Sponsor:

Sir Andrew Wood served as a member of the British diplomatic service in: Moscow 1964-6, 1979-82 and 1995-2000 (the last as Ambassador); Washington DC, 1967-70 and 1989-92 (as Deputy Head of Mission); and Belgrade, 1975-9 and 1985-89 (as Ambassador).

Since leaving Moscow in early 2000 Sir Andrew has returned regularly to Uzbekistan, as well as to Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, acting on behalf of a number of Western companies. He is an Adviser to ITE Group plc, acted as Special Representative for BP from 2003 to 2014, was a Trustee for the Victor Zorza Hospice Trust from 2000 to 2012 when the Trust concluded its mission, and is the President of the King’s College (Cambridge) Association. He has been an Associate Fellow of Chatham House since 2008.

Andrew Wood was born in Gibraltar on 2 January 1940, and has an MA in history from King’s College, Cambridge (England). He is married to Stephanie (nee Masset). They have three children, and live in London and Jersey (Channel Islands).

In 1992, he graduated from Azerbaijan State Oil Academy where he majored in Oil & Gas Economics and Management.

In 1990, he launched his career as a practicing diplomat at the Department of International Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 

In 1992-1996, he worked as an attaché at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Federal Republic of Germany. In 1996-2001, he held several positions (Assistant Secretary, First Secretary, Department Head and Deputy Head) at the departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Europe, the USA and Canada.

In 2001-2005, he worked as the Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Austria, where, later on, he was appointed as the Charge d'affaires.

In 2005, he became the Chairman of The OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC).

In 2005, he was appointed the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Federal Republic of Germany and worked in this capacity until 2016.

 In 2016-2017, he worked as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Later, he was appointed as the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the 12^th of October 2017.

He is fluent in Azerbaijani, Russian, English and German.

He is married and has two kids. 

Sponsor:

Mr Rovnag Ibrahim Abdullayev was born in Nakhchivan on 3 April 1965. In 1982, he joined Azerbaijani Civil Engineers Institute. From 1983-1985 he undertook military service in the army. In 1985 he was sent to the V. V Kuybishev Moscow Civil Engineering Institute, from which he graduated in 1989 and began to work on the “Oil Rocks”. From 1990 he worked as an engineer at the 28 May Oil and Gas Production Department. From 1991-1997 he worked as a head of department and senior engineer  at the XazarDenizNeftQazInshaat Trust. Since 1997 he has been the director of the Trust. In 2003, he was appointed as the director of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery. Since 9 December 2005 he has been the president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic. On 14 March 2008 he was elected president of the AFFA (Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan). He was elected a member of the National Parliament on its third convocation in 2005 and on its fourth convocation in 2010.
He is married and has a son and a daughter.
 

Melih Han Bilgin is currently President and CEO of TPAO, Turkish national oil & gas company. Prior to TPAO, Bilgin was CEO of CNK Aerospace.

Mr. Bilgin earned his BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ).

He is married, with two children and fluent in English.

Elshad Mustafa Nassirov was born in 1960 in Baku. In 1982 he graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. He worked from 1981 to 1982 at the USSR’s embassy in Afghanistan, from 1982 to 1985 at the Institute of Oriental Studies at the USSR Academy of Sciences, and between 1985 and 1989 in various roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR. From 1989 to 1992 he worked at the USSR’s embassy in India. As Azerbaijan gained its independence, from 1992 to 1995 Mr Nassirov worked in the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN, and in 1995 was promoted to the position of head of department in the administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From 1997 to 2003, Mr Nassirov worked as head of the Foreign Economic Operations Department, and from 2003 to 2005 as head of the Marketing and Operations Department of SOCAR. By Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on 28 December 2005, he was appointed as vice-president of SOCAR for investments and marketing. Since 2003 Elshad Nassirov has also been the Vice President of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. In 2010, he was made a member of the Shohrat (Glory) Order by Decree of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. He speaks Russian, English, Persian and Hindi.

