Energy & Basic Resources

Valued experts focusing on the exploration, production, and management of energy sources and raw materials

Oghenerobor Akpobasaha

Oghenerobor Akpobasaha

I support early-stage energy projects by providing petrophysical evaluations and technical input for field operations. My work focuses on interpreting well log data and integrating geological, petrophysical, geomechanical, and reservoir engineering insights to better understand subsurface conditions and support sound field development decisions.
I’m passionate about applying earth science and data-driven approaches to solve complex subsurface challenges, and I enjoy collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver reliable, practical results for clients in the energy sector.

I support early-stage energy projects by providing petrophysical evaluations and technical input for field operations. My work focuses on interpreting well log data and integrating geological, petrophysical, geomechanical, and reservoir engineering i... Show more

Christopher Walcutt

Christopher Walcutt

Christopher Walcutt is a former network architect with 25 years of experience in security, risk, and compliance leadership. His expertise is predominantly in the energy, utility, smart grid, and manufacturing sectors, specializing in industrial controls architecture, management consulting, and breach and incident handling. He has provided services to a wide variety of enterprise clients, including some of the world’s largest energy, engineering, manufacturing, and water companies, and has advised CISO’s offices and Boards of Directors globally.

Chris served in leadership roles at Constellation Energy, SunGard, and Black & Veatch, where he was responsible for cybersecurity and management consulting for NERC CIP, NRC, smart grid, and NIST compliance.

Christopher Walcutt is a former network architect with 25 years of experience in security, risk, and compliance leadership. His expertise is predominantly in the energy, utility, smart grid, and manufacturing sectors, specializing in industrial contr... Show more

Sebastian Roll

Sebastian Roll

Sebastian is a chemical engineer turned software developer. Previously working with fire simulation and probabilistic risk analysis in the Oil & Gas sector, he has transitioned into software engineering and now works as a Webstep consultant.

Sebastian is passionate about improving quality and reproducibility in science and research by bridging the knowledge gap between scientists and software engineers.

Sebastian is a chemical engineer turned software developer. Previously working with fire simulation and probabilistic risk analysis in the Oil & Gas sector, he has transitioned into software engineering and now works as a Webstep consultant. Seba... Show more

Brent Ward

Brent Ward

Brent Ward is the founder of Power Hopper, a PUCT-registered Texas electricity broker (BR260201). He is Tesla and Enphase certified and helps homeowners and businesses understand retail electricity plans, contract terms, solar buyback and home batteries.

Brent Ward is the founder of Power Hopper, a PUCT-registered Texas electricity broker (BR260201). He is Tesla and Enphase certified and helps homeowners and businesses understand retail electricity plans, contract terms, solar buyback and home batter... Show more

Kersten Kriegbaum

Kersten Kriegbaum

I’m a Software Engineer and Consultant focused on building scalable, maintainable backend systems with technologies like Kotlin, Axon, Event Sourcing, and CQRS.
My work also includes experience with React.js and Vue, enabling me to design solutions that connect backend logic with clear, effective user interfaces.

I’ve gained experience in industries such as energy and financial services, which has given me a solid understanding of domain-driven, business-oriented system design.

CQRS and Event Sourcing are particular areas of interest for me — I see them as powerful approaches to achieving clarity, traceability, and long-term stability in complex systems.

I value collaboration, knowledge sharing, and working in flexible environments that support thoughtful, well-crafted software.

I’m a Software Engineer and Consultant focused on building scalable, maintainable backend systems with technologies like Kotlin, Axon, Event Sourcing, and CQRS. My work also includes experience with React.js and Vue, enabling me to design solutions ... Show more

Abdurrahmon Akesire

Abdurrahmon Akesire

Akesire Abdurrahmon is a dedicated and ambitious final-year student at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), specializing in Applied Geophysics. With a strong passion for geophysical exploration especially in the energy and mineral exploration, he has developed expertise in integrating magnetic, gravity, radiometric and vertical electrical sounding (VES) data for subsurface analysis using software like ArcGIS, Oasis Montaj, WinResist, and most importantly, his knowledge on python in application of Data Science in various Geophysical Investigations. His academic journey has been marked by excellence in research, particularly in the application of geophysical techniques for energy and mineral exploration in Nigeria.

