BIO
ALESSANDRO AMADIO
HEAD OF MISSION FOR UNIDO IN BRAZIL AND VENEZUELA
Alessandro Amadio, currently Head of Mission for UNIDO in Brazil and Venezuela.
Within UNIDO, earlier he acted as Head of Mission in Iran, deputy Head of Mission in China, covering also Mongolia and DPR Korea, and project manager at UNIDO`s HQs in Vienna.
Before joining UNIDO, he worked eight years for various private companies in the engineering and construction sectors in agriculture.
During 27 years of professional work, he operated mainly in East Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Latin America.
He is Italian national and hold a master degree in agriculture from the University of Florence (Italy).
BIO
MIQUELINA MENEZES JULIEN
PRESIDENT OF THE LUSOPHONE RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION (ALER)
Miquelina Menezes has a degree in Management and a Bachelor's degree in Economics, both from Universidade Eduardo Mondlane. She also has a Postgraduate Degree in Corporate Law. She has a Trainer of Trainers Certification (IFC ToT) by the Performance Monitoring and Assessment Certification Program (LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE). She is currently a professor and teaches at the Faculty of Economics at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane.
Miquelina worked on several projects financed by the World Bank, Belgian Cooperation, Danish Cooperation and South Korea's Cooperation agencies. In all these areas, she developed renewable energy projects for electrifying schools, health centers, communities and fueling stations in rural areas. She participated in the construction of a solar panel factory with Indian financing, and in the construction of three photovoltaic plants of around 500Kws. Previously, Miquelina worked in the Department of Hydrocarbons and Coal as Administrative and Finance Manager as well as in the Department of Imports / Exports of Mozambique.
She also worked for the Ministry of Finance, as Head of the VAT (Value Added Tax) Unit, during its implementation. In this process, she conducted several activities from computing, communication and imagery, in order to raise the public awareness of the new tax, creating several links with the Customs Services. She is a member of AMECON (Mozambican Association of Economists) as well as President and Member of ALER (Lusophone Renewable Energy Association). She is a Founding Member and Board Member of AMER (Mozambican Association of Renewable Energies).
BIO
ANTONIO H. PINHEIRO SILVEIRA
CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE OF CAF
Antonio H. Pinheiro Silveira is Corporate Vice President of Infrastructure of CAF. He has a PhD in Economics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He was the Deputy Chief of Economic Advice of the Ministry of Planning, Secretary of Economic Monitoring of the Ministry of Finance and Minister of the Secretariat of Ports of the Government of Brazil. He participated in Directories of public and private companies, which include Caixa Económica Federal, Vale S.A. (Fiscal Council) and Banco do Nordeste. He worked as Executive Director for Brazil at the World Bank and the IDB.
BIO
PATRICK DLAMINI
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR AT THE DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (DBSA)
Mr. Dlamini was the Chairperson of Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) Africa region, SADC Development Finance Institutions, Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI) and World Federation Development Finance Institutions (WFDFI). He is currently the Vice Chairman of the International Development Finance Club (IDFC). Mr. Dlamini holds an MSc in Global Finance from the New York University Stern School of Business/Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a Bachelor of Commerce (B Comm) degree from the University of Durban-Westville. Mr. Dlamini further received certificates for completing an Executive Development Programme (EDP) from the University of the Witwatersrand Business School (WBS) and an Advanced Executive Programme from Kellogg School of Management.
BIO
JOSEPH NGANGA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SMART POWER AFRICA AT THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
Joseph Nganga is the Executive Director, Smart Power Africa at the Rockefeller Foundation. In this role, Joseph oversees efforts in scaling access to safe, reliable, and renewable energy in Sub Central to this effort is the development of l arge-- Saharan Africa. scale, innovative partnerships that break down the silos between traditional utilities and disruptive mini the continent . grid technologies, to address last Before joining the Foundation, Joseph Nganga cofounded responsAbilitmile electrification on y Renewable Energy Holding company that builds, owns and operates renewable energy projects across sub, a Saharan Africa. He grew responsAbility Renewable Energy Holding for Africa, a $3B asset manager into a $121M company while he led the Regional Office headquartered in Switzerland that invests in Energy, Agriculture and Financial Institution. Other accomplishments include establishment of Renewable Energy Ventures (REV), a project development and advisory firm in Nairobi. REV developed renewable energy p rojects, provided advisory services in the renewable energy space and distributed lanterns. Joseph has a long and distinguished career in advisory work including developing the business plan and fundraising for the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC), a $15m facility to support local entrepreneurs developing technology and solutions in the renewable energy and climate space. He also worked with the Alliance for Green revolution (AGRA)’s AECF in the REACT window, advising, supporting, and investing in cl companies. ean energy Earlier in his career, Joseph was an Investment Banker at Bank of America, in Charlotte, NC. Joseph graduated with Liberal Arts degree from Queens University of Charlotte and has taking Executive Education program on governing for no nprofits from Harvard Business School. He also sits on the Board of Carolina for Kibera , a nonprofit organization that through a model of participatory development, works to combine public service with responsible public health research in Kibera and ot her informal settlements globally.
