Meet the speakers

Executive Director, International Energy Agency

As the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Dr Fatih Birol has moved the Agency to the forefront of global efforts to ensure secure, affordable and sustainable energy systems. After taking office, Dr Birol led the IEA in its first comprehensive modernisation programme since its creation in 1974. These efforts focused on broadening the IEA’s energy security focus beyond oil to also cover electricity, natural gas, renewables and critical minerals; making the IEA the global hub for energy efficiency and advanced energy technologies; and “opening the doors” of the IEA to major emerging economies. With new governments joining the IEA Family under his tenure, its share of global energy demand has risen from 40% to almost 80%.

Dr Birol took up his position after rising through the ranks of the IEA over two decades. He has been named in the TIME100, TIME's annual list of the world's most influential people. He has also been named by Forbes as one of the most influential people in the world of energy and by the Financial Times as the Energy Personality of the Year. Dr Birol is the recipient of the highest civilian awards from numerous countries around the world, including the French Legion of Honour, the Japanese Emperor’s Order of the Rising Sun, the highest Emirati civil decoration and the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He chairs the World Economic Forum’s (Davos) Energy Advisory Board.

Before the IEA, Dr Birol worked at the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). He earned a BSc degree in power engineering from the Technical University of Istanbul and received an MSc and PhD in energy economics from the Technical University of Vienna. He is an honorary life member of Galatasaray Football Club.

Partner, Morais Leitão

Catarina Brito Ferreira joined the firm in 2003 and became a partner in 2017. She is a member of the corporate and M&A and capital markets practice area, distinguished by her work in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

In the area of corporate and commercial law, she has acted as legal advisor in several mergers, acquisitions and disposals of companies, including among others, the acquisition and disposal of companies with head offices in Portugal and outside Portugal, on behalf of domestic and foreign clients in various sectors, with particular emphasis on energy and infrastructures.

Most of her work has in fact been developed in the energy law area, having provided legal advice not only in the context of M&A transactions, but also in public tender bids and specializing in energy law regulation.

Catarina Brito Ferreira also provides general legal advice to numerous companies (national and foreign) in the areas of commercial and corporate law.

Winner of the Iberian Lawyer “40 under Forty Awards” (Energy) and of the IFLR “Europe Rising Stars Awards” (Energy and Natural Resources), both in 2019.

In 2022, she was also distinguished, by the Iberian Lawyer Energy Awards, as Lawyer of the Year in the Infrastructure practice area.

In 2025, Catarina Brito Ferreira has been recognized as a Green Ambassador 2025 by Legal 500 (Legal Business). This distinction highlights professionals whose leadership and legal work have contributed to decarbonization and the green transition, reinforcing their commitment to sustainability across multiple areas of practice. The recognition as a Green Ambassador also reflects her contribution to the development of specialized legal knowledge in the field, her influence within the industry, and her involvement in internal initiatives that promote a more sustainable legal practice.

Chief Executive Officer, Net Zero Technology Centre

Myrtle Dawes is Chief Executive Officer of the Net Zero Technology Centre where she leads the development of technology for a net zero energy industry.

She is a non-executive board member of FirstGroup, a non-executive director on the Aquila European Renewables plc board, an advisory board member for the Association of Black and Minority Engineers and sits on the Technology Leadership Board.

A Chartered Chemical Engineer, Myrtle is an established leader with extensive experience in the energy sector both in the UK and overseas. Respected as a prominent voice on the energy transition, she began her career 30 years ago as an offshore engineer for BP, before delivering on leadership roles in engineering, project management, technology and digital transformation. Myrtle’s passion for innovation and technology galvanises her colleagues, government and industry to take action and push boundaries.

Myrtle holds a Masters in Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology from Imperial College. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers, Fellow of the Energy Institute, Fellow of the Forward Institute and Honorary Fellow of the Association of Project Managers.

In 2017, Myrtle received recognition for her contribution to business, having featured in Breaking the Glass Ceiling and being selected as one of 100 Women to Watch in the Cranfield FTSE Board Report 2017. In 2021 she was recognised by TE:100 as one of the Women of the Energy Transition.

Partner, Hammarskiöld

Rasmus has extensive international and Nordic experience from leading large and complex financings. His work reaches across a broad spectrum of finance ‑ with a particular focus on Debt Capital Markets, Direct & Bank Lending and Restructuring. Rasmus represents lenders, borrowers, agents, trustees and other participants in the debt market.

