9th OPEC International Seminar
Charting pathways together: the future of global energy
9-10 July 2025 | Hofburg Palace | Vienna, Austria
”The OPEC International Seminar has gained a global recognition due to its outstanding record for the calibre of speakers and participants and the quality of discussions that address the most pressing issues related to the energy industry. We look forward to welcoming all our guests to Vienna in July 2025 for what will be an engaging and exceptional event.
HE Haitham Al Ghais
OPEC Secretary General
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Confirmed Speakers
Prior to his appointment as the Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz served in numerous capacities in the Ministry over the past three decades, including as Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Vice Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Assistant Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Deputy Minister for Petroleum Affairs and Adviser to the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
HRH holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) (1985) and a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Management (1982), both from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. After graduation, he served from 1985-87 as Director of the Economic and Industrial Research Division of the Research Institute at King Fahd University of Petroleum.
Career:
Mechanical Engineer in the South Oil Company (1984–1992)
In charge of Mechanical Design Section (1992–2000)
Head of Design Department (2000–2003)
Head of Project Committee, Deputy Director General (2003–2012)
Assistant Director General for Licensing Affairs and Deputy Director General of South Oil Company (2012–2015)
Director General, Chairman of the Board Directors, South Oil Company (2015–2017)
Director General, South Gas Company, Chairman of the Board Directors, South Gas Company-HMC (2017–2020)
He has played a pivotal role in the development of several high-profile oil and gas projects in North Africa and North America. Dr Abdulsadek's leadership skills were also evident during his tenure as Chairman of the Management Committee for Zallaf , wholly owned by the Libyan National Oil Corporation. Additionally, he served as Chairman of the Owners Committee of Al-Waha Company. His international experience includes significant positions with Repsol in Libya and Spain, and Talisman Energy in Canada.
HE Al Mazrouei is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Etihad Water and Electricity, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Emirates General Petroleum Corporation, Member of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ADNOC and Mubadala Investment Company.
Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of: (Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Nawah Energy Company, Barakah One Company), and Member of the Board of Directors of Dolphin Energy.
HE Al Mazrouei has considerable experience in corporate administration in different sectors, including ship building, defense systems, oil and gas services sector and real estate development.
HE Suhail Al Mazrouei graduated in 1996 from the University of Tulsa in the United States of America with a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering. He was born in Dubai on July 1st, 1973. His hobbies include poetry, literature, and history.
Prior to that HE Tareq Sulaiman Al-Roumi was the Chairman and Member of Board of several companies. Since 1976, he had a significant career serving Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and later in Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) as the Deputy Managing Director for Internal Audit.
HE Tareq Sulaiman Al-Roumi holds a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Kuwait University.
He has been working with sustainable development-related issues since 2001. He was Director of the Energy Department (2008-2011) and of the Environment Department (2011-2013), when he served as Brazil's chief negotiator for climate change (2011- 2013) and for Rio+20 (2011-2012). He served as Ambassador to Japan (2013-2018), to India (2018-2023) and accredited also to Bhutan (2019-2023). He became the Secretary for Climate, Energy and Environment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March 2023.
Corrêa do Lago has published books and articles on sustainable development and climate change and is also an architecture critic.
Born and raised in Senegal, graduated from the prestigious El Hadji Malick Sy High School, Birame Souleye Diop followed a solid academic background at Gaston Berger University in Saint Louis. Building on this academic success, he later obtained a Master's degree in economic and business law before joining the National School of Administration (ENA) and joining the civil service. His career led him to become an Inspector of Taxes and Estates. His career allowed him to acquire valuable expertise in the management of public finances, in general, and natural resources in particular.
Before joining the Government as a Minister, he was a key player in Senegalese political life, notably as Mayor of the Northern Commune of Thiès and deputy to the National Assembly. He chaired the Parliamentary Group "Yewwi Askan Wi" under the PASTEF party.
Appointed in April 2024, Birame Souleye Diop oversees major projects such as the Sangomar oil field and the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project, developed in partnership with Mauritania.
