La Jolla Conference 2022

Elizabeth Urbanas

Ignacio Horvath

Ignacio has more than 20 year’s experience in the Energy industry. He is currently CEO at Ancap, the Uruguayan NOC and biggest company in the country. It’s industrial conglomerate spans from exploration and production, through refining, midstream & downstream, as well as renewable energy through bio fuel production. More recently Ancap has taken a very active role in H2 development in the country, driving the onshore and offshore H2U program.

Before joining Ancap he worked at Schlumberger, with various positions in the United Kingdom, Romania and the US.He is a Mechanical engineer with a Masters in Cranfield University, UK and postgraduate studies in Sloan MIT business school.

Alex Santander

Electrical Engineer and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso.

Diploma in Business Management, Universidad de Chile. More than 12 years of professional experience in different areas of the energy sector, mainly in:

consulting, operation and planning of electricity systems, expansion of electricity transmission systems, energy planning and evaluation of new technologies, citizen participation processes, development of emission mitigation and carbon neutrality plans, analysis of resilience and adaptation to climate change, people management and innovation in different areas, public policy and sectoral regulation.

Current head of the Division of Energy and Environmental Policy and Studies of the Ministry of Energy of Chile. Active member of IEEE and CIGRÉ, with several publications.

Alfonso Blanco

Since the beginning of 2017, Alfonso Blanco Bonilla has held the position of Executive Secretary of the Latin American Energy Organization, elected by the Meeting of Energy Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean for the period 2017-2020.

He holds a degree in Industrial Mechanical Engineering from the University of the Republic of Uruguay, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the ORT University and a Diploma in Economics from UdelaR. He has a broad background as an Energy specialist in Latin America with an emphasis on regulatory issues, energy policy, project formulation and evaluation, business development and financing models.

Prior to his current position at OLADE, he was a consultant for the World Bank, IDB, CAF and the United Nations and held senior positions within the Uruguayan government, leading various components of Uruguay’s energy transformation that began in 2005.

He has participated in the formulation, evaluation, execution, start-up, and management of programs and projects for the public and private sectors and in direct liaison with international organizations.

Thiago de Aragão

Thiago is the director of strategy at Arko Advice. He has given presentations about the Brazilian and Latin American political environment in over a dozen countries and universities in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China.

A specialist in political risk analysis and political network analysis, through his work he has advised over 100 companies, rating agencies and investment funds from Brazil and abroad.

He is a research associate at the Institut de Relations Internationales et Strategiques (France) and co-editor and co-presenter of the Brazilian Politics Podcast.

Thiago is an alum of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and currently sits on the board of Fight Cancer Global Organization.

Jonathan Banks

Jonathan has worked with CATF since 1999 and serves as Global Director of the Super Pollutants program, where he develops and directs all of CATF’s international efforts to dramatically reduce methane pollution from energy, waste, and agriculture.

Jonathan brings over two decades of experience working with governments, companies, and civil society around the world to foster and implement policies to reduce methane pollution.

Jonathan works to catalyze international coalitions, country level policies and subnational efforts, to foster rapid change.

He also serves on the board of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Prior to joining CATF, Jonathan served as policy director for a national environmental campaign working to clean up coal fired power plants in the U.S. and was legislative assistant to U.S. Congressman Ralph Hall for energy and environment.

Jonathan has a B.A in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas and also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Congo.

Leonardo Beltran

Leonardo Beltran was Deputy Secretary for Planning and Energy Transition en the Administration of President Peña Nieto (2012-2018).

As part of his responsibilities he was appointed non-executive director of CFE and Pemex. He was the Chief Planning Officer and the Chief Technology Officer in the Mexican Energy Sector.

He studied a Master´s in Public Administration in International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School, a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico, and studied Law in the Faculty of Law of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México.

In 2005, Mr. Beltran joined Secretaria de Energia (SENER) as Director for International Negotiations, participating in high level meetings of the Energy Working Group of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Mechanism (APEC), the International Energy Agency, the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, and in bilateral and multilateral negotiations with the governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, India, New Zealand, Spain, and United States of America.

In 2010, Mr. Beltran was appointed Director-General for Information and Energy Studies at SENER, where he took part in the National System of Science and Technology and collaborated in the Technology and Science Research Information System of the National Science and Technology Council, as well as the Special Program on Science and Technology.

He also coordinated the interdepartmental working group on Carbon Capture, Use and Storage, and the working group to develop the Sustainable Building Mexican Voluntary Standard.

Leonardo Beltran has been a consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. He was part of the International Affairs division of the campaign and transition team of President Enrique Peña Nieto.

Leonardo Beltran has been part of the World Economic Forum´s Council of the Future of Electricity (2014-2016), and the Council of the Future of Energy (2016-2018).

