Program overview
Critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, copper, cobalt, rare earth elements, graphite, and platinum-group metals are now central to global energy security and the energy transition. These materials underpin electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, grid-scale storage, and advanced digital and industrial technologies, making mineral supply resilience a core pillar of long-term energy security and economic growth.
This program immerses participants in the energy-security dimensions of critical minerals, combining technical foundations with market, geopolitical, and strategic analysis. Participants engage directly with real-time developments at the Future Minerals Forum (FMF), including hands-on analytical work within the Critical Minerals Strategy Lab, where live announcements and industry signals are synthesized into strategic briefings.
Through executive instruction, strategic workshops, FMF immersion, and guided teamwork, the program equips leaders with the tools to interpret mineral-driven energy shifts, assess supply-chain risks, and design forward-looking strategies for a mineral-constrained energy future.
Mode of Learning
In-person
Location
Day 1: KSPP Day 2 and 3: KSPP Minerals Strategy Lab (Futures Mineral Forum)
Language
English
Duration
3 Days
Program Start
January 12, 2026
Program End
January 14, 2026
Program Hours
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Learning Objectives
Explain how the concept of energy security has evolved, why critical minerals sit at its core, where strategic bottlenecks emerge in midstream processing, and how global supply chains, key actors, and geopolitical dynamics shape control and vulnerability.
Analyze developments across the minerals landscape by interpreting partnership announcements, strategic shifts, and national positioning, while linking mineral demand and applications to broader energy security objectives.
Apply analytical frameworks in energy security, minerals strategy, and diplomacy to structure complex problems, synthesize insights rapidly, and produce clear, policy-relevant briefings.
Perform at policy pace by conducting real-time assessments during the FMF, collaborating in team-based simulations, and delivering actionable minerals and energy security strategies for policy leadership.
Who Should Attend?
Policymakers
Policymakers, analysts, and professionals engaged in policy development and evaluation.
Industry executives
Senior leaders in the energy, mining, technology, and advanced manufacturing sectors whose work depends on secure and resilient critical mineral supply chains.
Proficiency of written and spoken English
The program will be delivered in English. Applicants should be proficient in written and spoken English.
Faculty
Dr. Sara Vakhshouri
Dr. Sara Vakhshouri is a globally renowned energy security strategist and humanitarian visionary who founded SVB Energy International, a prominent strategic consulting firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., and Dubai. Additionally, she established SVB Green Access, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting affordable and inclusive energy access programs in regions facing energy poverty challenges and addressing imminent water access issues. With over two decades of experience in the energy industry, Dr. Vakhshouri possesses unparalleled expertise in global energy market studies, energy security strategy, energy transition, national security, and geopolitical risk assessment. She also serves as a Professor of Energy Security and the Head of the Center for Energy Security and Energy Diplomacy at the IWP Graduate School of National Security, Statecraft, and International Affairs. In addition, Dr. Vakhshouri holds the position of Senior Fellow at both the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. She is a member of the advisory board for the Romanian American Institute for Smart Energy (RAISE) and the National Capital Area Chapter of the United States Association for Energy Economics.
Full Profile Website: Home – Dr. Sara Vakhshouri
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