Speakers

Speakers

Speakers

Alvin Tan
Alvin Tan
Minister of State for Trade & Industry and National Development, Ministry of Trade & Industry and Ministry of National Development

Mr Alvin Tan serves as Minister of State for Trade & Industry and National Development, and Board Member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. At the Ministry of Trade and Industry, he oversees tourism, start-ups, advanced manufacturing, and trade relations with Africa and Latin America. His career has spanned the private, public, and non-profit sectors, including previous roles in technology and investment banking.

Amit Jain
Amit Jain
Director, NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies

Amit Jain is the Director of NTU-SBF Centre from African Studies at the Nanyang Business School in Singapore. He is a frontier markets specialist whose work spans business intelligence, research, and consultancy.

Brendon Jones
Brendon Jones
Chief Executive Officer, Adansonia Group

Brendon Jones is the co-Founder and CEO of the Adansonia Group, which provides a number of value-add financial solutions to a range of corporate and private equity clients from the USA, UK, Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa, including corporate secretarial, administration and fund administration services. These services are provided through Adansonia’s offices in Mauritius and Singapore. In addition to his fiduciary experience, Brendon also services as the CEO of Adansonia Fund Manager Private Limited, a Singaporean regulated fund manager, overseeing 2 African focussed Private Equity Funds.

Damilola Obunbiyi
Damilola Obunbiyi
CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, United Nations / Sustainable Energy for All

With Mrs. Ogunbiyi at the helm, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) has entered into working relationships with over 200 partners, supported over 90 countries globally, and secured commitments of more than $1.4 trillion in energy finance.

Mrs. Ogunbiyi currently serves as a member of the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, and a member of the European Investment Bank Climate and Environment Advisory Council, among many others. She is a global leader and advocate for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7.

Devesh Singh
Devesh Singh
Operations Officer, International Finance Corporation

Devesh is an infrastructure expert with 16 years' experience in power markets and investments across Asia and Africa. Based in Nairobi, he leads renewable energy and regional integration projects at IFC, with a background at top energy firms and degrees in engineering and business.

Douty Fadiga
Douty Fadiga
Managing Partner, ReY Advisory

Douty Fadiga cumulates 34 years with PwC in Sub-Saharan Africa and ReY Advisory in the Deals Advisory services. He assisted several Mergers & Acquisitions, Debt Raising, PPPs, Foreign Direct Investment attraction, for Multinationals, Sovereign Funds, Private Equity Funds, African States and Inter Government Organisations.

Frederick Teo
Frederick Teo
Chief Executive Officer, GenZero

Frederick leads GenZero, driving climate impact and sustainable financial returns. Previously, he held leadership roles at Temasek International, where he spearheaded initiatives like Climate Impact X and Singapore’s first brownfield district cooling project. Frederick is active in global sustainability advisory roles, including with SEforALL and the World Economic Forum. He holds an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and degrees in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University.

Gbenga Oyebode, MFR
Gbenga Oyebode, MFR
Chairman, ALN

Gbenga is a seasoned legal expert with over 35 years of experience, serving as Of Counsel at Aluko & Oyebode. He holds key leadership positions across various organisations and is highly honoured in Nigeria and internationally. A committed philanthropist, he supports education and leadership development globally.

George Mukono
George Mukono
Ag. Director of Investment Promotion, Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA)

Currently serving as the Acting Director of Investment Promotion (March 2025 - present). Previously, George was the Personal Assistant to the Minister of State at the President's Office for Planning and Investment and Manager of Investment Facilitation at the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC). With nearly 12 years of experience in investment promotion, project management, and aftercare services, he has a proven track record in facilitating investments, stakeholder engagement, and managing complex investment projects both locally and internationally.

Grace Fu
Grace Fu
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and Ministry of Trade & Industry

Ms Grace Fu is Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and concurrently Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations. Prior to her current appointment, she was the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and held various positions at the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Development. She is also the President of the Singapore National Olympic Council.

Ms Fu began her career with the Overseas Union Bank and was the Chief Executive Officer of PSA Southeast Asia and Japan before joining politics as an elected Member of Parliament.

H.E. Ismael Nabe
H.E. Ismael Nabe
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation

His Excellency Mr. Ismael Nabe, appointed Guinea’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation in March 2024, is a visionary leader with vast experience in global partnerships and investment. Former Senior Advisor to four Prime Ministers, he co-founded MAPE to strengthen Africa-Asia ties. A respected speaker and board member, he collaborates with major financial institutions to boost Guinea’s global economic presence. Fluent in five languages and academically accomplished, he champions sustainable development and international cooperation across sectors.

HE Hossam Heiba
HE Hossam Heiba
President, General Authority For Investment & Free Zones - GAFI

Mr. Hossam Heiba is an experienced investment banker and direct investment professional with more than 32 years of experience of which 25 years management experience in setting up, managing, negotiating and enhancing direct investments in more than 15 different sectors and industries with international practice standards that involved undertaking different tasks that varied between managing investment companies and assuming operating roles, restructuring activities and companies, developing and executing workable business plans, initiating and developing start up projects and companies in the various sectors and countries.