Currently he is a member of the Advisory Council of the Partnering to Accelerate Sustainable Energy Innovation Project. Since 2017 is a member of the Administrative Board of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), and in 2018 he joined the Board of Fundacion por Mexico. He is also a consultant to the World Bank.

Fernando Branger

Fernando H. Branger G. CAF Senior Executive/Coordinator Energy Specialist based in Panama, with more than 20 years of experience in the energy sector and more than 11 years in CAF. Prior to joining CAF he served as Associate Coordinator of the International Center for Energy and Environment at IESA, Caracas. He also served as Finance and New Projects Manager at Electricidad de Caracas (1999-2007). He worked as assistant to the Vice Minister of Cordiplan (Planning Ministry) and as Head of the Office of Technology and Commerce of the same Institution (1993-1995).
Fernando is an Economist (1989) from Universidad Central de Venezuela with a Master in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (1996). In April 2010 he was invited by the U.S. government to participate in the “Maximizing Energy Efficiency Regional International Visiting Leaders Program”. In 2016 he took an intensive course on Climate Change and Energy at John F. Kennedy-Harvard School of Government.

Juan Martin Bulgheroni

Juan Martín Bulgheroni is currently the VP Upstream Strategy Planning for Argentina at Pan American Energy.

Since 2012, he has also held other VP positions. Between 2003 and 2011, he has worked at Beusa Energy LLC, an EP company based in Houston where he developed Tight and Shale gas plays as Resource Development Manager; from 2008 on, he was the company’s Chief Financial Officer.

During 1998 and 2000, he held positions in Partner Relations, Merger and Acquisitions at DLSArgentina Limited an Oil Gas drilling and well services Company.

He is a member and past Director of IAPGH, Argentine Oil and Gas Institute of Houston and of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Member. Juan Martín is Board Member of Institute of America and he became a founding Board member of STEAM Sin Fronteras.

He graduated as Bachelor of Science and obtained a degree in Petroleum Engineering at Colorado School of Mines. Also obtained an MBA at Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia, USA.

Trinidad Castro

Trinidad Castro Crichton is the Executive Director of the World Energy Council Chile, a platform for open dialogue between high-level leaders from the public and private sectors and academia, where the most important issues of the country’s energy sector are addressed.

Castro is a commercial engineer and has extensive experience in management in the nonprofit and corporate sectors, specifically in the design, operation and commercial execution of projects. She has a strong orientation toward achievement and management by objectives.

She has an autonomous management capacity, proactive personality, with the ability to establish interpersonal relationships and lead work in multidisciplinary teams. 

Castro holds a Bachelor in Business Administration & Economy from Universidad de los Andes and a Diploma from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in Public Policy. For the last two years she has been studying for a Master in Innovation at the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Santiago Chile.

She is very happy to be part of this select group of experts where she hopes to contribute in particular with a citizen’s view on the challenges and issues to be addressed.

Guido Cerini

Guido Cerini is Vice Chairman of Latin America for Credit Suisse. He is the Head of Energy and Infrastructure for the Latin America Coverage Group. He also covers a number of global Infrastructure funds.

He joined Credit Suisse in May 2010 from J.P. Morgan where he was Head of the Latin America Natural Resources Group. 

He has significant experience working with companies in strategic advisory, capital raising, restructuring and risk management assignments in the infrastructure, power, oil and gas and the renewables and energy transition sectors.

Mr. Cerini holds an M.B.A. in Corporate Strategy and Finance from the University of Michigan, and B.A. degrees in Business Administration and Accounting from the Universidad Católica de Argentina.

Andres Chambouleyron

Andres Chambouleyron is non-resident fellow at the Institute of the Americas. He has worked extensively in the private sector as an economist and consultant for public utilities (electricity, natural gas, water and sanitation, and telecommunications) and other regulated and non-regulated businesses. 

His work involves economic analysis, pricing and rate setting, valuation, business advisory, regulatory design and analysis mostly in the energy sector.

In the public sector, Dr. Chambouleyron has been economic advisor to Argentina’s Secretary of Communications (2000), where he helped design and implement the country’s new regulatory framework (i.e., interconnection, spectrum management, universal service, and licensing regimes); and advisor to Argentina’s Minister of Economy (2001) on regulatory and energy issues.

Before joining the Institute of the Americas Dr. Chambouleyron was Chairman of the Board of Argentina’s National Electricity Regulator (ENRE, 2018-2020) that regulates rates and quality of service for two electricity distribution companies in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area (six million users), one 500 KV electricity transmission company (fifteen million users), and seven 132 KV regional transmission companies.

He has also been Undersecretary of Tariff Policy at Argentina’s Ministry of Energy and Mining (2015-2017), where he designed and implemented a subsidy reduction program to both electricity generation and natural gas production and a social tariff regime for low-income families.

Dr. Chambouleyron has provided written or oral testimony as an expert in more than twenty arbitration cases in sectors ranging from electricity generation, transmission and distribution, natural gas production, transportation and distribution, to water and sanitation services, telecommunications and satellite services.

