4th Annual Global Energy Summit Where geopolitics meets the grid August 26, 2026
4th Annual Global Energy Summit Where geopolitics meets the grid — Houston at the center of what comes next
4th Annual Global Energy Summit
Where geopolitics meets the grid — Houston at the center of what comes next
The global energy order is fracturing. Sanctions corridors are rerouting tankers. AI datacenters are rewriting demand curves. Latin America is asserting sovereign control over its own reserves. And the Middle East — already the fault line of every modern energy crisis — is being rewired in real time.
This is not a conference about transition theory. It is a live-fire geopolitical briefing — convened by the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, the city that has shaped the global energy industry for a century — for decision-makers who cannot afford to be wrong about what happens next.
The Summit will feature DNV’s Global Energy Outlook, a long-range global and regional energy forecast shaping the trajectory of markets, security, and sustainability through 2060.
Follow by panel discussions on the world energy and its key players:
PANEL I – The Great Energy Reroute: Iran, the Middle East, and the Rewiring of Global Supply Chains
Moderated by Maryanne Maldonado, CEO, World Affairs Council of Greater Houston
- Arjun Murti,is currently a partner at Veriten, a research, strategy and investing firm focused on the long-term challenges and opportunities in the energy sector.
- Kevin Lyon, Chief strategy officer for Chevron Corporation, leads the development of the company’s enterprise strategy, overseeing capital allocation, enterprise portfolio optimization and sustainability initiatives that support long-term value creation.
PANEL II – Latin America Rising: Sovereignty, Strategic Resources, and the New Geopolitics of the Western Hemisphere
Moderated by Sudan Maccio, Partner, Haynes & Boone
- Luis Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Raisa Energy, bridges engineering and finance with geopolitical acumen, notably advising high-level government briefings on critical energy investments and infrastructure, especially in Latin America.
- Francisco Monaldi, director of Latin American Energy Program at Rice University’s Baker Institute, is a distinguished scholar with broad policy advisory experience across global institutions and governments, focusing on the political economy of energy in emerging markets
PANEL III – Powering Intelligence: AI and the Future of Global Energy Security
Moderated by Jeff Miers, Partner, Ernst & Young
- Scott Sanderson, leading AWS’s global Energy & Utilities business development, combines decades of industry leadership and operational expertise to drive technological innovation and digital transformation in energy worldwide.
- Shelley McCain, Vice President of Energy Strategy at Aligned Data Centers, accelerates the energy transition through strategic partnerships and large-scale solar, wind, and battery projects, championing sustainable power solutions for the data economy.
- Jon Parrella, Co-Founder and CEO of TerraFlow Energy, where he leads the development of long-duration energy storage solutions for large-scale power infrastructure, AI data centers, and the evolving electric grid.
Closing Remarks will be by Robert Bryce, a veteran author and journalist, delivers compelling narratives that explore the intersection of energy, policy, and innovation, highlighting the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of power generation.
Followed by a reception sponsored by TerraFlow Energy with remarks by Jon Parrella, Founder & CEO, TerraFlow Energy
