World Energy Council welcomes new Chair-designate - H.E. Adnan Amin

World Energy Council welcomes new Chair-designate - H.E. Adnan Amin

24 July 2025, London: The World Energy Council is pleased to announce that H.E. Mr. Adnan Amin has been elected as Chair-designate of the World Energy Council. Mr. Amin will immediately assume the role alongside current Chair, Mike Howard, for the remainder of his term. Mr. Amin will transition to the Chair position at the Council’s Executive Assembly taking place during World Energy Week in October 2025.

A renowned international leader and sustainable development economist, Mr. Amin was unanimously elected by the Council’s worldwide member committees.

Mr. Amin is a well-respected and globally recognised leader, having founded and led the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) between 2011 and 2019. Under his leadership, IRENA became the authoritative voice for renewable energy and a key player in driving the transformation of global energy systems.

He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of COP28, where he successfully led international negotiations that culminated in the landmark “UAE Consensus.” This included a historic commitment by countries to triple global renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030, marking a pivotal step forward in accelerating clean energy deployment.

Prior to these roles, Mr. Amin served in senior leadership across the United Nations System and International Organisations for over 20 years. He was also a Senior Research Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, focusing on the geopolitics of the energy transition.

Mike Howard, current Chair, World Energy Council said: “I am truly delighted that Adnan is joining the World Energy Council community in this top leadership role. His international experience across a range of global organisations, including those with energy responsibilities, is outstanding. In these turbulent times, geopolitically and across energy systems, the need for strong and transparent leadership is paramount. I greatly look forward to working with Adnan as he takes on his new roles.”

H.E. Adnan Amin, incoming Chair-designate, World Energy Council, said: “The World Energy Council has long been a cornerstone of impactful global energy leadership. I am honoured to take on this important role at a time when the need for an independent and impartial voice in the energy space has never been more urgent. I look forward to working with the Council’s worldwide community to drive meaningful progress, exchange insights, and inspire transformative change.”

Dr Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General and CEO, World Energy Council, said: “I am thrilled to welcome HE Adnan Amin as Chair-designate of the World Energy Council. Adnan is more than a trustworthy and admired leader in the energy space - he is a bridge-builder between worlds. Adnan joins the Council at a pivotal moment: energy leadership must rise to new levels of challenge, creativity, and compassion. His appointment signals our intent to shape a fresh energy agenda fit for billions of people and a healthy planet. We’re not here to study the present - we’re here to redesign the future, and Adnan is the right leader to help drive that transformation.”

Born in Kenya and a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Amin will become the first person from a non-OECD country to take up position of Chair of the World Energy Council. He is well-placed to lead the diverse World Energy Council community, which includes over 3,000 member organisations spanning more than 100 countries, and its flagship World Energy Congress which convenes global energy leaders to advance clean and inclusive energy transitions.

Co-hosted by the World Energy Council and the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia, the 27th edition of World Energy Congress will take place 26-29 October 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia..

About the World Energy Council

The World Energy Council is the world's oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners. Through our Humanising Energy vision, we involve more people and communities in accelerating clean and just energy transitions in all world regions.

Formed in 1923, the Council has convened diverse interests from across the full energy ecosystem for a century, and today has over 3,000 member organisations and a presence in nearly 100 countries. Our global network draws from governments, private and state corporations, academia and civil society, as well as current and future energy leaders.

We effectively collaborate on impact programmes and inform local, regional and global energy agendas in support of our enduring mission: to promote the sustainable use and supply of energy for the benefit of all people. Further details at www.worldenergy.org and on LinkedIn and Twitter.