Haresh Aswani
Haresh Aswani
Chief Executive Officer, Tolaram

Haresh Aswani is the Chief Executive of Tolaram, a family-owned enterprise with diverse interests in consumer goods, fintech, infrastructure, and industrial sectors. With over 30 years of experience in Nigeria, he has a deep understanding of the African business environment and oversees Tolaram's operations globally. Additionally, as Singapore's Honorary Consul-General in Lagos, Nigeria, he actively encourages trade and cultural relations between Africa and Singapore and holds leadership positions in various Africa-focused business and culture initiatives.

Jean-Guy Afrika
Jean-Guy Afrika
Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Development Board

Jean-Guy Afrika, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, drives investment, tourism, and technology initiatives while managing economic zones. He previously held roles at the African Development Bank and East African Community, focusing on regional integration. Recognized for his contributions, he earned various honors, including a Distinguished Alumnus Award and a Desmond Tutu Fellowship.

John Mwendwa, OGW
John Mwendwa, OGW
Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Investment Authority

John Mwendwa is CEO of Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), appointed January 2025. A recognised investment and trade expert with over 20 years' experience across Africa, he previously led Kenya's Strategy Execution Office overseeing investments and private sector development. He was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) for championing business reforms that dramatically improved Kenya's global ease of doing business ranking. He brings extensive cross-border expertise from roles in banking and regional development across East Africa.

Karim Anjarwalla
Karim Anjarwalla
Senior Partner, ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna

Karim Anjarwalla is a Senior Partner at ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna, leading the firm's growth over nearly 30 years. Under his leadership, the firm became East Africa's largest full-service corporate law firm. Karim is also a prolific writer, thought leader, and board member at Bomu Hospital, advocating for sustainable healthcare.

Lee Chuan Teck
Lee Chuan Teck
Chairman, Enterprise Singapore

Mr Lee Chuan Teck is the Chairman of Enterprise Singapore.

He also serves on the boards of the Bayfront Infrastructure Management, Clifford Capital Holdings, Clifford Capital, Economic Development Board, Infrastructure Asia, National Research Foundation, Singapore Cooperation Enterprise, Singapore Health Services and Singapore Trade Data Exchange Services.

Lester Bouah
Lester Bouah
Chief Director, Investment Mobilisation, InvestSA

Lester Bouah is a Chief Director: Investment Mobilisation at the DTIC and Head: Energy One Stop Shop (EOSS). He holds a Master’s of Science in Investment Promotion and Economic Development and has been an Investment Promotion Practitioner at National and Provincial level for over 25 years. Prior to joining the InvestSA in 2022 he was contracted to the IFC (World Back Group) providing Advisory Services to IPAs and National and Sub-National level. He HhhhHe currently oversees the Energy One-Stop-Shop (EOSS) that serves as a mechanism to assist Renewable Energy Developers bring their projects to fruition by facilitating the shorting of approval processes for licenses and permits in the Energy environment.

Lionel Chatelet
Lionel Chatelet
Chief Commercial Officer, PIL

Lionel Chatelet is Chief Commercial Officer at Pacific International Lines (PIL), where he leads the company’s global network spanning 90 countries and oversees its commercial transformation. With over 25 years of experience in shipping and logistics, he is passionate about advancing connectivity and trade, with a longstanding focus on African markets and organisations. Based in Singapore, Lionel is committed to strengthening customer centricity and reinforcing PIL’s position as a leading container shipping line globally.

Omar Shahzad
Omar Shahzad
Group Chief Executive Officer, Meinhardt Singapore Pte Ltd

Omar oversees the performances of the global group of 6,300 employees across 60+ offices. Omar is currently the Singapore Chairman of the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council and serves on various government committees related to the Built Environment industry. Prior to joining Meinhardt, Omar was an investment banker where he was involved in several landmark capital market transactions, mergers and acquisitions. Omar graduated from Tufts University, USA in Economics.

Oudad W. Kheir
Oudad W. Kheir
Chief Operating Officer, Orascom Development and Hotels

Oudad W. Kheir, an award-winning architect, started his career with major Middle East projects and gained recognition at WS Atkins. He later managed developments across Nigeria, Lebanon, and Egypt. Passionate about urban planning, he became COO of El Gouna in 2021, overseeing municipal services and driving innovative, sustainable infrastructure. His work enhances the resort’s global reputation as a top touristic and urban living destination.

Randhir Juddoo
Randhir Juddoo
Managing Director, Carbon Capture Singapore (CarbonCap) Pte. Ltd

Randhir, with over 20 years in financial services, helped establish Trident Trust in Mauritius and leads a team of 80. He has served on boards of major African development funds and funds investing in India. Now in Singapore, he aims to expand sustainable projects in Africa. He is fluent in English, French, and Creole, and holds degrees from the University of Kent and Heriot-Watt University.

