Gambia: Celebrated Energy Professional Cany Jobe Appointed Director-General Of Petroleum Commission

The President of The Gambia, H.E. Adama Barrow, has appointed the country’s celebrated young female energy professional, Cany Jobe, as the new Director-General of the Petroleum Commission, the national regulatory body for the upstream and midstream petroleum sectors.

She replaces Mr. Jerreh Barrow, the immediate past Director-General of the Petroleum Commission.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Jobe served as Director of Exploration at The Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), where she advised government on oil, gas, and new energy exploration, and led the implementation of GNPC’s technical partnerships with international energy companies.

She was recently honoured at the MSGBC Oil, Gas and Power 2025 Conference with the Industry Pioneer Woman Award, in recognition of her leadership, technical expertise, and contributions to Africa’s upstream sector, as well as her commitment to frontier basin development, collaboration, and opportunities for women in the energy industry.

With her appointment, Cany Jobe becomes the third woman leading an upstream petroleum regulatory authority in West Africa, following Ghana’s Victoria Emeafa Hardcastle of the Petroleum Commission and Nigeria’s Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

Ms. Jobe brings over 18 years of experience in the energy sector to her new role, having worked in countries including China, Taiwan, Venezuela, and Australia.

She is a trained petroleum engineer with a Master of Engineering in Oil and Gas from the University of Western Australia, a Master of Project Management from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland, and a Bachelor of Science in Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering and Management from the National Taipei University of Technology in Taiwan.

She is also a regular participant in some of the world’s most influential petroleum and energy forums, where she speaks on Africa’s emerging basins, with particular emphasis on the MSGBC Basin, which includes The Gambia.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Jobe expressed gratitude to President Adama Barrow for the confidence reposed in her to serve her country and the continent.

According to her, the Petroleum Commission has a critical mandate to protect the national interest by regulating the upstream and midstream petroleum sectors in a manner that is technically sound and aligned with national development priorities.

“As I prepare to assume this role, my focus will be on strengthening regulatory systems, building institutional capacity, reinforcing transparency, and ensuring that the sector is managed responsibly and in the long-term interest of the Gambian people,” she said.

She added that as The Gambia continues to position itself within the MSGBC Basin, it is essential that the regulatory framework inspires confidence, balances investor interests with national priorities, and upholds the country’s sovereign rights over its natural resources.

Ms. Jobe said she looks forward to working closely with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, industry stakeholders, and technical teams to ensure that petroleum development—when it occurs—delivers sustainable and measurable value for the Gambian people.