Founder & CEO
Creativo EL Matador

Adebowale Adeyeye is the founder of Creativo EL Matador Limited, an agricultural value-chain optimisation company that ensures international market access for smallholder farmers. His company runs the only fully African owned and operated cashew processing plant in Nigeria, employing over 300 women and 25 men. Under the trademark Buy African, Build Africa (BABA Foods), the company promotes the cashews and other value-added agricultural products across Africa and the world, ensuring rural women and smallholder farmers earn a better wage and living.

He also founded and co-founded other companies and organisations like ELAN League, Solstice Height, The African Renaissance, and Global Action Movement, and The Wole Adeyeye Foundation has impacted more than 5,000 students in Nigeria through mentorship programs, bursaries and scholarships.

Academic and professional credentials:

BTech in Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Federal University of Technology, Akure
MSc in Agricultural extension and rural development, University of Ibadan
PhD in Agricultural value chain optimisation in turbulent economies, De Montfort University, Leicester
Post graduate certificate in academic practice (FHEA pathway), University of Liverpool
Certificate in Agribusiness Management, Lagos Business School

Executive Director
Alliance4AI.org Africa

For the past decade, Alex Tsado has championed initiatives making AI cheaper and accessible for innovators worldwide. He deployed the first Nvidia AI GPUs to the largest cloud providers globally, and now focuses on putting Africa on the AI innovation table. He is working with key African governments to operationalize their AI strategies and establish large-scale AI clusters within Africa. Aside from his work as Executive Director of the Alliance for Africa's Intelligence, he is also co-founder and COO of Ahura AI, its for-profit entity. Ahura AI combines neuroscience and artificial intelligence to accelerate learning, enabling workforces to upskill three to five times faster. Alex has shared his expertise at the United Nations, leading business schools, and national AI workshops, advocating for the use of disruptive technologies to improve living conditions in frontier markets.

Academic and professional credentials:

BSc Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, USA
MBA, Kellogg School of Management, USA

Head, Africa Practice
Eurasia Group

Amaka Anku helps clients understand the interaction of politics, policy, and markets across Africa. Eurasia Group is a global political advisory and consulting firm, with clients that include global market participants such as investment banks and hedge funds, and multinational firms with operations in Africa. Her own research focuses on Nigerian politics, African regional trends, and comparative global politics. She is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has taught a graduate course on political risk analysis at Georgetown's Walsh School of Foreign Service. Prior to her current role at Eurasia Group, Amaka worked with various organizations across Africa, including Africare and the International Crisis Group. She also practiced law in the international arbitration and litigation, representing corporations in costly cross-border disputes. She speaks English, Igbo and French.

Academic and professional credentials:

BA in Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
Juris Doctorate (JD), Harvard Law School

CEO
Athena FundX

Angie Madara is a technology entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for women in technology entrepreneurship. As the founder of Athena FundX, Angie is empowering women in the tech industry through the 1 Million Women in Entrepreneurship Campaign. Her mission is to provide free tech entrepreneurship training to one million women worldwide, reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape and driving social change on a global scale. Angie's exceptional leadership and entrepreneurial prowess have earned her numerous accolades, including being recognised as the Technology Innovator of the Year by the Women Tech Network, Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All by Women Economic Forum and listed among the top women in technology to watch by Yahoo! Finance. Beyond her professional work, she actively supports youth empowerment, and greater economic inclusion.

Academic and professional credentials:

BA in Business Information Technology, Strathmore University
MBA in International Business, University of Nairobi

Chief Executive Officer, Middle East and North Africa
Energy Pool

Anisse Terai is the Chief Executive Officer, Middle East and Africa for Energy Pool, a multinational energy technology solutions company. He is an Affiliated Professor and the Scientific Advisor of the MBA Energy & Strategy at ESAA Business School in Algiers. Prior to that, he was Managing Director and Head of Investment Management at Tell Group, an investment firm focusing on emerging markets. He is an expert of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), energy transition, and multilateral affairs, including BRICS, G20 and the WTO. He held several managerial positions at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. Anisse has been a faculty member of Sciences Po, HEC Paris and the University of Paris-Dauphine. He also worked on technology enablement at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Academic and professional credentials:

