
AOW:Energy 2025 Speakers
The Voices Driving Africa’s Energy Transformation
Celebrating the leaders and innovators shaping the future of oil, gas, and energy across the continent.
At AOW:Energy, we take immense pride in welcoming some of the most influential and forward-thinking leaders from across the global energy landscape. The calibre of speakers who have committed to AOW:Energy 2025 is a testament to the event’s position as the premier platform driving upstream development across Africa. These are the visionaries, dealmakers, and technical experts whose insight and leadership are shaping the future of the continent’s oil, gas, and energy sectors.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the industry for its unwavering support over the years and for entrusting AOW:Energy as the gathering where ideas become action and partnerships take shape. To our 2025 speakers, thank you for lending your voices, thank you for sharing your experiences, and thank you for your vision in what promises to be an unforgettable year. We look forward to hosting you in Accra for a week of collaboration, inspiration, and real progress for Africa’s energy future.

H.E. John Dramani Mahama
President
Republic of Ghana

H.M. John Jinapor
Minister for Energy and Green Transition
Republic of Ghana

H.E. Birame Souleye Diop
SVP Business Development, Yinson

H.E. Gwede Mantashe
Minister of Mineral & Petroleum Resources
Republic of South Africa

H.E. Heineken Lokpobiri
Minister of State for Petroleum
Resources(Oil)
Nigeria

H.E. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang
VP
Ghana

H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Farouk
Secretary General
APPO

Hon. Minister Infanda
Minister of Energy
Republic of Guinea Bissau

H.E. Lerato D. Mataboge
Commissioner for Infrastructure & Energy
Africa Union

H.E. Mohammed Ould Khaled
Minister of Energy & Oil
Mauritania

H.E. Dr. Mohieddin Naaiem Mohamed Saied
Minister of Energy & Petroleum
Republic Sudan

H.M. Nani Juwara
Minister of Energy
Republic of Gambia

H.M. Rufin Benam Beltoungou
Minister of Mines & Geology
Central African Republic

H.E. Wamkele Mene
AFTFCA
Africa Union

H.M. Yacouba Zabré Gouba
Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries
Republic of Burkina Faso

Hon. Yonis Ali Guedi
Minister of Energy & Natural Resources
Republic of Djibouti

Abasiemediong Etuk
Associate
KENNA Partners

Ababacar Mbengue
Director of Promotion and Expoloration
Petrosen E&P

Abiodun Bodunrin
MD
WAPCO

Adegbite Falade
CEO & MD
Aradel Holdings

Ademola Adeyemi-Bero
MD & CEO
FIRST E&P

Dr. Ainojie 'Alex' Irune
MD
Oando Energy Resources Nigeria

Aldo Perracini
CFO
Meren

Álvaro Silva
ED
ANP-STP

Amelie Duffournet
Senior Geologist
TotalEnergies

Amadou Woury Diallo
Ministry of Energy
Repúblic of Senegal

Andy Demetriou
Business Adviser, Global Exploration
Woodside Energy

Ane Aubert
Angola CM
Equinor

Arthur Ename
VP Africa
NOV

Ayanda Noah
Group Chair
CEF

Ayman Khattab
President, Middle East & Africa
Baker Hughes

Bambo Ibidapo-Obe
GM Commercial
Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited

Bemigho Okome
EM Nigeria
TotalEnergies

Benoni Ayeh
O&M Superintendent West
WAPCO

Ben Sayers
Partner, GeoPartners Ltd

Ben Laura
COO
Oceaneering

Bimbola Kolawale
VP Head of Commercial- Africa
Rystad Energy

Dr. Bongani Sayadini
CEO
Petroleum Agency South Africa

Brian Progar
SVP & Ghana Asset Manager
Kosmos Energy

Cany Jobe (MSPM, MEng)
Director E&P GNPC
Republic of Gambia

Charles Sangweni
DG
PURA

Chris Brett
President & CEO
Altera

Chris Drage
VP Sales - Eastern Hemisphere
TGS

Chris Coombs
Head Oil & Gas
Nedbank

Custodio Barros
Senior Geophysicist
Republic of Angola

Cynthia Lumor
Deputy MD
Tullow Ghana

Edward Aikins
Senior Manager, Executive Lead in Consulting, Cloud and Engineering
Deloitte

Dave McGurk
ED
OPCO Offshore South West Tano, Ghana
Heritage Oil

David Ampoo
CEO
Ghana Upstream Petroleum Chamber

David Hajovsky
EVP MultiClient
TGS

Dele Kuti
Global Head, Energy & Infra
Standard Bank Group

Dr. Daere Akobo
CEO
PANA Holdings

Duncan Rushworth
Head of BD
Tower Resources

Dr. Ebenezer Ageh
CTO
Aradel Holdings Plc

Edward During
CFO
Lekoil Nigeria

Emeafa Hardcastle
Ag. CEO
Petroleum Commission of Ghana

Emily Watt
VP, Refining and Products Trading, Europe and Africa
bp Trading & Shipping (T&S)

