Our Speakers

Vera Songwe

Vera Songwe

Executive Secretary of the UNECA
Donald Kaberuka

Donald Kaberuka

Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group
Maria Cristina Russo

Maria Cristina Russo

Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Samuel Munzele Maimbo, PhD

Samuel Munzele Maimbo, PhD

Senior Adviser, World Bank Group
Carlos Lopes, PhD

Carlos Lopes, PhD

Former Executive Secretary, UNECA
Mohale Rakgate

Mohale Rakgate

Group Executive: Project Preparation Division, DBSA
Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, PhD

Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, PhD

CEO, NEPAD Agency
Craig Wing

Craig Wing

Partner, FutureWorld
Gary Nealon

Gary Nealon

President, Usawa
Oley Dibba-Wadda

Oley Dibba-Wadda

Director of Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development, AfDB
Clare-akamanzi

Clare-akamanzi

CEO,
Sithole Mbanga

Sithole Mbanga

CEO, South African Cities Network
Tracey Webster

Tracey Webster

CEO, Enterpriseroom
Nuradin Osman

Nuradin Osman

Vice President & MD, AGCO Africa
Geci Karuri-Sebina, PhD

Geci Karuri-Sebina, PhD

Visiting Fellow, Wits School of Governance
Hubert Ruzibiza

Hubert Ruzibiza

CEO, ‎Rwanda Green Fund
Aidan Eyakuze

Aidan Eyakuze

Executive Director, Twaweza East Africa
Mimi Kalinda

Mimi Kalinda

Managing Director, Africommunications Group Ltd. (ACG)
Paul Currie

Paul Currie

Chief Investment Officer, DBSA
Cristina Duarte

Cristina Duarte

Visiting Research Fellow, WITS University South Africa
Grace Mugabekazi

Grace Mugabekazi

Strategist & Associate, ESPartners
Anna Ekeledo

Anna Ekeledo

Executive Director, AfriLabs
Prof. Darelle van Greunen

Prof. Darelle van Greunen

Director, Centre for Community Technologies
Christian Benimana

Christian Benimana

Rwanda Programs Director, MASS Design Group
Baz Dreisinger, PhD

Baz Dreisinger, PhD

Founder, Prison-to-College Pipeline
Alexander McLean

Alexander McLean

Founder & Director General, African Prisons Project
Ms. Susan Kigula

Ms. Susan Kigula

Ambassador, African Prisons Project
Ada Osakwe

Ada Osakwe

Founder and CEO, Agrolay Ventures
Ann Kingiri, PhD

Ann Kingiri, PhD

Senior Research Fellow, African Center for Technology Studies
Bayo Akomolafe, PhD

Bayo Akomolafe, PhD

Chief Curator, Emergence Network
Daniel Irurah, PhD

Daniel Irurah, PhD

Associate Professor, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
Prof. Erika Kraemer-Mbula

Prof. Erika Kraemer-Mbula

Associate Professor, University of Johannesburg
George Gachara

George Gachara

Managing Partner, Heva Fund
Janah Ncube

Janah Ncube

Global Campaigns Director for Crisis Action
Jean-Philippe Kayobotsi

Jean-Philippe Kayobotsi

Founder & CEO, Brioche Limited
Marc Wegerif, PhD

Marc Wegerif, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pretoria
Prof. Udaya Sekhar Nagothu

Prof. Udaya Sekhar Nagothu

InnovAfrica Project Coordinator, Horizon 2020
Bosun Tijani

Bosun Tijani

CEO, Co-Creation Hub
Mercy Masoo

Mercy Masoo

Country Director, Water Aid Malawi
Prof. K J Joseph

Prof. K J Joseph

Ministry of Commerce Chair Professor, Centre for Development Studies
Prof. Bitange Ndemo

Prof. Bitange Ndemo

Professor, University of Nairobi's Business School
Dr. Julius Gatune

Dr. Julius Gatune

Senior Researcher & Policy Advisor, ACET
Prof. Edward Lorenz

Prof. Edward Lorenz

Professor of Economics, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis
Mbaye Mbéguéré, PhD

