Archives: Speakers

Lynda Amadagana is a lawyer registered with the Paris and Cameroon Bars. Lynda Amadagana obtained her Master 2 in International and European Law with a specialization in International Environmental Law from the University of Paris Nanterre La Défense in 2010. Lynda has worked for several international law firms on projects and concessions in the energy… Read more »

Ido Sum is a Partner at TLcom Capital, Africa’s most active tech focused VC fund, investing in early to growth stage with offices in Lagos, Nairobi and London. TLcom’s current Africa portfolio includes Andela, Twiga Foods, Kobo360, uLEsson, Okra and many others. Since joining TLcom in 2011 Ido was part of the founding team of… Read more »

Banji Fehintola is Senior Director and Head of Treasury & Financial Institutions at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). He is responsible for managing the Corporation’s balance sheet with total assets of about US$4.5 billion and leading the implementation of its annual funding program in the international loan and debt capital markets. Banji joined AFC in January… Read more »

Richard Bennett, is the founder and CEO of Sunbird Bioenergy Africa. His vision is to create a profitable pan-African renewable fuel company that delivers job creation, import substitution, energy security and reduced carbon emissions for our host governments and communities. Richard Bennett has more than 30 years entrepreneurial experience in the technology, cleantech and renewable… Read more »

Onyebuchim Obiyemi is currently a Senior Vice President at CardinalStone Partners Limited and leads the Investment Banking Division. She has over 10 years hands on investment banking experience spanning various sectors including Financial services, FMCG, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas and Public sector. Her entire investment banking experience spans Afrinvest West Africa Limited and then… Read more »

John Block is the Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer for Kado Partners, a real estate development firm with operations in Cameroon. Kado Partners primarily invests in residential developments with a focus on midrise multifamily, furnished apartments, and for sale single-family homes. Prior to Kado Partners, John Block worked at several institutional real estate private… Read more »

Helena Riese Harstad is the Co-Founder and working Chairperson of Optimizer Foundation. Helena Riese Harstad leads the overall strategic direction of the foundation, including assessment of investment opportunities, and manages donor engagement. She is a trained lawyer and has a background within Banking and Financing.

Reginald Massawe holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). He also holds a Diploma in Personnel Management and has more than twenty years of experience holding senior management positions, in multinational organizations. He began his career in HRM in 1996 and has since held a variety of posts covering a wide range of responsibilities…. Read more »

Paul Jackson is the founding CEO of TUHF and began his career in Development Finance at the Development Bank of South Africa, as an Agricultural Economist. He has overseen the financing of over R4bn of inner-city affordable, residential property developments and 44,000 affordable rental housing units. Paul has a wealth of experience in development finance… Read more »

Joe Mate is an Investment Director with British International Investment where he is focused on developing the Private Credit asset class in Africa. He has spent the bulk of his career supporting the growth of African businesses through roles in Leveraged Finance (Standard Bank and Barclays) and Private Credit (Qbera Capital). Joe Mate started his… Read more »