Honorary - Ray Riddoch, Doctor of Technology

Ray is the UK Managing Director and Senior Vice-President (Europe and Africa) at CNOOC International, and an alumnus of Robert Gordon Institute of Technology (RGIT) and RGU.

He has more than 35 years’ of experience in the oil and gas industry and this was recognised in 2018 when he was awarded an OBE for his services to the sector and appointed a Burgess of the Guild of the City and Royal Burgh of Aberdeen.

He is currently co-chairman of trade body Oil and Gas UK, a director of the Oil and Gas Technology Centre as well as the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, while being a member of the Maximising Economic Recovery steering committee at the Oil and Gas Authority. He is also a past director of the Scottish Chamber of Commerce, and a past member of the Scottish Government’s Energy Taskforce. Additionally, in 2017 he was appointed as a Fellow of the Energy Institute and the HRH Prince of Wales’ Ambassador in Scotland for business in the community.

RGU Principal, Professor John Harper commented: “Ray’s contribution to the UK’s oil and gas sector is significant. For over three decades, he has supported the growth of this key industry, overseeing the development of major oil and gas fields that have had a substantially positive impact on the UK’s economy.

“Ray’s links with RGU are strong – he is a double alumnus of the university, and a valuable member of many of the industry organisations that we work with – so we are extremely proud to honour him in this way.”