Future of Energy

Tuesday 24 March 2026

08:00

Registration & welcome coffee

09:00

Opening words

presentation

15 min.

Talitha Muusse

Conference host

09:15

From headlines to horizons: what today’s global shifts mean for the energy transition

presentation

15 min.

FMO CEO Michael Jongeneel reflects on the signals and trends shaping the evolving landscape of the energy transition
In a world defined by uncertainty and disruption, how should investors, developers, and policymakers navigate the road ahead?

Talitha Muusse

Conference host

Michael Jongeneel

FMO

Session 1

Fragmented world, unified goals: accelerating the energy transition in emerging markets

Room - Grote Zaal

09:30

Navigating change in the energy transition

presentation

30 min.

Reflections on today's fragmenting world
Impact of uncertainty on the energy transition in the global south
Balancing currents: climate, geopolitics, AI, financing

Assaad Razzouk

Gurin Energy

Assaad Razzouk

CEO

Gurin Energy

Assaad W. Razzouk is a Lebanese-British clean energy entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and commentator. He is the CEO of Gurīn Energy, a pan-Asia renewable energy company headquartered in Singapore. Assaad is host of The Angry Clean Energy Guy podcast and the author of “Saving Climate Change Without the Bullsh*t”, published by Atlantic Books. He currently serves as a board member of ClientEarth, the NGO that uses the power of the law to bring about systemic change and protect the planet for the people and wildlife that inhabit it; an advisory board member of media group Eco-Business; and a board member of EB Impact, a Singaporean non-profit focused on sustainability training and programmes for underserved communities in the Asia Pacific. He is also a member of the International Council of the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. With hands-on experience in clean energy and high-profile thought leadership, Assaad is a well-known influencer on climate change and renewable energy, with several hundred thousand followers across X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Assaad is a graduate of Syracuse University (summa cum laude), holds an MBA from Columbia University in New York, and was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Honoris Causa in Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and International Cooperation by TERI University in India.

10:00

Emerging markets, evolving realities

panel

45 min.

Shifting ground: what’s changed, what must change in emerging markets
How to achieve our 2050 targets?
Policy tailwinds driving new projects across regions

moderator

Rodrigo Madrazo

EDFI Management Company

Monika Beck

DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft)

Jon Bahen

JCM Power

Pinaki Bhattacharyya

Ampin Energy Transition

Pinaki Bhattacharyya

Founder, MD and CEO

Ampin Energy Transition

Pinaki Bhattacharyya is the Founder, MD and CEO of AMPIN Energy Transition, a leading renewable energy transition company headquartered in New Delhi, India with its offices in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bangalore. He established the company 9 years ago and today, AMPIN Energy Transition is an industry leading IPP with a pan India presence providing a one stop shop for customers through its powerful and resilient combination of large utility scale and C&I renewable energy projects, helping its customers to transition to 100% RE. Pinaki Bhattacharyya has 23+ years of experience in India, US and Europe across PE, business incubation, leadership, operating and financing roles in the renewable energy sector. Prior to starting AMPIN, Pinaki was the CFO of Sterlite Power, India's leading transmission player. Additionally, he was the founding team member and CFO of one of the largest renewable IPPs in India (Sembcorp Green Infra) and the founding team member of the first renewable energy project equity fund in the US, New Energy Capital. He has managed the largest and most diversified renewable energy private equity portfolio of USD 300M for IDFC Private Equity. He has worked across the value chain in both renewable and thermal power generation at GE Vernova (erstwhile ALSTOM and ABB) and Intergen (a Shell-Bechtel venture with 16 GW power portfolio).

Carlos Palazón

Genneia

10:45

Morning networking break

Network and enjoy coffee or attend our technical assistance workshop!

Session 2.0

Catapult session

Room - Atriumzaal

11:00

Catapulting next-gen developers into financial success (11:00 - 12:45)

panel

105 min.

This pitch session will partially overlap with the morning networking break

Future investment opportunities
New wave of African project developers pitching for their contribution to the future of energy
Panel of seasoned renewable energy investors from FMO, DEG, InfraCo and CrossBoundary will provide instantaneous feedback to the developers

moderator

Vivek Mittal

Africa Infrastructure Development Association (AfiDA)

Memory Mashingaidze

Tatanga Energy

Safiya Aliyu

Sosai

Safiya Aliyu

General Manager

Sosai

Safiya Aliyu is a Renewable Energy and Climate Development Specialist with over 15 years of experience designing and delivering high-impact, donor-funded clean energy and resilience programs across Nigeria. Her work focuses on expanding energy access, strengthening climate adaptation, advancing productive-use energy solutions, and integrating gender-responsive approaches into sustainable development initiatives. She joined Sosai since inception and is presently the General Manager at the core of Sosai’s transformation journey with a lot of dedication and hard work. She has led and managed large-scale renewable energy and clean cooking programs in partnership with international donors and institutions including the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mitsubishi Corporation, and Christian Aid. Her programs have delivered measurable impact to over 1,000,000 people through solar mini-grids, solar dryers, clean cookstoves, solar agro processing machines and water purification systems. As General Manager at SOSAI Renewable Energies and Country Director at MASI, she has worked with her team to operationalize 9 offgrid solar minigrids across the country, distributed over 150,000 units of improved cookstoves and 30,000 units of solar lighting solutions. Distributed 100 productive use of energy technologies and recruited 300 women on the MASI program that are constantly being supported on running their renewable Energy business sustainably. She has strong expertise in results-based management frameworks, gender integration, stakeholder coordination, and community-centered implementation models. Safiya is recognized for advancing women’s leadership in energy and was selected as a Fellow of TechWomen (USA, 2018), where she strengthened her global climate leadership network and innovation capacity. She brings a combination of strategic leadership, field implementation experience, and donor accountability, positioning her and her organization as a trusted partner for investors seeking to invest in scalable, inclusive, and climate-smart energy solutions in Nigeria and West Africa.

