Wanji Ng'ang'a 2026 Speakers

Wanji Ng’ang’a is a pioneering voice in impact investing and sustainable development, serving as Associate Director of Investing at Acumen, a global leader in deploying philanthropic capital to fuel transformative, early-stage enterprises. With more than $154 million invested into 167 companies, Acumen’s work has impacted the lives of over 500 million people across Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and the United States. At Acumen, Wanji leads investment strategy and teams that identify, fund, and scale innovative companies operating at the intersection of poverty, climate, and economic opportunity. Her work spans high-potential ventures in education, agriculture, and renewable energy–powered appliances, enabling solutions that not only scale commercially but deliver meaningful social value. With nearly 15 years of experience—10 of them in the off-grid energy sector—Wanji has shaped the growth of leading enterprises and ecosystems driving access to clean, affordable energy. Previously, she was the Regional Manager for East Africa at the Shell Foundation, where she defined regional strategy and grew a portfolio of ventures across household energy, productive-use technologies, and sustainable mobility. Her earlier work advancing off-grid lighting solutions across Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific reflects a career-long commitment to unlocking markets for underserved communities. She has worked with organizations such as GOGLA and Sun King, championing sector-wide advocacy, innovative financing, and market expansion for early-stage energy enterprises. Wanji holds a degree in International Business Administration from the United States International University, an Impact Investing certification from the University of Oxford, and a Master’s in Development Finance from the University of Cape Town