Our Team

Management
François-Régis Mouton de Lostalot

François-Régis Mouton de Lostalot

Managing Director - IOGP Europe
LinkedIn Biography
François-Régis Mouton de Lostalot
Managing Director - IOGP Europe

François-Régis joined IOGP in January 2018. He has around 30 years of international experience in the oil and gas industry. He is seconded to IOGP from TotalEnergies, where he was Vice President for Oil and Gas Advocacy. His career has taken him from reservoir engineering to business development and Public Affairs, working in Europe, U.S. and Africa. He has also served in senior advisory roles at the World Bank’s Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership in Washington D.C. and TotalEnergies’ European Affairs office in Brussels.

François-Régis is married with four children and a golden retriever.

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Catherine Bacho

Catherine Bacho

Executive Assistant
LinkedIn Biography
Catherine Bacho
Executive Assistant

Catherine is an experienced executive assistant from Sweden who joined IOGP Europe in January this year. She has for the past 13 years been working for the Swedish Ambassador to NATO and acted as Liaison Officer during NATO Summits and Ministerial meetings. Furthermore Catherine is not completely unfamiliar with the EU as her career started at the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU, followed by 10 years at the EU lobbying office of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise. She has also worked in EU civilian crisis management during a time when there was a need for rule of law support to Iraq.

Outside of work Catherine enjoys travelling, reading historical novels and going for long walks with friends. She is married with two teenage children.

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Policy

Maria Karagiannidou-Rosiek

Maria Karagiannidou-Rosiek

Head of Policy - Europe
LinkedIn Biography
Maria Karagiannidou-Rosiek
Head of Policy - Europe

Maria Karagiannidou-Rosiek joined IOGP in 2020 and currently serves as Head of Policy Europe, overseeing a diverse portfolio of EU policy areas including energy, climate, sustainability, and environmental regulation. She brings more than a decade of international experience in the oil and gas industry, with a strong emphasis on EU regulatory affairs and stakeholder engagement.

Maria began her career within the EU institutions, holding roles at the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Parliament, and the Greek Permanent Representation to the EU. She later gained experience with FuelsEurope, the refining industry association, before joining MOL Group in Budapest, where she spent over six years leading the company’s EU regulatory affairs and advancing key public affairs and business initiatives.

A graduate of the College of Europe, Maria holds a Master’s degree in EU International Relations and Diplomacy. She is fluent in English, Polish, and Greek, and has a working knowledge of French.

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Caterina De Matteis

Caterina De Matteis

Senior Manager - Energy and Climate
LinkedIn Biography
Caterina De Matteis
Senior Manager - Energy and Climate

Caterina De Matteis is a Senior Policy Manager at IOGP Europe, where she leads advocacy on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and oversees the energy and climate pillar of the policy team. She brings over 10 years of experience in EU energy policy, with a core focus on CCS and hydrogen. Caterina previously served as Co-Chair of the European Commission’s CCUS Forum Working Group on CO₂ infrastructure. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs from the University of Bologna, specialized in EU affairs.

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Gabrielle van Melkebeke

Gabrielle van Melkebeke

Senior Manager - Sustainability and Environment
Biography
Gabrielle van Melkebeke
Senior Manager - Sustainability and Environment

With over 14 years of experience in the field, Gabrielle brings her expertise in sustainability and EU policy making to IOGP Europe, where, since joining us in July 2023, she leads the ESG and Environment team of IOGP Europe on several high level topics such as PFAS and CSRD. 

In addition to her hands-on experience in the field, she possesses a deep understanding of ESG principles, sustainable finance frameworks, and the complexities of EU policy making.
This knowledge, combined with her extensive network within the industry, enables her to navigate the evolving landscape of sustainability and contribute to effective policy implementation. 

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Emils Lagzdins

Emils Lagzdins

Senior Officer - Security of Supply and Methane emissions
LinkedIn Biography
Emils Lagzdins
Senior Officer - Security of Supply and Methane emissions

Emils has a background in policy analysis and advocacy in the field of European and international energy and climate policies. Emils joined IOGP Europe from the European Commission where he focused on EU’s external energy policy.