Master of Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School
Diploma in Public Administration, Ecole Nationale d'Administration
Master in International Affairs, International Economic Policy, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris - Sciences Po
Bachelor of Business Administration, Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales

Mayor
uMngeni Municipality

Christopher Pappas is a South African politician who made history in 2019 by becoming the youngest member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature. In 2021, he was elected as the first Democratic Alliance (DA) Mayor of KwaZulu-Natal, also becoming the youngest mayor in the country at that time. As the Mayor of uMngeni Local Municipality, Christopher has achieved remarkable milestones, including achieving two Auditor General (A.G) unqualified audit outcomes and maintaining a debt-free municipality. His administration has been fiscally prudent, saving millions of Rands by purchasing equipment instead of relying on costly service providers through tender bidding. Christopher has championed economic development by investing over R2 million in small businesses, with a focus on youth-owned enterprises, early childhood development centres (ECDs), and senior clubs, fostering community growth and sustainability.

Academic and professional credentials:

Bachelor of Town and Regional Planning , University of Pretoria
Masters of Town and Regional Planning, University of Pretoria

CEO
Credrails

Clara Wanjiku Odero is the CEO of Credrails. She is a fintech entrepreneur with a career that in the past decade has seen her work at three startups all produce massive growth. Her area of expertise is expansion of private sector initiatives within countries and across borders across Africa.  Previous companies at which she has worked include Flutterwave, Rapyd and NIUM.

She also launched a mentorship community for her former secondary school, Precious Blood Riruta. The initiative matches students with career professionals while in university to help them navigate university and also help them as they decide on internships and career paths.

She was also selected for the Frontier Markets Scouts Program by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and she is a PeaceJam Fellow, in which Nobel Laureates mentor young people to change the world.

Academic and professional credentials:

Bachelor of Environmental Science, Kenyatta University

Regional Delivery Manager
Tony Blair Institute

Diaraye Diallo is the Regional Delivery Manager at the Tony Blair Institute. She is a project development and implementation professional with more than 14 years of experience across the private and public sectors. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), she has expertise in project coordination, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. Her work focuses on African economic growth and sustainable development, with a strong emphasis on infrastructure, business climate reform, and social justice initiatives.

In her two years volunteering as the Executive Director of Mon Enfant Ma Vie, she helped restructure the organisation and launched programs that included sponsorship initiatives for infants who lost their mothers, support for young pregnant girls in distress; and food and clothing campaigns for orphanages. She also serves on its board.

Academic and professional credentials:

Licence Degree in Science and Technologies from University of Marne La Vallée
Masters Degree in Urban Engineering and Project Management from the University of Marne La Vallée
Project Management Professional Certificate from the Project Management Institute in Canada

CEO / Co-Founder
The Mawazo Institute / Mawimbi Ocean Innovations

Fiona Moejes is the CEO at The Mawazo Institute – a women-led organisation supporting African women researchers to become thought-leaders and changemakers beyond academia. She is also the co-founder of Mawimbi Ocean Innovations, which provides access to “seaweed-farming-as-a-service” for thriving and climate-resilient coastal communities in East Africa.

She previously led multinational sustainable marine aquaculture projects and community-led research-based marine conservation projects in the Comoros and Kenya. Her PhD is industry-based in microalgal biotechnology and she is a Women for the Environment Africa Fellow and sits on the Executive Committee of the International Society of Applied Phycology.

Academic and professional credentials:

Masters of Biological Science in Medical Genetics, University of Sheffield
PhD of Natural Science, Heinrich-Heine Universität, Düsseldorf

Head of Subsidiary Banking, Sub-Saharan Africa
J.P. Morgan

Hemisha Lakhoo leads the Subsidiary Banking business for J.P Morgan in Sub-Saharan Africa, serving the firm’s global multinational corporates that operate in region. She is responsible for managing the team and the business to holistically serve large and mid-cap clients across Cash & Liquidity Management, Trade, Lending and FX.

