Highlights

Silvia Pariente-David

Silvia Pariente-David is a Senior Advisor on energy at the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI). She helped create the CMI Forum on Energy and Climate Change. She has 40 years of experience in managerial positions in the financing, advisory and consulting activities in the fields of energy project evaluation, energy market analysis, regional energy market integration, and climate policy assessment. Throughout her career, she has thrived to promote regional energy market integration, be it the EU Single Market, the Common Maghreb energy market, or the nascent Euro-Mediterranean energy market.

While a Senior Energy Specialist at the World Bank, Dr. Pariente-David was one of the leaders of the MENA CSP scale-up program, funded by a $750 million grant from the Clean Technology Fund, and the Task Team Leader for the first project under that program, the Noor-Ouarzazate plant in Morocco. Previously, she was leading a consulting team advising major energy companies on their renewable energy strategy, conducting power plant valuation studies, and assessing natural gas market value. She also directed DRI/McGraw-Hill (now IHS) World Energy Service, providing clients with oil, natural gas, and electricity price forecasts.

She holds a Ph.D. in Operations Research from MIT and an Eng. Deg. in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from ENSIMAG at Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble.

Dr Ramabhadran (RB) Balaji

RB joined the WBG in 2012 after a long career in the Chemicals Industry in R&D, Technology Development, Technology Marketing, Licensing and Technology Transfer, Business and Market Development, IP Management, and Corporate Strategy. As Principal Industry Advisor to the Global Chemicals and Fertilizers Investment portfolio of IFC, he guides the investment teams and decision-making committees throughout the lifecycle of IFC’s investment including Business Development, Due Diligence, Project Execution and Portfolio Supervision. He has lived and worked in four countries and has done business in over 30 countries. RB leads the IFC’s efforts in helping shape the transformation of the Chemicals Industry to reduce its environmental footprint while sustainably producing the critical chemicals needed for everyday life. His areas of focus include: Green ammonia for fertilizers; Bio-derived and bio-degradable chemicals to wean off global dependence on fossil fuels; Flared gas reduction; Pathways to meeting industry’s energy needs with on-demand renewable energy; and, Carbon Capture and Utilization solutions. RB holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from the U. of Akron, Ohio, an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the U. of Connecticut, and a B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from the U. of Madras, India. He has published his research in several scientific journals and presented at various academic and industry conferences; he also holds many patents for his work on specialty polymer films. His complete profile can be viewed at http://www.linkedin.com/in/rbbalaji.

Franck LE BARON is currently Senior VP - CSR and Stakeholder Engagement for ENGIE Hydrogen BU (in the Business Unit since July 2018). He had previously worked in various positions in International Project Management or Business Development, first in the Oil & Gas Construction Industry (ETPM, ENTREPOSE) and thereafter in the Environment Industry (DEGREMONT, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT), and Gas and LNG Industry (ELENGY).

He has been based in France, the Netherlands, Azerbaijan, Morocco, the UAE and Qatar.Franck is also the President of the ENGIE “Maritime & Ports” transversal community. Graduated as Civil / Mechanical Engineer, he entered the Group in 1990. Franck has been Foreign Trade Advisor of France (Conseiller du Commerce Extérieur de la France) since 2008, particularly active in the Climate, Hydrogen and Maritime & Ports working groups.

Daniele Agostini

Daniele Agostini is the Head of Energy and Climate Policies within the Europe Division of the Enel Group. He is responsible for policy analysis and corporate position development on Energy and Climate Policies across the over 30 countries in which the Enel Group operates. In such role he is in charge of monitoring and assessing energy policy developments in the areas of energy markets, climate change, carbon regulation, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Mr. Agostini is member of the Board of the International Emission Trading Association. He currently chairs the Electrification and Sustainability Committee of Eurelectric and the Energy Markets Committee of the G20Y. He is also a member of the Policy Committee of the Global Sustainable Energy Partnership. Before joining Enel, Mr. Agostini has served in roles of increasing responsibility within global advisory firms working with public and private sector clients in the areas of energy and environment. Mr. Agostini holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering with a minor in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, USA). He also holds a Master of Science in Water Resources Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley (USA) and a Master of Science in Environmental and Resources Economics from University College London (UCL, UK). 

Laurent Antoni

Dr. Laurent Antoni is Public Affairs manager for hydrogen technologies at CEA Liten. He gained his Engineering degree in 1992 and started his career as a senior scientist on material sciences at Mittal Group (Arcelor). In 2003, he joined the CEA, a Public Research Institute with a mandate to develop metallic bipolar plates for fuel cells. In 2005, he was nominated Head of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Laboratory at the CEA and managed a team to intensify R&D activity on hydrogen and fuel cells. In 2013, he was nominated Division Manager with 180 permanent staff to develop battery and fuel cell technologies for transportations through an integrated approach from materials up to demonstrators using technological platforms to enhance technological transfer to industry.

Laurent Antoni is since 2016 President of Hydrogen Europe Research, the European research association on hydrogen and fuel cells gathering more than 90 universities and research institutes, member of the Governing Board of the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH 2 JU). He is also President of the Technical Committee of Fuel Cells at the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC/TC105) and a national representative in different working groups of international organizations (IEA Advanced Fuel Cells, IEA Hydrogen TCP, International Partnership for Hydrogen and fuels cells in the Economy - IPHE). He contributes to several peer reviewed books and publications. contact: [email protected]