Managing Director, EuroAtlantic Partners
 

Michael Kirst has been a member of the USUBC since 1998 and of the Executive Committee beginning in 2002. He is a recipient of USUBC’s Distinguished Service Award of 2015, following his origination and successful leadership in bringing a fully independent nuclear fuel supply to Ukraine, providing energy security to the country’s largest power supply (to read about all USUBC Awardees).

Mr. Kirst is currently the Managing Director of EuroAtlantic Partners. The Brussels-based consultancy leverages its long and deep transatlantic commercial and political experience to support particularly energy development, innovation and sustainability. Mr. Kirst continues his commitment to Ukraine as a member of the Supervisory Board of NNEGC Energoatom in support of its designation as a joint-stock company. Mr. Kirst is also currently the Coordinator and Senior Advisor to the US Department of Commerce Small Modular Reactor Public Private Program, https://www.trade.gov/eu-smr. In this role, Mr. Kirst is responsible for developing, planning and executing pan-Eurasian initiatives to facilitate the adoption of small and advanced nuclear reactors as well as identifying key country and industrial needs and interests at project levels. 

Prior, Mr. Kirst had several leadership roles at Westinghouse Electric Company. With regard to Ukraine, as head of Central and Eastern Europe, he led the effort to diversify all markets which relied on Russian nuclear fuel. He began as Director for Government and International Affairs based in Washington and finally as Vice President of Strategy and External Affairs for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). 

Mr. Kirst began his professional career as a Legislative Aide to then-Congressman Leon E. Panetta, responsible for all issues relating to energy, commerce, transportation and telecommunications. He was subsequently appointed as the Director of the Economic Committee of the NATO Assembly. In this role, he was responsible for directing the representatives of all NATO parliaments in assessing economic policy impacting alliance security considerations and eventually supporting the first wave of new NATO member countries after the end of the Cold War.