Akinwale is the resident energy and water infrastructure project advisor for USAID Southern Africa. He has more than 15 years post-graduate experience in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and South Africa working on various aspects of cleantech and sustainable infrastructure deployment, all the way from R&D, to commercialization, financing and implementation. He serves as the USAID Southern Africa Mission’s technical expert, advising on the development and implementation of the Mission’s energy and water related strategies and activities. He contributes to the management of projects within USAID’s regional energy and water portfolio, and also manages regional activities on behalf of the US Government’s Power Africa Initiative. He has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria, a master’s degree in Environmental and Sustainability Science from Lund University, Sweden, and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Stellenbosch University, South Africa.