NIEC2025

RICHAFRICA CONSULTANCY

Selma served as the lead consultant on oil and gas in the development of Namibia's National Energy Policy and contributed to the review of the White Paper on Energy. Her work addressed cross-cutting matters including local content, mainstreaming gender, capacity building, regional integration and sustainability —playing a key role in shaping Namibia's evolving energy landscape.

She is the visionary founder and curator of the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC), Africa's premier energy platform, which she has led since its inception in 2012. Under her leadership, NIEC has brought together more than 2,200 delegates and 332 speakers from 46 countries in partnership with leading institutions such as Chevron, TotalEnergies, Shell, ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and major finanical institutions. The conference has emerged as a catalyst for high-impact partnerships and strategic collaboration across the energy value chain.

A speaker and thought leader, Selma has participated at major forums including African Energy Week, the Afreximbank Annual Meeting (Russia), EU-Africa Business Forum, Forbes Women Africa and the Katanga Business Meeting (DRC). A proud Namibian, Selma is deeply passionate about Africa's transformation and the continent's ability to leverage its natural resources for inclusive sustainable development. She founded the Future Energy Leaders Legacy Programme, an initiative to nurture the next generation of Namibian energy leaders through mentorship and leadership development.

She serves as a non-executive board member of Namib Desert Diamonds (NAMDIA) and previously on the board of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR). She also co-drafted Namibia's Cybercrime Bill in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and European Commission under the 'Harmonisation of ICT Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa' initiative. Her professional background spans roles with Namdeb Diamond Corporation (a De Beers-Namibia joint venture) and Howells Solicitors (UK).

Selma holds two Master of Laws (LLM) degrees—in International Trade Law (University of Leeds) and Mineral Law and Policy (University of Dundee)—and a BSc in Business Management and Computer Information Systems (La Roche University, USA). She is an alumna of board training programs with TheBoardroom Africa and the Institute of Directors UK.

MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY

CHEVRON INTERNATIONAL E&P

NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION OF NAMIBIA (NAMCOR)

SHELL EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COMPANY

AFRICAN ENERGY CHAMBER

ECO ATLANTIC OIL & GAS

NAMIBIA ENERGY CORPORATION (NEC)

VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION

CHEVRON

S&P GLOBAL COMMODITY INSIGHTS

VP EARLY ENGAGEMENT, GAS & LOW CARBON ENERGIES

TECHNIP ENERGIES

RISK-BASED SOLUTIONS (RBS)

Charlotte Nangolo is a proactive mining professional with over 20 years of robust experience in operations, technical functions, and corporate governance within the natural resources sector. As a co-founder and current non-executive director of Stardust Power Inc., a Nasdaq-listed company launched two years ago, she is instrumental in driving initiatives in lithium refining in the United States.

Ms. Nangolo is committed to advancing the field of battery minerals, with a specific focus on developing lithium projects across all continents. Throughout her career, she has held several important technical positions with leading mining production companies and reputable consulting firms such as SRK Consulting.

She holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, which further equips her to contribute meaningfully to the industry’s growth and innovation.

LEGAL & CORPORATE AFFAIRS DIRECTOR

AZULE ENERGY

Irvin was admitted as a legal practitioner of the High Court of Namibia in April 2003. His areas of practice focus on mergers and acquisitions, competition (antitrust) law, natural resources law, banking and finance, corporate and commercial law, and law of contract. He undertakes due diligences investigations in large merger and acquisition transactions and has advised multinationals and major corporations with respect to financing arrangements in such acquisitions.

He regularly advises local and international banks on banking regulation in Namibia and all aspects of general bank and institutional debt finance, as well as capital markets. He has contributed to publications in the “International Comparative Legal Guide” and “Getting the Deal Through” on topics related to oil and gas regulation in Namibia. Irvin is a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) and the Law Society of Namibia.

S&P GLOBAL – SUB SAHARAN AFRICA

Munolwisho Elizabeth Ipangelwa is a distinguished legal expert and visionary leader in environmental law, energy policy, and sustainable development. With an extensive academic background that includes a Master’s in Environmental Law from the University of Cape Town, a Master’s in Business Administration from Stellenbosch Business School, and a Bachelors degree in Law, she has dedicated her career to advancing energy innovation in Namibia and beyond.

Munolwisho has worked for the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia as in-house legal advisor and currently employed as Green Hydrogen Advisor at GIZ. As part of her role in supporting Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy through GIZ’s Just Energy Transition program, Munolwisho has been instrumental in shaping the country’s green hydrogen sector. Her work includes conducting legislative gap analyses, localizing green industrialization and spearheading the development of national quality standards for export-ready green hydrogen products.

