Speakers at SAIREC 2015

Abdulhakim Abdisubhan

Senior AdvisorHydropower Development, Ethiopiaabdisubhan777@gmail.com

Currently I am the Advisor of the CEO of the Ethiopian ElectricPower, a Utility that is engaged in developing and supplying electricity to the country. I worked as executive officer for EEPCO for ten year Nov. 2004-Dec. 2013. I worked in a managerial and leadership role in the development of 11 renewable projects in Ethiopia during the last 20 years, mainly hydropower which have an aggregate capacity of around 9.25 GW.

Marie Hélène Aubert

Senior adviser International climate and environment negotiations, Francemarie-helene.aubert@elysee.fr

Marie-Hélène Aubert is a member of President François Hollande’s cabinet and adviser on international climate and environment negotiations.Member of the French Green party from 1990 to 2008, she was successively elected as Conseiller Régional (Regional Councillor) for the Centre-Val de Loire region (1992-1998), then Député in the National Assembly for the Eure-et-Loir constituency (1997-2002). She was a member of the Foreign affairs committee, vice-chair of the National Assembly (2001-2002), and finally Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Ouest region (2004-2009).Initially a teacher of French literature, she went on in 2009 to obtain a Master’s degree in agricultural development and economic policies from the Institute for Studies of Economic and Social Development (IEDES – University Paris 1).Before being called to the French Presidency in may 2012, she was deputy director of the Futur Facteur 4 research and consulting office, which specialises in energy and sustainable development issues.

Rainer Baake

State SecretaryFederal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Germanybuero-IIA1@bmwi.bund.de

Rainer Baake was appointed State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in January 2014. Born in Witten in 1955, he studied economics in Marburg, graduating as “Diplom-Volkswirt”. From 1985 – 1991, he served as First District Councillor for Marburg-Biedenkopf, before being appointed State Secretary at the Ministry for Environment, Energy and Federal Affairs of the state of Hesse. In 1998he moved on to become State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. From 2006 – 2012 he was the Federal managing director of the NGO German Environmental Aid, and then worked as Executive Director of the Think Tank Agora Energiewende before rejoining the government.

Bohuslav Barta

Specialist ConsultantEnergy and Water Resources EngineeringSouth Africabartab@iafrica.com

Bo Barta is registered Professional Engineer as per requirements of the Engineering Council of South Africa. His professional career spans more than 45 years working primarily on the water engineering and energy/water resources development and management projects scattered around the Southern Africa region (e.g. Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland).His key experience and accumulated expertise are primarily in planning, design and construction as well as rehabilitation of the water services infrastructure assets (i.e. mainly water transfer schemes including dams and water conveyance components). He, most recently, concentrates on the implementation of renewable energy technologies with emphasis on the small hydropower and extraction of hydroelectricity by the hydropower retrofit to hydraulic structures.Bo (although of the retirement age) is presently self-employed Specialist Consultant in the fields of energy/water services system analysis and hydraulic assets evaluation, seeking optimal means in usage of energy and water resources.

Bernard Bladergroen

Associate ProfessorUniversity of the Western Cape, South Africabbladergroen@uwc.ac.za

Prof. Bladergroen, a former student at the University of Twente in the Netherlands joined the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in 1998 as a PhD student and continued as a postdoctoral fellow in hydrogen separation and production (2003-5). In 2007, he accepted his role as the deputy director of the South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry (SAIAMC) at UWC, an institute (70 people) that develops and demonstrates technology mostly related to the energy sector (e.g; hydrogen production, compression and storage, battery development, membrane separation technologies and synthetic fuel production). Prof Bladergroen co-authored over 30 publications in peer reviewed journals and patents and is currently heading the Energy Storage Innovation Laboratory (ESIL) which was launched to provides a platform facilitating the commercialise of technologies in partnership with local businesses.

Stefanie Bourne

Senior EngineerDNV GL, South Africastefanie.bourne@dnvgl.com

Ms. Bourne is a Senior Engineer at DNV GL with a focus on utility-scale wind project development in Africa. Ms. Bourne has nearly seven years of experience in the wind industry in North America, South America, Europe and Africa and is currently based out of DNV GL’s offices in Cape Town, South Africa. In her role at DNV GL, she supports wind project feasibility, resource assessment, operational monitoring and asset management, project due diligence, construction monitoring and power performance testing. She holds a Master of Science degree in Atmospheric Science from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a Bachelor of Science degree in Energy and Environmental studies from James Madison University.

Luis Crespo

PresidentPROTERMOSOLAR / ESTELA, Spainluiscrespo@protermosolar.com

PhD Aeronautical Engineer and Sociologist. In 1975 he founded the Solar Energy Division at CASA.From 1979 until 1989:• Interatom/Siemens, Central Receiver System solar plant of the AIE.• ASINEL, Technical Director of the German-Spanish GAST (air cooled solar tower) and AWEC-60 (1MW)

projects.• Director of Renewable Energy Institute (IER/CIEMAT).In 1989 he switched from his technical carrier to a managerial one joining the CDTI as Deputy Director. Afterwards: General Manager of AENTEC. General Director of CEX, a venture capital company with a positive track record after 15 years of activity.Since 2008 – when he returned to the CSP sector – he is General Secretary of PROTERMOSOLAR. He is also President of ESTELA since 2011. He also helped CTAER research centre in Andalusia during its launching phase 2009-2010 as General Manager.He teaches Business Administration and Energy subjects at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

Shen Dechang

Vice Secretary-GeneralChinese wind energy equipment Association, Chinashendc06@126.com

Shen Dechang, Professor, Vice Secretary-General at Chinese Wind Energy Equipment Association ，the eighth editorial board member of ” solar energy journal “, the ninth committee member of Chinese Wind Energy Association, as well as the technical committee member of world wind energy association . Professor Shen Dechang is a member of wind energy industry standard construction expert group appointed by the national energy administration of China. Prof. Shen Dechang’s research interests are wind power industry development status and trend at home and abroad, the developing strategy & analysis of lager offshore wind turbines, forecast of wind energy technology development and application technologies of small and medium-sized wind turbines, etc.

Siré A Diallo

Programme Coordinator -WACCAECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency (ECREE), Cabo Verdesdiallo@ecreee.org

Siré A. Diallo currently serves as Coordinator of the West Africa Clean Cooking Alliance, (WACCA). Under his leadership, WACCA gained tremendous momentum in its quest to establishing a viable market for sustainable cooking energy services in the ECOWAS region by putting in place innovative programmes.Before joining ECREEE, Siré served as the Executive Director of The Social & Ecological Management Fund (SEM), an NGO working to alleviate energy poverty in Senegal. At SEM, he was instrumental in registering a multi-country PoA for large-scale distribution of ICS and alternative cooking fuels.He holds a Master’s of Science in Project Management. He has 15 years of experience working on sustainable development issues related to energy, environment, climate change and decentralised financial systems and youth development in West Africa and the US.

Chris Ehlers

Business DirectorACWA Power, South Africachrisehlers@acwapower.com

Chris Ehlers has more than 18 years of track record within the renewable and conventional power generation industry. In 2012 he joined ACWA Power as Business Director in order to facilitate the company’s growth in Africa.From 2007 Chris was Managing Director for Siemens Renewable Energy in the UK. Under his watch more than more than 2500MW of on- & offshore wind turbines were sold, installed and maintained, which created more than 1000 direct jobs. Chris served the Board of RenewableUK.Previously, Chris held various Director Roles in blue chip EPC Companies such as Siemens Energy, Hitachi and Babcock Borsig spanning from Sales to Procurement & Logistics. Chris holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences Lϋbeck, Germany and a MBA from Instituto de Empresa (IE) Business School, Madrid, Spain.

Dipolelo Jane Elford

Renewable Energy Consultant, South Africadipolelojaneelford@telkomsa.net

Academic qualification: Masters in Public Administration. Current employment status: Renewable Energy Consultant, speciality: wind energy.Prior: Director Stakeholder Relations for Windlab Development SA, May 2012 to July 2015. Through Windlab, participated in the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA). Served on SAWEA Board from October 2012to November 2014 including serving as Chairperson between 2013 and 2014.Prior: Chief Director in the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning for over ten years, managing various programmes, including Pollution and Waste Management, Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability. Through Government, championed policies and projects promoting all forms of renewable energy.

Kumar Emani

Deputy Secretary GeneralICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, Indiaemani.kumar@iclei.org

Emani Kumar is the Deputy Secretary General of ICLEI Global and also the Executive Director of ICLEI South Asia since its founding in 2005. With degrees in Environmental Management, Environmental Planning and Civil Engineering, Emani has more than eighteen years of professional experience on issues related to climate change policy and planning, local governance, renewable energy and energy efficiency, social accountability, systems management and auditing.Previously Kumar has worked with the Confederation of Indian Industry and also with the National Institute of Urban Affairs. Apart from overseeing the organisation’s strategic development, he also coordinates various multi-year & small scale projects and research work.In his role as ICLEI Deputy Secretary General, Emani Kumar works with all the offices in Asia, to ensure cohesion in implementation of ICLEI’s agendas and spearhead advocacy activities in the region.

Sifiso Dlamini

Managing Director, NuRa Energy ,South Africasifiso@nura-energy.co.za

Sifiso Dlamini is the Managing Director of NuRa Energy, a solar home systems utility in rural KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. He has spent most of his professional life at NuRa Energy for whom he has worked for the past 11 years. He started as the Utility Engineer, working his way up to being the General Manager, a position he held concurrently with being the Company Secretary, until he ascended to his current position as the Managing Director. He is a Trustee of Rural Energy Employee Share Empowerment Trust, an employee Trust that has a 20% stake in NuRa Energy.He holds a BSc degree in Electronic Engineering and is a Senior Member of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE).