Prior to that Emils acquired a Master of Science degree in Energy Security and Strategic Studies. At IOGP Europe, Emils focuses on policies and regulations related to upstream O&G sector, including methane emissions mitigation, EU energy markets (incl. SoS, LNG), carbon markets (EU ETS, CBAM, CDRs). 

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Octav Baciu

Octav Baciu

Senior Officer - Energy Climate and Hydrogen
LinkedIn Biography
Octav Baciu
Senior Officer - Energy Climate and Hydrogen

Octav Baciu is a Senior Policy Officer at the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP Europe) in Brussels, focusing on Energy and Climate policies, specifically Hydrogen, National Energy and Climate Plan, and CCS. With five years of experience in the energy sector, he joined IOGP Europe in 2023 after working for ENGIE Romania.

Octav is completing an MBA in Energy at the University of Economic Studies in Bucharest and holds two master’s degrees in EU Law and EU Governance, alongside a bachelor’s degree in administrative sciences.

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Jonathan Smith

Jonathan Smith

Senior Policy Advisor
Biography
Jonathan Smith
Senior Policy Advisor
Dr Jonathan Smith joined IOGP-Europe on a two year secondment as Senior Policy Advisor from parent company Shell, effective 1 October.
Jonathan has a PhD in contaminant hydrogeology  and over 30 years experience is environmental risk assessment and management, sustainability management, auditing, and research in regulatory, policy and industrial organisations. He spent 17 years at Shell and was until recently the Soil & Groundwater Technical Solutions Manager for Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific.
At IOGP Jonathan will lead the Safety, Operations & Environment Expert Group, and the PFAS project group.

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Catarina Santos

Catarina Santos

Senior Officer - Carbon Markets
LinkedIn Biography
Catarina Santos
Senior Officer - Carbon Markets

Catarina Santos is a Senior Policy Officer at the IOGP Europe in Brussels, specializing in Energy and Climate policies. She focuses on key regulatory frameworks, including the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), as well as policies on carbon removals.

With seven years of experience in EU policy and regulatory affairs, Catarina joined IOGP Europe in 2024 after working at Galp, where she was involved in external affairs and policy advocacy. Before that, she worked at the Portuguese Energy Regulator, developing expertise in energy markets and regulation.

She holds a Law Degree and a Master’s in European Legal Practice, complemented by specialized training in energy regulation.

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Enea Belardinelli

Enea Belardinelli

Officer - Funding projects
LinkedIn Biography
Enea Belardinelli
Officer - Funding projects

Enea is a policy and public affairs professional with prior experience in the cement and industrial machinery sectors, as well as serving as a policy officer for the Italian government. He has published research in scientific journals on EU strategic autonomy and diplomatic history. He holds a Master of Science degree in International Relations and Governance Studies.

Enea joined IOGP Europe in September 2024, focusing initially on the Net Zero Industry Act and carbon capture and storage (CCS). He is currently responsible for EU budget and funding instruments for the energy sector and for decarbonization, and works on security of energy supply and CCS-related policy files.

Enea is fluent in Italian, English, and French, and speaks Spanish at a good level.

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Lucy Coombe

Lucy Coombe

Officer - Sustainability
LinkedIn Biography
Lucy Coombe
Officer - Sustainability

Lucy, originally from New Zealand, joined IOGP Europe in November 2024 and is now based in Brussels. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology, and has been admitted to the New Zealand legal profession, completing her professional legal studies. Prior to joining IOGP Europe, Lucy worked as a Business Consultant at Ernst & Young for nearly two years, where she gained experience in strategic consulting and industry analysis.

At IOGP Europe, Lucy focuses on ESG topics and related initiatives. Passionate about continuous learning and growth, Lucy is eager to contribute to IOGP Europe’s success and looks forward to collaborating with colleagues and learning from their expertise. Outside of work, Lucy enjoys traveling and playing tennis socially.