BIO
NJ AYUK
CEO OF CENTURION LAW GROUP AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE AFRICAN ENERGY CHAMBER
NJ Ayuk is founder and CEO of Pan-African corporate law conglomerate, Centurion Law Group; Founder and Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber; and author of Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals and co-author of Big Barrels: African Oil and Gas and the Quest for Prosperity. He is recognized as one of the foremost figures in African business today.
A Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum, one of Forbes’ Top 10 Most Influential Men in Africa in 2015, and a well-known dealmaker in the petroleum and power sectors, NJ is dedicating his career to helping entrepreneurs find success and to building the careers of young African lawyers. NJ strives through his work to ensure that business, and especially oil and gas, impacts African societies in a positive way and drives local content development.
NJ graduated from the University of Maryland College Park and earned a Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law and an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology.
BIO
RENTIA VAN TONDER
HEAD OF POWER, CLIENT COVERAGE, CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANKING AT STANDARD BANK
After earning her BSc (Hons) Rentia joined ABSA bank and later completed her MBL (Masters in Business Leadership) and EDP (Executive Development Programme). She joined the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) where she started in the Economic Research department, was seconded to the office of the minister of Minerals and Energy as advisor and joined the IDC’s mining business unit when she returned in 2000. She was promoted to Head: Wood & Paper Strategic business unit in 2003 and later Head: Green Industries, a new unit formed in 2011, where she lead the team focusing on renewable energy, energy efficiency, fuel based energy and other green related initiatives. Rentia joined Standard Bank in 2014, with a focus on developing and implementing opportunities for Standard Bank to be the leading funder of renewable and power projects in SA and the rest of Africa. She has recently taken on the role as Head: Power in Corporate and Investment Banking and continue to focus on developing the franchise.
BIO
JOÃO DUARTE CUNHA
HEAD OF DIVISION ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AT THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (AFDB)
João oversees special renewable energy initiatives - including the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa and the Facility for Energy Inclusion – as well as commercial investment funds as advisory board member. Joao was previously AfDB’s Chief Climate Finance Officer and coordinator of climate mitigation portfolio, also including the Scaling-up Renewable Energy Programme and Clean Technology Fund. Prior to joining AfDB, Joao worked in business development and investment facilitation in Africa with US, Swedish and Portuguese bilateral development and trade agencies. Joao holds an MA in Economics with Environmental Studies from Edinburgh University, and an MSc in Development Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
BIO
ELUMA OBIBUAKU
SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF POWER AT AFRICA FINANCE CORPORATION
Mr. Eluma Obibuaku has over twenty years of accomplished public and private sector advisory and investment experience working with a variety of financing entities and infrastructure firms—primary in the United States and more recently in Nigeria. Within the power generation space, Eluma has been involved in fund raising for more than 3,000MW. More recently he has worked with a pioneer power project developer to establish a Greenfield IPP. Currently, Eluma is a Snr. Vice President, Power with AFC’s Investments Division, where he originates projects in various countries in Africa. Over the span of his career, Eluma has worked at the United States General Accounting Office; Pacific Gas and Electric Co; and the International Finance Corporation.
Eluma hold an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He seats on the Board of several private companies.
BIO
QUENTIN SAUZAY/h4>
DIRECTOR AT SOUTHBRIDGE GROUP
Quentin Sauzay is specialized in supporting investment transactions, project finance, restructuration and Mergers and Acquisitions in domestic as well as transnational deals. He works with corporate clients as well as state institutions. He is a former business lawyer at the Paris bar. Quentin Sauzay has joined SouthBridge as Director of the Climate Finance, Energy and Infrastructure practice.Previously, he was a consultant for the World Bank, based in Benin, in charge of programs focusing on infrastructure development, investments promotion and business climate improvement in the subregion. He also advised promising SMEs in Kenya, in terms of strategy and business development. In 2015, he was appointed as a special advisor to the Prime Minister of Benin in charge of energy access and infrastructure developments programs. He then joined Allen&Overy as an associate in the African project finance team in Paris. Quentin graduated from HEC Paris, Paris II and Paris V Sorbonne University.
