The Institute for Energy Law (IEL), a division of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL), has named Vanessa Allen Sutherland, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs and Communications, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Phillips 66, as the recipient of its 2026 Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award.
The award will be presented on October 6, 2026, at the Holocaust Museum Houston during an evening reception and program addressing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.
Established by IEL’s Executive Committee in 2022, the Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizes individuals and organizations in the energy sector that demonstrate leadership in advancing diversity and inclusion within the legal profession.
About Vanessa Allen Sutherland
Vanessa Allen Sutherland brings nearly 30 years of private- and public-sector leadership experience to her role at Phillips 66, where she also oversees Global Ethics and Compliance, Public Affairs and Sustainability.
Before joining Phillips 66, Sutherland served as Chief Legal Officer of Norfolk Southern Corporation. Her public-sector service includes serving as the U.S. Senate-confirmed Chairperson and CEO of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board and as Chief Counsel for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Sutherland serves on the board of Dominion Energy and previously served as a director of Eastman Chemical Company and Southern Company Gas. Her professional honors include the 2026 Association of Corporate Counsel Houston Legal Innovation Award, the 2025 Burton Awards’ Leaders in Law recognition, and recognition among the Top 25 General Counsel of 2023 and the National Diversity Council’s Power 50.
For more information about the Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award and past recipients, visit www.cailaw.org/institute-for-energy-law/about-us/awards/excellence-diversity-inclusion-award.html.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for IEL's Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award Reception on October 6. Details are available at www.cailaw.org/institute-for-energy-law/events/2026/diversity-inclusion-award.html.
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About the Institute for Energy Law – The Institute for Energy Law (IEL) was founded in Dallas in 1959 as a division of The Center for American and International Law, an international nonprofit educational institution for lawyers, judges, and law enforcement professionals. IEL provides lawyers and other professionals in the energy industry with exceptional academic and professional opportunities, including annual conferences, courses, seminars, scholarly publications, and membership activities. As one of the energy industry's premier membership organizations, IEL counts many leading global energy companies and attorneys among its international members. www.cailaw.org/IEL
CAIL/IEL Media Contact
Karla Lárraga, Communications Officer
(972) 244-3436 | klarraga@cailaw.org