Ali Ghezelbash, Director

Ali Ghezelbash is a Director at Critical Resource, focusing primarily on engagements with clients in the energy industry. Ali has spent the past two decades leading teams in developing impactful engagement strategies, advising senior executives and implementing effective issues management in complex jurisdictions. During his time at Critical Resource/ERM, he has led multiple assignment across the ESGESG spectrum, with an increasing focus on strategic advising on climate change risks/opportunities.

Ali has broad international experiences from the Middle East, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom, as well as in-depth energy insights. Prior to joining Critical Resource, Ali served as Chief of Staff at the Innogy Innovation Hub and before that, as Head of Communications for Northern Europe, Middle East & Africa (NEMEA) at DNV GL – Energy, with a focus on renewables and the power sector. From 2006 until early 2014, he was at Norwegian energy majors Norsk Hydro and Statoil, where he held several senior leadership positions in communications, people management and strategy, including as head of Statoil’s governmental relations in Iran and as Acting Vice President of Communication for Statoil’s international business. Ali started his career in one of the Middle East’s leading strategic and political consulting firms, heading up a portfolio focused on political advising for the energy sector. He holds a BA (Hons) in Politics from the University of Sussex and an MSc in International Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He is fluent in English, Persian and Swedish.