BIO
LAURA DE OLIVEIRA VIEIRA
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF GRUPO LEVVO
Founder and President of Grupo Levvo (Commerce, Clean and Renewable Energy) and works at Instituto Levvo, where she develops income generation and social transformation projects. Graduated in Business Administration, MBA in Business Management and MBA in Financial Management and Capital Markets at Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV); Leadership and Negotiations, 2013, at Harvard University. Active in social causes; philanthropist from nature; generous with her projects. Always thinking about future generations; works with circular economy and income generation. Mother of two; franchised of McDonald’s for over 23 years; tuned in technology and innovation; Laura is a member of the Training Committee of the Brazilian Association of McDonald's Franchisees (ABFM); the group of entrepreneurs LIDE and LIDE MULHER; the Women of Brazil Group, as advisor to the DF Center; and Director of the Brazil / India Chamber of Commerce (WICCI).
BIO
CICERO BLEY JUNIOR
PRESIDENT OF THE BRAZIL LUXEMBOURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - CCBRALUX PARANÁ
CÍCERO BLEY JUNIOR is an agronomic engineer (1971) and master in civil engineering, territorial management of urban and rural areas (2002). He is a former superintendent for renewable energies at Itaipu Binacional (2003-2016), was the founder and first president of CIBiogas (2013-2015), and is the founder and first and current president emeritus of the Brazilian Association of Biogas and Biomethane (2013-2016).
Former representative of the Energy and Mining Ministry at the Task Force 37 - Biogas, at the International Energy Agency - IEA (2013-2016). Acted as technical advisor of the the technical council for energy of FIEP (2017-today). Founder and CEO of BLEY Energy, Strategies and Solutions - EIRELI, a cleantech startup incubated at TECPAR, the Paraná Institute of Technology.(2020).
Co-author of the Industrial Patent INPI No BR 10 2017 024793 7 - Microstation for biomethane. Author of the book "Biogas, the invisible energy", published by Ed. S. Paulo in 2014. Is an active exhibitor and speaker in biofuel- and biogas-related events across North, Central and South America, as well as Europe, Asia and Africa. Is the founder and current president of the Brazil-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce - CCBRALUX Paraná.
BIO
HECTOR GOMEZ ANG
REGIONAL MANAGER FOR ANGOLA, MOZAMBIQUE, ZAMBIA AND BOTSWANA OF THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION
Hector Gomez Ang is IFC’s Regional Manager for Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Botswana - based in Luanda. Previously, Hector was IFC’s Brazil Country Manager between 2014 and 2019 when IFC invested in excess of US$10 billion in Brazil and led the origination of a $20 billion infrastructure advisory pipeline under execution.
Hector started his career as an oilfield engineer at Schlumberger, worked at Mexico’s Grupo Alfa, was an M&A banker at Salomon Smith Barney and worked in the the strategy team at Citigroup in New York. He was the director of global business development at AIG Consumer Finance Group with responsibility for Latin America and Eastern Europe. He joined IFC in 2008 where he has held the positions of head for El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, the Andean Region and the Amazon region.
Hector holds Chemical Engineering and an MBA with a concentration in finance from Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico. He also holds a distinction M.Sc. degree in Social Business and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Economics. He has been a board member at some of the largest financial institutions in Colombia and Mexico.
BIO
GLENN PEARCE-OROZ
SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS AT SEFORALL
Glenn Pearce-Oroz is the current Senior Director for International Relations and Special Projects at Sustainable Energy for All. He joined SEforALL in 2018 after 15 years with the World Bank. As part of SEforALL’s leadership team, Glenn manages the strategic engagements of SEforALL with key global partners to prioritize greater progress on Sustainable Development Goal 7 and the global energy transition. Glenn has led SEforALL’s engagement with the G20 Energy Transition Working Group as well as SEforALL’s support of the COP26 Energy Transition Council process to raise energy transition ambition among selected countries. For the past 18 years prior to joining SEforALL, Glenn was working from country offices in Latin America, South Asia, and Africa. He is now based in Vienna, Austria.
BIO
RAFAEL GONZALEZ
PRESIDENT-DIRECTOR OF CIBIOGÁS
Environmental Engineer and Master's student in Environmental Engineering and Technology at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). For more than 10 years, he has been involved in funding and managing projects in the area of renewable energies. He participated in the development of the Business Plan of the International Center for Renewable Energies, CIBiogás, in 2012. In 2016 he assumed the Directorate of Technological Development and in 2020 he assumed the Presidency Directorate of CIBiogás, conducting strategic projects and consolidating businesses. He is currently an advisor to the Brazilian Biogas Association (ABiogás) and to the Board of Directors of the GEF / Brazil - Biogas Project (Applications of Biogas in Brazilian Agroindustry).
