19/12/2017
English newspaper Financial Times recognized Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and IICEC Honorary Chairman, as the "Energy Personality of the Year" on 18.12.2017, and stated: " Over the last decade, the IEA has made itself an indispensable source of facts and ideas. This achievement is due to the work of many people within it, but the key role has been played by Fatih Birol, formerly Chief Economist and now Executive Director. Without neglecting its core mission the agency has skilfully extended the definition of energy security to match the realities of climate change, urban air quality and access (or rather the lack of it) to energy.” FT also added “Mr. Birol has set a rare standard of explaining the world to itself without getting caught up in political cross fire.”
About Dr. Fatih Birol
Prior to joining the IEA in 1995, Dr. Birol worked for six years as an oil market analyst at the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna. Dr. Fatih Birol received numerous awards for his contributions to energy world. Dr. Birol has been named by Forbes Magazine among the most powerful people in terms of influence on the world’s energy scene.
Dr. Birol received the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Emperor in 2014, the State Honor Award from the Iraqi Government in 2013, the Order of the Polar Star from Sweden and the Order of Merit of the Republic from the Italian Government in 2012. In 2009, he was awarded with the German Federal Cross of Merit. Dr. Birol has also been decorated by the government of Austria, Golden Honor Medal in 2007 and by France, Chevalier dans l‘ ordre des Palmes Academiques in 2006. Prior to these, Dr. Birol received awards from the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey in 2005, the United States in 2004 and the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2002.