Ernest Mkhonta

Eswatini Electricity Company

Ernest Mkhonta

Managing Director

Eswatini Electricity Company

Ernest is the current Managing Director for Eswatini Electricity Company, he also sits at the Motraco General Meeting as a Shareholder representative for EEC and represents the EEC at EXCO the highest governance body of the Southern African Power Pool, Non-Executitive Director Standard Bank Eswatini. Ernest graduated from UNESWA in 1989 with a Science degree. This led him to his Engineering Career which blossomed upon graduating with an Electrical Engineering Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg in 1994. He worked Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation as an Electrical Engineer until 2004. While working for RSSC Ernest graduated with a Masters in Engineering, Engineering Management Degree from the University of Pretoria. In 2004 Ernest joined his current employer Eswatini Electricity Company then Swaziland Electricity Board as a Distribution Manager. Ernest’s Career flourished at EEC where he headed various departments within the Operations Division including System Operations and Control and later became Head of Projects Department. It was in this department where he began to gain experience on the regional energy issues. Upon attaining his MBA from the University of Stellenbosch (USB) in 2014 Ernest was promoted to become General Manager Operations. In 2018 Ernest was appointed General Manager R&D responsible for planning and development of new generation capacity and transmission infrastructure expansion. In 2019 Ernest attended the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at the INSEAD in Fountainbleu, France to sharpen his leadership skills. Between 2009 and to date Ernest has also served in regional bodies within the electricity industry where he serves as Chairman of the Board for Motraco (Mozambique Transmission Company) Chairman of Management Committee for the Southern African Power Pool, member of EXCO for Southern African Power Pool and Shareholder representative for EEC at Motraco. He is also the Chairman of Sifundzani Schools Governing Board.

Ainslie Chinembiri

Chitendai Limited

Session 2A

Resilience strategies

Room - Kleine Zaal & Foyerdeck 3

11:30

Blending to build: de-risking the energy transition in emerging markets

panel

60 min.

Real-world examples of blended finance instruments and structures
Role of debt funds in balancing risk and return
Using public and philanthropic capital to unlock private investment

moderator

Regina Vasarais

Convergence

Tarun Brahma

Climate Fund Managers (CFM)

Yuliia Uhorska

Camco Clean Energy

Juliette Bulté

EDFI Management Company

Roman Kovac

European Commission

Session 2B

Building the business case

Room - Atrium (Amphitheatre 1)

11:30

Structuring storage: from concept to capital

presentation

60 min.

Matching business models with tailored funding solutions
Use of concessional finance in overcoming barriers to investment
Aligning stakeholders along the way

moderator

Cecilie Kristiansen

Wood Mackenzie

Rohan Singh

Finergreen

Hassen Bali

ion Ventures

Hassen Bali

Co-Founder and Director

ion Ventures

Hassen Bali is a seasoned professional in the renewable energy and energy storage sectors, with extensive experience in project finance and development. He is the co-founder of ion Ventures, an international energy transition specialist focused on clean energy and flexibility technology solutions aimed at supporting the integration of renewables into the grid. Since 2018, Hassen has led ion Ventures in advancing renewable generation and electrification schemes across the UK, Europe and South and Southeast Asia. Prior to co-founding ion Ventures, Hassen held key positions within the renewable and clean technology space. This included Lightsource Renewable Energy, where he managed the acquisition and development of energy storage and solar assets, and Cadence RB Limited, where he supported the firm in accessing investment and commercial opportunities within the clean technology and resource efficiency sectors across various international markets. His energy related career began with roles at Ventura Climate Capital and Markit, focusing on environmental markets and carbon finance. Hassen is a Fellow of the Energy Institute, the Global Solar Council and a quoted contributor to World Energy Council Innovation Insights briefs. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), Mining Engineering from the University of Nottingham.

Session 2C

Showing the business case

Room - Atrium (Amphitheatre 2)

11:30

The gender-smart business case: investing with impact

presentation

60 min.

How gender lens strategies unlock returns and expand market access
Sharing successes from female employment and leadership
Using 2X criteria to guide gender-focused investment decisions

moderator

Alyanna Carrion

2X Global

Alina Sviderska

Scatec

Lienda Kavindele

Lendable

Lienda Kavindele

Senior Associate Director of Impact and ESG

Lendable

Lienda Kavindele is the Senior Associate Director of Impact and ESG at Lendable, where she oversees the firm’s strategy across its financial inclusion and sustainability funds. With over eight years of experience in emerging markets, Lienda leads the integration of ESG due diligence and impact underwriting throughout the investment lifecycle. Her expertise includes designing impact measurement frameworks and establishing ESG and client protection policies tailored to decarbonization and financial inclusion mandates. Additionally, she drives technical assistance initiatives for portfolio partners, including projects focused on climate measurement and capacity-building. Prior to Lendable, Lienda was an ESG Specialist at Capital Group, developing impact methodologies for global sustainability strategies. She also spent six years at LeapFrog Investments, bridging the gap between donor-funded project delivery and impact monitoring. Lienda holds an MSc in International Business and Emerging Markets from the University of Edinburgh and an Honours degree in Financial Analysis and Portfolio Management from the University of Cape Town.

12:30

Networking lunch break

Session 3A

Human capital strategies

Room - Kleine Zaal & Foyerdeck 3

14:00

Creating value through human capital

panel

60 min.

