Namibian energy executive Shakwa Nyambe has stepped down as President of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN) after overseeing a year of membership growth, increased sponsorship revenue and the launch of a new industry foundation.
Nyambe handed over the presidency to Lauren Wilder during an AIEN board meeting held on 1 June 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the organisation elected its new board for the 2026–2027 term.
During his tenure, AIEN recorded its strongest sponsorship performance since 2019, with sponsorship revenue increasing by 12% and support growing to 33 corporate sponsors.
The organisation also reported membership growth of approximately 10%, reaching its highest level since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nyambe said the strongest growth came from emerging energy markets.
“The growth of AIEN is no longer being driven only by traditional energy centres. Increasingly, growth is coming from emerging energy markets across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America,” he said.
Membership from Africa increased from 7% to 10%, while Asia’s share rose from 12% to 15%. Membership from Latin America and the Caribbean grew from 9% to 13%.
“AIEN is no longer an organisation for members from a few cities, countries or regions. It is a truly global institution,” Nyambe said.
The organisation also expanded its global programme of activities, delivering 82 conferences, workshops and training events between June 2025 and June 2026.
One of the major milestones during Nyambe’s presidency was the launch of the AIEN Foundation, which began operations in January 2026 to support education, training and professional development, particularly for young professionals in developing and emerging energy markets.
AIEN also released its long-awaited LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement, developed through more than six years of industry collaboration, and commenced work on new model agreements covering carbon offtake arrangements and host government relationships.
In addition, the organisation approved a three-year business plan aimed at strengthening its long-term sustainability and improving value delivery to members.
As he concluded his term, Nyambe said AIEN remained well positioned to support the global energy industry through knowledge-sharing and professional collaboration.
“The energy industry will continue to evolve, but AIEN’s role remains incredibly important as a trusted platform where professionals can share knowledge, build relationships and shape the future of the global energy industry,” he said.
Nyambe previously served as AIEN African Chapter Director, Vice President for Communications and President-Elect before assuming the presidency in June 2025.
