New staff appointments - International Gas Union

IGU Executive Committee Electronic Meeting no. 1/2021, 18 – 19 May 2021, Agenda item 3

                                       New staff appointments
                                       Document relates to agenda item 3

                                       Last updated by HK/LB
                                       4.May.2021

IGU Executive Committee Electronic Meeting no. 1/2021, 18 – 19 May 2021, Agenda item 2

Executive Summary

The Executive committee is informed of the appointment of new staff of the IGU related to the
establishment of IGU Secretariat in London, UK.

  •   Public Affairs Director: Mr Paddy Blewer
  •   Membership Engagement Director: Lesley Coldham
  •   Executive Assistant: Ms. Emma-Jane Cooper
  •   New Secondee from Repsol: Marta Gonzalez Rodriguez (as of 1 June 2021)

                                                                                                2

IGU Executive Committee Electronic Meeting no. 1/2021, 18 – 19 May 2021, Agenda item 2

Appointments of new staff of the IGU Secretariat

1. Teaming up of the IGU in London
At the start of May 2021 a number of newcomers will join the IGU, as IGU begin a three month transition
and handover period to IGU in London, UK.

Mr Patrick Blewer, Public Affairs Director
Paddy Blewer has been appointed as Public Affairs Director of the IGU with effect 1 May 2021, based in
UK. Paddy is a British national. He has an undergraduate degree in Modern History from the University of
East Anglia coupled with a master's degree in War Studies from King's College London. He has almost 20
years of experience at the nexus of energy, resources, geopolitics and capital markets - in communications
and public affairs, with additional relevant experience in both global investment banking and also as a
counterinsurgency analyst. Since 2003 he has worked across the energy value chain, with a strong focus on
gas, advising producing states including Saudi Arabia, Russia and Qatar, in addition to large producers such
as Gazprom, KazMunaiGas and multiple IOCs. When he was at Ketchum he consulted to IGU, providing
hands-on advisory services on communications and advocacy.
Paddy is a strategic advisor, but is also reliable, hard-working, hands-on, enthusiastic and has an extensive
stakeholder network related to energy. Given his understanding of IGU and more broadly his passion for
energy and knowledge about the gas challenge, he is extremely motivated by taking the Public Affairs role
at IGU.

Ms Lesley Coldham, Membership Engagement Director
Lesley Coldham has been appointed as Membership Engagement Director of the IGU with effect 1 May
2021, based in the UK. She is a British National with an undergraduate degree in Language and Linguistics
from the University of York coupled with a master's degree in Chinese Area Studies from the University
of London, School of Oriental and African Studies. She is an External Affairs, Communications and
Sustainability professional with over 25 years’ corporate experience with leading extractive sector
companies, including the De Beers Group and Tullow Oil plc.
Lesley spent 10 years with Africa-focused Tullow Oil, where she developed the company’s approach to
stakeholder engagement and policy management and led Sustainability engagement strategy for the Tullow
Chairman. She also spent 15 years with the De Beers Group of companies, working in a variety of corporate
affairs, government, and industry liaison roles covering countries in Africa, North America and Europe.
She brings to the IGU extensive external and internal communications and international stakeholder
management experience.

Ms Emma-Jane Cooper, Executive Assistant
Emma-Jane Cooper has been appointed as Executive Assistant to Andy Calitz, Lesley Coldham and Patrick
Brewer with effect 4 May 2021, based in UK. Emma-Jane (Emma) is a British national. She has a graduate
degree in Business. Emma is an accomplished Executive Assistant offering eight years of administrative
                                                                                                           3

IGU Executive Committee Electronic Meeting no. 1/2021, 18 – 19 May 2021, Agenda item 2

experience reporting to CEOs and other C-Suite executives. Emma prides herself on being a hardworking
and reliable individual who is meticulously organised, with a strong business acumen and interpersonal
skills. As a professional, diligent and dedicated assistant, Emma works towards serving as an effective
gatekeeper, preparing well-researched and accurate documents, managing busy calendars, and efficiently
handling general office tasks. You will find Emma to be an enthusiastic and driven individual who is eager
to develop and learn new skills.

2. New Secondee to IGU in London
Ms Marta Gonzalez Rodriguez, Secondee from Repsol to Public Affairs
Marta Gonzalez is a Spanish National with an undergraduate degree in Chemistry, coupled with Master in
Petrochemistry in Instituto Superior de la Energía (Madrid) and Energy Finance in Alcala University and
Enerclub. She is dynamic professional with 18 years´ experience in the energy market, particularly in the
gas segment, apart from other commodities. She has the skillset, background and personality to level up
IGU´s mission for a key credible advocacy based on economic progress in the global gas industry.
Her professional experience includes Fuel optimisation, Portfolio Optimisation, LNG/NG marketing and
trading, participating in different committees and Associations related to the energy regulation. She brings
to the IGU her broad network, strategy thinking, insight on the international gas market and industry
experience in E.ON, ENEL, UFGas and Viesgo, and currently in Repsol. She will be work for Public Affairs
Directorate engaging with internal and external key stakeholders.

.

 (HK/AC 4. May.2021)

                                                                                                          4