Grace Kamau
Thika
Summary
Dynamic Energy and Engineering Projects Engineer with extensive experience in government-led initiatives, local firm projects, and international collaborations with organizations such as UN Foundation, USAID, and IRC. My passion is in delivering impactful energy projects that improve the lives of local, underserved communities. I thrive on delivering tangible results.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
ENERGY AND ENGINEERING PROJECTS ENGINEER
Independent Consultant
Thika
05.2017 - Current
- Providing consulting and project management services in Renewable Energy and Engineering projects
- Providing technical assistance in developing business and strategic plans for small businesses in the RE and climate change space that include but not limited to farmers, micro-enterprises and start-ups
SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER (PLANNING)
Larsen and Toubro Construction Limited
Nairobi
05.2016 - 04.2017
- Project planning, scheduling of project activities, coordinating contractor activities during implementation and subcontractor coordination in the Ethiopia-Kenya Electricity Highway Project (Lot 5): 500kV HVDC Isiolo-Marsabit Transmission Line.
- Project management - Planning, Scheduling and Monitoring
- Procurement management - call for bids and evaluation, handling local and international purchases of tools and equipment - identifying vendors, negotiations, issuance of Purchase orders, collecting of all relevant import documents (Certificate of Conformity, Certificate of Origin, Packing lists, Bill of Lading, Container fumigation certificates and Insurance), handling local equipment hire
- Stakeholder management - review and follow-up on all communication with the client, consultants and contractors ensuring client satisfaction, arranging for client Factory Assessment Test (FAT) trips from visa applications, coordination with the vendor, flight arrangement, conveyance and accommodation
- Contractor evaluation before engagement and holding negotiations
- Maintaining and reviewing Project planning and control schedules, monitoring project costs through S-curves
- End-to-end responsibility for project implementation - quality and safety in construction and commissioning activities
- Coordination with clients, government agencies, subcontractors and other stakeholders to obtain required approvals, clearances and settle claims
- Maintaining of all approved documents, records of their distribution clearly, files and control logs as required by the project
- Document quality check in accordance- to company engineering document control procedures
- Preparation and presentation of project reports, DPR, WPR and MPR and client monthly presentations
SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEER
African Solar Designs
Nairobi
11.2014 - 04.2016
- Preparing concept notes, EOIs and proposals for private, government, donor-funded projects
- Bid document preparation for potential projects Experience in donor-funded and government led off-grid renewable energy projects - East, South and West Africa
DOCUMENT CONTROLLER
KETRACO
01.2014 - 10.2014
- Project planning and sub-contractor coordination in the interconnection of the electric Grid of Nile Equatorial Lakes Countries Project- Lessos -Tororo transmission line and Lessos substation extension for the Kenya-Uganda power interconnection-KETRACO Project.
- Review and follow-ups on all documents with the KETRACO (client), consultants and sub-contractors
- Coordinating correspondence between KETRACO (Client), consultants and sub-contractors
- Activity co-ordination and review of all technical documents, designs and drawings
- Documents review and transmittal
- Monitoring project progress and generating different project status reports
- Distribution of approved documents and drawings to appropriate staff, subcontractors and suppliers as applicable
- Preparation and maintenance of Approved For Construction (AFC) and As Built books for detail engineering or construction
- Document quality check in accordance- to Company engineering document control procedures
GRADUATE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
KETRACO
02.2013 - 08.2013
- Project planning, monitoring and contractor management in the Kenya Power Transmission Improvement Project (KPTIP) which involves the procurement of plant, design, supply and installation-KETRACO Project.
- Review and follow-ups on all documents with the KETRACO (client) and contractors
- Proposal preparation and overseeing the bidding processes to acquire contractors
- Monitoring project progress and generating different project status reports
- Participation in the design of the 132/33KV substations complete with 132kV and 33Kv buses, line bays and transformer bays
- Participating in engineering designs and reviews, preparation of bid documents, including documentation for all the components of the project
POWER SYSTEMS ENGINEER
Kenya Power
12.2011 - 12.2011
- Planning and managing Rural Electrification Projects for Kenya Power.
- Supervision of the construction, Installation and Commissioning of LV and HT Power lines
- Costing of the projects, Collection of material, record keeping
ATTACHÉ ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Kenya Power
06.2010 - 09.2010
- Maintenance of borehole, water pumps, trouble- Shooting
- Installation and repair of switchgear
- Maintenance and repair of the building's circuitry
- Installing cables; overhead and underground
ATTACHÉ ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Abengoa (Inabensa, SA)
Nairobi
06.2009 - 09.2009
- Power generation, starting and shutting down of the Machines, and paralleling
- Power Factor correction
- Maintenance of station control and communication dc supply, Generator electrical maintenance
- Electrical maintenance of workshop machines and lighting circuits
- Rotor removal, dry out and assembly
- Generator and transformer protection equipment maintenance
- Generator alarm annunciation and indication circuit exciters maintenance
- Static excitation systems and direct current exciters maintenance
- Calibration and maintenance of measuring instruments
Education
Certificate in Basic Skills and Safety in Overhead Power Line Construction -
Kenya Power Training School
Nairobi01.2012
Bachelor of Technology - Electrical and Communications Engineering (Power Option)
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology
Kakamega12.2011
Skills
- Project management
- Renewable energy
- Office suite proficiency
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Document management
- Effective communication
- Team collaboration and leadership
- Project reporting and stakeholder engagement
Languages
English
Projects
Ethiopia-Kenya Electricity Highway Project (Lot 5): 500 kV HVDC Isiolo-Marsabit Transmission Line, 01/05/16 - 04/2017
Powering Agriculture Initiative (USAID), 01/04/16 - 30/04/16
Kakuma Refugee Camp Hospital RE feasibility study (International Rescue Committee (IRC)), 01/12/15 - 31/12/15
Energy needs assessment for women and children's health in Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, and Tanzania (UN Foundation), 01/11/14 - 30/04/16
35 kWp solar minigrid (Nestletec Ltd, EEP funded project), 01/06/15 - 1/12/15
Solar Power Pre-feasibility Study (Kenya Association of Manufacturer (KAM)), 01/01/15 - 31/12/15
KETRACO-interconnection of the electric Grid of Nile Equatorial Lakes Countries Project- Lessos - Tororo transmission line and Lessos substation extension for the Kenya-Uganda power interconnection, 01/02/14 - 31/08/14
KETRACO-Project planning, monitoring and contractor management in the Kenya Power Transmission Improvement Project (KPTIP), 01/02/13 - 31/08/13
Timeline
ENERGY AND ENGINEERING PROJECTS ENGINEER
Independent Consultant
05.2017 - Current
SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER (PLANNING)
Larsen and Toubro Construction Limited
05.2016 - 04.2017
SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEER
African Solar Designs
11.2014 - 04.2016
DOCUMENT CONTROLLER
KETRACO
01.2014 - 10.2014
GRADUATE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
KETRACO
02.2013 - 08.2013
POWER SYSTEMS ENGINEER
Kenya Power
12.2011 - 12.2011
ATTACHÉ ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Kenya Power
06.2010 - 09.2010
ATTACHÉ ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Abengoa (Inabensa, SA)
06.2009 - 09.2009
Certificate in Basic Skills and Safety in Overhead Power Line Construction -
Kenya Power Training School
Bachelor of Technology - Electrical and Communications Engineering (Power Option)
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology