First Energy Africa Oil, a Calgary-based energy company, has named Simon Akit and Frederick Kozak to its board of directors, with the appointments taking effect on July 7, 2026. The moves strengthen the corporation's governance framework as it pursues exploration and acquisition opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Akit and Kozak together bring more than 60 years of experience in capital markets, engineering, corporate finance, oil and gas exploration, project evaluation, and resource development across Africa, North America, and South America. The appointments underscore First Energy Africa's focus on building strategic capabilities for its operations on the continent.
Akit spent more than 25 years working in Canadian and U.S. capital markets and another seven years in engineering and operations within the resource sector. He held senior roles at Ventum Financial and Canaccord Genuity, where he raised over $5 billion in equity and debt financing for resource companies from institutional investors across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Throughout his career, Akit has counselled international energy firms on capital formation and investment strategy, with a focus on financing resource projects in emerging markets. "His experience provides deep insight into the evolving funding landscape for African energy projects, where capital increasingly comes from private investors, international funds, and regional financial institutions," the corporation noted.
Akit holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and is a Professional Engineer (APEGA). He currently serves on the boards of several public and private companies.
Kozak spent more than 40 years in the resource and capital markets sectors across Africa and South America, earning recognition as an award-winning financial and corporate planner. He previously worked as an oil and gas research analyst at Canaccord Genuity.
His expertise spans exploration strategy, project economics, corporate development, and resource valuation across frontier opportunities and emerging energy jurisdictions. Kozak has advised companies on how stable fiscal regimes, balanced production-sharing arrangements, and consistent long-term policy frameworks can help countries attract investment while delivering sustainable economic benefits.
Kozak also brings practical knowledge in aligning technical execution, financing, stakeholder coordination, and project planning to accelerate delivery timelines and reduce execution risk on major energy developments. His experience positions him as a valuable guide for managing complex projects across multiple continents.
Kozak earned an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. He holds Professional Engineer (APEGA) credentials with lifetime status in Alberta and serves on the boards of several organisations.