He has provided consulting services to both private companies and regulatory authorities throughout Latin America on regulatory issues such as interconnection rates and tariffs for both fixed and mobile telecommunication operators, X factors, and tariff calculation for price-cap regimes in telecoms; natural gas distribution companies and electricity and natural gas distribution and transportation companies.

Dr. Chambouleyron holds MA (1992) and PhD (1995) degrees in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his research on pricing and regulatory issues has been published in several professional journals.

He has collaborated in writing two chapters in two books related to the economics of crime and price and quality discrimination practices by unregulated monopolies.

He has taught courses in microeconomics, industrial organization, and regulation at both undergraduate and graduate levels in local universities.

German Chullmir

German is an entrepreneur with over 25 years of international experience. German has founded and developed investments in real estate, micro-mobility, construction and renewable energy.

Among them, German has founded OREL Energy Holdings, an Integrated ESG investment group focused on innovation and sustainable financing as catalysts for societal advancement.

Passionate about the environment and conscious about the crucial role clean energy plays in our society’s development, German has been advocating for the diversification of the energy matrix while facilitating social development

through technology innovation. German brings a unique perspective on the specific dynamics of the market and a strategic vision about private-public partnerships in the Americas.

Rhiannon Davis

Rhiannon Davis is the Clean Transportation Policy Manger within the Energy Innovation group at San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).

She engages with internal and external stakeholders, and advises executive leadership, on clean transportation legislative and regulatory policy. At the state level, her focus includes the state budget, legislation, and regulatory proceedings at the California Air Resources Board and California Energy Commission.

She is also engaged at the federal level, identifying opportunities within the recent infrastructure and climate-focused bills. Ms. Davis was previously Clean Energy Policy Manager for External & State Government Affairs at SDG&E. She worked on key state climate and clean energy policy issues, including the extension of California’s landmark Cap-and-Trade Program, the state’s 100% clean electricity mandate, electric vehicle adoption, wildfire mitigation, and equity-focused customer programs.

Prior to joining SDG&E, Ms. Davis spent nearly a decade in the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Washington, DC. As Director (Acting) for American Affairs, she managed a team and led policy direction for DOE’s engagements in the Western Hemisphere. Working with the White House, the U.S. Department of State and other agencies, Ms. Davis managed bilateral engagements with Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Columbia, and Mexico, as well as multilateral engagement with Caribbean nations. Ms.

Davis is a graduate of Barnard College and the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service (MSFS). She also studied Spanish and Political Science for a semester at the University of Costa Rica.

Bryan Early

Bryan is the Chief of Staff to Commissioner Andrew McAllister and the lead advisor on international relations with Mexico for the CEC. Bryan aids Commissioner McAllister in his leadership of the commission’s work on building and appliance efficiency standards, building decarbonization, and load flexibility. 

Bryan manages implementation of the CEC’s clean energy agreements with Mexico, and served on the last iteration of the GNEB, the federal advisory body to Congress and the President on engagement with Mexico. 

Bryan has over 15 years of experience working on environmental and energy policy in Sacramento. Prior to joining Commissioner McAllister‘s office in 2016, Bryan worked as a consultant for environmental organizations and clean energy companies at Conservation Strategy Group; 

as a legislative aide for Assembly Member Mike Feuer; and as a legislative advocate for the environmental organization Californians Against Waste.

Bryan has a Master’s in Environmental Management from Yale University and a Bachelor’s in History from Reed College.

Juancho Eekhout

Juancho Eekhout is Vice President for Business Development in Sempra Infrastructure’s LNG and Net Zero Solutions business, based in San Diego, California.

In this role, he leads the identification and early-stage development of energy infrastructure projects that help customers meet their LNG and net zero carbon energy needs (including hydrogen, ammonia, CCUS and renewable natural gas).

Mr. Eekhout also currently serves as President of the Energy Committee of AmCham Mexico. Prior to this role, Mr. Eekhout was Director General of ECA LNG where he oversaw the launching of the execution phase of the project through the end of the first year of construction.

Prior to that, Mr. Eekhout performed in various roles in the Sempra Family of companies including Chief Development Officer at IEnova in Mexico, Director of Power Origination with San Diego Gas & Electric, and Director of Mergers and Acquisitions with Sempra Energy.

Mr. Eekhout started his career with BP where he performed in various commercial and commodity trading roles in the U.K. and the Americas. Mr. Eekhout holds degrees in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and in Economics from UCAB in Caracas, Venezuela.

Chris Goncalves

Mr. Christopher Goncalves, Chair and Managing Director of the BRG Energy & Climate Practice, has over 30 years of experience in the energy and financial industries, spanning over 50 countries worldwide.

