The Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Board of Directors, ushering in a dynamic phase of leadership committed to accelerating the deployment of minigrids as a cornerstone of Africa’s sustainable development and energy transition.
The new board brings together an exceptional group of industry leaders and visionaries with deep expertise in energy access, infrastructure finance, policy, and impact-driven innovation. Their collective experience will help guide AMDA’s strategic direction as it works to scale minigrid solutions that power rural communities, support local enterprises, drive inclusive economic growth, and support the global community to meet critical climate goals.
“This new board reflects the momentum and maturity of Africa’s minigrid sector,” said Olamide Niyi-Afuye, Chief Executive Officer of AMDA. “Their leadership will strengthen AMDA’s ability to advocate for enabling policies, mobilize investment, and foster collaboration across the ecosystem—from governments to global financiers.”
The new board members include:
- Ms. Alexandra Links – Global Head of Public Affairs and Partnerships, ENGIE Energy Access Africa
- Mr. Christopher Olobo – CEO, Dhamana Guarantee Company
- Mr. Daniel Komolafe – Founder and CEO, First Electric
- Mr. Jonathan Shaw – CEO, Nuru
- Mr. Philip Stovold – CEO and Managing Director, Kaboni Energy
- Dr. Prosper Magali – Director, Ensol Ltd
- Ms. Susan J. Smith – Vice President, Odyssey Energy Solutions
- Mr. Tabi T. Tabi – Founder and CEO, Granville Energy
AMDA extends its deepest gratitude to all outgoing board members for their tireless dedication, guidance, and contributions during their term. Their leadership has been instrumental in positioning AMDA as a credible, influential voice in the DRE ecosystem across Africa and beyond.
“It has been a tremendous honor to serve as a founding member and Chair of the AMDA Board during a time of rapid evolution for the sector,” said Vivian Vendeirinho, outgoing Chair of the Board. “We have made immense progress in consolidating and elevating the voice of minigrid developers and laying the groundwork for sector-wide growth. Questions line ‘do they want electricity’ or ‘what happens when the grid arrives’ are no longer barriers to finance. For me this is a critical indicator of advanced maturity of the sector. I have full confidence that the incoming board and AMDA executive will build on this foundation to take the sector and our members to even greater heights.”
The appointment of the new board comes at a critical time. As we intensify efforts to close Africa’s energy access gap, minigrids and other distributed renewable energy (DRE) technologies have emerged as viable, scalable, and sustainable solutions. AMDA’s industry leadership has positioned the association as a trusted voice across regional and global energy dialogues.
The new board will provide stewardship as AMDA deepens partnerships with governments, development partners, and investors to deliver on key goals, including accelerating access to long-term patient capital, harmonizing regulations, and increasing project bankability.
About AMDA
The Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) is an industry association formed by private sector minigrid developers and development partners dedicated to improving the political and financial environments for minigrid companies in Africa. AMDA serves as the unified voice for minigrid developers, working to accelerate their path to scale and sustainability in achieving universal access to sustainable, reliable, affordable, and modern energy across the continent. Currently, AMDA has over 60 member companies operating in 24 African countries. Learn more about AMDA at africamda.org and follow us on LinkedIn and X.