Rabia Ferroukhi

Head of Policy and Deputy Director- Knowledge, Policy and FinanceIRENA, United Arab Emiratesrferroukhi@irena.org

Dr. Rabia Ferroukhi joined IRENA in 2011 where she is currently the Deputy Director of the Knowledge, Policy and Finance division. She also leads IRENA’s Policy Unit, which is responsible for the work on a range of renewable energy policy issues including design, socio-economic benefits and integrated resource management. Dr. Ferroukhi brought to this position over 20 years of experience in the fields of energy, development and environment. She worked in both public and private sectors, including with governments in the Middle-East and North Africa, energy companies in the Mediterranean region and the GCC, and international institutions. Dr. Ferroukhi holds a Masters in Applied Economics and a Ph.D. in Economics from the American University in Washington DC.

Agostinho Miguel Garcia

Principal ConsultantSun Business Development Lda, Portugal and Thabo Consulting Engineering, South Africaagostinho.garcia@sunbd.pt

Physics Engineer with a masters degree in Solar Energy completed in 2000, Agostinho Miguel Garcia is an international expert performing feasibility studies, business plans, engineering designs and construction supervision of photovoltaic, concentrated solar power and wind power plants. He has more than 15 years of professional experience in renewable energies and policies, deep experience in solar technologies and development of solar power projects, solar park expert with experience in India and South Africa. Experience in 5 continents and more than 15 countries in Renewable Energies and policies, solid experience in solar policy and programmes development as well as advisory roles for 5 governments in 2 continents, with a focus in Southern Africa (Namibia and South Africa). He has worked as an international consultant for development banks and the UNDP as well as the Clinton Foundation.

Gurbuz Gonul

Senior Programme Officer and Acting Division DirectorIRENA, United Arab Emiratesggonul@irena.org

Mr. Gurbuz Gonul joined the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in 2014 as Senior Programme Officer for administering the Regions and currently serves as Acting Director for the Country Support and Partnerships Division.Formerly, he worked as Senior Energy Economist of the Islamic Development Bank between 2010 and 2014, where he led the work for the development of an Energy Sector Policy for the Bank as well as complex loan and technical assistance projects in Africa and Asia. Between 2004 and 2010, Mr. Gonul served as a Senior Expert at the Energy Charter Secretariat in Brussels, where he spearheaded policy analysis, sectoral in-depth reviews, regional / country reviews concerning energy investments, trade and transportation.He also held positions in the EU Delegation in Ankara and Turkey’s Ministry of Energy since 1993.

Thorsten Herdan

Director General Energy policy departmentFederal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Germanybuero-ii@bmwi.bund.de

Thorsten Herdan (Dip. Ing.) was born on 10 July 1966. He was appointed Director-General for energy policy–heating and efficiency–in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as of June 2014.He previously held the positions of managing director of the professional association for producers of power systems and the professional association for producers of engines and systems (both members of the German Engineering Federation) (VDMA), of managing director of the Research Association for Combustion Engines (FVV), and of managing director of the German Engineering Federations’ Energy Forum, which is in charge of developing the Federation’s energy policy.Mr Herdan served on the Board of the European Association of Internal Combustion Engine Manufacturers (EUROMOT), on the Board and the Supervisory Board of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), and as Vice-President of the Offshore Wind Energy Foundation.

Elham Ibrahim

Commissioner for Infrastructure and EnergyAfrican Union Commission, Ethiopiaibrahime@africa-union.org

Dr. Ibrahim is a holder a Ph.D. in Electronics and Communications, Over 33 years, she has served in the academic research, electrical energy production & interconnection, energy strategies and policies, energy planning studies, renewable energy. In 28 April 2008 she was elected for the post of The Commissioner of Infrastructure & Energy, in the African Union Commission. In July 2012 she was reelected for the same post. Her portfolio covers multiple sectors, She is responsible to lead the Infrastructure and Energy Department to realise its mandate to enhance Regional and Continental efforts for accelerated integrated infrastructure development and effective sustainable development of energy resources.

Mahama Kappiah

Executive DirectorECOWAS Centre fro Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency, Cabo Verdemkappiah@ecreee.org

Mahama Kappiah is the Executive Director of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE). He was eminent in the establishment of the Centre which aims to ensure increased access to reliable, affordable and clean energy in West Africa. Under his leadership, ECREEE has attained international recognition as a unique regional renewable energy and energy efficiency promotion agency in Africa.Prior to the establishment of ECREEE, Mahama Kappiah was Head of the ECOWAS Energy Division. Some of his achievements include the creation of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulation Authority (ERERA). Before that, he worked in the Planning and Development Department of the Volta River Authority (VRA) of Ghana. He is a member of the REN21 Board and has over 25 years of experience working on sustainable development issues related to energy, environment and climate change.

Wim Jonker Klunne

Programme DirectorEnergy & Environment Partnership (EEP), South AfricaWim.JonkerKlunne@EEPAfrica.org

Mr. Wim Jonker Klunne is a renowned expert with 20+ years of experience in the renewable energy sector in eastern and southern Africa. With an academic background in Civil Engineering and Management, Wim has in-depth technical knowledge combined with strong management skills.Wim has worked on a wide range of energy implementation, research and capacity building projects in Africa on behalf of the African Development Bank, the World Bank group, ECN, CSIR, UNDP, GEF, EU, national governments, private sector and bilaterals.Currently Wim is the Programme Director of the Energy and Environment Partnership (EEP) for southern and eastern Africa, a renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean technology investments challenge fund financed Finland, the UK and Austria.

Heinz Kopetz

President of the World Bioenergy AssociationWorld Bioenergy Association, Austriahg.kopetz@netway.at

Heinz Kopetz, Austria, is president of the World Bioenergy Association, since 2012. In 2013 he also served as chairman of RENAlliance, a network of the global industry associations of renewable technologies such as wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and bioenergy.Heinz Kopetz, graduated from the University of Life Sciences in Vienna and the Iowa State University, USA in economics (1966). After his studies he served as managing director of an agricultural agency in Austria. In the eighties he developed the concept of the farmer as energy producer and implemented financial and educational programs in this field. In this time he also founded the Austrian Biomass Association, was engaged in the deployment of district heating systems using biomass and started the first programs of short rotation forestry in Austria.During his professional career he was engaged in different positions related to energy, e.g. as member of the supervisory board of a public utility for electricity and district heating, as chairman of the European Biomass Association (AEBIOM) or as member of the advisory committee for Energy of the European Commission.

Silvie Kreibiehl

Head of Centre FS-UNEP Collaborating Centre, Germanys.kreibiehl@fs.de

Silvie Kreibiehl is Head of the FS – UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance, a strategic cooperation between the United Nations Environment Programme and the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment.Silvie has the overall responsibility for all consultancy projects in the area of climate and sustainable energy finance committed to facilitating the necessary structural change of energy supply and use around the globe by helping to catalyse private sector capital flow towards green investments. Before joining the Centre Ms. Kreibiehl worked for Deutsche Bank for 17 years, with 10 years in corporate finance, in particular in the RE sector.Silvie is a contributing author of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the IPCC and has recently been nominated to serve as member of the independent Technical Advisory Panel of the UN’s Green Climate Fund.

Meryem Lakhssassi

Sustainable Development OfficerMASEN, Moroccom.lakhssassi@masen.ma

I am in charge of sustainable development within MASEN’ structuring team (Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy). I am managing the Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) conducted in the frame of the projects developed (solar power plant and associated facilities) and coordinating the environmental and social safeguards measures according to Masen and IFIs (Institutional Financial Investors) requirements as well as other contractual requirements.

Christine Lins

Executive SecretaryRenewable Energy Policy Network of the 21st Century (REN21)christine.lins@ren21.net

Christine Lins was appointed as Executive Secretary of REN21, the Renewable Energy Policy Network of the 21st Century, in July 2011. REN21 is a global public-private multi-stakeholder network on renewable energy regrouping international organisations, governments, industry associations, science and academia as well as NGOs working in the field of renewable energy. REN21 has its headquarters at UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme in Paris/France. Between 2001 and 2011, Ms. Lins served as Secretary General of the European Renewable Energy Council. Previously, she worked in a regional energy agency in Austria promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. Ms. Lins holds a Masters degree in international economics and applied languages. She has more than 19 years of working experience in the field of renewable energy sources.

Tetsunari Iida

Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy PoliciesInstitute for Sustainable Energy Policies, Japantetsu@isep.or.jp

Tetsunari Iida is a Leading Authority on Renewable Energy, and a “Social Innovator” who has introduced Ecological Initiatives as Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP), a Non-profit and Independent Research Institute.As a Committee Member for METI and MoE, he has proposed Nuclear-free energy policies. And he has been promoting community-based RE projects in Japan as Secretary-General of Japan Community Power Association.

Barry MacColl

GM, Research, Testing and DevelopmentEskom, South Africabarry.maccoll@eskom.co.za

Barry has been working in the power industry in South Africa for over 24 years. He is currently the National Utility’s General Manager of Research, Testing and Development and leads a team of over 380 people involved in applied research, testing and consulting in a variety of specialist energy technology related disciplines. As a utility owned facility, the focus is on finding practical solutions to the operational and strategic challenges of Eskom. Barry is an Electronics Engineer with an MBA from Rhodes University. Barry manages teams structured around centres of excellence – the renewable technology; energy storage and electric vehicles; energy efficiency and SMART grid COEs examples. He understands the need for change in the context of a slow moving industry and the need to balance risk, cost, efficiency and environmental issues. He is married to Carey and has three children.