Mr Nassirov is a member of the New Azerbaijan Party.

James E. Hogan is the managing partner of the Baku office of the international law firm Dentons.

Active in international practice since 1984, Mr. Hogan has concentrated exclusively on corporate, commercial and natural resource matters relating to the CIS and Eastern Europe since 1988. He is particularly active in structuring, negotiating and implementing petroleum, mining and other natural resource projects in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine and elsewhere in the CIS. His experience includes providing advice on PSAs, service agreements, concessions, oil-field service and drilling contracts, licensing, pipeline and marine transportation issues, including the sale and transportation of LNG. 

He has advised major international companies on investment strategies, the establishment of joint ventures and cooperation structures, project finance, infrastructure development, privatization, licensing and related tax, currency, customs, environmental, governance and other matters. He also frequently advises financial institutions, development banks and investment funds in the areas of investment and secured lending.

Mr. Hogan graduated from the University of Michigan (A.B. with distinction, in Russian and East European Studies, 1979), the Pushkin Institute, Moscow (1980 1981) and the University of Texas (J.D., with honors, 1984). He was admitted to the District of Columbia bar in 1984, qualified to practice in France as conseil juridique in 1991 and became a member of the Paris bar in 1992. Mr. Hogan speaks English, French and Russian.

He has published numerous articles on foreign investment and energy in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine and is a frequent speaker at international conferences. Mr. Hogan is a Member of the Boards of the International Tax & Investment Center (ITIC) and La Chambre de commerce France-Azerbaïdjan (CCFAz ) and is listed in Chambers Global, Legal 500 (Hall of Fame), Who’s Who Legal – Energy  and Who’s Who Legal-CIS, as well as Best Lawyers-Azerbaijan.

Sponsor:

Bahram Bahlul oglu Huseynov graduated from Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute, faculty of  geophysical methods of field exploration and  appraisal in 1983. Since January 1983, worked in the position of field geologist and senior geologist at the Gum Island Offshore Drilling Department, in 1988 was transferred to the position of senior geologist in oil and gas exploration in head office of “Caspian offshore Oil and Gas” division, from 1992 to 1993 he worked as a deputy head of geological department. In 1993-1994, participated in a joint project of Amoco Research Center in Tulsa, US. By return, he continued working in “Caspian offshore Oil and Gas” division. In May 1995, joined Azerbaijan International Operating Company as an advisor of vice president and in June 1997 started working as a senior geologist at the geology department. In June 1998, he became manager of subsurface exploration group in BP-operated Shah Deniz project. From March 2000 to December 2002, was on the   business trip in BP London office in the position of subsurface team leader (TL) for the 2nd and 3rd phases of Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) development planning project. From December 2002 to January 2011, was the head of subsurface operation group TL of ACG project, new well planning TL, base management TL and new well delivery TL in “Azeri” field. In 2009, awarded “Tereqqi” Medal by the Order issued by the   President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Since January 2011, moved to the position of deputy first vice president on Geology and geophysics of SOCAR. According to the Order issued by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on April 18, 2016, Bahram Huseynov was appointed to the position of vice-president on Geology and geophysics of SOCAR. He is a member of New Azerbaijan Party.

Mikhail Novikov is a graduate of Moscow Institute of Foreign Languages, a linguist, ethnologist and sociologist by education, earned a PhD in History at the USSR Academy of Sciences. He is a translator of fiction and scientific and technical literature, speaks several foreign languages. Has a large experience of academic research and practical work in the field of conflict prevention, teaching, including in American universities and other educational institutions in the US and Russia. He was engaged in the organization of exhibitions, conferences, contests and festivals of mass media, he was publisher and chief editor of magazines on computer subjects, led business development departments and software development companies, including education software, actively participated in professional associations of publishers, developers of software and information technologies. Since 2011, he runs the EAGE Regional Office in Russia and the CIS.

