Dr. Robert Stoner is the Deputy Director of the MIT Energy Initiative/Executive Director of the MIT-Tsinghus-Cambridge Low Carbon Energy University Alliance
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA

 

After earning his Ph.D. in condensed matter physics at Brown University in 1992, Dr. Stoner joined the Microprocessor Development Group at Intel Corporation. In 1995, he formed Cooper Mountain Corporation, which developed the first commercial instruments to incorporate ultrafast pulsed lasers. These instruments, based on the picosecond ultrasonic method which he co-invented, are now extensively used to characterize computer chips during production. He subsequently founded Vinestone Corporation, a UK-based peer-to-peer database and workflow software developer. Dr. Stoner later held a number of senior executive positions and served as Chairman of the Technical Advisory Board at Zygo Corporation, a developer of precision optical systems and instruments for the global consumer electronics, aerospace and semiconductor industries.

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Dr. Stoner received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics from Queen’s University, Canada. He was a National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada Scholar and holds US patents in the fields of semiconductor devices, optical measurement and imaging systems, optical devices, network computing, and acoustics. His current technical interests include high resolution imaging techniques, distributed computing, and energy distribution and storage technology and policy for developing countries.

President and Chief Executive Officer, World Trade Center-Denver

 

Karen Gerwitz brings 30 years of experience in international business in the private, public and non-profit sectors.  Her enthusiastic vision for how Denver can become a more globally-conscious city is driving the organization to its new development in the Fox Park neighborhood near downtown.  With business development, strategic growth, and marketing as her primary functional expertise, Karen has served overseas in Ghana, Austria, and Colorado in multiple sectors, including  IT, Aerospace, Lumber, Science, Mining, and Government.  Her protocol and international cultural expertise prepared her well to host the official visits of the Emperor and Empress of Japan, the G8 Summit, the Western Hemisphere Ministerial Summit, and hundreds of other delegations. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in International Business and her Masters of Public Administration from the University of Colorado.

Founder and President of the Circle of Global Businesswomen

 

Ambassador Sindiswa Tshabalala is the founder and President of the Circle of Global Business Women, www.cgbw.global, a global women's organization elevating African women on international forums and creating a platform for women to trade, learn and connect globally. She is global women's economic activist and a pioneer for women's advancement worldwide. The Circle of Global Business Women believes that as leaders, women must play leading roles in this changing and unpredictable world—the highway from mediocrity to growth, prosperity, and greatness. Sindiswa is breaking boundaries as a woman business leader solving global economic challenges. She is a motivational speaker at local, national, and international levels and a mentor and distinguished judge.

 

She has held executive leadership roles in the private and public sectors within South Africa. She is a member of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Energy and Green Economy Working Group; she is active in various Gender Advocacy, Education, and Socio-Economic Growth initiatives within the continent and worldwide.

She sits on different boards and holds advisory positions, including the Regeneys Foundation, the Global Council for Promotion in International Trade Africa, and the Group CEO of the Circle of Global Business Women Investments African. She is passionate about Economic Development, Leadership, Governance, and Social development programs targeted at women in Africa and globally. She is the Chairman of Edison Power Group KZN, an energy company in South Africa with a presence across Africa.

She earned her qualifications from GIBS University.  

President, SUNY Schenectady County Community College

 

Dr. Steady Moono was appointed by the SUNY Board of Trustees as the 7th president of SUNY Schenectady County Community College in May 2015.  He took office in July 2015 with more than 20 years as a leader in higher education.  Before coming to SUNY Schenectady, he served as Chief Administrative Officer and Vice President of the West Campus at Montgomery County Community College in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Prior, Dr. Moono was the Vice President for Student Affairs at Montgomery County Community College for six years and Dean of Student Affairs for one year. Dr. Moono began his community college career as a faculty member at Pinebrook Junior College and has held adjunct faculty appointments at Temple University, Immaculata University, and Montgomery County Community College. Additionally, Dr. Moono’s career also includes positions as the Assistant Dean for Student Development and Director of Adult & Multicultural Student Services at Bucks County Community College, and was an experienced senior administrator at a Pennsylvania Private Academy.

