Before Namibia's oil boom, Katti was knocking on doors

In 2004, Knowledge Katti drove his Saab from Namibia to South Africa to attend industry conferences. The car broke down along the way, but a passing truck driver came to his rescue, picking up both Katti and his vehicle.

Once in South Africa, Katti stayed with a friend and began networking in hotel lobbies, hoping to meet people in the oil and gas industry.

“When I started, you wouldn't see a single other Namibian in the room,” he recalled in a LinkedIn post this week.

Sometimes, he managed to secure a conference pass, allowing him to walk the exhibition floor and attend sessions. His introduction was simple: “I'm from Namibia.”

Now chairman and chief executive of Custos Energy and a director of Sintana Energy, Katti has urged young Namibians to attend industry conferences and seek opportunities to learn and make connections.

He said the situation had changed since his early days, with industry associations, public institutions and service companies offering potential entry points for young people.

Katti encouraged them to approach the Namibia Petroleum Operators Association, NAMCOR, the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, and companies that have secured contracts in the sector for support.

He also highlighted Africa Energy Week as an opportunity to learn about the industry, meet potential contacts and understand where it is heading.

Katti's career in oil and gas predates Namibia's recent offshore discoveries. He previously founded Kunene Energy, was a founding shareholder and director of UNX Energy, and worked as business development manager for HRT in Namibia.

His message to aspiring professionals is straightforward: attending conferences is worthwhile, but making the effort to meet people and learn from them matters just as much.

“Go. Show up. Be present, Network,” he wrote.