Klaus Maier

Corporate Development ManagerMobisol, Germanyklaus.maier@plugintheworld.com

Klaus Maier has been working in the field of energy efficiency and energy development in emerging markets over 5 years. He joined Mobisol in 2013 and is currently Corporate Development Manager in Berlin, Germany. Together with his colleagues, he successfully established Mobisol in Rwanda in 2014. To this day, the Mobisol Rwanda Ltd. installed already 7,000 solar systems. In his current role, he is responsible for Mobisol´s global market entry strategies and strategic partnerships, including Mobisol´s expansion within Africa and to Asia. Prior to its work for Mobisol, Klaus worked in several private enterprises operating in emerging markets, mainly focusing on Ethiopia and the Philippines. Klaus holds a Master in Environment Recourses and Energy Management from the Berlin School of Economics and Law. in several private enterprises operating in emerging markets, mainly focusing on Ethiopia and the Philippines. Klaus holds a Master in Environment Recourses and Energy Management from the Berlin School of Economics and Law.

Roeb Martin

Team LeaderDLR, Germanymartin.roeb@dlr.de

Dr. Martin Roeb holds a diploma in chemistry from the University of Cologne and a doctoral degree in physical chemistry from the same university. Since 1999 he has been working as a scientist, project manager and group leader in DLR’s Solar Research Division in the field of solar high temperature applications. He took over the lead of the team “high temperature solar chemical engineering”. He has been work package leader and coordinator of several domestic and EU projects on solar high temperature processes and in particular on solar fuels. He has been involved in international cooperation in the context of the IEA, the IPHE and SOLARPACES. He used to be the DLR representative in the project HYDROSOL, which has been awarded by the Eco Tech Award Expo 2005, the Technical Achievement Award of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy 2006 and the Descartes Prize 2006 for Scientific Collaborative Research.

Thembakazi Mali

Senior manager: RenewablesSANEDI, South Africathembakazim@sanedi.org.za

Thembakazi Mali holds a Ph. D in Chemistry and a Graduate Diploma in Engineering in Environmental Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand. Her career spans over a decade in the chemical and petrochemical fields. Presently, she is the Senior Manager: Clean Energy Solutions (Renewable Energy and Alternative Energy) at the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), which is a state-funded energy research organisation that focuses on public interest energy R&D that seeks to assist government in meeting the national goals of economic development and the improvement of quality of life of all citizens. She serves as the South African representative and executive committee member to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Implementing Agreements on Ocean Energy Systems, Bioenergy and Solar Cooling and Heating. She is the director of the Southern African Regional Secretariat for the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) which is hosted by SANEDI.

Robbie McNaughton

Team Leader – Solar thermal processesCSIRO, Australiarobbie.mcnaughton@csiro.au

Robbie McNaughton is the team leader for the CSIRO Solar Thermal Processes team. Robbie’s has a background in Chemical and Process Engineering which he applies to the challenges presented by the daily and seasonal variations of solar energy. His work over the past 16 years has spanned areas such as solar fuels processes, Steam and mixed reforming for syngas and hydrogen production, Supercritical steam systems, Solar Brayton cycles, high temperature thermal storage and most recently the development of a solar thermal supercritical carbon dioxide experiential system. He recently led the project team that achieved the first solar thermal supercritical steam suitable for power generation. He has expertise in managing large research projects with international collaborators and delivering innovative solutions.

Markos Melaku

markos_melaku@hotmail.com

Markos is a professional engineer with over 25 years of graduate experience specialising in geothermal power development. He did his post-graduate studies at the Geothermal Institute and the School of Engineering at Auckland University in New Zealand, and his Bachelor degree (First Class) in mechanical engineering from Addis Ababa University. He was based in New Zealand for over 15 years where he worked for a number of international consulting firms and geothermal development companies.Markos has gained broad experience in various phases of project development, encompassing project appraisal, drilling & well testing, reservoir assessment, conceptual and detailed engineering. In the past, he has worked on a number of projects with numerous responsibilities in many countries; including Ethiopia, Kenya, Indonesia, New Zealand, Philippines, USA and the South Pacific and has undertaken assignments for major independent developers, government agencies and projects financed by global financial institutions.He is currently based in Addis Ababa and works as a freelance consultant with a focus on development of green-field geothermal projects.

Michael Eckhart

Managing DirectorCitibank, USAmichael.eckhart@citi.com

Michael Eckhart is a Managing Director and Global Head of Environmental Finance at Citibank, based in New York City. He is involved with REN 21, IRENA, the IEA’s Renewable Industry Advisory Board, and as a financial advisor to SE4All. Previously, he was founder and President of the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) in Washington, DC. In the 1990s he led the SolarBank Initiative in Europe, India and South Africa, where he founded the Eskom-Shell Solar Energy Company. Earlier, he had a 20-year career in power generation. He has received numerous awards including Renewable Energy Man of the Year of India, the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, and the ISES Global Leadership Award. He received a degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, and served in the US Navy Submarine Service.

Grace Mukasa

Regional DirectorPractical Action East Africa, Kenyagrace.mukasa@practicalaction.or.ke

Grace A. Mukasa is an accomplished international development director, with a Master’s degree in Gender and Development, 20+ years’ top management and field experience with 5 international NGOs, a profile and credibility in fighting poverty and commitment to social change. She has lots of hands-on experience of fundraising: leading, coordinating and providing oversight for complex multi-country and multi-sector strategic planning, programme and project management + public policy analysis and influencing targeting pan-African and international policy organisations as well as African and South Asian governments.

Benard Muok

Director ProgrammesAfrican Centre for Technology Studies, Kenyabmuok@yahoo.com

Dr. Muok holds a Post-doc in Bioenergy and Climate Change from University of Edinburgh, UK; PhD from Kyoto Prefectural University, Japan; MSc and BSc from Moi University. He also holds a certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Audit from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and International certificate in Conservation at the Royal Botanical Garden, Kew, UK.Dr. Muok has worked for over 20 years in research focusing on renewable energy, energy access and policy in Africa, science technology innovation, environmental conservation forestry and climate change adaptation and mitigation.He is the Director of Programmes at African Centre for Technology Studies and Vice President World Bioenergy Association. He is board member of World Intellectual Property Organisation and member of East African Community Bioenergy Advisory Group. He has published extensively in international journals and books.

Gama Mutemeri

Chief Executive OfficerTTO Climate, South Africagama@ttoclimate.com

Gama Mutemeri is CEO of TTO Climate. The organisation focuses on adaptation technologies through its Soweto Rocket Stove project and mitigation through its Moletsi Moringa reforestation project.Gama has worked in the energy sector for over two decades. He holds a Master’s degree in Energy Policy and Planning from the University of Cape Town and a diploma in Energy and Environment from The University of Oslo. Gama lives and works in Johannesburg.

Ayanda Nakedi

Senior General ManagerEskom Renewables Business

Ayanda Nakedi currently heads Eskom’s renewables unit and has 20 years of energy experience. This experience has spanned working in what has been traditionally a man’s world (General Manager of Strategy, Technology and Assurance in the Generation Division) to that of a nurturing socially conscious role as the CEO of the Eskom Development Foundation.Ayanda hails from Ezibeleni in Queenstown, now resides in Centurion, is married and has two children. She is a Board member of South African Wind Energy Association, Board member of TAP (Trans-Africa projects) and Eskom Finance Company. In 2013 Ayanda was awarded with the prestigious Leadership Award of Boss of the Year.Under her guidance Eskom is implementing its first two utility scale renewable projects, the 100 MW Sere Wind Farm near Vredendal in the Western Cape and the 100 MW Upington Concentrating Solar Plant in the Northern Cape.

Kadri (Kevin) M Nassiep

CEO SANEDIState owned, South AfricaKADRIN@SANEDI.ORG.ZA

Kadri Nassiep is the Chief Executive Officer of the South African National Energy Development Institute(SANEDI), which is a state-owned company established under the National Energy Act of 2008. The entity reports to the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of South Africa.He holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and has over 20 years of experience in the energy sector. He is a mathematical scientist by profession and was initially employed in 1992 by Eskom, the national utility. He was appointed in 1997 as Eskom’s Energy Research Manager, responsible for research in the area of integrated energy systems. In 2003 he joined the Department of Minerals and Energy as the Chief Director for Energy Planning. He was responsible for development of policy, strategy, legislation and regulation supporting the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Tobias Bischof-Niemz

Centre Manager for EnergySouth Africatbischofniemz@csir.co.za

Dr Tobias Bischof-Niemz is the Centre Manager: Energy at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria, where he leads the establishment of an integrated energy research centre and a growing team of scientists and engineers. Before joining the CSIR, he was with South Africa’s electric utility Eskom in the Energy Planning Unit, where he was part of the team that developed the long-term power-capacity expansion plan (Integrated Resource Plan – IRP) for South Africa.Dr. BischofNiemz is a member of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Energy (MACE) that advises Minister Joemat-Pettersson on long-term, strategic energy topics.

Gerard Ostheimer

Global Lead for Sustainable BioenergySustainable Energy for All, USAGEOE@novozymes.com

Dr. Ostheimer serves as the Global Lead for the SE4ALL Sustainable Bioenergy High Impact Opportunity. Working with diverse partners he promotes the development and deployment of sustainable bioenergy solutions to help achieve SE4All’s goals of increasing energy access and doubling the use of renewable energy.