Erling Frantzen
SVP, EAME
Viridien

Fatima Hussain
MD, Oil & Gas Corporate Finance
Standard Chartered Bank

Dr Faye Gerard
Energy Transition and Americas Director
IOGP

Felicia Djibo
Partner, Consulting
Deloitte

Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe
Executive Secratary
Nigerian Content Development &
Monitoring Board

Florian Pelletier
Senior Geoscientist, TotalEnergies
Exploration
TotalEnergies

Frederick Hesse-Tetteh
CEO
Harelquin International

Fredy Seho
Manager Commercial & BD
WAPCO

Gavin Thompson
VC Europe, Middle East & Africa
Wood Mackenzie

Engr. Gbenga Komolafe
CEO
NUPRC

George Toriola
CSO
First E&P

Gideon Ayi-Owoo
Partner Tax and Legal
Deloitte West Africa

Giovanni Aquilina
ED
Azule

Gianluca Ciricugno
Africa Enterprise Growth Market Director
Baker Hughes

Godfrey Moagi
CEO
South Africa National Petroleum Company

Hatem Salem
Executive, On-Demand Solutions
Baker Hughes

Helder Lombo
Head of Negotiations
Republic Of Angola

Helio Cumbi
Director, Africa & Financial Institutions
ExxonMobil

Henning Fotland
MD Operations
Côte d'Ivoire Altera

Hilde Nafstad
Acting SVP for Africa & Country Manager Tanzania
Equinor

Hywel Upshall
GM Exploration
Murphy Oil

Ibitola Ukabam
AVP, Investments
AFC

Ifeanyi Nwagbogu
Director, Sales and Commercial, Production Systems
SLB

Inussa Balde
ES
AGC

Issifou Yari
CEO
SOBEH, Republic of Benin

lyke Nnoaham
BOM
Shell Bonga

James Makinde
GM Gas Business
Seplat Energy

Jean-Médard Madama
MD
Tullow Ghana

Jean-Marc Kloss
MD, West Africa
SLB

Jeremy Asher
Chairman & CEO
Tower Resources

Joe Mensah
SVP, Head of Ghana Business Unit
Kosmos Energy

Johnbosco Uche
President
Nigerian Association of Petroleum
Explorationists (NAPE)

Josephine Udonsak
Partner
Dentons ACAS-Law

Joshua May
BDM, Africa Mediterranean & Middle East
TGS

Josef Marton
MD
Preng & Associates

Judith Adjobah Blay
CEO
Ghana Gas

Julia Gridasova
CM Ghana
SLB

Justin Jackson
Crude and Products Origination VP
ExxonMobil

Kadijah Amoah
CEO
Pecan Energies Ghana Limited

Karyna Rodriguez
VP Global New Ventures
Searcher

Kevin Dadzie
Regional Manager & Head of Country
bp, Ghana

Khalid Amrouch
Director Investments Promotion
& Assets Management
ONHYM

Kike Fajemirokun
Head, Corporate Services & ESG
Lekoil Nigeria Limited

Kialunga Martins
Head of Negotiations Department,
Republic of Angola

Kikelomo Afolabi
Front-End Development Manager
Aradel Holdings

Dr. Kofi Amoa-Abban
CEO
Rigworld Solutions

Kofo Olagunju
GM, Security, Govt & External Relations
Oando Energy Resources Nigeria

Kwame Ntow-Amoah
Ag. CEO
GNPC

Kwaku Boateng
Head of Local Content
Petroleum Commission Ghana

Lanciné Condé
DG
SONAP

Larry Velasco
Africa Exploration Data New Ventures
Manager
SLB

Leparan Gideon ole Morintat
CEO & MD
National Oil Corporation of Kenya

Luke Woodard
MD
Mercuria Energy Trading SA

Maggy Shino
Petroleum Commissioner
Republic of Namibia

Mario Bello
Head of Sub Saharian Africa Region
Eni

Mark W. Llamas
Co-Founder & MD
Lab Energy Advisors

Mahesh Swaminhatan
Executive Committe Member, SVP,
Subsea & Floating Facilities
McDermott

Mansur Mohammed
Head of West Africa Upstream Content, Sub-Saharan Africa Oil & Gas
Wood Mackenzie

