Haley Nelson is assistant director for European energy security at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center, where she focuses on energy security in Europe and Eurasia.

Nelson’s research covers energy infrastructure investment, transnational transit, and political economy in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Eastern Europe. Her research has centered on the renewable energy potential of Eurasia, China-Eurasia relations, and the politics of foreign infrastructure investment.

Prior to joining the Atlantic Council, Nelson served as the program officer of the energy and economy program at the Caspian Policy Center (CPC), a DC-based nongovernmental organization. While at CPC, Nelson authored articles on a diverse range of issues impacting the Caspian region, such as nuclear energy ambitions in Kazakhstan, maritime security issues in the Black Sea region, and energy infrastructure development projects.

Nelson received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she was granted distinction in Russian, Eurasian, and Eastern European studies. Nelson is also a master’s candidate at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service in the Eurasian, Russian, and Eastern European studies program.