Mbaye Mbéguéré, PhD

Senior WASH Manager, WaterAid
Rudolf J. Gedeon

Rudolf J. Gedeon

President and CEO, Gedeon GRC Consulting
Gavin Erasmus

Gavin Erasmus

Chief Sustainability Officer, Hiveonline ApS
Abu Cassim

Abu Cassim

CEO, Jozi Angels
Ntombenhle Khathwane

Ntombenhle Khathwane

Founder & CEO, AfroBotanics
Duduetsang Mokoele

Duduetsang Mokoele

Researcher, Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA)
Ekenem J. Isichei

Ekenem J. Isichei

West Africa Lead, Corporate Council on Africa
Jeff Yu-Jen Chen, PhD

Jeff Yu-Jen Chen, PhD

Lecturer, Gordon Institute of Business Science
Olivia  Mukam-WANDJI

Olivia Mukam-WANDJI

Investment Advisor, Afrilanthropy.org
Raphael Babatunde, Ph.D

Raphael Babatunde, Ph.D

Associate Professor, University of Ilorin
Stephen Kalyesubula

Stephen Kalyesubula

Co-Founder, Labtech
Anthony S. Okoth

Anthony S. Okoth

Country Director for Kenya, PATH
Titia Wouters

Titia Wouters

Programme Manager VIA Water, Aqua for All
Emmanuel Buetey Noah Jr.

Emmanuel Buetey Noah Jr.

CEO, BenBen
Martin Mbaya

Martin Mbaya

Co-Founder & CEO, EnAdIn.com
Ayana V Jackson

Ayana V Jackson

Photographer
David A. Wilson

David A. Wilson

Co-Founder, TheGrio.com
Gene Noble

Gene Noble

Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Producer, Artist
Ingrid LaFleur

Ingrid LaFleur

Afrofuturist
Paulo Rogério Nunes

Paulo Rogério Nunes

Co-Founder & CEO, Instituto Midia Étnica
Makeda Mahadeo

Makeda Mahadeo

DJ and Content Creator
Sihle Magubane

Sihle Magubane

Ecosystem Engagement Associate, African Leadership Academy
Prof. Amira Omer Siddig Osman

Prof. Amira Omer Siddig Osman

Professor of Architecture, Tshwane University of Technology
Gloria KAMANZI UWIZERA

Gloria KAMANZI UWIZERA

Founder & CEO, Glo creations Ltd.
Julie Gichuru

Julie Gichuru

Founder & CEO, Arimus Media Limited
Lamin Momodou MANNEH

Lamin Momodou MANNEH

Director, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa
Rory Moore

Rory Moore

Innovation Director, Accenture South Africa
Olugbenga Adesida, PhD

Olugbenga Adesida, PhD

Co-Founder & Partner, Ihaba
José Brito

José Brito

Co-Founder & Partner, Ihaba
Prof. Mwangi Wa Githinji

Prof. Mwangi Wa Githinji

Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts
William Asiko

William Asiko

Executive Director, Grow Africa
Riel Miller

Riel Miller

Head of Futures Literacy, UNESCO
Ayodele Ibrahim Shittu, PhD

Ayodele Ibrahim Shittu, PhD

Lecturer, University of Lagos
Nhlanhla Mabaso

Nhlanhla Mabaso

Member of the Advisory Board, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
Dr. Diran Soumonni

Dr. Diran Soumonni

Senior Lecturer in Innovation Management and Policy at WBS
Philippe Nyirimihigo

Philippe Nyirimihigo

Co-Founder, Illume Creative Studio
Mamadou Kwidjim Touré

Mamadou Kwidjim Touré

Founder & CEO, Ubuntu Capital
Elaine Jack

Elaine Jack

CID Manager, Sandton Central
Ronak Gopaldas

Ronak Gopaldas

Director, Signal Risk
Jonathan Akinwale, PhD

Jonathan Akinwale, PhD

Lecturer, Federal University of Technology
Babatomiwa Adesida

Babatomiwa Adesida

Private Sector and Philanthropy Engagement Consultant, UNDP
Solomon King

Solomon King

Founder & Executive Director, Fundi Bots
Prof. Mammo Muchie

Prof. Mammo Muchie

DST/NRF Research Professor on STI4D, Tshwane University of Technology
Dr. Marie-Christine Gasingirwa

Dr. Marie-Christine Gasingirwa

Director General for Science, Technology and Research, Ministry of Education of Rwanda.
Christian Yesashimwe

