Rza Aliyev is a senior geopolitical adviser with over fifteen years of experience, leading at the intersection of global diplomacy, climate policy, and finance. As a co-founder of Meridian Global Advisors (MGA), Rza is a trusted counsel to governments, family offices, UN agencies and Fortune 500 companies on geopolitical risk, the energy transition and sustainable development. MGA is a market-entry and intelligence advisory firm specializing in high-growth and geopolitically complex markets in Central Asia and the Caucasus, Southeast and South Asia, and MENA; advising corporates, investors and governments on strategy, stakeholder engagement, and industry analysis.
Rza also serves as the Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC). NGIC is an international organization that convenes over 100 former and current heads of State and of Government to engage in dialogue on pressing international challenges and to develop policy recommendations.
Rza is a Non-resident Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council Middle East Programs as well as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University Schwarzman Scholars Program. He holds Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Georgia.
Previously, Rza has held a range of roles at bp, most recently leading shareholder management of Lightsource bp (solar energy). Rza also built and led several of bp’s sustainability-related partnerships and initiatives, developed various group-level policy positions and worked with governments and partners in West Africa to build energy projects.
Before working in energy, Rza served as a private banker at two of the largest banks in the Principality of Andorra, creating and managing significant portfolios. Rza also served as a member of the Junior Board of the World Monument Fund and Youth Delegate from Azerbaijan to the United Nations.
Rza was part of the inaugural cohort of the Schwarzman Scholars Programme, which culminated in a Master of Management in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University with a focus on Economics and Business. He also holds a MA in Diplomacy and International Affairs from the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and a BA in Public Administration from the Academy of Public Administration.
Fluent in Azerbaijani, English, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish, Rza serves in the Leadership Council of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (Black Sea Chapter) and is an Associate Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. He is recognised as a Sustainability Integrator and SDG Champion by UNDP, the Mohammad Yunus Centre and other prominent organisations.
