Archives: Speakers

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 »

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 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 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 »

Ntoudi Mouyelo brings a solid international banking and finance experience to Rwanda Finance Limited having worked as a senior executive in various international financial centres in Europe and Asia over the last 20 years. Ntoudi Mouyelo is specialized in risk management, structuring investment entities for financial institutions and large corporate. He has also developed an… Read more »

Dr. Amos Gyau is the Regional Manager for Partenships for Forests, West and Central Africa region and leads the management of the regional team, implementation of the programme’s regional strategy, workplan and budget to achieve the regional targets. Dr. Amos Gyau holds PhD in agribusiness from the University of Goettingen and has interest in agriculture,… Read more »

Feker Tadesse is the Regional Programme Manager at Partnerships for Forests. Feker manages the East Africa portfolio across 5 countries. She has over 10 years of experience in sustainable land use, access to finance and food security. Feker Tadesse holds a B.A in International Relations from Mount Holyoke College and an M.P.A from Princeton University.

John Mundy lead’s One Acre Fund’s efforts to connect climate finance and technology to Africa’s largest networks of smallholder farmers. John Mundy is a social enterprise and international development entrepreneur with extensive technology, food security and green economy strategy roles including: strategy lead for the World Food Programme’s Farm to Market Alliance, digital climate smart… Read more »

Olúwatóyìn (Toyin) Emmanuel-Olubake has over 14-years of experience investing and advising in growth markets, with a focus on West Africa. He is inspired by supporting entrepreneurs working to address complex issues in Africa with commercial solutions. He joined Novastar in 2021 from Acumen where he built a track record of identifying and partnering with dynamic,… Read more »