Energy Latin America. He is frequently invited to speak in energy conferences in Latin America, USA and Canada. Alvaro contributes numerous energy articles to specialized energy magazines around Latin America. He holds a B.Sc. from Texas A&M University and postgraduate qualifications in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston. Alvaro is also currently involved in capacity building for the energy sector in Bolivia.

Francisco Bello, Director Latin America

Francisco Bello joins DI International as Director for Latin America. Bello began his career in 1981 as a project geologist with Lagoven (then a subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA),) in Maracaibo, Venezuela and worked his way up through the ranks to Exploration Manager for the company’s Western Exploration Unit. When Lagoven was merged with PDVSA Bello was promoted to PDVSA Re-Exploration Team Leader and later held the positions of Exploration Intelligence Manager as well as Unitization Manager for the state oil entity. He relocated to Houston in 2003 and joined IHS Energy, utilizing his extensive knowledge of Latin American exploration and production as Director of Regional Teams, Americas, leading a staff of editors, analysts and researchers to produce in-depth reports on activities throughout the region.

Bello holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from George Washington University. He is fluent in English, Spanish and French, and is a frequent author and speaker.

Michael Dyer, Vice President, Latin America

Michael spent the last 12 years in various positions at an international data company with a focus on all countries in Latin America. Prior to this, Michael worked in various oil industry positions for 19 years, both domestic and international, which included practical experience with geology and geophysics.
This gives Michael a unique, multidisciplinary approach to analysis of the Latin American upstream industry which he has demonstrated over the last 12 years through various published articles and presentations at industry events such as NAPE, AAPG, and Rio Oil & Gas.
A dual citizen of the U.S. and Brazil, Michael is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Houston Geological Society, and received his B.A. in Geology with a Portuguese minor from the University of Texas at Austin.

Scott Thornton, Manager, West Africa

Scott is based in Houston, and has worked 28 years as a geoscientist in oil and gas exploration with over 10 years of working on and in West Africa and Latin America for Shell, Unocal, Devon, Kerr McGee and others. Starting at Shell, Scott has worked most of his career for Unocal and Shell, with 23 years international experience.
Scott has a B.A. in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, an M.Sc. in Geology from Duke University and a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Southern California. He has published a number of articles on turbidites, deep water sedimentary processes, deep water fold belts, lacustrine source rocks and carbonates. Scott has also taught industry short courses in Australia for the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia on petroleum systems analysis.

Mark Harris, Vice President, Asia Pacific

Based in Singapore for the last 13 years, Mark previously managed the South East Asia regional operation for an international data company for 10 years. Mark founded Geosolutions Asia in 2006 and in 2008 joined forces with DII. Mark is a petroleum geologist with more than 25 years experience in the O&G industry and holds a B.Sc. in Geology and an M.Sc. in Petroleum Geology from Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London. Mark is very active in the industry in South East Asia and is currently secretary of SEAPEX, editor of the SEAPEX Press and a member of the AAPG, PESGB, PESA and IPA

Ian Blakeley, Vice President, Asia

Based in the UK, Ian was previously managing and directing efforts concerning the South Asia region for 12 years for an international data company. With more than 20 years experience in the O&G industry, Ian was formerly employed by EXLOG (now Baker Hughes INTEQ) as a Data Engineer and Wellsite Geologist and graduated from the University of Keele in the UK with a B.Sc. Joint Honours Degree in Geology / Geography.
Ian is a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain (PESGB) and the South East Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX).

John Balch, Vice President, Africa

For the last 12 years, John has been involved in managing affairs for an international data company, focussing on the NW Europe, Middle East, Indian Sub-Continent and Australasia regions. Following a period in Singapore managing their South East Asia operation, John is now based in the UK. With more than 20 years experience in the O&G industry, John was formerly employed by EXLOG (now Baker Hughes INTEQ) as a Well site Geologist and as an Operations Geologist. John holds a B.Sc. in Geology and an M.Sc. in Applied Sedimentology from the University of Reading, and has recently published articles in the SEAPEX Press, PESGB Newsletter and PTIT, and delivered keynote addresses at two South East Asia conferences in 2008.

Serban Veliciu, Vice President, East Europe

Serban Veliciu holds a Ph.D. in Geophysics from the University of Bucharest, with over 40 years experience in the field of hydrocarbon exploration. He was formerly head of the Institute of Geology of Romania (i.e.Geological Survey of Romania). He has held other positions within the Institute such as Senior Scientific Researcher carrying out activities under various exploration or development projects with Petrom SA, AMOCO, Enterprise Oil, Romgaz SA, etc. He was involved in international projects of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics and the European Union Commission. He is also currently an associate professor at the University of Bucharest's Faculty of Geology & Geophysics. In addition, he has co-authored five books and published some 28 articles in major international geological and geophysical journals.