He has actively participated in several fieldwork, geophysical data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, enhancing his practical knowledge in the discipline. His current research focuses on evaluating iron ore deposits in Calabar, Southern Nigeria, analyses of petroleum potential in some selected areas in Ondo State (a potential green field for oil and gas) utilizing geophysical methods to support economic and industrial development. He also has a lined up research work on application of geophysical methods to analyze geothermal potential zones in some selected areas in Nigeria.

Beyond academics, he is a proactive problem solver, a leader and a keen learner, with aspirations to contribute significantly to the energy industry through innovative exploration techniques and sustainable energy management.

Akesire Abdurrahmon is a dedicated and ambitious final-year student at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), specializing in Applied Geophysics. With a strong passion for geophysical exploration especially in the energy and mineral expl... Show more

Dushyant Singh

Dushyant Singh

Dushyant is Executive Vice President heading the Global Engg. & IT for Cyanconnode. He brings 25+ Years’ experience in IT leadership roles in his past organisations like TCS, Cognizant, LTM. His focus area is enabling technology led transformation for organisations through technology pillars of Industry 4.0, Digital Transformation, Data & AI.
As key member of Cyanconnode Exec Team, he is leading company's next gen product portfolio development in IoT communications, Edge Intelligence, Data & AI solutions. Cyanconnode's comprehensive technology portfolio enables the Energy and Utilities sector clients in their transformation journey for improved customer satisfaction, leaner operations and accelerated path to Net Zero. With over 5 million IoT endpoints across 8 countries globally, it is a leader in IoT solutions. Cyanconnode Pvt. Ltd. India, a subsidiary of the UK-based Cyanconnode Group that is listed in London Stock Exchange. It’s subsidiary DigiSmart is an AMISP and actively working with a key state Utility in Smart Meter rollout and transformation journey to being the Utility of the future.

Dushyant is Executive Vice President heading the Global Engg. & IT for Cyanconnode. He brings 25+ Years’ experience in IT leadership roles in his past organisations like TCS, Cognizant, LTM. His focus area is enabling technology led transformation fo... Show more

Mohammed Elmehdi Elguarni

Mohammed Elmehdi Elguarni

Project Management Professional with relevant work experience in Construction, Maintenance and IT projects and International certifications in Project and Risk Management. Arts & Métiers mechanical and structures engineer and future laureate of the Executive Master Management of Energy Project at Ecole des Ponts ParisTech.

Project Management Professional with relevant work experience in Construction, Maintenance and IT projects and International certifications in Project and Risk Management. Arts & Métiers mechanical and structures engineer and future laureate of the E... Show more

Saketh Kumar Vishwakarma

Saketh Kumar Vishwakarma

I am a strategic and results-driven Supplier Performance Agent with over 11 years of global experience in procurement, purchasing, vendor development, and supply chain operations across the aerospace, manufacturing, and energy sectors. Currently, I support advanced supplier management initiatives at Bombardier, where I drive performance improvement through on-site assessments, risk mitigation, and the execution of strategic development plans. My professional journey includes senior roles at TechnipFMC and Bayer, where I managed multi-million dollar monthly expenditures and directed complex procurement activities for large-scale international projects.
I hold a Master of Science in Management Science and Supply Chain Management from Wichita State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering. I am technically proficient in SAP MM, SAP Ariba, Power BI, and Oracle Database, with deep expertise in inventory management and material requirement planning.

I am a strategic and results-driven Supplier Performance Agent with over 11 years of global experience in procurement, purchasing, vendor development, and supply chain operations across the aerospace, manufacturing, and energy sectors. Currently, I s... Show more

Stefano Besseghini

Stefano Besseghini

Stefano Besseghini past President of ARERA, Italy’s independent regulatory authority for energy, networks, and environment. A physicist by training, he combines academic rigor with institutional leadership, driving innovation and efficiency in essential public services. With a career spanning research, industry, and public governance recognized as one of Europe’s most authoritative voices on regulation, sustainability, and the future of energy systems.

He is known for making complex energy and sustainability issues clear and engaging, regularly addresses international conferences, institutional events, and corporate forums, bringing authority, clarity, and vision to discussions on the future of energy, innovation, and regulation.

