Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo

Mattia leads Practical Action’s Resilient Livelihoods and Climate Adaptation programme strategy, which includes our energy and food system programmes. He is also the interim Head of the Global Distributors Collective, the global network of last mile distributors reaching over 60 million people with life-changing products. Mattia brings 17 years of experience in energy access and climate action across Africa, Asia, and Central America.

Zibusiso Ncube leads Practical Actions work in Africa on Energy and Livelihood. He brings 15 years of experience in shaping thinking and practice on sustainable energy access in Africa. He has worked on and led projects focused on advancing innovative approaches to energy access, renewable energy, PUE, clean cooking and the energy livelihoods nexus.

Cynthia Makunganya is Senior Advisor at the Global Distributors Collective (GDC), leading the organisation’s strategic direction and working with staff, members, partners and the Board to maximise its impact. Before joining the GDC, she held senior leadership roles at BURN Manufacturing and Yellow, where she led multi-country expansion, distribution operations, fundraising support and strategic partnerships across Southern and East Africa. With more than 10 years of experience across clean energy, PayGo ecosystems, entrepreneurship and market development, she has built expertise in last mile distribution, strategy, partnerships, operational leadership, fundraising and ecosystem development.

Thomas is currently leading a research project for the Global Distributors Collective, hosted by Practical Action, to produce actionable recommendations to make financial support linked to Mission 300 more accessible and effective for companies selling energy products to hard-to-reach customers. The project is funded by UK Aid via the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform. Previously, Thomas has led research into energy access and extreme poverty, again under TEA, and worked with GOGLA to produce guidance for companies, donors and investors on using off-grid solar to enhance climate resilience and adaptation.

Anne Garçon is the Communications Manager at the Global Distributors Collective. With 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, brand strategy, and events planning, Anne has built a career centered on helping organisations tell their stories effectively and connect with the public. In her current role, Anne leads strategic communications and member engagement, overseeing all externally facing GDC communications and safeguarding the organisation’s brand to uphold and grow its visibility and profile. Before this role, Anne worked at Save the Children, the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, Amnesty International, Migrants’ Rights Network, and Interpal, an NGO campaigning for the rights of Palestinian refugees.