Energy access: the key to equitable energy transition and economic opportunity for all

Energy is directly linked to economic development. Greater energy access, affordability and reliability result in higher levels of GDP. Ultimately, there is no path to economic development without greater energy access and consumption. To ensure a just and equitable energy transition, governments, the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) must collaborate to create enabling, reliable infrastructure, inclusive market dynamics and practical, diversified energy supply for all. In the case of access to clean energy—which is playing a growing role in the global energy system—opportunities are opened to address socio-economic inequalities including jobs creation, access to education, improved health outcomes and more.

Attendee insights:

This Action Session will examine the role of governments, the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in creating the right solutions for a diversified energy supply for all, prioritising universal access to clean energy and empowering communities to participate in energy decision making processes.

Transforming energy through leadership development

Energy leaders are navigating an increasingly volatile and complex ecosystem where cultivating exceptional talent has become the cornerstone of industry resilience. The challenge now is how to lead and mentor talent to ensure they are equipped with the right tools to succeed.

Achieving this requires a spirit of collaboration and a strong sense of community among industry leaders, stakeholders, and emerging talent. Through leadership initiatives and collective coaching, today’s CEOs can ensure their legacies are passed on to capable future leaders, empowering them to work together to implement strategies that meet the world’s rising energy needs responsibly and effectively.

Additionally, with the industry’s rapid transformation on sustainability, digitalisation and AI, today’s energy leaders must seek to attract and develop their successors who can be mentored to embrace the energy sector’s ongoing evolution. Companies need to attract the best talent to solve emerging challenges whilst cultivating an inclusive and engaging employee experience.

Attendee insights:

Gain insights from industry leaders on their key strategies to navigate the complexities of the energy world, more specifically regarding tackling the talent challenge and succession planning.

Transforming investment frameworks for low-carbon growth

Increasingly ambitious emissions targets are accelerating a shift toward investment structures that support the growth of low-carbon solutions at scale. From clean hydrogen and battery storage to sustainable fuels and infrastructure, innovation is emerging not just in products, but also in how value is created and risk is shared. New investment models are blending public policy with market mechanisms to convert decarbonisation targets into commercially viable projects. Blended finance, policy-linked procurement and demand aggregation, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors, are allowing governments to send clearer offtake signals while enabling private coalitions that pool risk and improve viability. Regional differences are also emerging, with U.S. banks showing greater flexibility in financing decarbonisation across oil and gas markets, while EU banks operate under more restrictive ESG-linked credit ratings. At the same time, evolving scalable finance models are unlocking low-carbon opportunities across both mature and emerging markets. Delivering growth at speed and scale will require bold shifts in how investment is structured, prioritising carbon-efficient outcomes and aligning financial incentives with net-zero ambitions to put progress into overdrive.  

Attendee insights:

Hear how industry leaders are moving from conventional investment models to adaptive, forward-thinking strategies that align with the evolving realities of low-carbon growth.

Collaboration or control? Navigating the global race for decarbonisation resources

Clean tech supply chains are becoming a critical fault line in the energy transition, as regions look to secure access to the materials and technologies needed for low-carbon growth. Concentrated production of solar modules, battery inputs, and rare earth elements has triggered a wave of industrial strategies aimed at reshoring, friendshoring, and building regional self-sufficiency. While these efforts promise resilience and energy security, they also risk fuelling protectionist trade policies and fragmenting global cooperation. This roundtable will share cross-sector insights on how the industry is adapting to evolving supply dynamics and navigating the balance between national priorities and international collaboration.

Attendee Insights:

Gain insight into how protectionism, strategic competition, and regional resilience are reshaping global supply chains for decarbonisation and what this means for achieving secure, scalable, and cost-effective progress toward net zero.

How can the energy sector navigate DEI amid global political shifts?

