Programme

The transformation of the global economy is accelerating, and the revolution in how businesses and consumers interact, in logistics, and in communications means that we all have to adapt or face the prospect of falling behind. The energy sector is no exception, with its role in the global economy steadily growing. A significant part of global GDP growth can be attributed to new consumers being integrated into the economy as well as to the growth of the service sector, and both factors imply the need for an affordable and reliable energy supply. The source is no longer important; what matters is how competitive the energy is and whether it is accessible, particularly with power that is consumed in the form of electricity. The choice between electrical outlet and petrol station is becoming more topical, and is having an impact on long-term solutions in the energy sector. How can uncertainty be reduced to ensure that the fuel and energy sector remains attractive to investors, and to mitigate future volatility, while maintaining ample energy supplies for the global economy in 20 years?

Moderator
John Defterios, Emerging Markets Editor, CNN

John Defterios

Emerging Markets Editor, CNN

John Defterios is the CNNMoney Emerging Markets Editor. Based in the network's Abu Dhabi bureau since 2011 his reporting focuses on the top business stories from emerging economies.
In addition to his daily reporting for CNN's main business programming, John hosts 'CNN Marketplace Middle East', a business programme featuring in-depth analysis and top newsmakers from across the Middle East. John also hosts "One Square Meter" the first television and digital platform to explore world class property developments in emerging markets.
Defterios has more than two decades of financial news and current affairs experience covering some of the landmarks events during that period including the Gulf War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the World Trade Centre bombings and G8/G20 summits from his postings in London, Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Rome and the Middle East.
He is a World Economic Forum media leader and member of the Global Agenda Council on the Arab World and has served as Chairman of the Business Week Leadership Forums in London, Beijing and New York, the World Islamic Economic Forum amongst others.
Defterios started at CNN in New York as correspondent on 'Moneyline with Lou Dobbs', anchored CNN's 'World Business Today' and the top rated U.S. morning business program 'Ahead of the Curve'.
Defterios has secured numerous interviews with high-level figures in the worlds of politics and economics including: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rachid, PM of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Ali Al Naimi, Petroleum Minister of Saudi Arabia, HH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and British Prime Minister David Cameron as well many of the top executives in the Fortune 500 including BP CEO Robert Dudley and Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote. He has travelled on assignment throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
Prior to CNN, Defterios worked for Reuters Television as European Correspondent, West Coast Correspondent and special series producer in a joint-venture with The Nightly Business Report on PBS-TV.

Panellists
Khalid A. Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Chairman of the Board of Directors, Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco)
Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
Ben van Beurden, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Dutch Shell Plc
Robert Dudley, Group Chief Executive, BP
Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman, IHS Markit
Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation
Patrick Pouyanne, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board, Total

Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo

Secretary General, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

His Excellency Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo of Nigeria began his tenure as Secretary General of the OPEC on 1 August 2016.
Over the years he also worked in several key roles at OPEC. In 1986, he was appointed to Nigeria’s delegation to OPEC, and from 1993 to 2008, served as Nigeria’s National Representative on the Organization’s Economic Commission Board. In 2006, he was Acting OPEC Secretary General, and represented Nigeria on OPEC’s Board of Governors from 2009 to 2010.
From 2009 to 2010, he was Group Managing Director and CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Previous to that, he served as Deputy Managing Director of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas. Earlier in his career, he was Special Assistant to former Minister of Petroleum Resources and OPEC Secretary General, HE Dr Rilwanu Lukman KBE.
Mr. Barkindo has also been leader of Nigeria’s technical delegation to the UN climate change negotiations since 1991. He served as Chair of the Group of 77 and China at the UNFCCC and was elected to serve three terms as Vice President of the Conference of the Parties – COP13 (Bali, Indonesia), COP14 (Poznan, Poland) and COP15 (Copenhagen, Denmark), where he chaired the opening session.

Ben van Beurden

Chief Executive Officer, Royal Dutch Shell Plc

Ben joined Shell in 1983, after graduating with a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands.
Ben’s career in Shell spans both Upstream and Downstream activities. He has held a number of operational and commercial roles, including some 10 years in the LNG business, and a variety of positions in Downstream.
In January 2005, Ben became Vice President, Manufacturing Excellence, based in Houston, USA. In this role he was responsible for standards in operational excellence and high-performance initiatives in refining and chemicals manufacturing.
In December 2006, he was appointed Executive Vice President, Chemicals, based in London, UK.
During his tenure in the role, Ben was appointed to the boards of a number of leading industry associations including the International Council of Chemicals Associations and the European Chemical Industry Council.
From January to October 2013, Ben was Downstream Director and had regional responsibility for Europe and Turkey. Since January 2013, he has been a member of Shell’s Executive Committee.
Ben, a Dutch citizen is married to Stacey and has three daughters and a son. He enjoys reading, running and travelling with his family.

