Madrid Energy Conference 2026

Cristina Lobillo

Director, Energy Security and International Relations of the Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission

Cristina Lobillo Borrero holds a Law degree and has completed postgraduate studies in Economics, European Union Law, and Management and Leadership at ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles), the Spanish Diplomatic School, the European Commission, and Harvard Business School.

Since 2004, she has been an official of the European Commission, where she has worked on Agriculture and Trade policies. From 2014 to 2019, she served as Head of Cabinet to former Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete.

From December 2019 to June 2020, she was Senior Adviser in the Directorate-General for Agriculture, and from June 2020 to 2022, she was Director for Energy Policy at DG ENER of the European Commission. In this role, she was heavily involved in preparing legislative proposals for the “Fit for 55” package. Her responsibilities also included overseeing the EU’s international energy relations, coordinating with Member States and EU institutions, and managing communication, legal, and economic aspects of EU energy policy.

Since June 2022, she has served as Director of Directorate F: Energy Security and International Relations at DG ENER.

Before joining the European Commission, Cristina worked in the Spanish Administration and at the Universities of Córdoba and Alcalá de Henares

Sasenarine Singh

Ambassador to the European Union, Guyana, Cooperative Republic of Guyana

Sasenarine Singh is the Ambassador of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the European Union, and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), a role he assumed in July 2024.

He currently chairs the Caribbean Group of Ambassadors (CGAB) based in Brussels, OACPS Sub-Committee on Small Islands Development States, leads the Ad Hoc OACPS Contact Group on the EU List of Non-Cooperative Tax Jurisdictions and Third Countries regarding anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, and on the leadership Bureau of the OACPS.

Ambassador Singh brings over 25 years of experience in both public and private sectors, with deep expertise in finance, risk management, leadership, and project management. Before his diplomatic appointment, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, the nation’s largest and oldest stateowned enterprise, where he managed a workforce of more than 8,200 employees and oversaw the cultivation, production, and marketing of value-added sugar products.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Finance from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom and is a Certified Chartered Accountant. He is a Rotarian and an avid golfer.

José Carlos de Vicente Bravo

Executive Director E&P International, Repsol

Jose Carlos has a degree in Geological Science (Universidad del País Vasco) and an Executive MBA from IESE (Universidad de Navarra), Madrid

Jose Carlos de Vicente Joined Repsol in 1997, as Exploration Team Leader in the Spanish Business Unit and led the Exploration of the Mediterranean area. From 1999 to 2005 he led the Regional Studies Division worldwide. He then moved to US office (Houston) as Exploration Manager for North America. In 2008 Jose Carlos was appointed Director of E&P Business Development and became member of the Upstream Executive Committee. In 2013 he was appointed Executive Regional Director of the Caribbean Region, encompassing Colombia Venezuela and Trinidad & Tobago. Since mid-2015 he was appointed Corporate Director M&A, based in Madrid. From 2018 to 2024 his position position has been as Executive Director Regional Unit Europe, Africa, Asia, Brazil & Venezuela, recently he was appointed as Executive Director E&P International.

Jose Carlos has extensive experience in the international E&P business through his responsibilities in several positions both technical and managerial and has been involved in more than 20 relevant transactions worldwide, including asset disposal and acquisition, exploration acreage capture and JV´s with several E&P companies.

Wenceslao Bunge Saravia

Ambassador of the Republic of Argentina to the Kingdom of Spain

Wenceslao Bunge Saravia was Global Co-Head of the Real Estate Investment Banking division and a member of the Capital Markets Council at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

He worked for 29 years at Credit Suisse, where his most recent role was CEO of Credit Suisse Bank Europe; previously, he served as CEO of Credit Suisse Iberia and Head of Investment Banking for Iberia. He also held the position of Global Co-Head of the Real Estate Group.

During his time at Credit Suisse, he worked in New York, São Paulo, London, and Madrid, holding roles such as Global Head of Real Estate, Co-Head of the TMT and Consumer, Retail & Healthcare Group (EMEA), and Head of Investment Banking in Brazil.

Wenceslao Bunge Saravia has executed more than 20 M&A transactions in the sector across Argentina, Latin America, and Spain, including privatizations, IPOs, and financings. Notable transactions including the privatization of YPF in 1993 and more recently, IFM Investors’ stake acquisition in Naturgy in 2022.

He has broad experience in international relations and diplomatic negotiations, with a strong focus on international business involving large corporations, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors.

He is fluent in Spanish, English, Portuguese, and German.

Jose Vicente Zapata

Partner, Holland & Knight

José Vicente Zapata is an attorney in Holland & Knight’s Bogotá office and has more than 30 years of experience in the natural resources sector. He focuses his practice on corporate, contractual and commercial matters, with a strong focus in spin-offs, mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Zapata co-chairs the firm’s Venezuela Focus Team, a group of partners who assists clients with interests in the country.