Andre Otto

Centre Manager for EnergySouth Africatbischofniemz@csir.co.za

Andre Otto started his career in the Dept of Minerals and Energy Affairs in 1993 where, amongst other he worked on the development of South Africa’s 1st IPP Wind farm: the Darling National Demonstration Wind farm (1996 to 2006) and South Africa’s White Paper on Renewable Energy 2003. He was the Project Manager for the UNDP-GEF project entitled the “South African Wind Energy Programme (SAWEP)” (2008 – 2010) and is currently Renewable Energy Technical Advisor at the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) where he is also responsible for the Wind Atlas for South Africa (WASA) Project.

Paddy Padmanabhan

President & CEOACWA Power International, Saudi Arabiaymahmoud@acwapower.com

Mr. Padmanabhan, an Engineer with 35 years of experience has served ACWA Power from 2005 as the company grew from a startup to where it is today; a leading private developer, owner and operator of power generation and desalinated water production plants headquartered in Saudi Arabia now operating in 14 countries with a portfolio of plants worth US$ 27.5 Billion to deliver 18,000 MW of electricity and 2.45Mm³/day of desalinated water.While ACWA Power is technology neutral and fuel agnostic, focused on delivering electricity and desalinated water at lowest cost, the company is active in driving cost down in renewable energy delivering the lowest unsubsidised tariffs seen in the world to date such as the first year tariff of 12.4 US Cents/kWh for 100MW CSP generated electricity dispatched throughout the day and night at South Africa; and a levelized tariff of 5.845 US Cents/kWh for 25 years at Dubai for 200MW PV generated electricity.

Koen Peters

Executive DirectorGlobal Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA), Netherlandsk.peters@gogla.org

Mr Koen Peters is Executive Director of GOGLA since August 2014. He has over 20 years of international work experience, in both public and private sector roles. Prior to joining GOGLA, Koen worked as renewable energy expert within the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Earlier, he worked as consultant supporting international business initiatives in developing countries. During this period he co-founded and co-managed a solar PV company in Tanzania and was project manager of one of the first projects aimed at solar mobile phone charging solutions, in Uganda. Earlier he worked for the Dutch government on international cooperation; for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on international climate investments; and for the British Department for International Development. Koen has a Master degree in Environmental Engineering from Wageningen University and a Master in Business Administration jointly from Nyenrode University and Kellogg School of Management.

Lorenz Petersen

DirectorClimate Change, Rural Development and Infrastructure, GermanyLorenz.Petersen@giz.de

In August 2014, Dr. Lorenz Petersen became Director of the Climate Change, Rural developoment and Infrastructure, after serving three years as GIZ Country Director in Mozambique.Previously, Lorenz Petersen managed the GIZ Competence Centre for Climate Change for five years and held positions as technical expert on environmental policy issues, both at GIZ headquarters in Eschborn, Germany.By education he is an environmental economist with a specialisation in international environmental policy, and governance aspects of natural resources management. He holds a postgraduate degree in agricultural science and a PhD in Environment and Natural Resources Economics with 25 years of experience in economic analysis, policy design and implementation in an international development and environmental policy context. Before joining GIZ he held long term positions as Campaign Coordinator with Greenpeace International and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in Rome with its World Bank Co-operative Programme.

Morten V Petersen

CEOWWEA, Denmarkmvp@victor-energy.dk

Founder of Victor Energy ApS 2009. Worked with renewables since 1985. Co Founder and Chairman of Danish Small Wind turbine Association since June 2009. Chair of WWEA Small Wind turbine section since April 2015. Board member of EREF since 2014. Has a role in re implementing of SWT in Denmark, and raising of standardisation, certification and test possibilitiesSmall Wind Turbines makes sense as decentralised electricity production units for self supply or for small communities, working in on- and off grid systems worldwide. SWT can support development in rural areas as well as in areas with limited electrical infrastructure.Further development for production abilities, quality upgrading and security for users of SWT are visible goals. A worldwide standardisation for SWT will make the knowledge and access to SWT easier and promote the use of SWT.

Mark Radka

Chief, Energy, Climate and Technology BranchUnited Nations Environment Programmemark.radka@unep.org

Mark Radka heads the UN Environment Programme’s Energy, Climate, and Technology Branch, where he is responsible for managing UNEP’s efforts to link the global energy and environment agendas. UNEP’s work in this area focuses on reducing emission of greenhouse gases through greater use of renewable energy and improved energy efficiency. Mark has a special interest in the uptake of advanced technologies by developing countries, and was a coordinating lead author of the IPCC’s Special Report on Methodological and Technological Issues in Technology Transfer.

Vikesh Rajpaul

Programme Manager – Concentrating Solar PowerEskom, South Africavikesh.rajpaul@eskom.co.za

Vikesh is currently Program Manager – Concentrating Solar Power at Eskom’s Renewables Business Unit in South Africa. He is a professional engineer with an MBA and a Government Certificate of Competency (GCC), and is a member of the South African Institute of Mechanical Engineers.He started his career in Eskom as an engineer in training in 1994, and has held various senior technical management roles at various power stations and in Research within Eskom over the last 21 years. Given the strategic importance of Concentrating Solar Power in Eskom, he was tasked to lead the development of Eskom’s 100 MW CSP project in 2010.As programme manager for CSP, he has end to end accountability for all CSP initiatives within Eskom, including solar augmentation. Hi is also Eskom’s representative at the South African Solar Thermal Electricity Association (SASTELA) and has represented South Africa as exco alternate at the Solar PACES Executive Committee.

Naim Rassool

DirectorSouth African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC), South Africarassooln@cput.ac.za

Naim Rassool has 9 years of experience practising as an engineer in the mining and manufacturing industry with CSIR and Atlas Copco. Before joining SARETEC in March 2015 he spent the previous 8 years in a combination of venture capital with the Innovation Fund & TIA and being a CEO of a medium size engineering company, USC Metering (Pty) Ltd. Naim holds a BSc (Engineering) & MSc (Engineering) from University of Witwatersrand and an MBA degree from University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).

Roberto Ridolfi

DirectorEuropean Union/ International Cooperation and Development DG, BelgiumRoberto.Ridolfi@ec.europa.eu

Dr Roberto Ridolfi is Director of the European Commission for Sustainable Growth and Development at DG for International Cooperation and Development. He joined the European Commission in 1994 and worked in several delegations of the UNION: Malawi, Namibia and Kosovo as development and economic advisor. Throughout Accession negotiations (2001-2004), he was the principal coordinator dealing with Environment and Transport in Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP). Twice Ambassador/ Head of delegation to the European Union, Mr Ridolfi was first in Suva where he served from 2005 to 2007. In 2010 he was appointed in Uganda by the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the EU where he served till September 2013.In between, he managed programmes dealing with Environment and Climate Change, Food security, Human development, migration and asylum as well as the One-Billion-Euro Food Facility in 50 countries.

Evan Rice

CEOGreenCape,South Africaevan@greencape.co.za

Evan Rice is the CEO of GreenCape, a sector development agency set up by the Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town to accelerate the development of the green economy and help position the region as the green economy hub of the continent. He was previously a partner at the investment firm Spinnaker Growth Partners and a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. Evan has also worked for City governments in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and co‐founded an online start‐up. He is passionate about developing and driving sustainable solutions to economic, social and environmental challenges.

Meghan Sapp

Secretary GeneralPANGEA, Belgiummeghan@pangealink.org

Meghan Sapp is Secretary General of PANGEA–Partners for Euro-African Green Energy, based in Brussels. For close to 10 years, she has been advising companies and government agencies on biofuel investment and policy in Africa while developing innovative, sustainable business models for renewable energy implementation in those markets and mentoring entrepreneurs to set up their own ventures in their countries of origin. She is also founder and Managing Director of PlanetEnergy, the renewable energy company based in Spain responsible for developing “energy communities”, integrated renewable energy systems for urban, rural and industrial communities. PlanetEnergy is her third successful renewable energy start-up. Additionally she is also Senior Editor for Biofuels Digest and sugaronline.com.

Elijah C Sichone

Executive SecretaryRegional Electricity Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA), Namibiaecsichone@rerasadc.com

Elijah C. Sichone has been serving as the Executive Secretary of the Regional Electricity Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA) since 2005. With 25 years working experience in the energy sector, he has held senior positions in the National Electricity Regulator (NER) of South Africa, the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR), and Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board (ERB) and Department of Energy (DOE). Academically, he holds two Bachelor degrees – a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) Degree from University of Zambia and a Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) in Sustainable Development (specialising in renewable and sustainable energy) from University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He also qualified in 2011 as a Certified Energy Auditor (CEA), a professional certification programme by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) of America.

Paul Simons

Deputy Executive DirectorInternational Energy Agency (IEA), Franceveronika.gyuricza@iea.org

Paul Simons took up his duties as the International Energy Agency’s Deputy Executive Director in July 2015. He supports the Executive Director in providing leadership and strategic direction, including advancing the global engagement strategy by strengthening co-operation with non-member countries and pursuing initiatives with key partner countries.Mr. Simons has an extensive expertise in energy and economic policy: he was Executive Secretary of the Inter American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), co-ordinating drug policy and criminal justice reform initiatives for the 34 members of the Organisation of American States. Before that he served as US Ambassador to Chile and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy and Sanctions, during which he was a delegate to the IEA Governing Board and chaired an IEA Standing Group.He has a BA from Yale University and an MBA in Finance from New York University.

