Panel Three: American Interests in Eastern Mediterranean Energy
Date: April 15, 2015
Time: 3:30pm – 4:45pm
Location: 1100 New York Avenue, NW 7th Floor, West Tower
Conference Details: The Geopolitics of Energy in the Eastern Mediterranean
Join ASP and our panelists in a discussion about the geopolitics of energy in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The US will not be a consumer of energy exported from the Eastern Mediterranean, so why has it been so involved? This panel will discuss the role of outsiders in promote energy cooperation among the countries in the Eastern Mediterranean. The panel will examine America’s role in building energy cooperation between countries in the region, as well as promoting economic and investment opportunities for new found energy reserves.
Speakers
Panelist: Khush Choksy
Khush Choksy is acting head for Turkey, Middle East, and North Africa Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he leads the activities of the department in developing and implementing policies and programs to promote U.S. trade and investment with markets in the region. Choksy manages a team of program and policy experts focused on working closely with Chamber member companies and business and government leaders to advance and broaden commercial relationships between the United States and the region. In addition, he serves as executive director of the U.S.-Egypt Business Council and the U.S.-Bahrain Business Council. He is actively involved in the Chamber’s efforts to lead a Middle East Commercial Dialogue to foster intra-regional trade and investment.
Before joining the Chamber, Choksy was a director at Chemonics International where he led teams in developing economic ties between the United States and the Middle East. He lived and worked in Jordan for seven years, establishing relations with private- and public-sector leaders at a critical time in the U.S.-Middle East relationship on behalf of several USAID programs. He also worked in India, overseeing U.S. government and World Bank-funded projects that helped liberalize the capital markets and financial sectors.
His thought leadership includes presentations at international forums on business reform and U.S. trade and financial sector investment in emerging markets. Choksy received his M.B.A. in strategic management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and his B.A. magna cum laude from Hamilton College. He lives with his wife and daughter in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Panelist: David Gillers
Panelist: Ben Dillon
Ben Dillon is Vice President, Communications and Government Relations for Noble Energy. Ben joined Noble Energy in October 2011. From June 2002 through September 2011 he served in various capacities with Shell, including Communications Manager for the Upstream International Division in The Hague, Vice President, Shell Oil Company, and Regional Communications and Government Relations Manager for Shell Americas. Prior to Shell, Ben Served as Vice President, Political Affairs and Public Resources for the Independent Petroleum Association of America and held position in the House Resources Committee and Department of Interior.
Ben has more than 30 years experience in the Ohio and gas sector with extensive direct experience in communications and government affairs within the energy industry. He has a diverse background as a petroleum engineer, a U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) policy analyst, industry regulator and administrator, a Congressional committee professional for oil and gas legislation, and a global communications and government affairs leaders at Shell and Noble Energy. Ben has a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering (magna cum laude) from Montana Tech.
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