He has advised clients on business and commercial strategies, portfolio optimization, contract negotiations, investment and financing transactions, and GHG mitigation. 

He also has served as an energy industry, economic, and damages expert for LNG and natural gas price reviews, price review arbitrations, and other commercial and investment arbitration matters in the energy sector.

Emily Sarah Hersh

Emily Hersh, Founder and CEO of Luna Lithium, is a proven entrepreneur who has successfully managed mining and energy exploration projects throughout South America. She also identified and helped advance Challenger Exploration’s Hualilan Gold Project in San Juan, Argentina.

Emily is a strategic advisor with global experience across the lithium lifecycle from exploration to advanced processing and batteries, including advisory roles with sediment-based American Lithium in Nevada and Peru, and Pure Lithium – a Boston-based lithium metal battery technology company.

Emily is a geopolitical economist who has been a non-resident fellow at the Payne Institute of the Colorado School of Mines since 2019.

Emily founded and ran The Bubble, an English-language news company in Argentina for over eight years and has launched or co-hosted three audio and video media properties including The Minerals Manhattan Project, the Weekly Recharge video series, and the Global Lithium Podcast.

She is regularly quoted in The Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, New York Times, S&P Global, and other publications related to lithium and battery materials. She has appeared on CNN and Al-Jazeera America to comment on Argentina’s economy.

Emily was a founder of the Association of Women in Energy and Sustainability (AMES) in Argentina and Women in Mining (WIM) Argentina.

She holds a B.S. in Economics from Tulane University and an M.A. in International Affairs from American University.

Veronica Irastorza

An expert in competition economics and energy regulation, Ms. Irastorza has more than two decades of experience assisting clients across the globe.

Ms. Irastorza specializes in regulation and contracts, markets, damages, valuations, mergers and acquisitions, disputes, and arbitration. In addition to her energy focus, she has worked on several competition matters related to the transportation, finance, and food sectors.

As a former Undersecretary of Energy Planning and Transition in Mexico, Ms. Irastorza leverages her unique insights to help her clients navigate long-term energy project planning, renewable energy, and energy efficiency policies. She has assisted energy companies, regulators, and governments in countries including Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, and the US.

She has worked on all aspects of the electric power sector, including generation, transmission, ancillary services, distribution, and retailing. In natural gas, Ms. Irastorza has in-house experience and has advised companies on the effects of new policies and regulations, due diligence, mergers, acquisitions, and efficiency. She has been published in Bloomberg, The Electricity Journal, and the Oil & Gas Journal, and presented at numerous industry conferences.

Before joining Brattle, Ms. Irastorza held several other governmental positions in Mexico – in addition to her time as Undersecretary of Energy Planning and Transition – and was an Associate Director at an international economics consultancy.

Marta Jara Otero

Ex President of ANCAP (Administración Nacional de Combustibles, Alcohol y Portland), Uruguay

• After more than 20 years international experience at Royal Dutch Shell, Marta left her position as President of the Shell companies in Mexico to join the energy industry in her native Uruguay

• Chemical Engineer graduated from the University of Buenos Aires

• MA in Strategic Financial Management at Kingston University, UK, executive education programs at IMD in Lausanne and Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She has accepted an invitation to the upcoming Georgetown Leadership Seminar 2019 at the Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Benigna Leiss

Benigna C Leiss is a nonresident fellow in Latin American energy at Rice University’s Baker Institute currently focusing on the energy transition, the role of lower carbon barrels and renewables in the energy matrix. She is former general director of Chevron Energía de México. 

Previously she was VP Texaco Global Gas & Power Brazil.   She has held multiple assignments in Latin America and West Africa. Started her career in the US working for natural gas pipeline companies supplying the Northeast, Midwest and Mexico. She is an undergraduate from  “Universidad de Chile” and has MSc from Surrey University in the UK.

Warren Levy

25 years of experience leading oil & gas and related companies, both public and private, from LatAm to Vietnam.

Led oilfield services group from startup through to $250 million USD/year in revenues and 2,500 employees in 7 countries.

Albert (Qi) Li

Since 2018, Albert Qi Li holds the position of Analyst – China at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence and is specifically focused on lithium, graphite and cobalt activities within China.

Albert is responsible for researching price data and lithium ion supply chain information, intelligence that feeds into Benchmark’s price assessments and consultancy services.

He worked in mineral industry since 2005 as international trader, sales engineer, and analyst.

Prior to joining Benchmark, Albert was a mineral sands trader in South-East Asia for Astron Limited, as a sales engineer for Australian ilmenite, rutile and zircon.

Jean-Luc Di Liberti

Jean-Luc Di Liberti has over 25 years of experience working for Solar Turbines in various roles ranging from the design of centrifugal compressors to Customer Services and Marketing roles.

He spent the recent part of his career in Europe to help customers improve their operational excellence and supported them in their carbon reduction journey.

