Harnessing Hydrogen in the Middle East

Antoine Vagneur-Jones

Energy Transitions

BloombergNEF

Antoine Vagneur-Jones leads coverage on policy developments in MENA and sub-Saharan Africa for BloombergNEF, Bloomberg’s primary research service covering clean energy, advanced transport and commodities. His analysis tracks how policy, economics and technological progress are shaping the energy transition. Before joining Bloomberg, he worked for GPSS Holdings, a Tokyo-based renewables developer. Prior to that, he was a Research Fellow at the Foundation for Strategy Research, a think tank in Paris. He holds degrees from the London School of Economics and SOAS, University of London.

Cornelius Matthes

Chief Executive Officer

Dii Desert Energy

Cornelius is a well-respected leader and investor in the renewable energy industry and built several successful clean energy businesses and start-ups within Middle East and Africa. He has extensive board level experience from 10 years in Deutsche Bank (among others, youngest board member in Deutsche Bank Italy Group) and several leading renewable energy organisations and associations via pro bono work as well as different startup companies. By building the international shareholder and partner network of Dii (Desertec Industrial Initiative), he was at the forefront of the renewable energy revolution in North Africa and the Middle East. A keen entrepreneur and investor in emerging markets with recognitions such as “Solar Pioneer 2015” for the Middle East, he is lecturing at several universities including St. Gallen and is a regular speaker at international conferences. He holds an MBA (Dipl. Kaufmann) from University of Passau, and speaks German, English, Italian, French and Russian. His experience ranges from M&A transactions, asset management, developing utility scale renewable energy projects (including mid-market with private PPAs), pay-as-you-go solar to energy efficiency, including ESCO projects and new business models. Some of the projects and companies were executed in challenging settings or countries. He has led sizable organizations both in startup environments and blue-chip companies and has raised funds from angel investments to USD 100m+ projects with institutional investors. “I am glad to be able to work in renewable energy which is also my passion – we can genuinely make an impact with many different things and help people, to make our planet a better place. Having new challenges every day is fantastic and many more mountains to be climbed!”

Yousif Ahmed Al Ali

Assistant Undersecretary for Water, Electricity and Future Energy Affairs

Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure UA

Yousif Al Ali is leading the sector of Water, Electricity & Future Energy Affairs in the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. Through his role he coordinates the UAE efforts, together with the sector local stakeholders, to create a sustainable energy mix that combines innovation and techno-commercial feasibility. He represents the Ministry in many important boards and committees like the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulations. Before joining the Ministry, he was the Executive Director of Masdar Clean Energy Unit and was responsible to achieve performance excellence in all areas of investment, greenfield development, bidding, mergers & acquisitions, asset management and operations for large-scale renewable energy projects locally and globally. Mr. Al Ali is the Chairman of Shams Power Company, a joint venture between Masdar (51%), ADRPBF (29%) and Total (20%). In addition, he sets in the boards of Krnovo Green Energy (KGE), Baynouna Solar Energy PSC and others. Mr. Yousif Al Ali brings over 18 years of outstanding energy and petrochemical industries experience. Mr. Al Ali holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the IE Business School in Madrid, and a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering from UAE University.

Manuel Kuehn

Head New Energy, Middle East and Africa

Siemens Energy

Born in 1980 in Giessen, Germany, Manuel obtained his education at the Technical University Ilmenau in Germany (TUI), the Federal University of Santa Catharina in Brazil (UFSC) and the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin. He holds a Diploma in Industrial Engineering and a post-graduate Diploma in Advanced Management. Since April 2020, Manuel joined Siemens‘ New Energy Business as Head for Middle East and Africa, which focuses on power-tohydrogen and power-to-liquid applications for a hydrogen based economy. Since July 2017, Manuel is also a Member of the Board of Siemens Pakistan Engineering Company Ltd., registered inKarachi, since January 2020 Chairman of the Board.

Dr. Andrea Lovato

Executive Vice President - Head of Renewable Development

ACWA Power

Dr. Lovato is leading ACWA Power's business unit for Hydrogen. A seasoned industry expert in the power utility space, he has worked on renewable IPP and IWPP projects in the region and internationally. Landmark projects Dr. Lovato has been instrumental in the financial closure and development of landmark projects, including NEOM Green Hydrogen, KSA, NOORo projects in Morocco, and the DEWA projects in Dubai and KSA. Dr. Lovato's expertise focuses on Independent Power and Desalination Projects (IWPP), developed, financed, constructed, and operated through concession or utility outsourcing contract models. Dr. Lovato has a Ph.D. in Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark in Copenhagen.

Alicia Eastman

Co-founder & President

InterContinental Energy

Alicia has led investment and strategy in global developing markets for nearly 25 years, managing private equity funds and advising market entry and finance strategy for multinational companies across Asia including the Middle East. She has focused on infrastructure, renewable energy, specialty chemicals, and technology. Before co-founding two private equity funds, Alicia led International Strategy and Acquisitions at Elan Pharmaceuticals, and was Vice President of Prudential Asia Infrastructure Mezzanine Capital Fund. Alicia holds degrees from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University.