 

Dr. Moono knows firsthand the challenges he experienced as a young lost African boy struggling to make it work at a U.S. college.  The two mentors that Dr. Moono found helped him feel at home. This experience helped shaped his educational philosophies which led to his nationally recognized mentoring program for minority students at Montgomery County Community College and now at SUNY Schenectady. His work to establish the Minority Male Mentoring Program has been widely recognized and has been a recipient of many prestigious awards. Yaffe-Smith Civil Rights Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Education and was named “Outstanding First Year Student Advocate” by the National Resource Center. He was awarded the 2011 Innovation of the Year Award at Montgomery County Community College.  In 2017, he was recognized and honored by the Schenectady County Human Rights Commission for outstanding service and contribution to the cause of Human Rights in Schenectady County, NY.  In 2018, he received the MWAPE AWARD, established in 2010 by Ruth and James Mwape, of New Jersey and is a non-profit initiative by providing a platform to recognize those individuals who, without the benefit of visibility or influence, made a difference through their creativity, energy and sheer tenacity; and the Human Rights Commission Award in recognition for his mentoring work. 

Dr. Moono’s role in community engagement and service to the community at the local, regional, and national levels is noteworthy.  Locally, he serves on the WHMT Board, Schenectady County MLK Coalition, Schenectady County Human Rights Commission, Schenectady City Police Reform Commission, and the Schenectady Foundation Appointing Authority. 

Dr. Moono has earned a B.A. in Education from Messiah College, an M.A. in Counseling and Theology from the Biblical Theological Seminary, an M.A. in English from Arcadia University and a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Immaculata University.

Dr. Moono and his wife Kelly, have a son, Micah, and a daughter, Naomi.  He and his wife are deeply involved in a non-profit project in Zambia.

Founder and CEO, Green Climate

Green Climate Ventures

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Mr. Pedretti is an Italian serial entrepreneur and industry leader considered an expert in solar mini-grids and in DRE generation (Distributed Renewable Energy). He is currently serving in several boards in the energy sector around the world both profit and non-profit. He is also the President of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Rural Electrification.

 

UN SDG7 “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” is his passion and focus. He founded few successful startups in the renewable energy sector. He is founder of Green Climate Venture (GCV) an early-stage impact investor focused in off-grid renewable energy sector and related applications.

Chairman

Investment Gate

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Sheikh M Ahmed El Haiba participates and supports many humanitarian activities and advocates for better education systems and increased quality of education in developing countries. He also advocates for many programs, including access to water and electricity for underserved communities in rural Africa.

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He is the Chairman of Investment Gate, a well-connected and exceptionally resourceful investment firm based in Abu Dhabi that identifies new opportunities and innovatively transforms or restructures them to increase value and higher returns. He also chairs the Mauritius Blockchain Foundation, a consortium of technologists, investors, former bankers, lawyers, and Fintech professionals worldwide, to build a complete service blockchain financial ecosystem to assist Governments and industries adapt to the rapidly evolving technologies.

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Sheikh M Ahmed El Haiba is a member of many financial firms and organizations dedicated to investing in social and impact programs ranging from government to private enterprises.

Founder and Chairman

Al-Khalifa Business School

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He holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from A Coruña University, he is graduated in Journalism from the National Journalists Association of Cuba in Exile and has an MBA in “International Construction Management” from the European University. He completed more than 300 courses and specialisations in business, management, education, health, or security from IVY league universities and top-ranked European Business Schools. He received two Doctor Honoris Causa Degrees in the field of diplomacy.

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Since his beginnings in the educational field, he works in Law and Education research. Currently, he is a professor and senior advisor at various universities in Asia-Pacific and North America. He lectured and participated in events at the Davos World Economic Forum and universities such as MIT, Harvard, Oxford, or New York University. He has published eleven books and more than seventy professional and scientific articles.

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In the field of Health development, he is currently involved in several collaborative clinical studies at Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Division of Seep Medicine, particularly in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a common disorder caused by repeated obstruction of the area of the back of the throat during sleep. The collaborative research team includes Dr. Scott Sands as the lead principal investigator, Dr. Reza Radmand and Prof. Sir Manuel Freire-Garabal.