Yashar Latifov was born in Baku on June 16, 1965. In 1987 graduated from Moscow Oil and Gas Institute named after Gubkin, majoring on technology and complex mechanization of oil and gas field development. Started his career in Baku in the position of operator and then foreman at the oil production site No.2 of “Binagadi” Oil and Gas Production Division of “Azneft”. Since 1989 held various long-term international project assignments in Vietnam, Russia, UK, Turkey. Since 2012 served in the capacity of advisor to SOCAR President, and Executive Director of SOCAR Upstream LLC., responsible for management of SOCAR’s interest in Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli and Shah-Deniz assets. According to the Order issued by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on April 18, 2016, Yashar Latifov was appointed to the office of SOCAR Vice President for Field Development.

Omar is a practice. Has about 24 years of professional experience in dozens of assets, mostly Upstream and Midstream, across 4 continents. Has served most of the International Oil Companies and about 20 National Oil Companies in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

In 1994 graduated from the Buenos Aires Institute of Technology as Industrial Engineer, with honors. That same year started his professional career in a global consulting and professional services firm, in Buenos Aires. In the years 1999-2002 he co-led a complete operational transformation in one of South America’s largest and most mature onshore oil fields. This mature field revitalization program resulted in impressive production increases as well as cost containment and capex efficiency and considered a world class transformation in mature assets. In 2002 he moved to Russia to work as an advisor in a green field operational and transformation program, including both hydrocarbon accounting solutions as well as back office and finance.

From 2004 until 2009 he led the CIS Oil & Gas Consulting practice of a global consulting and professional services firm. In 2009 he moved back to Latin America to lead the regional Oil & Gas Consulting practice of a global consulting and professional services firm. In March 2018 he moved back to Russia to join EY as Senior Partner in charge of Oil & Gas Advisory

He is fluent in Spanish, English, Portuguese, and Russian.

Sponsor:

Academician of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and Turkic World Research International Academy of Sciences, foreign member of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia and the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Honorary Academician of the International Engineers Academy of Russia, Honorary Professor of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University, Doctor of Geological-Mineralogical Sciences, Professor Khoshbakht Yusifzadeh Baghi oglu was born on January 14th 1930 in Pirshaghi settlement of Baku. After secondary school in 1947, he graduated from the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute (now Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University) with degree in Geology and Exploration of Petroleum Reservoirs in 1952. He started his career in the Baku branch of USSR Oil Ministry’s “State Special Oil Project” Department, then in the “Azerdenizneft” (Azerbaijan Offshore Oil) Production Union and “Azneft” Onshore Oil Production Union, in 1954 he was appointed as a Senior Geologist at the first field of “Gurgan Oil” Oil Fields Department (now “Oil Rocks”). In 1970-1992 he worked as a Deputy Director/Senior Geologist at the “Khazardenizneft” (Caspian Offshore Oil) Production Union, “Khazardenizneftgaz” (Caspian Offshore Oil and Gas) Industrial Union and “Khazardenizneftgaz” (Caspian Offshore Oil and Gas) Production Union, in 1992-1994 as a first vice-president of the “Azerineft” State Concern and advisor to the President of SOCAR, in 1994-2004 as a Vice President of SOCAR for Geology, Geophysics and Reservoir Development. From 2004 he is the First Vice President of SOCAR.

In 1960 he defended Candidate’s Dissertation, in 1987 he defended Doctoral Dissertation in Moscow, in 2005 was awarded academic title of Professor, in 2007 was elected academician of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Kh.Yusifzadeh is an author of more than 200 scientific works, including 18 monographs and 8 inventions.

