Santiago Bañales serves as the Managing Director of Iberdrola Innovation Middle East, one of the region’s most forward-thinking centers in sustainable energy. He is part of Iberdrola, a Spanish multinational electric utility company recognized as the world's leading wind power producer and one of the largest electricity firms globally based on stock market capitalization. Since 2016, Bañales has spearheaded the AI-driven and other research-based solutions at the Doha-based center, aligning with Qatar's sustainable development vision.

With a career spanning nearly 30 years in the energy sector, Bañales has held a variety of executive positions in areas such as R&D, product development, management consulting, mergers and acquisitions, general management, and board directorships. His leadership has consistently spurred innovation and growth in the organizations he has been part of. Before his current role, he served as the CEO of Ormazabal Current, a worldwide leader in smart grid products with manufacturing facilities in the USA, Switzerland, and Spain. 

Beyond his professional duties, Bañales is a Capstone Project Advisor and MBA Speaker at HEC Paris in Qatar and an Advisory Industry Board Member at Texas A&M University at Qatar.

He is an alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned a Master of Science in Technology and Policy. Bañales also holds a dual Bachelor of Science in Engineering from École Centrale Paris and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Certificate in Corporate Governance – International Directors Programme from INSEAD.