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He is an elected fellow and member of several British and Irish Royal societies, and Spanish and American academies. He has stood out at an early age for been invited to collaborate in media at Harvard, Yale, Berkeley, MSNBC, Microsoft, Le Figaro, or Le Monde. He is a regular contributor to The Economic Times and The Times of India.

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He works in wealth management and educational development, serving as the Chairman of the Al-Khalifa Business School Educational Group and being part of the advisory board of multinational companies, UHNWI and Family Offices based in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Madagascar and the United Arab Emirates.

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He officially works in the field of diplomacy. He holds various commitments such as Special Envoy of the Republic of Madagascar’s Presidency, personal advisor of the former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and former Prime Minister of Guinea (H.E. Lansana Kouyaté), or President of the Private Council of the Prince Mahmoud Salah Al-Din Assaf.

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He works in philanthropy, giving free education and resources to the Middle East and Africa. He is highly recognised for his remarkable contributions by organisations such as the IDPs National Centres of Iraq, the Pan African Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development Centre, or the UNESCO member FUNVIC. Because of his social impact he was included in many global ranked lists and has been highlighted and interviewed in media like Forbes, Yahoo, Cosmo, CNBC, CBS, ABC, or Fox News. Additionally, he is a recognised Honorary Ambassador to many organisations with consultative status at the United Nations.

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He is an active member of the Lions International Club, an entity that appointed him with many international awards according to his contributions to the United States and the Bahamas in health and humanitarian aid.

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He holds different legitimated knighthoods given by religions and representatives for service to the royal houses and States heads. He has received high civil honours from the Russian Federation, the Russian Orthodox Church, the States of Arkansas and Kentucky and the local governments of Machu Picchu, Medley and North Miami Beach.

Founder and President

Open Business Africa (OBA) Bridge of Innovations (BOI)

 

Ambassador Cheick Keita holds a master's degree in public law, option law, economics, and management. he occupies the following positions:

- Large Accounts and Legal Expertise Auditor in the Audit Legal and Financial Business Management Department of Crédit Agricole Bank (France),

- Director of Legal Affairs and Litigation at the Financial Corporation of Studies and Litigation (SOFIDEC France),

- Management of the Africa Division for the OVIEDO multinational of IMASA Group (Spain),

- Director of Africa Markets of BBVA Bank (3rd bank of Spain),

- Analyst Manager in the Legal and Economic Department of the evaluation of international perspectives at the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development),

- Executive Officer at the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Public Accounting at the Inspection Control and Expertise Division (ICE) of the Taxes General Directorate at Paris Bercy.

 

In 1996, he founded CIDIGA (Chamber of Initiatives for the Development of Investments of the Groupings in Africa) and works as its President. His mission is to produce and offer reliable socio-economic and political information and studies to promote significant investments in Africa.

The Ambassador also serves as the President of OPND Pan-African Observatory of Digital and President of OBA (Open Business Africa) and BOI (Bridge of Innovation) and CIDIGA.

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He is the founder and President of BOI (Bridge of Innovations). BOI is a company that identifies innovative start-ups in Africa and supports them through its network of Business Angels and Ventures Capital to initiate their emergence. To this day, he has been part of the six innovative start-ups in Africa. As part of its HOPE FOR NEW AFRICA initiative and promoting entrepreneurship in Africa, Mr. Keita plans to create with the international partners, the PE (points entrepreneurship), a place of entrepreneurship in agreement with the international partners in each African country. Mr. Keita recently created OBA (Open Business Africa) to promote partnerships and joint ventures between companies in the South and North to establish new structures for transforming local products and assembly factories and essential equipment for developing critical sectors in Africa. Mr. Keita continues to participate in many international conferences on Africa and the ACP as a contributor and panelist in international organizations: OECD, UNESCO, World Bank, France, and the world. He is UNESCO's Ambassador for the UNESCO event in Guinea, the book capital of the world. Since 2017, Mr. Keita Cheick is Ambassador of IHRC (International Human Right Commission) in charge of the Africa zone to follow the new strategy of this institution for the promotion of good governance, the prevention and the resolution of conflicts, the promotion of education for all, sustainable development, promoting new technologies applied to teaching and education for all, the socio-economic advancement of women for a better world.

