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Board of Directors
Larry Felix
Group Chairman
Larry Felix is the Group Chairman of the NiQuan Energy, LLC Board and a Director of NiQuan Energy Trinidad, Limited Board. Currently, the Managing Director of a consulting organization, previously Larry served as the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the United States’ Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) for nearly a decade. The BEP produces U.S. currency and other security documents for several U.S. government agencies including the Departments of State, Defense and Homeland Security. The BEP is a customer funded federal entity with nearly $700 million in revenue and 1500 employees with locations in Washington DC and Ft. Worth, Texas.
According to several Federal Employee Viewpoint Surveys, Larry led among the most effective and efficiently managed public sector organizations with a unique self-financing authority to collect operating costs and capital investments through customer billings. During his tenure as Director and CEO, the BEP received clean financial and internal control audit opinions from financial auditors. The BEP is ISO 9001 certified for Quality Manufacturing and ISO 14000 for environmental management.
Larry has regularly testified before the United States Congress, made numerous presentations before international organizations and led bilateral discussions and agreements with several European and Asian governmental institutions. He is knowledgeable in all aspects of stakeholder relations including media management, congressional relations, marketing and business development.
He has been interviewed by numerous newspapers, magazines and national nightly news such as BBC news, ABC Nightly News, NBC’s Today Show, as well appeared in feature programs on the History and Discovery channels.
As a leader with more than 32 years of demonstrated leadership and success in complex program management, Larry brings executive leadership experience in public sector management, manufacturing excellence, counterfeit deterrence, technical management as well as client and external relations management.
He holds degrees from the New York City College of Technology, the City College at the City University of New York and has completed doctoral work in Political Economy at Columbia University.
Ainsley Gill
Founder, Group Chief Visionary Officer, and Director
An energy industry veteran and seasoned entrepreneur with more than 20 years’ experience in international government relations, financing, business development, information technology and management consulting, Ainsley is the founder, Group Chief Visionary Officer and Director of the NiQuan Energy Group, and also serves on the NiQuan Energy Trinidad Limited Board of Directors.
Ainsley served as the Foreign Registered Agent for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) in the United States, promoting foreign relations, national security, trade, energy, business development and investments. He was the principal consultant to GORTT in negotiations to leverage the country’s membership in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum and was also engaged by the GORTT for the initial conceptualization, strategy development and rollout of the implementation plan for the Trinidad and Tobago International Financial Center.
Other assignments included working as principal development consultant to state-owned gas company, Sonagas, G.E. of Equatorial Guinea, where he advised on the collection, transformation and commercialization of all of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) interests and led negotiations to increase Sonagas’ equity interest in the Alba field and the establishment of the 3G consortium, which included Union Fenosa, Eon Ruhrgas and Mitsumi. He also served as the lead development consultant to RWE Supply and Trading and Excelerate Energy in the development of a major Natural Gas downstream facility and as principal consultant to BPTT in the promotion of the Trinidad and Tobago/ U.S.A. strategic energy interest.
Ainsley has founded several highly successful companies, one of which, CompSpa Inc., provided services to the US Government, including the IRS and NASA.
Rafael Borja Samperio
Director
An international deal-maker with over 18 years of investment banking experience, Rafael is the Head of Latin America & Caribbean Origination for Barclays. He has worked for some of the most prestigious organisations in the world, including Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse. During an extensive career raising debt capital for international clients, he has originated in excess of US$10 billion in debt transactions on behalf of sovereign, corporate and financial institution clients.
A specialist in origination, distribution and credit risk management, Rafael is uniquely focused in the support and development of start-ups in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has been involved with NiQuan’s GTL project over an extended period and brings an informed and practical perspective to the challenges inherent in the development and successful financing of demanding energy projects.
An innovative and business focused professional, Rafael is an alumni of Columbia University with a Master of International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs and Advanced Management Studies from the Business School, and a B.A. from El Colegio de México in International Affairs.
Strongly committed to social welfare and economic development, Rafael also volunteered on the Board of Soulphia Inc., a social impact venture in New York, for a number of years.
David Dhanoo
Group Chief Legal Officer & Board Secretary
A highly experienced corporate lawyer with over 25 years of legal and executive management experience in asset financing, corporate banking, compliance, (re)insurance, asset management, commercial contracts, financial regulation and litigation, David has worked at the highest levels in insurance banking and the energy sectors.
Now Group Chief Legal Officer for the NiQuan Energy Group, previously David was the Group Chief Legal Officer and Board Secretary for the Qatar Financial Centre Authority and its subsidiaries for over 8 years. He was responsible for all QFC Authority Group commercial contracts, legislation and compliance, companies registration office, employment standards office, data protection office, licensing and regulation of ancillary services firms, and board secretariat and governance matters for the QFCA and its subsidiaries.
Prior to joining the QFC, David was General Counsel and Company Secretary of an Allianz Insurance and Bonding Group company and its subsidiaries in London, where he spent almost thirteen years. He has also worked as an asset finance and banking lawyer within GE Capital and Morgan Grenfell (Deutsche Bank) respectively.
A Member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, David was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1988 and shortly thereafter was admitted as an attorney of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago. He obtained his LL.B and LL.M degrees from Queen Mary, University of London and completed his postgraduate Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law in London.
Don Rogers
Special Advisor to the Board
Don Rogers is a Special Advisor to the Board of Directors for NiQuan Energy, LLC. He is a lawyer who understands business. In fact, he is a very accomplished and trusted business advisor to many startup, early-stage, and growth companies.
According to Don Middleberg, a very successful entrepreneur and client, “Most lawyers don’t even try to understand my business and they certainly don’t know how to get a deal done. Don Rogers is a deal maker, not a deal breaker. I feel I can trust Don with anything. His experience and expertise have paid off handsomely for me and my family.”
A leader in the firm's Business and Financial Services Department, Don is regarded by many as one of the foremost business advisory/transaction attorneys in the Metro Washington area. Beyond serving as legal counsel, he is known for his practical, hands-on experience in M&A transactions, tax and business planning, employee equity plans, and succession planning.
With his background in finance, tax, accounting, and his significant experience in working with many companies, Don is able to further the growth and success of a business in many ways beyond those of a typical lawyer. Clients value Don's assistance in securing necessary resources such as seed capital, private equity, venture capital, and strategic alliances. As a highly-regarded business attorney, he has been a very effective team member in planning and executing exit strategies, mergers, and acquisitions.
Don serves as a valuable member of the Board of Directors for a number of his clients (including his role as Founding Director of Eagle Bancorp, a highly-successful community bank located in the Metro Washington area). His skill set in understanding business and working well with people has allowed him to be an effective part of organizing the business relationship among founders.
Don is also a leader in the business and philanthropic communities. As Chairman of the EagleBank Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, Don has helped raise millions of dollars to fund research and to provide assistance to cancer patients. And in 2012, he was recognized for his significant contributions in the fight against breast cancer.
Don holds a B.S. in Accounting from Hunter College, a J.D, and M.L.T in Taxation both from Georgetown University Law Center. Don is admitted to the Bar in the District of Columbia and the state of Maryland.
