Energy in Emerging Markets Case Competition

Jacqueline serves as the Head of Finance at Zembo, where she oversees Financial Accounting & Reporting, Procurement & Logistics, and Credit Management. Before joining Zembo, Jacqueline held the position of Country Manager at Ronalds East Africa Uganda, where she managed the Audit, Tax, and Accounting functions. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and is a Certified Public Accountant. Jacqueline is dedicated to transformational leadership, with a strong focus on both internal and external compliance and the automation of business processes.

Mara Kingsley joins us from AES, a global company committed to accelerating the future of energy and the leading global provider of renewable energy to corporations. Mara has been with AES for 17 years and currently serves as its Chief Marketing Officer focused on supporting the company’s growth efforts as it delivers the greener, smarter solutions its customers and the world need. Prior to AES, she held a number of roles in communications, marketing and sales in the technology industry. Mara is a graduate of Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering.

Matthew Tiedemann is Director, Energy for Development, within RTI International’s Sustainable Growth and Resilience Unit. He has more than 25 years’ experience designing, managing, implementing, and monitoring large, complex projects and building effective teams. Mr. Tiedemann has successfully led projects in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, valued up to $70 million with 400 staff, which have left lasting impact. For over a dozen years Mr. Tiedemann has supervised and advised on- and off-grid energy programs in South and South East Asia and East and Central Africa. He has advocated for access to renewable energy as a multiplier for growth and prosperity, engaging with governments, private sector, and donors. Through his work he has catalyzed country and global energy initiatives. Mr. Tiedemann has a demonstrated ability to provide strategic, adaptive leadership, identify and develop local talent, and strengthen capacity in complex, sensitive, and transitional environments. Over his 25-year career, including 15 years as a chief of party for USAID-funded programs, he has developed collaborative relationships with local partners, donors, government, and intergovernmental counterparts. His speaking engagements, publications, and leadership positions on national-level committees and technical working groups have refined his capacity as a thought leader and advocate for using data for decision-making.

Alix Peterson Zwane is executive in residence with the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke University at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. Prior to joining the Nicholas Institute, Alix was the first chief executive officer of the Global Innovation Fund, a hybrid investment vehicle that accelerates evidence-based innovation through early-stage debt and equity investing, as well as grantmaking. Alix has over 20 years of experience advancing the agenda of evidence-based aid and international development as an investor, a social entrepreneur, and an innovator. Alix holds a Ph.D. in public policy from Harvard University and is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. She has served appointments as a non-resident fellow at the Center for Global Development and at the Jackson School of Global Affairs at Yale University.