Rasmus is a specially invited lecturer on Asset Finance, Acquisition Finance, Corporate Bonds and Securitisation at the Stockholm University law school.

Rasmus is ranked as a Rising Star Partner by IFLR1000, Up & Coming by Chambers Global and Chambers Europe as well as a Next Generation Partner by Legal500. Client feedback include:

“Friendly, competent, clever, quick.”

“Pragmatic approach and always prepared for the next step.”

“Rasmus Fahlén is one of the best lawyers that I’ve come across. He is very good at making transactions move forward and he ensures to negotiate positions in a very clear and balanced way. He is always super positive and it is a pleasure to work with him.”

“Good communication, easy to work with, straightforward, solution oriented. Very good knowledge. Very diligent.”

“Rasmus Fahlén is very hands-on and super responsive. Highly skilled in international financing situations.”

Regional Head of Energy, EBRD

George Gkiaouris is EBRD’s Regional Head of Energy, responsible for managing EBRD’s energy investments and policy initiatives for Southeast Europe.

George has more than 26 years banking experience, managing energy investments in emerging markets and transition economies. Since joining EBRD in 2001, George has supervised numerous energy transactions in Central and Southeastern Europe, involving project financings, bonds, syndicated debt and equity. In addition, George works extensively with Governments on designing energy sector policy reforms (e.g. developing regulatory frameworks, renewable auctions, privatizations, etc.) to help countries transition to a low carbon economy.

Prior to working at the EBRD, George worked for Barclays Capital and for the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), focusing in power sector financings in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America.

George was born in Kozani (Greece) and holds a Masters in Finance from Manchester University and a degree in Economics from Aristotle’s University of Thessaloniki.

Managing Director & Africa Regional Head, Standard Chartered

Fathima Hussain is Managing Director and Head of the Africa Project Finance team based in London and has over 27 years banking experience in the project & structured finance arena covering Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. During her career, Fathima has structured and led the execution of a number of award-winning debt arranging and advisory mandates in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors.

Fathima joined SCB in October 2005 and in her current role as Head of the Africa Project Finance team, she is responsible for leading a project finance business spanning energy, natural resources and infrastructure.

Fathima was previously with ANZ Investment Bank in London working on project advisory mandates, limited recourse finance and loan syndications in the Oil & Gas sector including reserves-based lending, LNG, Petrochemical and Fertiliser projects with a specific focus on the Middle East & South Asia. In 2002, Fathima relocated to Singapore where she worked with the Leasing & Structured Asset Finance team primarily focusing on offshore transportation and FPSO projects across Asia.

Fathima holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from Cambridge University and a BSc (Hons) Degree in Financial Services and is a qualified Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

Legal Counsel, DEME Group

Jana is Legal Counsel at DEME Group, a global leader in offshore energy and marine infrastructure. Based in Luxembourg, she provides strategic legal support for DEME’s offshore wind and marine projects. A key part of her role involves working closely with the procurement team, advising on contract negotiations, risk allocation, and compliance in a sector where multi-million-euro supply chain decisions are critical to project success.

Previously, Jana worked at Uría Menéndez in Madrid for seven years, specializing in international arbitration and cross-border disputes. Jana holds a dual degree on business administration and law from University Carlos III of Madrid and a Master of Laws from the same university; she is admitted to the Madrid Bar. She is also a founding member of the Luxembourg Chapter of the Spanish and Ibero-American Arbitration Club.

Partner, Oppenheim

Education

Studied at and graduated from the Eötvös Loránd University School of Law, Budapest in 1998. Attended a post-graduate course in EU law, international business law and arbitration at the TMC Asser Instituut (The Hague) in 2000.

Professional experience

Lectures in Hungarian contract law and law of succession at Civil Law Department of Eötvös Loránd University School of Law, Budapest as of 2002. Associate with one of the largest law firms in Hungary between 1998-2000. In-house counsel at the Hungarian Oil and Gas Company (MOL) (2000-2002). From 2002 head of the Regulatory Practice Group of the international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Budapest. Member of the Energy Arbitration Court (Budapest) since 2009. A founding partner of Oppenheim and head of its Energy, Regulatory, Utilities and Healthcare Practice as of 2007.