Stefano Besseghini past President of ARERA, Italy’s independent regulatory authority for energy, networks, and environment. A physicist by training, he combines academic rigor with institutional leadership, driving innovation and efficiency in essent... Show more

Vanessa Vovor

Vanessa Vovor

I’m Vanessa Vovor, a Strategic Advisor, Facilitator, and Speaker with over a decade of experience supporting NGOs, city networks, international organizations, and development agencies to turn complex challenges into clear, actionable strategies.

I run a portfolio consultancy at the intersection of climate action, governance and inclusion, partnering with mission-driven organizations across Africa and Europe. My work combines policy expertise, technical knowledge and strategic facilitation — from leading multi-country teams at GIZ and moderating high-level dialogues for the EU, to structuring project pipelines in sustainable energy, waste management, circular economy, and gender equity.

I’m Vanessa Vovor, a Strategic Advisor, Facilitator, and Speaker with over a decade of experience supporting NGOs, city networks, international organizations, and development agencies to turn complex challenges into clear, actionable strategies. I... Show more

Ambica Dixit

Ambica Dixit

Ambica Dixit is a Principal Partner for Data, AI & Robotics at VedArc, where she leads large-scale data modernisation and AI strategy initiatives across New Zealand and Australia. She specialises in enterprise AI, modern data platforms, and agentic systems, with a strong focus on the responsible, secure, and sustainable use of AI in complex organisations. Ambica is known for guiding enterprises from early experimentation toward safe, governed, and production-grade AI adoption, ensuring strategic alignment while enabling high-quality execution across multidisciplinary teams. She works extensively with regulated sectors including energy, forestry, finance, and public service agencies, bringing together strategy, technology, and governance to deliver measurable, real-world outcomes.

Ambica Dixit is a Principal Partner for Data, AI & Robotics at VedArc, where she leads large-scale data modernisation and AI strategy initiatives across New Zealand and Australia. She specialises in enterprise AI, modern data platforms, and agentic s... Show more

Robbie Staples

Robbie Staples

Robbie Staples has over 20 years of experience writing SQL queries and 8 years working with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) in Data Management & Analytics as well as a Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) in SQL 2016 Database Development. He has worked in the power, banking, transportation, healthcare, and semiconductor industries with most of his experience being in the power industry. He has his Electrical Engineering degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Virginia and Texas. He is currently employed by Old Dominion Electric Cooperative as a Senior Full Stack Software Engineer focused on automating manual processes and bringing data to the forefront of the company.

Robbie Staples has over 20 years of experience writing SQL queries and 8 years working with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) in Data Management & Anal... Show more

Alaa Mahjoub

Alaa Mahjoub

Alaa Mahjoub is an independent Digital Business Advisor and former Senior Data Management Expert at the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport. He has decades of experience in electric utilities, petroleum, transportation, and defines. His expertise spans both governmental and private sectors in EMEA, the Far East, and the U.S.
Mr. Mahjoub played a pivotal role in transforming the Digital Business as part of the restructuring of the water and electricity sectors in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
He has also led key initiatives at TRANSCO, ADCO, Injazat Data Systems, as well as the Egyptian and the Kuwaiti Ministries of Defence.
Mr. Mahjoub holds a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in computer engineering. He has authored, lectured, and reviewed research for IEEE, Cigre, the Arab Union of Electricity, and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). His research interests focus on Cyber-Physical Systems and the application of Digital Business in the Power and Utilities Sector.

Alaa Mahjoub is an independent Digital Business Advisor and former Senior Data Management Expert at the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport. He has decades of experience in electric utilities, petroleum, transportation, and defines. His expertise spans... Show more

Colleen Turner

Colleen Turner

Colleen is an Associate Vice President and Michael Baker’s Greater DC / Maryland Planning Practice Lead, with 25 years of experience in transportation and environmental planning and policy. She leads a team of professionals dedicated to accelerating the electrification of the transportation sector through the development of plans, programs, and policies for state and local governments.

