Wendi Tao is the Deputy Director of the Natural Gas Trading Department at Shenzhen Energy, the second largest energy group in Guangdong, China. After completing a three-month LNG training in Australia in 2019, she transitioned from coal trading to the gas business in 2020. Her responsibilities include LNG procurement, implementation and downstream gas sales. Wendi ensures a reliable, stable and cost-effective gas supply portfolio for Shenzhen Energy group’s power plants, city gas projects and important end-users. Over the past four years, she’s supported the rapid and sustainable development of the company's gas businesses, contributing to the regional energy security.

Wendi graduated from Dalian Maritime University with a bachelor’s degree in economics. She is passionate about advancing the energy transition towards China’s carbon peak/neutrality goal. She is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable working environment to support the professional growth and promote performance excellence for women in the workplace. 

Brie Kelman has nearly 20 years of experience working in the commercial sector across the natural gas and power industries, with a primary focus on LNG. In her role at Mexico Pacific, Brie is responsible for corporate strategy, business development, gas supply and trading. During her time with the company, she led the commercial negotiations with several of our customers and gas suppliers including Shell, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and Woodside, covering over 8 mtpa in 20-year SPAs.

Prior to joining Mexico Pacific, Brie held several positions at ExxonMobil. For 10 of her 16 years with ExxonMobil, Brie held roles focused on LNG; she also worked in power, natural gas, and NGLs. She developed her passion for LNG as a young Strategic Planning analyst, which was solidified during her four years living in Singapore as LNG Commercial Manager and LNG Trading Manager. She also worked on the Alaska LNG project when it was a joint venture among ExxonMobil, bp, ConocoPhillips, and the State of Alaska, before its subsequent transition to a state-led project. Brie holds a degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering with a minor in Business from Kansas State University. 

Ulato Avei is the Chairperson and Director of Gas Resources PNGLNG Plant Limited, a trust company that manages Landowner Royalty and Equity benefits associated with the PNG LNG Project. With a long-standing career in public service, Ulato brings over 25 years of senior government experience to her role, providing strategic leadership and oversight to one of Papua New Guinea’s most significant resource projects. Originating from Port Moresby, Ulato is currently serving her second term as Chairperson, guiding the company's efforts in managing the complex financial and operational aspects of the PNG LNG Project, a US$19 billion initiative that commercializes gas across the country. Under her leadership, the project has continued to deliver reliable LNG production, while fostering local workforce participation and ensuring that landowner companies are integral to the project's operations. Ulato's commitment to her nation and her strategic acumen have made her a pivotal figure in Papua New Guinea's energy sector.

Originally from Belgium, Katrien Verlinden is a seasoned leader in the energy industry with over two decades of experience.

She commenced her career at Saipem in 2000 as a mechanical engineer and was progressively appointed over the next 15 years to roles including Technical Manager, Project Manager and Project Director, executing large-sized onshore EPC projects mainly across the Middle East and North Africa.   In 2016, she took on the role of CEO at Saipem Contracting Algérie, relocating to Algeria for three years. From 2019 to 2021, she returned to Italy to head Saipem’s New Energies Customer Investment Strategy, alongside responsibilities in Onshore Marketing, External Communications, and Stakeholder Relations.

Since January 2022, Katrien has been based in Houston as Regional Manager for the Americas, with subsequent appointments as CEO of Saipem Canada and Saimexicana in May and November 2022, respectively. Her leadership expanded in May 2023 with the roles of CEO of Saipem America and Country Manager for Canada, the US, and Mexico, assuming P&L accountability across all business lines. Katrien also follows up all initiatives with ExxonMobil and bp globally.

Katrien studied engineering at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium and completed further executive education at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.  She is part of the global team of Stanford alumni who have founded Reaction, where the mission is to measurably improve one billion lives within a decade through responsible investment.  Fluent in Dutch, Italian, English and French, Katrien also has a passion for Korean and Japanese.