Executive team

Daniel Saunders is a highly accomplished senior coal geologist with 18 years of international experience spanning coal exploration, resource modelling, mine geology, and technical services. Over his distinguished career, he has held pivotal leadership and senior technical positions at premier global mining enterprises, including Glencore, BHP, SUEK, and Peabody Energy. Daniel specializes in transforming complex geological data into practical mining solutions, frequently serving as a JORC Competent Person for resource statements and spearheading large scale exploration programs, feasibility studies, and resource evaluations.

An expert in advanced digital workflows, Daniel possesses extensive expertise in 3D digital modelling and mine planning software, including Vulcan, Micromine, Deswik, and Spry. His diverse operational history includes managing technical frameworks, executing multi-site software rollouts, overseeing complex open pit and underground operations, and conducting corporate acquisitions and strategic due diligence. His extensive global footprint encompasses major projects across Australia, Russia, Mongolia, Mozambique, India, Chile, and now Afghanistan.

Daniel holds a Bachelor of Science from Monash University and a Master of Coal Geology from the University of Newcastle. Combining deep technical rigor with sharp strategic vision, he is dedicated to optimizing operational efficiency, managing geological and geotechnical risks, and training the next generation of mining industry leaders.

Dr. Arash Soleimani is a Principal Reservoir Engineer and a commercially minded Field Development and Energy Consultant with 28 years of international oil and gas experience across the United Kingdom, the United States, Saudi Arabia, China, Malaysia, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, and Qatar. He has contributed to 49 reservoir engineering projects covering field development, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), simulation modelling, production optimization, and flow assurance. He is also an entrepreneur focused on sustainability and has a strong interest in strategy and global energy economics.

Most recently, Dr. Soleimani has focused on projects in Iraq, serving as a reservoir engineer and simulation, field development consultant, and EOR specialist with Ad Terra and as advisor in reservoir management team for the Rumelia field (North Zubair formation) under ROO since 2023. He has also collaborated with Halliburton as a reviewer for ADNOC field-development quality assurance.

Earlier roles include a short-term consultancy with Anthon Oil service company on the Majnoon field and work in the reservoir study team at Kuwait Oil Company for less than 3 years. He spent more than five years at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) in Shell’s Field Development Center concentrating on EOR and oil and gas field. In 2013 he served as technical lead to select a cost-effective simulator for PDO field-development studies.

Dr. Soleimani worked at Schlumberger from 2005 to 2013 as a Senior Reservoir Engineer and Scientist specializing in field development. From 2002 to 2004 he was a Research Reservoir Engineer at Total E&P in the UK, working on simulation for complex EOR methods in heavy oil and thermal recovery processes. He was a Research Fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign from 2000 to 2002. Early in his career, he held positions at Ranger Oil (UK) and Crescent Petroleum (UAE) between 1993 and 1994.

He earned an M.Eng. in Petroleum Engineering (1995) and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering (1999), both from Imperial College London; his Ph.D. was sponsored by Statoil and received the Newitt Prize for best thesis in 1999. He completed an MBA at Warwick Business School in 2021 and have some article on global Energy. Dr. Soleimani is the author and coauthor of numerous papers on reservoir engineering and multiphase flow.

Tushar Misra is a seasoned Electrical Engineering professional and strategic leader with two decades of experience in the power and energy sector, spanning renewable and conventional generation technologies across the Middle East, India, and Central Asia. He has built a strong track record in leading large-scale renewable and conventional power projects, driving investment strategy, and delivering complex engineering solutions from concept through execution.

Over the course of his career, Tushar has held leadership roles at Azizi Energy, SEPCOIII, STEAG Energy & Alstom Projects. He has successfully delivered and contributed to energy projects exceeding 3 GW in capacity, including utility-scale solar, wind, waste to energy, combined cycle, and thermal power plants. His recent work includes shaping investment strategy for a 330 MW solar PV project, supporting feasibility for up to 700 MW of wind developments & developing strategies for Coal based relocation projects. His contributions have enabled optimized project configurations, improved financial viability through LCOE and IRR-driven decisions, and ensured on-time, within-budget delivery of multiple projects.

His areas of expertise include renewable energy strategy, hybrid energy systems (solar, wind, and battery storage), power system design, grid integration, technical due diligence, and project lifecycle management. He has extensive experience in bid evaluation, vendor management, and engineering governance aligned with international standards.

Tushar holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pune, India. He is fluent in English and Hindi.

Known for his structured, results-driven leadership style, Tushar has led multidisciplinary teams, managed complex stakeholder environments, and driven high-impact decisions under tight timelines. His career reflects a strong commitment to sustainable energy development, operational excellence, and long-term value creation in the evolving global energy landscape.

Mr. Abdullah Sajid is an accomplished energy executive with over 14 years of experience in power generation, transmission, and energy infrastructure development across Afghanistan. As General Manager of Azizi Energy Investment L.L.C., the Kabul-based subsidiary of Azizi Group, he leads one of Afghanistan’s largest private energy programs — a phased build-out targeting approximately 10,000 megawatts of generation capacity across solar, wind, hydro, gas, and coal.

Under his leadership, Azizi Energy signed five power generation contracts totalling 845 megawatts with the national utility Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), comprising 330 megawatts of solar and 515 megawatts of coal-fired thermal capacity. He currently directs a flagship portfolio of three utility-scale solar plants — Naghlu (100.8 MWp), Barikaab (100.8 MWp), and Ghazni (131 MWp) — under 25-year power purchase agreements, managing the full lifecycle from feasibility and financial structuring through procurement, construction, and grid connection.

His earlier career spans the public and multilateral development sectors: he served as Planning Director of DABS, as Afghanistan Team Leader for the WB-funded CASA-1000 project — the landmark 1,300-megawatt regional transmission link between Central and South Asia — and as Director of the Project Management Office for ADB-funded energy sector programs in Afghanistan.

