H.E Tarek El Molla

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources

Eng. Alaa Hagar

Undersecretary for Technical office-Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources

H.E Catherine Colonna

Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs

• Catherine Colonna was born on 16 April 1956 in Tours (Indre-et-Loire). Catherine Colonna holds a master’s degree in Public Law (1977) and a postgraduate in Public Law (1978). She holds a degree from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) (Public Service Section, 1980) and is a graduate of the National School of Administration (ENA) (“Solidarité” year, 1981-1983).

• She started her diplomatic career in 1983 at the French Embassy in Washington (1983-1986), then was responsible for European issues and economic law in the Legal Affairs Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1986-1988).

• From 1988 to 1989, Catherine Colonna was an adviser in the Private Office of the Ministre d’Etat, Minister of Public Works and Housing, and from 1989 to 1990, a special assistant for European Affairs in the Policy Planning Centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• From 1990 to 1993, she was head of the Press Department in the Press, Information and Communication Directorate, then from 1993 to 1995, deputy spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• From 1995 to 2004, she was spokesperson for the Presidency of the Republic.

• From 2004 to 2005, she was director-general of the French National Centre for Cinematography (CNC) and vice-president of the Cannes Film Festival.

• From 2005 to 2007, Catherine Colonna was Minister Delegate for European Affairs.

• From 2008 to 2010, she was Permanent Delegate of France to UNESCO.

• From 2010 to 2014, she worked as a managing partner in the Paris Office of the Brunswick Group.

• From 2014 to 2017, Catherine Colonna was French Ambassador to Italy and San Marino.

• From 2017 to 2019, she was the Permanent Representative of France to UNESCO.

• From September 2019 to May 2022, Catherine Colonna was French Ambassador to the United Kingdom before being appointed Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs on 20 May 2022.

• Catherine Colonna is an Officier of the Légion d’Honneur, Officier of the Ordre du Mérite, and Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres. She was elevated to the rank of Ambassadrice de France in November 2020.

Ms. Hélène DANTOINE

Director for economic diplomacy with the French Europe and Foreign Ministry.

• Hélène Dantoine is currently director for economic diplomacy with the French Europe and Foreign Ministry.

• As a diplomat, she worked at the directorate for United Nations (1995-1998) and at the French Mission to the UN in New York (1998-2001). She was also an advisor for global issues to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (2009-2010). A member of the French General Finance Inspectorate (IGF) since 2005, she has been Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the French Shareholdings Agency (2019-2020) and a board member of Safran, Orange and SNCF.

• In 2011, Hélène Dantoine joined the Total group, where she served in various management positions for seven years (New Business Project Director; Logistics and Support to Operations Vice President for the exploration and production division; Vice President, Africa for the exploration subsidiaries; and Group Government and Public Affairs Senior Vice President).

H.E Theodoros Skylakakis

Minister of Environment and Energy

• He was born in 1959 in Athens. He is an economist. Member of Parliament for New Democracy (2022-2023). Minister of Environment and Energy from June 2023. Alternate Minister of Finance, responsible for Fiscal Policy and responsible for preparing and coordinating the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan "Greece 2.0" (2020-2023).

• Deputy Minister of Fiscal Policy (2019-2020), Member of the European Parliament (2009-2014), Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation (2006-2009), Municipal Councilor, Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Athens (2003-2006), responsible for preparing for the 2004 Olympic Games. From 1990 to 1993 he served as Advisor to Prime Minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis and Head of the Prime Minister's Planning and Communication Office.

• He also served as President and Director General of the E21 Research Centre (1994-2001). He was the last President of Drasi (2014-2019), which suspended its activity to support New Democracy.

• He has worked in advertising and communication since 1985 and he has founded four companies in the fields of communication (1994-1999), crisis management (2000-2006) and agricultural production & processing (2014-2019).

• He studied economics in Greece (University of Athens) and business administration (MBA) in England (City University, London) and received a master's degree from the British Market Research Society in Market Research. He has received a PhD from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science of the University of Athens, entitled: "Social tolerance to corruption".

• He is married to Eleni Papapanou, has two daughters, Marianna and Irene and four granddaughters.

