GlobalData researchers have found the top influencers in the oil and gas exploration sector, based on their performance and engagement online in the past 90 days.

1. Samir Madani

Madani is an entrepreneur, who worked in the technology industry for 20 years before leaving to monitor the oil and gas industry. In 2016, he co-founded daily oil volume and price tracker website Tanker Trackers and the Organization of Oil-Trading Tweeters, which provides the industry real-time news and statistics on global oil markets.

    • Twitter followers: 26.8K
    • GlobalData influencer score: 100

2. Anas Alhajji

Having held positions such as Managing Partner at Energy Outlook Advisors, and Chief Economist at NGP Energy Capital Management, Alhajji is a respected energy economist, writer, researcher and speaker. He focuses on topics such as the oil and gas market outlook, energy security and geopolitics and digital disruption in supply and demand.

    • Twitter followers: 31K
    • GlobalData influencer score: 97

3. Steve Everley

Everley is a managing director for FTI Consulting, working in the energy and natural resources sector. He serves as a spokesman for North Texans for Natural Gas, and is a senior advisor for research programme Energy In Depth. In May 2011, Steve served as an energy policy advisor to Newt Gingrich at the American Enterprise Institute and American Solutions, focusing primarily on oil and gas regulation.

    • Twitter followers: 9,870
    • GlobalData influencer score: 90

4. Francisco Monaldi

Monaldi is an energy researcher involved in a number of academic institutions including Texas’ Rice University, Columbia University and Mexico’s Tecnológico de Monterrey. He is also the founding director and professor at the Center for Energy and the Environment in Venezuela’s Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración (IESA). He is a leading scholar on the economics and politics of the oil industry, as well as oil wealth management in Latin America and developing countries.

    • Twitter followers: 26.2K
    • GlobalData influencer score: 84

5. Ed Crooks

Crooks has been with the Financial Times since 1999, previously serving as energy editor, UK news editor and economics editor in London before becoming the US industry and energy editor in New York. Ed has also worked as an economics correspondent for the BBC, a reporter and editor for Investors Chronicle and an economic analyst at the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

    • Twitter followers: 37.7K
    • GlobalData influencer score: 73

6. David Sheppard

Sheppard manages the Financial Times’ energy and environmental coverage, reporting on companies as they navigate energy transition as well as changes in oil and gas markets. Previously he was energy markets editor at the Financial Times in London and a senior reporter at Reuters.

    • Twitter followers: 17.4K
    • GlobalData influencer score: 72

7. Ruth Hayhurst

Hayhurst is an independent journalist specialising in energy, environmental and local government issues. She runs the news website DrillOrDrop.com, which focuses on onshore oil and gas as well as fracking. Ruth also has 30 years of experience of writing for a number of UK media outlets, including BBC radio and television news.

    • Twitter followers: 5,404
    • GlobalData influencer score: 66

8. Christopher Johnson

Johnson is the energy editor for Reuters, having served in that role from 1990. He focuses on the constantly-changing oil market, reporting on how global powers such as the US and OPEC interact with each other and inform oil prices.

    • Twitter followers: 18.2K
    • GlobalData influencer score: 63

9. Tom Quinn

Quinn is the specialist content director for Gastech, an exhibition and conference for the global gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and energy industries. He has nearly two decades of experience in producing content for the energy sector, and building knowledge-exchange platforms within the industry.

    • Twitter followers: 1,852
    • GlobalData influencer score: 58

10. Russel Norman

Norman is the Executive Director of Greenpeace New Zealand and a former co-leader of New Zealand’s Green Party. As a member of Greenpeace, Norman focuses on renewable energy, climate change and the ways in which the oil and gas industry impacts the environment.

  • Twitter followers: 24.4K
  • GlobalData influencer score: 57