Abigail Kuria

Abigail Kuria, Senior Associate at CLASP, is a researcher specializing in renewable energy markets and productive use technologies in emerging markets. Her work explores how energy-efficient appliances can drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve livelihoods. She leads research and workforce development initiatives that seek to strengthen PUE markets by building the skills needed to accelerate the adoption of clean
energy solutions

Alex K. Karimi

Alex is a development finance and partnerships professional with over 15 years of experience structuring and managing institutional finance solutions across agriculture, WASH, health, and clean energy sectors in East Africa.

At Sidian Bank, Alex holds the title of Regional Manager and Partnerships, leading a multi-donor development finance portfolio, encompassing various development partners spanning blended finance facilities, partial credit guarantees, and structured lending programmes designed to reach underserved communities and climate-vulnerable sectors.

Alex brings a practitioner’s perspective on what makes water and climate adaptation investments bankable, including the role of risk-sharing instruments, guarantee facilities, SME finance, and development partner co-financing in bridging the gap between project-ready opportunities and institutional capital. He holds an MSc in Development Finance from Strathmore Business School and Certification of Regional Certificate of Agricultural Finance from Kenya School of Monetary Studies.

Alex Theran

Alex Theran is a Nairobi-based development and social impact professional working with the Refugee Investment Network’s Africa team. Her work focuses on refugee economic inclusion, stakeholder engagement, market research, and ecosystem-building around Refugee Lens Investing.

Alex has experience across East Africa with organizations including RIN, Mandulis Energy, Airbnb’s social impact programs, and various humanitarian INGOs, supporting initiatives that span renewable energy, ICT4D, connecting private-sector participation, and improved outcomes for displacement-affected communities.

Alphaxard Ndungu

Alphaxard Gitau Ndungu is a seasoned Innovative Finance, Enterprise development, climate adaptation innovation and Finance and agribusiness specialist with over 13 years of experience designing and implementing innovative financial solutions for sustainable food systems, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth globally. He has extensive expertise in climate adaptation finance, value chain and market systems development, agribusiness incubation, research commercialization, and empowering youth and women in agriculture. He is skilled in designing and implementing public-private partnerships, innovative finance solutions, and communities of practice, as well as coordinating farmer groups and networks to achieve sustainable development outcomes.

Alphaxard holds a Master of Research and Public Policy and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Nairobi, complemented by executive programs in climate adaptation finance, Innovative finance for development, policy leadership, and innovation from institutions such as Frankfurt School of Finance, Stanford PACS, and Cambridge University. Fluent in English and Kiswahili, he combines strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and project management skills to deliver high-impact programs that foster climate resilience, social accountability, and inclusive economic growth. Top of Form

I bring a strong regional network and coalition-building experience, having co-developed multi-stakeholder platforms and partnerships that align DFIs, commercial banks, investors, agribusinesses, development actors, and governments around shared climate and investment goals. I have built and managed ecosystems of practice connecting financial institutions, outcome buyers, and technical partners to drive systemic change across agricultural finance and climate investment landscapes.

Anne Angwenyi

Ms Anne Angwenyi is the Climate and Environment Adviser at the British High Commission in Nairobi, where she leads the UK’s climate, environment and natural resources portfolio in Kenya. She provides strategic and technical leadership on climate policy, climate finance, resilience, nature and green growth, helping shape and oversee UK-funded programmes that support low-carbon, climate-resilient development and strengthen Kenya’s response to climate and environmental challenges.

Anne works closely with the Government of Kenya, development finance institutions, multilateral organisations, civil society and the private sector to advance climate action, mobilise finance for resilience and support sustainable economic transformation. Her work spans areas including climate adaptation, disaster risk financing, clean energy, natural resource management, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation. She also supports the High Commission’s climate diplomacy and policy engagement, helping identify opportunities to strengthen partnerships and accelerate climate and development outcomes.

Prior to joining the British High Commission, Anne led the implementation of the Danish Embassy’s Green Growth and Employment Programme in Kenya, supporting sustainable economic development, job creation and private sector growth.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Nairobi, a Master’s in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School, USA, and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA.

Antoinette Tesha

Antoinette has deep expertise in investment, finance, banking, and development.

After beginning her career at Stanbic Bank in Tanzania, she expanded her skills in South Africa at Thomson Reuters and ABSA Capital, focusing on financial markets sales and the strategic deployment of online trading platforms.

Later, as the leader of TIB Rasilimali in Tanzania, she spearheaded significant financial projects, including corporate bond arrangements and share listings. Most recently, she directed Gatsby Africa’s Regional Textiles and Apparel sector program, driving initiatives to grow exports across East Africa. Her background and strategic vision are instrumental in advancing development through private sector growth across Africa

Benson Njiru

Benson Njiru is a climate finance, impact investment, and private sector development specialist with over 16 years of experience supporting enterprise growth, sustainable finance, and climate resilience initiatives across Africa. He has worked with development finance institutions, impact investors, governments, donors, and SMEs to mobilize capital, structure innovative financing solutions, and strengthen investment readiness, with a particular focus on climate adaptation, gender inclusion, and sustainable economic growth.

Currently serving as Managing Partner and Chief Financial Officer at ShEquity Partners, Benson has supported more than 45 SMEs across Sub-Saharan Africa and contributed to the design and implementation of landmark initiatives including Kenya’s Credit Guarantee Scheme, the African Development Bank’s YouthAdapt Facility, USAID-supported private sector development programs, and climate finance initiatives under FSD Kenya. His expertise spans climate adaptation finance, gender-lens investing, sustainability reporting, ESG integration, blended finance, fund governance, and impact measurement, bringing practical insights from working at the intersection of finance, sustainability, and enterprise development across emerging markets.

Bonano Badia

Bonano Anyango Badia is a development finance and program operations executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience across inclusive finance, agricultural transformation, MSME finance, cooperatives strengthening, market systems, economic inclusion and graduation, climate resilience, and food security. He has led complex donor-funded and public-sector programmes in Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa, translating strategy into measurable outcomes in youth employment, rural livelihoods, enterprise growth, digital finance, risk management, and public-private partnerships.

Bonano currently serves as Senior Programs Manager for Cooperatives Development, Enterprise Development and Economic Inclusion at Smart Regional Consultants, where he provides strategic and technical leadership for rural economic inclusion, cooperative strengthening, SME capital readiness, financial inclusion, digital adoption, market linkages, donor reporting, compliance, ESG, safeguarding and climate-resilient livelihoods. His work connects technical assistance to actual enterprise financing by preparing missing-middle SMEs for investment, strengthening records and governance, packaging loan applications, matching enterprises to suitable lenders or funds, and providing post-financing coaching.

