Our Team

Elias Ferrer

Founder & Director

Elias Ferrer founded Orinoco Research while reporting from Caracas, finding an opportunity in the arduous difficulty for foreign investors to know the reality on the ground.

As a political economy and development analyst, his idea was to help investment funds, traders, energy firms, and public sector institutions to receive exclusive, actionable intelligence. He and Orinoco Research have since become leading experts in political risk and commodities for Venezuela and the region.

While in Caracas, he later co-founded Guacamaya, a bilingual media platform to help analyse and explain Venezuela and regional dynamics to the world.

He graduated in Development Studies at SOAS, University of London, one of the world’s top schools for the field, with a focus on Latin American political economy.

Before launching Orinoco, he worked as a research analyst in London, and as a reporter and contributor for various media publications, including Forbes. Elias is originally from Barcelona, Spain.

Philippe Jackson

Partner & Political Risk Advisor, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago

Philippe Jackson has joined Orinoco to expand the firm’s reach across the Anglophone Caribbean, particularly Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago. He brings in-depth knowledge of Southern Caribbean geopolitics as well as his operational experience navigating both public and private sectors in the region.

With extensive, hands-on experience advising multidisciplinary teams throughout the Caribbean, Philippe blends rigorous project management skills with deep logistical know-how to deliver concrete insights for local enterprises. He has helped companies sharpen their value propositions, streamline operations, and secure new distribution channels, while also conducting market research studies and due diligence for foreign firms eager to enter the region’s markets. His business development focus has enabled both home grown businesses and overseas investors to unlock growth opportunities in the Caribbean’s diverse and rapidly evolving markets.

Today, Philippe’s mission is to provide clear, actionable intelligence to foreign companies and investors exploring these fast growing markets. He identifies both opportunities and risks, translates them into concrete, implementable recommendations, and designs action oriented plans to smoothly set up operations and start generating sustainable revenue streams with the help of local partners on the ground.

Philippe and Orinoco stand ready to help you discover and capitalise on your next investment opportunity in the dynamic Caribbean region.

Jorge Barragan

Political Risk Advisor, North Andes region

Jorge Barragan is the lead political risk advisor for the North Andes region, encompassing Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. He also co-founded Guacamaya with Elias Ferrer.

He has advised campaigns, companies, and international organizations on scenario analysis, governance, and actor dynamics in fragile institutional environments.

He brings a deep knowledge of the region’s politics thanks to his experience: He worked as the international coordinator for a Venezuelan presidential candidate and as a frontline figure in the national political landscape, allowing him to build an active network of relationships with diplomats, policymakers, and business leaders across Latin America, the United States, and Europe.

He graduated in International Relations at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), and he is in the process of completing a Masters in Oil Geopolitics at the same UCV. He is an alumnus of the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Student Leaders program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Fabbiana Lamboglia

Energy Analyst

Fabbiana Lamboglia is an energy analyst with experience in project finance and risk assessment in emerging markets. Her work focuses on evaluating the financial viability and risk profile of energy and infrastructure projects in complex operating environments.

Her professional background spans roles at consultancies and multilateral development institutions in Italy, Mexico, and Austria, including her tenure at the OPEC Fund for International Development in Vienna. In these roles, she has focused on financial analysis, market research, and portfolio management for energy and infrastructure developments across Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the MENA region. She also served as an IRENA Youth Delegate, engaging with policymakers and industry professionals on global energy market trends and challenges.

Fabbiana holds a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) from the University of Navarra in Spain. Originally from Maracaibo, Venezuela, she brings first-hand perspective on hydrocarbon dependent economies, bridging her regional insights with international expertise in energy finance and risk analysis.