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Energy Explained
Get the latest as our experts share their insights on global energy policy.
How a Conflict in Iran Could Affect Oil Markets in the Gulf Arab States
Multiple US–Iran conflict scenarios carry materially different risks for global oil infrastructure, transit routes, and prices.
Podcasts
Hear in-depth conversations with the world’s top energy and climate leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society.
Michael Webber on What’s Behind Rising Energy Costs
With electricity prices on the rise, the future of our power grid is attracting a lot more attention. Surging demand is at the center of the story, but...
Events
Find out more about our upcoming and past events.
February 25, 2026
• 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
est
Energy Markets and the Future of Energy with Amrita Sen
Join us on February 25 for an in-depth, student-only conversation. Registration is required, and space is limited. The Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA’s Women...
Event
• Center on Global Energy Policy
1255 Amsterdam Ave Floor 1, New York, NY 10027
1255 Amsterdam Ave Floor 1, New York, NY 10027
Georgina Kessel Martinez
Non-Resident Fellow
Biography
Georgina Kessel is an economist with extensive experience in energy and development, specializing in regulatory institutions, infrastructure policy, and market design. Her work focuses on the interaction between energy markets, economic development, and institutional frameworks in emerging economies.
Georgina has spent her career at the intersection of public policy, economic regulation, and corporate governance. She has held senior leadership roles in the Mexican public sector and has worked extensively with private-sector institutions in the energy, mining and financial sectors, advising on infrastructure development, market reform, and regulatory oversight.
She previously served as Mexico’s Secretary of Energy, where she was responsible for national energy policy during a period of structural challenges and rising demand. Earlier in her career, she was the first president of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), establishing regulatory frameworks for the electricity market. She also held senior positions at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy, focusing on economic analysis and the evaluation of large-scale energy investment projects.
In the private sector, Georgina has served on the boards of major energy, mining and financial institutions, including Iberdrola, Fresnillo and Scotiabank Inverlat, and currently serves as Chair of Scotiabank Inverlat. Through her board work and public engagement, she contributes to policy discussions on climate and energy markets, infrastructure investment, and institutional governance.