Previously, he served as Program Manager for the AfDB-funded ENABLE Youth Kenya Program and held senior executive roles at Agricultural Finance Corporation, including Head of Operations and Chief Credit Officer. In these roles, he oversaw national development finance operations, credit portfolio governance, branch network leadership, risk-based lending, digital credit systems modernization, institutional turnaround, and donor compliance.

Brenda Mbathi

Brenda Mbathi is a dynamic executive with extensive experience across diverse sectors in Africa. Currently serving as the CEO of Two Rivers International Finance and Innovation Centre SEZ (TRIFIC SEZ), Brenda leads the establishment of Kenya’s first privately owned bespoke-to-business services Special Economic Zone (SEZ). TRIFIC SEZ aims to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Kenya and empower businesses to access global markets competitively.

Brenda is the Vice Chairperson of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), where she plays a pivotal role in driving initiatives to strengthen Kenya’s private sector.

In some of her previous roles, Brenda has led impactful efforts in fostering inclusive cultures within organizations, contributing to enhanced innovation and engagement.

Her leadership extends to serving on prestigious boards and committees, including previous roles on President Biden’s Advisory Committee on Doing Business in Africa and the American Chamber of Commerce in Kenya. She is currently a governor of the MPESA Foundation Academy. Brenda’s collaborative approach and strategic vision have been instrumental in driving growth and fostering dynamic team dynamic.

Bright Ngina

Bright Ngina is the head of operations at Nazava Water Filters (Kenya), a B Corp delivering affordable household water treatment solutions across all 47 counties. An impact-driven professional with experience in operations, procurement, and programme implementation, she specialises in turning strategy into scalable, on-the-ground delivery. At Session 8, Bright will pitch how Nazava’s water treatment solutions — including fluoride removal — create measurable health, productivity, and climate resilience outcomes, and what finance and partnerships are needed to scale impact.

Caylee Talpert

Caylee Talpert has spent her career working in emerging markets at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship and development. Her work has spanned diverse sectors ranging from banking and consumer goods to agriculture, government and infrastructure across both Africa and South East Asia. She leads Corporate Growth at AnyWay Solutions, a company specializing in technology-driven solutions for climate resilient infrastructure in LMIC countries. Prior to that, she served as Chief Business Officer (CBO) of &frnds, a high-tech company focused on emerging markets. Her work has taken her from enabling all Rwanda’s citizens to access e-government services through their mobile phones, to providing the technology platform for an agency banking network serving over 4 million low-income customers in Indonesia to building a distribution network that served over 150,000 micro-retailers across South-East Asia. Caylee has worked closely with some of the world’s largest consumer goods companies (e.g. Coca-Cola, Unilever, P&G), financial institutions (e.g. IFC/World Bank, Asian Development Bank, local banks) and technology companies (e.g. Microsoft, Mastercard) as well as non-profits, startups, mobile operators and government ministries. Caylee holds an MSc in International Development from the London School of Economics (LSE), an MA in Politics and Sociology from Hebrew University and a business degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa and teaches courses on entrepreneurship at the Technion Institute of Technology and Hebrew University.

CFA Francis Nasyomba

Francis Nasyomba, CFA is the CEO of Raisin Capital and Founder Capital Connect Africa. He is a CFA Charterholder, CPA, and former President of the CFA Society East Africa, with over 16 years of experience in investments, corporate finance, fundraising, and transaction advisory.

Throughout his career, Francis has advised and managed transactions across different sectors. He is passionate about strengthening access to capital for African businesses and building the infrastructure needed to connect entrepreneurs with investors and growth opportunities.

Charles Mbugua

Charles Mbugua is a sustainable finance and climate risk professional with over 14 years of experience in financial services, credit risk management, business development, and strategic leadership. He currently serves as a Strategic Business Unit Head at Stima DT Sacco Society Ltd at Electricity House Branch and is also Trustee of the Stima Sacco Retirement Benefit Scheme (RBS).

Charles holds a Master of Business Administration (Strategic Management), a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Accounting), is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPA(K), and a Certified Credit Professional of Kenya (CCP(K)). He is also a certified Green and Sustainable Finance Professional with the Chartered banker Institute (UK) and a Certified Carbon Finance Expert Consultant (Renewable Energy Institute-UK). His work focuses on Strategic and Sustainable Business growth through Sustainable Financing and Investment strategies. He is passionate about mobilizing private capital to accelerate climate adaptation and sustainable development across emerging markets.

Cheyo Mwenechanya

Cheyo Mwenechanya is the Group Director – Food & Agriculture at Equity Group Holdings Plc, where he leads the bank’s strategy to scale agricultural and strengthen food systems financing.

With over 20 years of experience in agribusiness banking and development finance, Cheyo specializes in value-chain financing, blended finance structures, and climate-smart agriculture investments. He has been instrumental in designing innovative
financing models that mobilize private sector capital while de-risking smallholder and agribusiness lending.

Before joining Equity Group, he held senior leadership roles in agriculture banking in Zambia and Southern Africa where he led the transformation of agricultural portfolios and built strategic partnerships with global development finance institutions.

Chris Odongo

Chris Odongo is the CEO of WYLDE International Ltd and co-founder of SNDBX. He is an entrepreneurship ecosystem builder and believes in developing partnerships to catalyse the success of entrepreneurs across Africa. He is a strategic planning consultant and business coach with 22 years of experience working with SMEs across Africa.

He is creative and practical in his approach. He has top skills in business coaching, strategy development, facilitation, leadership development, and personal development. Chris has recently published a guidebook for startups in Kenya. Chris is also a public speaking coach and Business MC, using his skills to keep audiences engaged on entrepreneurship-related topics.

At WYLDE International, Chris leads a team of brilliant consultants and associates to deliver an inspirational growth program for entrepreneurs that has, to date, transformed more than 300 businesses. If you are looking to build a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem, build an organisation from startup to growth stage, or motivate entrepreneurs or employees to achieve their goals, Chris is the right person for the job. Chris has over 18 years of experience and insight into entrepreneurship development.

Christoph Jungfleisch

Christoph is the Founder and Managing Director of YAPU Solutions, which provides the world’s first operating system for digital and localized resilience finance for vulnerable populations. Over the past 20 years, he has built extensive expertise in inclusive climate and nature finance, working with organizations such as IPC/ProCredit Holding, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, and ENGIE Mobisol.

He has also advised financial institutions on climate finance strategy for and with organizations including IDB Lab, BNP Paribas, UN FAO, UN IFAD, or UNEP, among others.

Daniel Matoke

Daniel Matoke is a Market Systems Advisor, Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship at WUSC, leading portfolio design and implementation for major Market Systems Development (MSD) and Gender-Lens Investing (GLI) initiatives across Africa and South Asia.

With deep expertise in fragile and displacement contexts, Daniel guides economic opportunities portfolios to bridge the gap between inclusive and systemic trade facilitation, gender-smart capital deployment, and sustainable livelihoods for marginalized women and youth.