Munolwisho’s efforts emphasize green industrialization as a key to localizing industries, creating value-added opportunities, and addressing youth unemployment in Namibia. Her leadership extends to serving on the Africa Union Youth Advisory Board on Disaster Risk and a true patriot for Namibia’s energy sector, Munolwisho is passionate about leveraging local resources for sustainable development. Her work represents a fusion of legal expertise, environmental stewardship, and a commitment to advancing Namibia’s role in the global energy transition.

Munolwisho Elizabeth Ipangelwa is a sought-after speaker and advocate for creating inclusive, sustainable pathways to economic growth and energy equity.

PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

ECO ATLANTIC OIL & GAS

COUNTRY LEADER

DELOITTE NAMIBIA

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT

NAUTILUS MINING & ENERGY

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

RMB NAMIBIA

PARTNER

ENGLING, STRITTER & PARTNERS

CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER

SBM OFFSHORE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PETROLEUM TRAINING AND EDUCATION FUND (PETROFUND)

HEAD OF UPSTREAM

GALP Energia

PRESIDENT

NNF ENERGY CONSULTANCY

VICE PRESIDENT GEOSCIENCE WH

TGS

GENERAL MANAGER

PUMA ENERGY NAMIBIA

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

SINTANA ENERGY

HEAD OF ESG

HYPHEN HYDROGEN ENERGY

PROGRAMME LEAD – ENERGY, OIL & GAS, MARITIME LAW

ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITY

ADVISORY BOARD & FORMER PETROSA CEO

AFRICAN ENERGY CHAMBER

GLOBAL MODERATOR and FACILITATOR

HG PRODUCTIONS

VICE PRESIDENT EXPLORATION

WOODSIDE ENERGY

DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER

BW KUDU

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SONANGOL INTEGRATED LOGISTICS SERVICES (SONILS)

CHIEF STRATEGY AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

DEVELOPMENT BANK OF NAMIBIA

Heike Scholtz is the Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer and acting Chief Investment Officer at the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN). As an impact investor in Namibia, her life has been dedicated to unlocking innovative development solutions. She draws on her multi-facetted skills and interests to create systems that unlock development through finance.

Besides pioneering renewable energy finance and infrastructure mega-projects in Namibia, she was instrumental in the implementation of the DBN Project Preparation Fund. Heike led the team that arranged and structured the N$4.5 billion transaction for the National Fuel Storage in Walvis Bay project. She has also led the team that structured and implemented a Credit Guarantee Scheme to support funding for SMEs and is busy setting up a Government-seeded Venture Capital Fund.

Her qualifications include a Bachelor in Civil Engineering, a MBA (Investment & Finance) and a Master in Infrastructure Management.

DIRECTOR : BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

GOLDWIND AFRICA

Hebren James has 2 decades of industry experience. He has been involved in the South African renewable energy sector since the inception of the Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and in the South African power sector since 2009.

Prior to joining Goldwind Africa, as the Director of Business Development, he was the Country Manager for Sany Renewable Energy, taking charge of the Southern Africa region, Hebren has been an independent consultant in the energy sector; succeeding the role where he spearheaded the renewable energy Danish technical advisory firm, K2 Management into the African markets between 2017 to 2020. Prior to this role, he held a senior sales and business development position at a global wind turbine manufacturer, where he was responsible for the Sub-Saharan Africa markets during which time, he concluded wind turbine supply agreements in excess of 600MWs. He has also been the responsible wind turbine project manager on over 200MWs, and project managed and worked on over 8GWs of installed capacity in South Africa.

DEPUTY VP ENGINEERING

DORIS

GAS SECTOR LEAD

STANDARD BANK

Paul Eardley-Taylor is responsible for Standard Bank’s Gas sector coverage activities across Sub-Saharan Africa, covering upstream, midstream, downstream, services and process industry gas clients. Paul is also heavily involved in Standard Bank’s Energy Transition activities.

