About Us


Background


The Texas Energy Forum is a undergraduate student organization that was started in the fall of 2009 with a purpose of providing insight and exposure to students interested in the energy industry. 
  • Energy companies are among the highest donors and recruiters at McCombs. Texas’s history has long been intertwined with the energy industry, and UT is also a leading research university in business, engineering, and geology
  • But it’s not all about oil. Austin is a center of cleantech innovation and sustainability, serving as an incubator for new venture capital projects and partnerships in renewable and alternative energy projects. Austin is also home to the Pecan Street Project, a flagship smart-grid organization that’s spurring research in advanced energy management systems.
  • Our mission is to connect students, businesses, and academics in the energy field through company presentations, networking events, faculty research presentations,  student discussion panels, and more.
Organization


The Texas Energy Forum is made of 4 committees that work independently and cohesively to separate work and to allow students to pursue specific interests. With new officers elected each spring, the structure is as follows:

Coordinating Committee – Comprised of a president, vice president and treasurer, the coordinating committee’s purpose is to oversee the general administrative duties of the organization. As the committee that oversees the general leadership of the group, the coordinating committee is responsible for central functions so that the specific divisions can focus on responsibilities specific to their areas.


Oil & Gas Industry Division – Comprised of a head director and committee members within the division, the responsibilities of this division are to plan Texas Energy Forum events and to promote news and information with businesses and professionals from the oil and gas industry. This group focuses on topics and news relating to the upstream, midstream and downstream industries, and covers everything from exploration & production to oilfield services and refining & marketing.


Financial Services & Banking Division – Comprised of a head director and committee members within the division, the responsibilities of this division are to plan Texas Energy Forum events and to promote news and information with businesses and professionals from the energy finance sector. This group focuses on topics and news relating to energy investment banking, private equity, energy trading, and energy financial services.


Alternatives & Power Division – Comprised of a head director and committee members within the division, the responsibilities of this division are to plan Texas Energy Forum events and to promote news and information with businesses and professionals working in the alternative energy and power/utility industries. This group has a wide range of topics and news to focus on, with everything from renewable energy sources to electricity generation and smart-grid technologies.


Committee Members will work together within their own Division on their own time, with an expected workload of about 12 hours a semester. As a working member, you'll always be aware of all energy-related events on campus, you'll have the opportunity to work directly with recruiters in your field of interest, and you'll have the chance to learn something valuable from the events you've planned, as well as from the other members of our organization. 


Meetings and Events
  • The Texas Energy Forum hosts meetings that are open and free to all students at UT.
  • We also partner with other student organizations to cohost and promote other energy-related events going on around campus.
  • Beyond hosting events, TEF’s overarching goal is to help students gain exposure to the energy industry, and our purpose is to serve as a central hub for all energy-related news, research and events at UT.