HE Diop is recognized for his strategic vision aimed at positioning PETROSEN as a pillar of Senegal's energy sovereignty. He favours international partnerships, while ensuring economic benefits for local communities. His approach to leadership is based on inclusivity, sustainability, and respect for human resources, promoting a work environment conducive to innovation.
Apart from his ministerial responsibilities, HE Diop is passionate about community development and actively participates in local initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions of Senegalese citizens.
She has more than 20 years of experience in the public sector, particularly in the management and operation of economic, urban planning and financial strategy projects. Previously she had been Secretary of Administration and Finance of Mexico City; Director General of the Passenger Transport Network; General Coordinator of Educational and Pedagogical Development of the Ministry of Education of Mexico City; Director General of the Credit Recovery Trust; Deputy Treasurer of Land and Territorial Register of Mexico City; Executive Director at the Ministry of the Environment and Advisor to the National Institute of Ecology.
After graduating, he attended the Nigerian Law School Victoria Island, Lagos, where he obtained his Qualifying Certificate and Certificate of Call to the Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He furthered his education at the Leeds Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, earning a Masters in Law (LLM) in 2012 and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in 2015.
Throughout his career, Senator Lokpobiri attended various seminars and courses, including The Oxford High-Performance Leadership Programme at the Said Business School, University of Oxford (November 2012), the Programme on the United States Election System at the International Law Institute, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C (April 2014), and Executive-Legislature Relations and Effective Legislative Performance at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, D.C (April 2014).
Senator Lokpobiri’s career spans both the private and public sectors. He served as a Pupil Counsel during his National Youth Service (NYSC) scheme at the Badagry Local Government Council in Lagos. From 1999 to 2003, he was a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, representing Ekeremor Constituency II and serving as Speaker of the House from 1999 to 2001. Subsequently, he worked as the Principal Legal Director at Lokpobiri & Co (Legal Practitioners and Consultants) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from 2003 to 2007. Between 2007 and 2015, Senator Lokpobiri served as a member of the National Assembly, representing Bayelsa West in the 6th and 7th National Assembly. During his tenure in the Senate, he held the position of Chairman of the Committees on Water Resources, and Sports and Social Development; and was a member of various committees, including those on Niger Delta and Petroleum (Down Stream). He was also recognized for sponsoring several bills and motions during his time in the Senate.
In 2015, Senator Lokpobiri was appointed as the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, a role he held until the dissolution of the cabinet in 2019. In August 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, appointed him as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil).
Senator Lokpobiri is the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions and has authored several publications during his career.
Studied at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy in 1986-1992.
Worked as an attaché in the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1992-1996.
Served as the Second Secretary, First Secretary, Head of Division for Europe, and Deputy Head of the Department for Europe, United States of America and Canada of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan during the period of 1996-2001.
Then served as Advisor and Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Austria in 2001-2005.
Parviz Shahbazov was the Chairman of the Security Cooperation Forum of the OSCE in 2005.
After that, he was appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Federal Republic of Germany in 2005 and served in this position untill 2016.
Served as the Ambassador-at-large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2016-2017.
Appointed as the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 12, 2017.
He is fluent in Azerbaijani (native), Russian, English and German.
He is married and has two children.
Al Loughani served on the board of Kuwait Oil Tanker Company from 2011-2016, was chairman of the board of KAFCO from 2017-2019, and was a member of the board of KPIC from 2019-2023.
Jamal Essa Al Loughani holds a BSc in chemical engineering from Kuwait University.
The first Secretary General from the Middle East, Al Shirawi is seasoned veteran of the energy industry with over 40 years of energy experience and leadership in both the public and private sectors.
Al Shirawi contributed to the advancement of Bahrain's energy sector in various roles. His lifelong contributions to Bahrain’s energy sector were honored in 2019 when His Majesty King Hamad Al Khalifa awarded him the prestigious the Order of National Action medal.
