UpEnergy Welcomes Two New Board Members
UpEnergy today announced that Dr. Jackie Chimhanzi and Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani have been selected to join the company’s Board of Directors.
“It’s an honor to welcome Jackie and Rolake to our board,” said Matt Evans, Chairman of the UpEnergy Board of Directors. “Jackie brings a wealth of experience in public sector strategy and leadership across the continent, while Rolake offers deep expertise in energy finance, infrastructure, and government relations. Just as importantly, their connection to African markets and the communities we serve will be invaluable as we expand our reach, strengthen partnerships, and deliver on our mission of equitable decarbonization and climate justice. Together, their strategic insight will be instrumental as we continue scaling our decarbonisation efforts.”
Dr. Jackie Chimhanzi brings a wealth of experience from across the African continent. Her background includes senior roles as Strategy Lead at Deloitte Consulting, where she advised major clients in the power, oil, gas, and industrial sectors, and as Senior Strategist at the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa. She was previously the CEO of the African Leadership Institute, where she led the development of emerging African leaders through the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship. She currently serves as Regional Director for Southern Africa at TBI. Named one of Forbes Africa’s “20 Youngest Power Women,” Jackie is widely recognised for her thought leadership and her ability to navigate the intersection of strategy, development, and governance.
Rolake Akinkugbe‑Filani brings deep experience across energy finance, banking, and infrastructure development in Africa, having helped mobilise over $10 billion in energy sector investments over the past decade. She most recently served as Group Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Development at Zenith Bank Plc and previously led major energy financing projects as Head of Energy at FBN Capital. She has also served as Chief Commercial Officer at pan-African infrastructure developer ARM Group, overseeing infrastructure projects across five countries, and has advised development finance institutions such as Denmark’s IFU on renewable energy investments. Rolake is widely recognized as a leading voice in the sector, having been named one of the “Top Global Female Influencer Executives in Energy.”
With Jackie and Rolake on board, our leadership and focus will continue to be deeply connected to on-the-ground realities. Bringing experienced voices like theirs into our boardroom means our strategy stays rooted in the communities we serve on a daily basis. We are confident that Jackie and Rolake will help us advance our mission of equitable decarbonization - driving climate solutions that bring substantial benefits to those most vulnerable to climate change, while also strengthening our ability to engage with governments in support of their national decarbonization plans.
Please join us in welcoming these two inspiring leaders to the UpEnergy family. Together, we will continue fighting climate injustice and ensuring that all communities benefit from the energy transition.