Paul has 27 years of energy corporate and investment banking experience, covering the Oil & Gas and Power & Utilities sectors and has been based in Africa for 17 years. Prior to joining Standard Bank in 2008, Paul worked for HSBC for over 10 years and gained extensive experience of transactions across EMEA and select global markets in Asia/Australasia

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Africa50

Tshepidi Moremong was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Africa50 in July, 2021. She leads a multi-disciplinary team including Fundraising, Investor Relations, Strategy, Human Resources and Administration, Communications, and Environmental and Social Governance. She is a seasoned executive with more than twenty years of experience in private equity, corporate finance, and business development. Before joining Africa50, Tshepidi spent nine years at Rand Merchant South Africa, where she was the Head of Client Coverage for Africa (ex. South Africa), with responsibility for business development and client relationship management across nine markets. During her tenure, Ms. Moremong successfully built and led a multi-regional team which delivered significant results for RMB’s rest of Africa franchise across corporate and investment banking. Her career includes time spent with institutions in private equity and investment banking. Ms. Moremong has previously served as Chairperson of the African Venture Capital Association, and has held directorships for both listed and unlisted companies in Africa. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Public Policy from Swarthmore College and an MBA in Finance from Columbia University Business School.

HEAD CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANKING

STANDARD BANK NAMIBIA

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT FUND (EIF)

Benedict Libanda is the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia. A seasoned environmental expert with over 17 years’ experience in the area of climate financing, fund raising, carbon credits and financing, and environmental fund structuring. Mr. Libanda has provided support for climate investment planning and financing to several governments, regional bodies, development banks, commercial banks, private equity firms, transactional advisory entities, and international institutions. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Developmental Studies from the University of the Free State, South Africa, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University Leicester, England.

GENERAL COUNSEL

RECON AFRICA

VICE PRESIDENT & COUNTRY GENERAL MANAGER

RECONAISSANCE ENERGY NAMIBIA

Robert Mwanachilenga, is a Petroleum Engineer with specialisations in Drilling and Production Engineering, Project Management, Mining, Renewable Energy; Cost Engineering. 

He has about 30 years’ experience in the on and offshore oil and gas and energy sectors and has worked for companies such as: Deutsche Schachtbau und Tiefborgesellschaft; Brasoil (Petrobras); NAMCOR; Chariot Oil and Gas (Enigma); Maurel et Prom and now Reconnaissance Energy Namibia. 

Of the 30 years, 20 years’ experience include university lecturing and moderation at the University of Namibia and the Namibia University of Science and Technology, five years mining exploration (mainly primary and secondary gold, rare earths, copper) and renewable energy. 

His international oil and gas experience mainly covers West Africa, Brazil, USA, Southern Africa, and German.

HEAD OF ENERGY

RAND MERCHANT BANK

Liz Williamson is the Head of Energy for Rand Merchant Bank and is responsible for M&A transactions in Renewable Energy as well as Oil and Gas across Africa. She has led the growth of the bank’s international energy client base since 2015. 

Originally from Texas but now based in London, Liz started her career in private equity focused on domestic upstream transactions. Thereafter she joined GMP Securities and Canaccord where she advised international E&P companies on capital markets and M&A.

Liz holds an Honours degree from Davidson (US) and a Masters in Energy Finance from the City University London, Bayes Business School.

EXPLORATION MANAGER

PIONEER OIL AND GAS CONSULTING

Yuri Perez Martinez is a Petroleum Geologist with 23+ years in the upstream sector. He holds a degree in Engineering in Geology from The University of Moa (Holguin, Cuba) and a MSc. in Petroleum Geology from University of Pinar Del Rio, Cuba (2008). He worked at the Cuban National Oil Company for 10+ years, at the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Namibia (3y) and for the last 10+ years at Pioneer Oil and Gas consulting where he is Managing Director. Pioneer has offices in Windhoek and Luanda and its main purpose is to provide support and consulting services to oil and gas exploration companies operating in the region. His professional expertise comprises hydrocarbon potential assessment (conventional and non-conventional), oil & gas exploration, onshore and offshore evaluation, basin analysis, petroleum systems analysis, structural geology, geo-statistics, seismic interpretation, potential field data processing and interpretation.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

ELECTRICITY CONTROL BOARD (ECB)

Mr. Kahimise has a 20-year leadership experience in the Electricity Supply Industry. His leadership acumen and technical qualities as a seasoned executive were demonstrated at ErongoRED, where he served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from July 2013 until January 2017 and thereafter as CEO of the City of Windhoek from February 2017 until October 2020. He was appointed CEO of Central North Regional Electricity Distributor (CENORED) from November 2020 until 31 March 2023, and was appointed ECB CEO effective 1 April 2023.

He has served on numerous boards, including the Namibia Energy Institute (NEI).

He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) specializing in finance from the University of Stellenbosch Business School in South Africa and is a certified regulation specialist by the University of Loughborough, United Kingdom.

His key focus at ECB is to transition ECB into an energy regulator, in line with similar regulatory authorities in the SADC region. Another key focus area is the development of regulatory tools that are responsive to disruptive technologies, while at the same time finding ways to leverage on disruptive technologies to find solutions to security of supply-related challenges.