Mr. Zapata has led regulatory matters for many years on the environment, energy and natural resources. He has experience with corporate compliance matters, including the definition of ethics programs, Sistema de Autocontrol y Gestión del Riesgo Integral de Lavado de Activos y Financiación del Terrorismo (SAGRILAFT) and knowledge management for effective regulatory compliance, as well as liability cases for contractual and non-contractual damages.

Mr. Zapata’s clients include electric, oil, gas, mining, agrochemical and industrial companies, and he advises them on the structuring of foreign investment transactions, corporate reorganizations, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as well as matters of environmental liability and judicial proceedings such as class actions and international claims.

Throughout his career, Mr. Zapata has represented clients in many of the largest transactions made in Colombia to date in the energy, mining, oil and gas sectors, and assisted a range of companies in entering the energy market, obtaining mining and oil and gas concessions and structuring the contractual arrangements for such purposes. He negotiates share purchase and sale agreements, foreign direct investment management, asset purchase and sale agreements (including commercial establishments), joint operating agreements, farm-in and farm-outs, distribution, franchising and agency agreements, collaboration agreements, real estate regulatory mechanisms, structuring of real estate projects, authorizations and operating permits. More recently, Mr. Zapata is active in renewable energy projects and has led wind farm, solar ventures and energy storage solutions as well as hydrogen and geothermal regulatory assessments, including zoning analysis, management of protected and exclusion zones and areas, and analysis of legal options for land use definition. Mr. Zapata also participates in key financing and structuring of transactions in these sectors, with particular attention on environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements.

In addition, Mr. Zapata has significant experience in critical environmental liability cases and class action litigation in Colombia. Among them are complex cases where communities and companies discuss their corresponding rights, including prior consultation events, controlled substances and environmental authorizations, permits and licenses.

Mr. Zapata has acted as co-counsel in major international commercial and investor-state arbitrations, involving sensitive international judicial matters of Colombian interest under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) rules. These matters focus in energy and natural resources concerning disputes across the oil and gas, electricity, infrastructure and mining sectors.

Beyond his law practice, Mr. Zapata is a regular speaker at conferences in Latin America and has published multiple books and articles on matters of sustainable development, oil and gas, renewable energy, hydrocarbons, climate change and renewable energies. In addition, he has served on various boards of directors, headed numerous successful companies and served as professor of corporate responsibility, environmental liability and sustainable development at Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Universidad de Los Andes and Universidad Externado de Colombia.

Narcis de Carreras

CEO, Valia Energia

Narcís is Chief Executive Officer of Valia Energía since the launching of the company in early 2023. He has more than 30 years of experience in the power and gas sector at international level, and particularly in the Americas and México.

Prior to joining Valia, Narcís worked for 17 years at Naturgy, the Spanish gas & power conglomerate, where he recently served as CEO of Nedgia, the largest gas distribution network operator in Spain, and before that as CEO for Naturgy México between 2013 and 2020.

In his professional career, Narcís has been developing a variety of roles, from corporate roles in areas such as strategy, business development or M&A, to having full responsibly in managing energy business with a focus on growth, on operational transformation and digitalization, and on implementing strategies to enhance the sustainability angle of natural gas energy business. He has had direct responsibility in projects and management of companies throughout the Americas (México, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile), Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey), and Australia.

He holds a BA in Business Administration, and an MBA for ESADE (Escuela Superior de Administración y Dirección de Empresas) in Barcelona, Spain.

Angel Cardenas

Infrastructure Development Manager, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America & the Caribbean

Ángel Cárdenas Sosa is CAF’s Infrastructure Development Manager. In this unit, he leads a portfolio of more than USD 12 billion in operations in transport, energy, tourism, regional integration and digital transformation, in the 23 member countries of the institution.

Mr. Cárdenas is an economist with Master’s degrees in Public Management, Territorial Planning and Environmental Management, as well as Business Administration. He is currently a Ph. D. candidate in Political Science. Mr. Cárdenas has more than 20 years’ experience in multilateral banking and international development. At CAF, he has served previously as Acting General Secretary, Acting General Auditor, Director of Infrastructure and Energy projects, among others. He has also lectured at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at universities in Argentina, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Beth A. Viola

Senior policy advisor, Holland & Knight

Beth A. Viola is a senior policy advisor in Holland & Knight’s Washington, D.C., office where she is the chair of the firm’s Energy and Natural Resources Industry Sector Group. Possessing decades of experience in climate change and energy policy, Ms. Viola advises a range of corporate clients, coalitions and industry associations on public policy related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions and the transition to a low carbon economy, including the funding and deployment of clean energy and innovative technologies and advocacy on related environment, tax, trade and appropriations issues.