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He is the Senator of the WBAF (World Business Forum) and Président of the SMEs (Commonwealth Entrepreneurs club), and Ambassador of WUSME (World Union of Small and Medium Enterprises).

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Mr. Cheick Keita is the recipient of several distinctions of the Guinea Talent Award by the HBO Talents of Africa organization. 2019. Mr. Cheick Keita was awarded in Abu Dhabi with a Special Award from the PALEDEC Panafrican Leadership Entrepreneurship Development Center to recognize his Africa investment promotion activities with his company OBA (Open business Africa) and for its initiative to create OPND (Pan-African Digital Observatory for Development).

Mr. Cheick Keita speaks French, English, Spanish, and is currently learning Japanese.

Chief Executive Officer

Brands International Co Ltd

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Adesina has been a solid contributor to Nigeria's social and economic development initiatives since returning to the country. He is the founder of a Sportswear manufacturing company serving schools, military institutions, and universities in Nigeria. He has a lot of experience in the financial and industrial sectors, having served as CEO of Oxygen and other industrial gases manufacturing companies and recently as Chairman of Fiŕst Bank Mortgages ltd, a premier Mortgage bank.

 

His experience encompasses the renewable energy sector too. He recently served as the Chairman of the strategic and planning committee of the Council of Renewable Energy of Nigeria.

 

Adesina was born into the Ijebuland Royal family of Oba Ademuyewo Fidipote in Nigeria, where he went to school before going to the United States where he earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from St. Joseph's College, now University in Philadelphia. He obtained an MBA degree from Long Island University at the Brooklyn campus.

 

Adesina is a Christiàn Catholic and has served in his parish at various levels as Chairman of the parish laity council, Chairman of the Catholic brothers league, and many other positions. He is also the Vice President of the World Union of Jesuit Alumni/ae.

 

Adesina is married with children who are professionals in various areas and currently working in UK and Europe.

President

Global Forum on Sustainable Energy

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Irene Giner-Reichl has been a member of the Austrian Diplomatic Service since 1982. Her main areas of expertise are economic and social development, women’s rights’ issues, environment, energy, and development cooperation.

 

Irene Giner-Reichl has held numerous international bureau functions. From 1995 to 1998 she was director of the international department of the Austrian Ministry for the Environment. From 1998 to 2001 she was Austria’s permanent representative to the UN, IAEA, UNIDO and CTBTO in Vienna. From 2001 to 2004 she headed the UNIDO office in New York in the rank of assistant director general. From 2005 to 2012 she was director general in charge of Austria’s development policy and cooperation.

 

Since 2012, she held the position of Austrian ambassador to the People’s Republic of China and Mongolia until recently when she transitioned to her current position.

 

Irene Giner-Reichl is president of the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy (GFSE), which she founded in 1999 as a multi-stake-holder platform for dialogues on energy in the service of sustainable development, and vice-president of the REN21 steering committee.

 

She has published books and articles on international relations and global issues. She has lectured at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna for several years on human security and development policy.

Principal
Mwale Medical and Technology City

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Mr. Julius Mwale is a successful industrial entrepreneur and investor with more than 20 years of proven track record in innovative investments in Technology, Energy, Health, retail and construction industries.

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Mr. Mwale is currently the principal of the US $ 2 billion Mwale Medical and Technology City (MMTC) based in Western Kenya where he was the lead investor. The City is built on 100% green concept and started construction in 2014 with 80% complete as of August 2019 and expected to be fully completed by December 2020.

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Prior to that in early 2000s Mr. Mwale Founded and was the Chairman and President of SBA Technologies Inc. A New York based biometric company that pioneered string based biometric security technology that revolutionized the biometric industry worldwide.

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Mr. Mwale's education background is in Telecommunications engineering and sits on the boards mostly as chairman of more than 10 companies in Technology, retail, pharmaceutical, Health, Construction, Hospitality, Human resources, Energy and Engineering industries.

