Lucky Ogutu Okudo is the founder and CEO of Women in Energy & Extractives Africa (WEX Africa) in Kenya. She is also the founder and CEO of Guuru Energy – an integrated energy service company and specialist advisory firm which works with companies and governments across the continent placing sustainability at the core of their business strategy.
The oil specialist and energy access expert made headlines in Kenya on Saturday, August 13, 2022, after images and videos shared from the fracas witnessed at the Bomas of Kenya during the tallying of votes by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) placed at the venue.
She boasts a decade of experience in building public-private partnerships across the African continent in the energy sector, advising governments on oil and energy policy legislation, natural resource strategic development and decentralised energy solutions.
In this article, WoK takes a look at her illustrious career.
Background and Education
Ogutu Okudo holds a bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Policy and Diplomacy from the United States International University (USIU). She also holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, UK.
Career
According to her LinkedIn profile, Ogutu Okudo worked as a financial analyst for Actuarial and Benefit Consultants in Nairobi between May 2011 and December 2012. She then proceeded to work for Augean PLC in Aberdeen, UK as a consultant between February 2013 and January 2014.
Upon returning to Kenya, she joined Interswitch Group as a Business Development Associate and served between January 2014 and June 2015.
Ogutu was the Energy Advisor for Siaya County between August 2014 and December 2017. She also served as consultant for the Ministry of Mining and Petroleum between March 2020 and June 2021.
She was also a Lead Researcher & Strategic Communications for the Government of Kenya in the Maritime dispute with Somalia.
Ogutu is a published researcher and strong critic of African energy sector dialogue having successfully lobbied for policy reform on behalf of sector players.
Ogutu continues to raise awareness of challenges different genders are facing with their interaction with the oil, mining and alternative energy sources sectors through her globally recognised and award-winning organisation, Women in Energy and Extractives Africa (WEX Africa).
She is a Board Director at the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK), a Non-Executive Director at the London-based off-grid power utility, Bboxx and an Advisory Board Member at Africa’s leading energy association; The African Energy Chamber.
Ogutu runs a Strategic Communications firm, Africa2100 that helps leaders, nations, institutions and organisations communicate at times of change and uncertainty.
She has worked at the intersection of business and politics in a world without borders, using data and intelligence to design and execute state-of-the-art campaigns. These include five African Presidential Election Campaigns and strategic communications in international boundary disputes.
In 2020, Ogutu was recognised by Forbes Africa, as part of their 30 Under 30 Class for her work in the energy sector.
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