Delphin Ngamije

Delphin Ngamije is the Regional Director for Africa at YAPU Solutions, a social FinTech company that provides methodology, capacity building, and digital tools to operationalize climate resilience and adaptation finance for inclusive financial service providers in the Global South helping them assess climate risks, finance adaptation solutions, and report transparently to investors. With over 20 years of experience in inclusive and green finance, Delphin has worked across Rwanda, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Benin, Morocco and beyond. Since joining YAPU in January 2019, he has led business development and project implementation across the continent, supporting MFIs and SACCOs in digitizing credit processes, deploying YAPU’s resilience taxonomy, and integrating climate risk into lending process. Prior to YAPU, he served as Managing Director of Microfinance in Rwanda and held senior roles at solar finance industry. He holds a Master’s in Microfinance from CESAG (Dakar) and a Certificate in Risk Management from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

Doreen Kinoti

Doreen is a programme management leader with over 15 years’ experience driving rural development, agricultural finance, and social impact programmes across sub-Saharan Africa, including conflict and post-conflict countries. Her expertise spans circular economy, smallholder commercialization, innovative green finance, enterprise development, food safety, and the underpinned by a track record of managing large programmes. She has led donor compliance and reporting DANIDA, the EU, the Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and USAID, and has represented programmes before investment committees, government, and donor forums. Doreen has  built expertise in renewable energy and climate finance, earning certifications from the Renewables Academy (RENAC) in green energy finance and green banking. She holds a BSc in Agricultural Education and Extension from Egerton University and an MSc in Circular Economy and Sustainability from the James Lind Institute and  Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship, Strategic Leadership and Innovation Management  from Rushford Business School

Dorothy Maseke

Dorothy is leading FSD Africa’s Natural Capital, Biodiversity Finance & TNFD agenda through the UK Government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) programme. I am also the Head of the African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA) Secretariate- an initiative set up by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and FSD Africa. ANCA is a collaborative forum for mobilizing the financial community’s response to the risk of nature loss in Africa. The alliance was established by the specialist development agency, FSD Africa, with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

ANCA brings together leading financial institutions, governmental organizations, intergovernmental partners, and civil society representatives. This group is joined by a wider set of members from both the public and private sectors who support ANCA’s aim of integrating nature into financial decision making.

Dr. Anne Omwoyo

Dr. Anne Monyenye Omwoyo is a climate change and sustainable development expert with over a decade of experience in climate resilience programming, environmental governance, climate finance, natural resource management, and policy development in Africa. She holds a PhD in Dryland Resource Management from the University of Nairobi, specializing in climate change adaptation, land use systems, soil carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, and ecosystem resilience.

Dr. Omwoyo currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the World Bank-funded Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Program in Kisii County, Kenya, where she leads the implementation of community-driven climate resilience investments and strengthens local climate governance systems. Her work focuses on translating climate policies into practical, investment-ready interventions that enhance resilience, improve livelihoods, and support sustainable development.

She has extensive experience in climate adaptation planning, climate risk assessment, climate-smart agriculture, climate finance mobilization, carbon markets, and institutional capacity strengthening. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with governments, development partners, research institutions, civil society organizations, and local communities to design and implement transformative climate resilience initiatives.

Dr. Omwoyo has represented Kenya in several international climate forums, including the United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP), and has contributed to global climate science processes through her engagement with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). She currently serves as a Review Editor for the preparation of the 2027 IPCC Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies, Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

A recognized trainer and facilitator, Dr. Omwoyo has delivered capacity-building programs on climate change, carbon markets, environmental governance, climate justice, and sustainable development for policymakers, technical experts, judicial stakeholders, and local communities. She is passionate about advancing locally led adaptation, gender-responsive climate action, and innovative financing mechanisms that accelerate resilient and inclusive development across Africa and beyond.

At the Adaptation Investment Summit, Dr. Omwoyo brings practical insights from the frontlines of climate resilience implementation, climate finance delivery, and locally led adaptation programming, offering perspectives on how investment can drive transformative adaptation outcomes for vulnerable communities.

Dr. Flaura K. Mapinga

Dr. Flaura K. Mapinga is a Sustainability Entrepreneurship Scholar and a Management Consultant specializing in ESG, Leadership, and Human Resource Management. She holds a PhD in Sustainability Strategy in Entrepreneurship from the University of Dar es Salaam, an MBA from Kenyatta University, and a Bachelor of Business Management from Moi University. She has also completed professional training in ESG, Climate Change, Corporate Governance, Leadership, Enterprise Development, and Project Management.

With extensive experience leading international, regional, and local sustainability and climate change initiatives, Dr. Mapinga has dedicated her career to advancing sustainable development through capacity building, leadership development, and entrepreneurship. She is a co-founder of the Go Make Impact Foundation, where she mentors young people and women in leadership, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

A seasoned management consultant, Dr. Mapinga has also contributed significantly to the growth of Kenya’s biogas sector and continues to support organizations in adopting climate-smart approaches, strengthening ESG integration, and building capacity for climate leadership and sustainable investment. She is a member of the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM), where she has previously served as Chairperson for the Coastal Region, Deputy Chairperson of the Human Resource Management Professionals Examination Board (HRMPEB), and a member of several professional taskforce.

Dr. Ida Githu

Dr. Ida Githu is a water governance specialist and Managing Partner at EED Advisory. EED is a Pan-African consultancy firm headquartered in Nairobi and with offices in Dakar and Johannesburg, and working across WASH, climate change, and Energy. Ida has extensive experience in the WASH sector, delivering assignments across WASH evaluations and market assessments, policy reviews, and governance initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa, including ASAL and displacement contexts. She has led multiple high-impact technical assistance and advisory assignments focused on strengthening sanitation and water markets, improving service delivery, and enhancing access to finance.

Ida holds a Doctor of International Affairs from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) where her doctoral research examined how rural piped water schemes in Kenya’s Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties evolved toward professional management over three decades. She also holds an MSc in Water Science, Policy, and Management from the University of Oxford, and dual bachelor’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry from North Carolina State University and Meredith College respectively.

Dr. Jane Njuguna

Dr. Jane Njuguna – Area of expertise: Plant Pathology Previously, she served as the KEFRI Senior Deputy Director in charge of Research and Development. Holds a PhD. in Forest Pathology from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden; MSc in Forest Science from University of Melbourne, Australia; and BSc in Botany and Zoology from University of Nairobi.