Robert Dudley

Group Chief Executive, BP

Robert (Bob) Dudley is BP’s group chief executive. He was appointed an executive director of BP on 6 April 2009. Bob joined Amoco Corporation in 1979, working in a variety of engineering and commercial posts. Between 1994 and 1997, he worked on corporate development in Russia. In 1997, he became general manager for strategy for Amoco and in 1999, following the merger between BP and Amoco, was appointed to a similar role in BP. Between 1999 and 2000, he was executive assistant to the group CEO, subsequently becoming group vice president for BP’s Renewables and Alternative Energy activities. In 2002, he became group vice president responsible for BP’s upstream businesses in Russia, the Caspian Region, Angola, Algeria and Egypt. From 2003 to 2008 he was president and CEO of TNK-BP in Moscow. On his return to BP in 2009 he was appointed to the BP board and oversaw the group’s activities in the Americas and Asia. Between 23 June and 30 September 2010, he served as the president and CEO of BP’s Gulf Coast Restoration Organization in the US. He became group chief executive on 1 October 2010. Bob Dudley holds a Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois, a Masters in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and an MBA from SMU.

Daniel Yergin

Vice Chairman, IHS Markit

Daniel Yergin is a highly respected authority on energy, international politics, and economics. He is Vice Chairman of IHS, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms, and Founder of IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates.
Dr. Yergin is the Pulitzer Prize-winner for The Prize: the Epic Quest for Oil Money and Power, which has been translated into 20 languages. He is the author of the new bestseller The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World.
In 2014, the Prime Minister of India presented Dr. Yergin with “Lifetime Achievement Award” and the U.S. Department of Energy awarded him the first “James Schlesinger Medal for Energy Security.” In 2015, the University of Pennsylvania presented him with the first Carnot Prize for “distinguished contributions to energy policy.” Dr. Yergin was awarded the United States Energy Award for “lifelong achievements in energy and the promotion of international understanding.”
Dr. Yergin is a director of the Council on Foreign Relations and a trustee of the Brookings Institution. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council, and on the advisory boards of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative and Singapore’s International Energy Advisory Board. He is a “Wise Man” of the International Gas Union and became an Adjunct Professor at the China University of Petroleum in Beijing.

Alexander Novak

Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation

Mr Alexander Novak, born August 23rd , 1971 in Donetsk region of Ukranian SSR, is currently serving as Russia's Minister of Energy. From 2000 to 2002 he was Deputy Mayor of Norilsk on financial and economic issues and First Deputy Mayor of Norilsk. In 2002-2007 was Vice Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Krai, Head of the Main Financial Directorate of the Krasnoyarsk Krai administration. From July 2007 to September 2008 he was the First Vice Governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai and from July to September 2008 he was also the Chairman of the government of Krasnoyarsk Krai. From September 2008 he was the Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation and from October 2008, a member of the board of the Ministry of Finance of Russia. He is a graduated from the Norilsk Industrial Institute and the Moscow Lomonosov State University.

Patrick Pouyanne

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board, Total

Born on June 24, 1963.
A graduate of École Polytechnique and an Engineer of the French Corps des Mines. From 1989 to 1996, Patrick Pouyanné held various positions in the French Industry Ministry and in ministerial offices, including Environment and Industry Technical Advisor to the Prime Minister from 1993 to 1995 and Chief of Staff to the Information Technology and Space Minister from 1995 to 1996. He joined Total in January 1997, as Chief Administrative Officer of Total E&P Angola and became Group Representative in Qatar and CEO of Total E&P Qatar in 1999.
In August 2002, he was named Senior Vice President, Finance, Economics and Information Systems in Exploration & Production. In January 2006, he became Senior Vice President, Strategy, Business Development and R&D in Exploration & Production.
Patrick Pouyanné has been a member of Total’s Management Committee since May 2006. In March 2011, he was appointed Senior Vice President, Chemicals and Senior Vice President, Petrochemicals. In January 2012, Patrick Pouyanné was appointed President, Refining & Chemicals and member of the Executive Committee.
On October 22, 2014 Patrick Pouyanné was appointed Total Chief Executive Officer and President of the Executive Committee. Since December 2015 he is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Group.