Leadership
Matt Orosz, Ph.D.
Founder and CEO
Dr. Orosz is a chief executive and renewable energy systems engineer with 15 years of leadership experience in engineering design, technology innovation, social entrepreneurship and energy project management as a co-founder of MIT spin-out STG International, as project manager at Cogenra Solar, and as CEO of OnePower. As company founder and project leader, he is responsible for corporate strategy, overseeing global business development, directing technical and financial divisions, and leveraging innovation and a world-class team to drive value in energy access. He holds a US patent in Solar Energy Conversion and has managed cross-cutting teams in academic research labs, energy start-ups and venture-backed solar companies with a direct responsibility for complex, multi-million-dollar high technology energy projects.
Dr. Orosz is an Echoing Green Fellow, Fulbright Scholar, and former Peace Corps volunteer, where he proudly served in Lesotho (2000-2002). Living in Phamong in the Mohale’s Hoek district without electricity for two years served as the motivation for his passion for designing and collaboratively implementing energy infrastructure solutions, and his career focus on global energy access is built on a foundation made in Lesotho. As Director of STG, he founded the most advanced rapid prototyping manufacturing facility in Lesotho with collaborators from the Lesotho government’s Appropriate Technology Services. In 2014, STG Lesotho, a locally registered association, became Africa’s first firm to export solar technology (designed and built in Lesotho) to customers in Europe.
He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, a S.M. in Technology and Policy, and an M. Eng. in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College.
Amy Mueller, Ph.D.
Founder and Director
Dr. Mueller is on the Board of Directors of OnePower and has been contributing to energy projects in Lesotho since 2006 in roles as diverse as engineering, finances, and project development. Dr. Mueller provides perspective for OnePower’s work based on her expertise in both electrical engineering and environmental science, balancing the demands of efficient hardware and environmental responsibility. Outside of her work with OnePower, Dr. Mueller is a Professor of Engineering and Science at Northeastern University (Boston, MA) and a Founding Director of STG International, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that built the groundwork in Lesotho for OnePower’s current projects and growth.
Kopano Tsenoli
Director / Lesotho
Mr. Tšenoli is Chief Engineer at the Department of Appropriate Technology Services (ATS) in the ministry of Communications, Science & Technology. He has been working in the research and technology sector for 18 years, of which 9 years has been as Chief Engineer at ATS. He has amassed a wealth of experience in research and technology initiatives in Lesotho and other countries through numerous networking platforms. He has been involved with pilot solar electrification projects in the rural part of Lesotho since 2006 as president of the local NGO Solar Turbine Group (STG) Lesotho, responsible for a number of initiatives in rural electrification and technology transfer. He has experience in community stakeholder engagement and needs assessment through participation in community development initiatives, of which he has participated in an unprecedented nationwide appropriate technology needs assessment study.
Mr. Tšenoli is the focal person on a number of MOU’s with a number of research and technology organizations in the SADC region. Furthermore, he has participated in in the development of project proposals and implementation of multi-stakeholder projects. As an engineer, he worked on the design, development and manufacture of various appropriate technology products like manual irrigation pumps, solar food dryers, energy efficient wood burning stoves, etc.
Academically, he has obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He further obtained an honours degree in Technology Management at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, an excellent course on the management of a technology oriented enterprise. Currently he is studying towards a masters degree in Technology Management at the University of Pretoria.
Oliver Dumont
Lead Engineer / Benin
Olivier is currently pursuing a post-doctoral degree in thermal systems with the University of Liège. He holds two masters degree; master in energetics engineering and a master in mechanical engineering. He has over 10 years engineering experience.
Teboho Noko
Lead Electrical Engineer / Lesotho
Teboho holds degrees from the University of Johannesburg and University of Pretoria and leads construction of distribution infrastructure
Palama Kelepa
Financial and Grants Manager / Lesotho
Palama holds ACCA and Certified Accounting Technician qualifications from the Center for Accounting Studies and has over a decade of accounting and financial administration experience.
Deon Du Preez
Production Lead / Lesotho
Deon holds a B. Tech in both Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and has over a decade experience in industrial prototyping and production equipment and processes
Makoanyane Khakanyo
Facilities Lead / Lesotho
Maks holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from CUT and leads site construction teams and manufacturing process development and quality control.
Motebang Lekhooana
Info. Technologies Lead / Lesotho
Motebang is a BSc. Information Systems graduate from the National University of Lesotho (NUL) with over 4 years of experience. Having excelled in Software engineering, Networks, IT operations, and Security, he currently leads the IT team across diverse IT domains.
Phoka Raphoka
Procurement Lead/ Lesotho
Phoka holds degree in Production Management from DTI and has over 7 years experience in customs clearing and import export
Kelebone Bohloko
Fleet Lead / Lesotho
Kelebone Bohloko has completed Automotive Engineering at Lerotholi Polytechnic. He worked for 7 years in Bocksburg as a workshop manager – South Africa, followed by 4 years running his own workshop in Hlotse, Leribe. Currently, he has been with 1PWR for 1 year, serving as the fleet lead