NEW YORK, June 1, 2018 – The Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) announced today that Philippe Benoit, who from 2011-2016 served as head of the Energy Environment and Energy Efficiency Divisions at the International Energy Agency and previously worked as Energy Sector Manager at the World Bank, has joined as an adjunct senior research scholar. At CGEP Philippe will focus on issues pertaining to energy for development.
“Ensuring access to sustainable, affordable, and reliable sources of energy for billions of people in emerging economies and other developing countries is a critical challenge and opportunity for the global community,” said Jason Bordoff, Professor of Professional Practice in International and Public Affairs and Founding Director of the Center on Global Energy Policy. “Philippe’s deep expertise in this area and experience working in international institutions at the forefront of this transition are a tremendous addition to our growing team. We are pleased to have him on board.”
Philippe has had a distinguished career in energy, development, and climate policy. His experience spans a wide spectrum of regions, including the emerging economies of Asia and Latin America and developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, North America and Europe. He has over 25 years of experience in working on energy, finance and development in both the private and public sectors. In addition to his time at the International Energy Agency, he worked for over 15 years at the World Bank, including as energy sector manager for Latin America and the Caribbean, and at Société Générale as a director in the Energy Project Finance Department. He is also currently Managing Director-Energy at Global Infrastructure Advisory Services 2050, an independent consultancy.
“It’s a privilege to work at a prestigious institution such as Columbia University with the first-rate team that Jason and the Center have assembled,” said Benoit. “I’m very excited to work with the scholars and faculty across the institution to help public and private sector leaders make better decisions on the policy, financing, and implementation challenges of the transition to a sustainable energy future for all. Developing countries are central to this effort and so I am pleased to help the Center to expand its work in analyzing not only how energy access can reduce poverty, but also how to promote its sustainable use by the expanding middle classes and others that are driving the massive growth in demand in the developing world.”
Philippe has managed over 50 publications in the areas of clean energy, development and climate change while at the IEA and the World Bank. He holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School, a B.A. in economics and political science from Yale University, and a masters in trade law from the University of Paris.
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About the Center on Global Energy Policy
CGEP’s mission is to enable public and private sector leaders to make more informed choices about the world’s most pressing energy issues by providing an independent, interdisciplinary, and nonpartisan platform for insights and datadriven analysis, convening and information-sharing, education and training, and actionable recommendations on the current and future global energy system. Based at one of the world’s great research universities located in the heart of New York City, Columbia University is Where the World Connects for Energy Policy.
