2011 Leadership for Change in Africa Programme Delegates
Clare Akamanzi
Rwanda
Clare Akamanzi is currently the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Rwanda
Development Board (RDB), a 400 staff body that’s in charge of promoting the
country’s private sector, through investment promotion and facilitation, and
promotion of strategic sectors.
Prior to being promoted to the above position, Ms. Akamanzi was Deputy CEO in
charge of business operations and services within RDB. She has also previously
served as Deputy Director General at the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA), and a
commercial diplomat representing the Government of Rwanda at the World Trade Organization in Geneva
as well as in London.
The key highlights of Ms. Akamanzi’s achievements include Rwanda’s investment growth. She was technical
coordinator of Rwanda’s business climate program which saw its global ranking from 158th in 2007
dramatically improve to 58th in 2011, making it the fourth easiest place to do business in Africa and the 2nd
most reformed economy in the world over the last five years. Ms. Akamanzi sits on several boards such as
the National Social Security Fund, Rwanda Environment Management Authority. She is also the founder of
Prosave, an 80-member savings cooperative.
Dan Kipsang
Kenya
Mr. Dan Kipsang is currently the Head of Procurement at East African Breweries
Limited, EABL, and is an executive member of EABL Kenya. Mr. Kipsang is a skilled
and dedicated leader with global business experience and proven expertise in
Supply Chain Operations.
Prior to this position, Mr. Kipsang worked with Tetra Pak East Africa as the Supply
Chain Manager. Mr. Kipsang was a member of the steering committee for the implementation of World
Class Manufacturing at the Nairobi factory, where he led Education and Training pillar, Supply Chain Pillar
and was a member of Cost pillar. He was a member of the Global Supply Chain Master pillar that identified,
promoted, and enhanced sharing global best practice and implementation.
One of Mr. Kipsang’s achievements includes the dramatic transformation of EABL supply chain through
implementation of World Class practices and the training and development of the teams. While at Tetra
Pak, Mr. Kipsang was instrumental in the embedding of World Class Manufacturing since its launch in 2001.
This culminated in the attainment of the stringent Excellence Award 1st Category in 2007 issued by
Japanese Institute of Planned Maintenance, JIPM, for the implementation of World Class Manufacturing.
Anthony Esyalai
Kenya
Anthony Esyalai undertook his undergraduate studies at the Catholic
University of Eastern Africa, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in
Marketing.
He started his Marketing career at the age 18 as a merchandiser for PZ
Cussons (EA). In seven months, he progressed to become a sales clerk and later a marketing assistant. He
left this post to pursue his university studies only to return four years later as a Marketing Management
trainee in the same organization. Anthony moved up the marketing organization to the position of Category
Manager responsible for 40% of PZ Cussons business by brand contribution before leaving to join Colgate
Palmolive (EA) Ltd as Head of Marketing Operations in August 2008. After a successful 2 year stint in which
he drove recovery of Colgate toothpaste market share and attainment of highest ever share, he later joined
Unilever East & Southern Africa as Category Marketing Manager for their key Fabric Cleaning & Homecare
business in November 2011.
Kariuki Gathitu
Kenya
Kariuki is a young techpreneur with a passion for technology and for Africa. The
young Kenyan information technology expert is pursuing entrepreneurship with
the same intensity that his father pursued politics while engaged in Kenya's
liberation struggle.
Armed with a degree in Computer Science from Kenyatta University, named after
Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, Gathitu took his first plunge into the
roiling waters of entrepreneurship after graduation. That venture, a web design company, lasted two years
before it ran into problems.
After working for a bank for several years after, Gathitu launched his second company. Having been in the
banking industry, he has been able to see the difficulties that people have when it comes to payments and
especially mobile payments. This led to the birth of Zege Technologies, a software firm that primarily builds
software for mobile and payments. Through his innovation, businesses can now accept mobile money
seamlessly integrated into their financial systems and in real time, which was a big problem with the mobile
money services. MPAYER, his mobile money management system, has been widely acknowledged and
received awards for innovation. Kariuki is passionate about innovation, technology and business.
Angellah Kairuki
Tanzania
Angellah graduated from the University of Hull, and also has a PgDL in Legal
Practice from Staffordshire University. She is a Member of Parliament and is
Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal
Affairs and Public Administration and Secretary General of Tanzania Women
Parliamentary Group.
