Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
James is an accomplished executive with a truly global outlook, leading Numidia’s vision and strategic direction across Africa and beyond. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto, one of Canada’s most prestigious institutions.
James began his career in New York City as a financial analyst at Lehman Brothers, where he covered the energy sector and developed strong capabilities in market analysis, corporate finance, and project risk assessment. He later earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, renowned for its academic rigor and leadership training.
Following his MBA, James was selected for the highly competitive Global Management Trainee Program, completing leadership rotations across three continents. Over the course of more than 23 years, he advanced through a series of senior roles in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa—building a reputation as a visionary leader with a passion for emerging markets, sustainable growth, and high-performing teams.
During his tenure in Africa, James led the market entry strategy for a global food conglomerate into Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Côte d’Ivoire—establishing end-to-end local supply chains and overseeing the construction of dairy processing plants in partnership with regional governments and development agencies. His leadership drove over $250 million in investment, enabling job creation and boosting local milk sourcing.
At Numidia, James brings together his expertise in engineering, finance, and global operations to guide the company’s efforts in agribusiness, dairy commodity trading, and risk management, with a strong focus on African markets. He is committed to forging strategic partnerships that drive economic development, sustainability, and local capacity building.
Neema Mwakalukwa is a seasoned finance executive with extensive experience across Africa’s financial and agribusiness sectors. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Stellenbosch University, one of South Africa’s top academic institutions.
Neema began her career at Standard Bank Group—Africa’s largest bank by assets—where she worked in their Johannesburg headquarters, focusing on corporate finance for agribusiness clients across Southern Africa. She was instrumental in structuring debt packages for regional grain processors and supported working capital financing for cross-border agricultural trade between Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
She later joined Ascent Capital Africa, a leading East African private equity firm, where she played a pivotal role in structuring investments, managing due diligence, and driving portfolio growth across Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda. One of her notable achievements includes leading a $12 million growth equity investment into a Ugandan dairy processor, which enabled the construction of new cold chain infrastructure and increased sourcing from over 5,000 smallholder farmers.
At Numidia, Neema oversees all financial operations, including strategic planning, compliance, investor relations, and the development of sustainable financial models that support the company’s long-term growth across Africa. Her cross-regional expertise and deep market insight ensure sound financial stewardship as Numidia expands its impact.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Chief Investment Officer (CIO)
Ralph is a senior investment professional with a strong track record in Africa’s energy and sustainable development sectors. He holds an MBA from IESE Business School (University of Navarra) and a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, one of Europe’s leading technical universities.
Ralph began his career at Booz Allen Hamilton and later McKinsey & Company, where he was part of the energy practice, advising global clients in the upstream and downstream oil & gas sectors. His work included a focus on the strategic implications of renewable energy and emerging transportation technologies.
Ralph’s passion for inclusive development led him to work with Technoserve in Botswana, where he led initiatives to bring renewable energy and sustainable agriculture to underserved communities. He played a key role in launching a solar-powered irrigation program for smallholder farmers in the Okavango Delta and helped develop a 5 MW off-grid solar mini-grid in collaboration with the Ministry of Minerals and Energy and USAID. These projects enabled improved agricultural productivity and energy access for over 10,000 households and SMEs.
As Chief Investment Officer at Numidia, Ralph oversees the company’s investment strategy, due diligence, and portfolio management, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy and sustainable agribusiness. His ability to blend technical expertise with impact-driven investment makes him a key architect of Numidia’s long-term growth and sustainability agenda.
Emmanuel leads Numidia’s operations in Tanzania with deep expertise in finance, infrastructure development, and project management. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Dar es Salaam.
Emmanuel started his career at TANESCO, Tanzania’s national energy utility, where he led investment planning and secured funding for large-scale renewable energy and rural electrification projects. Notably, he was involved in the development of the Malolo Solar Hybrid Mini-Grid (1.2 MW), a flagship public-private partnership that brought clean energy to over 20 rural villages, and supported financing strategy for the Geita Rural Electrification Project, connecting 60,000 new customers in northwest Tanzania.
His regional perspective was further shaped by secondments with Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) in Nairobi and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) in Kigali. There, he worked on the cross-border financing and structuring of the Rusumo Falls Hydropower Project (80 MW) and contributed to early-stage planning for geothermal development in Kenya’s Rift Valley.
At Numidia, Emmanuel leads market development, regulatory engagement, and customer relationships in Tanzania. He plays a pivotal role in delivering tailored agribusiness and dairy solutions while championing local talent and advancing sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.
Country Manager, Tanzania