Her previous roles included launching J.P. Morgan’s Commercial Banking business in South Africa, overseeing the Commercial Banking business in Saudi Arabia and working with local corporate clients, government and state-owned enterprises and financial institutions across Sub-Saharan Africa. She has been in banking for over 17 years, working in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria.  Hemisha has also completed all three CFA exams.

Academic and professional credentials:

Bachelor of Business Science degree in Actuarial Science/Quantitative Finance from Cape Town University
Bachelor of Business Science Honours from Cape Town University
Chartered Accountant (CFA)

CEO
The African Talent Company

Hilda Kabushenga is a Pan African executive focused on youth employment across Sub-Saharan Africa. As the CEO of The African Talent Company (TATC), she oversees four career platforms: Jobberman in Nigeria and Ghana and Brighter Monday in Kenya and Uganda. TATC collaborates with over 100,000 employers, five million job seekers, and several multilateral organizations to develop local solutions to youth unemployment and enhance workplace productivity. Previously, Hilda was the CEO of Jobberman Nigeria, working with 70,000 employers and three million job seekers, focusing on youth upskilling and job matching. She spearheaded the Jobberman Young Nigeria Works program in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation, training over two million young Nigerians and linking 500,000 to work opportunities. Before this, she was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company in Lagos, advising clients on strategy and talent management.

Academic and professional credentials:

LLB from Nelson Mandela University
MBA from IESE Business School

Director
Chapel Hill Denham

Ifeoma Finnih is a Director at Chapel Hill Denham (CHD), a leading independent Nigerian investment banking and investment management firm. She manages portfolios within the Infrastructure and Climate team's Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund (NIDF) and plays a key role in mobilizing long-term, local currency capital for infrastructure projects that promote inclusive growth, energy access and climate resilience. In addition, Ifeoma contributes to the Energy Transition and Access Facility for Africa (ETAFA) fund, which accelerates the deployment of clean, distributed renewable energy solutions to underserved communities across Nigeria.

An advocate for women’s economic empowerment and education, Ifeoma helps individuals, particularly women, as a career coach as they navigate their professional journeys. She has also led financial literacy and capital-readiness programs for female entrepreneurs, striving to bridge the financing gap for women-led businesses.

Academic and professional credentials:

BA in Economics and Management from the University of Ghana, Legon
MSc in Economics and Finance from Warwick Business School, UK
Executive MBA from London Business School, UK

Group Director, Strategy & Capital Allocation
Equity Group Holdings PLC

John Njuguna is the Group Director, Strategy & Capital Allocation for Equity Group Holding PLC (EGH), a financial services conglomerate headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. EGH also has a presence in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia. At the Group, John advises on the most efficient allocation of resources - including capital - both across existing and new business lines to maximise shareholder return. This includes mergers and acquisitions both in existing and new markets.

Prior to joining EGH in 2022, John was an Associate on the investment team of London-based Helios Investment Partners, an Africa-focused Private Equity firm, and before that an associate on the UK M&A team of Barclays Capital.

Academic and professional credentials:

BSc in Economics from Brown University, USA (2013)
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Strategic Enablement Head
Rand Merchant Bank

Mari Rabie is the Strategic Enablement Head at Rand Merchant Bank (RMB).  In this role, Mari partners with the CEO Office and Executive in the execution of key strategic priorities. Prior to this, Mari was a Corporate Finance Senior Transactor in the Investment Banking Division at RMB, working on significant transactions.  Previously, she held roles at Remgro Limited, where she developed and ran the new Investor and Business Relations function and provided operational support to the CEO.

Mari is a double Olympian and a Rhodes Scholar. She co-founded an athleisure brand MOVEPRETTY and serves on the Sport Science Institute of South Africa board and the Southern African Association of Rhodes Scholars committee.

