As the UNAM Alumni Office, we are proud to have co-hosted the recent public lecture on green hydrogen, which brought together experts, students, and professionals to explore Namibia’s role in the future of sustainable energy.
The lecture titled Green Hydrogen – Facts and Reality: Market Trends and Opportunities, organized in partnership with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) Alumni Foundation and Fortescue Namibia, drew a full house at the NUST auditorium.
Two weeks after the event, the energy and ideas generated continue to ripple through conversations. This public lecture serves as the beginning of a series of nationwide public lectures that the UNAM Alumni Office is excited to roll out in the coming months. These future events will offer even more opportunities for alumni to engage with industry leaders, to stay informed about emerging trends.
“This was a very engaging conversation platform. The panellists shared their intellectual property and ideas with pristine honesty, allowing us to learn more,” remarked UNAM Alumni Association Chairperson, Jennifer Haihambo.
An insightful discussion on Green Hydrogen’s potential
The lecture, expertly moderated by journalist Denver Kisting, brought together some of the leading minds in the field. The esteemed panel included James Mnyupe, Green Hydrogen Commissioner of Namibia and economic advisor to the President; Bernard Moulins, Head of Strategy & Commercial at Fortescue; Toni Beukes, Head of Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) at Hyphen Namibia; and Zivayi Chiguvare, Acting Director of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Research Institute (NGHRI).
Their insights were not only informative but highly optimistic about what green hydrogen could mean to Namibia’s future. James Mnyupe painted an inspiring picture of green hydrogen’s potential to decarbonize industries and boost the production of low-carbon products, positioning Namibia as a global leader in the renewable energy market. As he aptly put it, “We’re talking about creating a fuel that can change the global economy—and Namibia has a front-row seat to that revolution.”
A paved way for more alumni engagement
This event is just the starting point of a broader initiative by the UNAM Alumni Office to engage our alumni community in discussions about Namibia’s economic future. We are excited to continue bringing these kinds of insightful and forward-thinking conversations to alumni across the country through a series of upcoming public lectures.
In her vote of thanks at the public lecture, Ms Haihambo announced that the next public lecture in the series will take place in 2025, in the South – an area that basically forms the hub of Green Hydrogen in Namibia.
These events will cover a wide range of topics, all geared towards educating and empowering alumni to be leaders in their fields, while also contributing to Namibia’s sustainable growth.
The UNAM Alumni Association is committed to ensuring that our alumni remain connected to the future of Namibia’s development. Green hydrogen is just one piece of the puzzle, but it is an important one. As highlighted by Toni Beukes during the lecture, “We can’t decarbonize the world with grey hydrogen. Namibia’s focus on green hydrogen is critical, but it will take collaboration, innovation, and infrastructure to make this vision a reality.”
Our office is working tirelessly to create more opportunities for alumni to participate in these critical discussions. Through the next series of public lectures, we hope to further engage our alumni while offering a platform for networking, collaboration, and learning.
Join us on this journey
As we look to the future, we encourage all UNAM alumni to stay connected and involved in these exciting developments. Whether through attending our public lectures, contributing to discussions, or collaborating on innovative projects, there are many ways to make a difference.
Stay tuned for more information about our upcoming public lectures. We look forward to seeing you there and continuing to shape Namibia’s future.
