I have always worked in the energy sector and have had a long-term interest in environmental issues. My earliest experience in this area was through an article in our school science magazine on the destruction of the ozone layer. I combine my work as a climate change adviser for Shell, with my responsibilities as Chairman of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA). I also work closely with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and have been a lead contributor to many of its recent energy and climate change publications. The most recent of these discusses the role of a carbon price in an economy.

After graduating as a chemical engineer, I started my working life as a refinery engineer in Australia during another period of very high oil prices when energy efficiency was paramount. I then spent a period in the Netherlands, before returning to Australia to become involved with another side of the oil industry, energy economics and supply. This led to a move to London as an oil trader for Shell followed by a time managing the global trading and chartering of Shell’s crude oil tanker fleet. In 2001 I took up my current role and haven’t looked back since.

A few of my thoughts about climate change: