Africa Business Conference

Southern Africa hub lead for agribusiness, food and beverages investing at the International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Allen is the Southern Africa Hub Lead for Agribusiness, Food, and Beverages Investing at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, based in Johannesburg. In this role, he spearheads investment initiatives across the agribusiness sector in the region. Prior to joining IFC, Allen accumulated over a decade of experience at Goldman Sachs, where he served as an Executive Director in the Investment Banking division, specializing in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and capital raising for companies across Sub-Saharan Africa. His career began at DE Shaw, a prominent hedge fund, as a generalist, and he also gained valuable experience at Lehman Brothers in Emerging Markets Investment Banking. Allen holds an Executive MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a Master’s degree from ESC Grenoble (France), and a Bachelor of Commerce from Madras Christian College (India).

Investor, U.S.- Africa trade expert, entrepreneur, political economist and Diaspora engagement innovator

Based in Nairobi and Washington DC., Dr.Wilmot Allen is an investor, U.S.-Africa trade expert, entrepreneur, political economist and Diaspora engagement innovator. Wilmot has invested or managed capital totaling over $4 billion across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East and U.S. and has been an international partner for thousands of U.S. small businesses and African SMEs.
He is also a Managing Partner with RH Managers Healthcare Fund, Founder of VentureLift Africa and the Diaspora Angel Investor Network. Prior, he has been an emerging market investor with the IFC, a tech venture capital investor and Silicon Valley and Wall Street investment banker focusing on M&A, IPOs and private placements.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Wilmot has a PhD in comparative political economy from Georgetown University, an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a BA from Yale University.

PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF MARISON ENERGY SYSTEMS CORPORATION

Lamine Savadogo is the President and Founder of Marison Energy Systems, a Massachusetts-based international business development firm established in 1990. The company specializes in US-Africa trade and investment, focusing on economic infrastructure projects, such as electric power, ports, telecommunications, and IT systems. Marison Energy Systems serves a diverse clientele ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies and government agencies. With over 30 years of experience in international business, Savadogo has a diverse background spanning government, academia, and the private sector. Before founding Marison Energy Systems, he managed international trade promotion for the Massachusetts Port Authority, where he played a significant role in helping New England companies enter international markets, earning a citation for outstanding performance from the Governor of Massachusetts. Beyond his leadership at Marison, Savadogo is a Global Ambassador for the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), providing strategic advice to expand EEI's reach into Africa. He is also the founder of SunPowered Water Works, a non-profit organization delivering solar-powered clean drinking water to rural communities in Mali, his home country. Savadogo's influence extends into academia, having served as an African language instructor at Boston University and Harvard University. He is a recognized public speaker and has been honored with numerous awards, including induction into the World Trade Hall of Fame and being knighted by the President of Mali. His leadership and contributions have also been acknowledged through his roles on several boards, such as the African Professional Network, the Export-Import Bank's Sub-Saharan Advisory Committee, and the Africa Business Aviation Association. Savadogo holds a degree from the University of Massachusetts and is fluent in English, French, Bambara, and Portuguese.  

Healthcare strategy expert

Egbe is an entrepreneur, strategist, and visionary. Trained as a physician, she identified early on the importance of utilising management and financial levers to improve health outcomes for populations. Her understanding of management and finance beyond healthcare, and her ability to identify early health (including the impact of COVID), social trends, and risks have made her a highly sought adviser by CEOs, boards, and senior leaders in both the public and private sectors in more than 27 countries. She currently leads Anadach’s work in Management Consulting and Health Financing. This includes leading their advisory work with health tech companies, global pharmaceutical companies, Hospital Groups, Health Insurance Companies, Private Equity Funds, Banks, and DFI’s. Her understanding of management, finance, and technology and her ability to identify early health and social trends and risks has enabled her to be an effective board member of MedAccessUK - and a member of the Healthcare Advisory Council of British International Investment (which has directly deployed over $400 million in equity to India and Africa and is a Limited Partner in several Private Equity Funds with over $1.4 billion in investable capital). She was previously an advisory board member of Sproxil (recognized by Fast Company as one of the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies) the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media and recognised by Harvard Business School/Scriplogix as one of the most innovative healthcare leaders. With her 30+ years of professional experience including 16 years at the World Bank Group, working both with senior public and private sector leaders across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the USA she has an effective wide global network. Dr. Osifo-Dawodu is recognized as a leader and is often invited to speak at conferences, strategic discussions, and board retreats, or be interviewed on various health, pharmaceutical, or technology issues.

