< Previous1819 Under HE Saad Al-Kaabi’s leadership, QatarEnergy has implemented an aggressive strategy that focuses on energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly technologies as the country is looking to explore more gas to support the energy transition. Al-Kaabi has become widely recognised for his vision to expand Qatari LNG, which is widely known as transition fuel, thanks to its low-cost, low-carbon properties. His work has put Qatar on the global map as a gas supplier for countries seeking diversification of supplies and energy security. “Today, we are producing 77 million tons per annum of LNG to which we will add another 65 million in new gas production projects,” Al-Kaabi explained at an energy conference in Qatar in January 2023. He added, “Our efforts continue to bring more gas to the market to help humanity with its energy needs especially when we know that there are one billion people who are deprived of the basic electricity we all enjoy today.” Al-Kaabi joined QatarEnergy (previously Qatar Petroleum) in 1986 while studying Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University in the US, from where he graduated in 1991. He was appointed as Qatar Petroleum’s President and Chief Executive Officer in 2014. He was then appointed Minister of State for Energy Affairs and Cabinet member of the State of Qatar, and Deputy Chairman of Qatar Petroleum, in addition to his position as President & CEO in 2018. As the President of the company, Al-Kaabi has streamlined a network of subsidiaries into a consolidated company. He has also developed ambitious plans to grow upstream, downstream, and renewables investments, which led to a series of international collaborations. He has been the driving force behind the massive development of Qatar’s North Field, the world’s largest non-associated gas field, which will expand Qatar’s LNG production capacity by nearly 65%. Through various roles, Al-Kaabi has the overall responsibility for all energy issues, which include optimising Qatar’s natural resources and ensuring a regular and sustainable supply of energy, power, and water for domestic needs. HE SAAD SHERIDA AL-KAABI Qatar’s Minister of Energy, President and CEO of QatarEnergy2021 GEDIZ SELIN KAYA Managing Partner at Mundo Verde Climate22 Gediz Selin Kaya started her career as an engineer, then switched gears to assume the role of an infrastructure finance expert, after which she worked as an investment banker, and finally went on to become an entrepreneur. Today, she is the proud founder of one of the oldest climate finance advisory companies in the world. Through various roles across sectors, Kaya has experienced different institutions that have helped her develop different areas of expertise, which she applies in her current role. In 2008, Kaya started a company that succeeded in developing and verifying over 20 million tons of carbon credits, financing more than 60 renewable energy projects, and bringing in millions of dollars of carbon revenue. These credits created a tool for the oil and gas sector to invest in renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies through carbon offsetting. Her company also developed methodologies for new waste management and energy efficiency projects while creating carbon finance opportunities. She rose from someone who was focused on achieving quick results with high impact in the industry to someone who can manage their frustration through patience and investing in collective action. She believes that decarbonising the energy sector is the route to controlling climate change. She also believes that the process of decarbonisation should involve offering feasible solutions for a successful transformation. “My dream is seeing a net-zero world by 2050 and I am so proud of my team at MV Climate who are ambitiously working towards that goal. I am also proud of our clients and other stakeholders who are pushing the agenda for a NetZero world,” Kaya says. She adds, “I prefer the term ‘transformation’ to ‘transition’. The success in decarbonising the energy sector and reaching net zero requires a transformation. This means we need to internalise new GHG emission reduction and removal technologies to a level that they become business as usual in the industry rather than new-age investments. Transition is slow and reversible, and we need a real transformation which is rapid, fundamental, and irreversible.” Her company, MV Climate, has vast experience in innovative climate finance. They have positioned themselves as a key player connecting the finance from the oil and gas industry to stimulate carbon removal through nature-based solutions and other direct capturing technologies. Their projects offer holistic and sustainable solutions including biodiversity 23 protection, climate action, and gender equality. Kaya is a firm believer that decarbonisation should be a priority across businesses and governments. She says that the energy sector is a dynamic and challenging industry but also that it is a field where individuals and companies can make a change. According to her, there are many opportunities for decarbonisation where the transformation that is achieved will make a real positive impact on communities and the planet. Moreover, as energy is an indispensable part of human lives and in many cases it is a matter of life and death, poverty or prosperity, progress or decline, Kaya notes that building a sustainable energy sector serving life, prosperity, and progress is a privilege. She is an optimist who believes that the industry will reach sustainability as aspirations for environmental and social sustainability are not only stimulated by external factors and stakeholders but also fuelled by a younger generation of new employees joining the workforce. “My number one advice would be improving their skills in working in a multidisciplinary environment,” Kaya says. She believes that for one to progress in their career within the field of energy transition, they need to develop a good understanding of the issues by seeing them from different prespectives and they need to be able to work with people from different backgrounds. She added that when most of the skills are replaced by computers, preserving the human touch while maintaining creativity and critical thinking will be crucial for success. Kaya adds, “I hope that one day my colleagues and I who are working towards the net-zero goal are remembered for the innovative tools we introduced to stimulate a collective action for decarbonisation. And more importantly, I hope that we leave a sustainable planet for the coming generations.” Kaya describes herself as an avid reader, a literature lover, and a humble amateur writer, which helps her champion many stories and get inspiration from different narratives. She says that she is inspired by all her partners, who are mostly based in developing countries, working with the company to design and implement low-carbon solutions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Despite the challenges, these partners know the instrumental role they are playing in reaching net zero and they are working together relentlessly to achieve success. For her, they are the real champions. 