Her expertise primarily covers energy prospects, renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable development, and energy cooperation in the Mediterranean region. Through her experience at OMEC and her tenure as Strategy Director, she has developed a unique and comprehensive perspective on energy development and future trends in the region.
Dr. Houda also leads the Secretariat of the UfM Platform on Gas.
In academia, she has served as an invited lecturer at institutions such as The Ecole des Mines de Paris, The Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), the University of Versailles, the Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires, and the Ecole des Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris.
She holds a degree in energy economics from the Institut Français du Pétrole and the University of Paris 2 and earned her PhD from the Ecole des Mines de Paris.
With over 46 years of experience in the global oil and gas industry, Carlos has also worked for major international oil companies (Amoco, Chevron), national oil companies (Ecopetrol), regional independents (San Jorge), major consultancies (Arthur D. Little), and global investment banks (Standard Chartered and HSBC).
He has a degree in Chemical Engineering (U. de Buenos Aires), M.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering (U. of Tulsa) and MBA (Rice University).
He spent 12 years in OPEC as Head of Energy Studies and then as Special Advisor to the Secretary General. His career’s first 21 years were with Sonatrach, where he worked in various segments of the oil and gas value chain, becoming Vice President Strategy and Planning in 1998. Eng. Hamel graduated from two engineering schools: the “Ecole Polytechnique de Paris” and the “Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris”, both in France.
In his role, Mr La Camera is responsible for leading the delivery of IRENA’s work programme and strategy in cooperation with the Agency’s Members. At a critical time for climate change and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, Mr La Camera is tasked with redefining the structure and operations of the Agency in response to the urgent needs of its members.
Under his leadership, the Agency has forged a series of new strategic partnerships with UN organisations including UNDP, UNFCCC and Green Climate Fund among others and Financial Institutions. A key priority of his tenure is to implement a more action-oriented approach to the Agency’s work.
Previously, Mr La Camera served as Director-General of Sustainable Development, Environmental Damage, EU and International Affairs at the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land & Sea since 2014. In this capacity, he developed cooperation and partnership agreements with a wide range of countries. As the national coordinator for climate, environment, resource efficiency and circular economy, he led the Italian delegation to UNFCCC’s COP 21 to 24 and the EU Presidency at COP 20. He was also responsible for the preparation and organisation of Italy’s G7 Environment Presidency in 2017.
He has over 30 years of experience in the energy sector and performed within the private and public entities, specifically in REPSOL (institutional, international, refining, strategic planning), National Energy Commission (regulation of oil & biofuels), International Energy Agency SEQ/SOM (security of supply) and CORES (security of supply for oil & gas). In addition to the engagement in the WPC network, he has been President of the Spanish Strategic Petroleum Reserves Corporation (CORES), Chairman of the Standing Group on Emergency Questions (SEQ) and Market (SOM) of the International Energy Agency, Institutional Affairs & Organizations and Chairman’s Office Director (Repsol) and Member of the Steering Committee and the Board of Directors of Enerclub (Club Español de la Energía) among other relevant positions.
He is an expert in energy and international economic relations. He was Ambassador of Chile to Uruguay and permanent representative to ALADI; senior consultant of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, the US. He was Chilean Minister of Energy between 2016 and 2018 and worked for more than 20 years at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he held the position of Director General of International Economic Relations, between 2014 and 2016.
In 2023, on the 50th anniversary of the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), he assumed his position as the Executive Secretary.
NJ graduated from the University of Maryland College Park and earned a Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law and an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology.
Beyond his impeccable advisory and deal closing roles, NJ is also a prolific speaker and bestselling author. He is the author of “Big Barrels”, Amazon and Wall Street Journal’s bestseller “Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals” and Amazon bestseller – “A Just Transition: Making Energy Poverty History with an Energy Mix”. His consistency and impartial challenge against unjust global energy trends which could negatively impact Africa and her people have seen him addressing world leaders and executives at prestigious events around the world.