Jean-Luc is currently the Hydrogen Enterprise Strategy Manager for Solar Turbines coordinating the large hydrogen effort across the company from Marketing, Engineering, testing to business development.

Jean-Luc holds a diploma course in Turbomachinery from the von Karman Institute in Belgium and a PhD in Mechanical engineering from Michigan State University.

Ana Lilia Moreno

Ana Lilia Moreno is an economist graduated from Universidad Panamericana at Mexico City.

She holds a Master Degree in Economics at University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, and counts with two diplomas:
Western Institutions (Phoenix Institute in alliance with Notre Dame University, USA) and Competition Law (Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City).

She currently works as the program coordinator for competition and regulation affairs at México Evalúa-CIDAC, a think tank engaged in evaluating public policy.

Her recent work includes: ESG testing to Pemex and CFE, an outlook to energy poverty in Mexico, and a paper regarding the necessary deliberation on what she calls ‘the Mexican energy paradox’, the dilemma between a free-trade based North American integration and the current protectionist energy policy.

At CIDAC, before the merge with México Evalúa, Ana was a key researcher and manager during the 2013 constitutional energy reform where she provided stakeholders with valuable information, and the design of a communication strategy for opening spaces for fostering public dialogue regarding the energy policy.

From 1999 to 2012 she served as senior manager at KPMG and Deloitte for tax planning and transfer pricing projects for relevant multinational companies within the oil & gas, manufacturing, banking, infrastructure and telecommunications sectors. She is currently an active lecturer at Universidad Anáhuac in the field of Industrial Economics.

Christoffer Mylde

Chris Mylde is currently Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Sproule in Calgary.

As part of the senior leadership team at Sproule, he drives the company’s global growth strategy.

Chris has over 20 years experience and speaks frequently at industry events and conferences around the world on key trends in global energy markets.

Prior to joining Sproule, Chris spent 10 years in corporate finance and advisory with HSBC in London, Hong Kong and Toronto and Simmons, a boutique advisory firm focused exclusively on the energy sector.

He has a B.Sc. in Economics and Economic History from the University of Warwick and an M.Sc. in European Political Economy from the London School of Economics.

Chris has been pleased to serve as the Norwegian Honorary Consul for Southern Alberta since January 2019.

David Ocañas

David Ocañas is the Commercial Planning Director for Excelerate Energy, responsible for the strategic project financial valuations as well as maintaining the long-term corporate economic model for the company.

Prior to joining Excelerate, David formerly served at Grupo Dragon where he helped establish the gas-fired electric generation business segment by developing natural gas supplier relationships, managing gas contracts as well as implementing risk management hedging strategies for commodity and foreign exchange positions.

Prior to Grupo Dragon, David held several roles in PEMEX, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, where his responsibilities included supervision and oversight of PEMEX’s affiliate companies, recommended corporate initiatives, best practices and participated in developing new business policies and internal legal framework for PEMEX’s first ever E&P partnership opportunities since the national expropriation in 1938.

Additionally, in his role in Investor Relations at PEMEX, David was tasked with maintaining relationships and dialog with investors, analysts, and credit rating agencies. David Ocañas has more than 10 years of experience in the oil and gas sector and earned an Executive MBA from the IPADE Business School in Mexico City, a Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Business from Drake University and is a CFA Charterholder since 2017.

Rene Ortiz

David is Managing Director of IPD Latin America.  He has thirty years of experience consulting in the Latin American energy industry, twenty of those living in Venezuela.  His strengths lie in government and public affairs, oil and gas market intelligence, energy policy and country risk assessment.

Building on his oil and gas career, David has developed a keen interest in the global energy transition and the unique challenges facing oil and gas producing nations. He is co-founder of the Madrid Energy Conference, an annual event that fosters energy investment and policy development between Europe and the Americas

John Padilla

As Managing Director and partner at IPD, John leverages years of Wall Street experience in structured energy and infrastructure financing to offer comprehensive perspective on energy investment throughout Latin America.

John led IPD’s expansion into Mexico in 2001. He has since played a vital role in the development of lobbying efforts to encourage a healthy, more vigorous Mexican energy sector.

With 15 years of direct consulting experience in Mexico, John is one of the premier experts on the politics and policy of that country’s energy industry.

In 2011 he relocated to Bogota in order to participate more directly in the resurgence of Colombia’s oil and gas sectors.

John co-heads IPD’s business throughout Latin America, contributing a strong pragmatism and tactical expertise to support project risk and opportunity assessment.

He has devised comprehensive government relations, key stakeholder management, and legislative and regulatory analysis services to enhance clients’ ability to navigate Latin America’s complex business environments. John is frequently quoted in the U.S. and international press, and speaks regularly at industry conferences and events.

Prior to joining IPD, John was Vice President and a Global Relationship Manager with Dresdner Kleinwort Benson in its N.Y. based Energy, Utility and Infrastructure Group, focusing on large domestic and international projects in Latin America, the U.S. and Asia.

