During his time in charge of the IEA, he has taken a series of steps to modernise the Paris-based international organisation, including strengthening ties with emerging economies like India[1] and China and stepping up work on the clean energy transition and international efforts to reach net zero emissions.

[5] Birol is the chairman of the World Economic Forum (Davos) Energy Advisory Board.

He is a frequent contributor to print and electronic media and delivers numerous speeches each year at major international summits and conferences.

[6] Prior to joining the IEA as a junior analyst in 1995, Birol worked at the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna.

In 2013, Birol was awarded a Doctorate of Science honoris causa by Imperial College London.