AMBASSADOR RICHARD B. NORLAND
Ambassador Norland was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Libya on August 1, 2019.
A career diplomat, Ambassador Norland most recently served as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford. Previously he served as U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Deputy Chief of Mission in Afghanistan and Deputy Chief of Mission in Latvia.
He has also served as the International Affairs Advisor/Deputy Commandant at the National War College, as a Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council, and as a Senior Fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.
Debbie Hirst
Debbie comes from a background in emerging markets, energy and investment banking. Her experience includes senior positions on the investor, lender and government sides of projects. She spent many years in Project Finance and Export Finance at BNP Paribas, including as Managing Director and Regional Head, leading an international team located on multiple continents.
Prior to Libya, she worked for the government of Oman, preparing and running competitive bids for power generation and water desalination plants, as well as managing the privatization of state-owned power facilities.
Resident in Libya since 2013, she is on the board of two Libyan companies in the industrial and construction materials sectors. Libya is the 11th country Debbie has lived in. An American citizen, Debbie has a degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
Ahmed I. Al-Ghazali
Ahmed has operated as an American brand franchisee in Libya and in the radio broadcast sector. He is an owner of a number of Libyan companies, including Capital Group Consultants, B.S.K. Libya Construction, Nu Horizon Media and Emdad IT & Communications.
Ahmed has a degree in Business Administration from the American University in London as well as a Masters in Marketing from Webster University.
Christopher Watson, AMI
Christopher joined AMI in 2016 and quickly advanced through the company to serve as Country Manager, Libya, and as Director of Commercial Operations from July 2019.
As Director of Commercial Operations at AMI, he is responsible for managing complex global operations and identifying potential market development opportunities for the company.
He is focused on developing and delivering technology-driven business services and solutions, providing outstanding client service, and driving profitable revenue growth in support of the organization’s mission.
Christopher’s career began with ten years of military service in various key leadership capacities across multiple geographical regions in support of operations during the global war on terror campaign.
In addition to his executive career, Christopher serves on several advisory boards and the AMI Libya Board of Directors.
Mamoun Saad, Bechtel International Inc
Mr. Saad is currently the Regional Power Operations Manager for all Power projects in Europe, Africa and Middle East region. He is a Vice President of Bechtel International Inc and General Manager of Bechtel’s Branch Company in Libya and the Country Manager of Libya.
He has more than 39 years of experience in project management on fossil and nuclear power plant projects as well as industrial facilities, commercial and residential high-rise buildings and medical facility projects worldwide. He has been with Bechtel since 1991.
He has extensive experience in international business on multi-billion dollar power projects located in the Middle East and Africa, mainly; Gas to Power projects in Morocco and in South Africa, Al Khalij project in Libya, Ghazlan & Shoaiba projects in Saudi Arabia, and Sidi Krir, Ayoun Moussa, Cairo South, and Cairo North projects in Egypt.
Tarek Eltumi, Eltumi & Co
Tarek is the founder and managing partner of leading Libyan law firm, Eltumi & Co., which specializes in providing commercial legal advice to American and international companies in support of their business interests in Libya.
He is a dual Libyan/New York qualified lawyer, fluent in English and Arabic, with experience advising on corporate and commercial matters, oil and gas, finance and dispute resolution matters.
Tarek was a Partner at international law firm Hogan Lovells International LLP where he led the Libya practice and was also a member of the Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects practice and the Africa practice.
Tarek practiced for many years in Tripoli. He was General Counsel for AECOM Libya Housing and Infrastructure Inc., where he directed all legal issues arising from the US$55bn Libyan Housing and Infrastructure Program – one of the world’s largest ever infrastructure programs.
While working at two well established Libyan law firms, Tarek advised on a range of innovative international finance deals, such as the first international limited recourse project finance deal; and oil and gas matters, including the re-entry of the Oasis parties following lifting of US sanctions.
Colby Fuser, Halliburton
Colby Fuser is Halliburton Vice President for Egypt and Libya. Previously he served as Vice President of Business Development & Marketing for the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia Pacific Region. Mr Fuser joined Halliburton in 2001.
A member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the American Association of Drilling Engineers, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, and the International Association of Drilling Contractors, Mr Fuser served on the 2016 board of the Industry Partners for Women’s Outreach Program with Saudi Aramco, and was co-developer of the inaugural US-Saudi Businesswomen Roundtable.
Mr Fuser holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with a minor in Marketing and Business from Oklahoma State University. He is a graduate of the Halliburton President’s Leadership Excellence Program.
Jason Pack, Libya-Analysis
In 2011, he founded Libya-Analysis®, a consultancy which specializes in monitoring, mapping, advisory and due diligence products. In 2015, he founded Eye On ISIS In Libya, a non-profit 501c3. In 2017-18, he served as Executive Director of the U.S.-Libya Business Association.
Jason is the editor of The 2011 Libyan Uprisings and the Struggle for the Post-Qadhafi Future (Palgrave Macmillan 2013) and lead author of The Origins and Evolution of ISIS in Libya (Atlantic Council 2017). His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Spectator, The Financial Times, The Guardian, Foreign Policy, Newsweek, and Foreign Affairs.
Ryan Manicom, LTR Energy
Ryan is an American entrepreneur with business interests across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America, primarily focused on oil and gas, and power and critical infrastructure.
He is the President and CEO of LTR Energy, which has established offices in Tripoli and Benghazi, aiming to be a leading service provider to the oil industry.
Ryan believes strongly in the power of the US private sector and its role in developing emerging markets.
Simon P. Williams, Orkin
Resident in Tripoli since 2018, Simon is General Manager of Orkin Libya, a US-based pest control company. Prior to Orkin, Simon was responsible for the Environmental Engineering Department at a leading London-based demolition services company.
Responsibilities included developing environmental monitoring and mitigation programs for large projects in sensitive locations in order to ensure that all works were performed in compliance with relevant legislation.
Simon has a Master of Science degree in Environmental Management and is a member of the Royal Entomological Society, the British Ecological Society and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.
Prior to transitioning to the private sector, Simon had a 25-year career in the British Royal Navy in maritime communications.
Jonathan Cahn, Reed Smith
For more than 25 years, Mr. Cahn has represented some of the world’s leading investors making cross border investments in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Asia, Russia and Central Asia. He has been featured in the Chambers Guides to the World’s Leading Lawyers, The International Who’s Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers, The Euromoney Guide to the World’s Leading Energy and Natural Resources Lawyers and The Euromoney Guide to the World’s Leading Project Finance Lawyers.
Mr Cahn is a partner in the global law firm Reed Smith, LLP and has served as managing partner of Beijing, Moscow and Almaty offices and as the Head of Emerging Market Energy Strategies and Co-Head of International Trade at predecessor law firms.
A hallmark of Jonathan’s work includes structuring public and private investment in energy, transportation, and communications infrastructure.
Jonathan is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.