Ms. Viola has deep and longstanding connections with the environmental community and an impressive track record in building, managing and successfully advocating on behalf of coalitions essential to shaping legislation and regulation. Lobbying extensively before the White House, federal agencies and Congress, Ms. Viola brings together businesses and powerful third-party voices in the non-governmental organization (NGO) space to deliver policy solutions that benefit both businesses and the environment. She also provides strategic, policy and political advice to companies across the energy, transportation, industrial and agriculture sectors with an emphasis on both domestic and international climate policy.

Ms. Viola has enabled her clients to impact all of the major federal energy legislation passed over the last 20 years, including most recently the Inflation Reduction Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and Energy Policy Act of 2020. She lobbies before the White House, Office of Domestic Climate Policy, National Economic Council (NEC), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on implementation related to this legislation and other laws impacting the energy sector. Similarly, she has worked extensively on a variety of renewable development tax issues enacted through legislation, including the development and successful extensions of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and incentives related to biofuels, such as the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax credits.

Given the important role that regulation plays in the energy and environment space, Ms. Viola has advocated on behalf of clients in the development and implementation of numerous complex regulatory schemes related to GHG emissions reductions. She possesses particularly deep familiarity with the Clean Air Act programs, including the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and power sector emissions reductions schemes such as the Clean Power Plan. Ms. Viola has also worked extensively on federal procurement related to renewable energy, having successfully encouraged government procurement of renewable energy including renewable fuels through both executive branch advocacy before the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and defense legislation, such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

In addition to her domestic policy work, Ms. Viola has guided clients through major international climate negotiations, including United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meetings and development of the Paris Agreement, as well as Arctic climate issues and the Arctic Council. She frequently speaks on domestic and international energy and climate issues and has been quoted extensively in the media.

During the Clinton Administration, Ms. Viola served as a senior advisor to the White House Council on Environmental Quality. In this role, she advised the president, vice president and senior government officials on environmental and energy issues, concentrating on climate change, natural resources and smart growth. She was also the primary White House liaison on these issues to elected officials, industry, environmental, religious and labor leaders, as well as the media.

Ms. Viola was one of Vice President Al Gore’s chief environmental advisors in the White House and later during his presidential campaign. She also served as a senior advisor for energy and environmental policy for then-Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign in both the primary and general election. Ms. Viola later served as a facilitator for climate change discussions at the Clinton Global Initiative.

Prior to joining the White House, Ms. Viola worked on Capitol Hill.

Stephanie Seales

Senior Manager – LNG Markets Fundamentals, Excelerate Energy

Stephanie Seales is the Senior Manager – Global LNG Fundamentals at Excelerate Energy, where she leads a team of analysts responsible for global LNG market insights, forecasting, and commercial strategy support. She brings over 20 years of experience across the energy sector, including six years at Shell, three years at BP, and prior roles with Kpler, Deloitte, and S&P Global, giving her a deep foundation in energy market analysis, supply–demand fundamentals, and strategic advisory.

Stephanie holds a Master’s in Business Economics from the University of Queensland in Australia and is recognized for her thought leadership on the evolving role of LNG in global energy systems.

Griselda Lambertini

Academic Director at the Center for the Study of Energy Regulatory Activity (CEARE), University of Buenos Aires

Griselda Lambertini, Academic Director at the Center for Energy Regulatory Activity Studies (CEARE) at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), also directs UBA’s introduction to the economy of low carbon hydrogen emissions program. Lambertini has worked as a consultant to the EU, IDB, and the Argentine government. Her work on hydrogen has included workshops in Argentina and Peru, with funding and programs supported by the EU, GIZ, among others. Lambertini is a leading scholar in Argentina with regards to hydrogen. She previously served as a Director at the Ente Nacional Regulador del Gas (Enargas) and in Argentina’s Federal Energy Secretariat. She is a lawyer by training, holds a masters degree in Energy from CEARE and is working on her PhD in law.

Jimena Blanco

Senior Research Director and Chief Analyst, Verisk Maplecroft

Jimena is Verisk Maplecroft’s Chief Analyst. She frequently provides advice to multinational companies and multilateral institutions on geopolitical and country-specific political risk. Jimena has undertaken numerous field projects, including Human Rights Impact Assessments for clients across the globe.

Jimena participates in diplomatic, academic and business forums, addressing issues of global, regional and country-specific concern. She is an experienced public speaker and is often invited to deliver analysis to some of the world’s largest industry shows and conferences. Jimena also makes regular contributions to the British and foreign media.

Prior to working for Verisk Maplecroft, Jimena edited several publications at Latin News and wrote extensively on Latin America. She was also a contributor to the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ special dossier, The Farc Files: Ecuador, Venezuela and the Secret Archive of ‘Raúl Reyes’.

Jimena studied History and Political Science at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and obtained a master’s degree in Latin American Studies from the Institute for the Study of the Americas, University of London.

