HE Dr Philip Mshelbila assumed office on 1 January 2026 as the fifth Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
Dr Mshelbila is a seasoned energy executive with over 30 years of experience, most of which covered global gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and power value chains. His career encompasses executive leadership, board-level governance, strategic communications, sustainability, large-scale project execution and business development, with extensive engagement involving governments, investors, communities, and international stakeholders.
Before joining the GECF, Dr Mshelbila spent more than two decades with Shell, where he held senior leadership roles across gas and LNG operations. He served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria LNG, one of the leading LNG companies, and previously as Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic LNG in Trinidad and Tobago. He also held senior roles in healthcare, domestic gas operations, regional communications, and sustainable development.
Dr Mshelbila has lived and worked, providing leadership and oversight over more than 36 countries across Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and now based in the Middle East. He has also contributed to national and international gas policy and economic initiatives, including the Nigerian Decade of Gas Initiative, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the Energy Chamber of Trinidad & Tobago.
Dr Mshelbila holds an MB,BS degree from Ahmadu Bello University, a postgraduate qualification in Occupational and Environmental Medicine from the University of Aberdeen, and an Executive MBA from IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Spain.