The value of human capital
Building a strong team: importance of training and knowledge sharing, office culture, 2x certification
Knowledge transfer to local people
Stewardship strategies that enable durable value creation

moderator

Paul Botha

Metier - Metier Sustainable Capital Practice (MSCP)

Matteo Brambilla

Red Rocket Energy

Claudia Arango

Exagon Impact Capital

Claudia Arango

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Exagon Impact Capital

Claudia is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Exagon Impact Capital, bringing over 25 years of private equity experience in Latin America. Throughout her career, she has led or participated in over 30 equity investments across a diverse range of sectors, including renewable energy, telecom, logistics, transportation, retail, agribusiness, media, and industrial services. As a seasoned private equity professional, Claudia has provided board leadership to several organizations, where she successfully guided companies to grow both domestically and internationally with strong margins, through her strategic leadership, M&A expertise, and hands-on approach. She currently serves on the boards of Organización Corona, Solar Assets Latin America, SunRoof and the &Green Fund. Previously, Claudia was a Managing Director and founding member of the Latin American Private Equity Fund at The Rohatyn Group (TRG). Before TRG, she was a Director at AIG Global Emerging Markets Private Equity Group, focusing on investments in Latin America. Claudia holds an M.Sc. in Finance from the University of Maryland and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia.

Dhanpal Jhaveri

Eversource Capital

Dhanpal Jhaveri

Co-Founder and CEO

Eversource Capital

Dhanpal Jhaveri, is an Indian private equity investor and climate change advocate, connecting good opportunities with the right resources for them to thrive. With over three decades of experience in M&A, corporate strategy and investment banking, Dhanpal has challenged ‘business as usual’ to drive innovative and pioneering development. He is the Vice Chairman of Everstone Group, a premier investment group focused on India and South-east Asia, with assets in excess of $8 Bn across private equity, real estate, credit, climate investments and venture capital. Dhanpal is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Eversource Capital, a leading climate investment manager with investment focus in India and now South-east Asia. Being India's largest climate investment fund, Eversource Capital has an AUM of $865 Mn pioneering climate-responsive investments in industrial decarbonisation, energy transition, and urban sustainability. Passionate about the environment and investing, Dhanpal has spearheaded the deployment of growth stage capital and operational know-how in a blended capital equity strategy in India, spanning renewable energy, resources and the environment, e-mobility, and the financing ecosystem. He actively contributes to discussions on private equity, venture capital, and renewable energy policies as a member of the CII’s Renewable Energy Council and as a member of the managing committee of the Indian Merchant’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, member of the Mumbai chapter of Entrepreneurs Organisation and past President & current Board Member of TiE Mumbai, a global organisation of India-US entrepreneurs. Dhanpal is also a member of the UN Women Business Sector Advisory Council and advocates woman empowerment in clean energy and innovative finance sectors. He is a Board Member of Avasara Leadership Institute; an educational institution focused on accelerating academic and leadership outcomes for India’s brightest girls.

Paul Frankish

African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM)

Paul Frankish

Investment Director

African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM)

Paul is responsible for new business initiatives, the development and structuring of AIIM’s managed funds and AIIM’s fundraising activities. He has significant experience in fund structuring, infrastructure investment management and client relations developed across Africa and Europe. Paul led the structuring and fundraising for USD1.7bn across AIIM’s flagship AIIF4, AIIF3 and IDEAS Funds - developed to provide international and domestic capital with access to Africa’s growth markets through a diversified portfolio of infrastructure assets across SubSaharan Africa. Paul was involved in the establishment of AIIM’s asset management function and AIIM’s entry into the renewable energy sector. He has held directorships on the boards of Cookhouse Wind Farm, REISA solar PV and Umoya Energy – among South Africa’s first utility scale renewables facilities. Prior to joining AIIM in 2011, Paul worked at Credit Suisse in London where he was responsible for the development, structuring and execution of alternative investment products for the pension and insurance industries. Paul holds a Bachelor of Business Science degree with honours from the University of Cape Town, is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accounts (SAICA) and a CFA Charterholder.

Session 3B

Building the business case

Room - Atrium (Amphitheatre 1)

14:00

New deals, new risks: offtake in transition

presentation

60 min.

Diverse business models for corporate PPAs
Operating corporate offtake models within different regulatory frameworks
Structuring effective and bankable corporate PPAs

moderator

Christina Cairns

Powertrust

Eduardo Ospina Serrano

Unergy

Francisco Gonzalez Palomo

Zelestra

Session 3C

Showing the business case

Room - Atrium (Amphitheatre 2)

14:00

Operating and financing green hydrogen in emerging economies

presentation

60 min.

Key challenges and strategies in project development & operations
Proven financing models for hydrogen

moderator

Carolina Lopez-Rocha

The World Bank

Olivier Mussat

ATOME

Marcin Bejm

CMS Law

Marcin Bejm

Partner, Head of Energy and Infrastructure

CMS Law

Marcin Bejm, a Polish-qualified advocate, is a partner and Head of the Energy and Infrastructure Practice at CMS Poland, leading a team of 40 lawyers. Marcin has over 25 years of experience in advising on transactions and projects regarding various types of energy and infrastructure assets carried out in Poland and across the CEE region. He provides legal advice to entities involved in greenfield and brownfield energy and infrastructure investments and gained experience in advising on transactions and projects carried out in all key sectors, including nuclear, SMRs, WtE, airports, seaports, motorways, mass transportation, renewable energy, waste management, urban regeneration, water and sewage, data centers and oil and gas. Marcin has extensive experience in advising on the acquisition, development and revamp of infrastructure assets, project finance transactions, PPPs and concessions including negotiation of PPP contracts, concession agreements, construction contracts, O&M Contracts, supply contracts, off-take agreements, tolling agreements, interface agreements and investment agreements. He also provides legal advice on public law, public procurement and state aid. His clients include industry sponsors, contractors, institutional investors, infrastructure funds, international financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, developments banks, project finance banks, local governments and utility companies. Marcin is ranked Band 1 for Projects & Infrastructure in Chambers Europe. The Legal 500 EMEA recognises him as a Leading Partner in Public Procurement and recommends him for Energy and Natural Resources. IFLR1000 lists him as a Market Leader in Project Development and Project Finance in Poland. He is a co-founder of Centrum PPP and has authored numerous publications on PPP and concessions.