He also held positions with the project finance group at Banque Paribas and the transportation group at Manufacturers Hanover (now JP Morgan Chase).

Education:

Bachelor of Science, Boston College, 1991 – Major: Finance

Languages Spoken:

English (native), Spanish (fluent)

Juan Pareja

Juan I. Pareja manages New Business Development and Commercial activities in the Americas, including the identification, capture and development of new opportunities across the gas, LNG and power value chains.  Juan joined Shell in 2014. 

He also sits on the Board for The Center for LNG as Chairman.

Juan began his career as a financial analyst with ARCO International Oil & Gas Company in Dallas, Texas.  Juan was involved in various planning, evaluation and competitive intelligence roles supporting international operations. 

In 1999, Juan joined Dell Computer as finance manager for Latin America and later acquired finance and strategy responsibilities for Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean.  Juan joined Phillips Petroleum in 2001 and moved to Perth, Australia as a Commercial Advisor where he was involved in the negotiation of commercial agreements surrounding the Bayu-Undan, Darwin and Sunrise LNG projects. 

In 2005, Juan transferred to Singapore as a Director with ConocoPhillips Global Gas Unit, pursuing upstream gas and LNG business development opportunities.  In 2007 Juan transferred to the commercial organization and assumed the role of manager of LPG Trading & Operations for all of Asia-Pacific, where he executed the first multi-year LPG sales contract for Bayu-Undan, becoming the largest East of Suez LPG supplier to Japan. 

Juan also led ConocoPhillips’ global bid for the Singapore LNG Aggregator project.  In September 2008, Juan established ConocoPhillips’ LNG Trading desk for Asia-Pacific/Middle East and originated the first sale of Qatar Gas into Pakistan.  In 2011, Juan moved to Houston managing Global LNG Business Development, including development of emerging LNG markets in the Americas and early marketing of Alaska LNG. 

Working in Integrated Gas and Shell Energy, Juan has identified, negotiated and developed multiple opportunities across the gas, LNG and power value chains, including most recently country and regional plays in South America, including the development of cross border gas sales between Argentina and Chile, the re-establishment of Shell’s presence in Chile, gas market development in Colombia and other projects in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay.

Juan has experience managing multiple project teams, direct reports and developing junior talent. 

Juan earned a dual bachelor’s degree in Economics & Management and Psychology from Beloit College in Wisconsin and a master’s degree in business administration in Finance and Business Strategy from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. 

Juan is an accredited EDL by Shell’s Commercial Academy.  In his free time, he is a fitness enthusiast and wine collector.

Carlos de Regules

Mr. de Regules is a partner at Deloitte and a seasoned practitioner in the oil and gas sector, both as an operator and as a regulator.

He has advised different countries on institutional and regulatory improvements, namely Guyana on new institutional capacities for the oversight of petroleum operations.

Mr. de Regules led the creation of Mexico´s ASEA, the national agency for safety and environmental protection, responsible for regulating the entire Mexican oil and gas industry.

Prior to that, during his 18 years career at Petróleos Mexicanos, he held different responsibilities, before being named Deputy Director for Strategic and Operational Planning.

He is a Chemical Engineer with an MSc in Environmental Engineering and Management from École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris.

Mr. de Regules is a member of the IEA Methane Guiding Principles Network and a member of the Institute of the Americas Energy Committee.

Heather Rock

Heather Rock has over sixteen years of experience in strategy and policy, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and political risk.

She is currently Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President of Engineering, Planning, and Strategy at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, where she provides strategic support and guidance to leadership responsible for PG&E’s strategy and planning, electric and gas engineering, energy policy and procurement, innovation, and climate resilience.

Previously, as Director of Climate Resilience, Heather led PG&E’s efforts to bolster the resilience of its assets, operations, co-workers, and communities it serves amid the growing risks of climate change.

Prior to joining PG&E, she held various climate policy and risk analysis roles at Chevron Corporation in San Ramon and Houston, Texas, and worked as a senior analyst covering Latin America sovereign risk at Eurasia Group in New York City and Washington DC.

Heather holds a master’s degree in international affairs from UC San Diego and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from University of Pennsylvania. She lives with her family in San Diego.

Francisco Salazar

Francisco Xavier Salazar Diez de Sollano is a partner at Gadex, Enix and Trust Mexico. Gadex is a consulting firm specialized in the natural gas market in Mexico, Enix is devoted to energy regulation while Trust Mexico analyses socio political risks for infrastructure projects in the country.

Francisco is also the Coordinator of the International Confederation of Regulators (ICER).

In 2016, he was appointed as the first “Institute of the Americas Regional Energy Integration Non-Resident Fellow” and as executive fellow at the School of Public Policy of the University of Calgary.

