Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency, will Address the National Press Club of Australia on “The Outlook for Global Energy Markets and implications for Energy Security, Competitiveness and Sustainability”.
As the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Dr Fatih Birol has moved the Agency to the forefront of global efforts to shape a secure and affordable energy future while ensuring climate objectives are met. After taking office, Dr Birol led the IEA in its first modernisation programme since its creation in 1974. These efforts focused on broadening the IEA’s energy security focus beyond oil to also cover electricity, natural gas, renewables and critical minerals; making the IEA the global hub for advanced energy technologies; and “opening the doors” of the IEA to major emerging economies. These efforts have seen new governments join the IEA Family, resulting in the IEA’s share of global energy consumption rising from 40% to over 80%.
Dr Birol took up his position after rising through the ranks of the IEA over two decades. He joined as a junior analyst in the mid-1990s and rose to the position of Chief Economist responsible for the IEA’s flagship World Energy Outlook among other topics. Throughout his career, Dr Birol has pioneered and passionately supported efforts to expand access to electricity and to clean cooking technologies and fuels in Africa and beyond.
Dr Birol has been included in the TIME100, TIME’s annual list of the world’s most influential people, and named by Forbes as one of the most influential people in the world of energy. He is the recipient of numerous decorations, including the French Legion of Honour bestowed by the President of France, the Japanese Emperor’s Order of the Rising Sun, the highest Presidential decorations from Germany, Italy and Austria, the Order of the Polar Star from the King of Sweden and the highest Emirati decoration bestowed by the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh bin Zayed.
Prior to joining the IEA, Dr Birol worked at the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). He earned a BSc degree in power engineering from the Technical University of Istanbul and received an MSc and PhD in energy economics from the Technical University of Vienna. He has been awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science from Imperial College London. He chairs the World Economic Forum’s (Davos) Energy Advisory Board and is an honorary life member of Galatasaray Football Club.