15:00

Afternoon networking break

Network and enjoy coffee or attend our technical assistance workshop!

Session 4.0

Technical assistance workshop #1

Room - Atriumzaal

15:15

Powering nature: the commercial advantage of biodiversity performance in renewable energy (15:15 - 17:00)

105 min.

This workshop will partially overlap with the afternoon networking break

Exploring the business case for nature positive strategies – developer-investor speed dating
Integrating nature throughout the project cycle – strategic siting, design, construction, operations, and decommissioning
Improving project financing profile through governance for effective biodiversity management

Robin Mitchell

Nature Positive Ltd

Juan Ospina Lopez

FMO

Session 4A

Energy tech strategies

Room - Kleine Zaal & Foyerdeck 3

15:45

Technologies shaping tomorrow's energy

panel

60 min.

Which tech trends will transform the market in 5 years?
From idea to impact
AI and smart systems are reshaping how energy flows

moderator

Marieke Roestenberg

FMO

Marieke Roestenberg

Manager | Private Equity – Ventures

FMO

As of 2020 Marieke is Manager of the Private Equity Ventures team at FMO, the dedicated Venture Capital team that is responsible for the implementation, deployment and overall management of the FMO Ventures Program and other early-stage investments with a focus on technology and innovation. Previously she worked as Principal Investment Officer at the Private Equity department focusing on investments in renewable (off grid) energy. Prior to this she spent 2.5 years as Fund Manager at FMO Investment Management, where she was responsible for the fundraising efforts of an Africa focused Fund of Funds initiative. Before joining FMO Investment Management in 2013, Marieke worked as Senior Investment Officer at FMO’s Private Equity department for nearly nine years. She is a seasoned private equity professional with ample transaction experience in fund investments as well as direct investments and served on the Advisory Board of several investment funds. Prior to joining FMO in 2004, Marieke worked as Analyst at the Corporate Development department of ABN AMRO Bank. She holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam.

Marie Cheong

Wavemaker Impact

Marie Cheong

Founding Partner

Wavemaker Impact

Marie is a Founding Partner of Wavemaker Impact, the first VC backed climate tech venture builder in SouthEast Asia. Wavemaker Impact co-founds start ups with experienced entreprenuers with the aim of building a portfolio of scaleable companies that can abate 10% of the global carbon budget. Every company that Wavemaker Impact builds and invests in is a 100x100 company – a high growth startup with the potential to abate 100 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and reach $100 million in revenue. Wavemaker Impact has over 20 companies in its portfolio tackling the biggest drivers of emissions in agriculture, land use change, energy in the built environment, industrial processes and transportation. Marie has worked with over 40 entrepreneurs to help them build their businesses. In the last five years, Marie has focused exclusively on launching climate tech startups in Southeast Asia and is passionate about increasing the pipeline of women founders in the sector. Marie has a MBA from the National University of Singapore where she graduated as valedictorian and holder of the Panasonic Marketing Award.

Nithya Menon

Okra Solar

Nour El-Assal

Tagaddod

Bruce Johnson

Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company)

Session 4B

Building the business case

Room - Atrium (Amphitheatre 1)

15:45

Productive use: technologies & solutions

presentation

60 min.

How solar water pumping enables smallholder farmers to increase yields, resilience, and incomes
The commercial fundamentals driving solar irrigation to an investable inflection point
Blended finance models and investor views on risk, returns, and scale

moderator

Drew Corbyn

GOGLA

Rhiannon Turner

Carbon Trust

Rhiannon Turner

Senior Manager

Carbon Trust

Rhiannon Turner is a Senior Manager at the Carbon Trust, and Programme Lead for Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO). Prior to joining the Carbon Trust in 2022, Rhiannon spent 20 years as a patent attorney specialising in life sciences and biotechnology, ultimately being recognised as one of the most capable practitioners in the UK. She served a wide range of clients, including large multinational companies, start-up and scale-up companies, and sole inventors. The breadth of her experience enabled Rhiannon to develop deep expertise with innovators at all stages of the commercialisation journey, supporting them to navigate the challenges faced by all businesses. She brings this perspective into her role overseeing the PREO programme. PREO is a demand-led, productive use of renewable energy (PURE) initiative that stimulates partnerships, innovation and learning to address the needs and improve the livelihoods of communities in sub-Saharan Africa and Pacific Island Countries. PREO’s mission is to enable businesses to harness clean energy to improve incomes, build climate resilience and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The programme is co-funded by the IKEA Foundation and UK aid from the UK Government, through the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.

Hack Stiernblad

SunCulture

Session 4C

Showing the business case

Room - Atrium (Amphitheatre 2)

15:45

E-mobility in motion: business models that work

presentation

60 min.

