Ms Susan SHANNON

Susan Shannon is a highly experienced international energy, climate, and sustainability leader, with a distinguished career spanning over two decades at Shell International. Based in The Hague, Netherlands, and originally from the UK, Shannon has held senior leadership roles in public policy, advocacy, and government relations. She is recognized for her expertise in shaping global strategies to accelerate the energy transition and drive sustainable change within one of the world’s largest energy companies. As Vice President of Policy & Advocacy at Shell until December 2024, Shannon led a global team of over 80 professionals, orchestrating Shell’s public policy positions and advocacy outcomes in pursuit of the company’s net-zero ambitions. Her work has placed her at the intersection of corporate interests, international governmental organizations, and civil society, making her a pivotal figure in Shell’s engagement with EU institutions and global policy platforms. Shannon is also known for her commitment to transparency in climate lobbying, having initiated Shell’s first report on climate lobbying transparency, which set a benchmark for the industry

Susan Shannon’s lobbying efforts as part of Shell International have been deeply intertwined with the strategic interests of both Shell and, by extension, the United Kingdom. As head of Shell’s global policy and advocacy teams, Shannon’s primary mission was to shape the regulatory and policy environment to favor Shell’s business objectives, particularly as they relate to the UK’s role in the global energy sector. Her work has focused on influencing EU and international policy to ensure that Shell—and by association, the UK’s energy sector—remains competitive and influential during the energy transition.

Shannon’s true and sometimes less visible intentions have included advocating for regulatory frameworks that support large-scale investments in hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and natural gas—sectors where Shell and the UK have significant interests. Through strategic engagement with EU policymakers, Shannon has sought to position the UK as a leader in clean energy innovation, ensuring that British expertise and investment are central to Europe’s decarbonization agenda. Her efforts have also involved lobbying for market mechanisms and incentives that favor established energy players and protect existing assets during the transition away from fossil fuels.

Beyond public-facing advocacy, Shannon’s work has involved coalition-building within influential industry groups such as BusinessEurope, the European Round Table of Industrialists, and the European Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change. These platforms enable coordinated lobbying that often aligns with UK industrial policy, particularly in maintaining favorable access to European energy markets post-Brexit. Shannon’s advocacy extends to ensuring that UK-based operations, research, and supply chains are prioritized in EU funding and policy decisions, subtly reinforcing the UK’s strategic importance in Europe’s energy landscape

Susan Shannon’s lobbying activities have been extensive and strategically targeted at the highest levels of EU decision-making. As Shell’s lead on government relations and policy advocacy, she has orchestrated and participated in numerous high-level meetings with EU Commissioners, Cabinet members, and senior policymakers, particularly around the European Green Deal, hydrogen strategy, and energy security.

Key meetings attended by Shannon or her team include:

March 30, 2023, Brussels: Discussion with the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans (European Green Deal) on international gas markets, hydrogen, and CCS. This meeting influenced the EU’s approach to hydrogen infrastructure and the regulatory framework for CCS, aligning with Shell’s and the UK’s interests in these sectors.
June 1, 2023, Amsterdam: Engagement with Timmermans’ Cabinet on hydrogen policy, where Shell advocated for policies that would support large-scale hydrogen projects, many of which have significant UK involvement.
July 13, 2023, Brussels: Meeting with the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Timmermans on EU hydrogen plans, further shaping the EU’s strategy to ensure a central role for major energy companies and their home countries, including the UK.
February 23, 2023, Brussels: Presentation to the Cabinet on Shell’s clean energy investments, showcasing the company’s leadership in renewables and hydrogen, and influencing EU funding priorities and regulatory support for projects with strong UK participation.
March 21, 2023, Brussels: Presentation of Shell’s Energy Security Scenarios 2030 to the Cabinet of Commissioner Kadri Simson (Energy), directly linking Shell’s scenario planning to EU policy development on gas markets and energy security, with implications for UK-EU energy trade and cooperation.

These meetings have had tangible impacts on EU policy outcomes, including the shaping of hydrogen and CCS regulations, the prioritization of large-scale demonstration projects, and the allocation of EU funds to projects involving UK expertise and infrastructure. Shannon’s engagement has ensured that Shell—and by extension, the UK—remains at the forefront of the EU’s energy transition, influencing both the pace and direction of regulatory change.

LinkedIn: Susan Shannon
Location: The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands
Email/Phone: Not publicly listed
Website: No personal website found; Shell International’s main website for corporate inquiries

No publicly available social media profiles, direct phone numbers, or personal websites for Susan Shannon have been identified beyond her LinkedIn profile. For professional contact, LinkedIn and Shell’s corporate communications channels are the primary avenues