International Energy Forum elects Jassim Alshirawi as next Secretary General

The Executive Board of the International Energy Forum (IEF) elected Jassim Alshirawi of Bahrain as the sixth IEF Secretary General at a meeting chaired by Mohamed Kurdi of Saudi Arabia in Rome.

Alshirawi will start his term as Secretary General on January 1, 2025 when the term of current Secretary General Joseph McMonigle is completed.

"I am honored by Executive Board's confidence in electing me as the organisation's next Secretary General," Alshirawi said in a press statment. "I look forward to working with the board and Secretariat staff to facilitate and strengthen the dialogue of important energy issues and challenges facing our member countries."

Alshirawi had a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years in the energy industry, sustainability and energy efficiency, covering areas of engineering, management, and policy development and implementation.

The newly elected Secretary General was bestowed by His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa with the "Order of National Action" medal in December 2019 in recognition of his contribution to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Alshirawi was a member of the IEF's Executive Board from 2014 until 2021 and has been a member of the IEF's International Support Group since 2008. He will be the first IEF Secretary General from the Middle East and North Africa region.

The IEF is the world's largest gathering of energy ministers from both producing and consuming countries as well as transit states. The IEF's membership represents 90 percent of global supply and demand for oil and gas. Member countries cooperate under the neutral framework of the IEF to foster greater mutual understanding and awareness of common energy interests to ensure global energy security.

The Secretary General serves as Chief Executive and Head of Mission of the IEF, which is headquartered in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.