Keith Katyora, CEM, Senior Transmission Grid Advisor and Technical Delivery Support at the USAID Southern Africa Energy Program (SAEP), has shown outstanding leadership in advancing sustainable energy solutions across Southern Africa. Keith has been pivotal in driving tangible impacts on carbon emissions reduction and energy resilience, specifically on healthcare electrification projects. With a strong technical background and a history of spearheading transformative projects in decarbonization, energy efficiency, and resilience, Keith has made significant contributions to the region’s energy sector. His achievements include unlocking transmission capacity, overseeing healthcare electrification initiatives, and pioneering net-zero strategies. Keith’s commitment to innovation, community engagement, and mentorship exemplifies his dedication to shaping a more sustainable future.

He has supported 17 health facilities across four provinces in South Africa through energy audits, positively impacting healthcare delivery for approximately 100,000 patients monthly. This work has been instrumental in unlocking more support to healthcare centres in the country that are currently being affected by the energy crisis. His commitment to decarbonization is evident through the development of net-zero strategies, leading to measurable reductions in carbon emissions for local and regional commercial and industrial clients. This has included design work on over 8GW of new-generation projects both locally and internationally. Keith has spearheaded several initiatives such as the Young in Energy Indaba via the Consulting Engineers of South, the Energy Industry Mentorship Program for University students, and Skhaftini Sessions. Keith’s accolades include being named the 2020/21 Young Engineer of the Year by the South Africa National Energy Association (SANEA) and 2023 Young Engineer of the Year (issued by the Engineering Council of South Africa, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)), and 2023 Rising Star Awards Finalist (Category: Private and Public Sector) via TransUnion. Furthermore, his involvement in initiatives like the BRICS Youth in Energy and the SANEA Youth Task Team demonstrates his commitment to international collaboration and knowledge exchange in the energy sector.