Chartered Accountant & Managing Partner of Summit Africa

Tomi is the Managing Partner of Summit Africa, a Southern Africa-focused impact investment manager that invests in low-to-mid-market companies and social infrastructure across sectors vital to economic and social development, including Financial Services, ICT, Food Supply Chain, Healthcare, and Education. As part of the founding team of Summit in 2016, Tomi led the deployment of Summit Private Equity Fund I, which earned recognition as the Best ESG Fund of the Year at the prestigious 2023 SuperReturns Africa GP Awards. Under his leadership, Summit has also been acknowledged as a top manager in Sustainability-Themed Investment and ESG Integration by 27Four Investment Managers, Riscura, and UCT Business School. Before co-founding Summit, Tomi was a Senior Investment Banker at Investec Bank’s Investment Banking Division, where he successfully led numerous mergers, acquisitions, and capital-raising transactions across Africa and Central and Eastern Europe. Tomi is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Science (Finance) from the University of Cape Town. He is also a Fellow of the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Institute, a network of leaders dedicated to Africa's transformation on the global stage.

Director of Growth Capital Solutions at ABSA

Happygirl is currently the Director of Growth Capital Solutions at ABSA. She is an emerging markets investment professional with over 20 years of experience and an exemplary career operating as an Executive and Business Leader accomplished in the ability to thread the balance between being strategic whilst ensuring focus on implementation.
She has contributed to strategic and investment decisions and the direction of organisations at Director and EXCO levels, combined with over 15 years of interaction and involvement with Boards and Investment Committees.
Experienced in developing portfolio management / value creation strategies and supporting fund managers and management teams in execution value creation plans across financial, operational, development impact and ESG areas, her career has given her the opportunity to contribute as a leader, adding value, both strategically and operationally, at prominent financial institutions (banks & DFI), leading ICT companies, PE Funds, and consumer goods companies in RSA and rest of Africa.
Happygirl holds an MBA from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town, a Bcomm and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting both from UKZN.

Director (Dean) of the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Before joining the UCT Graduate School of Business, Dr. Catherine Duggan served as Vice Dean and Professor of Management and Political Economy at the African Leadership University School of Business (ALUSB) in Rwanda. As the founding Vice Dean and the business school's first faculty member, she played a pivotal role in designing ALUSB’s innovative blended MBA curriculum. Dr. Duggan previously held a faculty position at Harvard Business School (HBS) in the Business, Government, and the International Economy (BGIE) Unit, where she taught leadership and political economy in MBA and executive education programmes for nearly a decade. During her tenure at HBS, she made history as the first woman to win the Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Required Curriculum for two consecutive years. She also received the prestigious Charles M. Williams Award for Excellence in Teaching and was honoured as the Berol Corporation Fellow. An accomplished scholar, Dr. Duggan has been a Visiting Scholar at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. Her research focuses on the political economy of development in Africa, with a special emphasis on institutional development and financial sector regulation. With over two decades of experience on the continent, she has worked in nearly two dozen African countries and authored numerous case studies on firms and economies across Africa, including South Africa, Nigeria, the DRC, Zimbabwe, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. In addition to her academic contributions, Dr. Duggan frequently leads strategy and leadership workshops for corporations and advises governments and public sector agencies across Africa and beyond.