Colleen returned to Michael Baker in February 2021 following her employment as the Assistant Director of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Office of Planning and Capital Programming (OPCP). During her tenure at MDOT, Colleen oversaw long-range environmental planning and the planning and deployment of innovative transportation technologies including zero emission vehicles (ZEV) and connected and automated vehicles (CAV). She managed MDOT’s air quality and climate change mitigation programs and participated in national discussions related to the electrification of the transportation sector, sharing her expertise with the White House, the National Governor’s Association (NGA), the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Colleen is a member of the TRB Standing Committee on Alternative Fuels and Technologies (AMS40). She is the former Chair of the AASHTO Air Quality Climate Change and Energy subcommittee of the Committee on Environment and Sustainability.

Colleen is an Associate Vice President and Michael Baker’s Greater DC / Maryland Planning Practice Lead, with 25 years of experience in transportation and environmental planning and policy. She leads a team of professionals dedicated to accelerating ... Show more

Martin Debouté

Martin Debouté

Martin has extensive experience in the development of operational solutions and mathematical modeling. He has particularly strong expertise in the energy sector, focusing on the modeling of energy systems & power grid.

Martin has extensive experience in the development of operational solutions and mathematical modeling. He has particularly strong expertise in the energy sector, focusing on the modeling of energy systems & power grid. Show more

Rahul Gopalakrishnan

Rahul Gopalakrishnan

Rahul Gopalakrishnan is the CEO of Avesta Holding in Ninove, Belgium. He leads the company in technology assessment, investor relations, and strategic expansion initiatives. Previously serving as CTO and VP, Rahul has extensive experience in lithium-ion and solid-state battery technologies and has managed several high-profile EU projects in advanced energy storage. With a PhD in Engineering Science from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, he is a recognized expert in electrochemical characterization and has contributed widely to the field through research, publications, and invited talks​

Rahul Gopalakrishnan is the CEO of Avesta Holding in Ninove, Belgium. He leads the company in technology assessment, investor relations, and strategic expansion initiatives. Previously serving as CTO and VP, Rahul has extensive experience in lithium-... Show more

Balaji Nagaraj Kumar

Balaji Nagaraj Kumar

With over a decade of experience in product management and developer platforms, I specialize in scaling open data ecosystems and enabling developer-first experiences. As a Senior Product Manager at Volvo Cars, I lead the Developer Portal and API strategy, ensuring seamless access to data while navigating compliance challenges like the EU Data Act. Passionate about API ecosystems, DX, and Open Data, and contribute to enterprise API strategies.

With over a decade of experience in product management and developer platforms, I specialize in scaling open data ecosystems and enabling developer-first experiences. As a Senior Product Manager at Volvo Cars, I lead the Developer Portal and API stra... Show more

Laurent Wauters-Herlyn

Laurent Wauters-Herlyn

Laurent Wauters-Herlyn studierte Maschinenbau mit dem Schwerpunkt Verfahrenstechnik an der RWTH Aachen und Universidad de Sevilla. Derzeit ist er als Head of Strategy & Innovation bei der Westfalen AG tätig, wo er sich insbesondere mit der Entwicklung und dem Management von Projekten im Bereich der Wasserstoffinfrastruktur, Gaseabfüllung, Gaseproduktion, Automatisierung, Digitalisierung und KI in der Produktion beschäftigt.

Laurent Wauters-Herlyn studierte Maschinenbau mit dem Schwerpunkt Verfahrenstechnik an der RWTH Aachen und Universidad de Sevilla. Derzeit ist er als Head of Strategy & Innovation bei der Westfalen AG tätig, wo er sich insbesondere mit der Entwicklun... Show more

Francis Barassi

Francis Barassi

Francis Barassi was born in Tucson, Arizona, on January 11, 1967. His formative years in Tucson, a city known for its rich cultural diversity, profoundly influenced his curiosity and interest in various cultures and global perspectives. This early exposure to a melting pot of cultures sparked a lifelong passion for exploring and understanding different societies. Growing up, he displayed a keen interest in technology and business, interests that would later become the cornerstone of his successful career.

In 2003, Francis joined Convergys Corporation as the Director for LATAM North. In this role, he managed the sales team and established the regional headquarters in Northern Latin America. His leadership and strategic initiatives led to significant sales growth and the profitable build-out of the regional headquarters. This position allowed him to showcase his ability to drive regional business expansion and cement his reputation as a capable leader in the corporate world.

