Brian Sullivan

Brian joined Ipieca as the Chief Executive Officer in 2011 following a 23 year career in bp. He graduated in Metallurgy and Materials Science from Imperial College, London, UK and was recruited into bp's Refining and Marketing international graduate programme in 1986. During his time with bp he has had a varied career of technical, commercial, financial and leadership roles across the downstream value chain including crude and products trading, marine fuels, lubricants and alternative energy. During his tenure at Ipieca, he has overseen the growth of the Association and leads their contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the Energy Transition. 2022 saw the launch of the Ipieca Principles, a new condition of membership promoting support for UN agreements and practices that align with them. Brian is a Fellow of the Energy Institute.

Session Overview

Tuesday, 4 November

14:35

Decarbonisation Conference Room A 14:35 - 15:20

Methane reduction in a divided regulatory landscape: what it means for decarbonisation

The United States and European Union have adopted distinct regulatory approaches when it comes to reducing methane emissions and advancing global decarbonisation goals. Initially bolstered by the Inflation Reduction Act and reinforced by EPA methane rules, the U.S. framework now faces headwinds following the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which scales back clean energy support and signals a broader rollback of federal climate incentives. This shift has introduced new uncertainty around the durability and direction of U.S. methane policy. Meanwhile, the EU’s Methane Regulation, implemented in 2024, enforces strict monitoring, reporting and reduction requirements that extend to fossil fuel imports, positioning the trading bloc as a leader in methane mitigation. Greater regulatory consistency would be a boon for operators, who are also dealing with non-binding and irregularly implemented agreements such as the Global Methane Pledge, data gaps, monitoring challenges, and economic and infrastructure barriers. Companies must take a pragmatic approach to compliance and investment, balancing technological solutions with policy uncertainty to keep decarbonisation goals within reach.

Attendee insights:

Explore how stakeholders are adapting strategies, managing compliance costs and trade risks, and investing in mitigation technologies to navigate diverging methane regulations across key markets.

Thursday, 6 November

All Sessions

13:00

Strategic Conference Conference Room B 13:00 - 13:45

View Session

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.