 

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Aymeric Pfister

Aymeric Pfister

Junior Officer - Data Analysis
LinkedIn Biography
Aymeric Pfister
Junior Officer - Data Analysis

Aymeric Pfister is a Swiss graduate of the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, where he earned a Master’s in International Relations & Political Science. His academic work focused on state-led investment strategies in the energy sector, with a particular emphasis on Sovereign Wealth Funds.

He joined IOGP Europe as a Junior Officer in August 2025, right after graduation, after previous experience at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), where he worked on sustainable mining-related topics.

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communications

Nareg Terzian

Nareg Terzian

Head of Strategy & Communications - Europe
LinkedIn Biography
Nareg Terzian
Head of Strategy & Communications - Europe

Nareg leads IOGP Europe’s Strategy and Communications work and serves as Secretary of the IOGP European Board and Manager of the IOGP European Committee. His role is to help design IOGP Europe’s overall public affairs strategy, tactics and positioning, and to coordinate the roll-out of advocacy activities in support of IOGP Europe’s regulatory work.  

Nareg has 10 years of European public affairs experience in service of the oil and gas industry. He previously worked as a consultant in a leading European public affairs consultancy’s energy team and in TotalEnergies’ European Affairs division in Brussels. 

Nareg is fluent in French, English, Armenian and Italian, and holds a Master’s degree in European Studies. 

 

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Håkon Fonseca Nordang

Håkon Fonseca Nordang

Senior Manager, Communications
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Gabrielle Lelievre

Gabrielle Lelievre

Communications Manager
LinkedIn Biography
Gabrielle Lelievre
Communications Manager

Gabrielle is a public affairs professional with a focus on strategic communications in the European energy sector. She currently serves at IOGP Europe, which she joined in September 2024, where she facilitates dialogue between industry leaders and institutional stakeholders to shape informed energy policy.

Prior to this, Gabrielle spent more than four years at Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), where she led narrative development to elevate the profile of the industry in EU policy discourse, emphasizing its critical role in the energy transition.

Her earlier experience includes serving in the European Parliament under MEP Jerzy Buzek, where she managed stakeholder engagement and policy exchange within the framework of the European Energy Forum (EEF). In this capacity, she curated and executed cross-institutional initiatives that brought together Members of the European Parliament, European Commission officials, regulators, and senior industry figures to foster evidence-based policy discussions.

 

 

 

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Beri Retief

Beri Retief

Officer Marketing and Communications
LinkedIn Biography
Beri Retief
Officer Marketing and Communications

Beri is a South African Officer of Marketing & Communications at IOGP Europe since November 2024. He completed a Bachelor’s of Social Sciences and a Master’s of Journalism and Media in Europe at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Since graduating he has specialized in digital marketing, content creation and copywriting while. He strives to create a mix of algorithmic understanding and evocative storytelling in both his professional and personal projects. 

He speaks English and Afrikaans fluently and also speaks Dutch. During his free time he writes fantasy adventures for Dungeons and Dragons and puts his film school knowledge to use in personal video projects. 

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outreach

Iskren Kirilov

Iskren Kirilov

Head of Institutional Relations - Europe
LinkedIn Biography
Iskren Kirilov
Head of Institutional Relations - Europe

Iskren Kirilov is the Head of Institutional Relations at IOGP Europe, bringing with him a wealth of experience and expertise in public diplomacy and policy advising. With a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from the University of Sofia, a master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Relations from the Diplomatic School of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and a recently completed PhD in Science and Technology for Innovation from the University of Cagliari, Iskren Kirilov possesses a strong academic background.

His career spans pivotal roles, including Policy Officer at the European Commission, Expert at the European Economic and Social Committee, Senior Policy Advisor at EURASHE, and Director of International Affairs at Fundación San Pablo Andalucía CEU, before assuming his current position at IOGP Europe. 

