Sara Vakhshouri is an energy strategist and humanitarian visionary with two decades of experience working in the energy industry. She has extensive experience in energy strategy, energy security and geopolitical risk, and global energy market studies. She founded SVB Energy International and SVB Green Access. SVB Energy International is a strategic energy consulting firm with offices in Washington, DC and Dubai. SVB Green Access is a nonprofit organization that promotes and provides affordable and inclusive energy programs in areas where energy poverty exists and safe water access is either poor or will be in great need in the future. She has advised numerous countries on their energy roadmap strategies and consulted for public and private entities and international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Vakhshouri is also a professor of energy security at the Institute of World Politics. Vakhshouri has advised various governments, energy companies, investment banks, financial institutions, law firms, and international corporations on energy security strategies and energy transition, energy markets, trading, the geopolitics of energy, and investment patterns. She was a member of the Energy Task Force of the Cyprus Climate Initiative, which was launched by the president of the Republic of Cyprus.  

Vakhshouri has published articles in numerous journals, including The Economist, Middle East Economic Survey, and Oil & Gas Journal. Vakhshouri has also contributed to different energy research works and studies at the International Energy Agency, Harvard University Kennedy School, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, CEDIGAZ, Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and Economist Intelligence Unit.  

Vakhshouri has been a keynote speaker at prestigious energy conferences, including the World Energy Congress, Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Energy conference, Platts’ Middle East Petroleum and Gas conference, the Global LNG Congress, African Energy Week, IP Week, and International Energy Week. She has also been a keynote speaker at Duke University, Princeton University, Sciences Po in Paris, and Johns Hopkins University. Vakhshouri is frequently quoted and has appeared in Reuters, Bloomberg, BBC, Financial Times, Platts, Argus, The Wall Street Journal, Energy Intelligence, Foreign Policy, The Washington Post, and Voice of America. She is the author of The Marketing and Sale of Iranian Export Crude Oil Since the Islamic Revolution. Vakhshouri has also contributed chapters to books and energy reports, including the IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2018. She regularly briefs energy think tanks and agencies, including the IEA and Energy Information Administration. Vakhshouri has a PhD in energy security and Middle Eastern studies. She has an MA in business management (international marketing) and another MA in international relations. She has been a senior energy fellow at the Atlantic Council and at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.