Nigel’s first contribution to energy trading was in the design and development of decision support software for oil traders in the late 1980s. For over ten years, Nigel worked closely with traders, mainly in the USA, to bring analysis of market prices and fundamental data to their desktops, and to develop analysis for new instruments and new markets, such as options, swaps and natural gas. He subsequently worked as an independent consultant, providing assistance on a project basis to oil and gas trading companies and to energy market information and trading software providers in Europe and the Americas, before forming Kingston Energy Consulting with Mary Jackson in 2002, they run courses for traders together with Oxford Princeton. He has an MA and a PhD in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University.

John Spencer is an Independent Consultant with a wealth of experience working as a Trader in the oil industry for nearly 30 years. He started his trading career at Texaco in London, progressing to become Head of Desk for Global Gasoline Trading. Since then John has worked in a variety of trading firms and asset-oriented trading companies including SemGroup, Enron and Colonial Oil in London and Geneva. He has traded oil products across the barrel with a special focus on gasoline, managing significant export programmes for Texaco and Yukos refineries. His most recent position was as Physical Trading Manager for the Klesch Group of companies, which owns and operates the Heide Refinery near Hamburg, where he helped in the transition from a modest refinery in the Shell system to becoming a successful and flexible stand-alone merchant refiner. John now works in Geneva as an Independent Consultant advising companies on trading strategies, developing and implementing risk management strategies and control systems.

Mr Farid Nabili has has LL.B from Baku State University and LL.M from Central European University. He has about 14 years of practical legal experience in Azerbaijan, mainly working with and providing services for foreign companies and multinational enterprises, including oil-gas companies and energy companies. He is member of International Bar Association and Azerbaijan Bar Association, is working as the Managing Partner at Caspian Legal Center, an internationally ranked law firm, for the past 5 years and has been teaching business law at various Azerbaijani universities for the past 8 years. His areas of expertise include commercial and corporate law, contracts, oil-gas and energy regulation, construction and taxation.

Howard Palmer, a 30 years’ experienced banker and an expert trainer who has trained 2,500 bankers in 55 countries. Howard is the Author of International Trade and Pre-Export Finance (A Practitioner’s Guide) (Euromoney Publications) and five other texts dealing with aspects of International Banking in the Emerging Markets. He was, most recently, Assistant General Manager and Head of Trade and Lending at RZB (Raiffeisen) Bank London, where he was responsible for all aspects of international business. As an Expert Witness Howard has been consulted and appeared for many Banks in the High Courts of England, The Supreme Courts of Hong, Singapore and the USA.

Dmitry NASALSKY is currently the Freight Director in large European company, Member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London. Has extensive expertise in the commercial fleet operations and management,financial planning, staff employment & training, handling of commercial and legal claims, crew management, business development.