A Fulbright scholar, he holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University. He is fluent in English, Dari, and Pashto, and has a working understanding of Urdu and Arabic.

Known for combining technical depth with commercial judgment, he has led multidisciplinary teams across Kabul, managed multi-million-dollar investment portfolios, and built partnerships with ministries, utilities, lenders, and international contractors. His career reflects a lasting commitment to Afghanistan’s energy security and sustainable economic growth.

Abdul Jalil Jumriany is a distinguished senior executive with over two decades of international experience spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia. He brings an elite track record in corporate strategy, commercial transaction structuring, and national-level policy formulation to our leadership team.

Mr. Jumriany possesses deep expertise across the entire extractive value chain, having successfully advised national governments, multinational corporations, and global financial institutions. Prior to joining the company, his strategic acumen was demonstrated through pivotal public and private sector assignments. As Acting Director General of the Afghanistan Petroleum Authority, he engineered major upstream and Gas-to-Power tenders, including a historic asset licensing round that resulted in a ten-year contract valued at $4.8 billion with a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Company. He has consistently driven immense commercial value, recently spearheading transaction frameworks in Saudi Arabia for the landmark Khanaiguiyah and Um Ad Damar polymetallic projects.

His extensive background as a premier transaction advisor is further highlighted by complex, multi-stakeholder advisory roles for the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Asian Development Bank (ADB). He has regularly guided ministries and regulators on commercial risk, feasibility, and market-entry strategies.

Mr. Jumriany holds an MBA in International Business from Brunel University London, completed as a prestigious Chevening Scholar. He also holds advanced legal qualifications (GD-Law) with a specialization in contract and public law. Fluent in English, Pashto, and Farsi, his combined legal, financial, and hands-on industry expertise ensures our energy and solid mineral portfolios are managed to the absolute highest standards of bankability and corporate governance.

Anton Besaris is General Manager – Power Generation at Azizi Energy, with more than 30 years of international experience in the power generation and industrial sectors across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. He has built a strong reputation for leading complex power generation projects, improving operational performance and delivering practical, results-driven solutions throughout the full asset lifecycle.

Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership positions with leading international energy companies, including roles as Plant General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. He has managed large thermal power plants exceeding 1,300 MW, led multidisciplinary teams of several hundred employees and contractors, and been responsible for multi-million-dollar CAPEX and OPEX budgets. Under his leadership, power plants have achieved significant improvements in availability, reliability, safety performance and cost efficiency, including industry recognition through the 2023 Asian Power Award for Best Coal Project.

His expertise includes conventional power generation, plant relocation, asset acquisition and due diligence, operations and maintenance, engineering, reliability improvement, turnaround management, asset management, contract management and organizational development.

Anton holds a Technical Engineering qualification in Offshore Drilling Technology and has completed professional training in project management, ISO 55001 Asset Management, Lean Management, auditing and executive leadership. He is fluent in Dutch, English and German, with working knowledge of French.

Known for his decisive, hands-on leadership style, Anton combines strategic thinking with strong execution. He believes in building capable teams, maintaining high technical standards and creating a culture of accountability, safety and continuous improvement to deliver sustainable long-term value.

Jawed Ludin is a distinguished executive leader, diplomat, and former senior government official with more than 30 years of experience across the energy, natural resources, real estate, public policy, international development, and diplomatic sectors, spanning the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, and North America.

As Chief Executive Officer of Dubai-based Azizi Energy, he leads the company’s strategic growth and operations, overseeing the development and execution of a multi-billion-dollar investment program in power generation and natural resources over the next decade.

Throughout his career, he has built a strong track record of leading organizations through growth, transformation, and complex operating environments, combining commercial acumen with deep expertise in international relations, governance, and stakeholder engagement. Prior to his current role, he held senior leadership positions including Deputy CEO for Operations at Azizi Developments, Executive Director for Afghanistan and Central Asia at ANHAM, and CEO of Mithra Associates, where he advised organizations on strategy, governance, and business development. Earlier, he served in several senior government roles in Afghanistan, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief of Staff to the President, Presidential Spokesperson, Ambassador to Canada, and Ambassador to the Nordic countries, representing Afghanistan at major regional and global forums and helping strengthen international partnerships and policy initiatives.

He is also the founder and Honorary Chairman of the Heart of Asia Society, a foreign policy think tank promoting regional dialogue and Track II diplomacy. Mr. Ludin has studied Politics and Sociology at Birkbeck College, University of London, holding an MSc degree in Political Theory, and speaks English, French and Hindi, as well as his native Pashto and Persian languages.

Murat Bağ is a senior energy executive with nearly 30 years of international experience in power generation, industrial facilities, and large-scale infrastructure projects across Türkiye, the Middle East, and Central Asia. He has successfully led the development and delivery of major energy investments, combining technical expertise with strong commercial and strategic leadership.

Throughout his career, Murat has managed complex projects from concept and feasibility through engineering, construction, commissioning, and commercial operation. His experience spans thermal power generation, combined-cycle plants, biomass facilities, and waste heat recovery projects. He has held senior leadership positions at leading energy and industrial organizations, overseeing multi-billion-dollar investments, contract negotiations, project execution, and operational improvement initiatives.

Known for his results-oriented approach, Murat has consistently delivered projects safely, on schedule, and within budget while optimizing commercial outcomes and managing project risks. He has extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams, managing stakeholder relationships, and driving organizational growth through effective investment and project management strategies.

Murat holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara. Fluent in Turkish, English, and French, he is recognized for his ability to bridge engineering excellence with executive decision-making. His leadership is defined by a commitment to operational excellence, sustainable development, and the successful execution of complex energy and industrial projects that create long-term value.