Rien Herber (1954) holds the position of professor in GeoEnergy at the Energy and Sustainability Research Institute ofthe University of Groningen. After graduating as a geophysicistin Utrecht University in 1979 he started his career in Shell inthe research lab in Rijswijk. Following assignments in Brunei,Thailand and the Netherlands he moved northward to Norwayas exploration manager for Norske Shell, during which periodthe deep water Atlantic Margin was opened. In 1998 he movedback to NAM (Assen) as exploration manager. Still based in Assen, he was appointed in 2003 as VicePresident Exploration for Shell in Europe. In this capacity hewas responsible for the Shell operated exploration activities inthe UK, the Netherlands, Norway, Ukraine, Sweden andIreland, non-operated Shell interests in Germany, Denmarkand Italy as well as new exploration opportunities outside thesecountries. In addition to these responsibilities he has been DeputyGeneral Manager of NAM since 2004 until mid-2009 when he left Shellto take up the professorship in Groningen. Rien Herber is a member of the Dutch Mining Council since 2010.