Ms. Alexandra Sdoukou

Secretary General for Energy & Mineral Resources

H.E. Israel Katz

Energy Minister of Israel

• Israel Katz is an Israeli politician and holds the position of Minister of Energy and Infrastructure since 2023, Minister Katz is a member of the Likud party and has held a number of other cabinet positions, including Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Intelligence, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Finance.

• Minster Katz has been a Member of Knesset since 1998 and has served on a number of committees, including the Finance Committee, the House Committee, the Constitution, Law & Justice Committee, the Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, and the Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee. Minister Katz has also served as a member of the Special Committee for Public Petitions, the Joint Committee for the Defense Budget, and the Special Committee for Discussion of the Security Service Law.

• Minister Katz is currently the President of the Likud Party Convention and a member of the Security Cabinet of Israel.

• Katz was born in Ashkelon in 1955 and holds a B.A. in political science and international relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is married and has two children.

• In January 2024, Minister Katz is set to be appointed to the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Yaakov Blitstein

Director General of the Ministry of Energy

• Yaakov (Kobi) Blitshtein is Director General of the Ministry of Energy and infrastructure since January 2023.

• Director General Blitshtein, began his professional career in the public sector in September 2011, when he was appointed Head of "The National Roads Company in Israel" (Netivei Israel) at the Ministry of Transport. Mr. Blitshtein also served as a Deputy Director at the Ministry of Transport until September 2016. In these roles, he was involved in the management of large-scale transportation infrastructure projects, including the planning and layout of railroads and construction of roads throughout the country.

• In November 2020, with the appointment of Minister Israel Katz at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Blitshtein was appointed Chairman of the National Infrastructure program at the Ministry of Finance. In this role, he was responsible for the acceleration of national infrastructure and the implementation of government policy.

• From February 2021 to August 2021, Blitshtein held the position of Acting Director General of the Ministry of Finance.

• Before assuming the position of Director General of the Ministry of Energy and infrastructure, served as the head of the Transportation Directorate in the Rishon LeZion Municipality.

• Mr. Blitshtein holds a bachelor's degree in economics, sociology and political science (B.A), a bachelor's degree in law (L.L.B) and a master's degree in business administration (M.B.A) from Ono Academic College.

H.E Gilberto Pichetto Fratin

Minister for the Environment and Energy Security

H.E. Saleh A. Al-Kharabsheh

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources in Jordan

Ms. Amani Al Azam

Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources​

H.E. Zafer Milhem

Chairman of the Palestinian Energy & Natural Resources Authority

• Born in Jerusalem - Palestine 1965

• Lives in Ramallah

• Zafer Milhem is the Chairman of the Palestinian Energy & Natural Resources Authority (PENRA) since 01/2017, and one of the founders of PENRA in 1995.

• For many years he worked as Deputy Chairman and Projects General Manager at PENRA, during which he bore primary responsibility for overall management of all project and defined the main objectives and strategies.

• Also, he was the founder and CEO of the Palestinian Electricity Regulatory Council (PERC) from 2010 to 2013 during which he had developed PERC’s by law and other energy regulatory regulations and instructions. During his term the first unified tariff was issued.

• In 1999, he worked as Project Technical Director for the energy efficiency improvement and greenhouse gas reduction project funded by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

• This project had contributed to transform the Palestinian market to be more efficient by marketing energy efficient appliances and lighting fixtures. In 1993 he worked in Dubai, UAE as Electrical Engineer / Head of Maintenance and Workshop Section at Dubai Municipality.

• In 1992 Zafer Milhem Graduated from California State University Sacramento, USA, Masters of Science / Electrical Engineering.

Eng. Abdul Hadi Barakat

Director of the Regulatory and Policy Unit at the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority

• Having more than 20 years of experience project management, policy making and leadership roles in the Energy and Telecom and Energy, coupled with my unwavering commitment to driving sustainable development and positive change.

• Working since 2017 up to now as the Director of PENRA's Projects Management Unit, I manage a diverse portfolio of energy sector projects, fostering valuable relationships with donors, ensuring meticulous project planning and execution, and effectively navigating regulatory landscapes. Worked in the Telecom Sector in big firms in Palestine, Jawwal, Paltel and BCI in senior positions.

• Furthermore, my experience extends to governance and regional cooperation, where I currently serve as a Board Member of the Northen Electricity Distribution Company the Liquidity Support Fund and as EB member of the EMGF representing Palestine.