Dr. Peter Gichuku

Dr. Peter Chege Gichuku is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hydroponics Africa Limited (HAL), a Kenyan climate-smart agriculture and water-technology company he established in 2013. A trained analytical chemist (BSc, University of Nairobi) with a background in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and holder of a Doctor of Science (honoris causa, Commonwealth University, UK, 2019), he has built HAL into one of East Africa’s leading developers of simplified, low-water food-production and water-treatment systems. The company today operates across Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and Djibouti, with expansion underway into Guinea, and runs the Hydroponics Africa International Institute of Simplified Hydroponics (HAIISH) to transfer its methods to farmers, agripreneurs and institutions.

His work sits at the intersection of climate adaptation, food security and water access in arid, semi-arid and displacement-affected markets. Dr. Chege pioneered HAL’s proprietary technologies —including Sub-Crop™ underground hydroponics for extreme-heat environments and Fluo-Char™ biochar-based fluoride and iron water treatment — and is currently delivering contract-farming and clean-water programmes in Turkana West and the Kakuma refugee-hosting area under partnerships with the Danish Refugee Council/Danida and AECF, alongside long-standing collaborations with the World Food Programme (H2Grow) and AMREF Health Africa. His recognition includes the USAID Securing Water for Food Grand Challenge award (2017) and the Water and Energy for Food–MENA prize (2022); he was a Top 50 finalist in Africa’s Business Heroes (2025) and is a 2026 member of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Mentor Guild. At this session he presents HAL as a live, investable model of how resilience enterprises can earn a return while building food and water security in fragile markets.

Dr. Rose Akombo

Dr. Rose Akombo (PhD) is the Principal Conservator of Forests and Head of Climate Change and Forest Conventions at the Kenya Forest Service. With over three decades of expertise in forest science, ecosystem restoration, and climate policy, she provides technical leadership in implementing Kenya’s National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP 2023–2027), the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy She also played a pivotal role in the development of National Ecosystem and Landscape Restoration Programme and 15 Billion Tree Growing & Restoration Initiative , guiding national efforts to restore degraded landscapes and strengthen ecological resilience.

At the Climate Adaptation Summit, Dr. Akombo contributes her deep experience in policy coordination and institutional alignment, highlighting how ministries, agencies, counties, regulators, and finance actors can harmonize adaptation investment priorities. Her leadership in shaping bankable restoration projects, integrating adaptation into county development plans, and fostering public‑private partnerships positions her as a key voice in advancing Africa’s climate resilience agenda and unlocking adaptation markets at scale.

Duncan Onyango

Duncan Onyango is the inaugural CEO of Trade Catalyst Africa Limited (TCA).

With over two decades of management experience across donor, development finance, and private and public sectors, Mr. Onyango brings a wealth of expertise to the role. He transitioned to TCA from Pharo Ventures East Africa, where he focused on investing in sustainable enterprises. His broad experience includes leadership positions at ACUMEN, SUED, and AECF, KIFFWA, as well as board memberships internationally, positioning him well to lead TCA’s efforts in scaling up investments to enhance trade efficiency across Africa. Mr Onyango has also achieved institutional accreditation by the Global Climate Fund; and has played an advisory role to several climate related initiatives and funds in Africa.

Eddie Sembatya.

Eddie Sembatya is an investor and entreprenuers with a passion for entreprenuership development. He has over 19 years of experience supporting businesses, investors, and development partners in Africa.

He is the Founder and CEO of Finding XY Group, a company dedicated to advancing innovative businesses and access to finance through inclusive and sustainable development.

Eddie has led and advised programmes focused on climate technologies, gender lens investing in agriculture, the circular economy, and green finance. His work has included facilitating market and feasibility studies that promote green growth, with particular emphasis on energy and climate smart technologies in East Africa.

An Oxford University alumnus, Eddie also serves as a Board Member of the Uganda Solar Energy Association, contributing to the advancement of renewable energy policy and market development in Uganda.

Elda Onyango

Eldah Odongo is the Head of Commercial Services at Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company (KIWASCO), where she leads commercial operations focused on improving water and sanitation service delivery across Kisumu City. She has extensive experience in revenue management, customer service, stakeholder engagement, and utility performance improvement.

A strategic and results-oriented leader, Eldah champions innovation, sustainability, and partnerships that enhance service excellence and utility resilience. She is passionate about advancing climate-resilient water services, promoting environmental stewardship, and strengthening the role of water utilities in supporting economic growth and community well-being

Elizabeth Mwashuma

Elizabeth Mwashuma is a technology entrepreneur, climate innovation leader, and digital transformation strategist specializing in climate intelligence, artificial intelligence, and data-driven solutions across agriculture, finance, healthcare, and sustainable development. She is the Founder and CEO of Good Partners, where she leads the development of AgriScanAI, an AI-powered climate-smart agriculture platform designed to help smallholder farmers identify crop pests and diseases through image-based AI, access localized advisory services, monitor farm productivity, track financial performance, measure carbon emissions and sequestration, and connect to markets.

With over 15 years of experience designing and implementing digital solutions across Africa, Elizabeth is passionate about translating complex technologies into practical tools that improve livelihoods, strengthen food systems, and build resilience for vulnerable communities. Her work sits at the intersection of climate adaptation, food security, artificial intelligence, and inclusive innovation, with a strong focus on ensuring that technology remains accessible, trusted, and impactful for farmers and underserved populations.

Throughout her career, Elizabeth has led the design and implementation of digital transformation initiatives for governments, development organizations, NGOs, and private sector partners, delivering solutions in climate-smart agriculture, digital health, financial inclusion, social protection, and knowledge management. She is particularly interested in how artificial intelligence and data can empower communities to make informed decisions, improve productivity, and adapt to the growing challenges posed by climate change.

At the Adaptation Investment Summit for Africa 2026 (AISA2026), Elizabeth shares insights from her journey building AgriScanAI and offers an entrepreneur’s perspective on deploying AI-powered solutions for farmers at scale. Drawing from her experience developing climate adaptation technologies, she explores both the opportunities and challenges of leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen agricultural resilience across Africa. Her presentation highlights how climate intelligence can empower farmers, why human-centered design is essential for successful innovation, and what it takes to build scalable technologies that deliver lasting social, economic, and environmental impact.

Erik Labee

Erik Labee is the CEO of the Kenya Innovative Finance Facility for Water (KIFFWA), a Nairobi-based catalytic project preparation and blended finance facility focused on climate-resilient water initiatives in Kenya. KIFFWA supports SMEs, SGBs, and public-private partnerships by combining early-stage capital, technical assistance, and investment structuring. The Facility often works through strategic partnerships with funders, development partners, public institutions, and private sector actors.

Erik has over 25 years of experience in project and process management, including 19 years in leadership roles, and brings a strong entrepreneurial mindset to complex investment and partnership environments. Through his extensive network across East Africa’s public and private sectors, Erik works to build partnerships that unlock climate adaptation finance, strengthen water security, and scale sustainable impact.

Francesco Rampa

With a background in economics and international trade – he graduated at Bocconi University and holds a master’s degree in economics for development from Oxford – Francesco specialises in trade policies and development, political economy, innovation, food security and sustainable food systems.

Francesco’s current work at ECDPM focuses on regional food value chains, climate resilience in agriculture, and the sustainability of food systems.

Francesco previously worked as an ODI fellow on trade policy and negotiations at Papua New Guinea’s trade and industry department for two years. In 2008, 2009 and 2020, Francesco was seconded to Italy’s prime minister’s office and served as a technical advisor on Africa and development dossiers within the G8, G20 and G8-G5 dialogue processes, where he focused on agriculture and food security and on water and sanitation. Francesco has also worked as a consultant for FAO’s land and water division.

Hassan Ali

Hassan Suleiman Ali is a microfinance and financial services professional with over 12 years of experience in microfinance operations, fund management, portfolio quality management, SME coaching, and business development. He holds a master’s degree in Banking and Finance from Preston University, Pakistan, and a master’s degree in project planning and management from Amoud University, Somaliland. Currently serving as Head of Operations and Business Development at MicroDahab MFI

Helena Lassen

Helena Lassen is a strategic leader with 15+ years of experience at the intersection of climate adaptation, innovation, and international development. As Programme Director at CARE Denmark, she leads a global climate and innovation portfolio spanning 20 countries with a total value of DKK 180 million (~€24m). Her work focuses on securing co-investment from major philanthropic foundations and building the cross-sector partnerships needed to deliver impact at scale across Africa and Asia.

Her on-the-ground experience spans Ethiopia, East Africa, Eastern Europe, and South-East Asia, giving her both the strategic and operational perspective needed to turn adaptation investment into durable resilience.

At AISA 2026, Helena participates as a practitioner and partnership builder, bringing CARE Denmark’s climate innovation agenda to the table alongside governments, investors, and climate enterprises. She is particularly interested in financing models for community-level adaptation, the role of data and digital tools in scaling climate solutions, and unlocking private capital for resilient food systems in Africa.

Jacklyne Anyamba

With more than ten years of experience in the entrepreneurship and investment landscape, Iminza is a dedicated ecosystem builder. She focuses on creating systems and fostering partnerships that promote sustainable growth by connecting sectors, markets, and communities to unlock private capital for inclusive economic development.

In her current role as Co-Founder and Managing Partner at IGASITECH, she leads a business advisory and venture-building firm that supports startups and growing businesses across Africa, helping bridge the gap between vision and execution.

Prior to founding IGASITECH, Iminza was the Chief Operating Officer of the East Africa Venture Capital Association (EAVCA). During her tenure, she was instrumental in strengthening the private capital industry by coordinating stakeholder efforts, shaping policy, and spearheading capacity-building programs to enhance investment readiness, deepen capital flows, and catalyze sustainable business growth in the region.

IGASITECH
Igasitech is a business advisory and venture-building firm focused on supporting startups and growing businesses across Africa. We provide hands-on venture-building support for entrepreneurs in the digital economy, climate resilience, and creative industries to transform their early-stage validation into sustainable, scalable growth. Our core purpose is to bridge the gap between vision and execution. We specialize in three areas: helping founders gain strategic clarity, align with their ecosystem, and build the operational foundations to scale.

Jared Ochieng

Jared is FSD Kenya’s Agriculture and processing finance lead. He is also responsible for providing technical input on agriculture and processing finance across FSD programme . He previously worked as the senior trade specialist at FSD Kenya.

His fields of interest and professional expertise for 10+ years are value chain development, agricultural and rural development, trade finance, agricultural finance and research

Jenni Chamberlain

Jenni Chamberlain is the Founder and Partner of Altree Capital and the Founding Partner of the Altree Kadzi Gender Climate Fund, which invests in women-led businesses in sub-Saharan Africa with a climate-smart focus. She previously managed the Africa Opportunities Fund and Altree Credit Fund. Jenni was named to the Africa Asset Management Power 50, ranking in the top 10. Prior to Altree Capital, she founded Securities Africa Ltd, a leading pan-African investment bank offering equity and fixed income services. Jenni also served as Managing Director of EMEA Equities at HSBC in New York and London.

Joseph Wambugu

Joseph is a seasoned Business Development and Marketing leader with over 17 years of experience in the Sacco sector. As Head of Marketing, Communication & Diaspora at K-Unity SACCO, he leads strategic initiatives that drive growth in deposits, loans, and membership while strengthening stakeholder engagement.

Core Expertise.

• Strategic planning & Execution
• Business Development
• Product Development
• Entrepreneurship
• Project Management
• Client relationship management
• Marketing & Communication

Kahiga Musaari

Kahiga Musaari is an economic transformation strategist and development finance professional with over two decades of experience across Africa and Europe. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance Option) from Ecole Les Roches, Switzerland, and an MSc in Banking and Finance from Moi University/Kenya School of Monetary Studies under the African Development Bank Financial Skills Deepening Programme. He began his career with the MÖvenpick Group in Switzerland before returning to Kenya to work at the Nairobi Stock Exchange and later in regional corporate leadership.

Kahiga subsequently served as Group Operations Manager for AD-Link Communications across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania before transitioning into international development consulting. His assignments have included leading EU-funded economic value-chain mapping and job creation planning across Somalia, as well as redesigning TVET systems for Puntland and Somaliland to align workforce skills with economic opportunities.

In 2009 joined Prime Harvest International and led the development of the Sorghum Beer Value Chain for Diageo and EABL, helping integrate climate-resilient crops into industrial supply chains. In 2016 Kahiga was tapped served as Chief of Staff during the Central African Republic peace process. In 2020 Kahiga was engaged by JICA to carry out mapping and evaluation of all TICAD funds channeled via 20 Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Kenya. Currently, Kahiga was appointed as a Board Director at Kasama Solar Energy Ltd. where he is leading a Capital Raise of 135 Million USD.

Kelvin Dol

Kelvin Dol is the Co-Founder & CEO of Grofunder Africa, a startup using peer-to-peer lending to connect investors with smallholder farmers in rural Kenya, helping farmers grow more and earn more by unlocking access to affordable finance. He is passionate about building innovative businesses that not only generate revenue but also create lasting social and economic impact in underserved communities.

Leonard Obuna

Leonard Obuna is the WASH Finance Manager for Kenya at Aqua for All, in charge of structuring Blended Finance Instruments to Catalyze Commercial Financing from Financial Institutions to WSPs, SMEs, and Household clients across the WASH Value Chain in Kenya and Uganda, with over 15 years of experience in Commercial Credit Risk management and Impact Investment.

