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

Distinguished Professor, University of South Africa (UNISA)

Professor Mkhulu Mathe is a Distinguished Professor in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) at the University of South Africa (UNISA), where he leads the Energy Catalytic Niche Area and heads the Centre for Energy Materials Design and Innovation (CEMDI) within ICES.

With nearly 40 years of experience, he is internationally recognised for his work in advanced energy materials, electrochemistry, batteries, hydrogen technologies, and sustainable energy solutions. He earned his PhD in Analytical Chemistry/Electrochemistry from the University of Georgia and a Master's degree from the University of Transkei.

He has held senior leadership roles, including Chief Researcher at the CSIR and Chair of the University of Johannesburg's PEETS station from 2016 to 2024. He has also played an integral role in organising major conferences such as ICAT 2024, AMRS 2017, and ISE 70 in Durban, and serves on several advisory bodies, including Isondo Precious Metals Pty Ltd, the NACI Energy Storage Sub-committee, and the Department of Energy's Nuclear RDI Committee.

At UNISA, he continues to advance the university's energy research agenda, build strategic partnerships, review high-impact journals, and supervise MSc and PhD students across South Africa.