Cany Jobe, a recognized expert in the oil industry, has been appointed Director General of the Gambia Petroleum Commission. This appointment sends a clear signal: The Gambia intends to play with the major players in oil exploration in West Africa.
The Gambia Petroleum Commission is the regulatory authority for upstream and midstream petroleum activities. Its main objectives include regulating oil activities, managing oil resources, ensuring compliance with laws, policies and regulations, and promoting local content for sustainable national development.
With 18 years of experience, Cany Jobe is an expert in policy formulation, governance, administration, and strategic planning.
Strategic Expert Credentials
Before her appointment, since 2020, Cany Jobe, 40, served as Director of Exploration and Production at the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the country’s state-owned national oil company, responsible for managing the nation’s petroleum resources. She advised the government on exploration projects for conventional energy (fossil fuels) as well as new energy sources (helium, hydrogen, carbon storage). She also structured, negotiated, and oversaw the implementation of high-value exploration activities for the national oil company in partnership with international oil companies.
Extensive Professional Experience
Cany Jobe began her career at GNPC as a petroleum engineer specializing in reservoirs, a position she held from 2008 to 2016. She rose through the ranks, serving as Head of Reservoirs and Upstream Manager from January 2017 to October 2020; Secretary to the Board of Directors in 2017; and Acting Head of Administration and Human Resources from August 2016 to March 2018.
Her international experience also includes prestigious roles outside The Gambia. She worked as a petroleum engineer for PDVSA in Venezuela from May to December 2009, and as an engineering intern at CPC Corporation in Taiwan from July 2006 to June 2008. She also contributed to a flagship gas project in Australia focused on the offshore Browse Basin’s substantial gas reserves, which are estimated at around 15.9 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Strong Academic Background
Cany Jobe’s academic accomplishments are equally impressive. She holds a Master’s degree in Petroleum and Gas Engineering from the University of Western Australia, earned with distinction. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering from the National Taipei University of Technology, and a Master’s in International Project Management in Construction, Energy, Oil and Gas from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. This rare combination of technical and strategic skills makes her a well‑rounded leader, capable of balancing vision, governance, and operational effectiveness.
Cany Jobe is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Association of Project Managers, and is an alumna of the Australia Development Awards, Commonwealth Awards, and Mining for Development programs.
