Dr. Karen E. Young is a political economist focusing on the Gulf, the broader MENA region and the intersection of energy, finance and security. She is a Senior Research Scholar at the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy. She was a Senior Fellow and Founding Director of the Program on Economics and Energy at the Middle East Institute, and currently serves as chair of the program's…
Type: Expert
In 2018, Maya and a business partner founded a new retail company called Yellow Solar Power. Using her understanding of the gaps and challenges in the sector, Yellow has already grown into the largest distributor of solar home systems in Malawi with over 300 agents. As a woman in the energy sector, Maya wants to provide opportunities for other women in rural Malawi but early recruiting for Yellow…
Type: Expert
Tarek el Molla was appointed as Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources on September 19th 2015. He worked previously for the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) which he joined in January 2011, and where he held the positions of Deputy CEO for Foreign Trade, Deputy CEO for Internal Trade, Deputy CEO for Operations and finally CEO. From 2008 till end of 2010, Mr. el Molla worked for…
Type: Expert
Koen Peters has been GOGLA's Executive Director since 2014. He has more than 20 years of international work experience, of which more than 12 years in relation to energy access. He gathered insights from many different perspectives and organizations, including government, consulting, start-up businesses, and international finance organizations. Prior to joining GOGLA, Koen worked as renewable…
Type: Expert
René van Hell is the Director Inclusive Green Growth at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prior to this position, he was the Dutch Ambassador to Hungary. Previously, he worked as an advisor in several ministries, and from 2004, he was Head of Economic Division at the Dutch Embassy in Washington. He graduated from the University of Amsterdam.
Type: Expert
Ibrahim Matola was appointed as Malawi’s minister of energy during the People’s Party administration and again in February 2022. He was previously a member of Parliament for two terms, from 2004 to 2014, and served as deputy chief whip and later parliamentary leader of the United Democratic Front. He was a member of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the Commonwealth Parliamentary…
Type: Expert
Minister Goddy Jedy Agba was appointed as Minister of State for Power in 2019. He has had an extensive career in the civil service prior to joining politics. He worked at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from 1995-2014 where held several positions and rose to become head market research, crude oil marketing department and later became the head gas/gas liquids/condensate sales,…
Type: Expert
David Giordano, Managing Director, is the Global Head of Renewable Power, within BlackRock Real Assets, and is responsible for determining the overall strategic direction of the Renewable Power platform, steering the implementation of the platform’s investment strategies and leading platform growth initiatives. Having joined the team upon its formation in 2011, Mr. Giordano has played a key role…
Type: Expert
Mr. Chris Antonopoulos has been heading Lekela Power since March 2015. Before joining Lekela Power, he was the Group Vice President responsible for the global sales and business development at Bombardier Transportation since 2006, a group with an annual order intake of approx. 10 BUSD. Before joining Bombardier, Mr. Antonopoulos has been active in various senior investment as well as sales/…
Type: Expert
Ms. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu is a Ugandan politician who serves as the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development since June 2021. Before being appointed as Minister of Energy she served various cabinet level position within the Ugandan government including Chief Government Whip (2015-2021), State Minister for Fisheries (2011-2015), State Minister for Microfinance (2009-2011), State Minister for…
Type: Expert