Liliana Elisa Forero Quiñones

Expert in the Legal Advisory Office, ANH Colombia

Lawyer, graduated from the Faculty of Law of the National University of Colombia with a specialization in Administrative Law from the Externado University of Colombia and a Master’s Degree in Administrative Law, she has more than 22 years of experience in the public sector and 9 years in the hydrocarbons sector, with expertise in regulatory interpretation and public policy consulting and legal risk management in public entities.

At the National Hydrocarbons Agency, she has led processes for contracting, reviewing, and endorsing the legal viability of contracts, as well as legal concepts to support the entity’s actions.

Tomas Malango

Director, Hydrogen, Renewable Fuels & Circular Economy, Repsol

Committted, and results-driven professional with 25+ years of experience in energy industry, delivering results in transformational processes. I am passionate about driving innovation and high performing teams to achieve diferential goals in the energy transition. We are creating a new value chain to transform of residues and renewable power into sustainable fuels & materials, leveraged on existing industrial capabilities.

Indalecio Videla

CFO, Andina Energy plc

Indalecio Videla holds a degree in Business Economics from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella and an MBA from IE University. Before joining Andina Energies in 2025, he worked at McKinsey & Company in Buenos Aires and Madrid, where he
advised top management of leading companies within the Global Energy & Materials (GEM) and Telecom, Media & Technology (TMT) practices. His work focused on growth initiatives and energy transition strategies, collaborating
closely with industry leaders across Europe and Latin America.

In 2025, he joined Andina Energies as CFO, one of Argentina’s leading energy platforms, operating major distribution companies and hydro assets while expanding into solar and wind projects. Since then, he has played an active role in
structuring financing operations and advancing the company’s renewable project pipeline.

Adrian Katzew

Managing Director, Ilios Renewables

Adrián Katzew is the founder and Managing Director of Ilios Renewables, specializing in incubating ambitious multi-GW energy transition projects for institutional investors. Previously, he founded and led Zuma Energía, Mexico’s leading Independent Power Producer, recognized for successfully developing over 800 MW of renewable energy projects, S&P Platts’ global recognized them with the “Rising Star” award. With over 20 years in renewable energy, Adrián has held leadership roles in financing, construction, and development across multiple regions. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and an Honors BA in Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University. Adrián is deeply committed to advancing sustainable energy and fostering economic growth and job creation through the renewable energy sector. Before Zuma, he served as Vice President at Vestas, spearheading wind power initiatives in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, and was Vice President of Market Development at First Solar in EMEA. His career began at Banco Santander in Madrid, where he managed over $3 billion in financing for renewable projects.

Jose Alejandro Paulino

Head of Data, Analytics and AI at AES for International Business Unit countries

Jose Alejandro Paulino is the Head of Data, Analytics and AI at AES for International Business Unit countries. Over the past five years, he has played a pivotal role in developing and leading the company’s data and AI strategy for the region, with AI project execution impacting several millions. Recently, he has been co-leading the global AI program, developing and implementing an organization’s AI strategy across its global operations. With more than 20 years of experience in the tech realm and 15 years in the energy industry, Jose Alejandro has a successful background in digital transformation and AI. He is also a member of the AMCHAMDR Innovation and Technology Committee in the Dominican Republic.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Jose Alejandro holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications engineering from Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in the Dominican Republic, a master’s degree in senior management with a concentration in finance from INTEC in the Dominican Republic, and a master’s degree in business Analytics & Data Strategy from EAE in Spain. He has completed Data & AI programs in Data Monetization Strategy and Applied Generative AI for Digital Transformation from MIT Management Executive Education. Additionally, he has completed executive business and leadership programs at INCAE in Costa Rica and BARNA Business School in the Dominican Republic. Currently residing in Madrid, Jose Alejandro enjoys traveling, skiing, playing tennis, and golf.

Jaime Burguete

Global Head of Development at Zelestra and CEO of Spain Business Unit

Jaime Burguete is Global Head of Development at Zelestra and CEO of Spain Business Unit, with over 20 years of experience in renewable energy development.

In Spain, he leads a team managing 1.1 GW of contracted multi-technology clean energy projects and a broader pipeline exceeding 7 GW. Globally, he oversees a development portfolio of more than 33 GW across wind, solar, battery storage, and green hydrogen, helping to deliver tailored solutions for hyperscalers and corporate clients.

Before joining Zelestra, Jaime was Vice President of International Business Development at The AES Corporation, where he built a 17 GW portfolio across more than 12 countries. Earlier, at Invenergy, he led business development in Mexico and the Caribbean, securing the company’s first wind project outside the United States.

He has developed projects in 16 countries and holds degrees in Business Administration from the University of Seville and the University of Cambridge, an Executive MBA from IE Business School, and a specialization in Wind Energy from ETS Madrid

Amalia Olivera Riley

Executive Business Advisor, Subsurface Consultants & Associates (SCA)

Amalia is Executive Business Advisor at Subsurface Consultants & Associates, where she supports management teams to optimize strategic and organizational performance. She is a global experience in leadership, strategy, and organizational transformation. She has held key roles across major energy companies, including ExxonMobil, Repsol, and Tullow Oil, navigating both corporate and independent sectors. Her expertise spans over 40 countries, where she has driven complex initiatives in diverse operating environments.

A recognized thought leader, Amalia was named among the World Energy Council’s Influential Women in Energy in 2020. She actively contributes to industry strategic discussions and serves on the boards of professional organizations, helping shape the future of the energy sector.

Amalia holds a PhD in Geoscience from Purdue University and has lived and worked in Houston, London, and Madrid. Originally from Buenos Aires, she brings a global perspective to energy leadership, innovation, and sustainable development.

Angel Bautista

Director of Institutional Relations and Regulatory Coordination, Repsol

Mr. Bautista holds a Degree in Economics and Business Administration from San Pablo CEU University (Madrid) and a Master on Tax Consultancy Degree from the Center for Financial Studies (CEF) Business School. He also holds a Directors Development Program Degree (PDD) from IESE Business School.

He joined the Repsol Group in 1995 in the Corporate Audit Division. During this period Mr. Bautista was in charge of performing internal business control reviews and conducting audits of financial statements of companies belonging to the Repsol Group, with special focus on upstream activities at international level. Over this time, he maintained a direct contact with major global oil & gas companies.

In 2008 Mr. Bautista was appointed Director of Financial Planning, being responsible, among other duties, for the international coordination of the finance function, the cash management and financial structure of the different companies of the Group worldwide, the global financial planning and the impact analysis of strategic decisions in the credit rating of Repsol. At the end of this stage the expropriation of YPF took place, and during this unexpected and adverse episode, he was involved in the decision-making operations and divestment processes, with the aim of minimizing impacts and risks for the Group due to this matter.

In 2013 he was designated Head (Director) of Investor Relations, reporting directly to the CFO. His responsibilities in this position included establishing performance and coordination criteria for proper management of external communications of the Group’s activities, with respect to the relationship with holders of securities issued by Repsol Group companies, the investor community in general and financial analysts. During this stage he was a member of the team in charge of recovering the value of YPF, working closely with the international finance community.

He was the promoter of the establishment of an ESG investor’s management system, with special focus on responsible investment to incorporate Environmental, Social and Governance factors into investment decisions, engaging shareholders interest in matters such as responsible business conduct, human rights, climate change and corporate responsibility among other topics. He also led the creation of minority shareholder relations and engagement programs.

He was ranked as Best Oil & Gas Director of Investor Relations at European level and Best Director of Investor Relations (all categories) at National level in the 2015 edition of the prestigious international Extel Survey, considered as a benchmark of excellence by investors as well as consultants. During his years in office, Repsol’s Investor Relations Division was also ranked as best Oil & Gas team at European level and the ESG investor’s management program of the company was ranked in the top 10 of all categories at European level too.

In 2015 and 2016 he was recognized for the Best Investor Relations Professional within the oil and gas sector by Institutional Investor, the leading business publisher for the European financial sector.

In November 2016 he was appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee on International Investment and Responsible Business Conduct at the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC).

At this moment Mr. Bautista is Repsol’s Director of Institutional Relations and Regulatory Coordination, representing the Company in numerous fora, including Spanish and international energy-related organizations, with the purpose of promoting both Repsol’s and its stakeholders’ interests before these institutions.

Alberto Galicia

Vice President, Origination, Hunt Oil Company

Urbano Troncoso

Executive Director – Structured Finance (Global Hydrogen Lead), Banco Santander

Urbano Troncoso is a chemical engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the energy industry. He joined Santander’s Structured Finance team in February 2022, where he leads the Clean Molecules activity globally. In this role, he focuses on supporting the development of first-of-a-kind e-fuels, biofuels, and CCUS projects worldwide, ensuring they are structured on a solid footing to access non-recourse financing.

Urbano began his career at an integrated oil and gas company, holding a range of technical and commercial roles across Europe, Asia, and Africa between 2011 and 2019. Prior to joining Santander, he spent three years at Boston Consulting Group, where he led and executed energy-transition strategic projects and worked closely with some of the early movers in the clean molecules industry.

Fiona Clouder

CEO, Clouder Vista

Fiona Clouder has wide experience of Latin America, as a senior diplomat and now in the private sector, including on mining, energy and environment issues and associated geopolitics. Fiona was the UK´s Ambassador to Chile and then Regional Ambassador, Latin America and Caribbean, COP26, She previously led the FCO (Foreign & Commonwealth Office, now FCDO) strategy on Latin America. Fiona joined the FCO in 2001, from the Research Councils (now UKRI) to set up new work on science diplomacy and to build and lead the global Science and Innovation Network (UKSIN).

