Leading the conversation - driving innovation and good practice in spill response
Whether delivering technical presentations, hosting workshops, or facilitating discussions on spill-related topics, OSRL plays a central role in shaping global preparedness and response capabilities.
Key member events throughout the year include:
The International Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC)
The Industry Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC) is a non-commercial forum-style event led by OSRL as part of its advocacy programme. It is designed to engage frontline response professionals in technical discussions that enhance oil spill response effectiveness. Established in 1996, ITAC originally delivered technical projects and good-practice guidelines, but its role has since evolved.
Today, ITAC focuses on outreach and knowledge exchange, supporting the communication of technical outputs from global initiatives such as the IOGP/IPIECA JIP and API projects. It provides a platform for sharing scientific and operational insights, addressing key oil spill prevention and response issues, and fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and the wider response community.
ITAC's diverse membership includes oil companies, government agencies, NGOS, R&D institutes, and academic institutions. A core objective is to connect scientific research with practical response needs, bridging a common gap in industry knowledge sharing.
ITAC also encourages next-generation engagement, promotes innovation in response technologies, and helps articulate unified industry positions. ITAC continues to drive progress in oil spill preparedness and response across the global community through its inclusive and collaborative approach.
ITAC remains a cornerstone event for us, encouraging collaboration and innovation to bridge the gap between science and industry.
OSRL’s Wildlife Week
OSRL’s Wildlife Week is an event designed to raise awareness and promote tiered preparedness for oiled wildlife response. Hosted by OSRL, in collaboration with Sea Alarm and the GOWRS network, the annual event brings together internal and external activities to foster learning, dialogue, and collaboration across the industry.
Wildlife Week has become a key event for OSRL, our wildlife partners and our members. Since its inception, the event has focused on increasing the global readiness to respond to wildlife emergencies, sharing good practices, and discussing the latest advancements in technology and strategies. Past events have highlighted the importance of collaboration among industry leaders, wildlife experts, and response teams worldwide, creating a platform where knowledge sharing can help wildlife affected by oil spills.
Throughout Wildlife Week, we host a mix of informative webinars featuring key discussions on building wildlife response capacity, understanding legislation, and responding to complex offshore and nearshore wildlife incidents.
The triennial series of international oil spill prevention, preparedness and response conferences
Interspill (Europe), SPILLCON (Asia), and IOSC (Americas) form a triennial series of leading international conferences dedicated to oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response. OSRL’s active participation in these events strengthens collaboration with industry leaders, government bodies, and research institutions, promoting knowledge exchange and ensuring we stay aligned with emerging trends, technologies, and best practices.
Engagement at these forums supports innovation in response strategies, enhances member collaboration, and reinforces our alignment with industry priorities. Our involvement underscores OSRL’s commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
These conferences also provide a vital platform to discuss and validate response tools such as dispersants and frameworks like Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA). By engaging directly with stakeholders, OSRL ensures it remains at the forefront of global spill preparedness and response innovation.
Strengthening preparedness through regional forums and member-focused engagement
In addition to contributing to global events, we lead regional and country-level forums, creating opportunities for meaningful engagement and collective learning. These take place across the globe in the Philippines, Nigeria, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, along with member-focused forums in Singapore and London. Member-focused forums and preparedness reviews remain integral to our efforts, offering tailored insights to our ~170 members to ensure response readiness and drive continuous improvement.
