Alinafe Thupa

Director of Business Development

As Director of Business Development at ATP, Alinafe leads efforts to expand the organisation’s reach and impact across the continent. She is responsible for identifying and securing commercial opportunities, building long-term partnerships with client organisations, and managing a high-performing team to drive growth in the climate talent sector.

Prior to joining ATP, Alinafe spent 13 years at McKinsey & Company, where she advised public, private, and social sector clients - primarily in the energy, mining, and financial services industries - on their most critical challenges. Her work focused on energy-related issues such as building renewable energy businesses, enhancing energy security, and advancing the energy transition. She also led business development for energy and mining clients across Africa and helped transform McKinsey’s approach to business development.

Alinafe holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Finance from the University of Cape Town and a Master of Philosophy in Development Finance from Stellenbosch Business School. She brings expertise in strategy, agile delivery, operational excellence, and organizational culture.

Alinafe is deeply committed to advancing sustainable development by Africans, for Africans, through infrastructure. At ATP, she aims to further this mission by expanding the client base and scaling the use of on-demand talent to accelerate priority climate projects across the continent.