As well as her own consultancy, Fiona works with The Ambassador Partnership. She is also a Senior Advisor to Appian Capital Advisory – a leading investor in metals, mining and infrastructure; Director, Chilean Cobalt Corporation; Distinguished Fellow of RUSI (Royal United Services Institute); Chairman of the Anglo Chilean Society; and Board member of Canning House – the UK´s leading forum on Latin America.

Mijal Brady

Chief of Staff, OLACDE

Mijal Brady is Chief of Staff of the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE). She has more than 15 years of experience in the energy sector, with a strong focus on energy transition finance, international cooperation, and the design of sustainable energy strategies for Latin America and the Caribbean.

She has extensive experience working with multilateral financial institutions, national governments, and international organizations. Prior to joining OLACDE, she served as Coordinator of International Affairs at the Chilean Ministry of Energy, where she played a key role in advancing regional energy cooperation, promoting renewable energy initiatives, and supporting the development of public policies underpinning Chile’s energy transition.

Mijal holds a Master’s degree in Political Science with a specialization in Public Policy, and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration.

Rik Sneep

Senior Vice President, Strategy & International Growth, Moeve

Rik Sneep serves as the SVP Strategy & International Growth for Moeve’s Clean Energies business and is based in Madrid since September 2023. At Moeve, Rik champions the development of the commercial models and future international value chains that underpin the company’s transformational growth strategy ‘Positive Motion’. He is part of the WEF’s Clean Fuels Expert Panel and regularly articipates in high level government and industry engagements on the development of future energy markets.

Prior to his current role, he spent 18 years at Shell in a variety of key leadership positions, including Vice President of Integrated Gas Ventures, Program Director of Sectoral Decarbonization and General Manager of Strategic Integration. Rik holds a BSc and MSc in Geophysics from the University of Utrecht, an MBA from Duke University and completed the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Executive Program at Yale. He also sits on the advisory board of Safe Water Gardens, aiming to bring safe sanitation to remote communities in Asia.

Eva Del Hoyo Barbolla

Senior Advisor, EIB

Currently, I am a Senior Advisor at the European Investment Bank (Global), where I support strategic initiatives in development finance and international cooperation. Prior to this, I served as Director General for Sustainable Development Policies at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, leading Spain’s engagement with the 2030 Agenda and multilateral development frameworks.

Earlier in my career, I worked in the ICT Coordination Unit, representing Spain in supranational fora and advising on large-scale IT systems and digital policy in the fields of freedom, security, and justice. I also held academic roles as a Research Fellow and Professor, focusing on e-Health, ICT public policy, and international cooperation. My professional journey began in the private sector, where I spent five years as an ICT advisor and consultant.

I hold a PhD in e-Health and a MSc in Telecommunication Engineering from the Technical University of Madrid and Imperial College London. Over the past 17 years, I have served as a senior official within the Spanish Government’s Senior Corps, contributing to national and international policy development across digital transformation, sustainable development, and public administration.

Specialties:

• Development Finance
• International Cooperation & Public Policy
• European Union Affairs
• Public Sector & Administration Management
• Public Healthcare Informatics
• e-Health & Digital Transformation

Camila Idrovo

Deputy Director for Partnerships and Sustainable Finance, Pan American Development Foundation (PADF)

Camila Idrovo serves as Deputy Director for Partnerships and Sustainable Finance at the Pan American Development Foundation, where she advances sustainable development initiatives across the Western Hemisphere.

She is a Master of Public Administration candidate at University College London’s Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, with a track in Economic Policy and Political Economy. Her academic work focuses on innovation, public value, and economic policy. In parallel, she has contributed to research supporting economist Mariana Mazzucato, including work on the economics of the common good.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, along with a diploma in Sustainable Development and Human Rights from the University for Peace. Her recent writing and research address the intersection of technology, sustainability, and economic development, including the implications of AI-driven infrastructure growth in Latin America.

David Knipe

Managing Director, Power32

David Knipe is Managing Director of Power32, which is part of the Proman family of companies. He joined in early 2025 from Bain & Company, where he was a Partner in the Global Energy Practice, having seen the power of methanol as a pragmatic, price stable and low-emission energy solution. Prior to that, he spent a decade at bp, where he led the International Gas & Power business, including the European gas and power and global LNG trading businesses. In that capacity he led investment into downstream solutions to integrate gas to power value chains across multiple markets, including in Europe, the Americas, the Indian subcontinent and SE Asia.

Sol Graña

Head of Acquisitions Iberia, Sonnedix

Sol Graña is Head of Acquisitions Iberia at Sonnedix, with over 15 years of experience across the renewable energy value chain. Her background spans M&A, greenfield development and PPA structuring, having worked for leading companies such as TerraForm Power, Canadian Solar and Sonnedix.
She has held professional roles in Buenos Aires, Madrid, New York, Milan and Rio de Janeiro, bringing a strong international perspective to renewable energy transactions. At Sonnedix, Sol has led the acquisition of more than 1.2 GW of renewable energy projects in Iberia and Chile.

