Elsie Mbugua

Elsie Mbugua is a trailblazing energy executive, investor, and global policy advisor whose work sits at the intersection of renewable energy, climate finance, and frontier infrastructure. As the Founder and Managing Director of Leadwood Energy, she is reshaping Africa’s energy future — driving transactions that unlock capital, accelerate sustainability, and position the continent as a leader in the global energy transition.

A pioneer of first-of-their-kind energy deals, Elsie has been instrumental in advancing policy, investment, and governance frameworks critical to Africa's energy growth. She advised the Government of Kenya on its crude oil and natural gas prospects, structured the country’s first ever crude oil sale, led negotiations for the landmark Upstream Crude Project, and developed Kenya’s first local-currency Power Purchase Agreement — precedent-setting milestones that continue to influence the sector.

Her expertise was forged over a decade on Wall Street, where she traded coal, power, emissions, natural gas, and crude oil at Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan. That depth of experience now informs her work designing innovative capital-raising strategies for renewable energy projects and climate-related investments — making her a key architect of Africa’s low-carbon future. She also has a passion for investing in companies and aligning with funds at the forefront of innovation in the energy transition.