Linda Onyango

Linda Onyango is the C.E.O of SME Support Centre Limited and has 20 years’ consulting experience in Africa . The SME Support Centre works with Governments, Corporates, and Financial Institutions from across Africa to design and deliver SME programs. Their programs have benefited over 20,000+ MSMEs and have disbursed over USD 5 million in the last 3 years to SMEs in Africa through financial institutions within their programs. Prior to the SME Support Centre, Linda held notable positions as Lead SME Advisor Energy 4 Impact and Consulting Manager at KPMG. Through her position at KPMG, Linda led and facilitated the development of strategic plans and business plans to Governments and Corporate clients across Africa. Linda started the early years of her career working for Price Water House Coopers and Olympia Capital Holdings where her notable achievements at the time included support in launch of the new PWC Advisory strategy and support the successful launch and listing of Olympia Capital in the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

Madleine Mwithiga

Madleine Mwithiga is the Managing Director and Founder of ADAPTA Climate Finance Facility and Director of Adaptaction Facility, with 29 years of banking and financial services experience across 14 African markets in both international and local banking institutions.

A Halcyon Global Climate Fellow and member of the Convergence Global Blended Finance Network, she is a recognized voice in SME growth, blended finance, and climate adaptation finance.

Through ACFF, she leads climate-risk-integrated financing solutions that work with financial institutions’ agricultural portfolios, leveraging the ADAPTA Risk Management Framework, developed with support from the Bill Gates Foundation, to unlock capital for
smallholder farmers, Agri-SMEs, and real-sector enterprises.

Her work combines data, blended capital, and first-loss risk-sharing mechanisms to help financial institutions manage agri-portfolio risk while scaling climate resilience across Africa.

Margaret Komen

Margaret founded Mace Foods in 2002. Having worked in 2 large German Spice producing companies, Margaret felt the need develop export products for the EU market was a great opportunity. She is currently the CEO of Mace Foods Ltd. Margaret is a graduate Food Technologist from Technical University of Kenya, has a post graduate diploma in Food Science from Karlsruhe University, Germany. In addition, she has a post graduate diploma in Business Management form Kenya Institute of Management in Kenya and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from United States International University in Kenya. Margaret is an ardent and resilient Entrepreneur with over 20 years’ experience in innovative Value Addition, supply chain and manufacturing operations management.

Other awards, nominations, and responsibilities:

1. Champion for Change- Ensuring we have Food Security in Africa – Africa Lead-USAID Feed the Future Program:
2. Most Innovative Approach to supporting MDGs – End poverty 2015 millennium campaign: 2011
3. North Rift Kenay Association of Manufacturer- Vice Chairperson
4. Women in Manufacturing – Kenya Association of Manufacturers – Steering Committee member
5. 10,000 Women in Business Goldman Sachs Award- 2016
6. Vital Voices Leadership Fellow – 2018
7. Member of Eldoret Innovation Advisory Board (EINAB) – 2023

Mark Ameyo

Mark Ameyo is an investment and technical assistance professional with over 11 years of experience supporting the growth and investment readiness of SMEs across Sub-Saharan Africa. As the Enterprise Development Officer and Technical Assistance Facility Coordinator at Kenya Climate Ventures (KCV), he leads technical assistance programmes, enterprise development initiatives, and the InvestLink investment matchmaking platform, connecting climate-focused SMEs with regional and international investors.

Mark has supported the investment readiness of more than 20 climate enterprises and is contributing to the development of a USD 25 million climate investment fund. His work spans blended finance, investment readiness, due diligence, stakeholder engagement, and climate finance, with experience across agribusiness, renewable energy, water, commercial forestry, and waste and circularity sectors.

Beyond his work at KCV, Mark serves as a mentor and advisor within several entrepreneurship and impact investing initiatives across Africa. At the Adaptation Investment Summit for Africa (AISA) 2026, he is leading the Adaptation InvestLink, facilitating strategic connections between investment-ready climate adaptation enterprises and capital providers to accelerate climate
resilience across the continent.

Martin Rokitzki

Martin Rokitzki is the Founder and Managing Director of PlanAdapt and Director of its Rwanda-based affiliate, Climate Adaptation Research & Consulting. He is a social entrepreneur, innovation broker, and ecosystem builder in the climate adaptation space, with more than 23 years of experience working across climate-vulnerable regions and markets in Africa and Asia, in sectors including agriculture, natural resource management, and rural development.

Working at the intersection of adaptation finance, private sector engagement, and social innovation, Martin supports the transformation of climate knowledge, business opportunities, and market-based solutions into effective and scalable economic and social impact.

He has led projects on MSME resilience, blended finance, innovation support, and capacity strengthening, exploring how entrepreneurial and market-based approaches can complement public and community-led adaptation pathways while safeguarding equity and public-good outcomes. Martin has also designed and facilitated adaptation innovation labs, initiatives and platforms.

He has particular expertise in shaping the next generation of adaptation professionals in Africa. Martin works with universities, learning networks, and innovation actors, particularly in Eastern Africa, to strengthen a pipeline of adaptation leaders able to develop locally relevant solutions, new services, business models, institutional arrangements, and community-led innovations.

At the Summit, he brings perspectives on inclusive adaptation ecosystems, AI-enabled learning, blended finance, and scaling adaptation while safeguarding local ownership and equity.

Mbula Musau

Mbula Musau is the Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of Utake Coffee Limited, the first SCA triple-certified Premier Teaching Campus in Africa. Utake Coffee Limited is also a Kenyan coffee exporting company of both green and roasted specialty coffees. Mbula conducts coffee quality courses locally and internationally to continuously empower people, improve coffee quality and the lives of those who produce it. Mbula is also an Emeritus Board director of the global Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), and currently on the board of the global Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity, (CCRE) and the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA).

She is passionate about gender equity and youth empowerment and was instrumental in the formation of the International Women in Coffee Alliance (IWCA) chapters in Africa, enabling equitable engagement of women in the sector.

A pioneer in the coffee sustainability space, her company is the first to offer carbon-neutral certified coffee in Africa and launched the first single-serve specialty Kenyan coffee packaged in eco-friendly and biodegradable bags to offer coffee consumers a high value quality product conveniently while conserving the environment. In September 2025 her company won the Gourmet Award from AVPA Paris for coffees roasted at origin, a first from Kenya, testament to her consistency in delivering a globally accredited
product and service in the global coffee space. Utake Coffee Limited is also a 4-time winner of the Kenya Beverage excellence Awards- Most Preferred Coffee Beans and the Sustainability Award.

Neha Shah

Neha is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Maitri Capital, an Investment Advisory firm focused on Africa, and Co-Founder of Rafiki Ventures, and early stage investor in emerging markets. She has 23+ years of experience in private equity and investment banking. Neha worked at Actis, one of the largest emerging markets funds, focusing on Energy and Infrastructure investments. Prior Neha was with Norfund, a DFI backed by the Norwegian Government, focusing on investments in renewable energy in Eastern Africa. Before this she worked for investment banks Lexicon Partners and Dresdner Kleinwort in the UK. Neha began her career with KPMG in London. Neha is a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW UK). Neha holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from INSEAD. She sits on the Board of several private owned businesses and charitable organisations.