Frank Spencer

Chair of the Embedded Generation Sub-committeeSAPVIA, South Africafrank@millinfo.co.za

Frank, with an MSc in Engineering and a BPhil in Sustainable Development, is an engineer by background with 15 years’ experience in the solar industry. He was instrumental in the installation of some of the first on-grid and off-grid solar PV projects in Southern Africa. In addition he has founded a solar PV business, designed and commissioned numerous large off-grid and rooftop solar PV installations, and has been actively involved with SAPVIA since her inception. He is well known in the industry for being an ethical and passionate supporter of renewables, and currently chairs the SAPVIA embedded generation sub-committee. His current employment is with First Solar where he heads up their Commercial and Industrial Business Development division while providing technical support to EPCs

Andrew Taylor

Managing DirectorCape Advanced Engineering (Pty) Ltd, South Africaandrewtaylor@cae.co.za

Dr Taylor specialises in alternative fuels and power machinery, particularly engines for electric power generation. His expertise is in technologies to transform bio-mass into fuel/energy, and producing natural fertiliser as by-product. Andrew is MD: Cape Advanced Engineering, set up in 1993 as an automotive test unit at Stellenbosch University; privatised in 1999. CAE traditionally provided R&D, design, prototyping and testing services to the auto industry. Andrew led CAE’s involvement in locally manufactured automotive products – the Ford RoCam engine for the Bantam/Fiesta models, with over 1.5million units exported; the fuel-injected VW Citi Golf, Golf and Jetta; and the VW Vivo and Polo engine. From developing gas-fuelled engines, CAE extended operations to develop bio-gas power generation plants. Since 2008 CAE designed and built agricultural application bio-digesters for power generation. Andrew has a PhD(Mech) – Natal University.

Kutane Waltaji Terfa

Coordinator Public Health and Environment ProgramWorld Health Organisation, Ethiopiakutanew@who.int

Waltaji Terfa Kutane is a public health and environment program coordinator of World Health Organisation Ethiopia Country office, since May 2008 he is responsible sector water, sanitation, climate change and health, indoor air pollution and emergency response in conflict areas and disease outbreak.He is closely working with health, water, environment and energy sectors in capacity building, policy, strategy and guidelines development and implementation. He has contributed to the development of WHO household air pollution guidelines as member of steering committee.He holds a Master`s degree in Human Ecology and BSc in Environmental Health and has over 20 years of experience in the public health and environment sectors. He is a public health and environmental health specialist by profession and was initially employed by ministry of health in 1989 and assigned as environmental health inspector to Gambella administrative region health department. He was appointed in 1998 as environmental health and hygiene team leader in the same department responsible for implementation of integrated environmental health activities. In 2002 he joined UNICEF as consultant for public health emergency response.

Sven Teske

Renewable Energy DirectorGreenpeace International, Germanysven.teske@greenpeace.org

Mr. Teske has recently completed a PhD thesis on grid integration strategies and infrastructural planning requirements for 100% renewable energy systems and took his current position as the Director for Greenpeace’s Renewable Energy Campaign in 2004. In this position he led the work on the “Energy [R]evolution: a Sustainable World Energy Outlook” and specific grid analysis reports for Europe and China. He was also lead author for the IPCC Special Report Renewables (SRREN).engines, CAE extended operations to develop bio-gas power generation plants. Since 2008 CAE designed and built agricultural application bio-digesters for power generation. Andrew has a PhD(Mech) – Natal University.

Moeketsi Thobela

CEOSouth African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), South Africamoeketsi@sapvia.co.za

Moeketsi Thobela, a graduate electrical engineer with an MBA, has worked in various areas within the renewable energy sector in South Africa. His initial involvement was as consultant in the establishment of the Renewable Energy Finance and Subsidy Office (REFSO) at the then Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) in 2005. Subsequently, he was Programme Manager on a research and capacity-building programme that included feasibility studies on small-scale hydro, as well as on the Renewable Energy Market Transformation Project – which was sponsored by the World Bank and Department of Energy. His other consulting assignments included project preparation for the second phase of the South African Wind Energy Project (SAWEP II), as well as an assessment of the permitting requirements related to bio-energy projects. He joined SAPVIA as CEO on 1 October 2014, and has focused his attention on promoting solar PV as an energy security option.

Tania Roediger-Vorwerk

Deputy Director General Directorate 31 – Sustainable Development; Natural Resources;German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GermanyVorwerk@bmz.bund.de

Mrs. Tania Roediger-Vorwerk is currently the Deputy Director at Directorate 31 – Sustainable Development; Natural Resources; Economic Policy and Infrastructure of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Formerly she was Head of the Policy Planning Staff at the same ministry, worked as Head of the Department of General Personnel Matters and Personnel Development, and as Deputy Head of the South Asia Department. Prior to her work at BMZ, she was Deputy Head of the Department of International Affairs and Protocol and corporate lawyer for the City of Bonn, and worked as a senior consultant at the international management consultancy Kienbaum. Mrs. Roediger-Vorwerk has a law degree from the universities of Cologne and Munich and a Ph.D. in European Environmental Law.

Werner Weiss

DirectorAEE INTEC, Austriaw.weiss@aee.at

Werner WEISS is a mechanical engineer and director of AEE – Institute for Sustainable Technologies (AEE INTEC) in Austria. He was chairman of the Solar Heating and Cooling Programme of the International Energy Agency (IEA) from June 2010 to May 2014. Furthermore he is board member of the European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling. He has been project coordinator of more than 50 national, European and international solar thermal energy projects.His main research activities are on solar combi-systems and solar heat for industrial processes.Since 2007 he is lecturer at Vienna University of Technology and faculty member of the continuing education centre.Werner Weiss also has 20 years of experience with a number of training and capacity building projects in Africa, South and Central America and other developing countries.

Michael Wild

PresidentInternational Biomass Torrefaction Council, Austria/Belgiummichael@wild.or.at

Michael Wild, economist and engineer by education, is active in renewable energies for practically his entire 26 years professional career. He has pioneered Biomass fired district heating systems in Austria and conversion of coal fired systems to biomass in former socialist countries. The first internet based biomass trading platform (ABEX) was started by him in 1999. Until 2010 he led the international biomass trading company EBES creating numerous intercontinental supply chains for many types of biomass. From 2007 he took a leading position in torrefaction technology development forming also a consortium with Andritz AG. In 2012 he helped setting up the International Biomass Torrefaction Council IBTC within AEBIOM whose members elected him president. He is actively supporting producers and trading houses developing their trade into Europe acting as their European Sales Manger. Co-founded of Carbon Wealth, a company to “convert atmospheric CO2 into a fuel via Skymining©.

Li Junfeng

Director General of NCSC, President CREIANational Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC), Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA), Chinali-junfeng@163.com

Mr. Li Junfeng is currently serving as director general of China’s National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation and as president of Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association. He is a member of China’s National Energy Advisory Council, the Expert-Committee of National High-tech Program, and Academy Committee of China’s Environmental Protection Ministry.Mr. Li has dedicated his 30-year career life to energy economy and energy environment studies. He was in charge of the structure and drafting of China’s Renewable Energy Law and China’s Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for Renewable Energy Development. He also participated in the research and drafting of China’s Medium and Long-Term Science-Technology Development Program Outline, the Draft of China’s Energy Law, China’s National Climate Change Program, etc.From 1999 to 2011, Mr. Li served as Deputy Director General of Energy Research Institute (ERI), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and as Chair of the Academic Committee of ERI.

Senzo Myeni

Renewable Technologies CoE ManagerEskom Holdings SOC Ltd, South Africamyenise@eskom.co.za

Senzo is a registered Professional Natural Scientist, a Godly family man, currently serving as a Renewables Technologies Manager and a Chief Statistician in Research Testing and Development, Eskom Holdings SoC. Ltd. He has over 9 leadership experience years in the fields of Academia, Finance and Energy. He holds a PhD in Mathematics from University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and further holds 2 MSc degrees: Applied Mathematics (cum laude) from UKZN and Financial Mathematics from Edinburgh & Herriot-Watt Universities in United Kingdom –Scotland. His research interests lie in three main areas, videlicet: Symmetries in Mathematical Modelling, Quantitative Risk Management and Energy Profile Modelling with applications in Renewable Energy.

Ernesto Macias

PresidentAlliance for Rural Electrification, Belgiumernie.macius@gmail.com

Ernesto Macias is a qualified expert in the field of rural electrification with over 14 years specific experience. As founder and President of the Alliance for Rural Electrification for the last nine years, he has been instrumental in promoting electrification projects for remote communities in Developing Countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.He has experience in the management and implementation of over 50 electrification projects around the world including remote islands. He is an independent consultant, Bureau Member of REN21 and former President of EPIA, European Photovoltaic Industry Association (2003-2008). Mr. Macias has held key positions in both industry, focusing on the market development of renewable energy technologies; Marketing and Commercial General Director of Isofoton, pioneer leading PV cell and module manufacturer since 1.983 (2001 to 2009); and Electria Wind, medium size wind generators designer, from 2009 to 2011) and international organisations.

Geoffrey Ronoh

Project ManagerStrathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC), Kenyagronoh@strathmore.edu

Geoffrey Ronoh is a Renewable Energy Enthusiast. He holds MSc in Sustainable Energy from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, and BSc in Electrical Engineering from University of Nairobi, Kenya. Presently, he is the Project Manager of the Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC) and one of the founding members of the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre hosted in Strathmore University. In Strathmore, Geoffrey was involved in developing and realising the Strathmore University 600kW Solar PV project commissioned in mid 2014.Geoffrey is also the co-founder of Solar E-Cycles Kenya Limited, which has developed a 4-wheeled solar powered vehicle designed with off the shelf parts. Apart from being a transportation device it is also a solar power station for off-grid homes, businesses plus communities and can be used to generate income. The product is accessible to households through a leasing arrangement with local financial institutions.

