Esther Schouten, PhD, has extensive experience in carbon and sustainability within the energy sector, currently serving at Shell since January 2006 in various roles, including Carbon & Sustainability - Global Deals, where responsibilities encompass providing Carbon and ESG due diligence for M&A teams across multiple energy sectors. Previous positions at Shell involved managing environmental and social impacts in upstream operations in Turkey and Bulgaria, as well as implementing human rights and governance aspects in global policies. Esther's academic background includes a PhD in Business and Human Rights from Erasmus University Rotterdam, complemented by degrees in Development Economics and Technology Business Administration. Additional professional experiences include sustainability consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers and development expertise with Chudi Communication Consult.