Board and Management
Rory Stear
Chairman
Over 27 years of international business experience where his focus has been on building, leading and operating businesses in the private and public sectors, around the globe. He is passionate about addressing social issues while simultaneously ensuring strong returns for investors. Co-founded an award winning micro-energy company that pioneered renewable energy products for use in the developing world which listed on the London Stock Exchange. He has been BusinessWeek's “Entrepreneur of the Year’’, Time Magazine's “Hero of the Environment” and Time/Fortune/CNN's "Principal Voice" on energy poverty.
Mashale Phumaphi
CEO
Over 17 years experience in funding and developing energy projects in Africa and globally. Founder of one of Africa’s largest energy resource companies listed on stock markets in Botswana and Mauritius. In 5 years grew portfolio assets from nil to being independently valued at over $200m. Mashale previously worked for a London based corporate finance and issuing house with a particular specialty in natural resources. He holds a Masters in Engineering Degree from the University of Sheffield and an Investment Management Certificate.
Selwyn Blieden
Non Exec Director
Selwyn has over 20 years of experience in consulting and banking. He began his career at McKinsey & Co. in Johannesburg, undertaking projects across Africa. He subsequently co-founded and managed RMB’s Opportunities in Global Real Estate portfolio and later co-founded the RMB Westport Real Estate Development Fund, the largest sub-Saharan Africa real estate private equity fund at the time. Selwyn led Absa’s commercial property finance business in Africa as a Principal at the Absa Group. He holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge.
Gaolatlhe Chepete
Stakeholder Engagement Manager
Gaolatlhe is a Social Performance specialist focused on developing stakeholder engagement and implementing tools designed to acquire a social license for projects. She has been part of a team that conducted activities for an IPP in Botswana where she later held a position as a Community Liaison, building and maintaining relationships, implementing grievance procedures and conducting socio-economic analyses of the projects. Gaolatlhe focuses on stakeholder inclusion and negotiations, and building projects’ social profiles, embedded into corporate strategy.
Temo Bolokwe
Operations Manager
Temo is a finance professional with experience in auditing, financial reporting and financial management. He started in career at Deloitte & Touché Botswana where he trained as an external auditor. He rose up the ranks to become an Audit Senior and completed his articles with the firm to qualify as a Chartered Accountant. He is currently an Associate member of the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants. During his time in audit, he worked with companies from diverse backgrounds including mining, industrials and financial services.
Joe Bester
Chief Strategic Officer and Head of Capital Development
Joe is a seasoned executive with over 25 years in the investment and renewable energy sectors. Joe's journey has seen him as founder of and leading various businesses across Southern Africa and Europe. In his early career, Joe played a pivotal role in establishing Citadel Private Clients as leading asset management firm. As one of the founders and a Principal of Talent10 Holdings he was part of many successful PE investments culminating in one the largest ever VC exits in Southern Africa. Before joining Etavi Joe was the MD of Peotona Future Energies where built a portfolio of solar IPP projects in the C&I space.
Adam Terry
CTO
Over 19 years’ experience in the renewable industry, specifically solar, wind (on and offshore), hydro and energy storage. Experience spans development, financing, construction, operations and due diligence in over 20 countries across EMEA. Currently working as Owner’s Engineer for one of the largest hybrid projects in the world, awarded under the South African Risk Mitigation IPP programme.