Prof. Emeka Oguzie

Keynote Speaker

Professor of Physical Chemistry & Deputy Vice Chancellor, FUTO Nigeria — ACE-FUELS Centre Leader.

Dr. Francis Kinyanjui

Keynote: Emerging Battery Technologies (provisional)

Dr. Francis Kinyanjui is a battery materials scientist in the role of Research Scientist at SINTEF Industry in Trondheim Norway, working across battery materials, electrode processing, cell prototyping, testing, scale-up and value chains. His work spans lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery technologies, including graphite and silicon-graphite anodes, hard carbon, LFP/LMFP, LNMO, NMC and next-generation electrode manufacturing.

He previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford in the Department of Materials, in the Peter Bruce group. He is also active in European battery strategy work through CSA's e.g Batteries Europe and StoRIES where he contributes to advanced materials road mapping and KPI development within BEPA (Batteries European Partnership Association).

Originally from Kenya and an alumnus of Strathmore College, Dr. Kinyanjui is particularly interested in connecting European battery R&D capabilities with emerging-market needs in energy storage, e-mobility, local value chains, skills development, policy and sustainable industrialisation.

Frank Mugyenyi

Keynote: Critical Minerals

Mr. Mugyenyi is the founder and Board Chairman of MADI. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of AB Minerals and Eschaton Solutions (both Canadian entities) and a member of Uganda’s Presidential Investors Round Table (PIRT) on the thematic area. of Minerals Value Addition.

Mr. Mugyenyi is currently Coordinator of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Institutional Support Project funded by AfDB and Senior Industry Advisor to Commissioner for Trade and Industry, African Union Commission (AUC). Mr. Mugyenyi is a citizen of Uganda.

Prof. Mkhulu Mathe

Panelist

Professor of Energy Materials, Energy Catalytic Niche Area, University of South Africa.

Prof. Ghulam Ali

Speaker

Professor of Materials Science, National University of Science & Technology (NUST), Pakistan.

Prof. Tajudeen Humble Sikiru

Panelist | Lead Consultant, AfDB

Prof. Tajudeen Humble Sikiru is a power systems engineer, researcher, and technopreneur who has spent over two decades at the forefront of Africa's energy transition — designing, financing, and delivering infrastructure that has brought reliable power to hundreds of thousands of people across four countries. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems & Renewable Energy) from the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin, France, a D.Tech in Electrical Engineering from Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa, and an M.Sc and B.Eng (Honours) in Electrical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University. He is a registered member of COREN and the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and was awarded Best Doctor of Technology Project Presentation at TUT in 2013.

He currently leads the African Development Bank's Nigeria Battery Energy Storage Systems Project as Lead Consultant — a feasibility programme whose grid diagnostics, technology evaluation, and regulatory design have built the technical and institutional case for a proposed $5 billion national BESS deployment, now moving from feasibility into implementation. In parallel, he serves as BESS Expert on the World Bank-funded 25MW/28MWh SOLEER Project in Burkina Faso, leading the engineering and grid-integration design of one of West Africa's flagship storage deployments.

As founder of RANA Technologies & UEIR Quantum Lab, Prof. Sikiru has delivered power systems and renewable energy consultancy for clients including Deloitte and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. His earlier career includes leadership roles spanning rural electrification, solar infrastructure, and humanitarian energy access — including as Solar Energy Expert for the UN's International Organization for Migration and technical lead on EU/DFID-funded health-sector energy programmes — together delivering over 105 off-grid solar installations exceeding 6.7 MWp and impacting more than 574,000 people across rural Nigeria.

Prof. Sikiru is Professor of Systems Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he supervises postgraduate research and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on power systems analysis, network structural characteristics, and control systems engineering. His current research extends beyond classical power systems into quantum information theory and AI alignment — applying rigorous mathematical frameworks to questions of system stability that span both physical grids and computational ones.

Asnath Gateri

Regular Speaker: Session F

Asnath Gateri is a circular economy and clean energy expert with over seven years of experience supporting the development and scaling of sustainable energy and circularity initiatives across Africa. Her work sits at the intersection of applied battery innovation, circular business models, and real-world deployment in off-grid and weak-grid contexts. For over five years, she has supported high-impact startups in the circular economy and renewable energy sectors, working closely with founding teams on business model development, unit economics, and pathways to commercial scale.

In her role as Head of Programs & Partnerships at AceleAfrica, she has led battery reuse initiatives, contributing to the testing, system integration, and deployment of second-life lithium ion battery systems for mini grids, electric vehicles, humanitarian operations, and productive-use enterprises. Pursuing an MSc in Economics, she focuses on translating circular energy innovations into commercially viable and reliable energy solutions.

Joseph Mungai

Panelist: Discussion II | Founder & Chief Executive Officer, AceleAfrica

Joseph Mungai is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of AceleAfrica, a Kenyan clean energy company advancing battery manufacturing, energy storage, and circular economy solutions across Africa. With over a decade of experience in renewable energy, battery technologies, and sustainable development, he has been at the forefront of developing innovative energy systems that expand access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in underserved and emerging markets.

Joseph previously served as Head of Africa Operations and Country Manager at Aceleron Energy, where he led the deployment and commercialization of advanced lithium battery technologies across multiple African countries. His expertise spans battery manufacturing, energy storage systems, battery repurposing, circular economy business models, project development, and strategic partnerships.

Under his leadership, AceleAfrica has pioneered the development of both first-life and second-life lithium battery systems, supporting productive use of energy, e-mobility, mini-grids, and off-grid communities while promoting responsible battery lifecycle management. He has worked extensively with governments, development agencies, research institutions, investors, and private sector partners to accelerate clean energy adoption and strengthen local battery value chains.