Deputy Director and Head of Financial Advisory at the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)

Fola Fagbule is a seasoned banker specializing in infrastructure development across Africa. He is currently the Deputy Director and Head of Financial Advisory at the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), where he leads a team focused on corporate finance, mergers, acquisitions, capital raising, and technical advisory for diverse clients, including governments, sovereign wealth funds, and private corporations. AFC, a leading multilateral financial institution, was established by African sovereign states to bridge Africa's infrastructure gap through financing sustainable projects. Fola's work centers on large-scale infrastructure projects and investments across sub-Saharan Africa. With over a decade at AFC, Fola has played pivotal roles, including representing AFC on various boards of portfolio companies. His prior experience includes investment banking, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and investment research. Fola holds an MBA from Lagos Business School and a BSc in Physics from the University of Lagos. He has also delivered talks at prestigious global universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and Oxford. Apart from his banking career, Fola is a critically acclaimed writer and co-author of “Formation, The Making of Nigeria from Jihad to Amalgamation”.

Vice President, Structured Product Solutions – AFC

Kona is a Vice President at the Africa Finance Corporation, specializing in sovereign lending and corporate finance across AFC's core sectors. With a focus on infrastructure investments, Kona has led the structuring and execution of over US$1 billion in deals across Africa, all aimed at reducing the continent’s infrastructure gap. Before joining AFC, Kona served as the Head of Debt Finance at Absa in Zambia, where he played a critical role in financing key public and private sector projects, driving economic development and transformation. Kona holds an MSc in Investment and Finance from the Strathclyde Business School in Glasgow and is an alumnus of the University of Cape Town, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Applied Statistics. His significant achievements and expertise make him a pivotal figure in advancing Africa’s infrastructure development.

Vice President of Structured Product Solutions & Sustainability at the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)

Kome is the Vice President of Structured Product Solutions & Sustainability at the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), where she brings over 15 years of experience in infrastructure investment. At AFC, a $14 billion multilateral institution, Kome has spent more than a decade leading initiatives in project development, principal investing, and leveraged finance across sectors such as power, telecoms, transport, climate finance, mining, and oil and gas. Kome is known for her expertise in structuring innovative funding solutions including sovereign, trade, corporate, and blended finance. She also spearheads AFC’s sustainability initiatives focused on development and climate impact. She has successfully closed transactions valued at over $6 billion and manages co-investment opportunities with the Green Climate Fund, representing AFC in the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance. Before joining AFC, Kome worked with Kaizen Venture Partners in Lagos and Goldman Sachs in New York and London. She holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Civil Engineering degree from Stanford University. Beyond her professional roles, Kome is committed to giving back, serving as President of the INSEAD National Alumni Association in Nigeria, Chapter Chair for Stanford Admissions Outreach in Nigeria, and Membership Secretary for the International Women's Society (Nigeria), which supports widows and underprivileged women and children.

Senior member of AFC Capital Partners & Infrastructure Finance Specialist

Ziyanda Mpakama is a senior member of AFC Capital Partners and a seasoned Infrastructure Finance Specialist with 17 years of experience in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Project Finance within Africa's renewable energy and water sectors. Her expertise spans the entire project development cycle, from preparation and development to implementation, with experience in both private and public sectors. Ziyanda began her career in development finance at the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), South Africa’s largest asset manager, where she played a pivotal role in financing renewable energy projects. She later served as a Commercial Manager for international Independent Power Producers, further enhancing her impact in the sector. Her focus then expanded to water infrastructure projects, where she contributed her expertise to prominent organisations, including the Stockholm International Water Institute and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa. She holds a Master’s degree in Development Finance from the University of Stellenbosch and is currently pursuing an MSc in Climate Change & Development at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Ziyanda’s diverse experience and academic background reflect her strong commitment to advancing sustainable development in infrastructure and environmental sectors.