From clean energy technologies and rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to innovative financing mechanisms and forward-thinking policymaking, the energy sector is in the throes of unparalleled transformation. As a critical pillar of the global economy, the associated opportunities are immense. However, our industry will also need to overcome various challenges in order to ensure energy remains a force for opportunity and shared prosperity. Adopting a more diverse, equitable and inclusive approach to industry progress and strategic growth, for instance, has become increasingly complex, especially in the context of recent political shifts. Exploring the intersection between political dynamics, energy policy, organisational strategy, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives will play a crucial role in helping our industry navigate the way forward.

Attendee insights:

Better understand DEI’s impact on the evolution of the global energy sector as organisations attempt to reconcile workforce strategies with a rapidly shifting political landscape.

Securing off-take agreements to activate the potential of hydrogen

Hydrogen demand is characterised by cautious growth, as high production costs, underdeveloped infrastructure, and market immaturity pose significant challenges to securing consistent offtake agreements and broader market adoption. Stimulating demand for low-carbon hydrogen remains a key challenge, particularly in sectors such as transportation, industry, and heating. Supportive policies and financial incentives to promote the adoption of hydrogen technologies will pave the way for market activation but will only take effect if public-private partnerships are established to develop hydrogen infrastructure. Collaboration amongst industry stakeholders is key to establish standardised offtake agreements and supply chain mechanisms that ensure reliable and affordable hydrogen supply.

 Attendee insights:

Gain a better understanding of the mechanisms, policies and strategies to expedite uptake as well as what will be required to overcome commercial barriers, foster market growth, and ensure security of supply for end-users through robust offtake agreements.

Climate Optimism: harnessing the energy supercycle

The world is entering a new era of significant power demand growth, which is expected to double by 2040. This reflects both unmet needs, with 750 million people lacking access to reliable power, and the expanding role of electricity in modern economies. Combined with geopolitical tensions, energy security is back to the top of the agenda.

Despite concerns that this supercycle could slow down the energy transition, we already have today the technologies to meet load growth while progressively cleaning up the system. An ‘all-of-the-above’ approach is needed, leveraging dispatchable sources like gas, nuclear or hydro, accelerating renewables and modernising the grid.

Attendee insights:

In this Energy Talk, Maví Zingoni, CEO, Power at GE Vernova, will also discuss how this energy supercycle represents an opportunity to invest in transformative technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs), carbon capture, low-carbon fuels, and more.

Accelerating innovation to meet the world’s growing energy demand

The world’s population is projected to rise by as much as 1.7 billion by 2050, according to the IEA - but global energy demand is expected to rise even faster. In addition to population growth, greater wealth creation, increased consumer demand and urban expansion will all drive higher energy demand. Technology is positioned to help shape a sustainable future by advancing low-carbon solutions, improving energy efficiency and innovation across ecosystems.

In this Energy Talk, Lorenzo Simonelli, the CEO of Baker Hughes will address how technology can help drive sustainable energy development, delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable energy,  and how Baker Hughes is investing in innovative solutions and technologies that can help make this possible.

Powering industries with low-carbon ammonia

Low-carbon ammonia is expected to play a key role in decarbonising industrial applications, such as power generation, maritime shipping, and the fertiliser industry, as well as serving as an efficient hydrogen carrier. Despite high production costs, when compared to conventional ammonia, its broad applications and significant decarbonisation potential could make it crucial for achieving net-zero emissions. To fully realise the potential of low carbon ammonia, incentivising policies, as well as investment, will be needed to accelerate production, reduce the green premium and deliver lower carbon industrial applications.

Attendee insights:

Learn how low-carbon ammonia is set to transform industrial applications, driving much-needed decarbonisation results.

Building a diversified energy mix to meet rising energy demand

According to the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy, traditional fuels continue to meet more than 80% of the world's energy needs despite record growth in renewable energy. Building a resilient, diversified clean energy supply necessitates expanding production and sourcing capabilities across multiple countries and regions to minimise reliance on any single source. Economies built on production are seizing the chance to rethink their infrastructure, resources and skills. Their focus is shifting to create clean energy supply chains, driven by low-carbon solutions such as LNG and other new energy sources. This change brings huge advantages: stronger economies, new jobs, and fresh market opportunities.