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Since 2007 Mr. Mwale has been the Chairman of the American Institute for African Development Based in New York which works to promote good governance, universal healthcare and education access in 54 countries in Africa. It further promotes sustainable development in both rural and urban communities around the continent.Mr. Mwale is married to Kaila and they are blessed with three boys and two girls.

Chairman of the Board and Executive Director

OctaneX Technologies

 

A recognized leader in strategic development, commercialization and implementation of advanced fuel additives and specialty chemicals for global energy, Clean Tech, and Petrochemical markets. An accomplished, innovative, and recognized global executive, Robert is best known for his extensive leadership roles as Chairman, CEO, President, and Managing Director of multiple international technology enterprises.

Robert is the architect and has oversight responsibility of OctaneX’s global business development; leading implementation of comprehensive business strategies, development of partnership and joint ventures, representative and distribution channels and all technology licensing. He represents the company with key strategic and global partners, business and government leaders and other external enterprise groups.  Central to his work has been Robert’s strategic vision for the Company’s future, which includes OctaneX’s growth, technical advancements, IP development, global integration, and continuous innovation.

With extensive experience growing technology, energy and software enterprises, Robert has held multiple executive and senior management positions focusing on innovation, ESG and technology advancements with a vision of applications and commercialization while driving performance, profitability, and value creation for the shareholder.  As Chairman and CEO, Robert is well suited in his role as advisor to companies, governmental agencies and organizations on policy issues associated with small to large-scale transactions. He has represented a broad range of enterprises supporting M&A, joint ventures and partnership structures, PE/debt financing and corporate governance while developing and implementing organizations to meet corporate objectives and drive enhanced value.

Recognized for executive leadership and strategic thought, Robert has led international teams that have merged or acquired companies, developed public offerings, formed joint ventures, and founded new enterprises. Since joining the OctaneX Board of Directors in 2012, he led the company’s restructure, the formation and structuring of an US$500 million affiliate, advanced and enhance the company’s intellectual property portfolio and has launched the design and development of new refining/processing facilities in the US and China with additional sites under development. Introduction into the European markets is anticipated in mid 2020. He also co-founded Big Horn Renewables, LLC for the development and production of renewable natural gas and serves as Executive Chairman.

Robert has advised and counseled companies, investors, acquirers and government agencies on corporate strategies and policy matters in a variety of industries, ranging from technology enterprises to regulated companies in energy, life sciences, software, digital imaging, and artificial intelligence. He has also advised corporations on various governmental, administrative and regulatory policy matters and continues today to work and assists in the planning and implementation of corporate ESG, social and environmental responsibility programs.

Robert is an entrepreneur, investor, publicly speaks and serves on corporate and nonprofit boards actively “giving back” to local communities supporting corporate responsibility and environmental balance. He is graduate of Millikin University with advance studies at Arizona State University and the American University, Washington DC.

Executive Leader-Strategy and Growth, Integrated Gas and Power Solutions

Baker Hughes

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Michael is an executive leader at Baker Hughes. He is responsible for business development of integrated gas and power products and solutions. This includes early engagement and conceptual design on integrated gas and power projects. As a leader in Baker Hughes, he is also part of the Strategy and Marketing team helping to drive the companies gas value chain strategy and advance Baker Hughes’ global gas leadership with external partners and other stakeholders.

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Michael has been gas and power strategy leader in the industry for more than two decades. He worked over the last ten years at General Electric in a variety of roles in support of the oil and gas and the power divisions. He joined the new Baker Hughes Company in 2018. Michael has focused on strategic marketing and business development related to unconventional resources, natural gas systems, gas to power, and distributed power including gas-renewable hybrids. In 2011, he authored Flare Gas Reduction: Recent global trends and policy considerations. In 2013, he was lead analyst and primary author of the Age of Gas and the Power of Networks and China’s Age of Gas white papers. In 2015, he published Gas to Power, Fast and Flexible Electricity for Rapidly Developing Countries. More recently, his focus has been flare gas solutions and complex gas project development including origination, technology solutions, and structuring.

