LNG global experts speaking at LNGgc 2013

Christof manages BP’s global Economics Team, providing economic input into the firm’s commercial decisions.  BP’s Economics Team also produces the annual Statistical Review of World Energy and Global Energy Outlook.  Christof has a distinguished track record in both academia and economic policy making.  Prior to joining BP, he was at the World Bank (1998-2005) where he served as the Bank’s Chief Economist in Russia and in Brazil.  Before that, Christof worked in the Office of the Chief Economist at the EBRD in London.  Previously, he was an academic economist, first in Germany and from 1991 as Professor of Economics at the University of California in Los Angeles. 

Wim Groenendijk is Vice-President of Gas LNG Europe and chairman of its small-scale LNG working group. He works for Gasunie as Vice-President International & Regulatory affairs. He is a member of the Board of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE)

Yoshida Takashi was born in Tokyo, Japan and Graduated from Sophia University, Degree in Law. He has worked for the Japan National Oil Corporation (JNOC) and was, until July 2011 the General Manager, London Office, JOGMEC. He is currently Director General, Research & Analysis Department, Oil & Gas Upstream Unit, JOGMEC.

Jean-Christian is currently Head of the LNG desk at Switzerland-based DufEnergy Trading SA – an affiliate of steel trader Duferco. Prior to this, he worked at Gaz de France / GDF Suez for 15 years, where he held several technical and commercial positions, both in pipe gas and LNG businesses. He also was awarded an innovation trophy for creating an in-house deal tracking tool. His LNG experience and knowledge ranges from spot trading (Atlantic swaps, sales to China and Japan) to long-term contract management (Algeria, Norway, India, Chile).

As Chief Operating Officer at Excelerate Energy, Ed Scott has responsibility for the implementation of the operations, technical and administrative initiatives of the company. He formerly served as Senior Vice President of Development with responsibility over the development, permitting, and construction of Excelerate's LNG importation projects.

“Marc Nuytemans obtained his master foreign going (Captain) from the Antwerp Maritime Academy. After an extensive career at sea on different types of vessels, he was Fleet Personnel Manager at Exmar Shipmanagement (formerly Tecto) from 1997 to 2000. In 2000 he took up the position as managing director of the Royal Belgian Shipowners' Association. Marc Nuytemans is CEO of Exmar Shipmanagement since 2008. He is member of the board of directors of Brabo, Caritas International, the Chamber of Commerce Antwerpen, the International Seaman's House Antwerp and Flandria. He is also Executive Professor of ITMMA (Institute of Transport & Maritime Management Antwerp) at the Antwerp University.

Armelle Lecarpentier is Chief Economist at CEDIGAZ, the international association for natural gas. CEDIGAZ is an international association with over 100 members worldwide, created in 1961 by a group of international oil and gas companies and the Institut Français du Pétrole Energies nouvelles (IFPEN). Dedicated to the natural gas sector, CEDIGAZ collects and analyses worldwide economical information on natural gas, LNG and unconventional gas in an exhaustive and critical way.

Jeong Wook Khang is a senior researcher, Center for Gas Economics and Management, Korea Gas Corporation. He joined KOGAS in 1997 and has researched in the fields of LNG industry including restructuring of national natural gas industry, supply/demand of natural gas, and other energy sector such as new and renewable energy. He has a doctorial degree at Production and Operations Management and his background is based on Industrial engineering and Operations Research.

Luis Lesmes has been Head of Morgan Stanley’s LNG business since 2007. He  started the firm’s LNG trading activities late that year contracting LNG supply for its European gas and power asset based portfolio and then diverting it to other EU, Asian and South American markets. Prior to this role, Mr. Lesmes worked at BP for eleven years where he held a range of commercial roles in the upstream, gas and power and trading segments in Venezuela, US and UK.

COSTAS IOANNOU studied Electrical Engineering, at London University, graduating with distinction. He worked for the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) for 36 years, six of which as the Chief Engineer and General Manager. He resigned from the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EAC in January 2004 to accept an appointment, by the Council of Ministers, to the post of the first Chairman of the newly formed Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA). In October 2009 he resigned from CERA as he was appointed by the Council of Ministers as the first Executive Chairman of the newly formed Natural Gas Public Company of Cyprus (DEFA). He wrote a number of essays and studies which were presented in international conferences and published. In his long career he held various honorary positions in many bodies.

Akira has more than twenty five years’ experience of research work in international energy markets. He was formerly a Visiting Fellow of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (UK) and a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan. 

