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In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny is joined by David Currie, Chairman of Proserv. David, a veteran of the energy sector with over 40 years of experience, shares his career journey—from attending 14 different schools as a Royal Navy child to spending 29 years at FMC and holding CEO roles at Aker and JDR before becoming Chairman of ProServ.

He discusses the biggest global change he has witnessed in the industry, highlighting the shift toward improved safety and talent development.

The conversation offers a frank assessment of the challenges currently facing the Aberdeen energy sector, arguing that uncertainty over future government policy, rather than current taxation, is driving good companies and the essential supply chain to move overseas. David stresses the need for political consensus and a 10-year stable "runway" for investment.

He also explores the current state of energy transition, expressing concern that the UK is "miles behind" in offshore wind infrastructure like the grid, which is leading companies to hand back field awards due to high connection costs.

Finally, David shares his leadership philosophy, which centers on the powerful results achieved when leaders trust and enable their teams to succeed, exemplified by the story of turning around a struggling French plant at FMC

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In this episode Kenny Dooley is joined by John Anderson of Exceed, a Kent Company, and we learn that even the best-laid career plans can go wonderfully off track. How do you go from a trainee drilling engineer, getting hands-on, roughneck-level experience in the challenging Southern North Sea, to suddenly realizing you’ve spent 15 years on the commercial side of the business? John shares the story of how his self-proclaimed six-month stint overseeing contracts turned into a decade and a half, and what it’s like to wake up one morning as an industry veteran.

John walks us through the high-stakes journey of Exceed—from its rebirth as a small team after a devastating downturn, to the strategic decision to join Kent. He details why finding the right cultural fit was non-negotiable during the managed sales process, and how Exceed’s status as a licensed UK well operator is now giving them a global footprint in new geographies like Namibia and West Africa. For a glimpse into the future, hear about their cutting-edge work in energy transition, where Exceed is helping to pioneer new API standards for hydrogen wells, even using NASA testing procedures to verify safety.

When he’s not navigating complex international deals, John finds unique ways to switch off. Hear about his beloved Banchory petting zoo, home to a variety of animals including pygmy goats and potbelly pigs, and his passion project as Vice Chairman of Banchory Community Football Club, where he’s working on securing funding for a vital Astroturf pitch for the community’s 480 players.

Don't be a sheep: pull up a chair, grab a pint, and join this warm, honest chat about building a legacy, embracing change, and the perks of seeing the world in the energy industry.

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In this episode Kenny Dooley is joined by Jason Brown of Elementz. Did you know the energy sector is currently suffering from "fatigue" over failed digital transformation and AI projects? Jason, the CEO of Elementz—an industrial software company focused on subsea inspection and integrated solutions—sits down to share how he helped flip that narrative. Hear the story of a mechanical engineer who started his career running the line at IBM before launching Elementz, which achieved an incredible £2 million in revenue in its first year by simply focusing on doing one thing really well for customers.

Jason shares the secret behind Elementz's rapid success, explaining how their configurable, end-to-end framework for asset integrity resonated deeply with operators across the globe, from Canada to Australia. But the real deep dive here is on industry collaboration. Jason details the "Compass" model: a unique approach involving seven major operators working together to "compound" data and accelerate the adoption of AI. He breaks down how they are moving past costly pilot failures by protecting intellectual property within a trusted research environment and ensuring their technology actually solves core business problems.

Beyond the tech, Jason doesn't hold back on his candid concerns over current UK energy policy, describing the trajectory as leading toward a "cliff edge" and worrying about losing skilled people to other global basins. From de-stressing with 80s indie rock and abstract art to the essential career advice he’d give a 20-year-old engineer (hint: it involves seeing the world), this conversation covers the personal journey just as much as the professional challenge. Pull up a chair and pour yourself a drink—this is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of the blue digital ecosystem