Regional Representative for FMO in the Southern and Eastern Africa Region

Keval is the Regional Representative for FMO in the Southern and Eastern Africa Region, bringing 20 years of experience in impact investing and commercial banking. His career spans various African geographies, where he has worked with both private and public sectors, with a strong focus on agriculture and access to finance in Sub-Saharan Africa in recent years. Before joining FMO, Keval held roles at Standard Chartered, Standard Bank, and Barclays, gaining extensive experience in the financial industry across the continent.

Regional Director Southern Africa for DEG

Anne Keppler is Regional Director Southern Africa for DEG based in Johannesburg. Together with the local team and colleagues in Cologne she is responsible for originating, executing and managing DEG’s debt and equity investments in the region. The regional office provides debt or equity funding solutions to corporate clients, private equity funds, project finance transactions and Financial Institutions. Before assuming this role in June 2018, she has been working as Vice President for DEGs Private Equity team since June 2010 and is based in Johannesburg since 2011. Prior to joining DEG’s PE team Anne has been part of DEGs Financial Services team working on debt and equity transactions since 2005 and worked as credit analyst for financial institutions at WestLB in Germany.

Chief Portfolio Management Officer at Edge Growth Ventures (EGV)

Micah is the Chief Portfolio Management Officer at Edge Growth Ventures (EGV). He currently overseas a team managing R2.3bn (+100 active Investee companies) across the several funds under management at EGV. He has over 15 years of experience across Africa in executive coaching, venture capital, impact investing, private equity, and as an entrepreneur running his own venture-backed technology company in East and Southern Africa. Prior to getting into investing, he was a trained carpenter and co-founded a small manufacturing business. Before moving back to South Africa in 2019, he lived and travelled extensively across sub-Saharan Africa as both a Limited Partner and General Partner for a leading Impact investing fund. Micah holds an MBA from the Graduate School of Business, UCT; is a CFA Charterholder and is currently pursuing an MPhil in Leadership Coaching (as an active executive coach). He also holds various qualifications at Oxford Said Business School and through the CFA institute (ESG Certification). Micah currently lives in Hout Bay, Cape Town and is a part-time football coach and avid rock climber.

Award-winning sports broadcaster and journalist, current Sports Editor at Newzroom Afrika

Vaylen is an award-winning sports broadcaster and journalist with a reputation for dynamic and insightful coverage across various sports. Currently serving as the Sports Editor at Newzroom Afrika (Channel 405), Vaylen is known for her in-depth analysis and ability to deliver compelling sports narratives. With a passion for the unifying power of sports, she is committed to promoting health and empowerment through her work, making her a respected and influential voice in South African broadcasting. She is currently a part-time MBA student at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.

CEO of Yalelo and Country Director – FirstWave at Yalelo, Zambia

Ulric is currently the CEO of Yalelo and Country Director – FirstWave at Yalelo, Zambia. He is a distinguished Senior Executive with 27 years of extensive experience in the agribusiness sector, including 20 years specializing in poultry and the past 3 years in aquaculture. Over the last 17 years, he has been instrumental in developing and expanding new business markets across Africa. Ulric is deeply passionate about Africa and is dedicated to the continent's success, particularly through enhancing local food production. His significant contributions are underpinned by a BSc degree from Rhodes University, South Africa, and an NQ7 Advanced Management Certificate from North-West University Business School. Currently, Ulric is also pursuing an MBA at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, South Africa. His professional journey is guided by his motto: "Never Stop Learning."