Joaquin Vallejo

 Energy and Extractives Lead, Pan American Development Foundation (PADF)

Joaquín Vallejo is a Latin America specialist with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of extractives, environmental governance, transparency, and sustainable development. His work has focused on strengthening accountability, environmental rights, and community engagement in resource governance, while supporting public institutions and civil society across the region. He holds a Master of International Affairs from UC San Diego, a B.A. in International Relations from Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and an Executive Diploma on Anti-Corruption and Diplomacy from IACA/UNITAR.

Lara Lazaro

Senior Analyst, Elcano Royal Institute

Lara Lázaro is Senior Analyst at the Elcano Royal Institute and Lecturer in Economic Theory at Cardenal Cisneros University College in Madrid. She holds a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), an MSc in Environmental Assessment and Evaluation from the LSE, and a BSc in Economics from Madrid’s Universidad Autónoma (UAM).

She was analyst for the Elcano’s Energy and Climate Change Programme (2009-2011), and prior to this she was appointed Postdoctoral Fellow at the LSE and worked for Bloomberg. As a consultant she has worked for Abengoa Research in its ‘Energy Transition and Climate Change’ Project and for Repsol’s Technology Centre on a project envisioned to develop a decision-support system to help optimise the company’s future energy technology portfolio.

She also was the Director of the Master in Environmental Management at IE University where she lectured on Environmental Policy and Decision-Making. She has participated in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on energy and climate change in 2011. In July 2015 she was appointed member of the Spanish Chapter of the Club of Rome.

Ana Lía Rojas

Executive Director, ACERA (Chilean Association for Renewable Energies and Storage)

Ana Lía Rojas is the Executive Director of ACERA A.G., the Chilean Renewable Energy and Storage Association, and has more than 25 years of experience in the electricity sector. She has held leadership positions in both the public and private sectors, including serving as Chief of Staff at Chile’s National Energy Commission, as well as management roles in companies dedicated to the development and operation of wind energy assets and in multinational manufacturing companies within the industry.

A renewable energy specialist, her career has focused on emissions reduction and the role of the electricity sector in addressing climate change. She is also recognized for her strong public profile and her academic work as a lecturer in university programs and diploma courses. In 2021 and 2025, she was recognized among Chile’s 100 Leading Women by El Mercurio and Mujeres Empresarias.

She was a founding member of the Association of Women in Energy of Chile and served as its first President in 2023, promoting initiatives to advance gender equity in the sector. She has been a keynote speaker at national and international seminars and conferences and has also participated in specialized presidential delegations. She is an economist and holds a degree in Economic and Administrative Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

Patricio Lombardi

Executive Director, Environmental Markets Fairness Foundation

Patricio Lombardi, Executive Director of the Environmental Markets Fairness Foundation, a Swiss NGO rooted in Latin America, is a renowned figure in environmental advocacy. As the former Minister of Climate Change in 2020, he spearheaded Argentina’s entry into carbon markets, marking a milestone signing the world´s first REDD+ jurisdictional agreement.

Lombardi’s profound understanding of environmental markets led to his appointment to the Board of Directors of Cercarbono, a globally recognized standard. He is a keynote speaker on Latin America’s environmental market potential, having organized a notable event at COP28 in Dubai, focusing on the region’s biodiversity and natural assets.

With previous experience as Deputy Secretary of State for Latin America in Florida, Lombardi offers valuable insights into US-Latin America relations.

Martin Kueppers

Energy Modeler, International Energy Agency (IEA)

Martin Kueppers leads industry sector modelling for the World Energy Outlook team at the International Energy Agency (IEA). Since joining the IEA five years ago, he has contributed to numerous publications, such as the Latin America Energy Outlook in 2023 and co-led the Colombia Net Zero Roadmap in 2025. Prior to the IEA, he applied his expertise in energy system modelling for consulting projects at Siemens. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from TU Darmstadt. 

Pedro Estrela

Vice President, New Business and Digital, Acelen Renewables

Pedro Estrela is Vice President of New Business and Digital at Acelen Renewables. With over 15 years of experience, he holds a degree in Civil and Aeronautical Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) and an international MBA from IESE Business School.

He previously worked in strategic consulting at Bain & Company, where he led projects in corporate strategy, portfolio optimization, and supply chain across multiple industries, as well as integrations, transformation initiatives, performance improvement, and M&A.

He also has experience in the oil and gas industry, having worked on upstream projects across engineering, operations, and managerial roles.