The business case for electrification of public transportation in emerging markets
The business case for battery swapping in emerging markets: E2W and E3W business models

moderator

Dara Owoyemi

Shell Foundation

Dara Owoyemi

Senior Adviser

Shell Foundation

Dara Owoyemi is a Senior Adviser at Shell Foundation where she leads the Transporters portfolio, directing catalytic capital to innovators, corporates and financiers to enable Transporters across Africa and South Asia increase incomes while lowering emissions. Previously as Chief Impact Officer, she steered the Foundation’s impact and research functions to generate strategic insights and thought leadership necessary to mobilise capital for a just transition. Dara’s leadership journey includes serving as CEO, Board Member, COO and CFO of the African Private Capital Association (AVCA), where she oversaw the organisations transformation and solidified its reputation as a leading voice for private capital investment in Africa. Beyond these roles, she has provided advisory support at ministerial level in Nigeria and consulted on market-shaping investment initiatives. Dara began her career in corporate finance at Lehman Brothers and Renaissance Capital, executing transactions across the energy, consumer, and financial sectors. She holds an Executive MBA from London Business School and a MEng in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London.

Christiane Würdemann

Mirova

Jakob Hornbach

GOGO Electric

16:45

Short break to move to plenary

Session 5

Navigating Uncertainty: Purpose, Resilience & Collective Insight

Room - Grote Zaal

17:00

Recap of the day

presentation

15 min.

Talitha Muusse

Conference host

17:15

Rowing through uncertainty: purpose, resilience and the power of brotherhood

presentation

30 min.

Why aligned teams and trust are critical when navigating rapid change and uncertainty
How purpose-driven goals create focus, endurance and decision clarity under pressure
What resilience looks like in practice: adapting, recalibrating and staying the course

Ewan Maclean

The Maclean Brothers

Jamie Maclean

The Maclean Brothers

Lachlan Maclean

The Maclean Brothers

17:45

Networking drinks at Muziekgebouw

18:30

Networking dinner on a boat

Join us for an exclusive experience on the IJ waters in Amsterdam. This conference ticket add-on offers an extended networking evening with fellow attendees. Step aboard the Prins van Oranje and take a journey through Dutch history while connecting with peers during an enjoyable evening that complements the day’s conference programme.

Wednesday 25 March 2026

08:00

Registration & welcome coffee

09:00

Opening words

presentation

5 min.

Talitha Muusse

Conference host

09:05

The renewable industry’s next chapter

presentation

10 min.

Solarplaza CEO Edwin Koot reflects on the shifting dynamics of the renewable energy market
Reinventing the value chain: storage, new business models, and the next wave of market opportunities

Talitha Muusse

Conference host

Edwin Koot

Solarplaza

Session 6

Changemakers at work: scaling energy where it’s needed most

Room - Grote Zaal

09:15

Mindsets for the energy transition

presentation

30 min.

Three essential mindset archetypes - Seeker, Artist, Hacker - for leading the energy transition
Challenging outdated thinking and redesigning energy systems
Leading change through curiosity, creativity, and constructive disruption
Stepping up as a changemaker to align personal purpose with collective impact and shape a resilient, equitable energy future

Arash Aazami

Unify.energy

09:45

C&I grows up: from megawatts to gigawatts

panel

45 min.

How gigawatt-scale C&I shifts the business case
Project finance structures enabling large-scale rollouts
Streamlining E&S risk assessment

moderator

Olivier Leruste

Echosys Invest, Afrigreen

Tom Cairnes

Manocap Energy

Eren Ergin

BECIS

Francisco Martin

SunRoof

Mathilde Girard

British International Investment (BII)

10:30

Morning networking break

Network and enjoy coffee or attend our technical assistance workshop!

Session 7.0

Hack-session

Room - Atriumzaal

10:45

Designing leapfrog innovations for emerging markets (10:45 - 12:30)

105 min.

This workshop will partially overlap with the morning networking break

Innovation pathways for financing renewable energy projects
Peer-to-peer co-designing of finance solutions
Hack the status quo hampering reaching your goals

moderator

Karlijn L’Ortye

People Power People

moderator

Joffrey Hoijer

People Power People

Arash Aazami

Unify.energy

Session 7A

Local currency strategies

Room - Kleine Zaal & Foyerdeck 3

11:15

How can we unlock local currency for energy projects?

panel

60 min.

Barriers limiting local currency lending for energy projects
Risks and incentives for (local) financial institutions

moderator

Philip Southwell

Chapel Hill Denham

Philip Southwell

Partner

Chapel Hill Denham

Phil grew up in the UK during the 1970s, a decade shaped by high inflation, labour disputes, power shortages, strict exchange controls, and an IMF stabilisation programme, and has spent his career working in countries with similarly complex challenges. His 35-year career has encompassed leadership roles in major global investment banks and entrepreneurial ventures alike. Since 1998, Phil has lived and worked across the emerging markets of Asia and CEEMEA (Central/Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa). For the past 12 years, he has been a Partner and Managing Director of Chapel Hill Denham, sub-Saharan Africa’s largest investment banking firm. Chapel Hill Denham has pioneered listed alternatives in Nigeria and the wider region, launching innovative infrastructure and real estate closed-end funds. Based in Lagos, Chapel Hill Denham completed transactions in ten African countries last year. Phil chairs the Investment Committee and sits on the Board of Trustfund Pensions, a Nigerian pension fund manager, and is a Non-Executive Director of AMEA Power, accelerating renewable energy projects across Africa and emerging Asia.

