Meet our Advisors

Ilker Baburoglu is the co-founder at TransMed Trading SA and MedTrade Energy & Commodities.  

Ilker Baburoglu has been deeply committed to advancing energy security and reliability across diverse communities. He is the co-founder of multinational energy and commodity trading companies based in Geneva and Dubai. With a strong focus on emerging markets, Ilker brings a wealth of experience in mega-project development, natural resource investments, power generation, and critical infrastructure. His work spans Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where he has led projects with both commercial and social impact at their core. 

Ilker was named a Millennium Leadership Fellow by the Atlantic Council, and he is a member of Chatham House and the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO).

From an investor’s perspective, which area of innovation in the energy sector are you paying the most attention to at the moment?

As an investor with a foothold in physical energy and commodities trading, we are active on three different continents and have a strong interest in energy supply security and the energy transition. 

We are dedicated to delivering significant value to communities by facilitating access to international markets and diverse energy products in regions where such opportunities could be limited. We are also paying attention to innovations in associated gas flaring mitigation, and carbon capture and utilization (CCUS) initiatives. 

We are further closely tracking advancements in energy storage and battery technologies, as well as opportunities in critical minerals essential for the energy transition. In the Middle East, governments have also begun to increasingly support initiatives aimed at reducing flaring and capturing carbon to meet their net-zero commitments. Iraq and KRG, for instance, have pledged to reduce gas flaring considerably, and they are doing their best to offer an attractive and supportive environment for foreign investors. 

Gas flaring mitigation technologies, such as small-scale gas-to-liquids or modular power plants, can monetize stranded gas, thereby reducing waste and emissions, and further benefiting local communities. Their scalability further drives our focus on these areas.

AI creates a critical and immediate need globally for new energy production. What changes can we expect in the industry by 2030 to meet this demand?

By 2030, the energy industry is expected to undergo significant changes to meet this demand, with a strong emphasis on expanding generation capacity, enhancing energy connectivity (including transmission lines, substations, and related infrastructure), and leveraging artificial intelligence for increased efficiency.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that global data center electricity consumption will more than double by 2030, reaching approximately 945 TWh, which corresponds to Japan’s current total electricity consumption. It is also projected that in the U.S. alone, data centers will most likely account for nearly 50% of the electricity demand growth by 2030. To meet this demand, the industry will need to rely on a mix of energy sources, including renewables, natural gas, nuclear, and small modular reactors (SMRs). 

Nonetheless, reliable energy connectivity also plays a vital role in this mix. The investment in grids must also rise toward parity with generation spending by the early 2030s to ensure energy security. Global grid investment is currently insufficient due to permitting delays and supply chain constraints. According to the IEA, the grid bottlenecks could “delay 20% of planned data center projects by 2030 due to long lead times for transmission lines (4–8 years in advanced economies).

Locating critical data centers in areas with high grid availability and using onsite generation (eg, renewables, nuclear, SMRs, natural gas) will be key strategies. Policy support for such investments will be critical. 

What motivated you to support the Energy Shift Forum at this early stage?

I would like to firstly thank the founders of the Forum, Ilkay and Risto, and further the current Advisory Board members for the very impressive platform. I am confident that the Energy Shift Forum will have a significant and much-needed impact on the ecosystem.

As an entrepreneur, I am passionate about energy supply security and energy transition, and Energy Shift Forum’s dedication to energy transition, innovation, and investments across the energy sector resonates with my dual focus on hydrocarbons and green energy projects.

The Forum’s high-profile events in Davos 2026, coinciding with the World Economic Forum, position it as a premier venue for engaging with global energy leaders, policymakers, and innovators. I value the opportunity to learn from and further contribute to the discussions at this nexus of geopolitics, finance, policy, and technology.  I greatly value the Forum’s forward-looking approach and its potential to deliver high-impact networking, investment opportunities, and innovative community building.

As an Advisory Board member, I am motivated to shape its agenda to address critical challenges, such as energy accessibility, infrastructure bottlenecks, and regional disparities, ensuring it delivers value for current and future partners, as well as the broader energy industry.