During 2015-2017, he was Chair of the Mexican Chapter of the World Energy Council (WEC). In 2017 he became a member of COMEXI, the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations

From 2005 to 2015, he served as Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) time during which he was an active promoter of energy reform in Mexico. During 2011-2015 he chaired the Ibero-American Energy Regulators Association (ARIAE).

Prior to being a regulator, he was a congressman for two terms. In Congress he served as a Chairman of the Energy Committee at the Chamber of Deputies.

At the beginning of his professional career, he also was involved in the Chemical Sector.

Mr. Salazar holds an MSc in Public Financial Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science, a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, and Diploma studies in Law and Economics from other universities.

He has taught courses on Public Finance and Monetary Economics at local universities in San Luis Potosi and written on the use of economic instruments in environmental public policy, as well as on energy policy and regulation. Mr. Salazar has also participated as member of editorial boards from major newspapers and business magazines in Mexico.

Régulo Salinas

Mr. Regulo Salinas holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Monterrey Tech, in Mexico, and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Chicago. 44 years ago, he began his career at Ternium, who is the largest steel producer in Latin America and Mexico.

He held several positions at the corporate and divisional level, and eventually became the CEO of the company for Mexico.

He was Chairman of CANACERO, industry association that groups all Mexican steel producers, and Chairman of the North American Steel Council, that groups the steel producers in North America.

He is currently Chairman of the Energy Committee of Consejo Coordinador Empresarial, organization that groups all industry associations of Mexico.

Alberto Sambartolome

Alberto is a Partner Leader for the O&G services and the Social & Sustainability Team in the Mexico Business Unit, with over twenty five years of experience in applied environmental sciences and consulting. He has occupied different roles within the ERM regions under O&G, Social, and Biodiversity performance teams.

Since 2014 Alberto has coordinated the O&G Sector services in Mexico, and for the Northern LAC BU recently conformed, which includes Mexico, Colombia, Panama, and Guyana.

Robert G. Schwiers Jr.

Robert G. Schwiers Jr. is the Chief Economist for Chevron’s Strategy & Sustainability Department.  He advises senior executives on economic and energy market dynamics to aid in developing business plans and growth strategies for the company.  Mr. Schwiers is currently a member of the American Petroleum Institute’s Economics and Statistics Committee, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Industry Advisory Board, and the IEA’s Energy Business Council.  He has also contributed to several external industry publications including Energy & Security: Strategies for a World in Transition and the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook.  

Previously, Mr. Schwiers was a Senior Energy Analyst in Chevron’s Supply & Trading organization assisting energy traders with short-term energy market analysis.  He also held several positions within Chevron’s strategic planning organization including senior staff analyst, principal consultant, and manager of forecast and business support.   

Mr. Schwiers graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a degree in business administration with a focus on accounting, finance. He joined Chevron in 1998 and has more than 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.

Robert is based at Chevron’s corporate headquarters in San Ramon.

Chris Sladen

Chris is an advocate for better energy solutions than the ones we have used so far!

Chris is well known across the energy sector, particularly for laying a framework for co-investment between public and private sector energy companies, whilst explaining the different elements of project, contract and country risk.

He has a track record of helping governments and regulators to optimise private and co-investment.

His focus as a non-resident fellow at the Institute includes low carbon and zero carbon policies and energy technologies, particularly geothermal and hydrogen, being implemented across the globe, especially in Latin America, Europe/UK and Australasia.

Chris is author of the widely read ‘Energy Matters’ op-ed that tackles big energy issues using real-life personal experiences, extensive research and verification.

Chris contributes to numerous media articles and research pieces, and is frequently quoted on energy and climate issues by both the energy press and mainstream media.

His articles reflect his passion for the energy sector and how to achieve better outcomes. He has published extensively over five decades.

Chris also has experience acquired on Boards of companies, advisory boards, and business chambers, including the Board of Directors of the Institute of Americas from 2014 through 2021. He has a doctorate in geoscience from the University of Reading and has researched lake systems and their economic importance for over 40 years.

His contributions to energy and education have been recognised by the UK Government with both an MBE and CBE, and also the Aztec Eagle from the Mexican Government – the first foreigner in the energy sector to receive this.

Roger Tissot

Rene Roger Tissot is an economist, MBA and a CPA with deep experience in international energy policy and geopolitics. Roger started his career at the Canadian Energy Research InsƟtute (CERI), where he led the Institute’s international research, particularly in Latin America.

He also worked as international government relations for a large Canadian oil company with largely focused on Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina.

Later at Washington based consultancy he advised energy corporaƟons on LaƟn America’s energy policy issues. More recently, Roger led program at Kapsarc, a Saudi energy economic think-tank research on policy evaluation and design on in-country value addition and local content in the oil sector.

His research focused on East Africa, parƟcularly Uganda and Mozambique. Since completing his assignment in Saudi Arabia, Roger has advised different organizations and recently completed a study for the Sultanate of Oman on the In-Country Value-added and local content policies.

