The Africa Energies Summit is proud to unveil the Big Five Top 50 Leaders, celebrating the visionaries, innovators, and institutions shaping the future of Africa’s energy sector. As finalists of the Big Five Awards, this prestigious, peer-nominated list recognises excellence across corporate, regulatory, individual, and community contributions in an industry central to the continent’s economic growth and energy security.

Held as part of the prestigious Africa Energies Summit, the Big Five Awardsand associated award categories spotlight those who are driving meaningful change and leading Africa’s energy journey with resilience and foresight.

This year marks the 29th Edition of the Big Five Awards, which will take place on the evening of Thursday 15th May from 16:00 until late at a special venue in London. The ceremony promises to be a landmark occasion, uniting African and global leaders in celebration of extraordinary achievement, leadership, and progress across the continent’s energy landscape.

The Big Five Awards 2025 will be presented by Big Five Board Award Sponsors Eni, alongside Gayle Meikle, CEO of Frontier, alongside by our esteemed Guest of Honour, Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commissioner of Namibia.

“It means a great deal to me to carry on the traditions of my uncle, Dr. Duncan Clarke, who gifted me the Big Five Awards now entering their 29th year, as well as his love for Africa’s energy industry. His legacy of celebrating African excellence in energy continues to inspire our work at the Summit, and it’s an honour to champion this platform. This year we will celebrate in style, thank you to our Sponsor, Eni.“The Big Five Awards Ceremony will take place in the evening of our final night together in London, 15th May and will be a fitting celebration of what our nominees and winners have achieved this year in Africa!” Gayle Meikle, CEO, Frontier

The Big 5: Industry Leaders Driving African Energy

The Big Five Board Awards 2025 shortlist includes;

Elephant Award – Distinguished Individual Contribution

• Alcides Andrade, Executive Board Member, ANPG
• Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive, NUPRC
• John Ardill, Vice President, ExxonMobil
• Nantenaina Rasolonirina, Acting General Manager, OMNIS
• Ernest Rubondo, Executive Director, Petroleum Authority of Uganda

Lion Award – Distinguished Corporate Contribution

• Woodside
• ExxonMobil
• Azule Energy
• Chevron
• Shell

Rhino Award – Africa’s NOC/Regulator of the Year

• Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)
• Société Nationale d’Opérations Pétrolières de la Côte d’Ivoire (PETROCI)
• Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis (ANPG)
• National Oil Corporation (NOC), Libya
• Agência Nacional de Petróleo de São Tomé e Príncipe (ANP-STP)
• SMH (Mauritania) & PETROSEN (Senegal) – Greater Tortue Ahmeyim First Oil
  (supported by bp/ Kosmos)

Leopard Award – Africa’s Independent Player of the Year

• Rhino Resources
• Invictus Energy
• Murphy Oil
• Oando
• Panoro Energy

Buffalo Award – Africa’s Service & Supply Company of the Year

• Viridien
• SLB
• Halliburton
• Baker Hughes
• TGS

Africa’s Legend Award – Celebrating Lifetime Achievement and Legacy

• H.E. Diamantino Azevedo, Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Angola
• H.E. Eng. Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Egypt
• H.E. Dr Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Secretary General, APPO
• Kristian Johansen, CEO, TGS
• Ade Adeola, Managing Director, Energy & Natural Resources, Standard Chartered Bank

Leading Women in African Energy – Recognising Pioneering Leadership

• Proscovia Nabbanja, CEO, UNOC
• Nahed Kahloul, VP Offshore Atlantic East, SLB
• Katrina Fisher, President, ExxonMobil Angola
• Sylvia Anjos, Executive Director, E&P, Petrobras
• Khady Dior Ndiaye, VP & Country Manager, Côte d’Ivoire, Kosmos

African Energy Financier of the Year – Powering Growth and Innovation

• Standard Bank
• Equity Bank
• First Bank Nigeria
• US EXIM Bank
• RMB

Local Impact Award – Driving Positive Change in African Communities

• EXCEED Trust
• The Schlumberger Foundation
• Azule Energy – HALO Trust
• Perenco Foundation
• ExxonMobil Foundation – STEM Africa

Emerging Leaders in African Energy – Rising Star Award

• Victoria Sibeya, Acting MD, NAMCOR
• Mohammed Said, Managing Director, ZPRA
• Kenneth Mutaonga, Co-Founder, Asilia Energy
• Asmae Benarchid, Director of Exploration, ONHYM
• Shigela Malosha, Director of Contracts & Licensing, PURA

Big Five Top 50 – Africa’s Most Influential Leaders in Energy

Full profiles to be released in a forthcoming feature announcement.