George Pergamalis

Head of Business Development – Africa & Middle EastEnel Green Power, South Africageorgios.pergamalis@enel.com

George is a longstanding executive of the business development function in Enel Green Power, one of the largest renewable energy utilities in the world, and has worked in in a number of countries and renewable technologies. He currently heads up the business development team for Africa & Middle East. He has considerable experience of the South African renewable market and in particular the REIPPP (auction scheme) as well as other markets in sub-Saharan Africa. George believes deeply in the potential of the African renewable energy market and seeks to contribute his international experience and direct foreign investor perspective to the sector. He is also a member of the South African Wind Energy Association’s (SAWEA) board of directors.

Hasna Khan

PresidentEnergy Systems, USAHasnajkhan@gmail.com

Hasna Khan conceptualized SHS micro-financing program that initiated solar activities that formed Grameen Shakti in 1996. As consultants to the World Bank, her team developed institutional, technical, and business model for Micro-Financing SHS for rural homes in Bangladesh. Her team designed and installed the first 100 kW solar mini of Bangladesh with DSM for a micro utility operational since 2010 and providing clean energy training. Her past work in micro-enterprise development for women in renewable energy technology applications has achieved Ashden award. Her recent activities include transformative technologies for rural electrification in India.Hasna Khan is CEO of Energy Systems, director of Prokaushali Sangsad Ltd. (PSL), with experience in innovative renewable energy and rural energy access. Before joining PSL, she worked at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, and a faculty of Mechanical Engineering at U of MD. She holds MS and Ph.D. degrees in Nuclear Engineering, from University of Washington, Seattle.

Johan de Koker

DirectorUniversity of Johannesburg, South AfricaJohandk@uj.ac.za

Johan de Koker holds a Masters Diploma in Structural Engineering from the University of Johannesburg and is an Honorary Fellow of the S A Institution of Civil Engineering as well as the Institute of Professional Engineering Technologists. He was President of the S A Institution of Civil Engineering in 2008He is Director of the Sustainable Energy Technology and Research Centre at the University of Johannesburg where he previously was Head of Department of Civil Engineering Technology.Johan has more than 30 years’ experience in engineering research, also construction, maintenance and technical audit and he published about 60 mostly conference papers. He is internationally recognised as a specialist in rail lubrication and maintenance

Jon Orn Jonsson

Country General ManagerReykjavik Geothermal, Ethiopiajon@rg.is

Mr Jon Örn Jonsson is the Country General Manager in Ethiopia for Reykjavik Geothermal. Mr Jonsson coordinates operations in Ethiopia and the East African region for Reykjavik Geothermal. He is experienced in geothermal Greenfield development, project management, project planning and procurement. He has managed geothermal projects in East Africa, India and the Middle East. Mr. Jonsson has a M.Sc. in Sustainable Energy and Business from Reykjavik University and a Master in Project Management from the University of Iceland.

Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo

Director & Regional Representative, Regional Office for AfricaUnited Nations Environment Programme, Kenyajuliette.biao@unep.org

Ms. Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, UNEP Director and Regional Representative for Africa is anational of Benin. Ms. Koudenoukpo has a wealth of experience in international development assistance and 24 years of experience in environmental projects and programmes management. She has worked with a wide range of international organisations, including UNDP and IUCN and leading international institutions working in the area of environment, addressing sustainable development and poverty reduction. She has been involved in multi-country project design, development, management and resource mobilisation in numerous countries within Western, Southern, Eastern, and Central Africa. From 2007 to 2008 she held the position of Minister of Environment and Nature Protection for the Benin government. Before joining UNEP in September 2015, Ms. Koudenoukpo, was with Canadian Crossroads International (CCI) where she was the Director of Programmes, and with Canadian Renter for International Studies and Cooperation where she was the Regional Director for Africa.Ms. Koudenoukpo holds an MSc. degree in Forestry Economics, a PhD. degree in Public Policy and Administration, and an expert diploma in Renewable Energy.

Mbulelo Ncetezo

Executive ManagerElectricity Regulation Division, South Africambulelo.ncetezo@nersa.org.za

He holds the following degrees: BSc in Physics and Chemistry (Fort Hare University); Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (Marquette University, USA) and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (University of Minnesota, USA).He gained experience in the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) firstly from the then Transkei Electricity Supply Corporation (TESCOR). In the early ’90s he also got involved in the extensive electrification drive in the then Transkei. This TESCOR did in collaboration with Eskom. Electrification levels then were around 5% and the Transkei NMD was around 60MW.In 1995 he moved to Eskom Distribution where he continued with maintenance issues and electrification projects in informal settlements around Johannesburg. When he moved on to Eskom Transmission he gained experience in utilisation of telecommunications in the ESI.In 2000 he got his first exposure in regulation when joined the newly established Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. He led the team that drafted the regulations on Infrastructure sharing and Interconnection.Currently he is with the National Energy Regulator as an Executive Manager in the Electricity Regulation Division. During this period he led a team that dealt with Eskom’s MYPD2 and MYPD3 applications. More than 50 Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers were licensed, and about 2000MW of RE capacity has been added to SA’s energy mix.

Mokshanand Sunil Dowarkasing

Senior Portfolio Manager Greenpeace InternationalGreenpeace INT, Amsterdammdowarka@greenpeace.org

Presently working as Senior Portfolio Manager for Greenpeace International with a main focus on driving the renewable initiative in Africa.Prior to this job i have been Member of Parliament for Mauritius between 2000 and 2010 and serving as MP for the Pan-African Parliament between 2005 and 2010. I have been the senior adviser of the Prime Minister of Mauritius between 2010 to 2014 on Environmental matters.I hold an MSC in Environmental Management as well as a diploma on Environmental laws.

Segomoco Scheppers

Senior General ManagerEskom Holdings SOC, South Africasegomoco.scheppers@eskom.co.za

Segomoco is the head of Eskom’s Southern African Energy operating unit, which focuses on Eskom international electricity trading and business development primarily in the SADC region.His career in Eskom includes transmission operations & maintenance, project management, transmission system planning and investment analysis, as well as executive management. He is a member of the Eskom Management Operations Committee, and serves on the Boards of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), Eskom Uganda Ltd (EUL), Trans Africa Projects (TAP) as well as IHA (International Hydropower Association).Segomoco is a Professional Engineer, and his qualifications include a BSc Elec. Eng. (Heavy Current) and an MBA, both from Wits University, Johannesburg.

Tomas Kåberger

Executive Board ChairmanJapan Renewable Energy Foundation, Japant.kaberger@jref.or.jp

Tomas Kåberger is professor of Industrial Energy Policy at Chalmers University of Technology and Executive board Chairman of Japan Renewable Energy Foundation.Professor Kåberger has held several leading positions in companies working with bioenergy, windpower, solar energy as well as sustainable automotive fuels, and since 2015 he is a member of the board of Vattenfall. He has served on the boards of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation as well as the European Environmental Bureau. He was a member of the Government Energy Commission in 1995 before the electricity market re-regulation introducing competition. From 2008-2011 he served as Director General of the Swedish Energy Agency.

Vera Rodenhoff

Head of Division International Environment and Energy and Urban DevelopmentFederal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germanyvera.rodenhoff@bmub.bund.de

Dr. Vera Rodenhoff, LL.M. is Head of Division of International Affairs for “Environment and Energy” and “Environment, Building and Urban Development”, OECD and Cooperation with OECD Countries in the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation Building and Nuclear Safety. Prior to this she held positions as the Head of Division of International Affairs and Protocol in the Minister’s staff, as the Head of Cabinet to the Federal Minister of Environment and as Personal Secretary to the Federal Minister of Environment. Earlier she worked in the International Legal Affairs Division of the Ministry.Before entering the Ministry Dr. Vera Rodenhoff worked inter alia as a as a lawyer in an international law firm, as a consultant for UNESCO in Paris and as a research assistant specialising in International and European Environmental Law at the Humboldt University in Berlin.

Carl Pendragon

Co-FounderCarbon Wealth, Swedencarl.pendragon@carbonwealth.com

Born 1965. Inventor and philosopher with extensive experience in energy markets, in particular the electricity markets, since 1990. First major work in renewable energy was in South America, helping to fund and develop an ethanol production project based on sweet sorghum. During this process studied energy crops economics, and then went on to develop the world’s first mass scalable Carbon Negative Fuel project. Our current project combines biology and new technology to convert atmospheric CO2 almost directly into a clean, renewable fuel that can replace oil, gas, coal and charcoal. The technology is proven on an industrial scale and creates a fossil fuel substitute for less than 50% of current oil prices.Uniquely, our company can offer corporation, individuals, organisations and governments Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) contracts that generate annual profits instead of costing money; i.e. we make it profitable to reverse climate change.

Daniel-Alexander Schroth

SE4All Africa Hub CoordinatorAfrican Development Bank, Cote d’Ivoired.schroth@afdb.org

Dr. Schroth is the coordinator of the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Africa Hub hosted by the AfDB in the Energy, Environment and Climate Change Department in partnership with the AU, NEPAD and UNDP. Daniel also coordinates inter alia the Africa Climate Technology and Finance Centre project, the Bank’s engagement in the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund and the Secretariat to the African Energy Leaders Group. Daniel has extensive experience in energy policy. Prior to joining the AfDB, he worked for several years for the European Commission in both headquarters and the field, for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and in the private sector. Daniel holds a Ph.D. and Masters in International Relations with a focus on international energy policy from the University of Cambridge, and business degrees from Reims Management School and the European School of Business Reutlingen.