Academic and professional credentials:

Bachelor of Commerce in Actuarial Science from Stellenbosch University
Master of Science in Applied Statistics from Oxford University
Master of Business Administration from Saïd Business School, Oxford
Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

Lecturer and Research Scientist
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Mohamed Alimohamed PhD is a Lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), and a Research Fellow and lead investigator in the Sickle Cell Program (SCP). His current research interests and work include investigating curative options such as gene editing and therapy as part of advanced therapy treatments for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Tanzania. It includes antimicrobial resistance in Tanzanian communities, exploring genetic variations in African populations, and surveillance of rare genetic disorders in Tanzania. He serves as the secretary general of the Tanzania Human Genetics Organization (THGO) that he co-founded in 2017. His PhD research focused mainly on using next-generation sequencing to diagnose genetic diseases such as cardiomyopathy, spinocerebellar ataxia, cancer, and acute leukemia. He now pioneering the establishment of human genetics as a field in Tanzania.

Academic and professional credentials:

OSSD Pre-University Diploma (Canada), Taylor’s University Malaysia
Biotechnology Bachelor of Science, Manipal University India
Biotechnology Master of Science, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
PhD in Human Genetics, University of Groningen
Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Genetics and Genetic counseling, Indian Institute of Medical Genetics

Advisor-Advocacy and Partnerships
Marie Stopes Zambia

Namakando Simamuna is a demographer serving as Advisor: Advocacy and Partnerships at Marie Stopes Zambia, where she leads development and implementation of advocacy strategies and formation of strategic partnerships for reproductive health including but not limited to maternal heath, family planning, adolescent health and health financing. She has contributed to key policies such as comprehensive abortion care guidelines, family planning protocols, and reproductive health policy.  Before her role at Marie Stopes Zambia, she worked with key organizations like the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the Centre for Reproductive Health and Rights, and Young Women in Action. She co-established PEPETA Zambia, a feminist movement that rallies young women on advancing women's rights, and she serves as the Board Chairperson of Contact Trust Youth Association.

Academic and professional credentials:

B.A Economics, University of Zambia
MSc. Population Studies, University of Zambia

Co-founder and CEO
GrowForMe Limited

Nana Opoku Ware Ofori Agyeman-Prempeh has more than a decade's experience in fintech, agritech, and technology.  Nana's entrepreneurship has been focused on developing tech solutions for underserved markets. He is spearheading Grow For Me's Pan-African strategy after successfully deploying the first farmer-centric service on the largest mobile money platform in Ghana, MTN-Mobile Money. This provides farmers with a ready market, inputs, training, insurance, loans and savings. He also spearheaded the creation of Africa’s first crowdfunding regulations to open up retail financing to small and medium-sized businesses to address challenges in Africa’s food systems.

Nana represented Africa’s private sector at the the 32nd Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa. He is Mandela Washington Fellow, and a MEST alumni.

Academic and professional credentials:

MPhil. in Agricultural Engineering (Machine Systems)

Corporate Social Investment  Director 
Ninety One

Narassa Govender serves as the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Director at Ninety One, where she leads global initiatives focused on economic inclusion. Her latest initiative is the creation of the Ninety One Accelerator in support of The Earthshot Prize. Before assuming her current role, she spent four years in the company's Product Development team.

She also serves as a current member of the Beneficiary Selection Committee of Entrepreneurship Development Trust and is a member of the Advisory Group for Wits H20.

Before joining Ninety One, Narassa was an investment specialist at GroFin, an Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) financier working in Africa and Middle East, and also worked extensively in the SME space.

Academic and professional credentials:

Bachelor of Business Science in Finance from the University of Cape Town
Certificate in Public Policy Analysis from the London School of Economics and Political Science

Senior Specialist for Dignity Protection 
Anglo American Platinum

Nzwaki Adonisi is the Senior Specialist for Dignity Protection at Anglo American Platinum, where where she drives strategic interventions to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) across operations and communities. In this role, she integrates gender-transformative approaches, fosters cross-sector partnerships, and embeds transdisciplinary and systemic responses to forge sustainable pathways to a safe, inclusive and just working environment and community for all. In her career, she has led and designed pan-African projects across diverse sectors and themes including sustainable and inclusive finance; gender equity; food security; gender-based violence prevention; climate justice; dismantling structural racism; youth social entrepreneurship; place-based innovation; and impact investing. 

