There will be a reception preceding this event beginning at 6:30.

This event will be photographed and these pictures may be used on the CIC’s social media channels. If you do not wish to be photographed please inform CIC event staff upon your arrival.

Entrance will be free for those attending the CIC Vancouver Annual General Meeting immediately prior to this event. To register for the AGM and event, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cic-vancouver-annual-general-meeting-tickets-72353658741

In his talk, John Foster addresses recent conflicts in the greater Middle East. Involved are oil-producing countries, pipeline transit countries and major powers. He explores military interventions, tensions around international waterways, and the use of sanctions, interventions and political interference related to petroleum trade.

He describes the “petroleum game,” the jockeying for control of the world’s oil and natural gas. It’s an ongoing rivalry among global and regional countries, each pursuing its own interests and using whatever tools, allies and organizations offer advantage. Drawing on his book, Oil and World Politics, he illuminates government actions and petroleum-related reasons that are rarely discussed publicly. As an international oil economist, John Foster witnessed the geopolitics of petroleum in more than 30 countries. He held positions with the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, BP group and Petro-Canada – working in three capital cities: London, Washington DC, and Ottawa. He grew up in London, graduating in economics and law from Cambridge University. In the past decade, he has given many talks across Canada on petroleum rivalries and conflicts – including various CIC Branches. His recent book is Oil and World Politics: The real story of today’s conflict zones – Iraq, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ukraine and more (Lorimer, Toronto, 2018).