For his contribution in the development of petroleum sector, Kh. Yusifzadeh was twice awarded the “Red Banner of Labor” (1963 and 1976), “Badge of Honor” (1971), has orders of “Istiglal” (2000), “Shohrat” (2004), “Sharaf” (2010) and “Order Labor of I degree” (2017) of independent Azerbaijan, order of “Friendship” (2011) of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Honorary Diploma of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic (2015) and has other valuable medals. He was twice rewarded the State Premium of Azerbaijan (1982 and 1991), he is “Honorary Engineer of Azerbaijan SSR” (1964) and “Honorary Engineer of Azerbaijan” (2005), “USSR Petroleum Industry’s Outstanding Oil Worker” (1967), “Honorary Oiler of the USSR” (1970), “Honorary Explorer of Underground Resources” (1965 and 1985), “First Field Discoverer” (1988). He was awarded International Gold Star Medal of Turkic World Research International Academy of Sciences and was announced as “Scientist of the Year” (2008) and “Honorary Scientist of Turkic World” (2011), “Order with crown” of the European Academy of Natural Sciences (2014), Medal and Honorary title of the “Knight of Art and Science” of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, ”Silver medal named after Academician Azad Mirzajanzade” (2015) of the same Academy, including other medals and honored certificates. In 2010, with a group of specialists of SOCAR was awarded UNESCO medal for his contribution in the field of development and application of nanotechnology in oil production, his name was included in the encyclopedia of this international organization.

In 2016 a special scholarship named after Academician Khoshbakht Yusifzadeh was established for excellent students of geology and exploration department of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University

Dr. Gregory W. Riley is Exploration Vice President in bp Azerbaijan. Dr. Riley graduated from Southern Illinois University with degrees in Geology and Zoology, and an M.Sc. in Geology. He completed a Ph.D. in Geology at Louisiana State University. 

Dr. Riley joined bp in 1991 and began his career in Africa and the Middle East.  Since 1994 Dr. Riley has worked in the Caspian region in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan as an exploration geologist, appraisal geologist and Exploration Manager.

Born on October 06, 1973 in Baku Emin Mammadov  graduated from  the faculty of “Energetics” of Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, and the faculty of “Finance and credit” of Azerbaijan State University of Economics. Started his career  in 1992 and  since 1997  has been working in bank system. Was selected as the Chief of Management Board of “Expressbank” OJSC in 2009. Was appointed to the position of Chief of Supervision Board of “Expressbank” OJSC in 2017 and, at the same time, Emin Mammadov was appointed to the position of General Director of “Sumgayit Technologies Park” LLC.

Sponsor:

Tofig Ridvan oglu Gahramanov was born in 1953 in Baku. In 1976 graduated from Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute (Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University) majoring in electrical engineering. Started career as an engineer of data processing center of Baku Oil Refinery and held this position from 1976 to 1983. He was an instructor of former party organizations – Nizami district party committee and Baku party committee in 1983-1990, deputy director of Baku Oil Refinery in 1990-1991, general director of “Azinteroil” joint venture of Oil Refinery in 1991-1993. He was a private entrepreneur in 1994-1998 and then held positions of department head at the “Azerneftyanacaq” Production Enterprise and Baku Oil Refinery in 1998-2006, head of refining strategic development department of SOCAR in 2006-2007 and head of Marketing and Economic Operations Office of SOCAR in 2007-2010. He is SOCAR Vice President for Strategic Development since 2010. He was awarded the title of Honored Engineer in year 2010.

Rafiga Huseynzade was born in Baku. She successfully entered to the Geological faculty of Azerbaijan Institute of Oil and Chemistry, where she studied Oil and Gas Fields Exploration subject. After graduation successfully passed examination and continued post graduation in the same Institute.

After seven years of challenging study of the “Low Kuryani” oil and gas field geo-chemical specs and characteristic’s subject Rafiga Huseynzada completed and honorably proved the subject in 1981 and deserved Government Commission endorsement in 1982.

From 1978 to 1985 she was an engineer in Azerbaijan Institute of Oil and Chemistry. In 1985 -1999 years she held various positions such as scientist, senior scientist and lab supervisor in the department of Isotopes Researches of Azerbaijan State University.

From 1999 to March 2011 she worked as Director of AzLab LLC established by State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic.

She continued also her scientific works from 2001 until present in Azerbaijan State University. Rafiga Huseynzada is author of about 60 reports and researches. She also participated in number International conferences and worked in joint scientific centers in Texaco Company in Houston; Geolab in Trondheim and Statoil Research Center in Norway;  Bone & Robertson management course in London UK, etc.  