Pauline Koelbl

Pauline Koelbl is the Founder and CEO of ShEquity Partners (“ShEquity), an investment firm backing climate-focused, gender-smart businesses across Africa. A recognized visionary leader, she is committed to building a sustainable and prosperous Africa where gender equity and environmental stewardship drive economic transformation. Through ShEquity, Pauline invests at the intersection of gender and climate, supporting scalable, profitable, and high-impact businesses that strengthen climate resilience and accelerate Africa’s inclusive green transition. She serves on several boards of impact-driven institutions, companies and holds degrees from Harvard Kennedy School, IDS/Sussex University, and the University of Arizona.

Ramji Krishna

Ramji Krishna is an ESG, impact investment, and environmental management practitioner with over 13 years of experience spanning environmental governance, climate risk management, sustainable development, and impact investing. His work sits at the intersection of governance, finance, climate resilience, and sustainable enterprise growth, supporting organizations to integrate ESG considerations into strategy, operations, and investment decision-making.

Rebecca Amukhoye

Rebecca is the Chief Executive Officer of MESPT (Micro-Enterprise Support Programme Trust), where she leads business strategy formulation and execution, driving operational efficiency, organizational learning, and corporate sustainability. With over 20 years of experience working with smallholder farmers and agri-enterprises, she has a strong track record of improving productivity and profitability across the agricultural sector. Rebecca supports local agri-SMEs through Business Development Services and facilitates access to finance, fostering agricultural investment, green transformation, and job creation. Previously, she held leadership roles as Country and Regional Director with international NGOs, managing programmes across Eastern and Southern Africa. She holds a BSc in Agriculture and Home Economics from Egerton University, an MBA in Strategic Management, and a Senior Management Leadership Certificate.

Rikesh Patel, CFA

Rikesh Patel, CFA is Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Global Head of Nature Finance at Conservation International, where he helps lead the development of innovative investment strategies that mobilise capital for nature, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. With nearly two decades of experience spanning impact investing, conservation finance, project finance, and capital markets, he has worked across Africa, Europe, and global markets to design and scale nature-positive investment vehicles.

Prior to Conservation International, Rikesh held leadership roles with The Nature Conservancy’s NatureVest team, Open Capital, and Santander Global Corporate Banking. He has led transactions and fundraising efforts totalling over US$1 billion across renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, forestry, conservation, and climate-focused enterprises. Rikesh serves on the boards of Kenya Climate Ventures and the reNature Foundation and is a member of the Conservation Finance Alliance Incubator selection committee. He is a CFA Charterholder and holds a BSc (Hons.) in Actuarial Science from the University of Kent.

Roy Odongo

Roy Otieno Odongo is the Director of Climate Change in Homa Bay County, Kenya, where he leads the design and implementation of pioneering climate governance frameworks while ensuring that climate action is fully integrated into county development planning and budgets. His work has positioned Homa Bay County as a model for locally led climate governance in Kenya.

Throughout his career, he has developed a robust understanding of environmental policies, laws, and climate financing mechanisms, underpinned by hands-on experience in delivering related impactful consultancy assignments. His work has focused on natural resource management, climate change mainstreaming, climate risk and vulnerability assessment and environmental governance, with a strong emphasis on analyzing cross-cutting issues such as gender, culture, health, livelihood resilience, and security.

Nationally, Mr. Odongo has contributed to Kenya’s climate reporting obligations, including the Third National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the First Biennial Transparency Report to the UNFCCC.

Drawing on Homa Bay’s experience implementing the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme and managing its County Climate Change Fund, he bridges county-level water governance with the cross-sector investment opportunities that make water a foundation for resilient agriculture, health, food processing, SMEs, and urban livelihoods.

With an M.A. in Environmental Policy from the University of Nairobi and a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from Egerton University, Mr. Odongo combines strong academic grounding with practical expertise. Licensed as a Lead Expert in Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit, he is committed to unlocking climate finance, de-risking water and agricultural investment, and strengthening monitoring, evaluation and reporting frameworks for climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.

Sam Ndonga

Sam Ndonga is a development finance and impact investment professional with over 18 years of experience across Sub-Saharan Africa and serves as a senior advisor to development organizations, impact funds, foundations, and investors, providing expertise on structuring and scaling of innovative financing solutions that support inclusive business models, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience. He has consulted for clients such as the FAO, ITC, Agri3 Fund, Danida, Aceli Africa, Mastercard Foundation, among others.

At Samawati Capital Partners, which he co-founded and led as Managing Director for nearly seven years, Sam built a team of over 15 professionals based in Kenya and Uganda, overseeing projects in over 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing investment advisory services for impact funds such as the Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund (AATIF), Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA), and Universal Green Energy Access Programme (UGEAP), and enabling over $300 million in investments to farmers, cooperatives, SMEs, mid-sized companies, and local financial intermediaries across Africa.

Sam is deeply committed to advancing inclusive economic growth and believes in the power of market-based approaches to creating opportunities for underserved communities. He is motivated by translating ideas into practical solutions that create both economic opportunity and long-term impact.

He holds a B.Sc. in Statistics from the University of Nairobi, an MBA from Strathmore Business School, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Global Business Strategy from IESE Business School, Barcelona.

Sammuel Njuguna

Sam Njuguna is an Investment Analyst at Altree Capital, supporting early-stage, climate aligned and gender-responsive investing across Africa. His work spans sourcing and evaluating pipeline opportunities, conducting market and sector research, building financial models, contributing to ESG and gender-lens due diligence, and supporting portfolio engagement and fundraising. He began his career in London in finance, accounting, and data analytics, developing a strong foundation in financial modelling, performance analysis, and data-driven decision-making. A CFA Level II candidate, Sam brings a rigorous analytical approach to advancing inclusive and climate-resilient investment strategies across the continent.

Shadrack Kioko

Shadrack Kioko, PMP, is Managing Director, Africa at Info Gain Consulting (IGC), an AI-enabled digital transformation and operational-intelligence firm. He leads the design and delivery of the enterprise platforms that sit behind climate finance, grant-making and public-sector service delivery across the continent — including the portfolio and grants-management platform powering Kenya Climate Ventures, the convener of this summit, and programme systems for the African Union’s development agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund. His career spans IBM, Safaricom and KCB Group, and his focus is consistent: the operational and data backbone that turns adaptation strategy into capital that can actually be deployed, monitored and measured. He holds degrees in Information Technology and Telecommunications from Strathmore University.

Shamim Nyanda

Shamim Wasii Nyanda is a 27-year-old Ocean Climate and Blue Foods advocate, environmental activist, and social scientist from Tanzania, working at the intersection of climate justice, ocean conservation, blue food systems, and youth- and women-led development.