Joseph is a passionate advocate for green industrialization and Africa-led innovation in the battery sector, with a particular interest in creating sustainable pathways for battery manufacturing, reuse, recycling, and energy access across emerging economies.

Matthew Howard

Chief Strategy Officer, Faraday Institution

Matt Howard is the Chief Strategy Officer for the Faraday Institution. He is responsible for working with the Executive Team to drive the organisation’s overall strategic direction. He oversees a portfolio that includes developing and stewarding new strategic partnerships, international and government relations and relationships that build the Faraday Institution’s impact, visibility, value, thought leadership and longevity.

Monica Gichuhi

Regular Speaker: ESG and Critical Minerals Dynamics | Minerals Governance Consultant

Partnering in projects in the extractives industry to promote sustainable development. Current focus is on just energy transition and assessment of ESG frameworks to support responsible sourcing of critical / strategic minerals from Africa.

Promoting responsible sourcing of minerals from Africa to ensure greater benefits of extraction to source countries. Advocating for value addition of minerals inline with the Africa Mining Vision through establishing linkages and collaborations in the minerals value chain. Passionate about supporting and working with artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) in attaining their formalization. Adept at advocating for the inclusion and participation of women in the mining industry.

Prof. Nithya Palaniyandy

Associate Professor, Institute for Catalysis and Energy Solutions (ICES)

Associate Professor at the Institute for Catalysis and Energy Solutions (ICES), University of South Africa-Florida Science Campus (UNISA) focusing on the development of electrode materials for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries.

Prof. Kaniki Tumba

Associate Professor of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North-West University, South Africa

Professor Kaniki Tumba is an Associate Professor of Chemical and Minerals Engineering at North-West University in South Africa, with 15 years of experience in teaching, research, supervision, and academic leadership. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and is also affiliated with the School of Mines at the Official University of Bukavu, as well as the African Centre of Excellence for Batteries.

Prof. Tumba leads the South African Circular Minerals and Metals Initiative, a national innovation-centred programme aimed at accelerating the uptake of circular economy principles in the mining sector through the co-creation of impactful projects between South African university and mining companies. His research interests include circularity in the minerals and metals value chain, chemical thermodynamics applied to separations, life cycle analysis, minerals processing, sustainable pyrometallurgy, renewable energy, and energy storage.

He has co-authored 80 research articles and serves on the editorial board of the South African Journal of Chemical Engineering. As a National Research Foundation (NRF) C2-rated researcher, he has secured research funding from the NRF as well as local and international organisations. His international collaborations span several countries and have led to visiting scholar appointments at Jilin University in China, Chandigarh University in China and the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In his role as Skills Development and Training Director at the African Centre of Excellence for Batteries, Prof. Tumba is currently leading projects focused on the development and delivery of short and long learning programmes aimed at preparing young people for employment opportunities across the battery value chain.

Dr. Eng. Fenwicks S. Musonye

Deputy Director Energy Efficiency, EPRA | Adjunct Faculty, Strathmore University

Dr. Eng. Fenwicks S. Musonye, P.E., CEM®, CMVP®, CREP®, PMP® holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nairobi, an MSc and PhD in Energy Technology from JKUAT, and a postgraduate diploma in Project Management from KIM. He currently works for EPRA as Deputy Director Energy Efficiency, for Strathmore University as an adjunct faculty member, and for the Africa School of Regulations as a Course Director for Energy Efficiency. He is also an international consultant in Energy Systems Engineering.

His areas of expertise include energy auditing, energy management systems, appliance standards and labelling, curriculum development, project management, modelling and simulation, QMS, training, energy policy and economics. Dr. Eng. Musonye is a member of various national and international learned societies and is a student of martial arts.

Dr. Isheunesu Phiri

Research Associate, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)

Dr. Isheunesu Phiri is a Research Associate at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and has previously worked as a Research Professor at Hanbat National University, South Korea, where his research focuses on next-generation energy storage materials, including high-voltage Ni-rich cathodes, lithium-metal batteries, functional separators, and advanced membrane materials.

He obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Hanbat National University and has authored more than 38 peer-reviewed publications, several patents, and has collaborated with industry partners including LG Energy Solution, Hyundai, and Kia. His current research aims to develop high-energy-density, fast-charging battery technologies through innovative materials design, advanced characterization, and electrochemical engineering.

Tombo Banda

Managing Director, CrossBoundary Mini-Grid Innovation Lab

Tombo is a Managing Director at CrossBoundary, based in Nairobi, where she leads the Mini-Grid Innovation Lab. The Lab works with developers, funders, and policymakers to trial new energy access business models that reduce cost, increase consumption, and accelerate commercial viability across the sector. Its work supports Africa's transition to the grid of the future: a decentralised system balancing generation, storage, and consumption across utilities, public-private partnerships, and end consumers. Through structured pilots and open-source research, the Lab has shaped industry practice on tariff design, productive use, demand stimulation, modular grids, and battery technology.

She holds an MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge and an MEng in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London, and is a chartered engineer with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (UK).

Helidah Wagude

Associate, CrossBoundary Mini-Grid Innovation Lab

Helidah is an Associate at CrossBoundary's Mini-Grid Innovation Lab, where she works closely with mini-grid developers, governments, and sector partners across Africa to pilot and scale innovations that strengthen the viability of the mini-grid business model in order to drive more private investment into the sector.

Helidah holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Prior to joining CrossBoundary, she served as a Business Analyst at Delta40 Venture Studio, supporting fundraising efforts, stakeholder engagement, and strategy development. Previously, as a Research Analyst at Factor[e] Ventures, she conducted primary research and supported venture ideation across Agriculture, Energy, Mobility, and WASH sectors. Passionate about catalyzing transformative solutions, Helidah leverages her technical expertise, research skills and relationship-building to amplify innovation and create lasting impact across Africa.