Drawing from experience working with the United Nations, he advises governments on judicial modernization, rule of law issues, and the training of African judges, prosecutors and lawyers on a pro bono basis. Mr Ayuk regularly participates in industry-specific conferences and seminars as a speaker and moderator. Since 2018, he is also the executive chairman of the African Energy Chamber where he leads continent-wide efforts to build domestic capacity and advocate for a stronger and more united African energy industry.
He continues to play a significant role in developing policies and strategies to create and maintain a thriving investment environment on the continent while advancing regulations, attracting investments and enhancing local content participation across the energy sector value chain.
Before NNPC, Mr Kragha spent over ten years working for Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), culminating in serving as Upstream Treasurer for ExxonMobil (EM) Affiliates in Nigeria from 2012 to 2015. He also held various roles in EM Upstream Africa Audit, MPN’s Commercial and Treasurer’s groups, EM Development Company and HQ Corporate Affiliate Finance in Nigeria and the USA.
Mr Kragha holds a B.S. Chemical Engineering (University of Minnesota), M.S. Plastics Engineering (University of Massachusetts-Lowell) and Masters degrees (M.S. Chemical Engineering and MBA) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Demetrios has worked for more than 25 years with the World Bank Group on Energy and Infrastructure in Africa, Latin America, East Europe and the Balkans, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific Islands. He has contributed to developing energy policies in several countries and worked on power generation projects using many diverse technologies: thermal, hydropower, solar, wind, and geothermal. He has led large teams on complex utility and sector reforms, as well as sizeable public-private partnership transactions. As the Manager for the World Bank’s Energy Practice in South Asia (2016-2020), he was responsible for a portfolio of more than $10 billion and worked to increase renewable energy projects in the region, expand regional interconnections and exchanges, and modernize networks across the region.
A professional Electrical Engineer, Demetrios holds an MSc in Environmental Technology and a PhD in Energy and the Environment from Imperial College in London, UK.
Prior to this appointment, Shaikh Nawaf was President and Chief Executive Officer of KPC Holdings (Aruba) AEC, the international downstream subsidiary of KPC, from 4 February 2019 to 16 March 2022.
Shaikh Nawaf was Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (“KUFPEC”), the international upstream subsidiary of KPC, for almost nine years from May 2013.
Before joining KUFPEC in 2013, Shaikh Nawaf spent 14 years at KPC, the last eight of which as Deputy Managing Director and General Counsel of KPC.
From 2002 through 2004, Shaikh Nawaf was head of KPC’s Washington Office, responsible for development of downstream business opportunities and policy analysis in the United States.
Prior to joining KPC in 1999, Shaikh Nawaf was a corporate transaction attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, a major international law firm based in Los Angeles.
Born in 1971, Shaikh Nawaf holds an A.B. degree magna cum laude from Princeton University’s School for Public and International Affairs and a Juris Doctor (Doctor of Laws) degree cum laude from Harvard Law School.
During a company career spanning four decades, Nasser has served in a number of leadership positions, including as senior vice president of Upstream. In that role, he led Saudi Aramco's largest capital investment program in its integrated oil and gas portfolio. Under Nasser's leadership, the company is now building on its upstream leadership position by expanding its presence in the downstream and chemicals segments of the petroleum value chain, with significant investments and joint-venture partnerships in the Kingdom as well as a number of overseas markets.
Nasser is actively engaged in the advancement of people through education and training, and advancing the company's innovation and technology strategy. Nasser is a champion of Saudi youth advancement and development and keenly supports the company's Young Leader's Advisory Board (YLAB), a program designed to link Saudi Aramco leadership with the voice of its young professionals.
At the same time, Nasser is leading Saudi Aramco's efforts to produce cleaner energy and products through investments in promising technologies such as next-generation fuel-engine interfaces, crude oil-to-chemicals processes, and renewable energy applications; entrepreneurial start-ups focused on cleaner energy solutions; and industry-wide efforts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, such as the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI). He is also an advocate for an efficient, accessible, and world-class supply chain ecosystem that includes small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to support Saudi Aramco's growing procurement needs.
