With a vested interest in the energy debate, representatives from the public and private sectors came together to attend the “Global Energy Challenges: Implications for The Americas” symposium held on April 15, 2008, in the Special Events Center in the College of Business Administration Complex at University Park.

Florida International University’s Energy Business Forum, the Council of the Americas, and event sponsor Shell Oil Company hosted the lively discussion.

Opening keynote speaker Olivier Lazare, vice president, new business development in The Americas, Shell Oil Company, presented a global energy outlook based on his company’s experience and perspective.

Two panel discussions followed. The first, “Meeting Energy Challenges in The Americas,” featured Karen Harbert, former assistant secretary for policy and international affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy and current executive vice president and managing director of the Institute for 21st Century Energy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She was joined by Michael Warren, national manager of the Latin American research group at Toyota Motor North America; Murray Smith, a member of the energy advisory board at TD Securities Canada; and Luis Alvarez Poli, chief executive officer of Andes Energy.

The second session, titled “Potential for Biofuels in The Americas,” offered shared perspectives from Matthew T. McManus, division chief of energy producer affairs at the U.S. Department of State; Brian Dean, acting executive director of the Interamerican Ethanol Commission; Richard Vogel, manager of environmental and regulatory affairs at Vecenergy; and Doug Durante, executive director, Clean Fuels Development Coalition.

Olivier Lazare’s Segment[flv:http://business.fiu.edu/newsletters/BusinessNetworks/2008/05/videos/olivierLezare384K.flv 500 334]

Eric Farnsworth’s Segment[flv:http://business.fiu.edu/newsletters/BusinessNetworks/2008/05/videos/EricFarnsworth384K.flv 500 334]

Karen Harbert’s Segment[flv:http://business.fiu.edu/newsletters/BusinessNetworks/2008/05/videos/KarenHarbert384K.flv 500 334]

Luis Alvarez Poli’s Segment[flv:http://business.fiu.edu/newsletters/BusinessNetworks/2008/05/videos/LuisAlvarezPoli384K.flv 500 334]

Energy discussion resonates with attendees.

Fred Cartaya (MSME ’98, BSME ’86), vice president, Biodiesel of South Florida LLC, welcomed the symposium as a chance “to meet and discuss potential opportunities with other stakeholders of renewable energy.”

“Everyone in the community spectrum—from governments, to private companies, to academia—needs to work together to resolve energy-related challenges in a collaborative fashion.”

—Rafael Jaén Williamson, regional manager for policy, government, and public affairs, Latin America, Chevron Corporation

Eric Farnsworth, vice president, Council of The Americas.  View his remarks.

According to Rafael Jaén Williamson, regional manager for policy, government, and public affairs, Latin America, Chevron Corporation, this symposium “reinforced the fact that everyone in the community spectrum—from governments, to private companies, to academia—needs to work together to resolve energy-related challenges in a collaborative fashion.”

Williamson has attended previous Energy Business Forum events, finding them to be “very valuable, with a rich exchange of knowledge and perspectives.”

Ed Glab, clinical professor, Department of Management and International Business, director of the Knight Ridder Center for Excellence in Management, and co-director of the Energy Business Forum, welcomes the feedback.

“We are uniting the people who conduct the research, make the investments, and determine the regulations needed to tackle the realities of today’s energy challenges head on,” Glab said.

To learn more about the Energy Business Forum, visit: http://krcem.fiu.edu/Energy.html.

Karen Harbert, executive vice president and managing director of the Institute for 21st Century Energy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. View her remarks.

Luis Alvarez Poli, CEO, Andes Energy. View his remarks.