Nigerian-born Diezani Alison - Madueke is well-known as an international expert of the Oil and Gas sector. She made her mark as a key leader within this industry as a high-level executive at Shell Petroleum Development Co of Nigeria Ltd. Before this she worked across various industries including facilities, property, and construction. Through her 15 years at Shell, Alison-Madueke held a number of senior positions, leading to her appointment as the first female executive director in the 80 years in which Shell had been operating in Nigeria.
In 2007, Alison - Madueke was elected to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where she served as Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Minister of Petroleum Resources, and Minister of Transportation. She is known for her expansion of the country’s infrastructure and the positive impact she made on the industry, while helping to boost the nation’s economy. Alison Madueke worked to promote local businesses and encourage participation, to enable competition on a world stage. One of her major achievements was leading the approval of the Petroleum Industry Bill, which in turn led to an increase of local asset ownership. Following from this was the signing and implementation of the Nigerian Content Act which empowered indigenous enterprises across the sector, thus increasing the development of the local economy. By 2015 Alison - Madueke became the first female President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), giving recognition for her extraordinary commitment to the industry.
Striving to widen the scope of a traditional male-dominated industry, Alison - Madueke’s voice continues to be heard advocating for the inclusion of more women. As part of this important work, she helped to create the Network of Women in Oil and Gas. As a member of the Ijaw, Alison Madueke helps to raise continued awareness for her tribe and the rights of the women to ensure representation throughout Nigeria. She gives lectures and presents as a keynote speaker on the Oli and Gas industry and the importance of female empowerment.
Alison - Madueke received her BA in Architecture from Howard University, Washington DC and earned her MBA at the Judge Institute of Management, University of Cambridge.