In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Nasser is a member of the International Advisory Board of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals; the Board of Trustees of the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology; the World Economic Forum's International Business Council (IBC); the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Presidential CEO Advisory Board; the JP Morgan International Council; and the BlackRock Board of Directors.
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) awarded Nasser its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, as well as the SPE's Charles F. Rand Memorial Gold Medal awarded for distinguished achievement in mining administration, including metallurgy and petroleum in 2015. In 2020, Nasser received The Chemists' Club Kavaler Award by ICIS and was named as Energy Intelligence's Energy Executive of the Year.
Nasser holds a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran. He completed the Saudi Aramco Management Development Seminar in Washington, D.C., in 1999; the Saudi Aramco Global Business Program in 2000; and the Senior Executive Program at Columbia University in 2002.
With a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s degree in energy economics & policy from the University of Surrey, Mr Al-Shatari brings over two decades of strategic leadership to Iraq’s oil and gas sector.
Throughout his tenure at SOMO, he has played a critical role in leading crude oil and gas marketing strategies, securing vital long-term supply contracts, enhancing Iraq’s data transparency within OPEC, spearheading high-level negotiations that support Iraq’s international energy partnerships.
His expertise and vision continue to shape Iraq’s positioning within global energy markets, reinforcing the country’s vital role in the international oil industry.
Murray is the fourth generation of his family to work in energy – joining Amoco in 1992 and then bp when the two companies merged in 1998. He has held senior roles in finance and management, including as chief of staff to the bp CEO from 2010 to 2013. Most recently he has been bp’s chief financial officer and a member of the board of directors. As CFO he led a major modernisation drive in bp finance, including building the financial frame on which bp’s strategy rests.
He has a degree in commerce from the University of Calgary, Canada, and qualified as a chartered financial analyst at the University of West Virginia, USA.
He is one of the founding CEOs of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative and was awarded the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Business Leadership Award in 2022. As of 2025, he is Co-Chair of the Oil and Gas Governors Community of the World Economic Forum.
After completing his Engineering studies, Mr Hachichi joined SONATRACH in September 1987. He worked for 27 years in the far South of the country where he held the positions of site engineer, head of department, division head and eventually regional production director.
Since 2014 at the central level in Algiers, he acted as the Production Division Director, Acting Upstream Vice President, Advisor to the CEO, Central HSE Director. Mr Hachichi was appointed Chairman and CEO of SONATRACH on 2 October, 2023.
A Mechanical Engineer who trained at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Bayo began his career at Elf Petroleum Nigeria in 1989 before joining the then Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) in 1991 as Associate Production Technologist.
He served in Nigeria, The Netherlands and Oman and became Manager, Asset Development (Onshore and Shallow Water) in SPDC in 2008. After several other roles, Bayo was appointed Managing Director Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) in January 2015, responsible for managing Shell’s multi-billion-dollar investments in four deep-water blocks with more than 600 staff from several nationalities.
He retired from Shell in 2021 and established a consultancy, BAT Advisory and Energy Company Nigeria Ltd, where he was the chairman of the board.
Bayo was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company in January 2024, at the same time that the company was concluding its purchase of SPDC.
On April 2, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Bayo as Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
On October 22, 2014, he became Chief Executive Officer of TOTAL S.A. and Chairman of the Company’s Executive Committee. On May 29, 2015, he was appointed by the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting as director for a three-year term. The Board of Directors appointed him as Chairman of the Board of Directors as of December 19, 2015. Mr. Pouyanné thus became the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Following the renewal of Mr. Pouyanné's directorship at the Shareholders' Meeting on June 1, 2018 and then on May 28, 2021 for a three-year period, the Board of Directors renewed Mr. Pouyanné's term of office as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for a period equal to that of his directorship.
On June 1, 2022, Mr. Pouyanné was appointed Chairman of the French association, Entreprises pour l’Environnement (EpE). Mr. Pouyanné has also been the Chairman of the Alliance pour l’Education - United Way association since June 2018, having accepted this office as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. In addition, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of Capgemini (since May 2017), of the Board of Directors of École Polytechnique (since September 2018), of the Institut du Monde Arabe (since 2017) and of the foundation La France s’engage (since 2017). Mr. Pouyanné is an Officer of the Légion d’honneur.