2425 GE is a 130-year-old energy pioneer whose commitment to powering the planet is now fully focused on the energy transition. Currently leading the company’s Gas Power business in Europe, Middle East & Africa, Joseph Anis has been the driving force of the company’s impact and scale, innovation, and diversity. From leading the development of collaborations, exploring the potential application of carbon capture and storage solutions, low-carbon fuels, and joint research and development (R&D) projects, to bringing upgrade solutions and record- setting technologies to the region, Anis has driven many new initiatives that have contributed to a more sustainable energy future within the company. Anis has also led localisation efforts including identifying and growing local talent across the region, as well as developing the strategy, investing in, and leading the establishment of world-class service, manufacturing, training, remote monitoring and diagnostics, and R&D facilities, including the GE Manufacturing and Technology Center (GEMTEC) campus in Saudi Arabia and the GE Kuwait Technology Center. These initiatives have deepened the company’s connections and understanding of the region and allowed them to be closer to their customers to solve their specific needs faster, at more competitive costs, while maintaining global standards. Moreover, through a system of continuous improvement, the lean methodology, Anis has led efforts to help identify and reduce waste in the system and increase value for customers, accelerating efforts to bring more reliable, affordable, and sustainable power to all. Anis believes that the energy transition is not as simple as moving to lower carbon power to address climate change. Rather, it entails solving what is referred to as the energy trilemma – meaning, to achieve more reliable, affordable, and sustainable power, while energy demand keeps increasing and hundreds of millions of people continue to lack dependable access to power around the world. He firmly believes that GE has been answering the energy transition call with a renewed purpose and vigor, moving its energy businesses - including Renewable Energy, Power, Digital, and Energy Financial Services — under one banner to deliver a united, focused, one-of-a-kind force: GE Vernova. JOSEPH ANIS President and CEO of GE Gas Power Europe, Middle East & Africa26 “We are 70,000 strong across over 140 countries around the world, with approximately 54,000 wind turbines and 7,000 gas turbines, and our technology base helps generate approximately 30% of the world’s electricity,” Anis says. He adds, “With investments in local facilities and talent, global expertise, and a suite of industry-leading, complementary technologies including gas-fired power, onshore and offshore wind, hydro, nuclear, battery storage, hybrids, grid solutions, and digital applications, we are leading a new era of energy - electrifying the world while simultaneously working to decarbonise it.” According to Anis, the energy sector is going through a significant transformation as policymakers, power industry leaders, and technologists try to address the energy trilemma. He outlines a few key trends: • There will be increased investment in lower carbon energy solutions such as renewables, hydrogen, and ammonia, as well as carbon capture technologies and direct air capture solutions that can pull carbon dioxide out of the air. • Storage solutions will become key grid assets, helping to increase the reliability and resilience of increasingly decentralised, variable power supplies. • When it comes to gas power generation solutions, operational flexibility, both in terms of capacity to run on multiple fuel types, as well as being able to ramp power output up or down quickly, will become even more critical; this will enable gas power assets to be a destination (and not just a transition) technology that can burn hydrogen, ammonia, and other low- carbon fuels to complement the growth of variable renewables. • Energy technology convergence will aggregate separate technologies to create efficiencies, open new markets, and reduce costs. As a self-driven leader, Anis says that it is vital to always start with listening and stay close to the customers, communities, and employees. “It can be all too easy to be insular and to surround yourself with an echo chamber of like-minded people. Make the effort to resist this and be intentional about getting a diversity of thoughts and opinions,” he says to those who seek to grow. He also believes that it is important to embrace change. “We are at a fascinating crossroads in the sector today where we are developing new solutions to address the climate challenge, secure affordable and reliable energy supplies, and meet growing demand,” he explains. An advocate for creative solutions, championing innovation, and being open to experimentation, Anis says that he is most drawn to those who advocate for a balance among energy security/reliability, affordability, and sustainability. Explaining what he wants to be remembered for, he says, “Nurturing the next generation of energy leaders. The opportunity to lead is a gift and comes with the responsibility to ensure the next generation is ready to not just take over but to push the boundaries of possibilities even further. A considerable amount of my time is spent on mentoring, coaching, and guiding our talent to support them in their personal leadership journeys, so they, in turn, can make a meaningful and long-lasting impact in the sector.” 27Next >