Barassi's career took another significant step in December 2003 when he joined Edocs, Inc. as the Director of Latin American Sales and Operations. At Edocs, he was instrumental in opening the Latin American market, generating a robust pipeline of prospects, and closing substantial contracts within his first year. His success at Edocs demonstrated his knack for penetrating new markets and driving growth, further establishing his credentials as a strategic and effective business leader.

In 2005, Francis joined Oracle Corporation, where he initially served as the Regional Director for LACA—Self-Service. He managed the integration of Doc's self-service products into the Siebel sales organization, achieving notable sales growth. Subsequently, he served as the Applications Sales Director for the Communications Global Business Unit (CGBU), where he achieved record sales and managed the most significant single license sale in CGBU history. From 2011 to 2017, he held various vice president roles at Oracle, including founding TOA Technologies' Latin America business. His leadership led to significant revenue growth, and after Oracle acquired TOA Technologies, he managed Oracle's field service business for Latin America and the Caribbean, achieving substantial growth in ACV bookings and expanding into new verticals.

In 2017, Francis became the Vice President for Southern Europe at ClickSoftware. His efforts in reorganizing Click's sales and account management organization in Southern Europe were met with notable success, including signing new logos and managing key accounts. His strategic vision and leadership played a crucial role in driving the company's growth and solidifying its market presence in Southern Europe.

In 2020, Barassi joined OverIT USA, Inc. as the Vice President for North America. He was instrumental in expanding OverIT's presence in the region by recruiting and onboarding a seasoned sales team and closing significant deals within the first few months. His strategic approach and leadership skills facilitated OverIT's rapid growth and success in the North American market.

The following year, in 2021, Francis took on the role of Vice President for North American Energy, Utilities, and Resources at IFS North America. He successfully integrated the Clevest sales team into IFS, achieving impressive annual growth and securing strategic wins at significant utility companies. His contributions significantly bolstered IFS's presence in the market, showcasing his ability to lead and drive substantial business growth.

Currently, Francis serves as the Vice President of Enterprise Software North America at Hitachi Energy. In this role, he leverages his extensive experience in enterprise software and energy solutions to drive growth and innovation. His leadership and strategic vision continue to advance Hitachi Energy's market position in North America, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to excellence and his ability to steer companies toward sustained success.

Outside of his professional life, Francis Barassi resides in Key Biscayne, FL, with his spouse, Clara Romero. Balancing his demanding career, he enjoys a fulfilling personal life, finding time to engage in activities that bring him joy and relaxation. His ability to maintain this balance underscores his dedication to both his well-being and his professional responsibilities.

Francis Barassi was born in Tucson, Arizona, on January 11, 1967. His formative years in Tucson, a city known for its rich cultural diversity, profoundly influenced his curiosity and interest in various cultures and global perspectives. This early ex... Show more

Andreas Proesch

Andreas Proesch

Andreas is an Industrial AI/ML specialist, focusing on the digital transition of energy & manufacturing industries. He works at the intersection of digitalization and physical industries, helping industrial companies (energy, manufacturing, renewables, etc.) digitalize and accelerate their technological transformation. He is also a startup advisor and technology consultant

Andreas is an Industrial AI/ML specialist, focusing on the digital transition of energy & manufacturing industries. He works at the intersection of digitalization and physical industries, helping industrial companies (energy, manufacturing, renewable... Show more

Paul Fjelrad

Paul Fjelrad

Paul Fjelrad is the Chief Architect for Zuhlke UK. He has a vast breadth of knowledge and experience across the different architecture domains as well as across different industry sectors, particularly government, finance and energy. His skills and wealth of experience have led to him playing pivotal roles in nationally important programmes, including the Smart-meter Implementation Programme, the ONS Data-Access programme, and most recently contributing to establishing the Modernising Energy Data programme. Paul is the author of “The Struggle Continues” (Troubador, 2020), a contributor to several publications with his “Living With PTSD” articles, and a Mental Health First Aider.

Paul Fjelrad is the Chief Architect for Zuhlke UK. He has a vast breadth of knowledge and experience across the different architecture domains as well as across different industry sectors, particularly government, finance and energy. His skills and w... Show more

Ifeanyi Christwin

Ifeanyi Christwin

I'm an engineer turned entrepreneur. My passion for electrical engineering and thermodynamic, led me to the fields of renewable energy, economics, and data science.