Douglas Arent

Executive Director, Joint Institute for Strategic Energy AnalysisNational Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), USADoug.Arent@nrel.gov

Doug Arent is Executive Director of the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Arent is Sr. Visiting Fellow at the Center forStrategic and International Studies, serves on the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Steering Committee on Social Science and the Alternative Energy Future, is a member of the National Research Council Committee to Advise to U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), is a Member of the Keystone Energy Board, and is Associate Editor for the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Arent is a member of the International Advisory Board for the journal Energy Policy.His research interests are centered in energy and sustainability, where he has been active for more than 30 years. Arent has a Ph.D. from Princeton University, an MBA from Regis University, and a bachelor’s of science from Harvey Mudd College in California.

Gadi Hareli

Executive ChairmanWorld Wind Energy Conference – WWEC2015, IsraelGadHareli@gmail.com

Gadi Hareli, Chairman of the Israeli Wind Energy Association, Executive Chairman of the World Wind Energy Conference- WWEC2015, is an entrepreneur and expert in the development of wind and renewable energy technologies, including wind turbines and wind energy related technologies. Mr. Hareli participated as representative to the International Energy Agency – IEA-Wind, The IEC Technical committee – TC-88 for wind energy technologies amongst others. Mr. Hareli is a lecturer on wind energy and other renewable energy technologies, and inventor and leading the B100 initiative for 100% renewable energy and beyond.Mr. Hareli is chairman of WINGO energy Ltd. Providing Wind energy and integrated powering solutions using renewable energy.Mr. Hareli is also the owner of Enter-Tech Cleantech Solutions, providing consultancy services and holdings for innovative initiatives in the field of renewable energy.

Carel Snyman

Senior ManagerSANEDI, South Africacarels@sanedi.org.za

Carel’s involvement in energy started in 1988, when he joined the National Energy Council (NEC) – an energy agency funding related research and assisting government with the developing of policy.Here he was responsible for the alternative transport energy portfolio.When the NEC closed their doors in 1992, Carel continued his career at Eskom where he was responsible for the Electric Transport Programme.Carel joined the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) in June 2013, where he is currently responsible for Green Transport.

Jan van Ravenswaay

Energy SpecialistNorth-West University, South Africajvr@raventechcorp.com

Jan is an experienced mechanical engineer and program manager focusing on business and project development and strategy in the energy and energy efficiency sectors as well as related technology development, commercialisation and localisation.He works closely with North-West University on new technology development projects such as hydrogen production, thermal desalination, concentrating solar thermal energy for power and process heat applications, energy storage and micro grids as well as liquid fuel energy efficiency applications.He was part of the PBMR process heat team, consisting of representatives of various international companies, performing techno-economic investigating and concept designs for process heat applications of PBMR reactors that included hydrogen production, oil sands exploration and desalination.He is the National Coordinator for South Africa of the SolarPACES (Solar Power And Chemical Energy Systems) Task II (Solar Fuels) aiming to couple solar thermal energy and chemical processes to produce liquid fuels, chemical and material commodities.

Johan van den Berg

CEOSAWEA, South Africaadmin@sawea.co.za

Johan van den Berg is the CEO of the South African Wind Energy Association, the Chair of the South African Renewable Energy Council and the African Private Sector Focal Point for the Africa-EU Energy Partnership. A barrister, he has spent eighteen years in dispute resolution; environmental mediation; climate change avoidance/emissions trading; and efforts to deploy renewable energy in Southern Africa. He is a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Energy and was awarded the 2015 Global Sustainable Leadership Award by the World CSR congress in Mumbai, India.

Karén Breytenbach

Head of the IPP OfficeIPP Office, South Africakaren.breytenbach@ipp-projects.co.za

KARéN BREYTENBACH was previously with the National Treasury, Public Private Partnership Unit and is currently in the IPP Office, a partnership between the Department of Energy, National Treasury and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Karén has extensive experience in the procurement of large scale infrastructure projects. As Head of the IPP Office, Karén has been instrumental in the procurement of the internationally recognised Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Programme and is also heading the team procuring the new coal base load and co-generation IPP Programmes. The IPP office is currently also procuring a gas to power IPP programme, which will include, inter alia, natural gas, syngas and LNG.

Karen Surridge-Talbot

RECORD Centre ManagerSANEDI, South Africakarenst@sanedi.org.za

Dr Surridge-Talbot was born in New Zealand and educated in South Africa. Coming from a background of research and entrepreneurship, Dr Surridge-Talbot has worked extensively in the energy sector since 2003. From November 2011 to present, Dr Surridge-Talbot was engaged as Centre Manager for the Renewable Energy Centre of Research and Development (RECORD) at the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI). This centre is mandated, through the government act (National Energy Act 2008, no. 34) that established SANEDI, to coordinate renewable energy research and development in South Africa. This centre focusses on developing collaboration and co-ordination across the renewable energy sector, and promoting knowledge sharing and skills development to service the growing South African renewable energy community.

Kumi Naidoo

International Executive DirectorGreenpeace Internationalkumi.naidoo@greenpeace.org

Dr. Naidoo is the Executive Director of Greenpeace International. In addition to leading the organisation to critical campaign victories and augmenting its influence in international political negotiations, Naidoo has been responsible for promoting considerable growth and activity by Greenpeace in the Global South. He has also been influential in fostering further cooperation between Greenpeace and many diverse parts of civil society in the fight to avert catastrophic climate change and promote environmental justice. Born in South Africa, Naidoo became involved in the country’s liberation struggle at the age of 15. From 1998 to 2008, Naidoo was the Secretary General of CIVICUS. Naidoo has also served as a board member of the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), the world’s largest gender justice network. In 2010, Naidoo wrote Boiling Point: Can Citizen Action Save the World, which gestured towards the possibility of the Arab Spring and the Occupy Movement.

Mark Tiepelt

MDSABIA, South Africamark@biogassa.co.za

Mark Tiepelt is a qualified civil engineer with 25 years experience in construction, alternative building, and sustainable energy technologies. Mark started BiogasSA in 2009, initially focusing on the smaller domestic size digester of which over 100 has been installed in SA to date. Over the past four years BiogasSA has however focused more on the commercial biogas sector and is currently commissioning a 400kW biogas plant at an abattoir in Johannesburg. BiogasSA also held the first biogas workshop in SA in 2012, assisted in organising the 2 National Biogas Conferences held in 2013 and 2015 with the Department of Energy. BiogasSA also played an instrumental role in the establishment of the SA Biogas Industry Association (SABIA). Mark was elected as the first chairman of SABIA and is currently serving his second term in this position.

Mike Enskat

Head of Section for Energy, Water and Mobilitygiz – Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationaole Zusammenarbeit, Germanymike.enskat@giz.de

Dr. Mike Enskat is Head of Section for Energy, Water and Mobility (Global Programmes) at GIZ. In his position, he provides overall leadership to GIZ’s global engagement in the field. He is closely associated with various multilateral initiatives in infrastructure.The multi-donor funded EUEI PDF (European Union Energy Initiative – Partnership Dialogue Facility), for which the Management Unit is provided by GIZ, was established in 2005 and is still operating under his overall managerial responsibility.In 2003-2004 Dr Enskat was a member of the Conference Secretariat for the International Renewable Energy Conference held in Bonn in 2004. Out of this engagement emerged the International Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) and the IREC (International Renewable Energy Conferences) series with follow-up conferences in Beijing, Washington, New Delhi, Abu Dhabi and Cape Town.Dr Enskat leads a team of 80 international professionals in the field of energy, water and mobility.

Martin Hiller

Director GeneralREEEP, Austriamartin.hiller@reeep.org

Martin Hiller has been Director General of REEEP since December 2011. He has over 20 years of experience in environmental issues and sustainability, policy, specialised policy communications and campaigns, and in-depth knowledge of climate change and energy policy. Under his leadership, REEEP has sharpened its focus as a catalyst for up-scaling clean energy business models.Prior to joining REEEP, Martin had a distinguished career with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) where he led campaigns and communications in the global climate and energy programme. Earlier, he established the first EU-specific campaign operation for any environmental NGO in Brussels, developed WWF’s European communications operations, and created the first EU-specific policy campaigns. Until 2013, Martin was also founding President of the Board of the Gold Standard Foundation, the world’s prime quality carbon offset provider, and was until 2014 a member of the Board.

Cédric Philibert

Senior AnalystInternational Energy Agency, Francecedric.philibert@iea.org

A former science journalist, Cédric Philibert, born in 1954, advised the French environment minister 1988 – 1990. In 1990 he published two books on climate change and on renewable energies. From 1992 to 1998 he advised the CEO of the French Agency for the Environment and Energy Efficiency, then joined UNEP and, in 2000, the International Energy AgencyIn charge of the “evolution of climate policy”, he co-authored the IEA books Beyond Kyoto (with J. Pershing, 2002) and Act Locally Trade Globally (with R. Baron, 2005). In April 2009 he moved into the renewable energy division. He wrote and published the IEA publication Solar Energy Perspectives (2011), and the IEA Technology Roadmaps on hydropower (2012), wind power (2013), solar thermal electricity (2014) and photovoltaic energy (2014).Qualified in political sciences, he studied economics and published numerous papers in peer-reviewed and other journals.

Pradeep Monga

Director of Energy BranchUnited Nations Industrial Development Organisation, Austriap.monga@unido.org

An energy expert with over 30 years of working experience in the field of energy policy, strategic planning and clean energy technologies, Dr. Pradeep Monga is presently working as Director of Energy Branch at United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Vienna.

His primary responsibility is to provide strategic policy advice to member states on sustainable energy and industrial issues, and lead an inter-disciplinary team of energy experts, planners and networks of international energy technology centres at UNIDO to promote technical cooperation projects and partnerships in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy and low carbon technologies in developing countries and countries in transition.

Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes

Vice-PresidentEuropean Renewable Energies Federation, Belgiumrainer.hinrichs@bee-ev.de

Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes is an experienced Renewable Energy expert. He is as a Vice-President of the European Renewable Energies Federation, after being the federation’s president from 2010 to 2014. He also was the President of the European Renewable Energy Council, the umbrella organisation of Renewables in Europe, until it had to be dissolved. Rainer is also a Board Member of the German Renewable Energy Federation.From 1998 to 2005, he was a Director General in the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, in charge of i.a. renewable energies and climate protection.

Richard M Taylor

Chief ExecutiveInternational Hydropower Associationrmt@hydropower.org

Richard M Taylor has been involved in the hydroelectric sector since 1985. He has served as the CEO of the International Hydropower Association (IHA) in since 2001. His interests span energy, water, climate and sustainability. He is graduate in earth science/water resources, with postgraduate studies in civil- and environmental engineering and renewable energy, and is a Fellow of the Energy Institute (UK). He has written and edited numerous technical papers and periodicals on water and energy, and has been engaged in the work of the United Nations, the World Bank and various international water and energy agencies throughout his career.

Rudy de la Cruz

Client Office Manager – Hydro and Pumped Storage SchemesEskom, South AfricaDelacruR@eskom.co.za

Rudy is currently the Client Office Manager – Hydro and Pumped Storage Schemes at Eskom’s Peaking Generation Unit in South Africa. He is a qualified engineering technologist and is currently completing his MBA at the University of Stellenbosch. He has been a Project Management Professional (PMP) since 2006.He worked in the construction industry for a number of years before moving to Eskom and working as a project team member for Eskom’s projects in Africa. He has been with Peaking Generation for the last 10 years, specialising in programme and project management and leading numerous projects in the hydro environment. He is currently working on the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa – a 1332MW new build station – as the interface between the construction and the operating divisions.

Steve Sawyer

Secretary GeneralGlobal Wind Energy Council, Belgiumsteve.sawyer@gwec.net

Steve Sawyer joined the Global Wind Energy Council as its first Secretary General in April 2007. The Global Wind Energy Council represents the major wind energy associations as well as the major companies involved in the global wind industry. See http://www.gwec.netSteve has worked in the energy and environment field since 1978, with a particular focus on climate change and renewable energy since 1988. He spent many years at Greenpeace, representing the organisation at intergovernmental and industry fora primarily on energy and climate issues. At GWEC he is focussed on intergovernmental organisations such as the UNFCCC, IPCC, IRENA, IEA, IFC and ADB; and with opening up new markets for the industry in Latin America, Africa and Asia.Steve is also a founding member of both REN21 and the IEA’s Renewable Industry Advisory Board. He advised the Chinese government on the formulation of its renewable energy legislation, as is as well an expert reviewer for the IPCC’s Working Group III.

Jose Angel Pérez

Vice-President Spain & Africa Renewable Energy Consortium Head of Gestamp Solar South Africa, South Africajoseangel.perez@gestampren.com

Jose Angel Perez is the Head of Gestamp Solar South Africa since 2011 and the Vice-President of the Spain & Africa Renewable Energy Consortium. The Consortium is a non-profit organisation that promotes the Spanish Renewable Energy industry in Africa and Middle East and group the most of the main Spanish companies in the sector. José Angel has been involved in the REIPPPP since the beginning and he has been involved in two PV projects awarded in the Round 1 REIPPPP. He has experience in the development, funding and managements of Solar PV Projects in South Africa. He has managed the development of 150MW in Greenfield projects in South Africa and he is pursuing development and investment opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa.Prior to joining Gestamp Solar, Jose Angel was involved in the Energy and Oil&Gas industry as Strategic Development Manager for a Spanish multinational. Jose Angel Perez holds an Executive MBA from the IE Business School and a B.Sc. Degree in Economics from the Complutense University of Madrid.

Wolsey Otto Barnard

Acting Director-GeneralDepartment of Energy, South AfricaDineo.moraile@energy.gov.za

Dr Barnard holds a PhD from the University of Pretoria. Prior to re-joining the Department of the Energy in 2011, he was an energy consultant for 10 years. He also served at the National Energy Regulator as Executive Manager, following his position as Director for Electricity and Gas supply at the then Department of Minerals and Energy. In his career he was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Pretoria for 11 years, as well as holding a position as a Senior Researcher at the CSIR.Currently he is the Acting Director-General for Department of Energy as from August 2014. In this capacity he has to oversee the development of broad-based energy policies, legislations, and implementation strategies, that are ranging from the Electricity Supply Industry maters, Renewable Energy IPP Programme, new build IPPs, Energy efficiency, Demand side Management and Energy Switching, Access to Energy, Gas policies and utilisation, Petroleum products including Bio Fuels and the Petroleum Fuels Industry, Nuclear programme and all energy aspects that are currently under discussion related to South African energy security

David Renne

PresidentInternational Solar Energy Society, USAdrenne@mac.com

Since 1991, Dr. Renné developed and managed programs on renewable energy resource assessment and analysis, and the integration of resource data into GIS at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He retired from NREL in 2012 and now holds an Emeritus position there. His consulting firm, Dave Renne Renewables, provides support to both the public and private sector in planning and developing domestic and international renewable energy programs.Dr. Renne has been President of the International Solar Energy Society since 2010. He continues to serve as an Associate Editor of the Solar Energy Journal in the field of solar resource assessment.Dr. Renné’s other current professional activities include a Senior Consultant to Clean Power Research, a small U.S. Company that develops resource assessment and analytical software tools to support large-scale grid connected solar energy systems, and a Consultant to the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program’s (ESMAP)’s Resource Mapping Project.

Jannie Retief

CEOAIIM Group of Companies, South Africajannie.retief@cookhousewind.co.za

Dr. Jannie Retief was born in Pretoria (South Africa) in 1951 and has over 30 years of experience in start -up companies and company turn-arounds in South Africa, the UK, Canada, the USA and Germany.The previous 11 years he spent working in the energy sector, specialising in Renewable Energy since 2004. Renewable energy experience relates to on-shore wind (5 projects), solar PV (5 projects), wave energy (1 project) and land fill gas (2 projects).His areas of involvement and responsibility include strategy, due diligence and evaluation of projects. He was actively involved in the development of potential wind and solar farms to fully permitted stage including logistics, engineering, construction, commissioning, testing, operations and management.He is a former Executive Board Member of the British Energy Association and also co-founder of a Renewable Energy Company listed in London. Currently he works as CEO of AIIM Group of Companies, managing Facility Operations, Finance and Community Operations of the Group’s Renewable Facilities (Wind and Solar).

Ina de Visser

Project ManagerRECP, EUEI PDFneeltje.de-visser@euei-pdf.org

Ina de Visser leads the Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme (RECP) within the Partnership Dialogue Facility of the EU Energy Initiative (EUEI PDF). She joined the EUEI PDF in 2011 and took over responsibility for the RECP in 2014, leading the operationalisation and further strategic development of the programme, aiming at market development for renewable energy in Africa.Ina has been active in the energy sector, specifically in or related to Africa, for nearly ten years. Previous working experience includes several private companies in the energy sector, both in Africa and Europe, as well as the Energy and Climate unit of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ina is a Dutch national and holds an MSc from Eindhoven University of Technology.

Stefan Gsaenger

Secretary GeneralWorld Wind Energy Association WWEA, Germanysg@wwindea.org

Stefan Gsänger has managed the World Wind Energy Association since its foundation in 2001. Under his direction, WWEA has become the voice of the wind sector worldwide, with members in more than 100 countries. WWEA attained Special Consultative Status at the UN.Mr Gsänger is member of the managing committee of the International Renewable Energy Alliance, the executive committee of the Global 100% Renewable Energies campaign and the international steering committee of REN21. He is adviser to governments and international organisations.Mr Gsänger co-chaired 14 World Wind Energy Conferences, and has been an invited speaker in 40 countries. He published numerous articles, is editor of the yearbook Wind Energy International, the WWEA Quarterly Bulletin and the Small Wind World Report.In 2011, Mr Gsänger received the International Community Power Award of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association.

Marietta Sander

Executive DirectorInternational Geothermal Association (IGA)GermanyIGA@hs-bochum.de

Marietta Sander is the Executive Director of the International Geothermal Association (IGA). In her function for the IGA Marietta Sander manages the IGA headquarters, provides technical expertise on geothermal energy and networking opportunities to practitioners, international organisations, civil society and others.Prior to her work for the IGA Marietta Sander managed an international technical assistance project with a focus on promoting the use of geothermal energy in countries along the East African rift system. She is a certified Project Manager Renewable Energies and has extensive work experience in East and southern Africa, Latin America and South-East Asia. Through her previous work in international development cooperation she has extensive experience in advising decision-makers, government representatives, scientists, industry representatives as well as civil society.

Sean Thomas

Chief Executive OfficerBio2Watt, South Africasean@bio2watt.com

Sean Thomas, is the Chief Executive Officer of Bio2Watt a waste to energy company, he holds an engineering degree in Fluid Mechanics and has held various positions in the energy sector over the last 15 years.In 2007 he left the corporate sector to start Bio2Watt, which owns and developed the Bronkhorstspruit Biogas Plant which is now the first commercial scale biogas plant in South Africa outside of the REIPPP, the plant will be selling power privately to BMW SA in Rosslyn, Pretoria.The Bronkhorstspruit Biogas Plant recently won both the 2015 SANEA (South African National Energy Association) and CESA (Consulting Engineers of South Africa) Awards.Based on the success of the Bronkhorstspruit Project, Sean via Bio2Watt is now replicating the model of making use of organic waste and biomass to generate power and produce energy in other large South African and African cities.