Mike Tholen
Economics & Commercial Director, Oil & Gas UK

As Economics and Commercial Director for Oil & Gas UK, Mike Tholen seeks to foster a business environment which sustains the competitiveness of this mature oil and gas province. Particular responsibilities within the oil and gas industry trade body include fiscal and energy policy and regulatory affairs. He is actively engaged with HM Treasury and DTI on the future of the UK oil and gas fiscal and regulatory regime which will be critical to deliver the full potential of the basin. In recent years he has worked closely with Ofgem and DTI on the evolution the gas market and the contribution the UK's own gas supplies can make to UK security of supply.

Prior to joining Oil & Gas UK he worked with Shell for 20 years, latterly holding a variety of commercial positions including economics and planning manager for their upstream UK gas business and Offshore Infrastructure Manager in the Netherlands.