Ms. Kathleen Eisbrenner is Founder and CEO of NextDecade LLC, a company positioned to create innovative opportunities in the United States and international integrated natural gas industry. In addition, Ms. Eisbrenner serves as the CEO of Levant LNG and Pangea LNG. Both companies bring together a team of industry-leading partners with the purpose of developing Floating LNG projects in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the US, Africa, and Asia. Ms. Eisbrenner previously worked as Executive Vice President at Royal Dutch Shell, responsible for Shell’s Global LNG strategy and was the CEO and Founder of Excelerate Energy, a proven industry leader, LNG importer and marketer. Ms. Eisbrenner also formerly served as a board member of Chesapeake Energy Corporation. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and currently resides in Texas.

Marcio joined Petrobras’ natural gas commercial department in 2001. He has expertise in negotiating and managing several gas sales agreements with local distribution companies and power generators, as well as gas purchase agreements with local producers in Brazil of associated and non-associated gas. He is involved in Petrobras’ LNG developments since 2004, participating on the implementation of the 2 regasification terminals in Brazil since  conception, structuring the LNG supply strategy and contractual arrangements.

Andrew Clifton became General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) in November 2012. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, not least over 30 years in the liquefied gas shipping industry. This involvement includes 19 years at sea, mainly on liquefied gas carriers, a first class honours degree in shipping operations and shore managerial experience over the last 12 years. The latter includes three years working at the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), almost two years in the SIGTTO Secretariat as a Technical Adviser and, most recently, over five years based in Indonesia as LNG Shipping Operations Manager for the BP Tangguh LNG project.

In this most recent posting Andrew was responsible for the project’s shipping activities and overseeing their development, from construction through vessel delivery to the plant commissioning and entry into service of the ships built to serve the project.

Andrew was also the SIGTTO Panel chairman from October 2008. Andrew  is the eighth and youngest General Manager and the first GM who was formerly a Technical Adviser at the Society

Graham joined Wood Mackenzie in 2006 as a Senior Managing Consultant within the company's European Gas & Power consulting practice.  He then switched to the research team in 2009, where he is currently a Senior Analyst in the European Gas & Power team.  He has worked in the energy business for more than 30 years; half the time with BG in a variety of roles and half the time in energy consulting with Wood Mackenzie, Global Insight and Purvin & Gertz. He has broad experience in providing consultancy advice throughout the gas chain and beyond.  This includes assignments covering natural gas, LNG, power generation and oil products.  He has worked on assignments in Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and the United States.

Guy joined Total in 1978 as an IT expert for E&P activities after graduated from “Ecole des Mines” (Nancy) and was appointed Head of LNG Supply for the Group in 2006 after having held a number of technical and commercial posts, specially focused, during the last 20 years, on the commercial development of the LNG business for Total in Jakarta, Tokyo and London. Guy has been in chargeof commercial operations for Total’s natural gas business in Buenos Aires and the UK (London & Aberdeen). He is responsible for supplying Total’s LNG portfolio through longterm sales contracts. He is a non-executive director of Total Gas and Power (UK).

Hiroshi Kondo is Vice President of Tokyo Gas Paris Office. Tokyo Gas is the largest gas company in Japan. His geographical areas regarding LNG matters are Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Since he joined Tokyo Gas in 1996, he has been in charge of LNG operations for many years. His responsibilities include receiving LNG shipments at terminals, controlling cargo delivery schedules and making sales and purchase contracts. Previously, he worked for Tokyo LNG Tanker, a subsidiary of Tokyo Gas, managing some vessels under transportation contracts.

Frédéric Deybach became an Engineering Duty Officer in the French Navy after his graduation from Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Etudes et Techniques d'Armement (ENSIETA, Brest, France) in 1992 with an Engineer Degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.  He joined Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) in 1998 as a commercial engineer. He was Manager of the Marketing Department between 2002 and 2007, actively promoting the membrane technology around the world. Between October 2007 and December 2009 he was Director of the Engineering Division, which is principally in charge of, the design of the Cargo Containment System and the Cargo Handling System, and the supply of all related drawings and calculation notes to shipyards and classification societies for each new LNG Carrier project. In January 2010, he resumed his commercial functions as Commercial Vice President.  He joined GDF SUEZ headquarters in April 2011. As Vice President Prospection for GDF SUEZ LNG, he is in charge of prospecting for new LNG supplies and for opportunities in new projects, for GDF SUEZ LNG portfolio.

Jacques Guldenmundt’s career spans over 30 years covering various aspects of the energy business. With a degree of Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands), he has vast international experience in coal mining, petrochemicals and since 2000, in gas and LNG. Since 2007 Jacques has been one of the key players within Eneco in the decision making process regarding LNG terminal and supply positions. This has resulted in mid-term contracts with the newly commissioned Gate terminal and with a LNG supplier.