Juan Carlos Stotz

Director, Pan Amerian Energy

is an international business executive with over three decades of leadership experience across multinational corporations. Currently serving as Director for Pan American Energy SL in Spain .He brings deep expertise in Corporate Finance, Business Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions.
Juan Carlos held senior CFO roles at Siemens AG across multiple geographies, including Germany and Russia, where he led businesses exceeding $3–4.5 billion in revenue and drove transformative initiatives in shared services, acquisitions, and organizational restructuring. He also co-founded PETRINVEST, a private equity firm focused on the Oil & Gas sector in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta Basin.
Juan Carlos holds an EMBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, a PAD General Management Program from Austral University, and multiple postgraduate degrees from UBA.

Ana Belen Sanchez

Director, Alinnea

Ana Belén Sánchez is an agricultural engineer with a Master’s degree in renewable energies and the energy market from the School of Industrial Organization and an MSc in Agricultural Economics from the University of London.  

She is currently the Head of Alinnea, climate action tank hosted by IE University and supported by the European Climate Foundation and is Manager Officer of the newly created IE-iGDP Just Transition Observatory. Before, she worked as advisor to the Minister of Ecological Transition in Spain and was engaged in the coal-phase out process of the country led by the Just Transition Institute. Previously, she worked as coordinator of the Spanish Philanthropy for Climate Initiative. Before, she worked as a green jobs and just transition specialist for the International Labour Organization (ILO) for Latin America and the Caribbean based in Mexico. Likewise, she was part of the Green Jobs Program of the same organization in Geneva (Switzerland) as a climate change specialist. She is a regular collaborator of the ILO Training Center in Turin (Italy). She has worked on the just transition and green jobs agenda, climate change, energy and sustainability with different organizations and has produced reports on these same issues Greenpeace, UNICEF among others. 

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Silvana E. Coria

Silvana E. Coria, Planning and Control Manager, Edenor

Senior financial and strategic executive with more than 25 years of experience in publicly listed energy companies across electricity, natural gas and downstream sectors.

Proven track record in NYSE-listed environments, capital markets transactions, complex debt restructurings, M&A, regulatory negotiations and investor relations. Extensive board-level experience in Argentina and Uruguay.

Currently Planning & Control Manager at Edenor S.A. (NYSE: EDN), leading financial planning, capital structure strategy, sustainability integration and SOX compliance.

Recognized for combining financial discipline, regulatory expertise and ESG-driven long-term value creation.

Cristina Rivero

 Director General, Club Español de la Energía

David Voght

Managing Director, IPD Latin America

David has built IPD Latin America’s client-focused services on a platform of precise and timely knowledge transfer. IPD’s core consulting methodology provides high-value analysis, based on ethically and locally collected intelligence for clients navigating highly complex investment environments.

David has worked in energy and general infrastructure development with a focus on business strategy, market analysis, political and economic risk, financing, and business-to-government relations for 27 years. He is a leading expert on the Venezuelan energy industry, having resided in that country for twenty years. In 1999 he founded IPD, currently with offices in Caracas, Madrid, Mexico City, and Bogota, providing a network of consultants who advise clients on energy investment throughout the region. From his base in Madrid, Spain today, David oversees the company’s regional business, which furnishes advisory services to multi-national energy developers, oilfield service companies, foreign governments, and financial institutions. He is also a co-founder of the Madrid Energy Conference, a joint effort with the La Jolla, California based Institute of the Americas. The MEC is the first European forum for public-private sector dialogue on energy transition in Latin America.

David publishes and speaks regularly on the Latin American energy industry with particular focus on legislation, regulatory and government issues impacting the day-to-day operations of the oil, gas and power industries, and scenarios for the build-out of new energy infrastructure.

Prior to founding IPD, David was employed at a Washington, DC-based consulting firm advising the U.S. Government and multi-lateral banks on infrastructure investment throughout Latin America.

Education
Bachelor of Arts, Boston College, 1991 Major: Political Science

Jeremy Martin

Vice President, Energy, Institute of the Americas

Jeremy M. Martin is Vice President, Energy at the Institute of the Americas, an inter-American public policy think-tank located at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). The Institute of the Americas Energy Program works to foster a deeper understanding of the most critical energy issues facing the Western Hemisphere. Jeremy spends his time delving into the geopolitics of energy and closely following energy industry trends and policy issues across the Americas, and is a frequent commentator and writer on Latin American and energy issues.

Jeremy has testified before the US Congress on energy issues in Latin America, teaches a graduate course in Latin American Energy Policy at UCSD and the University of San Diego (USD) and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Inter-American Dialogue’s Energy Advisor newsletter. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Diplomacy Council and is a member of the host committee for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation San Diego Chapter annual Bet on Cures event. Thanks to his upbringing, he is a diehard Red Sox fan, Civil War buff, and news junkie. Jeremy graduated with honors in History from The Citadel in Charleston, SC and a Masters in International Affairs/International Development from the American University in Washington, DC. He has yet to achieve his lifelong dream of being a Stand-Up Comic.