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Previously he was a Director of natural gas consulting at Cambridge Energy Research Associates (IHS-CERA) and has worked on LNG, pipeline, and gas-fired power plant development around the world. Michael holds a BA in Economics from Colorado State University and a MA in Economics from the University of Colorado.

Vice President

HDR International

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Ms. Larson is a consultant with 24 years of experience in the power industry. As a Vice President at HDR, she leads HDR’s international power pursuits and is an advisor to HDR’s Strategic Consulting Practice. She has experience and background in Sub-Saharan Africa and has participated in the advancement of the Nacala Solar and Storage project in Mozambique. Ms. Larson has significant technical and project management experience associated with power and water projects. She has extensive experience working with stakeholders to develop practical solutions that meet the needs of multiple interests. Ms. Larson has been involved in a variety of industry organizations and activities, including presenting applied research results at meetings and national conferences, and serving on boards including for the Northwest Hydroelectric Association and the Hydropower Foundation. She has a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University and holds a Wharton Executive Management CPD in Strategy and Leadership.

Chief Innovation Officer & Venture management

Items International

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Pierre-jean Cherret connects the dots between highly innovative products with new markets, helping both financial investors and entrepreneurs to create impactfull collaborative partnerships, project origination funnels for skyrocked sales, networking platforms for due diligence and business development. He loves to impulse change with a mixed open ecosystem of hightech industries, startups and CVC's wrapped around an outreach business strategy to be executed. He also develops and extends global sales with a turnkey customer-focused approach.

 

His areas of expertise include; Energy markets & policy, Cleantech, Smart & distributed Grids & Cities, Supply Chain, Asset mngt, Project Finance & program mngt , Contract Negotiations, Due Diligence &M/A support, Lobbying & Strategic analysis, Market studies, Business development, Sales & Bid & account mngt. Technological scouting, smart data/IOT, and Business/IT master plan.

 

His accomplishments are; 1 to 5 M€ turnover, scouted and engaged with more than 200+ startups, 50+ CAC40 business partners and clients, 2M€ program mngt scope.

Chairman and CEO

American Renewable Energy Institute

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Chip Comins is the Chairman and CEO of the American Renewable Energy Institute, (AREI, Inc), Founder of the AREDAY Summit, Expo and Film Festival, Managing Director of American Spirit Productions, President and CEO of WEnergy, Inc. and Co-founder of the Green Girl Minute. He has produced and directed both long and short form documentary films for educational and broadcast television markets, including The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, DOE Wind Powering America, PBS, Link TV and BET. A long-time advocate of developing and implementing renewable energy resources to abate greenhouse gases and climate change, Comins advocates a business approach to solving both the economic and environmental crisis. In 2009, he produced 13 official side events at the UNFCCC COP 15 in Copenhagen and is now producing the 13th Anniversary AREDAY Summit featuring President Jimmy Carter “Accelerating Solutions for the Great Transition” August 10-13, 2014.

CEO

SureChill

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Over 13 years of Managerial experience in General Management, Strategy & Planning, Business Partnering, Corporate Finance and Financial Audit roles acquiring strong knowledge across various continents, operations and functions.

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➢ Track record of driving organisations toward better operational and financial performance delivering action oriented financial and business performance information, proposing strategic direction and building a strong organisation to sustain the changes implemented.

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➢ Reached Country General Management role after 12 years of professional experiences working in blue chip MNCs, smaller FMCG companies, BIG4 and now in a fast growing start-up company. Having covered or partnered with most business functions in my career (Financial Planning & Analysis, Strategy, Commercial, Supply Chain, Corporate Finance, Controlling, Audit, Reporting, Treasury, Business Development,...) I am a hands-on General Manager able to coach directors on detailed Business Operations while being able to put in place Strategic direction of a company to deliver strong and profitable growth of the Business.

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➢ MBA in International Business (Canada) & Master in Management (France) with Finance and Accountancy specialisation.

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➢ Consistently exceeded expectations with accomplishments being recognised by fast promotions, wide responsibilities becoming quickly the right hand of Business Leaders early in my career and learning from them to manage a Business end to end. More recently I have proven my ability to set-up a business in a new country, lead it and exceed by far the Board plans.