Founder & CEO of Switch Electric Ltd, a company developing web3 metering infrastructure and a platform for tokenizing distributed energy resources on our electricity grids.
Web3 developer, Machine learning engineer, protocol developer at IoTeX

My goal is to help improve the lives of people across the African continent by reducing the cost of living via access to affordable energy.

I'm an engineer turned entrepreneur. My passion for electrical engineering and thermodynamic, led me to the fields of renewable energy, economics, and data science. Founder & CEO of Switch Electric Ltd, a company developing web3 metering infrastr... Show more

Ranjit Desai

Ranjit Desai

As a lead Researcher and Analyst, Ranjit is supporting efforts at NREL's Center for Integrated Mobility Systems (CIMS) as a part of the Sustainable Transportation Integration Group where he is researching Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure. He supports the Federal Fleet team and U.S. DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and works on EV charging infrastructure analysis projects, along with a variety of interdisciplinary, integrated modeling and analysis transportation-related projects involving techno-economic analysis, financial modeling, technology adoption, and system dynamics. He has also developed models to analyze how the consumer heterogeneities, uncertainties, and technological progress impact the adoption of electric vehicles.

As a lead Researcher and Analyst, Ranjit is supporting efforts at NREL's Center for Integrated Mobility Systems (CIMS) as a part of the Sustainable Transportation Integration Group where he is researching Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure... Show more

Chris Terrell

Chris Terrell

Chris Terrell is the Co-founder and CEO of Wexus Technologies Inc. He has successfully brought climate impact technologies to market with enterprise companies across the US and globally with "virtual power plants" that make energy generation and distribution systems more efficient, increase utility grid reliability, and reduce environmental impacts and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Prior to founding Wexus Technologies, Chris was a Strategic Energy Manager at EnerNOC, the world leader in demand response and smart grid technologies. He managed the comprehensive delivery of SaaS IoT products with advanced metering technology to save energy and money and make the utility grid more efficient.

Chris has worked extensively with farmers across the Western U.S. to help them save money, lower risk, reach operational goals, and optimize energy and water usage. As a trained architect, Chris also has extensive experience in green
building design and construction, as well as extensive leadership and management experience as a prior U.S. Army officer and military veteran.

Chris Terrell is the Co-founder and CEO of Wexus Technologies Inc. He has successfully brought climate impact technologies to market with enterprise companies across the US and globally with "virtual power plants" that make energy generation and dist... Show more

Wanda O Rly

Wanda O Rly

Wanda O Rly is a physicist, a teacher, a game industry professional, an angel of critical thinking and a lover of nature and humanity.

Born out of Valtteri Lahti's passion for drag art and science communication Wanda is a new, exotic, and exciting approach to making science accessible.

Education
• MSc , physics
• Subject teacher(physics , mathematics, IT)

Experience
• 4 years in the game industry, creating science oriented games (Producer, analyst, communications manager)
• 3 years in the energy industry, software designer (solar energy calculation)

Wanda O Rly is a physicist, a teacher, a game industry professional, an angel of critical thinking and a lover of nature and humanity. Born out of Valtteri Lahti's passion for drag art and science communication Wanda is a new, exotic, and exciting... Show more

Charles Fernandez

Charles Fernandez

Charles Fernandez is an Economic Development Board (EDB) Singapore–awarded PhD scholar and industry leader specialising in AI-driven Digital Twins, Cybersecurity, and Advanced Analytics (AI/ML). With a foundation in Electrical Engineering (Automation and Control), he combines deep technical expertise with experience across engineering, energy systems, and digital transformation.

He has transitioned from engineering and project management into strategic technical leadership and now as Principal Consultant and Technical Lead in Digital Trust, focusing on Industrial Control Systems (ICS), AI, and cybersecurity.

Charles operates at the intersection of engineering, cybersecurity, and governance, enabling organisations to deploy safe, resilient, and trustworthy AI systems, and is recognised for bridging innovation with real-world assurance.