Head of Business Development at Futuregrowth Asset Management

Maseabi Marageni is a dynamic leader with a robust academic and professional background, including an MSc in Finance (Financial Sector Management), BCom Hons in Financial Analysis & Portfolio Management, BSc in Property Studies, an IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate, and coaching certifications from UCT GSB and Thoughtsmiths. As the Head of Business Development at Futuregrowth Asset Management, a leading South African investment firm, Maseabi has played a pivotal role in driving the firm's growth. Under her leadership, the firm's assets under management (AUM) increased from ZAR 192 billion to ZAR 202 billion, showcasing her exceptional skills in client acquisition and relationship management. With over two decades of experience in financial services, Maseabi is passionate about responsible investing and works closely with pension funds to navigate opportunities in infrastructure, private equity, and venture capital. Maseabi is a highly regarded speaker, known for addressing both global and local audiences on topics such as pension funds, infrastructure, impact investing, gender-based investing, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I), and women's empowerment. She is deeply committed to industry leadership and has served on the Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA) and the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals (ABSIP). She currently serves on the Young Leaders Committee (YLC). Beyond her professional achievements, Maseabi is a devoted wife and mother of three (a son and two daughters) and serves as an intercessor at her church.

Lead Specialist for ESG Commercialization

Kenneth Milanzi is the Lead Specialist for ESG Commercialization at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB). In his current role, Kenneth’s core brief is to support Coverage and Product to accelerate ABSA’s commercial ESG ambitions. This includes ensuring that ESG insights are prevalent in client conversations. Prior to joining Absa, Kenneth has a decade of Environmental and Social specialisation across several industries, including development finance in Shanghai, petrochemicals and mining.

Head Investment Banking at Zambia National Commercial Bank

Austin is the Head Investment Banking at Zambia National Commercial Bank in Lusaka, Zambia. He has over a decade of experience in banking covering areas including investment banking, treasury, corporate finance, strategy and business performance. Austin is a CFA charterholder and holds a Bachelors in Economics and Management from Edith Cowan University.

Manager: Development Impact - Investments at British International Investments

Adam Boros is a Manager on the Development Impact – Investments team at British International Investment (BII), and the Development Impact lead in BII’s South Africa office. He and his team are responsible for ensuring that impact is considered across every step of the investment lifecycle, from origination to exit. His primary focus is on the technology and telecoms; consumer services and social infrastructure; and private equity and co-investments sectors. Prior to joining BII, Adam was the Head of Social Impact at Tshikululu Social Investments, leading a team responsible for strategy design, implementation and measurement across clients, as well as spearheading the establishment of Tshikululu’s impact investing practice. Before Tshikululu, he was Head of South African Programmes for Joint Aid Management, a South African humanitarian and development organisation.
Adam holds a Masters Degree in International Development Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Connecticut College.He lives in Johannesburg with his wife and two young sons.

Vice President of Sustainable Finance in the Investment Banking Division at Absa CIB

Koketso Morakile is the Vice President of Sustainable Finance in the Investment Banking Division at Absa CIB. She has played a key role in shaping sustainable finance solutions across the investment bank’s Pan-African markets, specializing in structuring loans and bonds that align with clients' sustainability goals. Koketso collaborates with clients to identify financing opportunities for environmentally and socially impactful initiatives, provides insights on ESG trends, and ensures alignment with international sustainable finance standards. Before joining Absa, Koketso worked as a Senior Associate at KPMG USA, leading complex audit engagements for SEC-listed and private companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to that, Koketso also held various roles at KPMG SA, including Audit Supervisor, Senior Accountant and Learning & Development Facilitator, giving her a strong foundation in financial analysis, risk management, and corporate governance. Koketso holds a Bachelor of Accounting Sciences and a Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) and holds a Certificate in ESG Investing from the CFA Institute, as well as an International Senior Leadership and Management Course Certificate from UCT Graduate School of Business. Beyond her professional achievements, Koketso is passionate about mentorship and leadership development. She has volunteered as a high school mathematics tutor for students in Alexandra township through the Non-Profit Organisation, Fun Learning for Youth (F.L.Y.), and served as Chairperson of the Association of Black Accountants in Southern Africa’s (ABASA) KPMG Pretoria Trainees Chapter. Passionate about driving positive environmental and social change, Koketso is committed to developing innovative financial solutions that balance clients’ funding objectives with sustainability priorities across Africa.