Mr Kahimise is taking over at a time of extreme market evolution and dynamism of the Electricity Supply Industry, which warrants incentive-based regulation, to encourage good performance and ensure the financial sustainability of licensed entities.

SENIOR REPORTER

NAMIBIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Blanche Susline Goreses is a news reporter and prime time news bulletin anchor. She serves as the Chief News Correspondent at the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, bringing 12 years of experience in the media industry. Her extensive background in media and journalism has equipped her with strong communication and writing skills, as well as the ability to research complex topics. This experience has honed her capacity to meet deadlines, perform well under pressure, and quickly adapt to new environments.

Through her current role as a correspondent assigned to the Office of the President, she reports on various socio-economic issues of public interest, such as energy security, infrastructure development, and foreign relations. The opportunity to moderate at the Namibia International Energy Conference, aimed at promoting industry growth and help position Namibia as a leading energy hub, is particularly timely, as the country has been at the forefront of international discussions regarding both renewable and non-renewable energy potential over the past five years. She has been dedicated to covering these topics and demonstrating her commitment to informing and educating the public.

Furthermore, this highly anticipated event will serve as an excellent opportunity for her to deepen her understanding of these issues through interactions with industry leaders, business executives, and policymakers.

DIRECTOR

NAMIBIA ENERGY CORPORATION (NEC)

Bruno is an executive with nearly 30 years of experience in the commodities sector, including oil, sugar, ethanol, and metals. He led Glencore Brasil’s oil department for two decades and served as a Director and Board Member at ALE Combustíveis. His expertise encompasses energy projects, infrastructure, LNG facilities, and sustainable practices. As an entrepreneur in exploration and production, infrastructure, and renewable fuels, he studied economics at Universidade Candido Mendes and holds certificates in corporate governance and financial accounting from Wharton and Harvard Business School.

NUCLEAR ENGINEER

EDF

Dame SEYE is a nuclear engineer with over 13 years of experience in the nuclear energy sector, primarily at EDF in France. He specializes in nuclear safety, operations, and training, having served in roles ranging from plant operation and crisis management to simulator-based instruction for licensed operators. 

A graduate of Grenoble INP – ENSE3 with a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Dame has been instrumental in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of nuclear power plants. Beyond his engineering expertise, he is a passionate advocate for Africa’s nuclear future. 

He is the founder and president of the African Association of Professionals in Nuclear (AAPN), initiatives aimed at promoting nuclear knowledge, safety, and innovation across the continent. 

Born in Senegal, fluent in French, English, Dame is also a dedicated husband and father of four, balancing technical leadership with visionary entrepreneurship

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

STANDARD BANK NAMIBIA

Erwin Tjipuka is a distinguished Chartered Accountant and transformational leader with extensive experience in the professional and financial services industries. Currently serving as the Chief Executive of Standard Bank Namibia, he is committed to driving strategic growth and talent development.

Tjipuka holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Namibia, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Accounting from the University of Cape Town, and an MBA from the Maastricht School of Management. He has further honed his leadership expertise through advanced programs at GIBS, Deloitte, Harvard Business School Online, and UCT Graduate School of Business.

With a career spanning senior leadership roles, including Group Chief Financial Officer of FirstRand Namibia Ltd, Country Managing Partner at Deloitte Namibia, and later Franchise CEO at First National Bank Namibia, Tjipuka brings a wealth of experience in financial strategy, governance, and digital transformation. His visionary leadership continues to shape the banking industry in Namibia.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

NAMIBIA POWER CORPORATION (NAMPOWER)

He currently serves as the Managing Director of the Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) Pty Limited, the power utility of Namibia whose core business is the generation, transmission and trading of energy. He is registered as a professional engineer with the Engineering Council of Namibia.

Mr Haulofu started his career as Manager: Construction of Projects and Civil Assets at NamPower in 1998. Among other responsibilities, he was managing 280 construction personnel on various projects, including rural electrification. In March 2003 he was appointed as General Manager: Engineering Services Department where he managed over 260 Engineering Services Employees, including Chief Engineers and managers of various divisions of the power grid.

In October 2004, he was promoted to General Manager: Power Generation Department, directing and coordinating the generation of electrical energy by all existing and future generating stations in a ring-fenced Electricity Supply Industry environment, amongst many other responsibilities. In October 2015 until June 2016, he was appointed as the Acting Managing Director and officially appointed as the substantive Managing Director up to date.