Prior to being appointed CEO at the start of 2023, Wael joined the Executive Committee in 2019 as Upstream Director and in 2021, he became Shell's Director of Integrated Gas, and Renewables and Energy Solutions.
Wael holds an MEng from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
An accomplished business leader with over four decades of experience in varied sectors, he is widely recognized as a global reference in the water and energy sectors.
Founded in 2004, ACWA Power has emerged as an agile, high growth, power, water, and green hydrogen champion that is supporting achieving Saudi Vision 2030 goals and delivering power, water, and green hydrogen reliably and responsibly, at low cost, to communities in 12 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.
As Chairman of the Board of Directors, since ACWA Power’s inception, Mr Abunayyan has remained focused on ensuring that the company’s operating model is founded on sustainability, technological innovation, cost leadership, and operational excellence coupled with developing strong public-private sector partnerships with a clear purpose to deliver the highest level of sustainable value to all stakeholders, while also focusing on driving community impact. He is a strong advocate and enabler of local talent and content in all the markets that ACWA Power operates in.
Mr Abunayyan also serves as the Chairman of Vision Invest and is on the executive board of numerous reputed organizations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region.
Prior to joining KAPSARC, Fahad held many senior roles across both government and the corporate world.
In 2020, Fahad was also appointed as head of the Circular Carbon Economy National Program, which aims to manage Saudi Arabia’s emissions while creating economic value.
In 2019, he held the position of Director of the Hydrocarbon Sustainability Program at the Ministry of Energy, where he was responsible for looking at the long-term energy trends plus their impact on global energy markets, with special emphasis on the demand for oil and gas.
Before this, Fahad worked at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, where he advised on energy markets, policy, industry trends, and the petrochemical sector. In addition, to the above responsibilities, his experience spans several senior roles in operations, corporate strategy, and investment planning, as well as mergers and acquisitions at Saudi Aramco, where he served for 15 years.
As KAPSARC president, Fahad will build on the momentum the Center has enjoyed while supporting the Saudi energy ecosystem in introducing the Circular Carbon Economy and build on the Think 20 (T20) engagement groups developed during the Saudi G20 2020 presidency.
Fahad holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and an MBA from Stanford University in California.
He brings with him more than 15 years of diverse experience in the oil and gas industry and across various disciplines of business leadership.
He held several senior positions in the Brazilian oil, gas & biofuels regulator (ANP) and worked with BG Group in Brazil as Government Affairs Director. In 2019 he joined PETROBRAS as Chief Executive Board Member in charge of Institutional & Sustainability areas, with responsibilities to oversee climate change, communications, social performance and government affairs.
As a diplomat, he worked at different Brazilian Embassies and Consulates abroad (Washington DC, Buenos Aires, Houston and New York). He also held many senior positions in Brazil federal government in Brasilia.
Adrian developed the business after buying a partnership in a small newsletter business following an earlier career in BP and a brief stint working as an oil industry analyst in the City of London. In 1984 he took management control, renamed the company and started the development of a global business under the Argus brand. Adrian grew up in Leeds where he attended the local grammar school before studying history at Cambridge University. Adrian has appeared on television for the BBC, CNN and NBC among other channels and has written from time to time for The Financial Times, The Economist, The Observer and many other newspapers. He won the prestigious EY International Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2017.
He previously served as COO and CFO, since joining the company in 2021. During his time on the leadership team, he played a pivotal role in driving growth, leading the expansion to over 650 employees, executing six acquisitions, and surpassing $140 million in annual recurring revenue. Prior to Kpler, Mark was Vice President of Finance at Wood Mackenzie and held senior roles at an Oaktree Capital-backed business. With over a decade of experience in finance, he has been instrumental in shaping the Kpler business strategy, financial performance, and growth trajectory.