She is the founder of Doors of Hope Foundation, a youth-led organization advancing climate change education, ocean conservation advocacy, WASH initiatives, and youth and women empowerment across Tanzania.

Shamim is also the founder of the Tanzania Ocean Climate Innovation Hub, a youth- and community-driven initiative currently endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade, and part of the Global Ecosystem for Ocean Solutions Program under Ocean Visions. Through the Hub, she advances locally led ocean-based climate solutions, blue food systems innovation, ocean literacy, and inclusive participation of coastal and marginalized communities.

In addition, she is the founder of the Africa Blue Foods Platform, a continental initiative working to strengthen equitable, climate-resilient blue food systems by centering small-scale fishers, women, youth, and Indigenous knowledge across Africa.

She is also the co-founder of the SUNWAVE Group, a climate-focused enterprise supporting small-scale fishers and coastal communities through innovative cold-chain and water solutions aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening livelihoods.

Shamim currently serves as the Community Manager for Africa under Hatch Blue’s Women in Ocean Food program, where she supports women entrepreneurs across Africa working in sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and blue food value chains by strengthening community building, peer learning, and ecosystem connections.

She is a former YOUNGO Climate Finance Academy delegate (2022), a TEDx Youth Speaker, and a Global Landscape Forum Social Media Ambassador. Shamim also serves as an International Youth Advisor to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, contributing to international policy discussions on climate action, ocean governance, and meaningful youth participation.

She has represented Tanzania as a youth female delegate at COY17, COY18, and COY19, alongside participation at COP27, COP28, and COP29. She also serves on the Board of Youth of The Resilience Project, contributing to regional and global resilience and adaptation dialogues.

Through advocacy, policy engagement, and storytelling Shamim works to bring ocean and climate issues closer to communities, reframing the ocean not only as a site of history and vulnerability, but as a source of nourishment, dignity, and future opportunity for Africa.

Silas Oure

Mr. Oure has 18 years’ experience in the civil service having worked as a Senior Economist for eight years with the Ministry of Planning and a further ten years at the Kenya Revenue Authority. Mr. Oure is currently serving as an Assistant Manager in the Policy & Tax Advisory Division under the Micro & Small Taxpayers Department.

At the Kenya Revenue Authority, Mr. Oure spearheads tax legislative reforms including review of tax laws and development of statutory instruments to support implementation of tax laws provisions.

Mr. Oure played a pivotal role in the development of the National Tax Policy; the Medium Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS; and the National Policy on Enhancement of County Government’s Own Source Revenue.

Mr. Oure holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) and a Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi. In addition, he holds a Master of Science in Economics from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. He is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (ICPAK).

Sofia Bonaya

Sofia Bonaya is the Africa Regional Hub Lead for the Greening Financial Regulations Initiative (GFRI) at WWF-Kenya, where she works with central banks, regulators, and policymakers to integrate climate and nature-related risks into financial regulation. She brings nearly 11 years of experience at the Central Bank of Kenya in Budgetary Control and Financial Markets. Sofia holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Deakin University, is a Certified Expert in Sustainable Finance (Frankfurt School of Finance and Management), and completed a Graduate Capital Markets Certificate at George Washington University as an IFC-Milken Fellow.

Steve Magati

Steve is Partner at Deloitte East Africa and leads the Assurance and ESG practice lead for East Africa. He has 20+ years’ experience, providing solutions for organizations on Sustainability, Risk Management, Governance and Internal Audit. As a Governance and Risk Management practitioner, he has developed an excellent appreciation of the relationship between risk management, sustainable business practices and business performance.

Steve has a track record of building high performance teams and working with teams across organizations to create robust governance, ESG and risk management frameworks and efficient business processes that deliver strategic business objectives, while ensuring sound financial controls.

Steve is Certified Public Accountant of Kenya and a Certified Information Systems Auditor.

Thomas Lelekoitien

Mr. Thomas Lerenten Lelekoitien, is the Deputy Director Climate Change Adaptation, at the Climate Change Directorate, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry. He has over 24 years’ experience in climate change adaptation work. He is the national adaptation focal point for Kenya under the UNFCCC. He served as a member of the NAP Global Network Steering Committee for three years and an alternate member representing Africa at the UNFCCC Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Platform’s Facilitative Working Group for 2 years. He leads the Kenya team of UNFCCC negotiators following adaptation and loss and damage agenda items.

Titus Kiilu

Titus Kiilu is the Head of Regulatory Affairs at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, a CPA and Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance, and a senior capital markets leader with over 20 years of experience in capital markets regulation, corporate governance and executive-level financial management. His experience spans regulatory leadership and executive-level financial management, including financial strategy, capital planning, capital management, and enterprise risk oversight.

He specialises in capital markets regulation, exchange operations and market infrastructure, and market integrity, with expertise in listed securities and advisory on the structuring, listing, and regulatory approval of exchange-listed products. Titus is also recognised for his work in sustainability reporting, ESG integration, and regulatory policy, and for bridging practical regulatory implementation with evolving global standards.

He plays a leading role in strengthening regulatory frameworks, advancing market transparency, and positioning capital markets within evolving global standards on sustainability, governance, and assurance.

Titus is a member of the IAASB and IESBA User Advisory Group, where he engages in global standard-setting discussions shaping corporate governance, ethics, and specialised assurance frameworks that underpin trust in international capital markets. He is also a member of the Exchanges Working Group of the ICIFA Investment Performance and ESG Reporting Standards Taskforce, an active member of the National Sustainability Reporting and Climate Change Steering Committee.

e works closely with regulators, issuers, and market stakeholders to promote resilient governance practices and sustainable market development, while aligning local markets with global expectations

Wilfred Mworia

Wilfred is Chief of Staff at Invhestia Africa Limited (www.invhestia.com), a finance and investment advisory firm on a mission to close the gap between opportunity and capital in Africa. Wilfred has over 20 years of working experience spanning the fields of software, media and communications, entrepreneurship, impact investing, venture capital, and climate finance, with a passion and skill for driving innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa. He worked as Regional Coordinator for sub-Sahara Africa for the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) – a global network of climate and clean energy financing experts, which offers business coaching and investment facilitation to entrepreneurs developing climate and clean energy projects in emerging markets. He is a Certified Expert in Climate and Renewable Energy Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. www.linkedin.com/in/wmworia

Wyanie Bright

20+ years of experience in impact investing, strategic planning, and public finance initiatives.

Previously worked as an Investment Officer at Pan African Capital Group, a Senior Strategy Consultant in Accenture’s Financial Services Practice, and a Strategic Planning Associate at the NASDAQ Stock Market.

MBA from Cornell University and BA in economics and BS in agriculture and resource economics from the University of Maryland.