BIO
EDUARDO ÁVILA
CEO AT REVOLUSOLAR
Eduardo Avila is an economist with previous experience in the financial market. He is now the CEO at Revolusolar, an NGO created in 2015 with the aim of promoting the sustainable development of low-income communities through solar energy.
Eduardo is one of the 5 finalists in Latin America and the Caribbean for the 'Young Champions of the Earth 2020', global award from the United Nations Environment Program, with the Revolusolar project to create the first solar energy cooperative in a favela in Brazil.
BIO
BRONWYN NIELSEN
CEO OF THE NIELSEN NETWORK
With over 25 years’ experience in African and Global broadcasting, Bronwyn is one of Africa’s most experienced and well-known broadcasters. During 2018 and 2017 alone Bronwyn has chaired debates and panel discussions at World Economic Forum events including Switzerland (Davos), South Africa (Cape Town and Durban), UAE (Dubai), China (Dalian) and India (New Delhi).
She is also called upon by leading business organisations and institutes, such as Milken Institute, African Development Bank and the ABN Group (which includes CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa) to moderate key live broadcast sessions at their global events.
Her expertise has resulted in CEOs, Chairmen, Presidents, Prime Ministers and Ministers from across the African continent asking her to provide media training, and to advise on media strategy.
BIO
OMAR BEN YEDDER
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF IC PUBLICATIONS
Omar joined the IC Group in March 2003, working across various departments. Having previously been an Associate Vice President in the Equity Finance team at Merrill Lynch, Omar brought a new and dynamic approach to IC Publications. He helped launch African Banker magazine and also the events department. He holds an Honours degree in Languages and Economics and a chartered management accountant qualification.
BIO
AJONG MBAPNDAH L
MANAGING EDITOR AT PAN AFRICAN VISIONS MAGAZINE
Ajong Mbapndah L is Managing Editor of www.panafricanvisions.com and the monthly Pan African Visions Magazine. He is based in the Washington, DC metro area and is accredited with the Foreign Press Center. Cameroonian by birth and African in spirit. Ajong studied Law and Political Science at the University of Buea in Cameroon. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of Yaoundé 2 in Cameroon and a master’s degree in mass communication from the Virginia Commonwealth University. He has interviewed high profile personalities in diverse fields with a focus on Africa.
BIO
ISABEL FILGUEIRAS
JOURNALIST AT VALOR INVESTE
Isabel Filgueiras is a finance and economics reporter at Valor Investe, Valor Econômico's website focused on business and investments. Before that, she was a member of the editorial staff of O Povo newspaper, for four years, where she covered national and international politics and served as a correspondent in São Paulo. She collaborated with major Brazilian media outlets such as Estado de S. Paulo, Folha de S. Paulo and BBC Brasil. The journalist is the author of the book Recortes da Diáspora Síria and a co-author of Jornalismo em Tempos de Pós-verdade.
BIO
CAROLINE RIBEIRO
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR AT THE BRAZIL AFRICA INSTITUTE
Brazilian journalist with a large experience and passages in the areas of reporting (TV live and digital), text editing and television presentation. Currently is a correspondent from Portugal for Brazilian media outlets, producing content for digital and TV.
Since 2018 Caroline has worked as Communications Coordinator of the Brazil Africa Institute, an NGO based in Brazil and in Ghana that develops projects within the scope of South-South Cooperation. She carried out dialogues with international organizations such as the UN, The World Bank, African Development Bank and Afreximbank. She was also the host and panel moderator in the latest editions of the Brazil Africa Forum.
BIO
JOÃO BOSCO MONTE
PRESIDENT OF THE BRAZIL AFRICA INSTITUTE
Founder and current President of Brazil Africa Institute, he holds a Ph.D. in Education from the Federal University of Ceará and Postdoctoral studies from the University of Brasilia (UNB), with the object of research on the integration of the African continent.
He is a visiting professor of important Brazilian and African Universities and he is a Senior International Associate of African, Latin American and Caribbean Studies Center - CALACs of Jindal Global University (India). Prof. João Bosco is the author of books and publications related to the relations between the various international actors, focusing on South-South Cooperation.
He acts as an international consultant of Brazilian and foreign organizations and as a columnist and commentator of important media in Brazil.
