Scientists

Fredrik Haglind

Prof. Fredrik Haglind, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark – extensive expertise in the design and optimization of organic Rankine cycle systems, heat transfer enhancement techniques, integrated design of turbomachinery, low-temperature heat to power conversion, thermal energy storage, and waste heat recovery.

Nishith Babubhai Desai

Dr. Nishith Babubhai Desai, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark - expertise in the design and optimization of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, thermal energy storage systems, modelling and optimization of energy systems, waste/low-grade heat recovery systems.

Ivanka Orozova-Bekkevold

Dr. Ivanka Orozova-Bekkevold, The Niels Bohr institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark – extensive expertise in geophysics, geomechanics, geodynamics, tectonics, reservoir characterization, mechanical earth models (geostresses, pore pressure, rock characterization and deformations), numerical forward basin modelling, seismology, seismic hazard and risk, seismotectonics, petrophysics, wellbore stability and integrity, and drilling practices.

Mats Nilsson

Mats Nilsson, Alfa Laval Copenhagen, 40 years of technology development of compact plate heat exchangers for all kind of applications including geothermal.

Meseret Teklemariam

Zemedkun

Dr. Meseret Teklemariam Zemedkun (PhD, Earth Science, Geothermics) – 20+ years of experience in Energy field, management, project management, international donor relations and more.

Programme Manager for Africa Rift Geothermal Development Programme (ARGeo) and Regional Energy Programme Manager, at UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Africa office in Kenya since 2011. Author of more than 20 professional papers some of which have won international awards, and recipient of many international awards.

She has played a seminal and stellar role in conceptualization, visibility and institutionalizing the ARGeo activities; and, in coordination with donors and institutions, helped to mobilize funds for projects, programmes and investments. She has led the development of energy initiatives, policies and programmes as Regional Energy Programme Coordinator. She has played a leading role in the initiative and development of programmes for support to Women Entrepreneurs in Energy sector in Africa. She is currently implementing this programme with various partners through the Africa Women Energy Entrepreneurs Framework (AWEEF).

Moses Mbego

Mr. Mbego previously worked in the private energy sector. He has been working with UNEP, Africa Office, African Rift Geothermal Development Facility (ARGeo) project for the last 8 years in geothermal energy and all other renewable energy related matters. He is coordinating the Interim Project Coordinating Unit for the Africa Geothermal Centre of Excellence (IPCU-AGCE). He has great expertise and over 10 years of experience in Renewable Energy exploration, energy efficiency and energy management. Mr. Mbego holds a Master of Science degree in Energy Management from University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Science degree in Energy Engineering from Kenyatta University.

Ryan Raedi Ndombi

Energy Informatics Specialist at UNEP Africa Office, Energy Unit. I vast experience in Renewable energy projects and policy issues with at least 7 years of professional experience in the design, implementation, and monitoring of (renewable energy) development projects. Scope of expertise includes all aspects of business information systems and technology that address energy development, utilization and management solutions. Proven analytical skills and excellent report writing skills with relevant experience and developed 2 policy reports for Renewable Energy Gender Responsive Policy Assessments for Tanzania and Mozambique.

Willis Jakanyango Ambusso

Prof. Willis Jakanyango Ambusso, Kenyatta University, Kenya (responsible for managing the work to be carried out in Africa) – more than 30 years of experience within geothermal sciences, including reservoir physics, resource exploration using geophysical methods, geothermal resource delineation and characterization, geothermal life extension and numerical modelling of injection and tracer tests, and bore field production.

Elias Onyango Ako

Eng. Elias Ako, Lecturer at the Department of Energy Technology, Kenyatta University – combined 23 years of experience. He is a renewable energy practitioner and enthusiast with specialty in Thermal Energy. He has worked with various renewable energy projects, consulted for local companies dealing with design of solar thermal systems, and also design, fabrication and installation for small and micro hydro power systems and geothermal power plants.

He is a member of Technical committee in the development of Renewable Energy Standards in Kenya, the Association of Energy Professionals and the Kenya Renewable Energy Association, a Registered Engineer, and member and reviewer of the School of Engineering Journal.

He also has 15 years teaching and research experience at the university with 6 years as the head of Energy Technology Department. He has participated and managed successfully large multi-partner and multi-disciplinary research projects involving both academic and industry partners.      

Maureen Ambunya

Maureen Ambunya is a PhD student at Kenyatta University, she has a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Jomo Kenyatta University of agriculture and technology and a Masters degree in Science from University of Iceland. She entered the geothermal energy world to explore her passion in looking into problems and gaps faced in geothermal reservoir characterization, fluid flows, and modelling. Currently, she works as a senior scientist, reservoir management for KenGen, where she is focused on well logging, uncertainty analysis and numerical modelling, integrity tests and conceptual modelling. As a Scientist with over 10 years practical experience in geothermal reservoir assessment and management, she has expanded her focus to exploring modelling research problems and gaps experienced from low-medium temperatures geothermal resources.

