Felipe Bayón Keynote Speaker

Former CEO at Ecopetrol (2017 – 2023)
CEO and Board member, GeoPark (present)
Global expert in energy transition, sustainability, and technology

Felipe Bayón's Biography

Felipe Bayon is a leading energy industry expert with deep expertise in oil and gas. As a leader who guided Colombia’s largest company through times of uncertainty and crisis, he motivates organizations to embrace change and shares first-hand lessons on how to cultivate innovation and exercise leadership in achieving major goals.

Bayon is a seasoned C-suite executive with more than 30 years of experience in the global energy industry. From September 2017 until March 2023, he served as CEO of Ecopetrol, the leading diversified energy group in Colombia and one of the largest and most influential energy companies in Latin America. During his tenure at Ecopetrol, first as COO and later as CEO, he led the Group’s transformation from an integrated oil and gas company into a diversified energy group, positioning Ecopetrol as a leader in the energy transition.

Prior to joining Ecopetrol, he held several senior positions at BP, including Head of Exploration and Production, Regional President Southern Cone (responsible for all BP Upstream operations in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Uruguay), and Senior Vice President BP America and Head of Global Deepwater Response.

Bayon is a leading voice in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the energy sector through several award-winning initiatives and projects recognized by organizations at both local and international levels.

He has served on several boards, including the World Economic Forum Oil and Gas Governors community, and has been invited as a keynote speaker at the most renowned global energy conferences including CERAWeek®, the Reuters Global Energy Transition conference in the US, APPEC in Singapore, and ADIPEC in the United Arab Emirates.

Making the Impossible, Possible: How to Challenge Ourselves to Become Better Leaders

In this keynote, Felipe Bayon shares his insights on how to advance in the search for what motivates us, brings us closer to our life purpose, and enhances our resilience—ultimately making us better leaders. His experience has led him to believe that we all have the potential to lead, and that leadership has nothing to do with positions or job titles.

For Bayon, effective leadership begins with defining one’s own leadership style, embracing a calling for service, understanding that ego is not a good advisor, and recognizing that no one is infallible—we all make mistakes. In today’s increasingly fast-paced world, marked by rapid change and uncertainty, leaders are constantly faced with unforeseen challenges and crises. These moments, he argues, are opportunities to build resilience. When things get difficult, the solutions begin with ourselves—and that’s how the impossible becomes possible.

Based on his experience, Bayon shares four pillars for professional and personal growth:

Look into the mirror: Observe yourself before judging others, and identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Take control: Empower yourself with self-determination to develop your own tools and capabilities.
Build your networks: Invest in real, human relationships.
Learn to give back: Embrace the importance of serving your community and contributing beyond yourself.

Energy Transition: Challenges and Opportunities

Felipe Bayon, a renowned global energy expert and former CEO of Ecopetrol, shares an in-depth and practical perspective on the challenges and opportunities shaping the global energy transition. In this keynote, Bayon explores the complex dynamics of energy sovereignty and decarbonization, offering critical insights, lessons learned, and best practices to help organizations and governments drive a successful and sustainable transition.

His approach emphasizes the importance of achieving a cleaner, safer, and more prosperous future—one that balances environmental responsibility with economic growth and social progress.

Key Topics:

Balancing energy sovereignty with decarbonization: Strategies to maintain control over national energy resources while advancing toward a low-carbon future.
The role of technology: How innovation acts as a catalyst for accelerating the energy transition.
Energy efficiency and emissions reduction: Strategic approaches to optimize efficiency while lowering environmental impact.
Strategic investment: The global implications of targeted investments in emissions reduction.
Social impact of energy access: Understanding how affordable, reliable energy plays a critical role in reducing societal gaps.