CERAWeek 2026 Attendee
Leonardo Quai is a first-year undergraduate in the College, majoring in Economics. Originally from Australia and Switzerland, he is interested in how geopolitics, infrastructure, and financial capital shape the movement of physical resources and the stability of energy systems.
He has written on the strategic role of the Suez Canal in global trade and has developed a strong interest in global commodity markets and energy transition investments. Leonardo is the President and Co-Founder of the UChicago Commodities Club, where he organizes market discussions, research initiatives, and industry speaker events. Through his work, he aims to connect students with the practical realities of trading and the commercial forces shaping global energy and resource flows.
“Attending CERAWeek allowed me to hear industry experts discuss how geopolitics remains the backbone of energy and commodity markets, especially amid energy security concerns and shifting trade flows that are shaping decision-making. Africa’s role as a strategic battleground for investment and partnerships in critical minerals proved to be another key theme, alongside the use of artificial intelligence as a co-pilot in commodity demand forecasting and supply chain flows. Moreover, speakers at the conference reinforced that sustainable growth depends on maintaining a stable and reliable energy grid. Reconnecting with familiar faces and building new relationships across the industry made this experience in Houston especially valuable.”