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➢ Respected leader, collaborative and natural team-player, drive organisations toward increased efficiency, better business results and stronger capabilities.

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➢ Action-oriented with strong problem-solving and analytical skills, strong business acumen, deal with large quantity of information to identify/anticipate issues and drive a fact based decision making process.

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➢ Understand, leverage and implemented various Information Systems (Odoo, SAP, BW, MS Dynamic, Oracle, Pronto, Odoo).

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➢ Multicultural understanding with easy adaptability to new environments: worked/studied for more than a year in 8 different countries across 4 different continents (Senegal, Nigeria, Singapore, China, USA, Canada, Switzerland & France); traveled in over 90 countries worldwide.

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➢ French/English (Fluent), German/Spanish (Intermediate), Mandarin (Beginner).

Co-founder

Cedar Street Capital, LLC

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Peter is the co-founder of Cedar Street Capital, LLC, an advisory firm headquartered in New York that assists its emerging markets clients, in raising capital in amounts greater than $20 million.

 

Peter has focused on promoting and facilitating growth over the course of his career, primarily through raising capital for growing firms, but he has also been an entrepreneur and founder of several firms over the course of his career.

 

Throughout the 1980's and 1990's his primary focus was on working to raise funds for early-stage technology companies across a wide spectrum of industries. Early last decade, he changed the focus of his activities to the emerging markets of Africa and Latin America, and along with that switch in focus he shifted his activities towards more mature companies seeking expansion capital as opposed to early-stage funding.

 

Over the course of his career, he has worked on deals in virtually every large industry sector ranging from software and telecom to banking and agriculture.

 

In terms of standout transactions, Peter's two most significant transactions were in the African financial sector. From 2005-2007 he helped raise over $50 million for the micro-lender Blue Financial Services of South Africa, and in 2007 he led a $161 million private equity investment into Intercontinental Bank of Nigeria.

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In order to complete this transaction, Peter helped craft a novel deal structure that guaranteed the investors a refund in case of malfeasance by the bank. The bank was taken over and restructured by the Nigerian government, and the investors were able to successfully retrieve virtually their entire investment in legal proceedings.

Managing Director

Petrolog Group of Companies

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George Ebuh is the Managing Director of the Petrolog Group of Companies, leading Petrolog’s international E&P services operations, including North America, Latin America and SSA regions. Prior to this role, he established and lead Petrolog’s operations in Latin America and expanded Petrolog’s footprint in the SSA region while increasing revenues 5-fold during this period.

 

He is a proven leader with over 23 years of experience in the energy sub-sector, a world-class international business development guru with acute relationship management expertise.

 

He is pioneering Petrolog’s energy transition into the renewables sector, establishing its subsidiary, AFEFE, with a principal focus on offshore wind in the SSA region.

 

George Ebuh holds a degree in Chemical Engineering (Environmental Concentration) with a minor in Geophysics and is an Alumni of the Harvard Business School. He is a COREN certified Engineer with professional affiliations with AiChe, SPE, SEG, & NSE.

Head of the Royal House Andriakazomanga-Zafimbolamena

Madagascar

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His Royal Highness Prince Rina Telesphore, Head of the Royal House Andriakazomanga-Zafimbolamena born June 30th, 1976, comes from two long royal lineages in Madagascar.

 

He is an inheritor from the Kingdom of the Zafimbolamena of Sakalava Menabe by his late father Prince Raymond Telesphore (Zafinimamiratra), and the Kingdom of Andriakazomanga of the Merina Vakinankaratra by his mother, Princess Voahangy Soa Rafiringa. His Royal Highness Prince Rina Telesphore is married to Pst Norma Queensly and has six children, one son and five daughters, two of whom are twins.

 

He has two brothers and a sister, those still alive Prince Manak´Ash ou Menakasina (Rado Telesphore), a sister Yahloah (Miora Jeny Telesphore), and a deceased brother, Prince Fy Telesphore.

 

By his love for serving his God and his people, His Highness Prince Rina Telesphore and his wife are founders of the Christian Shrine Ministry International based in Mauritius to pray and help his compatriots.

