By Ash Patel – CDMP – Certified Copywriter (CMP) – CDMA, Marketing Specialist, The Open Group
Recently we reached out to Pierrick Gaudin from TotalEnergies, to discuss his role as the New Chair of the PMC for The Open Group OSDU® Forum.
Please tell us about your occupation and what made you get into your line of work?
I have an academic background in “Digital Geosciences,” which has shaped my entire career at the intersection of geosciences and IT—let’s say “Digital” before it became a buzzword. I started at CGG as a Processing Geophysicist, then moved into IT Support and Software Architecture between 2006 and 2014. I joined Total in 2014, bringing this dual skillset to contribute to—and later lead—the Subsurface Enterprise Data Model initiative. Over time, this expanded from Subsurface to the entire Exploration & Production domain. That’s when I encountered significant gaps in Data Governance across domains (does that sound familiar to anyone?). Today, my formal title is “Data Architect,” but I’m primarily dedicated to activities for the OSDU Forum—thanks to my colleagues who handle the internal tasks I should be doing but can’t!
When did your journey with The Open Group OSDU Forum start and what has it been like so far?
I joined The Open Group OSDU Forum on day one—October 2018 at Shell’s Woodcreek—when we were just about 30 people from ten founding operators, squeezed into two small meeting rooms. Can you believe it?
Imagine a small group of competitors sitting together, united by the idea of building a complete subsurface data universe. So, what’s it been like? A few challenges, of course (no pain, no gain, right?), but also dreams coming true, a lot of joy, and—most importantly—many great people met and deep friendships formed.
Please tell us about what you hope to achieve in your role as the New Chair of the PMC for the OSDU Forum and a little background into it?
First of all, let me be clear: Chad did a fantastic job, and I truly respect his work—my hopes are not about “doing better.”
Compared to Chad, I’m not a developer—I’m quite a novice when it comes to software and product development. But rather than seeing that as a weakness, I’ll treat it as an opportunity.
Drawing from my Data Definition experience and relationships with various capability teams, my main goal is to focus more on the “foundations”—like refreshing the guidelines and principles initiated years ago (in collaboration with the EA, CP, and Certification working groups), and getting them finalized and endorsed as requirements for being “OSDU Release Compliant.”
And since what really matters to me is the “people” side of things, I’ll also be committed to sustaining and enriching the community mindset.
Can you describe when you first heard about the OSDU Forum and what you would say to those who are looking to get involved in it?
I first heard about the OSDU Forum exactly 10 days before the October 2018 kick off. At the time, I was coordinating the Enterprise Data Model Initiative for Total E&P and trying to align a cross-domain team on internal Data Governance.
That Friday, 10 days before the kick off, my boss called and said, “I have a ‘bad move’ for you” (he was joking, of course), and added, “Are you available next week to join me in Houston? Your knowledge of our Data Model and Governance—and your willingness to share—are exactly what I need. If you’re in, book your flights. I’ll fill you in after the weekend.” (Reaching Woodcreek that time was a wild ride —but that’s another story!)
What advice would I give to someone looking to join? First, I’d point them to the Personas One Pager that Jenni and Scott created—it’s a perfect starting point to find your place, no matter your level of commitment. It’s also a great way to self-assess how much you want to get involved.
Then—of course—“meet the people.” The Forum and platform might seem complex at first, but they’re not really. The best way to get started is to dive in and connect with members who can act as mentors.
What is a business philosophy or principle that you follow?
First, People, then people, and finally people!
I truly believe the Forum brings together the best mix of talented individuals who are eager to share and build the best solutions for everyone. As long as we keep them engaged, having fun, and listening to one another, I’m confident we’ll build the solutions we need.
What advice would you give to someone who’s looking to work in your field?
The real question is: “What is my field?” (Geosciences? Data? Community Management?)
Jokes aside, I’d say: be open-minded and listen. I was going to say “don’t be shy,” but that’s not quite right (I’m terribly shy – yes I am). Instead, be yourself and don’t underestimate your skills. We all have a lot to contribute, and what we see as our “limits” are really just opportunities to learn from others.
Finally, what are you most looking forward to for the year ahead?
First and foremost, I hope we can navigate the challenges our companies are facing with minimal loss of valuable people—ideally keeping everyone on board, happy, and balanced in their lives.
More selfishly, I’m looking forward to being effective in my new role and finding “my way” in – and making progress (achieving) my first objectives as PMC Chair.
Ash Patel – CDMP- Certified Copywriter (CMP) – CDMA, Marketing Specialist, joined The Open Group in 2020, initially working in the Certification Team as a Certification Services Agent, before moving into the Marketing Team where he now works on marketing collateral, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and produces/ hosts The Open Group Open Comments Podcast. Ash holds a First-Class Bachelor’s Degree in Media Production (BA hons) from Coventry University. He is based in the UK.