Mr Haulofu also served as:

• The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Central North Regional Electricity Distributor Co. Pty Ltd (CENORED).
• The Chairperson of the Western Power Corridor Company (WESTCOR Pty Ltd) Board of Directors. WESTCOR is owned by 5 SADC countries as a NEPAD sanctioned Project to develop the Grand Inga hydropower plant in the DRC Congo with Headquarters based in Gaborone, Botswana.
• Is the Chairperson of the Baynes Hydropower Plant Project committee of the Permanent Joint Technical Commission (PJTC) between Angola and Namibia to develop the 600MW Baynes Hydro Power Scheme on the lower Kunene River.

Mr Haulofu serves as:

• Chairperson of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), Executive Committee from May 2020 until currently.
• Director at the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• EXCO member for the Public Enterprises CEO forum effective 04 June 2021 end June 2022.

VICE PRESIDENT: NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA & MOZAMBIQUE

SUBEA7

At the start of 2025 Steve joined Subsea 7 as Vice President of Pursuits Namibia, Mozambique & South Africa. Prior to this Steve served as Vice President of Sales & Commercial at Onesubsea & Deputy CEO of the Subsea Integration Alliance (SIA) 

He has over 35 years experience in the oil and gas industry, primarily in subsea Project Execution, Sales, Operations and Executive level Management. He started his career at Cameron Iron Works Ltd, Leeds, UK in 1988, as 16-yr old Technical Apprentice, since then, he has held a number of roles with Cameron, OneSubsea, Schlumberger and now Subsea 7.

Steve has worked in all the major oil and gas regions globally, including UK, Houston, Perth, Australia and Asia. He has held various positions including, Project Manager, Project Director, Regional Manager Africa, Director of Operations and General Manager.

VICE PRESIDENT DIGITAL OFFSHORE AND ATLANTIC

SLB

Benoit Foubert is Vice President Digital for Offshore Atlantic at SLB, a position he assumed in May 2023. Prior to his current role, Benoit held various technical and management positions in operations, technology development and digital product management in the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia, China, Norway, United Kingdom and the United States.

He began his career with Schlumberger in 2000 as an electrical engineer in Sugar-Land Texas working on downhole wireline technology. 

Benoit Foubert holds a master degree in electrical engineering from CentraleSupelec  and a master’s degree in management of Oil & Gas Industry from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University

SENIOR LECTURER: TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

NAMIBIA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY(NUST)

Dr. Gloria Marietjie Tshoopara is an experienced academic and transport and logistics professional with more than a decade of expertise. She holds a PhD in Supply Chain Management, focusing on transport systems preparedness for a regional logistics hub in Namibia. She leads innovative research and impactful industry collaborations as a Senior Lecturer at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). 

Dr. Tshoopara is the acting Head for Marketing, Logistics, and Sport Management at NUST, where she drives strategic initiatives to enhance the department’s academic and professional excellence. She plays a key role in national procurement capacity-building through her involvement in the NUST, NIPAM, and UNAM Consortium, developed by the Ministry of Finance. 

Additionally, as a board member of the Roads Authority of Namibia, she provides expert governance oversight and strategic direction and supports infrastructure and logistics development. With deep expertise in transport, supply chain management, and procurement.  Dr. Tshoopara brings strategic insight and a commitment to infrastructure development in her talk on “Enhancing Growth in Infrastructure and Logistics” in the oil and gas sector

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR – CENTRAL, EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

SLB

Francesco is a seasoned professional with nearly 20 years of experience in the global Oil & Gas industry. He began his career as a Geologist & Geophysicist from where he proceeded to join SLB as a field engineer. He has since transitioned into various leadership roles including Business Development & Sales Manager for Europe & North Sea, Global Account Manager for Eni and, most recently, the Head of Sales and Marketing for Central, East and Southern Africa. 

Francesco has played a key role as SLB’s focal point ensuring SLB is the performance partner of choice, strategically growing the business in Europe, identifying the drivers for customer performance excellence and landing new markets. 

He prides himself in fostering a multicultural approach to developing strategic collaborations, strengthening teamwork, and providing continuous service quality and solutions. He holds a Master’s degree in Geology from the University of Padua in Italy.

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

S&P GLOBAL COMMODITY INSIGHTS

Ismini Katsimpardi is the Africa Regional Lead for the Vantage analytical platform. She is an expert in upstream asset valuation complemented by extensive experience in upstream oil and gas operations, asset management and strategy within an Oil and Gas operator. She leads a team of petroleum engineers, geologists, and economists that generate asset-level production, cost, and economic analysis focused on African oil and gas developments for the Vantage analytical platform. Ms Katsimpardi focuses on a variety of areas including asset valuation, cost modelling, fiscal changes and their impact to production at a regional or wider level and capturing technical and economic risks and uncertainties. She has a particular interest in the ever-changing energy market and more specifically in the E&P transformations required for a more sustainable energy industry.

