This year the theme is, “Growing Alaska Through Responsible Resource Development,” and features the following presentations on Wednesday:

* Alaska Resource Policy & Ballot Initiatives: Alaska Lt. Governor Sean Parnell;

* Cook Inlet: 2008 & Beyond: Mitch Little, Alaska asset team leader, Marathon Oil;

* North Slope Exploration & Development Projects, A Look Ahead: Doug Suttles, president, BP (Exploration) Alaska, Inc.; Jim Bowles, president, ConocoPhillips Alaska; Doug Wilson, Alaska exploration manager, Anadarko Petroleum; Ken Sheffield, president, Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska; Rick Fox, Alaska assets manager, Shell E&P; and John Zager, manager, Alaska assets, Chevron;

* The Current News From Washington On Alaska Gas: Drue Pearce, federal coordinator, Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects;

* Keynote Luncheon-1977-2007, How Oil Has Transformed Alaska's Economy: Scott Goldsmith, economist, Institute for Social & Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage; Neal Fried, economist, State of Alaska Department of Labor; Mike Burns, executive director, Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.;

* The Threat To Our Prosperity, Alaska’s Looming Energy Crisis: Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich;

* The Arctic Initiative: Lars M. Hvalbye, senior advisor, technology, StatoilHydro; and

* Industry-Community Partnerships, Challenges & The Path Forward: North Slope Borough Mayor Edward Itta; Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor John Williams.

The conference opens at 7 a.m. on both days, with an eye-opener breakfast, and ends with a VIP Reception at Josephine’s that starts at 4:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the Government of Canada. Both are open to all conference registrants.

There is also a 9:30 a.m. gourmet networking break, sponsored by ConocoPhillips, and a 3:00 p.m. gourmet networking break sponsored by CH2M HILL.

Thursday’s schedule is just as interesting. For Thursday’s agenda and registration information go to http://www.akrdc.org/membership/events/conference/2007/index.html