Archives: Speakers

Tola Odukomaiya 2022 speaker

Tola Odukomaiya is an Investment Director within GuarantCo’s Global Execution Team and is based in the London office. He initially joined GuarantCo as a Senior Investment Officer involved in developing and executing GuarantCo’s business in Francophone Africa. Prior to joining GuarantCo, Tola Odukomaiyawas an Associate Director within the Structured and Asset Based Lending unit at… Read more »

Suma Swaminathan 2022 speaker

Suma Swaminathan is Director, Private Equity at Developing World Markets, a U.S. based impact investment manager that has disbursed over $2.5 billion in over 60 emerging and frontier market countries. She manages deal sourcing, execution and portfolio management across Asia and Africa and is currently a board director at financial institutions in India, Armenia and… Read more »

Gerrit Muller 2022 speaker

Gerrit Muller is a Senior Investment Director at Arise and has 15 years of investment experience, of which 13 years include experience in investing across 13 different Sub-Saharan African markets. Gerrit Muller is known for his in-depth knowledge of the financial services sector in Sub-Saharan African. He is one of the founding members of Arise,… Read more »

Jonathan Berman 2022 speaker

Jonathan Berman has over 30 years’ experience of banking and investment in emerging markets, particularly Africa and Asia, and of the energy, infrastructure and resources sectors. He has been head of Barclays’ pan-African merchant bank and of Deutsche Bank’s Johannesburg branch, has been an investment committee member of two renewables debt funds, and has advised… Read more »

Rob Stangroom 2022 speaker

Rob Stangroom is a Chartered Accountant with 25 years sub-Saharan capital markets advisory experience (specialising in IPOs) and 14 years experience in digital corporate communications, with a specia focus on online investor relations. Rob Stangroom advises companies on Africa-specific digital and capital markets communications strategies. He is excited about ESG and sustainability frameworks as a… Read more »

Ruby Swigelaar 2022 speaker

Head: Wesgro Agribusiness Investment Promotion Unit Academic Qualifications: • Bcom – Economics – University of Cape Town • Wine Business Management – Graduate School of Business – University of Cape Town • PG Dip Management in Practice – Graduate School of Business – University of Cape Town Employment History: Started her career within the financial… Read more »

Patrick Ball 2022 speaker

Prior to joining Verdant Capital, Patrick Ball has 20+ years’ experience in investment management in both global investment banking, private equity as well as impact investing and consulting. Patrick Ball has worked at leading global institutions including Doughty Hanson & Co, Deutsche Bank, Developing World Markets (DWM), FINCA International and Incofin Investment Management.

Ollen Machimbirike 2022 speaker

Ollen Machimbirike joined Verdant Capital as an Analyst in 2014. He has exceptional experience in the Inclusive Financial Institutions Sector. He completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of KwaZulu Natal, majoring in Finance and Economics in 2013. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Business Finance (BCHBF) in 2014 at… Read more »

Saadiya Aliyu 2022 speaker

Saadiya Aliyu is the Managing Director/CEO Urban Shelter Ltd – Saadiya Aliyu is an executive management professional, who is results focused, driven and dynamic with over 15 years of progressive leadership experience. She has a passion for surpassing operational, financial and strategic objectives by delivering world class real estate developments and solutions. Saadiya Aliyu has… Read more »