WPC Energy announced June 30 that Vicki Hollub, President and CEO of Occidental (since 2016), has been selected as the recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honor bestowed by WPC Energy, in recognition of Hollub’s leadership and contributions to the energy industry. The award will be formally presented during the 25th WPC Energy Congress, to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 26-30, 2026. The Dewhurst Award recognizes exceptional individuals whose leadership and contributions have had a lasting impact on the global energy industry. Named after Thomas Dewhurst, the founder and first Chair of WPC Energy, the award symbolizes visionary excellence and commitment to progress in energy.
Hollub is the 13th awardee and the first woman to receive the Dewhurst Award in the 92-year history of WPC Energy. The most recent winner was Amin H. Nasser (Saudi Arabia, 2023). In 1933, Thomas Dewhurst (1881-1973), then President of the Institute of Petroleum in the United Kingdom, organized WPC’s first Congress, which now over 90 years later is in its 25th iteration, and the Dewhurst Award is a tribute to Dewhurst and to its recipient, who will also present the Dewhurst Lecture.
Hollub becomes the latest in a distinguished line of industry leaders to receive this honor. As the first woman to head a major American oil and gas company, Hollub has led Occidental (Oxy) over a trajectory marked by strategic innovation, a strong commitment to sustainability, and a forward-thinking approach to the energy transition. Her influence has helped shape global discourse on energy responsibility and long-term resilience.
During her more than 40-year career with Oxy, Hollub has held a variety of management and technical positions. Under her leadership, Oxy has made significant strides in carbon management, including the development of direct air capture technology and the establishment of the world’s first commercial-scale direct air capture facility. Additionally, her strategic acquisitions of Anadarko Petroleum in 2019 and CrownRock in 2024 significantly enhanced Oxy’s premier portfolio in the Permian Basin.
Hollub also serves on the boards of Lockheed Martin and the American Petroleum Institute. She is a member of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative and past chair of the World Economic Forum’s Oil and Gas Community.
Pedro Miras, WPC Energy President, said, “On behalf of our board and members, I am delighted to congratulate her on this recognition. Vicki Hollub’s visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to innovation and sustainability have set a benchmark for excellence in our industry. She embodies the spirit of the Dewhurst Award—forward-looking, courageous, and deeply committed to advancing the global energy dialogue. Her contributions continue to inspire the next generation of energy leaders.”
In recognition of her achievements, Hollub was also named Energy Executive of the Year 2023 by Energy Intelligence, becoming the first woman to receive this honor. She was elected to the National Academy of Engineering Class of 2024 and received the United States Energy Association’s U.S. Energy Award in 2025 for her leadership and contributions to the national and global understanding of energy issues.
“I am honored to be selected for the Dewhurst Award and appreciate WPC Energy recognizing our company’s achievements,” said Vicki Hollub. “The Dewhurst Award reflects the collective efforts of the talented and dedicated team at Oxy, whose commitment to innovation, operational and technical excellence, and sustainability drives our success.”
The announcement of this milestone comes ahead of what promises to be a historic Congress in Riyadh, where industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators will gather to shape the future of energy.
WPC Energy President Pedro Miras, (left) and WPC Energy Senior Vice President Dr Pinar Oya Yilmaz (right) met with Oxy’s Vicki Hollub in early June in Houston, where they formally announced to her that she is their award recipient for 2026.
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