In March 2011 Rafiga Huseynzade was appointed by order of President of Azerbaijan Republic to position of   Vice President on Ecology of SOCAR.

She is married and has one daughter.

She speaks Russian, English and Turkish languages.

Ambassador (ret.) Matthew Bryza completed a 23-year career as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer in 2012, culminating as Ambassador to Azerbaijan. 

Earlier, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (2005-2009) and Director on the National Security Council Staff at the White House (2001-2005) for U.S. relations with Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus, as well as Eurasian energy security.

During 1998 to 2001, Ambassador Bryza was the Deputy Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Caspian Basin Energy Security. 

He also served in the U.S. Missions to Russia (1995-1997) and Poland (1989-1991).

Bryza is a frequent commentator on media outlets that include CNN International, Al Jazeera, BBC, Fox News, Financial Times, Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg, as well as numerous outlets in Turkey, Poland, and the South Caucasus.

He is the recipient of Estonia’s Cross of Terra Mariana and Georgia’s Order of St. George.

Bryza currently resides in Istanbul, Turkey, where he heads the regional office of Ballard Partners, a major US public affairs firm.  He also serves on the Board of Turcas, a publicly traded company in fuel distribution and power generation in Turkey.  Concurrently, he is CEO of Lamor Turkey, a Turkish-Finnish joint venture in environmental solutions.  He also serves on the Board of Nobel Upstream, an oil exploration and production company based in London, and is the founder and CEO of Eurasian Business Diplomacy, a strategic consultancy. 

Additionally, Bryza is a Board Member of the Jamestown Foundation.  He was Director of the International Center for Defense and Security in Tallinn, Estonia, during 2012-2015, where he founded the Center’s energy and cyber security programs. 

Ambassador Bryza received his bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University (with honors) and his master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

David Mammadov was born in 1955 in Kurdamir district. In 1980, he graduated from Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute named after Azizbayov (now Azerbaijan State Oil and İndustry University) specialized in Chemical Technology of Oil and Gas. He started his working career in 1976, at the New Baku Oil Refinery named after Vladimir Lenin (now Heydar Aliyev Oil Refinery). Mr. Mammadov had been working at the New Baku Oil Refinery as operator, unit chief, deputy chief of workshop, chief of workshop, and chief of division until 1994.In 1994-2005, he worked as the first deputy chief and senior principal engineer at Azerneftyanacaq PU, and senior principal engineer at Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery. Since 2005, Mr. Mammadov works as the vice-president of SOCAR on refining. In 2005 he was awarded with honorary title of Honored Engineer of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and in 2010 was awarded with the “Progress” Medal

Sponsor:

Khalik Rafi Mammadov was born in 1958 in Astara. He graduated from the M. Azizbeyov Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute (currently Azerbaijan State Oil Academy) as an electrical engineer in 1984‏. He started his labour activity in the New Baku Refinery in 1976. Later, he worked as Chairman of the New Baku Refinery Trade Union Committee from 1985-1991; Deputy Chairman of the Soviet of People’s Deputies, Executive Power of Nizami District, Baku City; 1st Deputy Head of Executive Power of Nizami district, Baku City; and Technical Director of Azinteroil Joint Venture under the New Baku Refinery from 1991-1992; Chief Specialist of the Organizational Division of Azerbaijan Trade Unions’ Confederation from 1992-1994; Head of Personnel Division, Deputy Director General, Deputy Director for Work Regime and Personnel at the Azerneftyanajag Production Association (later named Azerneftyanajag Refinery and then the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Processing Factory) from 1994-2005. He took on the position of Head of the Administrative Department of SOCAR from 2005-2007 and he has been working as the Vice-President for Personnel, Regime and Information Technologies of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan since 2007.

He was awarded with the honourable title of “Distinguished Engineer” by Decree of President Ilham Aliyev in 2008.

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