Charles Fernandez is an Economic Development Board (EDB) Singapore–awarded PhD scholar and industry leader specialising in AI-driven Digital Twins, Cybersecurity, and Advanced Analytics (AI/ML). With a foundation in Electrical Engineering (Automation... Show more

Saad.Sheikh kdcAI

Saad.Sheikh kdcAI

Saad Sheikh is a Principal Cloud, AI & Enterprise Architect with over 21 years of experience leading cross functional teams in many global organizations Optus , Essential Energy , KDCAI , Dell , STC , SwedTel , Zain group where he delivered large-scale digital transformation programs across telecommunications, energy, and public sector organizations globally. He specializes in enterprise architecture for AI-driven systems, cloud-native platforms, and multi-cloud data environments, with deep expertise in governance, automation, and AI operating models.

Saad Sheikh is a Principal Cloud, AI & Enterprise Architect with over 21 years of experience leading cross functional teams in many global organizations Optus , Essential Energy , KDCAI , Dell , STC , SwedTel , Zain group where he delivered large-sca... Show more

Kanyanta Makasa

Kanyanta Makasa

Kanyanta M. Makasa is an Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduate from the University of Zambia, with hands-on experience in solar EPC projects, power systems, and software engineering. He is passionate about leveraging both engineering and technology to drive innovation in energy, education, and financial technology.

Kanyanta has worked as a Junior Electrical Engineer at W&H Solar EPC, where he contributed to solar PV system design, site assessments, and client advisory on hybrid and off-grid solutions. He also served as a Software Engineer at Justtap Payments, leading mobile money API integrations and building Flutter-based apps and Django web dashboards.

He is the founder and lead developer of Reviza, a course-filtered academic platform designed to improve resource sharing and collaboration among African university students. His project portfolio also includes a solar mini-grid design for rural healthcare and an EV charging impact study on low-voltage networks.

Beyond technical expertise, Kanyanta has demonstrated leadership as Vice-President of the IEEE UNZA Student Branch and as a Zindi Africa Data Science Ambassador. He has also presented research on affordable renewable energy solutions, including a smart solar irrigation system, at the IEEE PowerAfrica Conference.

Driven, innovative, and collaborative, Kanyanta is committed to applying his multidisciplinary skills in engineering and software development to create impactful, sustainable solutions.

Kanyanta M. Makasa is an Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduate from the University of Zambia, with hands-on experience in solar EPC projects, power systems, and software engineering. He is passionate about leveraging both engineering and te... Show more

Jennifer Ugwu

Jennifer Ugwu

Jennifer Ugwu is an energy professional with a background in petroleum engineering and an MSc in Petroleum Data Management from the University of Aberdeen. Her work sits at the intersection of data, data quality, digitalisation, and the energy industry, with a growing focus on how technical systems can improve decision-making and make energy operations more efficient.

Her academic work includes machine learning for automated quality control, where she trained a model to predict borehole integrity using petrophysical logs in the absence of geometry logs such as caliper and bit size. Through this, she developed a deeper interest in subsurface data, data quality, and the practical use of intelligent systems in energy.

Beyond the technical side, Jennifer is passionate about making complex ideas easier to understand. She speaks especially to the African student and early-career learner who feels lost in tech conversations or intimidated by technical language. Her goal is to demystify technology and make conversations around data, digitalisation, and the future of energy feel more human, practical, and accessible.

She also brings a strong leadership and community perspective to her speaking. Jennifer was the first female Engineering Faculty President in her university, representing over 7,000 students, and she currently contributes to the wider energy community through roles including My Energy Future Champion and SPE Aberdeen People and Culture.

Whether she is speaking about data quality, digitalisation in energy, future skills, or navigating technical spaces as a young professional, Jennifer brings a thoughtful, grounded, and relatable voice that helps audiences connect with ideas that might otherwise feel distant or intimidating.

Jennifer Ugwu is an energy professional with a background in petroleum engineering and an MSc in Petroleum Data Management from the University of Aberdeen. Her work sits at the intersection of data, data quality, digitalisation, and the energy indust... Show more

Please note that Sessionize is not responsible for the accuracy or validity of the data provided by speakers.

Join Speakers Directory

Join our Speakers Directory today and amplify your reach! Showcase your expertise to a global audience hungry for your insights. Let your voice be heard!

Create Profile