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Ellen R. Wald, Ph.D.
Global Energy Authority & Author of Saudi, Inc.
Ellen R. Wald, Ph.D.
Global Energy Authority & Author of Saudi, Inc.
Biography
Ellen R. Wald, Ph.D. is a historian, policy expert, business consultant and the president of both Transversal Consulting and Washington Ivy Advisors. She is the author of Saudi, Inc.: The Arabian Kingdom’s Pursuit of Profit and Power, a book on the history and strategy of Aramco and Saudi Arabia. She is the foremost expert on Aramco strategy and motivations and has met with numerous top current and former executives of the firm.
She has provided frequent analysis for Bloomberg, the New York Times, the Washington Post, NPR, and history and policy journals. Dr. Wald regularly comments on policy and industry on television and radio in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia. A graduate of Princeton University and Boston University, Dr. Wald has taught international relations, Middle East history, and policy. She has held academic appointments at the University of Georgia, the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming, Boston University, and University of Cambridge. She has lectured on energy and geopolitics across the U.S., the U.K., and the Middle East. Dr. Wald is a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and also a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center.
Speech Topics
Big Oil vs. Big Green: How Politics and Money Will Decide How We Fuel Our Cars & Charge Our Phones
Technological innovation may be leading us to a new energy future, but are money and politics threatening to derail that train? In this talk, Global Energy Authority Ellen Wald explores how government and big business influence what energy products we use and the air we breathe.
She also discusses the real-world challenges of making these green technologies work and whether we can overcome them.
Oil, Tech & Turmoil: The Middle East's High-Stakes Game
The Middle East is changing fast. Forget old ideas about endless political fights. Today, it's all about money, tech and who controls the energy. Imagine Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, Turkey and others less focused on old rivalries and more on business deals, oil profits and cutting-edge technology. This shift could open new partnerships and change the whole region. But don't be fooled–the fight for oil and gas is still a messy game. It's a mix of powerful leaders, secret deals, and even hidden conflicts involving everyone from big oil companies to Russian spies. Who wins this high-stakes game? The answer will not only reshape the Middle East but also impact global markets and how we get our energy. In this talk, Global Energy Authority Ellen Wald will dive into how this mix of business, technology and old-school power struggles is shaping tomorrow's Middle East and the rest of the world.
The Race to Fuel the China Century: Saudi Arabia vs. Russia vs. the Americas
China’s economic boom has been fueled by foreign oil. With so much potential still to come from the Chinese powerhouse, Saudi Arabia and Russia are neck and neck in the competition to supply oil to the world's largest population. Now American oil production is on the rise and exporting to China too. Meanwhile, big oil is facing competition from electric vehicles, renewable energies and industrial batteries. If China is destined to have the world's largest economy, second prize will go to whoever can fuel it.
In The News
Articles
Saudi Aramco IPO Would Be Huge
In place of ideology, today’s Iranian protests simply demand change
Watch Out Tesla, Aramco's Carbon Capture Truck Is Coming
Venezuela's Latest Currency Decision Shows Desperation
Lessons from Hurricane Harvey: We must bolster refineries and pipelines
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