Energy Industries Council appoints first Emirati to its board

Khalid Al Qubaisi is the first non-executive director from the UAE appointed to the EIC's board in its 77-year history

A crude oil pump jack in the Loving County, Texas. The Paris-based IEA expects a fall in global energy demand this year of around 5%. Reuters

The Energy Industries Council (EIC), a global trade body representing firms associated with energy industries worldwide, has added four new non-executive directors, including the first Emirati, to its board.

The additions represent the fast-growing and diverse make-up of EIC members and recognise the increasing importance of internationalisation, technology, energy transition and diversification across all sectors of the energy value chain, the EIC said in a statement.

“EIC has been fortunate to see growth in membership in 2020 as companies seek new data, networks and insights to accelerate their growth in ever-more challenging markets,” Stuart Broadley, the council's chief executive, said.

A not-for-profit organisation, the EIC has a membership of more than 650 companies that deliver goods and services to energy industries globally, including oil and gas, petrochemical, pipelines, renewables, nuclear energy, power generation and transmission and distribution sectors.

The addition of Emirati businessman Khalid Al Qubaisi is a milestone for the UK-based EIC and marks the first such appointment in the trade body's 77-year history.

Mr Al Qubaisi, an aeronautical engineer by profession, has served in numerous positions within the government of Abu Dhabi for the past 24 years. As a business strategist and managing director of Abu Dhabi-based Al Yaseah, he guides more than 30 companies.

Manisha Patel, business development manager for consultancy MES; Andy Aston, global managing director for natural resources at Turner & Townsend; and Andrew Bennion, managing director at Advanced Insulation are the other non-executive members who joined the EIC board, the statement said.

As the global trend continues towards decarbonisation, sustainability and inclusion, the new-look board will continue to provide governance and represent the views of EIC members at a time of significant upheaval in the energy sector, it added.

“Our board will continue to work with EIC’s management team to ensure we deliver on [our] priorities,” Mr Broadley said.