 Attendee insights:

This session will explore the crucial role of a diversified energy mix in the broader energy transition while ensuring a sustainable supply to meet the increasing energy demand.

Mobilising capital to fuel the energy transition: overcoming critical barriers

Unpredictable policy incentives, a lack of credible transition data, and a shortage of commercially viable projects are restricting transition finance. These barriers are felt on a greater scale when combined with higher costs of capital and geopolitical and environmental factors. Despite this, financial institutions are expected to achieve consistent levels of growth while playing a key role in mobilising foreign direct investment into clean technology, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.

The role of the industrial transition accelerator (ITA) in catalysing decarbonisation across six heavy-emitting sectors

The Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) is a crucial global initiative launched at COP28, focused on driving the transition to low-carbon heavy industries. With the potential for over $700 billion in investments into green industrial pipelines, the ITA targets six of the highest-emitting sectors: aluminium, cement, chemicals, steel, aviation, and shipping. Despite the announcement of over 450 large-scale projects aimed at producing green commodities by 2030, many are currently stalled due to a lack of demand for low-carbon products.

To overcome this barrier, the ITA has identified three critical requirements for scaling up demand: effective policies, clear product standards, and mechanisms to facilitate product offtake and green product purchases. Through collaboration with industry, investors, and key partners, the ITA aims to foster the commitments needed to secure financing and advance these projects by 2026.

Attendee insights:

James Schofield, Deputy Director of the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA), will discuss the ITA's pivotal role in leveraging global channels and expertise to overcome project barriers in the coming two years. With his extensive experience in driving industrial decarbonisation initiatives, James will provide insights into how the ITA aims to catalyse investments and foster collaboration across key sectors, ensuring that tangible solutions are deployed for a sustainable transition toward low-carbon heavy industries.

In conversation with a CEO

From being the youngest Arab woman anchor at Qatar TV to a prominent and highly recognized Arab businesswoman, Dr. Nashwa Al Ruwaini has cemented her position as on of the region’s best-in-class leading media and business excellence personalities. In this Women in Business Spotlight, hear from Dr. Nashwa Al Ruwaini, a globally recognised and celebrated CEO on her leadership journey.

Investing in employee wellbeing

Studies show investing in employee wellbeing improves health. It can also boost creativity, productivity, and performance. Companies should invest in employee wellbeing now more than ever, as a recent BCG study reveals that burnout affects almost all employees. By providing senior managerial support, psychological safety and fair opportunities, businesses can take the lead and attract top talent. To enable employees to fulfil their potential, it makes sense for companies to prioritize wellbeing, enabling them to perform at their best and maintain a positive outlook. 

Attendee Insights:

Explore how supportive environments can be built and maintained within the workplace to ensure people are allowed to thrive and excel within the workplace.

Welcome remarks

Securing off-take agreements to activate the potential of hydrogen

Hydrogen demand is characterised by cautious growth, as high production costs, underdeveloped infrastructure, and market immaturity pose significant challenges to securing consistent offtake agreements and broader market adoption. Stimulating demand for low-carbon hydrogen remains a key challenge, particularly in sectors such as transportation, industry, and heating. Supportive policies and financial incentives to promote the adoption of hydrogen technologies will pave the way for market activation but will only take effect if public-private partnerships are established to develop hydrogen infrastructure. Collaboration amongst industry stakeholders is key to establish standardised offtake agreements and supply chain mechanisms that ensure reliable and affordable hydrogen supply.

 Attendee insights:

Gain a better understanding of the mechanisms, policies and strategies to expedite uptake as well as what will be required to overcome commercial barriers, foster market growth, and ensure security of supply for end-users through robust offtake agreements.