Noor YAFAI

Noor Yafai is a highly experienced policy and government engagement professional with over two decades of expertise in climate, energy, and environmental policy across both the private and public sectors. Based in Brussels, Belgium, Yafai has held senior roles in major organizations, including Shell, the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), and The Nature Conservancy. Her career is defined by her ability to bridge the interests of business and civil society, advocating for ambitious sustainability and climate policies at the European and international levels. At Shell, she was instrumental in shaping the company’s approach to climate and environmental advocacy, leading multi-stakeholder coalitions and operationalizing support for major EU policy initiatives such as the Green Deal and Climate Law. Recognized for her influence in Brussels, Yafai has been acknowledged as one of Politico Europe’s “Women Who Shape Brussels 2020”. Her strategic leadership and deep knowledge of EU policy mechanisms have made her a key figure in advancing industry positions within the evolving landscape of European sustainability and energy policy.

Noor Yafai’s lobbying activities for Shell Companies are intricately tied to advancing the strategic interests of the United Kingdom within the European Union’s energy, climate, and industrial policy frameworks. As a senior EU Affairs Manager at Shell, Yafai’s role was to ensure that UK-based energy priorities—such as energy security, market access, and the transition to renewables—were effectively represented in Brussels and across EU institutions. Her lobbying firm, Shell Companies, is a global energy conglomerate with deep roots in the UK, seeking to maintain its influence over European energy policy, particularly as the EU tightens its climate and decarbonization targets.

Yafai’s true intentions, beyond the public-facing advocacy for sustainable energy, involve safeguarding the UK’s energy sector competitiveness post-Brexit, ensuring continued access to EU energy markets, and shaping regulatory frameworks in ways that favor British industry innovation and investment. This includes influencing the design and implementation of the EU Green Deal, hydrogen strategies, and emissions trading systems to ensure that UK companies, particularly Shell, remain integral to Europe’s energy transition. She has also worked to secure funding and grants for joint ventures involving UK firms, such as the Northern Lights JV, leveraging Shell’s multinational presence to channel EU resources into projects with significant UK participation.

Yafai’s lobbying extends to building alliances with influential industry associations—like Cefic, BusinessEurope, and Hydrogen Europe—where she amplifies the UK’s voice in broader European industrial policy debates. Her efforts often involve nuanced negotiations, advocating for regulatory flexibility that accommodates UK regulatory divergence while maintaining cross-border energy flows and cooperation. By positioning Shell as a leader in renewable energy and decarbonization technologies, Yafai aligns the company’s interests with the EU’s climate ambitions, all while ensuring that the UK’s strategic priorities are not sidelined in the rapidly evolving European policy landscape. Her behind-the-scenes work includes confidential briefings, drafting policy papers, and orchestrating coalition-building efforts that subtly reinforce the UK’s role as a key energy partner to the EU, despite the complexities introduced by Brexit and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Noor Yafai’s lobbying activities for Shell Companies have been extensive and multifaceted, focusing on direct engagement with high-level EU policymakers and strategic participation in influential policy forums. She has attended numerous meetings with European Commission officials, including Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner Kadri Simson, and Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, to discuss key issues such as hydrogen strategy, energy market trends, clean energy investments, and the implementation of the European Green Deal.

Some of the most significant meetings include:

26 April 2024, Brussels: Meeting with the Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič on hydrogen policy, attended by key cabinet members. This meeting coincided with the EU’s push for a hydrogen economy, and Shell’s input—facilitated by Yafai—helped shape the inclusion of industry perspectives in the EU’s hydrogen roadmap.
16 April 2024, Brussels: Participation in the IOGP Roundtable with Šefčovič’s cabinet, where discussions centered on energy security and the role of oil and gas producers in the transition. Outcomes from this meeting influenced subsequent EU communications on securing energy supplies while accelerating decarbonization.
14 March 2024, Washington DC: Engagement with DG Energy officials on energy market developments, reflecting Shell’s global reach and the importance of transatlantic policy alignment for UK interests.
5 February 2024, Online: High-level roundtable with suppliers, again involving Šefčovič’s cabinet, where Shell advocated for regulatory frameworks that support investment in energy infrastructure—a priority for UK-based companies.
30 January 2024, Brussels: Discussion on energy transition trends and investment climate with Commissioner Kadri Simson’s cabinet, influencing the EU’s approach to fostering a favorable environment for energy innovation, including UK-led projects.
21 March 2023, Brussels: Presentation of Shell’s Energy Security Scenarios 2030, directly informing EU policymakers on the outlook for gas markets and reinforcing the importance of UK-EU cooperation in securing energy supplies.
23 February 2023, Brussels: Meeting with Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans on clean energy investments, where Shell’s commitments and proposals were integrated into broader EU investment strategies.

These meetings, among others, demonstrate Yafai’s ability to position Shell—and by extension, UK interests—at the center of critical EU policy debates. Her advocacy has influenced the allocation of EU grants, the shaping of hydrogen and decarbonization policies, and the integration of industry perspectives into the EU’s legislative agenda. By consistently engaging with top-level decision-makers and participating in expert groups and advisory platforms, Yafai ensures that Shell’s—and the UK’s—priorities are reflected in the outcomes of major EU policy initiatives.

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/noor-yafai-544480301 7
Shell EU Affairs X (Twitter): @Shell_EUAffairs4
Shell Advocacy & Political Activity: www.shell.com/advocacy
Shell Advocacy Updates: shell.com/sustainability/transparency-and-sustainability-reporting/advocacy-and-political-activity/advocacy-releases.html4

No publicly available phone number or personal website has been identified in the provided sources.