Ismini joined IHS Markit (now S&P Global) in 2018, after having worked for 6 years as a Reservoir Engineer for an E&P company in the North Sea & Norway, where she focused on production optimisation, reserves evaluation, business planning, and near field exploration and evaluation. Among other, Ismini worked closely with the leadership team advising on production optimisation activities, efficiency improvements, implementing production strategy and identifying cost reduction opportunities. She has also been an integral member of the Production Management and Integration team. Ismini holds degrees in Petroleum Engineering and Mining Engineering from Heriot-Watt University and the National Technical University of Athens.

GENERAL MANAGER

KAESO ENERGY SERVICES

Jorge de Morais, is an esteemed figure in the oil and gas landscape and the visionary behind KAESO ENERGY SERVICES, a flagship local content company. Beyond his expertise in upstream and production engineering, what truly sets Jorge apart are his unwavering values and steadfast ethical principles. 

In every endeavor, Jorge’s commitment to fostering local talent and resources is seamlessly intertwined with his strong ethos. Whether managing operations in challenging environments or building strategic client relationships, his decisions are deeply rooted in integrity and fairness. 

Moreover, Jorge’s dedication to mentoring the next generation comes from not just a passion for industry growth, but also a commitment to instilling these same values in tomorrow’s leaders. Jorge is a leader who embodies both technical mastery and a deep moral compass.

PRESIDENT

AFRICA-AMERICA INSTITUTE (AAI)

Kofi Appenteng is the President of the Africa-America Institute (AAI). Appenteng has 30 years of domestic and international experience as a corporate lawyer, investment banker and board director.

Appenteng serves on the Atlantic Institute Governing Board, the International Advisory Board of IE University, the Board of the Greentree Foundation and the Honorary Council of the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ). He serves as a senior advisor to The Rock Creek Group. He previously served as board chair of the Ford Foundation, the Community Service Society of New York and ICTJ.  In recognition of his work in business and philanthropy, he was named a “Great American Immigrant” by the Carnegie Corporation in 2013.

Born in Ghana, Appenteng, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Wesleyan University and Juris Doctor from Columbia University. Appenteng then began his career as a corporate lawyer and, in 1994, became the first Black African to become a partner at a major New York City law firm.

DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

SHANDONG PETROCHINA ENERGY INTERNET DEVELOPMENT

Malcolm Ong is the Deputy General Manager of International Business at Shandong PetroChina Energy Internet Development Co., Ltd., a company focused on advancing clean energy logistics and integrated trade solutions.

With active involvement across the Asian energy market, Malcolm is now contributing to the company’s new footprint in Africa. His work is grounded in building a deeper understanding of regional market needs, particularly in addressing supply chain challenges related to energy accessibility and distribution.

Shandong PetroChina promotes the deployment of ISO container technology for LPG and LNG as a practical solution for regions with limited infrastructure, supporting safer, scalable, and more efficient transport.

GENERAL MANAGER OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

CHEVRON INTERNATIONAL E&P

He is chairman of the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative foundation and serves on the board of   the Africa-America Institute (AAI) and the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston. He is also a   member of the Advisory Board of Rice 360° Institute for Global Health – Rice University. He   holds a bachelor’s in business administration (BBA) from Ecole des Hautes Etudes   Commerciales (HEC) University of Montreal, Canada, and a Master in Business Administration   (MBA) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management in   Boston

ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF, DIRECTORATE LAW REFORM, POLICY AND LEGISLATION

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Mutindi Jacobs is an accomplished legal researcher and government lawyer with over 13 years of experience in law reform and policy development. She currently serves as the Acting Deputy Chief under the Directorate Law Reform, Policy and Legislation within Namibia’s Ministry of Justice. Her expertise drives impactful legal analyses and reforms, refining key policy principles during consultations to ensure they meet international standards and foster sustainable energy development. 

She holds a B-Juris and LLB from the University of Namibia, a Master’s in the Law of the Sea from National  University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), an LLM in Oil and  Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen and various  executive certifications in Project Management, Bilateral  Investment Treaties, Ocean Governance, Local Content  and Legislative Drafting. Mutindi’s work has shaped key  policies including the Upstream Petroleum Local Content  Policy, the Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Policy, the  Blue Economy Policy as well as the National Equitable  Economic Empowerment Framework (NEEEF). 

