Opening

Dr. Florian Wessendorf is Managing Director of Solar Promotion GmbH and Solar Promotion International GmbH. He is responsible for the global conference program and exhibitions in North America, South America and India. He has deep expertise in the solar industry, and formerly served as Managing Director of Photovoltaic Equipment at VDMA, where he was responsible for strategic development, market research and technology scouting, advocacy and policy advice, events, PR and marketing.

Eddy Njoroge is passionate and well versed with conversion to Green Energy Economies through a just transition. He is the former CEO of Kenya Electricity Generating Company where he spearheaded the transformation of the company to a predominantly renewable source. From 2008 to 2012, he was the President of the Union of Producers and Distributors of Electric Power in Africa, giving him a unique overview and perspective of Africa's Power sector. He was awarded a Lifetime Award by the Africa Energy Forum in recognition of his contribution to the transformation of the energy sector in Africa. Eddy was the first African President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 2020-2021 and later Advisor to the first female ISO President 2022-2023. Recently he was elected as a Trustee of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) where he also chairs the Audit Committee. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Telkom Kenya, Corbetti Geothermal Company (Ethiopia), Tanalec Ltd (Zambia), Electricity Sector Association of Kenya (ESAK) and Proctor & Allan. He is a Past Chairman of the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Eddy also sits on the Board of Britam Life Insurance, Globeleq - a Pan African power company and BL Energy Mauritius. He is a Member of the Investment Committee of the Africa Renewable Energy Fund (a renewable energy fund) focusing on renewables in sub-Saharan Africa. He is the recipient of several awards honoring his contribution to industry development, including the Ordre National du Mérite from the President of France, an EBS and CBS from the Kenyan President. He has a BSc. (Degree in Chemistry/Biochemistry from Makerere University and a MBA (Leadership and Sustainability) from University of Cumbria.

John is the Founder of AFSIA, the Africa Solar Industry Association. AFSIA aims at promoting the use of solar energy across Africa and being the voice of solar professionals active in Africa. AFSIA's activities include market intelligence analysis, content generation, info sharing, events and business facilitation services. Prior to AFSIA, John has been leading the development of solar projects for 13 years across 4 continents. These projects ranged from utility-scale to commercial and residential projects, and included on- and off-grid systems, hybrid systems, Solar Home Systems and mini-grids. John regularly advises the public and private sector on market dynamics and operational strategy for solar developments in Africa. Next to AFSIA, John is also in charge of La Fromagerie, the only goat cheese farm and factory in Rwanda. John holds a MBA in strategy, managerial and organizational behaviour, Entrepreneurship from the University of Chicago Booth.

Gerd Müller, who has been the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) since December 10, 2021, held various leadership positions early in his career. After serving as a member of the European Parliament, he was appointed Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection in 2005. In 2013, he became the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. Gerd Müller has extensive experience in multilateral cooperation, sustainability, sustainable management, and innovative agriculture. Key priorities of his work include implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Climate Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Beijing Declaration on Gender Equality.

Holding a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Social and Economic Geography, Education, and Practical Catholic Theology from The University of Bonn, Bodo has showcased his leadership for over three decades. His most recent roles as Country Director at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Kenya (2020 - date), Rwanda (2015-2020), and South Sudan (2012-2015), among other leadership and technical positions in Africa, demonstrate his dedication to driving positive change through strategic development initiatives.

Since August 2022, Mr. Sebastian Groth has been the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Kenya. The head of mission is also accredited as Ambassador to the Seychelles and Somalia, as well as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), both based in Nairobi.