Dena Sholk is a Senior Research Analyst in Russian and Caspian Energy Research at IHS Markit and since 2016, is the head of representation for IHS Markit Kazakhstan in Nursultan (formerly Astana). Recent research interests include natural gas (economics of production, pricing, trade, consumption, transportation and regulations) in Central and South Asia, as well as oil production, refining and refined products trade in the region. Dena was one of the main authors of the KAZENERGY National Energy Report in 2017 and 2019 and regularly advises clients on energy developments in Central Asia and the Caspian. Prior to joining IHS Markit, Dena was a Fulbright scholar in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and twice received the US State Department Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) for Russian language study. In 2015-2016, Dena worked in the IHS Markit Moscow office, when on the Alfa Fellowship program. Dena holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS) magna cum laude and a MA in Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian Studies from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She speaks fluent Russian and conversational Kazakh.