Mutindi currently serves on the Inter-Ministerial Working  Committee for the Upstream Petroleum Local Content  Policy and is an Advisory Board Member of the Namibia  Youth Energy Forum (NYEF) where she advocates for  youth involvement in energy transition efforts.  Beyond  her professional achievements, she is a published author,  TEDx speaker, and balances her career with her roles as a  mother and wife

FIELD ENGINEER– NAMIBIA, ACE

SLB

With a passion for technological innovation and professional development, Oluchi Nwagboso stands out as a driven Field Engineer in the energy sector. She has approached her career with a focus on continuous growth, adaptability and technical, customer-centric excellence. 

She has worked on several drilling campaigns across the region where she has been instrumental in delivering innovative, sustainable solutions and prioritizes equipping herself with cutting-edge knowledge and skills essential for navigating the intricacies of the dynamic energy industry. 

She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemical engineering from the prestigious University of Stellenbosch..

VICE PRESIDENT EXPLORATION

WESTOIL

Stuart Munro is a true pioneer in the Namibian Orange Basin, having played a pivotal role in the region’s exploration history and recent success. As the visionary behind what is now Shell’s prolific block and the subsequent game-changing Graff discovery, Munro has proven himself as a trailblazer in hydrocarbon exploration. With over 50 years of expertise and a remarkable track record of success in over 90 basins worldwide, including 18 years across Africa and 15 years in Venezuela, Munro’s accomplishments speak for themselves. A seasoned geophysicist and a renowned oil finder, Munro has held high-impact roles with Maersk Oil, SOCO, Signet Petroleum, and Regalis Petroleum.

Stuart has recently been appointed as the VP Exploration for WestOil Limited, whom have a 70% participating interest in PEL 107 (Block 2712A) along with partners Petrovena Energy with 15% and Namcor 15%. Sturt is set to bring his wealth of knowledge and pioneering spirit to the next chapter of Namibian exploration activities with Westoil and Petrovena. With his unmatched expertise, Munro is poised to lead the exploration activities on PEL 90 towards further groundbreaking discoveries and continue the legacy he helped create in this high-potential region. 

SENIOR ADVISOR CORPORATE AFFAIRS

CHEVRON E&P

Diana Espitia currently serves as the Senior Advisor for Corporate Affairs at Chevron Middle East, Africa, Eastern Mediterranean Exploration and Production Company, headquartered in Houston, Texas. In this capacity, she is responsible for public affairs, social investment, and performance in the region. Diana has been actively supporting Chevron’s operations in Namibia since the company’s re-entry into the country in 2022.

Diana commenced her tenure at Chevron in July 2020. Prior to this role, from 2014 to 2020, she served as Manager of Global External Affairs and Social Responsibility at Noble Energy, where she directed the strategic approach to social investment and community engagement activities and managed employee engagement programs.

Before her time at Noble Energy, Diana was the Chief of Staff to the US President of Shell Oil Company. In this capacity, she oversaw the development of tactical, strategic, and routine administrative initiatives.

Diana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Houston. She was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia.

ENGINEER

CITY OF WINDHOEK

Eliphas Kahorere is a civil engineer with a B-Degree in Civil Engineering (Urban Engineering major) from NUST and over 23 years of experience in municipal service. He holds postgraduate diplomas in Business Management (UNAM) and Environmental Management (IUM), and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation at IUM. Eliphas Kahorere serves on the advisory panel to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism for implementing Namibia’s National Waste Management Strategy and chairs a forum under NALAO. He is a member of IWMSA and ISWA, and actively supports circular economy initiatives and local recycling development through platforms like the Recycling Namibia Forum.

JUNIOR ASSOCIATE,CIVIL ENGINEERING, URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE

WINDHOEK CONSULTING ENGINEERS(WCE)

Erastus Haludilu is a civil engineer registered as an incorporated engineer with the Engineering Council of Namibia. He is a Junior Associate at Windhoek Consulting Engineers and a Council member of the Association of Consulting Engineers and the Engineering Council of Namibia. He has over 10 years of hands-on experience in a broad range of projects in Namibia

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

OCEANPACT GEO

Fred Marins has been with OceanPact since its early years being responsible for developing the geosciences and marine survey department. Following company´s IPO and the creation of the Subsea department in 2021, Fred was appointed commercial diretor of this business line as well. Originally from Brazil Fred holds two bachelor degrees in Oceanography and also Business Management from respected universities of Rio de Janeiro. He also holds a Msc in Business from University of Southampton.