Angellah was previously employed by VODACOM Group PTY as Head of the Dept of Ethics, Compliance and
Governance and served as a Member of the Council of the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology. She is an
advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and is a Member of Tanzania Institute of Arbitrators.
Rehmah Kasule
Uganda
Rehmah is a Chartered Marketer and a fast-track Entrepreneur running her own
marketing firm, Century Marketing for 14 years. She is a Motivational Speaker,
Mentor and a Certified Enterprise Development Consultant with International
Trade Centre. She spearheaded the designing of the National Export Strategy Gender Dimension to mainstream women into the export sector. She started
CEDA International with the vision of “creating a new generation of women
leaders” focusing on mentoring, leadership and social entrepreneurship. Her work in women
empowerment was recognized at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship hosted by President Barack
Obama in Washington DC.
Rehmah is an ALI/Aspen Leadership Fellow and an alumna of the Fortune/US State Department Mentoring
Program. She is an Author of a book “From Gomba to the White House” the journey of an African Woman
Entrepreneur. Her program, the Rising Star Mentoring Program won the US State Department Innovation
Award 2010 and is impacting more than 12,000 girls in secondary schools and universities. Rehmah is a
winner of The International Alliance for Women, World of Difference 100 Awards 2011. She has joined the
Buganda Kingdom Cabinet as a Special Advisor to the Kabaka – the King of Buganda earning her the
prestigious title – Owekitibwa.
Aida Kiangi
Tanzania
Aida is currently working with ActionAid International as Country Director for
Tanzania. She is an acknowledged social development specialist with experience
in strategy development, operational planning and financial management in the
private and public sector (particularly with local government authorities and
non-governmental organizations). In her last position with Deloitte Consulting,
she was the Contract manager for PEPFAR Mission Support Services on behalf of
USAID/Tanzania and the Grants manager for ICAP-Columbia University. She is a
seasoned project manager, with demonstrated experience in social development and rural infrastructure
development and management.
She is an active member of the Women’s rights movement in Tanzania. She is also one of the founding
members of Young Executive Stars Tanzania (YES! Tanzania), a network of young Tanzanian executives from
all sectors. Its purpose is to promote thought leadership and constructive debate. She is an alumni of
Freedom House African leadership forum.
Aida holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the Stellenbosch University in South Africa and
an MBA from the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in
Physical Geography and Biology from the National University of Lesotho.
Frederick Kong’ong’o
Kenya
Frederick Kong’ong’o is a qualified engineer with national, regional and
international experience in public, private and civil society. He has several
post- graduate professional training in management, strategy
development, programme management and management of regional
Integration in Africa. He was instrumental in Establishing and
functionalizing the first Pan Africa cotton, textile and apparel Industry private sector association, namely
Africa Cotton and textile industry Federation (ACTIF), and increasing its membership to 19 countries across
Africa by 2010.
Fred has held different position in manufacturing sector, Standard regulatory body, and buyer
representative, product quality and safety Audit consultant for Levis Straus. As a Trade Facilitation Expert
for a USAID-funded Regional Agricultural Trade Expansion project for 4 years, Fred increased the value of
business posted in the trade linkage website by over 90%.
He is currently working at the Secretariat of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA) as a Senior Coordinator Eastern and Southern Africa for EU-All ACP programme. At the
Secretariat, his work impacts on policy and strategies for commodities value addition to improve Africa’s
competetiveness in the global economy. Despite all these professional engagement he has been engaged in
community service work.
David Kuria
Kenya
For over ten years, David has been working with rural communities in
Kenya helping them to design and implement several projects geared
toward conservation of natural resources while contributing to the
improvement of their livelihoods. He currently works as a Senior Project
Coordinator with East African Wild Life Society responsible for a number of project including reforestation
and community development projects. David has developed and supervised a number of community
projects (small and large one). He is a founder of the Kijabe Environment Volunteers, one of the credible
community based organisations in Kenya. KENVO is involved in poverty alleviation and development of
leadership skill among the young people.
At the moment he is pursuing his PhD on environment and community development at Kenyatta University.
His research is based on the work he has been undertaking, focusing on community conservation and its
links to local livelihoods in Central Kenya.
David has been awarded numerous conservation and environmental awards including Presidential Award
2010, Nature Kenya Conservation Champion Award 2009, UNDP Equator Award 2008, Conservation
Leadership Programme Award UK, 2005 Whitley Fund For Nature 2002
Modesta Mahiga
Tanzania
Modesta is in the forefront of private sector interventions to build capacity to
transform Tanzania into an African economic powerhouse.