Prior to joining the Institute, Jarad led the Office of Strategic Planning, Analysis, and Engagement within the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. Earlier government responsibilities included managing research, development, and demonstration programs for advanced power systems and environmental stewardship.
His professional experience also includes life cycle analysis, process engineering, and materials science. Jarad holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Kansas State University and a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.
Ms Emerson has been a Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and an Adjunct Professor at the Tufts University Fletcher School of Global Affairs. She is currently a Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and an Independent Director at Expand Energy. She also serves on the External Advisory Committee of the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Mass General Brigham hospital.
Ms Emerson received her M.A. from Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies and B.A. from Cornell University.
Dr Fattouh served as a member of an independent expert group established to provide recommendations to the 12th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial Meeting in Cancun (29-31 March 2010) for strengthening the architecture of the producer-consumer dialogue through the IEF and reducing energy market volatility.
He is the recipient of the 2018 OPEC Award for Research and acts as an advisor to a number of governments and companies.
He serves on several boards and advisory boards including the Responsible Energy Forum, the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED), Chatham House, and The Atlantic Council, and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
Majid Jafar attended Eton College and Cambridge University with degrees in engineering. He also holds an MA (with Distinction) in International Studies and Diplomacy from the University of London, an MBA (with Distinction) from the Harvard Business School, and an Executive Certificate in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Before that, he served as the Dean of the College of Information and Bioscience at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology(“UNIST”). He led applying AI/Big data to industry as Executive Director of Innovation Park and head of Institute for the 4th Industrial Revolution. He also serves as a member of World Economic Forum (WEF) Advanced Manufacturing.
In 2009, he joined SK Innovation as CTO and Head of R&D Technology Center then became President of Global Technology. Prior to his career in Korea, he worked for Royal Dutch Shell in USA for 19 years. He worked for Shell R&D Westhollow Center and also as a regional manager at Shell Global Solutions in Asia Pacific Region.
Dong Sub Kim holds BS & MS Degree in Engineering from Seoul National University, Korea. Also he gained Ph.D. of Engineering from Ohio State University in 1989.
Mr Miller holds a Bachelor of Science in agriculture and business from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University.
He is a certified public accountant and a member of the Advisory Council for Texas A&M University College of Engineering. He also serves on the board of directors for American Petroleum Institute, National Petroleum Council, and is a member of the Board of Trustees for The Council on Recovery.
She is currently General Director (CEO) of PMI Comercio Internacional, a Pemex subsidiary for international operations. She oversees PMI offices in the United States and Singapore, as well as Pemex´s Deer Park refinery in Texas, USA.
Ana Margarita Pérez Miranda was born in Mexico City. She graduated as an actuary from the Faculty of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and has completed advanced business management studies at IPADE and the Management Program at Rice University, Texas.
Sverdrup brings over 20 years’ energy industry leadership experience to OGCI. He has had a long career at Norwegian energy company Equinor, most recently as Senior Vice President for Corporate Sustainability.
Sverdrup is on the Climate Advisory Board of Norges Bank Investment Management, which manages one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds. He is also a TED speaker, as well as a guest lecturer at Imperial College, Columbia and Harvard Business School.
She advises central bankers, OPEC+ oil ministers with close relations to the GCC, and CEOs of oil companies around the world. She holds a PhD from the University of London, an MPhil in Economics from Cambridge University, and a BSc in Economics from the University of Warwick. She was formerly Chief Oil Analyst for Barclays Capital and is frequently featured in leading media outlets. She has served as a research fellow at both the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies and the Atlantic Council and is currently a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Amrita is regarded as a leading authority on oil markets and is a sought-after speaker for top industry conferences.
Previously, Simonelli served as President and CEO of GE Transportation, a global transportation leader in the rail, mining, marine and energy storage industries. During his five-year tenure, he expanded and diversified GE Transportation by focusing on advanced technology manufacturing, intelligent control systems, and a diverse approach to new propulsion solutions.
