Dr. Philipp Steinberg is a leading expert on energy security, strategic infrastructure and the geopolitics of the global energy transition. With more than 20 years of senior-level experience shaping Germany’s economic and energy policy, he brings a unique combination of crisis leadership, strategic foresight and hands-on operational responsibility.
As Director General for Economic Stabilisation, Energy Security, Gas and Hydrogen Infrastructure at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, he played a central role in navigating Germany through the 2022 energy crisis following the abrupt stop of Russian gas deliveries. He oversaw the €200bn Economic Stabilisation Fund, led the nationalisation of Uniper and Gazprom Germania, and managed the €9bn support package for Lufthansa during the pandemic.
His work included the rapid diversification of Germany’s energy imports, the development of the Hydrogen Core Network, and the design of support schemes for LNG, hydrogen and renewable infrastructure – key elements of Europe’s emerging strategic energy architecture. Previously, Dr. Steinberg served as Director General for general economic policy, responsible for taxation, financial markets, competition, public procurement, economic forecasting and sustainability. He also designed and implemented the €40bn structural transition programme for Germany’s coal regions, one of Europe’s largest regional transformation initiatives.
Today, he advises organisations on energy and climate strategy, energy security, economic policy and crisis management. He is Senior Advisor to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and to FGS Global, the international strategy and communications advisory firm. He serves on the boards of publicly listed companies and teaches and researches law, economics and politics at university level.
He is a frequent keynote speaker on energy geopolitics, infrastructure resilience, hydrogen strategy and the strategic implications of a fragmenting global order. Dr. Steinberg studied law, economic policy and taxation in Berlin, Paris and Münster (Licence d’État, Staatsexamen, PhD, EMBA). Born in the United States, he holds both German and American citizenships.
