Linda Mabhena-Olagunju is a pioneering force in Africa’s renewable energy sector and one of the first Black women globally to own renewable energy power plants.
At the age of 27, Mabhena-Olagunju became the owner of one of Africa’s largest wind farms, the Longyuan Mulilo Wind Farm in South Africa’s Northern Cape. Today, it powers roughly 160,000 homes with clean energy. As founder and CEO of DLO Energy Resources Group, she has expanded operations across South Africa and Nigeria, creating a uniquely African vision for renewable power and energy independence.
From winning a landmark legal battle against Donald Trump as a young lawyer in Scotland to spearheading renewable energy projects across the continent, Linda Mabhena-Olagunju has consistently broken barriers in a male-dominated sector. Under her leadership, DLO Energy has not only built wind and solar infrastructure but also invested in training and upskilling thousands of South Africans, ensuring that the transition to green energy is both inclusive and empowering.
Beyond her work in energy, Mabhena-Olagunju brings her expertise to global and national advisory roles. She has served on the boards of the University of Oxford, Swissport, Energy for Access, and the Zayed Future Energy Prize. She advises South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy on gender, as well as the US-based NGO Concordia. A seasoned speaker, Linda Mabhena-Olagunju has shared her insights at prestigious forums including the World Economic Forum, COP27, and the Africa CEO Forum, offering a rare African perspective on climate change, energy security, and the just energy transition.
Today, Mabhena-Olagunju continues to champion African-led solutions to climate and energy challenges, expanding projects across the continent, including an onsite power plant in Zambia. She combines business acumen with a commitment to social impact, showing that renewable energy can drive both economic growth and equitable development.