Member, European Parliament

Master's degree in law - Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" (graduated 2012)

Law firm "Djingov, Guginski, Kyuchukov and Velichkov" - successively intern, associate, senior associate (2011 - 2021)

Speaker of the 47th National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria (2021 - 2022)

Deputy Speaker of the 48th National Assembly (2022 - 2023) and of the 49th National Assembly (2023 - 2024)

Member of the European Parliament (2024 - present)

Partner, Karanovic & Partners

Petar is a Partner at Karanovic & Partners, heading the regional Energy and Natural Resources Industry Group. With over 15 years of experience, he advises clients in high-profile matters related to the development, operation, acquisition and financing of new energy projects, with a particular focus on renewables. He also handles capacity-building matters that aim to improve the regulatory and institutional frameworks in the WB6.

Petar is recognised as a leading energy, natural resources and projects lawyer among peers, colleagues, and clients. He is ranked as top tier in all relevant legal directories and he is an active member of some of the key professional associations in Serbia and internationally, such as the International Bar Association (IBA), AmCham Serbia Energy Committee (as a Vice Chairman), Serbian Energy Law Association, and Energy Law Group (ELG). Considered as a thought leader in the market, he has served as a member of the Working Group of the Serbian Ministry of Mining and Energy for implementation of the first Serbian Renewables Law and regularly takes speaking roles at the most reputable energy conferences in the region.

Managing Director, Brenmiller Europe

Dr. Jose Luis Moran Gonzalez, PhD in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, brings over 30 years of experience in various leadership roles within the energy, renewable and industrial sectors. Currently, he serves as Managing Director of Brenmiller Europe, where he specializes in developing Thermal Energy Storage solutions to support industrial decarbonization. Additionally, he is the Director of Integrated Energy Solutions at Viridi and Green Enesys, leading hydrogen and green e-Methanol projects powered by hybrid PV and wind plants operating off-grid. Previously, he held the position of Director of the Solar Business Unit at Siemens Spain and served as President of the Spanish branch of Solel, a company focused on the development, design, and construction of thermoelectric power plants. Since 1997, Dr. Jose Luis Moran Gonzalez is a part-time lecturer in Thermal Engineering and Off-shore Renewable Energy at the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering School of the Polytechnic University of Madrid. In 2017, he participated in the creation and was appointed General Coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Marine Renewable Energy, which focuses mainly in offshore wind energy solutions.

Director of Decarbonisation Regulatory Affairs, Energy Transition Técnicas Reunidas [H2 and CCU]

Juan Sánchez-Peñuela is a senior expert in energy regulation, with extensive experience in both the European Union and Spain. He spent eight years in the public sector working on high-level energy policy and regulation.

From 2020 to 2024, he served as Energy Counsellor at the Spanish Permanent Representation to the EU, where he played a key role during the 2022 energy crisis and the Spanish Presidency of the Council in 2023. During the Presidency, he chaired the Energy Working Party and led technical trilogues with the European Parliament on major energy files, including the Hydrogen and Gas Package.

He also represented Spain at the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris from 2019 to 2024.

Earlier, in Madrid, he held several roles at the State Secretariat for Energy between 2016 and 2020, ending as Deputy Director for Hydrocarbons and New Fuels.

Since September 2024, he has been Director for Decarbonisation Regulatory Affairs at Tecnicas Reunidas, a global leader in engineering and construction in the energy sector. In this role, he covers policymaking in a broad spectrum of decarbonisation solutions, including hydrogen and its derivatives, energy storage, carbon capture, and methane emissions management.

He is a Spanish Civil Servant—Industrial State Engineer—with a background in industrial engineering and an additional degree in geography and history. Since 2020, he has also been teaching energy regulation in executive programs at the Spanish public business school EOI and the Spanish association of energy companies Enerclub.

Managing Director, Green Giraffe Advisory

Clément is a founder of Green Giraffe and is now a Managing Director, global head of Green Giraffe Advisory, together with Udo Schneider. He is based in London, where he founded the London office in 2011.

He has led multiple transactions in offshore and onshore wind, both on the equity and debt sides. He coordinates Green Giraffe’s efforts in floating offshore wind.

He also developed Green Giraffe’s offtake advisory expertise – among others he supervised the transaction Google when they sourced all of their European renewable energy electricity in 2019

Before founding Green Giraffe, he worked at Dexia in Paris in 2008-10 within the project finance team. Prior to that, he spent a year in Beijing at AFD in 2006-07

He graduated from Ecole des Ponts ParisTech and holds an MSc in project finance from Université Paris X