PROFILES OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS
Mr Tom Samuel
Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Tom Samuel is an Oil & Gas leader with three decades of industry excellence and a sporting heritage
Professional Profile
With over 30 years of distinguished experience in the oil and gas sector, Mr. Samuel has established a reputation for operational excellence, strategic vision, and a results-driven leadership style. Throughout His career, he has held numerous senior positions with Leader Energy Services, Rigless Rentals, Mountain Coil Tubing, Orbis Energy Services.
Instrumental in leading the industry to conform with ESG Electric Fracturing equipment. Leading multinational teams and overseeing complex projects across Canada and internationally. Areas of expertise spans Completions, Manufacturing and corporate stewardship, making Mr. Samuel a respected figure within the energy industry.
Sporting Background
Complementing his executive career, Mr. Samuel brings a rich background in sports. Playing competitive hockey early in his career followed by competitive bobsleigh later. Mr. Samuel competed as a driver for the Canadian National Bobsleigh team and coached in 3 Winter Olympic Games. This has shaped his approach to leadership and teamwork. As a former athlete and coach, he understands the value of teamwork, discipline, perseverance for collaborative success. Mr. Samuel sporting achievements have instilled a competitive edge and a commitment to fair play, qualities that have translated seamlessly into their professional life. Mr. Samuel is the only Canadian to win both bobsleigh and hockey Provincial / Canadian championships.
Engr Emmanuel Akpan Okon
Vice-President & Chief Technology Officer
Emmanuel is a qualified, registered & practicing mechanical engineer. He has three and half decades of exposure working majorly in the oil/gas sector of the energy industry, where he developed relevant skill sets in technical, commercial, management and leadership areas.
He has records of rewards and recognitions for significant achievements and contributions in the industry via letters of commendations/plagues for outstanding performances from Project Executives and Managing Directors of Shell & ExxonMobil Corporations. Served in leadership & managerial roles and exercised wide latitude of discretionary decision-making authorities.
Emmanuel is happily married with 4 children. His hobbies include golfing, lawn tennis, walking and reading professional technical/ business/ commercial publications.
Professional Experience & Corporate Exposure
Emmanuel has 35 years’ experience in the energy industry working for Shell and ExxonMobil corporations in various countries including Nigeria, USA, Europe and Southeast Asia. During his corporate working career with the two oil majors, Emmanuel gained extensive experience in Projects execution, management and leadership covering oil/gas facilities EPCICOM in all environmental terrains including project controls and clients/contractors interface management.
He has extensive involvement in major contracts development, placement and management as well as in quality assurance & controls, health, safety, security & environmental and host communities relations management. Provided strong leadership and innovative skills in various oil/gas facilities project management and led and worked together with projects’ stakeholders/partners, ensuring they are fully engaged and aligned for seamless projects’ execution and delivery.
His Board & Corporate skills cover:
- Directs business planning, development up to delivery to quality, on time & on budget
- Wide latitude in discretionary decision-making authorities
- Business technical and commercial leadership & management
- Internal & external stakeholders interface management
Board and Community Appointments:
- Principal Managing Partner, Subsurface & Surface Dev. Co. Ltd, 2017
- Projects director, Pentad Energy Services Ltd, 2018
- Director, SPEAR Global Consulting Inc, 2025
- Board of Trustees of NCAC, 2025.
Areas of Expertise:
- Energy industry facilities planning, development and execution
- Projects’ Supply Chain Management
- Projects’ Quality Assurance & Quality Controls
- Projects’ Health, Safety, Security & Environmental
- Projects Stakeholders’ alignment and engagement
Education & Professional Memberships
- Certifications on AI, ML, LLM & SLL Modules, University of Calgary, 2024
- MSc. – Mechanical Engineering Management, University of Port Harcourt, 2001
- B.Eng. – Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, 1987
- Registered Mechanical Engineer #R.9645, COREN.
- Corporate Membership #11470, Nigeria Society of Engineers, NSE.
- Professional Membership #5930664, America Society of Mech. Engineers, ASME
- Project Management Professional, PMP WPS-006, Chartered Project Institute, UK.
Dr Ugochukwu Ukpabi
Vice-President & General Counsel
Mr. Ugochukwu Ukpabi is a respected litigator with over two decades of experience in corporate/commercial and civil litigation. A former Grotius Fellow at the University of Michigan Law School and a John Ware Fellow, his expertise is underscored by his designation as King’s Counsel (K.C.) and his certification as a Chartered Director (C.Dir.). Mr. Ukpabi has a comprehensive understanding of diverse legal markets, with professional exposure in Nigeria, Switzerland, the USA, and Canada.
Professional Experience:
Mr. Ukpabi’s career showcases leadership and deep legal expertise. He is the founder of The Republic Law and Principal at YYC Lawyers in Calgary. In addition to his practice, he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Calgary Law School. His prior experience includes roles as a Litigation Partner at Lacourciere LLP, Compliance Counsel for ENMAX, and an Associate at both Gowlings WLG in Canada and Akinjide & Co. Lawyers in Nigeria.
Board & Community Leadership:
Mr. Ukpabi is deeply committed to governance and community service. He is currently a Trustee for the Nigerian-Canadian Association of Calgary (NCAC), where he has served since 2020, and sits on the Provincial Court Nominating Committee (2020-2024). His past board appointments include the Fig Tree Foundation (2010-2013) and the Advisory Panel for the Office of the Extractive Sector, Corporate Social Responsibility Counsellor (2012-2014).
His board skills include:
- Strategic business planning.
- Management oversight and review of internal audit controls.
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) guidance.
- Interviewing candidates for judicial appointments to the Provincial Bench.
Board Appointments:
- Provincial Court Nominating Committee (PCNC) (2020 to 2024)
- Nigerian-Canadian Association of Calgary (NCAC) (2020 to date)
- Ugochukwu Ukpabi Professional Corporation (2016 to date)
- Office of the Extractive Sector, Corporate Social Responsibility Counsellor Advisory Panel (20122014)
- Fig Tree Foundation (2010-2013)1
Areas of Expertise
- Corporate/Commercial Litigation
- Appellate Practice
- International Business Law & Regulatory Compliance
- Corporate Governance, Policy Development, and Training
- Anti-corruption & Due Diligence Reviews
- Drafting Business and International Agreements
Education & Designations
- C.Dir. (Chartered Director), 2023
- K.C. (King’s Counsel), 2022
- Ph.D., York University, Osgoode Hall Law School, 2007
- MA, Carleton University, 2002
- LL.M, Obafemi Awolowo University, 1999
- LL.B, University of Nigeria, 1994
CONTACT US
Let’s connect your entity to meet your ambition.
Contact us by completing the form below or directly by:
Address: 305, 609-14th Street NW Clagary, AB T2N 2A1
Email: info@spearglobalconsulting.ca
