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 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting affordable and inclusive energy access programs in regions facing energy poverty challenges and addressing imminent water access issues.

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 (USAEE). She is also the recipient of the 2024 IWP General Raymond Odierno Leadership Award. Dr. Vakhshouri’s educational background includes a Ph.D. in Energy Security and Middle Eastern Studies, complemented by two M.A. degrees in Business Management (International Marketing), as well as International Relations.