Marcela Alonso Garzon
New Ventures Manager
SLB

Marilyn T. Logan
DG
Liberian Petroleum Regulatory Authority
Republic of Liberia

Martin Oswald
Senior Gas Specialist
World Bank

Massaer Cissé
VP
bp, Senegal

Matthieu Milandri
Head of Upstream Finance
Trafigura

Michelle Burkett
MD
WAPCO

Mike Adams
TD
Genel Energy

Milton Zibane
VP Exploration
INP Mozambqiue

Mohamed Limam
VP
bp, Mauritania

Mohamed Lemine Mohamed Bowba
Technical Advisor to the DG
SMH

Muhammad Asim Subhani
Director
Prime Global Energies Limited

Muhammed Jawara
Deputy MD
Gambia National Petroleum Corporation
(GNPC)

Naa Opoku-Agyeman
MD
Yinson Production (Ghana)

Nahed Kahloul
VP, Offshore Atlantic East
SLB

Nina Bowyer
Partner
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Nikhil Bhandari
Director of Project Finance
DFC, United States Government

Obo Idornigie
SVP - Global Upstream Research
Welligence

Oise lhonde
Director of Business Development
MODEC Production Services Ghana JV

Okechukwu Mba
Director New Energy
Seplat Energy

Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi
CEO & MD
Ingentia Energies

Olawale Noiki
West Africa Enterprise Technology &
Performance Leader
Deloitte

Dr. Oliver Quinn
CCO
Meren

Olumide Esan
Leader for ER&l in West Africa
Deloitte

Olumide O Ogunfowora
Partner
Argentil Capital Partners

Pal Gunnar Heistad
SVP BD
Yinson

Papa Ba
DGCSO, Ministry of Energy
Republic of Senegal

Dr. Paul Bellingham
Chief Geologist
BGP Offshore

Paul Erdley-Taylor
Gas Sector Lead
Standard Bank Group

Paul McCafferty
GM Exploration
Heritage Oil

Paul Morton
Partner
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Peter Hooper
CCO
Shearwater

Peter Wood
CEA
Shell

Phillip Torres
Director of the Sovereign Decarbonization & Biodiversity Programs
Emia

Pierre Raillard
Head of Gas Business & Morocco Country Director
Chariot Limited

Pranav Joshi
VP
Rystad Energy

Rashid Ali Abdallah
ED
African Energy Commission, AFREC

Raymond Omietimi
General Manager (GM)
Geosciences
Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited

Renaud Brimont
Head of EMEARC consulting
Wood Mackenzie

Rexford Addi-Kissiedu
Senior Manager Resources Sector
FNB Ghana Limited

Richard Barke
Director of Exploration, South Atlantic
ExxonMobil

Rob Holden
VP AMME - Multi-Client BD
TGS

Roger Brown
President & CEO
Seplat Energy

Dr. Roger Tucker
President & CEO
Meren

Ross Compton
Director of Global Policy
EnergeoAlliance

Rotimi Adefarasin
Deputy GM, BD (Midstream and Downstream Market Development)
First E&P

Sam Olotu
CTO
Lekoil Nigeria Limited

Sandisiwe Ncemane
GM Market & Business Analysis
CEF

Sesakho Magadla
Legacy Entities: Interim CEO
CEF

Seun Ejodame
Partner, Audit & Assurance
Deloitte West Africa

Shahin Amini
Head of IR and Communications
Meren

Sharika Iddrisu
Commercial operations Manager
Tullow

Sibonelo Nkosi
Partner
Giantfuse capital

Simon Cheesley
Director of Sub-Saharan Africa
Viridien

Simon Telfer
SVP Software, Processing and Imaging
Shearwater

Steve Husbands
Head of Commercial, Oil & Gas Advisory
Infinite Energy Advisory

Stig Bøtker
Director of Business Development
Altera

Sumeet Singh
Chief Executive
Powergas

Sue Reuther
MEA Energy Sector Lead
SLR

Dr. Susanne Rentsch-Smith
Head of Geoscience
Shearwater

Talla Gueye
Director General
Petrosen

Taiwo Okwor
VP investment
AFC

Theophilus Ahwireng
MD
MODEC Production Services Ghana
JV Ltd.

Dr. Tshepo Mokoka
Group Interim CEO
CEF

Valerie Marcel
ED
New Producers Group

Verity Agar
VP Geoscience
TGS

Victoria Sibeya
Ag. MD
NAMCOR Republic of Namibia

Wale Tinubu
GCE
Oando Plc

Xavier Dezamy
Head of Strategic Accounts & Growth
Deloitte

Yann P. A. Livulibutt Yangari
Founder - Partner
Flamboyans Services

Zubin Bamji
Manager, Energy and Extractives Global Department
World Bank