Daniel Wiedmer

ADB - Asian Development Bank

Elif Erkul

TCX

Elif Erkul

AVP Structuring & Sales

TCX

Elif Erkul is a finance professional with over six years of experience in emerging and frontier markets, currently serving as Assistant Vice President, Structuring & Sales at TCX Investment Management B.V. in Amsterdam. TCX is a development-focused fund that provides long-term currency hedging solutions in illiquid and high-risk market, and within her role at TCX, Elif contributed to a USD 5 billion derivatives portfolio spanning more than 50 currencies. Elif focuses on originating and structuring tailored FX derivatives that unlock local-currency financing across Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Her work directly enables infrastructure and energy projects, project finance transactions, and financial inclusion initiatives by mitigating currency risk and improving the risk-adjusted returns of investments in high-impact markets. Elif holds an M.Sc. in Finance from Trinity College Dublin and a B.Sc. in Economics and Business Economics from Maastricht University. She is passionate about impact-driven investing and advancing resilient local capital markets.

Rim Azirar

Mirova

Session 7B

Solution Circles

Room - Atrium (Solution circle 1 + 2)

11:15

Mission 300: how can we power 300 million lives by 2030?

panel

60 min.

Exploring grid and off-grid pathways under Mission 300
How to unlock private capital for last-mile access

moderator

Andrew Herscowitz

Mission 300 Accelerator

Andrew Herscowitz

CEO Mission 300 Accelerator

Mission 300 Accelerator

Andrew Herscowitz is the CEO of the M300 Accelerator, a unit established by RF Catalytic Capital, a charitable off-shoot of The Rockefeller Foundation, to help coordinate and support the efforts of many partners working together to advance the World Bank’s and African Development Bank’s ambitious commitment to help 300 million Africans secure electricity access by 2030. Herscowitz is a globally recognized leader and organization builder. He previously served as the inaugural Executive Director for ODI Washington, one of the world’s leading global affairs think tanks. He spent more than 20 years as one of the U.S. Government’s most senior development diplomats, including as the first Chief Development Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and as the first Coordinator for the U.S. Government’s Power Africa initiative. He has lived and worked on four continent and brings extensive expertise in international finance and energy. He has an exceptional track record in devising imaginative solutions to global challenges, including building and leading Power Africa, which grew to become the largest public-private partnership for development in the world and that helped more than 200 million people in Africa gain access to electricity. At DFC, he devised and oversaw a $75 billion development strategy and served on the Investment Committee. Early in his career, he served as part of the U.S. government legal team that helped develop the original framework for the Global Fund. He has received two Lifetime Achievement Awards for his work in advancing the African power sector. In 2018, Herscowitz was awarded the “Serve to Americas” medal, given to the U.S. Government officials who have provided the greatest benefit to the American people. In 2005, the Federal Bar Association recognized Herscowitz as one of the five most outstanding lawyers under the age of 35 in the U.S. government. He also was been named as an MIT/Rockefeller “Global Commissioner for Ending Energy Poverty” and served on three different World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Future Councils (GFC), including the GFC on the energy transition. He also serves as part of the high- level WEF Network for “Unlocking barriers and solutions to scale capital for energy transition in the Global South.” Herscowitz has authored more than 45 articles and opinion pieces, most of which have focused on how to improve the development finance architecture to advance investments in frontier markets and in challenging sectors. Herscowitz is a graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and the Georgetown University Law Center. He is based at the Rockefeller Foundation offices in Washington, DC.

Wayne Keast

Inspired Evolution

Wayne Keast

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Inspired Evolution

Wayne Keast is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Inspired Evolution, where he has played a central role since inception in shaping the firm’s strategic vision, investment strategy, and long-standing relationships with investors and key stakeholders. A qualified chartered accountant, Wayne brings over 30 years of finance and business-building experience, including more than 25 years in international private equity. He provides strategic, financial, and governance oversight across the firm’s investment platforms, with a strong track record spanning renewable energy infrastructure, energy access and technology-enabled growth equity investments. Wayne serves as an active board member on multiple portfolio companies and has lead responsibility for the Group’s financial management, reporting, and regulatory compliance. Prior to Inspired Evolution, Wayne established and managed a c. USD 500 million global clean energy and sustainability investment platform for a London-based family office and was a founding partner of the USD 250 million Masdar Cleantech Fund. Earlier, he was CFO of the USD 1.2 billion ePartners and eVentures private equity group.

11:15

How can we decide between platform vs fund structure?

presentation

59 min.

Risk and return profiles of fund vs platform investments
Considerations when deciding whether to be a developer platform or invest in developer platforms

moderator

Jasandra Nyker

Saja Climate Partners

Jasandra Nyker

Managing Partner

Saja Climate Partners

Jasandra Nyker is a distinguished investment executive with over two decades of experience in private equity, venture capital, energy transition, and climate technology. She has managed and deployed over $1 billion in capital across clean energy projects in the US, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. As the Managing Partner of Saja Climate Partners, Jasandra focuses on scaling climate solutions through innovative financing and investment strategies through an investment and advisory lens. She previously served as CEO of Nala Renewables, where she took the company from start up to scale up and led investments in OECD markets, and as Managing Director at Denham Capital, overseeing energy and infrastructure investments in the Global South. She was also the CEO of BioTherm Energy, a leading African renewable energy developer. Beyond her executive roles, Jasandra is a Non-Executive Director at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and actively advises the World Economic Forum on responsible renewable infrastructure. She was recognized as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2012. Jasandra is passionate about the intersection of finance, technology, and sustainability, with a particular focus on accelerating the deployment of climate-positive solutions. She is also involved in philanthropy, supporting community-driven clean energy initiatives, such as a water pump deployment project in Nepal benefiting marginalised communities.

