Meet Dr. santiago

CAREER & EXPERIENCE: Dr. Santiago Gagaza, Ph.D., Investments, Project, and Infrastructure Finance expert, is a seasoned and growth-focused multi-industry professional with strong team management and a demonstrated track record in project and infrastructure financing, strategy & corporate planning, project development of oil, gas, petrochemical, methanol, advanced biofuels, green ammonia, and green hydrogen projects in the Middle East.

He loves solving business problems and is adept in complex, clean, and green project financing, feasibility studies, due diligence, technology evaluations, project management & development lifecycle. Dr. Fronda has 25+ years of extensive track record of success serving as a business partner to senior executive leadership teams connected with defining and delivering short-term and long-term sustainable growth strategies, measuring performance outcomes, and implementing effective corporate, business, operations, environmental, and corporate sustainability strategies.

Dr. Santiago is an expert in developing Project Information Memorandum, Sustainability strategy and ESMP framework, Project Briefing Memos, and Financial Models for Strategic Planning and Project Financing for infrastructure projects in the Middle East.

Developed and implemented vital Company policies, procedures, manuals, and the organizations’ term of reference (ToR) as follows: Corporate Governance and Policies Manual; Corporate and Business Control Framework; Finance and Accounting Manual; Corporate HSE, OEMS, ESMP Frameworks; Corporate Target Operating Model (TOM); Organizational structure Project and Organizational Health check; Project Company Stage Gates, RACI & Activity Model, and Organizational Roadmap.

Represented the organization with meetings with ECA’s in Europe – Euler Hermes (Germany); UKEF (United Kingdom); CESCE (Madrid); EKF (Denmark; EDC (Canada) to finance our Clean & Green Energy Projects in the GCC

A focal point and overall controller with project counterparties and stakeholders: Financial Advisors – Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG, Grant Thornton; Legal Advisors – Arendt, Allen & Overy, Norton Rose Fulbright, Linklaters, and Dentons; Insurance Advisors – Marsh and JLT; Market & Product Pricing Advisors – Argus Media, Nexant, & IHS; Project Technical advisors – DNV GL, BECHTEL, ThyssenKrupp; EPC Contractors – Black & Veatch/Diode ventures, SNC Lavalin, Abengoa, and Acciona Industrial; FEED/EBED contractors – Black & Veatch, SNC Lavalin, Siemens; Environmental Advisors – CH2M, Royal Haskoning, AECOM, & ERM; PMC consultants – Tebodin Belfinger and Ramboll; and O&M – Spie Oil & Gas.

QUALIFICATION & RECOGNITION: Dr. Santiago is a Finance and accounting professional with an MBA and Ph.D. in business management (graduated with distinctions) focusing on strategic leadership platforms for effective strategy implementation of organizations, business ecosystem innovation, environment, and sustainability. Articulate communicator, competent business and technical writer, and skilled in quickly engaging team members to achieve company objectives.