Ira Joseph (Managing Director, International Gas) manages PIRA’s European Energy Service, which includes distinct service on European Natural Gas (ENG) and European Electricity (EES). In 2001, Ira co-authored PIRA Energy's multi-client study on Atlantic Basin LNG markets. Ira joined PIRA in 1999 after working at Energy Intelligence Group (EIG) for over a decade, as Senior Editor of Petroleum Intelligence Weekly and Editor-in-Chief of World Gas Intelligence. He has authored several books on crude oil marketing and natural gas, including versions of EIG’s International Crude Oil Market Handbook and World Gas Handbook, as well as several articles on natural gas swaps and gas marketing strategy. Ira holds an MA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Harvey Harmon (Director, North American Natural Gas & Global LNG) has over 25 years experience in the energy industry. Before joining PIRA, he was Director of Natural Gas Import/Export Activities and Senior LNG Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy. He joined the Global LNG unit of El Paso in 2001 and was responsible for competitor and market analysis. He has consulted for Shell Gas & Power on LNG issues. Mr. Harmon’s experience includes numerous regional and national analyses of natural gas demand, pipeline capacity, and transport, with emphasis on competition at various citygates, while at Tennessee Gas Pipeline and El Paso Corporation. Earlier in his career at Fluor Daniel, he spent several years in Saudi Arabia designing offshore platforms. Mr. Harmon holds a M.S. in ocean engineering from the University of Wisconsin and an M.B.A from the University of Texas.

Madeline Jowdy (Senior Analyst, Global LNG) joined PIRA after working at Energy Intelligence Group (EIG) as the LNG correspondent for World Gas Intelligence and Natural Gas Week. She has authored several books on crude oil marketing and natural gas, including versions of EIG’s Top 100 Oil Companies and World Gas Handbook, as well as studies on the Atlantic Basin LNG trade and LNG shipping. Ms. Jowdy has a B.A. in economics and international relations from American University and has completed a master’s program in Middle East studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Mickey Kwong (Director, Global LNG) is responsible for analyzing Global LNG market fundamentals including demand, production, and imports and contributes to all of the Group’s reports. From 1998 to 2006, he was an LNG/natural gas consultant at Poten & Partners, where he advised clients from Asia, Europe and the Americas on pricing, demand, and price risk management. Mickey has a BBA in Finance from Baruch College.

Dr. Mark Schwartz (President) was formerly Chief Economist of ExxonMobil Corporation where he was responsible for developing the company’s long-range economic and energy outlook. Dr. Schwartz designed and managed the implementation of the energy modeling system and database that allowed ExxonMobil to develop their base-case global energy outlook as well as alternative cases to capture the impact of changes in price, economic growth, environmental policy and other critical assumptions. Prior to this position, Mark spent five years in Exxon’s International Gas Marketing Company, where he developed the Asian gas supply/demand balance and led several multi-company studies of China’s gas pipeline and LNG options. During his 25 years at Exxon he also had assignments in Upstream Planning, Treasurers, and Corporate Planning functions. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Pennsylvania.