FORTE 2024

“FORTE 2024” will cover a wide range of topics in energy security, such as the potential of various clean energy sources for NATO’s operational needs, the challenges and opportunities of transitioning military operations towards an increasing share of more sustainable energy, and the latest lessons learned at critical energy infrastructure protection (CEIP). Energy security is a stable and reliable supply of required energy forms and quantities, enabling NATO’s capabilities, operational effectiveness and resilience

Day 1 (Oct 1)

Day 2 (Oct 2)

Day 3 (Oct 3)

Dr. habil. Piotr Szymański

Piotr Szymański hails from Warsaw, Poland. He studied physics at Warsaw University and went on to complete a PhD in experimental particle physics at the Institute for Nuclear Studies in Świerk, Poland. He worked as a Research Associate at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK and the J-W Goethe University in Frankfurt/Main, Germany before going on to be a Staff Member at the European Organization for Particle Physics (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland. He holds a habilitation in physics and is the author or co-author of more than 200 scientific papers in various fields of particle physics.

He was Head of the Department for Interdisciplinary Applications of Physics at the Institute for Nuclear Studies in Świerk, Poland. In 2009 he took up the position of Director of Euratom Safeguards at the Directorate General for Energy of the European Commission in Luxembourg.

Since 2016 he leads the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre Directorate for Energy, Mobility and Climate which brings together about 350 scientific staff based in Petten (NL), Ispra (IT), Seville (ES) and Brussels (B).

Mr. Ryan Duncan

Ryan Duncan is Last Energy’s Vice President for Government Relations. In this role, he builds and maintains strategic relationships with stakeholders across the U.S. Government, foreign governments, and non-governmental organizations.

From September 2020 to March 2023, Ryan served on the National Security Council holding several positions in the White House Situation Room, including Director of Operations. In that role, Ryan provided strategic guidance to and oversight on daily operations of nearly 60 intelligence, military, and law enforcement officers; rewrote and modernized the organization’s crisis management and continuity of government procedures; and, participated in weekly tabletop exercises to ensure the organization, and larger White House, was prepared for any crisis.

Prior to joining the White House, Ryan was an Intelligence Analyst with the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he spearheaded one of the Criminal Division’s largest interagency intelligence programs. He also worked for The Harbour Group and Edelman, specializing in public affairs and strategic communications, and was a Speechwriter and Special Assistant to Judge Ken Starr.

In addition to working at Last Energy, Ryan is an adjunct professor in George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs teaching courses on national security and intelligence studies.

Ryan received his MA from George Washington University in Security Policy Studies and his BA from Baylor University in Psychology.

Mr. Freddy Jönsson Hanberg

Freddy Jönsson Hanberg is the exercise director of the NATO exercise “NORDIC PINE”. He has a background with 30 years as a military reserve officer in the Swedish Armed Forces, where he worked 10 years full time. As a civilian he has also been working for the World Bank, IFC, United Nations and the EU with private sector development and also with public and private funding.

During the pandemic he was an advisor to the Head of Crisis Management at the Swedish National Health Board. He has also written a book about resilience and defence for managers. 

Nordic Pine was established through NATO STO SAS-163/183 – a project investigating hybrid threats to energy security. Nordic Pine is focusing on hybrid threats to renewable energy systems such as cyber threats, malign influence and supply chain risks. 7 nations and approx. 70 organisations have been engaged in the exercise so far.

Mr. Michael Botten

Michael Botten is Deputy Director at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. He is responsible for crisis management coordination across the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero’s risk portfolio. Michael brings together the different strands of complex response operations and provides the link into the Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR) structures and cross-government response activity. Michael also oversees work with other parts of Government and industry on the mitigation, prevention and reduction of threat from Hostile States and Cyber vector ensuring the security of the energy sector.

Previously, Michael was Head of Emergency Response Capabilities and Operations. This included leading on crisis preparedness for risks to five of the 13 Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sectors in the UK. During crises Michael leads the department’s role in the cross-Government response at official and ministerial level. Before his current role, Michael has held a range of roles across the UK Government focussing on National Security – including cyber resilience within the energy sector, cross-Government strategies for countering overseas threats from terrorism and insurgencies, including 6 months in HQ International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan, and was an explosives chemist in the Ministry of Defence working on the detection of explosives in support of the military and law enforcement.