James Mariaria

James Mariaria is a PhD student at Kenyatta University, with the research topic: Development of Optimization Methodology for Multi-Generation Plants for Kenyan Geothermal Resources. Mariaria is a mechanical engineer with an accrued work experience of over 15 years. Prior to enrolling for the PhD Research Studies, he worked as a geothermal reservoir engineer at Kenya Electricity Generating company Ltd (KenGen), stationed at Olkaria, Naivasha, Kenya. Mariaria has participated in geothermal energy exploration, well data analysis and interpretation. He has also participated in KenGen’s Reservoir Consultancy Projects in Ethiopia (Tulu Moye and Aluto Langano) and Djibouti (ODDEG).    

Nicholas Obuya Mariita

Prof. Nicholas Obuya Mariita is a Career Geophysicist with over 35 years of training, research and work experience in geophysics and its application to development and exploitation of geothermal fields. He is currently a Professor of Geophysics and Director of the Geothermal Training and Research Institute of the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya. He previously worked at senior positions in the geothermal division of the Kenya Electricity Generating Company. He has a track record of accomplishments in the geothermal industry with a special focus on research and evaluation of geothermal development plans. He has interest in researching on understanding the drivers of change in Kenya energy mix especially from Renewable sources, aimed at understanding how the availability of extra electrical power from geothermal resources affects growth and outputs of industries in Kenya and the region.

Peketsa Mangi

Victor Omondi Otieno

Victor Omondi Otieno, Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC, Kenya – geologist with 7 years practical experience in geothermal resource assessment and development. He possess vast experience both in borehole and structural geology acquired through practice and training. In addition, Victor is well versed with diverse aspects of geothermal resource development and utilization, both for direct and in-direct (electricity) applications.

Ezekiel Kemboi

Fredrick O. Apollo

Plant Manager at Oserian Development Company Limited, has over 15 years experience in geothermal Power Plant Operations and maintenance. In addition, he poses vast experience in geothermal direct use having managed the largest geothermal greenhouse heating in the world at Oserian. A career Electrical Engineer, Fredrick has a lot of experience in Electrical & Electronics Engineering activities.

Niko Thompson

Alasdair Keith

Cuthbert Z.M. Kimambo

Sarah Paul Ayeng’o

Dr. Sarah Paul Ayeng’o, University of Dar es Salaam, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering ( Energy expert)  has more than 10 of experience  in research, teaching and consultancy in the field of Energy.

Joseph H. Kihedu

Neema Mjami

Neema Bernad Mjami received Bsc. In Chemical and Process Engineering from University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (2014), the Msc. In Oil and Gas Engineering at University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom (2017). Currently, she is a PhD student at University of Dar es Salaam studying Doctoral program in renewable energy which is sponsored by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and administrated by DANIDA fellowship under the project called GeoAfrica. She is doing research on energy potential of low to medium temperature geothermal reservoir in Tanzania. The case study is lake Natron because, the area has been identified as having a potential for geothermal energy extraction, although further exploration is needed so as to determine the size as well as the quality of resources.

Mwagala E. Masanja

Mwagala E. Masanja is a PhD student in Renewable Energy (Geothermal) (2022 – 2025) at University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (2010) from University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and is Master of Science in Energy for Society (2020) from Hanze University of Applied Science, The Netherlands. Masanja’s field of interest includes: Renewable Energy Technologies (Geothermal), Thermodynamics, Refrigeration and Air conditioning, Energy Systems Modelling, Energy Policies, and Energy Transition.

Peter F.R. Vivian-Neal

Founder and CEO of Kalahari GeoEnergy Ltd

In the ‘Noughties’ Peter Vivian-Neal was co-founder and CEO of Kiwara plc, the London AIM listed exploration company which found one of Zambia’s bigger copper deposits. Following the acquisition of Kiwara by First Quantum Minerals in 2010, Peter switched his focus to geothermal energy for both the generation of electricity and the direct uses of thermal energy for agri-industry processes. The objective of Kalahari GeoEnergy Ltd is to be an independent sustainable power producer in power stricken Southern Africa. The Company holds exploration rights in Southern Zambia. After extensive research and exploration including drilling of over 6,000m of geothermal slim wells, the Company is currently (Q1-Q3 2021) running a feasibility study on a relatively shallow resource at Bweengwa River.

Stuart Alexander Campbell

Dr. Stuart A. Campbell - Senior geoscientist at Kalahari GeoEnergy Ltd.

Exploration and development of low enthalpy geothermal energy in Southern Africa through cutting-edge geoscience, hands-on project management, global collaboration, and unbounded dedication. Six years of research and exploration experience, and part of the team that discovered the Bweengwa River geothermal resource (Zambia). Educated in Economics (BEcon.) and Geoscience (MSc, PhD). Fellow of the Geological Society of London.