 

He has held and holds many high responsibility positions in the service of countries. Among others, he is the Special Envoy, Ambassador of the African Diaspora Union, National President of various professional groups such as Association of Jewelers and Lapidaires of Madagascar, Federal President of Indian Ocean Bijoutiers, or Vice-President of Small Exporters from Madagascar.

 

He holds a triple Doctorate Honoris Causa in Diplomacy, Humanity and Human Rights.

 

His Royal Highness sits on the Board of Regents of the Harvest Christian University of Dallas (United States of America).

Senior Nuclear Electrical Engineer 

ENTERGY 

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Over his 40-year professional career Bai has contributed his expertise to over forty major and minor power plant projects and their associated interconnections worldwide. This involved detailed power plant and transmission systems design engineering, Systems and operations planning, project development-feasibility assessment oversight, and construction management.

 

Among his more notable assignments, Mr. Blyden served as Project Manager on the Calpine team, which planned a 70,000 MW development program that included EPC oversight. Within this scope he also served as a site Construction Manager for the Emergency Peaker Program which constructed and commissioned eleven (11x 45 MW.) General Electric simple cycle gas turbine units in response to California executive order D-26-01 issued to protect the grid around Silicon Valley at the peak of the 2001 California energy crisis. Mr. Blyden has also worked on large Nuclear, Hydro, and mid to small distributed energy systems, having held senior technical consulting and staff positions with various utilities, AE, and Manufacturing firms such as TVA; Pacific Gas & Electric; Bechtel, ABB, Cummins, The New York Power Authority, Texas Utilities. He is currently completing the updates on the electrical

 

Computer models for the 2 x 940 MW Plant Hatch power station at Southern Company as part of the Calculations Design Basis Validation Program for Configuration Management and Post Fukushima retrofits.

 

An early advocate of an Integrated African Grid, Mr. Blyden has presented a conceptual framework and technical analysis for a centralized African Power pool with links to North Africa at the first IEEE Region 8 conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, December 1983. Since then, he has authored several papers on African Energy Development, emphasizing the strategic role of Regional Power Pool Interconnections, Micro Grids, and Knowledge transfer and development. Towards this end, he has developed The African Power Development Knowledge Engine, which is an advanced training and development conceptual framework designed to harness the dynamic results created by linking African technical colleges and universities to current international R&D focused on Power & Energy.

 

Mr. Blyden earned an MS EE from Moscow Energetics Institute in Power Systems, Generation and Industrial Distribution Systems. He has made numerous professional development awards, certifications, and accreditations. Fluent in multiple languages, which include English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic. Mr. Blyden brings a multicultural mindset and an exceptional relationship-building acumen. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and serves as Chair of the IEEE PES International Practices subcommittee for Africa, and is an IEEE Smart Village Global Ambassador. He also serves as a Senior Advisor to Centric Ltd a commercial startup with 21 st century structurally advanced and sustainable Green building systems. He is the founder of the Strategic consulting group BBRM Group, LLC.

Professor and Executive Director

Regis University and Energy Africa Conference

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Dr. Luka Powanga is a professor of Economics and Finance in the Anderson College of Business and Computing at Regis University. He is the founder of the Energy Africa Conference (https://energyafricaconference.com) to help Africa meet its Energy Demand. He is also the founding member of the Denver Chapter of the Angel Capital Group and the Powanga Group, focused on connecting US investors to Projects in Africa. He is also the co-founder of the Africa Healthcare Group, focused on improving the quality and access to healthcare in Africa. He worked in the mining and telecommunications industry at local and international levels. He taught at Colorado School of Mines before transitioning to Regis University. He consults in economic development, mining, energy, international business management, healthcare and education. He has spoken at many business forums and sits on many boards.

 

Dr. Powanga holds a BSC degree in Metallurgy and Mineral Processing from the University of Zambia, Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Mineral Economics from Colorado School of Mines USA. He also holds a Master's degree in Computer Information Technology (MSCIT) and Graduate Certificate in Object-Oriented Programming from Regis University.