London, UK – SolarAid, a pioneering charity dedicated to bringing solar power to underserved communities across Africa, is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees. Lionel Marumahoko has been appointed as the new Chair of Trustees, while Chris Austin joins as a new Trustee, further strengthening SolarAid’s leadership at a pivotal time in its mission.
Lionel Marumahoko brings a wealth of experience, having spent over 25 years with The Coca-Cola Company, where he provided executive leadership across 36 Sub-Saharan Africa markets. As a recognised leader in distribution networks and business operations across the African continent, Lionel has lived and worked in 8 African countries, developing a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within these diverse markets. He is currently Managing Partner at BPL AFRICACONNECT, where he advises businesses on growth and expansion strategies in Africa. Lionel’s expertise will be crucial as SolarAid expands its reach, ensuring affordable solar power is accessible to all.
Chris Austin, a former senior civil servant with an illustrious career in international development, brings invaluable insight to SolarAid’s board. His experience spans across diverse global settings, where he has worked in leadership positions to address some of the world’s most pressing issues, including sustainable development. His strategic input will play a key role as SolarAid continues to drive forward its mission of accelerating solar energy adoption in off-grid communities.
Mirjana Škrba, who has served as Chair of Trustees for the past four years, will remain on the board as Treasurer, ensuring continuity in SolarAid’s governance. Commenting on the appointments, Škrba expressed her excitement for the future of the organisation:
“I’m thrilled to welcome our two new board members, who bring a tremendous wealth of experience. Their fresh perspectives come at a pivotal moment for the charity as we continue to amplify our core message and strengthen partnerships across the continent, accelerating the adoption of projects to achieve SDG7 and ensuring no one is left behind.”
SolarAid’s mission is to combat poverty and climate change by providing solar lighting to millions of people in Africa who lack access to electricity. The organisation’s leadership transition comes at a critical time as SolarAid scales up its efforts to deliver clean, affordable energy to off-grid communities, directly contributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) – affordable and clean energy for all.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
SolarAid
Established in 2006, SolarAid is a UK based, pioneering international charity tackling poverty and climate change by providing access to clean, safe solar lights in underserved rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Through its social enterprise, they are developing innovative enterprise programmes for solar energy distribution to help progress universal energy access.
http://solar-aid.org @SolarAid
For more information, please contact:
Sofia Ollvid
Communications Director
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0044 793 860 3824
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