Christian Yesashimwe

Co-Founder at EnviNexus
Dr. Diji Chukwuemeka Jude

Dr. Diji Chukwuemeka Jude

Lecturer, University of Ibadan
Nathan Kanuma Taremwa, PhD

Nathan Kanuma Taremwa, PhD

Lecturer & Researcher, University of Rwanda
Dr. Raphael Olanrewaju Babatunde

Dr. Raphael Olanrewaju Babatunde

Lecturer & Researcher, University of Ilorin
Matthew Rugamba

Matthew Rugamba

Founder/Creative Director, House of Tayo
Santiago Martinez

Santiago Martinez

Founder, Cómo Lo Cambiarías’
Jonny Harris

Jonny Harris

Founder & Director, Isidima Design and Development
Mokena Makeka

Mokena Makeka

Founder & CEO, Makeka Design Lab
Dr. Abdallah Daar

Dr. Abdallah Daar

Professor of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto
Dr. Oby Ezekwesili

Dr. Oby Ezekwesili

Senior Economic Advisor, AEDPI
Karanvir Singh

Karanvir Singh

CEO and MD, Yego Innovision Ltd
Jason Spindler

Jason Spindler

CEO and Global Managing Director of I-DEV International
Priscilla Sani-Chimwele

Priscilla Sani-Chimwele

Programme Specialist, UNDP RSCA
Alex Ntale

Alex Ntale

CEO, Rwanda ICT Chamber
Judith Kaine

Judith Kaine

Founder and Director at Kurema, Kureba, Kwiga
Oluseye Jegede, PhD

Oluseye Jegede, PhD

Research Fellow, Obafemi Awolowo University
Jonathan Osei Owusu

Jonathan Osei Owusu

Founder & CEO, POS Foundation
Dr Diane Karusisi

Dr Diane Karusisi

Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Kigali
Martha Phiri

Martha Phiri

Country Manager, African Development Bank in Rwanda
Mike Yeh

Mike Yeh

Assistant General Counsel and Government Affairs Lead for Middle East & Africa, Microsoft
Sherry Dzinoreva

Sherry Dzinoreva

EMEA Public Policy Programs Manager, Facebook
Marc Lepage

Marc Lepage

Africa regional Knowledge & Innovation advisor United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Ogone Ntwae

Ogone Ntwae

Economic Development Practitioner
Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin

Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin

CEO, Pearls Africa, Founder, GirlsCoding
Sani Yusuf

Sani Yusuf

CEO, Haibrid LTD, Google Developer Expert and Founder
Regis Isheja

Regis Isheja

Founder and CEO, TransMeet
Simbarashe Mhuriro

Simbarashe Mhuriro

Founder and MD, Oxygen Africa
Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa

Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa

Minister of ICT, Rwanda
Ngozi Finette Stewart-Unuigbe

Ngozi Finette Stewart-Unuigbe

Environmental Policy Research Fellow
Ahmed Abbas

Ahmed Abbas

Founder of Mobile Solar Pump - Energy
Mamadou Biteye

Mamadou Biteye

Managing Director, Africa Regional Office, The Rockefeller Foundation
Pamela Munyana

Pamela Munyana

Country Director, IDEA4Africa
Prof. Berhanu Abegaz Molla

Prof. Berhanu Abegaz Molla

Executive Director, African Academy of Sciences
Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe

Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe

Former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Prof. Karim M. Maredia

Prof. Karim M. Maredia

Professor & Senior Associate to the Dean, Michigan State University
Abiodun Oyebola

Abiodun Oyebola

Postgraduate Researcher, AISPI
Prof. Mammo Muchie

Prof. Mammo Muchie

Lecturer, Tshwane University of Technology
Caleb Muyiwa Adelowo, PhD

Caleb Muyiwa Adelowo, PhD

Senior Research Officer, NACETEM
Prof. Martin Oladiran Makinde

Prof. Martin Oladiran Makinde

Professor, University Venda
Prof. Roseanne Diab

Prof. Roseanne Diab

Executive Officer, Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
Sunday Dare

Sunday Dare

Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management), NCC
Penny Mabazi

Penny Mabazi

Founder & CEO, Linkages Consulting Ltd
Prof. Aggrey Ambali

Prof. Aggrey Ambali

Head of Science, Technology and Innovation Hub (NSTIH), NEPAD
Nzingamasabo Leonidas

Nzingamasabo Leonidas

Country Representative, World Merit