Ellen Paasche Birkeland

Exploration Leader | Independent E&P Advisor

EXPLORATION · STRATEGY · LEADERSHIP

Creating long-term value by combining technical insight, commercial judgement, strategic thinking and collaborative leadership.

26: YEARS E&P
10: COMPANIES
7: COUNTRIES

BASED IN SANDNES / STAVANGER · NORWAY

AT A GLANCE

Experience shaped by exploration. Defined by value creation.

01
26 years in E&P
02
Technical, project management and leadership roles
03
Portfolio strategy and business development
04
Commercial discoveries
05
Trusted advisor to executive teams and boards

EXPERTISE

What I bring.

I believe the best results come from focusing effort where it matters, combining technical insight with commercial judgement, and aligning people behind a clear direction. That mindset shapes how I lead, collaborate and create value.

Technical Excellence

Applying strong geoscience expertise to identify, evaluate and efficiently mature exploration opportunities, providing a robust technical foundation for confident decision-making.

Strategic Perspective

Integrating technical and commercial insight to strengthen portfolios, guide business development and align exploration with business strategy, enabling sound, well-informed investment decisions.

Collaborative Leadership

Bringing technical, commercial and executive teams together, creating alignment around complex decisions through open, constructive dialogue and mutual respect.

Team Development

Building positive, high-performing teams where trust, openness and shared ownership enable people to contribute, share knowledge, challenge assumptions, develop and deliver results together.

Experience

A career spanning international majors, independent E&P companies and PE-backed start-ups.

A selection of key roles. Full career history available upon request.

Current

Birkelin Invest
2026 — present
Supporting E&P companies with technical evaluations, exploration strategy, business development, portfolio evaluations and executive decision-making.
- Current assignment
  Aker BP
  2026 — present
  Identifying and progressing exploration opportunities from initial concept to drilling decision.

Sval Energi / DNO Norge
2024 — 2026
Led New Ventures and Norwegian Sea exploration, integrating exploration strategy, licensing, portfolio management, technical assurance, people leadership and executive decision support.
Wellesley Petroleum
2017 — 2024
Led New Ventures activities, including licensing rounds, technical business development and technical assurance, shaping the company’s portfolio and enabling executive decision-making.
Spike Exploration / Point Resources
2012 — 2017
Played a key role in building the company's exploration portfolio through licensing rounds, prospect maturation and portfolio transactions.
Faroe Petroleum
2011 — 2012
Delivered regional exploration and successful licence awards across the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Revus Energy / Wintershall
2007 — 2011
Led exploration renewal studies and licence activities, supporting future investment decisions.
BP
2001 — 2007
Built international exploration experience across multiple countries and petroleum provinces, spanning frontier basin evaluation, prospect generation and successful drilling.

LOOKING AHEAD

Insight beyond the subsurface.

After more than 26 years in the E&P industry, my focus has expanded from technical evaluation to portfolio strategy, leadership, business development and executive-level advisory. Today, I combine technical insight, commercial judgement and a decisive, collaborative approach to help organisations navigate complex decisions.

Alongside independent advisory work, I am open to leadership, strategic advisory and board roles where broad industry experience, sound judgement and the ability to build alignment can create lasting value.

To continue developing as a leader and future board member, I recently completed Offshore Norge's Female Future leadership programme, together with formal board competence training at BI Norwegian Business School.

Contact

Let’s talk.

Whether you are seeking support with technical exploration, portfolio strategy or business development, or are looking for an experienced advisor, leader or board member, I would welcome a conversation.

Please get in touch to discuss your needs or to request my full CV.

ellen.birkeland@birkelin.no

Phone

+47 905 42 733

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