Roger is also engaged in work on a PhD in Global Studies at the University of British Columbia (Okanagan).

Amine Soudani

Alberto Vega

Alberto Vega is a Partner at ERM dedicated to Environmental and Sustainable Development. Specialized training in management and financial analysis, and a solid education in environmental and natural sciences, provide him with the ideal tools to successfully manage complex environmental protection and conservation projects and programs. He is a system ecologist with more than thirty-five years of professional experience including environmental planning and sustainable development. He has significant experience in leading environmental and social assessments following the Equator Principles Framework and other International Best Practices such as Equator Principles, IFC Performance Standards and IADB Safeguards. 

He has led Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) that facilitated financing from some of the Global International Lenders for some of the most iconic infrastructure Development Project in the Region such as the Panama Canal Expansion and addition to many other initiatives in the O&G, Mining, and Power Development Sectors.

His current role includes the leadership of the regional efforts in ERM Latin America and the Caribbean to support the Transition to a Lower Carbon Economy. He has experience with renewable energy sources including wind and solar power as well as hydropower in over fifteen countries in the Americas.

David Victor

David Victor is a professor of innovation and public policy at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at UC San Diego. He is the Center for Global Transformation Endowed Chair in Innovation and Public Policy.

Victor is also the Co-director of the campus-wide Deep Decarbonization Initiative, which focuses on real world strategies for bringing the world to nearly zero emissions of warming gases.

Victor is also an adjunct professor in Climate, Atmospheric Science & Physical Oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Prior to joining the faculty at UC San Diego, Victor was a professor at Stanford Law School where he taught energy and environmental law. 

His research focuses on regulated industries and how regulation affects the operation of major energy markets. Much of his research is at the intersection of climate change science and policy.

Victor authored “Global Warming Gridlock,” which explains why the world hasn’t made much diplomatic progress on the problem of climate change while also exploring new strategies that would be more effective.

The book was recognized by The Economist as one of the best books of 2011.

Victor was a convening lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations-sanctioned international body with 195 country members that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. 

Victor has been tapped by Southern California Edison to lead the company’s Community Engagement Panel for decommissioning of the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. According to utility officials, he was chosen to lead the panel because he has the vision, leadership and experience to bring together a diverse group of concerned people.

Victor, in 2016, was appointed to Co-Chair, The Brookings Institution, Initiative on Energy and Climate.

He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Energy, where his work focuses on the role of natural gas as a transition fuel to deep decarbonization as well as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

In 2020, Victor was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the oldest and most esteemed honorary societies in the nation.

At UC San Diego, Victor and researchers at the Deep Decarbonization Initiative work at the intersection of science, technology and policy.

They are focused on helping the world cut emissions of warming gases given the very real technology, economic and political constraints that exist. Ph.D., Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1997. A.B., History and Science, Harvard University, 1987.

David Voght

David is Managing Director of IPD Latin America.  He has thirty years of experience consulting in the Latin American energy industry, twenty of those living in Venezuela.  His strengths lie in government and public affairs, oil and gas market intelligence, energy policy and country risk assessment.

Building on his oil and gas career, David has developed a keen interest in the global energy transition and the unique challenges facing oil and gas producing nations. He is co-founder of the Madrid Energy Conference, an annual event that fosters energy investment and policy development between Europe and the Americas

Duncan Wood

Duncan Wood, PhD, is Vice President for Strategy and New Initiatives at the Wilson Center. Previously, he was Director of the Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute and now serves as a Senior Advisor to the Institute.

He is an internationally renowned specialist on North American politics, Mexico and U.S.-Mexican ties who lectures and publishes on hemispheric issues and relations.

He regularly gives testimony to the U.S. Congress on U.S.-Mexico relations, is a widely quoted source on Mexican politics, and has published extensively on this and other issues.  He is the author or editor of 12 books and more than 30 chapters and articles.

He is currently co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Transparency and Anti-Corruption, has worked closely with the WEF on Energy policy, and is a member of the editorial board of Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica.

From 1996-2012, he was a professor and the director of the International Relations Program at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de Mexico (ITAM) in Mexico City for 17 years.

Over the course of his 30 year career he has been a Fulbright Fellow and a Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); an editorial advisor to Reforma and El Universal newspapers; Technical Secretary of the Red Mexicana de Energía; a consultant with McLarty Associates, the Economist Intelligence Unit, Horizon and Eurasia Group; and owner of a speakeasy in Mexico City.

He studied in the UK and Canada, receiving his Doctorate in Political Studies from Queen’s University, Canada, and is a recipient of the Canadian Governor General’s Visit Award for contributions to the Mexico-Canada relationship. He is a life-long fan of Liverpool Football Club and will hopefully Never Walk Alone.

Ruth Zambrano