VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 3 | SEPTEMBER 2026
BUILDING ON OUR MOMENTUM "We must protect the progress that has been made while advocating for policies that allow our industries to invest for the long term. Our challenge is to keep that momentum moving forward and turn it into last- ing opportunity for the next generation of Alaskans." — Connor Hajdukovich, Executive Director, RDC
D EAR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS: At this year’s Alaska Resources Conference on Nov. 11-12, Scott Habberstad will conclude his term as RDC’s Board President, and we will be welcoming Joe Balash into the role. Fortunately, Scott isn’t going far and will continue serving as a board officer in his role as Past President. Under Scott’s leadership, RDC has seen significant growth in membership, sponsorships and event attendance. More importantly, he genuinely cares about this organization and is always looking for ways to make it stronger. It has been an honor to serve as Executive Director under Scott’s leadership, and I hope he enjoys having a little less of the spotlight! On the staff side, we welcomed Lauren Rice to the RDC team this summer as our new External Affairs Coordinator. Lauren’s experience in Alaska politics and communications is already proving to be an asset to the team, and I encourage you to read more about her in this edition of the Resource Review. Jennifer Kuhlmann continues to be a rockstar, outpacing our membership and sponsorship goals while keeping so much of the organization running behind the scenes. I am incredibly fortunate to have such a strong and growing team at RDC. One of the best parts of this job is getting out of the office and seeing our industries at work. This summer, I had the opportunity to better understand the logistical challenges of operating at Kensington Mine, see the remarkable recycling and waste management systems aboard a Holland America Line cruise ship and watch the promise of the Lucky Shot Mine near Palmer take shape. Our Board Outreach Trip with San- tos gave us a firsthand look at the impressive Pikka project and the new investment, jobs and economic activity it is bringing to Alaska. Those experiences reinforced something I see across all of RDC’s industries: Alaska has momentum. That is what this year’s Alaska Resources Conference is all about, “BUILDING ON MOMENTUM: CREATING LASTING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALASKA’S RESOURCES.” An object in motion stays in motion, and 2026 has given Alaska plenty to build on. This year, we’ve made substantial progress in de- veloping our oil and gas resources on the slope, bringing new mines closer to production, stopping targeted taxes on industries, repealing onerous and federal regulations, continuing to welcome record num- bers of visitors and rejecting one-size-fits-all federal regulations. We’ve also seen increased focus at the highest levels of the government. Just this summer, we saw the Secretaries of Energy and Homeland Security, the Speaker of the House, multiple U.S.
Unlocking More Oil and Jobs on State Lands At Santos, we are proud to develop the world-class Pikka Project on Alaska’s State Lands - creating more revenue and more jobs for Alaskans. Pikka is unlocking 400 million barrels of Alaska’s oil. It has already created thousands of construction jobs and will provide hundreds of permanent jobs. This is just the beginning. By July, 80,000 barrels per day will be added to the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. Santos is building the future of energy in Alaska.
Senators and the members of the Western Caucus and many more visiting our state. We even had a national celebrity taking an inter- est in Alaska’s resource future, with Mike Rowe from "Dirty Jobs" joining a panel with RDC at the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center to discuss workforce development. But momentum alone does not guarantee lasting success. We must protect the progress that has been made while advocating for policies that allow our industries to invest for the long term. Our challenge now is to keep that momentum moving forward and turn it into lasting opportunity for the next generation of Alaskans. RDC Board Member Rochelle Lindley, External Affairs Manager with Coeur Alaska, recently led resource development stakeholders on a tour of Kensington Mine in Juneau. Thank you to Rochelle and the professionals who took time to welcome us and provide a firsthand look at the challenges and opportunities that come with doing business in Alaska. See more on Page 10.
SINCERELY, CONNOR HAJDUKOVICH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2026
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