Alexandra DeSouza is General Counsel, EMEA and Global Head of Transactions at Lightsource bp, a global leader in the development and management of solar energy projects. Joining the executive team in early 2020, Alex plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic growth across the region while also overseeing complex, high-value transactions worldwide.

With a career in the renewable energy sector spanning 20 years, Alex has worked at the forefront of the solar industry’s rapid global expansion.  From within start-ups, IPPs and established corporates she has advised on major renewable energy projects in Europe, Africa, and Asia, bringing together legal acumen, commercial insight, and an unwavering commitment to accelerating the energy transition.  After starting her career at Linklaters she left private practice in 2008 to join SunRay Renewable Energy, a start-up independent power producer based in London. Just two years later, the company's pipeline was such that it was successfully acquired by SunPower Corporation, where Alex went on to play a key role in managing and structuring utility-scale financings and M&A. Her career continued to track the solar industry’s growth curve, with senior legal leadership roles at SunPower, SunEdison, and now Lightsource bp. Over this time, she has led diverse teams in the UK and internationally.

Beyond her corporate role, Alex is deeply engaged in shaping industry policy and advocacy across the region. She sits on the Board of Solar Energy UK, participating in and chairing various committees.  She was a core member of the UK Government’s Solar Taskforce and served as Chair of the Communications Sub-Group.  After two years of Government-Industry collaboration, the Solar Roadmap was published in June this year setting out 72 recommendations for the successful delivery of the UK's CP30 targets of 45-47GW of solar by 2030.   The Roadmap sets out the Government policy initiatives to date, particularly related to grid, rooftop, skills, supply chain and planning and seeks to set concrete goals for best practice community, benefits, engagement and stakeholder management.

Outside of her professional commitments, Alex is a champion for the next generation of legal and business leaders in renewables.  She is a mentor on the climate stream of the CDL- HEC Paris business school seed-stage program which has a proven track record of vaulting science- and technology-based startups to commercial success.  She believes that building a sustainable future requires unlocking the talent, creativity, and commitment of people from all backgrounds.