Wymen Chan

Gresham House

Session 7C

Solution Circles from you

Room - Atrium (Solution circle 3 + 4)

11:15

How can we mobilize institutional capital for energy investment in emerging markets?

panel

60 min.

Discuss the key barriers preventing institutional investors from investing in climate and infrastructure funds, including liquidity constraints
Explore solutions to scale investment and help close the growing infrastructure financing gap in regions such as Africa

Vivek Mittal

Africa Infrastructure Development Association (AfiDA)

11:15

How can we unlock corporate clean power procurement in emerging economies?

panel

60 min.

Discuss key barriers to corporate renewable procurement, including the lack of electricity spot markets, limited PPA options, and regulatory constraints
Share perspectives on how investors, utilities, and corporate buyers can accelerate implementation

moderator

Balasubramanian Viswanathan

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)

12:15

Networking lunch break

Session 8.0

Technical assistance workshop #2

Room - Atriumzaal

13:45

BESS market creation (13:45 - 15:30)

105 min.

Overcoming barriers to deployment
Market design strategies to scale storage where it’s lacking

moderator

Mark Roesink

FMO

Louis de Lassus

Africa REN

Shashank Sharma

Sunsure Energy

Shashank Sharma

Founder, Chairman, & CEO

Sunsure Energy

Shashank Sharma is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO, of Sunsure Energy, one of India’s leading independent power companies supplying Round-The-Clock (RTC) renewable energy (RE) to corporations and utilities across the country. An IIT-Delhi graduate and self-made entrepreneur, Sharma envisioned a clean energy revolution at a time when India's power sector was dominated by fossil fuels. Driven by his exemplary foresight and commitment to providing cleaner, more reliable energy, he overcame industry barriers to build Sunsure into a preferred energy transition partner for 80+ A-rated industrial customers across 16 Indian states, scaling the company from a bootstrapped venture to securing one of the largest private equity investments ($400M) in India's RE sector. The company, under his leadership, has commissioned 700 MW of renewable energy capacity in record time, with a target of installing 10 GW of RE capacity by 2030. Underscoring it all is Sharma’s deep commitment to India’s evolving energy sector and contributing to its growth. In the past decade, he has worked tirelessly, staying ahead of the curve by embracing and providing innovative, state-of-the-art RE solutions to Sunsure’s commercial and industrial customers. His leadership has brought out the best in his colleagues, enabling him to build the youngest team in renewable energy—challenging the status quo of an infrastructure space otherwise dominated by industry veterans. ‘Making India’s Power Move’, a tagline handpicked by Sharma, clearly positions the organization as a leading force in helping India and its industry make their move from traditional sources to green power.

Damola Omole

Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP)

Sabine Cornieti

World Bank, ESMAP

Sabine Cornieti

Senior Energy Specialist

World Bank, ESMAP

Sabine Cornieti is a Senior Energy Specialist at the World Bank – where she started working 10 years ago. As lead of the Renewable Energy team in ESMAP-World Bank and the Sustainable Renewables Risk Mitigation Initiative (SRMI), she provides strategic advice to over 40 countries on private sector mobilization. In particular, she manages global solar, battery storage and wind deployment operations in countries such as Tunisia, Liberia, Indonesia, and Guinea Bissau. Additionally, she leads the structuring of multiple innovative risk mitigation instrument (such as in DRC and Ethiopia) and their associated fundraising efforts. Sabine's prior experience includes working with TOTAL-EREN in Jakarta as renewable energy business developer focusing on the South East Asia region, GIZ Indonesia, and UNDP in NY. She holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Nottingham, UK, and an MSc in Economics from Sorbonne Paris 1, France. She has also specialized in Renewable Energy Policies and Finance during a Masters of International Affairs of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), USA.

Session 8A

AI strategies

Room - Kleine Zaal & Foyerdeck 3

13:45

Hyperscale meets green: the nexus between energy transition and data centers

panel

60 min.

Emerging-market data center boom & investment dynamics
Sustainability challenges & green-center solutions
How does Paris Alignment improve bankability of data centers in emerging markets

moderator

Christel Bourbon-Séclet

Proparco

Robert Skjodt

Raxio Group

Linda Habgood

WEST (Wright Energy Storage Technologies)

Linda Habgood

Chief Financial Officer

WEST (Wright Energy Storage Technologies)

Ms. Habgood, CFO of Wright Energy Storage Technologies (WEST), is a long-time emerging markets financial advisor, board member, elected official, banker and credit auditor with more than 35 years of strategic financial expertise in global private and public markets. After earning her MBA from Wharton, she spent 22 years leading a top emerging markets financial advisory firm that raised ~$15 billion in debt and equity for more than 1000+ infrastructure and investments opportunities in Africa, LatAm and Asia, and has served on the boards of Aimia, Inc, a Canadian public company listed on the TSX, JCM Power, an emerging markets power developer with an operating and development portfolio of > 1200 MWs of wind and solar assets in Africa and South Asia, Grain Pro, an innovative agribusiness solutions provider, and the Town of Westfield NJ where she served as Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Finance Committee for 8 years. She cares passionately about preserving the climate and joined WEST in 2024 to help scale its novel and disruptive climate technology in order to enable global energy transition.

Balasubramanian Viswanathan

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)

Session 8B

Solution Circles

Room - Atrium (Solution circle 1 + 2)

13:45

How to bring private capital into the grid?

panel

60 min.

De-risking T&D projects to attract private investors
Policy, pricing, and partnerships that make grids investable

moderator

Charlotte Bruyer

FMO

Amol Pinge

Gridworks Partners

13:45

From least developed country to fragile state: How to keep projects alive?

panel

60 min.