Rory McDougall
Rory McDougall
Chief Financial Officer, DelAgua Group

Rory is the CFO at DelAgua, the world’s leading cookstoves carbon project developer, with Article 6 projects in Rwanda, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. To date 1.9 million cookstoves have been provided to rural communities, with a further 150,000 to be distributed before the end of 2025. Rory is responsible for investment, sales and DelAgua’s operations in Singapore. Prior to joining DelAgua, Rory worked at the US private equity firm Lone Star Funds and in the London office of KPMG.

Samaila Zubairu
Samaila Zubairu
President & Chief Executive Officer, Africa Finance Corporation

Mr. Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), has driven industrialization, clean energy investment, and economic growth in Africa. Under his leadership, AFC has expanded membership, tripled investments, and received multiple global accolades. He co-chairs a World Economic Forum initiative and has set benchmarks for climate action in emerging markets.

Sanjay Sharma
Sanjay Sharma
Chief Executive Officer, AASK Advisory Services Pte. Ltd.

Sanjay, a Kenya-born chartered accountant, spent 16 years with Deloitte UK before joining its Singapore partnership in 2011. He founded AASK advisory in 2016, offering services to Singaporean and global companies. AASK focuses on East African operations, completing M&A deals and identifying opportunities between Singapore and East Africa.

Sara Faouzi
Sara Faouzi
Chargée de mission for the General Director, AMDIE – Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency

Sara studied Business Management at ESSEC Business School in Singapore and Università Luigi Bocconi in Milan. After a few years in the private sector, she decided to transit into the public sector to find greater meaning in my work and contribute to impactful, mission-driven projects. She now works at AMDIE, Morocco’s Investment and Export Development Agency.

Shinwin Soh Boma Donatus
Shinwin Soh Boma Donatus
Acting Director General, Investment Promotion Agency Cameroon

Mr. SHINWIN Soh Boma Donatus, a public law graduate with a postgraduate diploma in business and administration, has over 35 years in investment promotion in Cameroon. He spent a decade in key trade and investment ministries before becoming Acting Director General of Cameroon's IPA in January 2024, fostering collaboration across governments, private sectors, and civil society.

Simon Madjie
Simon Madjie
Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre

Simon Madjie, CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), has over a decade of expertise in investment promotion and trade facilitation. A lawyer, he previously led the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, advocating for business-friendly policies and founding the AMCHAM Ghana AfCFTA Resource Center. He holds a Master of Laws in International Trade Law and is an Abshire-Inamori International Leadership Fellow.

Solange Amichia
Solange Amichia
Managing Director, Center for Promotion of Investments in Cote d'Ivoire (CEPICI)

Solange Amichia has been the Managing Director of CEPICI since September 2021, previously serving as Deputy CEO since 2014. With over 20 years in investment banking, she held a senior role at Société Générale Americas in New York. She also represents the West Africa zone in RIAFPI, an organization of 22 investment promotion agencies established in 2014.

Stephen Jennings
Stephen Jennings
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Rendeavour

Stephen Jennings is a pioneering figure in capital markets in Africa and Central & Eastern Europe, with over $200 billion in investment flows. Currently in Kenya, he leads Rendeavour, which builds new cities in Africa. Previously, he founded Renaissance Group, producing over 3,000 research reports and facilitating first IPOs on African exchanges.

Vetumbuavi Mungunda
Vetumbuavi Mungunda
Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board

Vetumbuavi is a prominent figure in Namibia’s business world. He led Deloitte Namibia and Standard Bank Namibia before founding Ombu Capital in 2021. He has advised the government, serves on the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) board, and chairs the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), contributing significantly to Namibia’s economic development.

Viswanathan Shankar
Viswanathan Shankar
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Gateway Partners

Shankar is the Co-founder and CEO of Gateway Partners, focusing on investments across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He has served in senior roles at Standard Chartered Plc and Bank of America. He is currently a non-executive director at multiple companies and holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Yaoyang (YY) Low
Yaoyang (YY) Low
Managing Director, Ezra

Low Yaoyang (YY) is Managing Director at Ezra, a leading fintech driving financial access in Africa. He leads growth through innovative business models and technology that expand access to credit in underserved markets. Ezra’s platform uses cutting edge AI/ML and alternative data to empower partners with scalable, low-risk lending infrastructure—pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in emerging markets.

Yunus Hoosen
Yunus Hoosen
Acting Deputy Director General: Investment and Spatial Industrial Development / Head of Invest SA, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition

Yunus Hoosen is Acting DDG at South Africa’s dtic, leading investment and industrial development. With 20+ years' experience, he drives domestic and foreign investment, represents SA globally, and leads the USD100bn Presidential Investment Drive. Formerly Economic Consul in Chicago, he excels in economic diplomacy and public-private investment partnerships.