Martial is at the position of Marine Leader for Environmental Services in Bureau Veritas Marine, with the primary role of providing technical and managerial leadership in the development of Environmental Rules and Services. He is also Project Manager of the Ulysses European Project focusing on drastic emission reduction for cargo ships at the horizon 2020. He has a Master Engineer Degree in Mechanical applied to Naval Shipbuilding. Prior to joining Bureau Veritas in 2006, Martial has been working for 15 years in two major French civilian and military navy shipyards.

Francisco de la Flor has been working in the natural gas business since the mid eighties. He has worked  in several companies holding various positions and having responsibilities for commercial, technical, procurement, international and planning issues. He is currently Directorof Regulation in Enagas since 2002. At the same time, he is a Professor for University postgraduates at the Global Development Learning Network, belonging to the World Bank.

Alexander Harsema-Mensonides (1965) has been involved in LNG since 1999. Initially Alex studied Economics at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, but eventually graduated in mechanical engineering from the Hanse Polytechnic Institute in Groningen. Since 1993 he has worked in various technical and commercial positions in the shipbuilding industry in the Netherlands. In 1999 he founded his MPT Consultancy, a marine consulting firm, advising customers like GE Energy and ABB Marine. Since 2008 he’s been working as a senior engineer for Marine Service GmbH, doing business development in small scale LNG, LNG shipping and floating LNG.

David is an independent consultant with nearly 20 years LNG experience gained through the development of LNG projects in Asia, Middle East and Europe. David provides commercial, financing and strategic support to National and International energy companies globally. He also gives commercial training courses on LNG. David is a Fellow of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and is co-author for the books “Gas in Asia” (June 2008); “Middle East Gas & North African Gas” (March 2011) and he is currently working with the Institute on a book on gas and LNG pricing.

Simone Bertolo is Head of Business Development for LNG activities within ENEL Upstream Gas organization since February 2011. Before joining ENEL, Simone has spent 15 years with General Electric Oil & Gas by covering different commercial and technical roles: from the most recent where he was Global Market Development Manager being responsible for expanding markets in the Oil & Gas/Energy sector to Product Manager for compressors and other roles in application engineering, commercial operations, sales and business development for LNG. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Florence and an MBA from SDA Bocconi, Milan.

Ignacio has more than ten years experience in the energy sector (gas, LNG and power) at leading Spanish utilities. His experience is focused on strategy, business development, corporate finance, as well as in energy portfolio management. He has worked for STREAM Repsol, Gas Natural and Endesa. 

Andy Flower has been working as an Independent Consultant for the last ten and a half years specialising in the LNG business where his areas of expertise include; strategy, marketing, project structures, shipping, pricing, supply and demand and project economics. He retired from BP in 2001 after 32 years service, including twenty two years working in the company’s LNG and natural gas business units where he managed BP’s interests in a number of LNG projects including Bonny LNG in Nigeria, Australia’s North West Shelf project, Qatargas and the Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction company (ADGAS). He has negotiated LNG sales and purchase agreements with buyers in Asia, Europe and the USA.

Mr Cotin joined Elengy beginning 2009, at the creation of this GDF SUEZ affiliate, to take charge of the commercial aspects of the business. Previously, he was Deputy CFO at GRTgaz, the French gas transportation system operator. His previous experience includes various positions such as Trading & Supply Corporate Director of SPE-Luminus in Belgium, Head of Commercial Dispatching and Contract Negotiator for long term gas supplies at Gaz de France.  Pierre holds Engineering Degrees from Ecole Centrale de Lyon and IFP School. Elengy currently owns and operates the LNG terminals of Montoir-de-Bretagne, on France’s Atlantic coast, and Fos-Tonkin, on the shores of the Mediterranean. It operates also the terminal of Fos Cavaou, detained by the company of the LNG terminal of Fos Cavaou (STMFC), subsidiary in more than 70 % with Total.

Claire Wright’s primary areas of expertise are seaborne energy and trade analysis, though she has experience of most sectors of shipping and trade. Her work is currently focused on international seaborne energy trades, primarily oil and LNG, and environmental issues affecting shipping.  Prior to this she has worked extensively for the past 10 years managing consultancy projects and studies on vessel transit and trade modeling and analysis.  She writes regularly for shipping daily Lloyd’s List, contributes to working groups on shipping emissions and is a member of the International Maritime Statistics Forum.  Claire began her career at A.P. Moller following a Masters Degree in European Politics from the London School of Economics.  She has since added a second Masters in Environmental Management.