Dr. Thomas Hillig is founder and Managing Director of THEnergy. THEnergy assists companies in dealing with energy-related challenges. Renewable energy companies are offered strategy, marketing and sales consulting services. For industrial companies, THEnergy develops energy concepts and shows how they can become more sustainable. It combines experience from conventional and renewable energy with industry knowledge in consulting.

In addition to business consulting, THEnergy advises investors regarding renewable energy investments in changing markets. It is also active in marketing intelligence and as an information provider in select fields, such as renewables and mining, through the platform th-energy.net/mining or renewables on islands through the new platform th-energy.net/islands.

Mark Wopicho serves as the CTO at Empower New Energy. Empower New Energy is a renewable energy financier and co-developer that finances, builds and owns clean power plants for commercial, industrial and agricultural energy users in Africa.

Prior to Empower New Energy, Mark was the Technical Director at KAWI East Africa Limited, a company specialized in fast-tracking the adoption of efficient energy and water practices, and the use of alternative energy across Africa.

Mark is credited with co-founding PowerGen Renewable Energy, a leading mini-grid and solar company in Africa, with over 100 employees across five countries and more than $50m of capital raised. PowerGen has brought grid-quality energy access to thousands of Africans with clean, renewable energy systems utilizing cutting edge technology including smart metering and mobile money payment systems. The company also provides Engineering, Procurement and Construction services to commercial and industrial customers using creative financing solutions and has realized over $2 million US dollars in annual revenue.

Mark is a graduate of Kenyatta University with a degree in Energy Engineering.

Freelance consultant with 30+ years in the field of electrical engineering. Worked as a procurement engineer for 15 years, shifting more towards the renewable energy field in 2007. Few of the most significant achievements include establishing the private renewable projects department in EETC, being a part of the ATMP program for reducing no. of birds death in migration seasons by controlling the wind turbine. Adding to that, leading the responsible team for contracting the consultants to do the social and environmental studies of EETC projects (substations and transmission lines).

Finally, contracting about 2000 MW solar energy projects (1465 MW in operation in Benban solar project in Aswan) and 3300 MW solar projects (500 MW in operation).

Eng. Lamya graduated from Ain Shams University Faculty of Engineering Power Systems Dep and completed her MBA in Strategic Management in 2013 from the Cairo licenced Victoria School of Business.

Adel is an Investment Director at Meridiam, he is currently involved in the development and investment of a wide array of infrastructure projects in North and West Africa.

Before joining Meridiam, Adel was a Director at Renewable Energy Partner (“RnE”) a project development company and advisory boutique firm specializing in renewable energy projects in the Middle East and Africa.

Prior to RnE, Adel worked at leading law firms in Paris and London. He was involved in the financing of energy and infrastructure transactions around the world. He is a qualified Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales as well as being admitted to the New York Bar.

ACTIVELY INVESTING IN AFRICA’S GROWTH FOR OVER 22 YEARS AIIM understands the African business environment and has experience spanning a range of infrastructure asset classes. We develop, create, advise and manage private equity infrastructure funds. AIIM has funds under management of USD2.4 billion and a track record extending across eight infrastructure funds. The funds managed and advised by AIIM are designed to invest long-term institutional unlisted equity in African infrastructure projects such as toll roads, renewable energy, power generation, port and communication infrastructure assets. With one of the most experienced infrastructure transaction and management teams in Africa, AIIM provides strategic, commercial, operational and financial expertise into infrastructure investment activities throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. The depth of knowledge and experience within AIIM allows for the identification of quality investment opportunities as well as a disciplined approach to the investment and asset management process. AIIM has positioned itself as a leading infrastructure equity investment manager in the African landscape providing compelling investment opportunities that seek to deliver superior returns for investors, adding value through effective environmental, social and governance management, while making a tangible contribution to local economies and communities. AIIM was established in 2000 as a joint venture between the Macquarie Group and Old Mutual Investment Group. With a vision to become one of Africa’s premier alternative asset managers, Old Mutual Alternative Investments acquired Macquarie’s 50% shareholding in November 2015, making it the sole shareholder of AIIM.

Anyababa joined AIIM in 2019. He drives the execution of transactions and management of AIIM’s assets primarily in Anglophone West Africa. He has been instrumental in the expansion of AIIM’s operational footprint in the commercial & industrial (C&I) energy services sector across the continent.

Anyababa guided the entry of Starsight, one of AIIM’s energy services portfolio companies into markets in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.

Anyababa has performed a key role in AIIM’s entry into the cold storage logistics value chain with three anchor acquisitions in South Africa.

Prior to 2019, Anyababa spent six years at energy giant BP. His experience at BP spanned a variety of engineering roles in projects and operations in Azerbaijan, the North Sea and the UK. Anyababa is a Chartered Engineer with the UK Engineering Council. He is also a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and has completed his CFA level 1 exam.

Antonio joined Trina Solar in 2019 to set up the regional headquarters in the Middle East and Africa Region. He has an extensive career in the solar industry and has been involved in the power sector since 2000.
Prior to this, he worked in several multinationals as PWC, Innogy SE and Abengoa Solar where he spent a large amount of his career working in all the steps of the value chain of solar power.  He has extensive experience in solar power, IPP projects and renewable energy value chain Europe, North America and Middle East and Africa Region, with more than 8 years in the latter.
Antonio holds an engineering degree and a MBA degree from INSEAD graduate business school.

Sanjeev is a seasoned professional with two decades of experience in banking and fund management. Currently, he is AECF’s Director of Investments and Advisory Services, which includes transaction advisory, fund management, and technical assistance delivery. In his previous role as the Head of Risk at SunFunder, Sanjeev played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s risk appetite in renewable energy markets. He has a solid background in investments across UN Sustainable Development Goal-aligned sectors within Sub-Saharan Africa & South East Asia.

Sanjeev also serves as a board member for several organizations, including MGMC Pharma Group, Shivam Capital, and The Simba Group. He holds an MBL in Corporate Finance from the University of South Africa, a Masters in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering from the same university.

Mr. Ghaddar, the man behind AG Energies, has shown outstanding success in the business of trade, manufacture, and environmental business. He has developed partnerships with both local and some international companies over the past 20 years. His interest and vision for renewable energy to create a clean, green environment started when he pioneered the business of E-Waste treatment, making him the only licensed entrepreneur in the E-Waste business. Hence, with his vision, he is successfully producing gold, silver, and various rare-earth metals from the e-waste.

Since the mid-2000s, he has focused on climate change and renewable energy. He pioneered in realizing the cost of renewable energy and started the renewable energy total solution business. Apart from his current position as CEO of AG Energies, he also serves as the Director of other companies such as Baraka Establishment Ltd., Baraka Agribusiness Development, Yasmina Industries Ltd., Vivitex Trading, Kimko Mining Company Ltd., Maxi Pro Company Ltd., and AG Establishment Ltd. In 1994, he completed his degree in Information System (CIS) at the Ministry of Higher Education in Science and Technology in Beirut, Lebanon.