Advisory Board

The Advisory Board provides strategy formulation, guidance and decision-making support to assist Universal Energy's executive management and Board of Directors in growing the business.

Derek J. Gillespie has over 30 years experience in oil and gas exploration and development. After obtaining a degree in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto, his career has included assignments in Canada and internationally with Amoco (now BP) and Hunt Oil Company of Dallas, Texas. Mr. Gillespie is currently an independent consultant specializing in the acquisition and interpretation of geophysical data used in the search for commercial accumulations of hydrocarbons. His consulting practice has provided advice to clients in Canada and the United States, Southeast Asia and Africa. Mr. Gillespie is a registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Alberta, Canada and makes his home in Calgary.

Peter Forrest, P. Eng. has over 40 years in the resource business. During the past five years Mr. Forrest has focused on the oil and gas wire line services. Mr. Forrest provides project management skills to prospect evaluations, corporate matters, lease acquisitions, lease presentations, negotiations, contracting specialists and other related matters. During his career, Mr. Forrest has been involved in the field supervision of large open pit mining operations, project engineering and management roles both internationally and in Canada. He has worked for the Alberta Energy Utilities Board, metal mines, oil sand operations and coalmine operations engineering. Throughout his career, Mr. Forrest has had a keen interest in operational research projects, field-testing products and resolving problems using innovative ideas and products by recognizing applications across various industries. Mr. Forrest and his wife Joanna live in Calgary.

Zen Buss, a University of Tulsa graduate of Petroleum Engineering is also a Professional Engineer in the Province of Alberta. He is a “proven prospect generator” of Conventional oil and gas plays and has also identified heavy oil opportunities. Alberta has always been his main focus of his interest. Zen has provided several significant “company making” ideas/opportunities that were developed by companies while doing his job for non-operating organizations, Indian Oil and Gas Canada, the EUB. His experience with several public and private oil and gas companies has added to his diverse experience in the oil and gas business. Zen’s knowledge of Geology has been learned over the years and has been of considerable help in identifying oil and gas potential. Zen along with his wife Christene and children Kyle and Kassandra live in Calgary.