Strategies to sustain progress despite political and economic instability
Lessons learned from active projects in complex environments

moderator

Pravesh Lallah

Trinity International

Pravesh Lallah

Counsel

Trinity International

Pravesh is an international lawyer specialising in international development and infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on renewable energy, transport, mining and other large-scale programmes across the African continent. His work centres on advising commercial lenders, development banks, international financial institutions, sponsors and corporates on the structuring and financing of complex investments in emerging markets. He combines legal expertise with a strong understanding of the policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks that underpin successful project delivery in developing economies. Based in London, Pravesh has extensive international experience, having worked in South East Asia, Europe and Africa. His professional assignments include periods in Vietnam, Paris and South Africa, providing him with on-the-ground exposure to diverse legal systems, regulatory environments and cultural contexts. This experience enables him to work effectively with public authorities, multilateral institutions and private-sector stakeholders across jurisdictions. Pravesh holds first-class honours degrees in English and French law from the University of Warwick and the University of Bordeaux IV and an Executive Master in Public Administration at the London School of Economics, further strengthening his expertise at the intersection of law, public policy and international development. He is fluent in English and French and is a solicitor and non-practising barrister of England and Wales.

Matthew Tilleard

CrossBoundary Energy

Patricia Nicolau

aDryada Advisory Services

Session 8C

Solution Circles from you

Room - Atrium (Solution circle 3 + 4)

13:45

How can we ensure attractive risk-adjusted returns for equity investors in the C&I solar sector?

panel

60 min.

Discuss key real and perceived risks in C&I investments and ways to mitigate them
Exchange views on attractive return levels and how businesses can improve project economics

moderator

Artem Gurevich

SolarX

13:45

How can we make renewable energy distribution to rural communities financially viable?

panel

60 min.

Share strategies for overcoming high logistics and distribution costs when reaching remote communities
Exchange experiences on scalable business models that improve access to renewable energy technologies in rural markets

moderator

Safiya Aliyu

Sosai

Safiya Aliyu

General Manager

Sosai

14:45

Afternoon networking break

Session 9

Capital, commitment, change: financing a durable future

Room - Grote Zaal

15:30

Capital at the crossroads: bridging the global investment divide

presentation

25 min.

Why is the global energy investment gap widening?
How can we unlock more investment?
Rethinking finance for the future

Sean Kidney

Climate Bonds Initiative

15:55

Creating liquidity: dividends and exits

panel

40 min.

Attracting investors to a liquid investment
Who to seek out to create liquidity in your fund
What attracts long-term investors (like pension funds)

moderator

Paul Frankish

African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM)

Paul Frankish

Investment Director

African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM)

Clarisa De Franco

Allied Climate Partners

Clarisa De Franco

Senior Advisor

Allied Climate Partners

Clarisa is a Senior Advisor to Allied Climate Partners, a catalytic investment organisation looking to accelerate the energy transition by increasing the flow of capital to develop projects and businesses across emerging markets by providing junior capital to GPs with the aim of mobilising other investors into the space. Through 3x Impact, she also advises impact focused LPs and GPs across emerging markets. She is an independent IC member, sits on the board of a GP and is an Advisory Board member of DEG Impact. Previously, she spent 16 years at British International Investment, leading the Private Equity Funds team with a US$2.5bn portfolio across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, sat on numerous LP advisory committees and member of BII’s Funds IC covering PE, VC, infrastructure and private credit. She was co-chair of the AVCA LP Advisory Council and GPCA's DFI Council. . Earlier, she worked in operational and investment roles at Grupo Financiero Uno in Central America and made direct investments for CDC/BII in Latin America from London and Costa Rica. Clarisa holds a BA (Hons) in Mathematics and Economics from Marquette University and an MBA from INCAE Business School.

Raj Pai

GEF Capital Partners

Raj Pai

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

GEF Capital Partners

Mr. Pai is a Founder/Managing partner of GEF Capital Partners, where he co-leads its South Asia investment program. GEF, with presence in US, Latin America and South Asia, is an early pioneer in global sustainability and environmental investing globally. GEF manages well over $1.2 billion capital focusing on middle-market opportunities in the climate/sustainability investment spectrum. Mr. Pai has over 25 years of professional experience spanning entrepreneurial, operational and investing activities in diverse sectors including telecom (data centers included), transportation, energy, digital and water infrastructure. He also serves on the investment committees of GEF’s South Asia, US and Latin America investment programs. In addition to general oversight, Raj also represents in the firm’s ESG & Impact committee and has been instrumental in steering GEF’s South Asia program towards being 100% Paris Climate aligned, TCFD linked and to being an SFDR Article 9 aligned platform. Prior to GEF, Mr. Pai was a Managing Director at CID Capital, a US based mid-market venture firm, and previously, Mr. Pai worked in consulting and in operational capacities for several global Fortune 500 technology companies, including AT&T and British Telecommunications in US and in India. Mr. Pai currently serves (and has served previously) on the boards of several of GEF’s portfolio companies in diverse sectors and was instrumental in several successful growth stories and exits among them. Mr. Pai holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago, a Master of Computer Science from Arizona State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Bombay. He remains an active member and participant in various global forums including the Global Impact Investment Network (GIIN), the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (UNPRI), the 2X Challenge (Gender lens investing), Task Force for Climate Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Global Private Capital Association (GPCA).

Sophie Gioanni

ILX Fund

16:35

Closing session

presentation

25 min.

End the conference with final perspectives to reframe your own change-making role

Talitha Muusse

Conference host

17:00

Networking drinks at Muziekgebouw