Dr Wardle holds a B.Sc. in Mining Engineering from the University of Nottingham and a Ph.D. in Rock Mechanics and Geophysics from the University of Wales. He is an experienced drilling engineer, having worked with BP, and has held a number of senior management positions with oil exploration companies. Dr Wardle began his experience in Colombia in 1994, when he was working for BP Exploration Colombia, and subsequently was General Manager for Emerald Energy in Colombia, where he was responsible for the discovery of the Campo Rico and Vigia oilfields. After joining Amerisur resources Plc as CEO in 2007, John has led the growth of Amerisur in Colombia and Paraguay. In 2012 John was named as “Emerging Markets CEO of the Year” in the Grant Thornton sponsored Quoted Company Awards in London. Amerisur was awarded the prize of “Best Oil and Gas Company” in the UK Stock Market awards of 2015.