Fred commenced his career at Petrobras within the engineering department providing managerial support to numerous survey contracts including geophysical, geotechnical, met-ocean and environmental surveys. Following a 5 year cycle Fred moved to the UK to work as Project Manager at the Gardline Geosurvey to soon evolve to Business Development Manager with focus in Brazil when he meet OceanPact and, together, created the JV Gardline Marine Sciences do Brasil. The JV lasted until 2019 to be fully acquired by OceanPact GEO. From its inception Fred was then appointed Commercial Director and started a successful trajectory leading the company from zero to become the largest and most relevant survey company in Brazil.

DIRECTOR,STRUCTURES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

WINDHOEK CONSULTING ENGINEERS(WCE)

Herman van der Merwe is a civil and structural engineer professionally registered both in the UK and Namibia. He is a director with Windhoek Consulting Engineers and head of the structural engineering and business development. He has over 24 years of hands-on experience in a broad range of projects in both the UK and Namibia.

RESEARCH DIRECTOR

WOOD MACKENZIE

Ian is responsible for Wood Mackenzie’s Sub-Saharan Africa upstream analysis and is regional head of upstream analysis for Europe, Russia, Caspian and Africa. As a leading content expert, Ian regularly authors and contributes to global upstream reports and analysis including upstream investment trends, discovered resource opportunities, major capital projects, deepwater trends and valuation analysis.​

Since joining Wood Mackenzie in 2005, Ian has been involved in analyzing the oil and gas industries of Sub-Saharan Arica, Middle East, UK, Russia and Caspian regions. This includes building financial models, writing reports and presenting to Wood Mackenzie customers. ​

Focus areas include data analytics, financial and data modelling and valuation. 

He is an experienced trainer for data visualization, reserves/resources classifications and upstream 101 topics, and is a keen Power Query, SharePoint and lean six sigma proponent.​

He holds a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of St Andrews and an MSci in Applied Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde.

RHINO RESOURCES LTD

RHINO RESOURCES LTD

Ndakolo Haiduwa is a drilling engineer for Rhino Resources Ltd, aspiring to become an expert in oil and gas offshore exploration and production. He holds an MSc in Drilling and Wells Engineering from Robert Gordon University.

Ndakolo is passionate about developing strong leadership and teamwork skills, which he has cultivated through his volunteering efforts as an Energy Institute Young Professional Network RGU Ambassador and as President of one of the SPE Student Chapters as well as an Executive member, co-authoring technical articles which he presented at the International Field Exploration and Development Conference in Beijing and Xi’an, China.

His enthusiasm and active participation highlight his commitment to advancing the Namibian energy industry.

EXECUTIVE – TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

ECB

HEAD OF RESEARCH AND INTELLIGENCE

MONEDA INVEST

Precious is a graduate of Petroleum Engineering from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria with about 8 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He started his career in TotalEnergies as a Safety Engineer where he had a brief stint at the OML 58 production facility. He went on to become a project engineer for an independent contractor where he supported contract execution during the construction of the Dangote refinery. He made the transition to Moneda Invest where he managed the technical execution of SME-driven, high-impact transactions in the oil and gas industry valued at over $10 million. He is currently the acting managing director of Moneda Technologies, a subsidiary of the Moneda Group, where alongside his team he is building software solutions to drive efficiency in the funding and execution of energy projects.

CO-FOUNDER & CEO

MWUNGANO ESG

NEWS ANCHOR

NAMIBIA BROADCASTING COORPARATION

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

FIRST NATIONAL BANK – COMMERCIAL BANKING

VICE PRESIDENT IN MARITIME BUSINESS AREA

DNV

MINISTER OF WORKS AND TRANSPORT

GOVERNMENT

REGIONAL DIRECTOR, DIGITAL & INTEGRATION

SLB CENTRAL, EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

Eniola Oludemi oversees SLB’s Digital and Integration business activities across the Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa region. With nearly two decades of experience in the energy industry, Eniola has held various key positions, including Directing SLB Digital Forum 2024 [SLB’s premier industry event], and Regional Commercial Manager, where he oversaw the digital performance relationship between SLB and its Digital & Integration customers across West Africa.

An Economist by academic background, Eniola holds an MBA degree from the prestigious Imperial College Business School London. His career spans multiple countries around the world, where he has worked on several home-based and international projects. As an Energy Economist, Eniola has provided strategic / technical assistance to E&P executives and professionals in areas such as decision analysis, project economics, and digital technology strategy for both international and independent operators, as well as government-led organizations.

Eniola is known for his strategic vision and deep commitment to driving digital innovation and operational excellence. His experience and passion make him a valuable asset in industry conversations and project collaborations related to driving performance and innovative customer experiences through digital solutions, in line with SLB’s vision of driving Energy Innovation for a Balanced Planet.