He has also served as CFO Americas for GE Consumer & Industrial, as well as General Manager, Product Management for GE Appliances, Lighting, Electrical Distribution and Motors.
Simonelli joined GE’s Financial Management Program in 1994, where he worked on assignments in GE International, GE Shared Services, GE Oil & Gas, and Consolidated Financial Insurance.
He currently serves on the Board of Iveco Group N.V. He served on the Board of C3.ai, Inc. from 2020-2021 and on the Board of CNH Industrial N.V. from 2019-2021.
Originally from Tuscany, Italy, Simonelli is a Business & Economics Graduate from Cardiff University in South Wales.
He currently oversees board stewardship in several PETRONAS subsidiaries and is on the board of various international and industry-related organisations. He is Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Oil & Gas Governors Community, and the WEF ASEAN Leaders for Just Energy Transition Community. He is also the Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP).
Ken joined Honeywell in 2018 and has served in various leadership roles, including President of Honeywell UOP and the President of Honeywell Advanced Materials.
Prior to joining Honeywell, Ken held leadership positions at PPG Industries for thirteen years.
Ken holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University.
With over 16 years of experience in the energy and utilities business, including renewables, Abdulaziz is a member of the boards of directors of several generation and water desalination companies across the UAE and in the Middle East.
Abdulaziz earned an M.Sc in Energy Engineering (specializing in power plant technology) from RWTH Aachen University in Germany and a B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from UAE University.
Max was previously a Managing Director and Head of European Commodities Research at Goldman Sachs. He has also held positions as Deputy Head of Commodities Research at Macquarie Bank, and as a commodities economist at the Reserve Bank of Australia (Australia’s central bank).
Max received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Macquarie University in 2002, was awarded the APRA Brian Gray scholarship in 2003, and was awarded a first-class honors degree in economics in that same year.
He holds a Master's degree in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and a PHD in business administration from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Berislav Gašo has held various management positions in the MOL Group after working as a junior partner at McKinsey & Company. Most recently, he served as the Executive Vice President in charge of MOL Group’s Exploration & Production Division.
Spencer Dale joined bp as chief economist in October 2014. Prior to that, he was executive director for financial stability at the Bank of England and a member of the Financial Policy Committee. Between 2008 and 2014, Spencer was chief economist of the Bank of England and a member of the Monetary Policy Committee. Spencer joined the Bank of England in 1989 and served in numerous roles, including private secretary to Mervyn King and head of economic forecasting. Spencer served as a senior advisor at the US Federal Reserve Board of Governors between 2006 and 2008.
He was educated at the University of Wales, gaining a BSc in Economics in 1988 and at the University of Warwick, gaining an MSc in Economics in 1989, whereupon he immediately joined the Bank of England.
He currently serves as the Executive Vice President, Member of the Board, overseeing its Energy Business Unit, actively promoting various low-carbon and decarbonization initiatives, including methane emissions reduction, CCS and hydrogen /ammonia.
In November 2024, he was selected as one of the ‘TIME 100 Climate 2024’ by TIME magazine.
About the Seminar
Day 1
- State-of-the-art opening ceremony
- New perspectives, many panelists and speakers
- Addressing energy transitions, market stability, energy security, investment, technology, innovation and much more
- Ministerial sessions
- High-level roundtables
- Unique networking opportunities and side discussions
- Exclusive Gala Dinner at the prestigious City Hall of Vienna
Day 2
- Inspiring conversations and fruitful discussions on key industry issues, including energy transitions, energy poverty eradication, climate change policies, cooperation and more
- Networking and VIP areas
- Wrap-up sessions, newsletters and handouts
- Focus on the youth and students participation
- Access to a rich multimedia section covering the event
- Special concluding remarks
Gala Dinner
The Gala Dinner on the first evening of the Seminar is a vital element of the OPEC Seminar.
Held at the magnificent Vienna City Hall, this event will be the perfect occasion for casual discussions and networking. Furthermore, on the occasion of the Gala Dinner, the prestigious OPEC Awards will take place, making this a truly unforgettable evening.