Academic and professional credentials:

Bachelor of Accounting Science at the University of the Witwatersrand
Postgraduate Diploma and Bachelor of Accounting Science at the University of the Witwatersrand
Chartered Accountant South Africa (CA) (SA) and SAICA Member

Executive Director
Sage Entrepreneurs Academy

Sage Rutakaza Mudekereza is an East African entrepreneur and consultant who founded Sage Entrepreneurs Academy in 2009. Since then, he has trained more than 30 thousand aspiring entrepreneurs, helping them develop essential skills for success. In 2021, he launched Uzima Foods, which has since provided more than 100 thousand meals to local communities, emphasizing nutritious and sustainable food solutions.

In his role as Advisor in charge of SMEs and local investments at the DRC Chamber of Commerce in South Kivu Province, Sage has supported the establishment of more than 80 small and medium enterprises, fostering local investment and economic growth. His initiatives have not created more than 500 jobs and contributed to an increase in local business revenues. He is an Ashoka Fellow.

Academic and professional credentials:

BA in Ethics and Development Studies, Uganda Martyrs University 

Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer
Audacious Africa

Sarah Nakame is the founder and Chief Inspiration Officer at Audacious Africa, a Ugandan-based organization working for sustainable and ecological food systems. She is a development management practitioner by profession, an indigenous food programmer, thought leader, and activist committed to ensuring Ugandan communities have autonomy over their well-being, and food systems. She is an expert in community development, gender programming, movement building and for self-sustaining development. She is an author of a children's book, Matooke and Gonja, that celebrates Uganda's diverse culinary heritage while highlighting the deep connection between food, culture, and community. Sarah believes that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment are fundamental to individual and collective well-being.

Academic and professional credentials:

Bachelor’s degree in adult and community education, Makerere University
Masters of Science in Development Management, The Open University; UK

Head of Portfolio Value Creation
Next176

Sipha Ndawonde is a seasoned venture capital professional with 15 years of experience in building and scaling early-stage companies across South Africa, the UK, and the US. He currently serves as the Head of Portfolio Venture Creation at Next176. Next176 is the corporate venture capital arm of Old Mutual, one of Africa's leading financial services companies, managing over R1 trillion in assets across 14 countries. Next176 focuses on early-stage investments and venture building, aiming to create disruptive, sustainable businesses that positively impact lives. In his role, Sipha drives strategic initiatives to enhance the value and growth of Next176’s venture portfolio, while fostering innovation across ecosystems in Africa and emerging markets.

A strong advocate for impact investing, Sipha also supports various impact funds and serves as an independent Trustee for Volkswagen South Africa's Trust.

Academic and professional credentials:

BSc from University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
BCom from University of Cape Town
MBA from Oxford University

Group Strategy 
Investec

Tlhokomelo Dube serves as a member of the Group Strategy team at Investec, where she collaborates closely with the Group CEO and executive team to develop and implement strategic initiatives. With 17 years of experience in financial markets, Tlhoki brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Prior to her current position, she specialised in Investor Relations at Investec, fostering and maintaining positive relationships with investors. She also has extensive experience in various transactor roles within Corporate and Institutional Banking at Investec, with a particular focus on Treasury risk management.

Academic and professional credentials:

Bachelor of Business Science, University of Cape Town
Financial Risk Manager (FRM)
Oxford Scenarios Programme

Manager Business Improvement
South32

Vanessa Ndebele is a seasoned mining engineer with more than 15 years of experience in mine development, design, planning, and execution. She is currently the Manager of Business Improvement at South32 Hotazel Manganese Mining Consortium, having previously served as the Manager of Planning at the same mine. Vanessa led a team responsible for short-term planning, mine designs, geology, survey, laboratory, and geotechnical services. Her career spans major mining companies such as BHP Billiton, Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore, and South32, working across commodities such as coal, manganese, and iron ore.

Her extensive technical and managerial expertise, coupled with her commitment to personal and professional growth, has established her as a visionary leader and mentor in the mining industry.

Academic and professional credentials:

MBA from the University of Stellenbosch
B-Tech in Mining Engineering from the University of Johannesburg
N-Dip in Mining Engineering from the University of Johannesburg
Registered Candidate Engineering Technologist with ECSA and a member of SAIMM