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Maxime Abou Tara

Maxime Abou Tara

Senior Institutional Relations Officer
LinkedIn Biography
Maxime Abou Tara
Senior Institutional Relations Officer

Before joining IOGP Europe, Maxime completed a Bluebook Traineeship in the Cabinet of VP Maroš Šefčovič at the European Commission, gaining hands-on experience in governmental affairs, energy policy, and legislative processes. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Sciences from the European School of Political and Social Sciences (ESPOL), complementing his Master’s degree in International and European Studies held at Sciences Po Strasbourg. Additionally, Maxime has held trainee roles at GardaWorld, focusing on private security business activities, and at the Embassy of Belgium in Lebanon, where he engaged in political and economic analysis. 

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Lennart Paetz

Lennart Paetz

Institutional Relations Officer
LinkedIn Biography
Lennart Paetz
Institutional Relations Officer

Lennart has been covering European affairs for over four years first as a trainee in the European Parliament, then working at the European Movement Germany, followed by two years of working in a public affairs consultancy, specialising on energy policies. These experiences have equipped him with a broad perspective on European affairs and the energy sector.

He joined IOGP Europe in 2024 first as a Policy Officer in the ESG team, and has since moved to the Institutional Relations Team supporting the outreach efforts of IOGP Europe. He holds a MA in European Politics and Society from Charles University Prague, Leiden University and Jagiellonian University Krakow.

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Lisa Leopoli

Lisa Leopoli

Junior Officer Institutional Relations
Biography
Lisa Leopoli
Junior Officer Institutional Relations

Lisa Leopoli is a professional in institutional relations and journalism, currently serving as Junior Officer at IOGP Europe in Brussels, specializing in EU public affairs and stakeholder engagement. She previously worked as a journalist in the European Commission and contributed to the Academia Europeista del Friuli Venezia Giulia, focusing on European policy and governance. In 2024, she was selected as Italy’s Representative at the European Leadership Academy and in 2025 she represented the European Capital of Culture GO!2025 .

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the Università degli Studi di Udine and studied communication at Universität Erfurt as an Erasmus+ student.

Her expertise spans EU institutions, strategic communication, media relations, and public policy analysis. She speaks Italian (native), English and French (full professional proficiency), German (professional working proficiency), and Chinese (elementary proficiency). Based in Brussels, she operates in multilingual and multicultural environments at the heart of European decision-making.

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Admin

Pierre-Henri van de Putte

Pierre-Henri van de Putte

Head of Finance & Administration - Europe
LinkedIn Biography
Pierre-Henri van de Putte
Head of Finance & Administration - Europe

Pierre-Henri van de Putte, is Head of Finance and Administration, IOGP Europe. With over 30 years experience in management with both large Belgian banks and associations, Pierre-Henri’s expertise has been acquired within financial and administration environments in various responsibilities ranging from finances, sales, marketing, communication and project management. Enthusiastic and empathetic, Pierre-Henri is a problem solver, loving to take up challenges with the team, sharing what he has learned and looking for continuous improvements. He also is a happy father of 4. 

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Nathalie Ballaux

Nathalie Ballaux

Administration Manager
LinkedIn Biography
Nathalie Ballaux
Administration Manager

With 27 years of experience mainly in accounting and HR in both private and non-profit organizations, Nathalie joined IOGP Europe back in November 2023 as an Admin Manager. With expertise in Belgian personal income tax legal audit and counselling, she is a certified member of the European Register of Tax Advisors. Nathalie holds a master’s degree in law from KU Leuven, with a specialization in fiscal law from the ICHEC Brussels School of Management. She is fluent in Dutch, English, French, and German. She is also the happy mother of two and has been a 4 times Belgian tennis champion. 

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Mariam Boulaouane

Mariam Boulaouane

Junior Administration Officer
Biography
Mariam Boulaouane
Junior Administration Officer

Mariam Boulaouane is a Junior Administration Officer, bringing solid skills in communication, administration, and event organization.

Recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Public Relations, she also completed a final thesis on the digitalization of professional events. Mariam has gained practical experience supporting administrative processes and coordinating events, contributing to efficient office operations and smooth internal and external communication.

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