As Founder and Group Managing Director of Professional Approach Group
(Professional Approach Development, Professional Approach Centre and Maanisha Foundation) Modesta
has integrated the Group’s flagship “mindset change for national transformation” model into all client
recruitment, training, labour relations and business process outsourcing services to render the
“Professional Approach” brand synonymous with “change management and behavioural transformation” in
Tanzania. Maanisha Foundation print and electronic “media edutainment” programs use national media to
empower Tanzania youth to “positively change the way they think, perform and present themselves for
business success”.
Awarded Tanzania Woman of Achievement of the Year, 2011, in the category of Young Achiever, Modesta
is also a respected writer and motivational speaker, energising the youth, entrepreneurs and employees.
As a young entrepreneur-mentor Modesta tirelessly supports individuals, organisations, local and
international think tanks to encourage entrepreneurship amongst African youth and promote responsible
business policies, practices and good governance in Africa.
Modesta sits on the Board of The Foundation for Civil Society, Executive Committee of Tanzania
Professionals Network and is the Tanzania Coordinator of the Young African Responsible Business Trust.
Anna Mugabo
Rwanda
Anna holds a masters degree from John Moore’s University, Liverpool, UK.
She is currently the Director General of Labour and Employment in the Ministry of
Public Service and Labour -Rwanda. The Directorate of Labour and Employment in
MIFOTRA is an interface between Government and the Private Sector.
Anna has over 10 years of working experience in different Government
departments, dealing with international, national, Private Sector, Trade Unions
and Civil Society. In addition, she serves as a city councilor at Kigali City, and is a Board member of different
government and non government organizations including banks.
Anna is the Vice President of the Rwanda Association of University women, a nonprofit making
organization, responsible for advocating for girl education and women empowerment and is also a
Member of the womens ministries at Christian life Assembly (CLA) which is responsible for helping child
headed families, needy people in mercy homes especially people living with HIV and patients.
Fred Mufulukye
Rwanda
Fred Mufulukye has a Masters in Public Policy and Management from the
Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands. He has a Bachelors Degree in Public
Administration from the National University of Rwanda.
He is currently the Director General of Territorial Administration and Good
Governance, Ministry of Local Government, Republic of Rwanda. Fred has held
different positions in the ministry of local government including coordination of
policy formulation, capacity building interventions, and monitoring and
evaluation of local government authorities. He served as Personal Assistant to the Minister of Local
Government and Rwanda’s focal point to the Africa Governance Inventory-AGI.
As a consultant, Fred designed Rwanda’s change management framework for Vision 2020-Umurenge
programme and trained local government officials on change management. He also evaluated the 1st phase
of decentralization.
Fred has actively participated in governance reforms in the post genocide Rwanda especially in areas
concerning decentralisation, democratisation and local rapid development. He was an active player in the
2006 Rwanda territorial Administrative reform as well as designing new performance approach (Imihigo)
which has transformed Rwanda’s current development.
.
Paul Muthaura
Kenya
Paul Murithi Muthaura is currently the Head of Legal Framework at the Capital
Markets Authority, Kenya and is responsible for driving the regulatory
framework development and implementation function of the Capital Markets
Authority. In his time with the Authority he has been, amongst others, a
member of the National Task Force Negotiating the Common Market Protocol,
the Technical Committee implementing the Vision 2030 International Financial Centre initiative, the East
African Securities Regulators Legal Issues Sub-committee and was at one time the Head of Enforcement for
the CMA.
In 2009 Mr. Muthaura was seconded to General Secretariat of the International Organization of Securities
Commissions (IOSCO) as an Emerging Markets Adviser based in Madrid, Spain where he was charged with
supporting capacity development and technical assistance for emerging capital markets. Prior to joining the
CMA, Paul was a senior commercial associate with the law firm of Daly and Figgis Advocates in Nairobi. Mr.
Muthaura is the holder of an LLb degree from the University of Warwick, an LLM in Banking and Finance
Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is currently undertaking a Doctorate in
Business Administration at the Maastricht School of Management
Magdalene Mwende
Kenya
Magdalene Mwende leads Lafarge, East Africa’s Industrial Ecology Department,
providing alternate energy to three cement kilns in Bamburi (Mombasa-Kenya),
Hima (Uganda) and Mbeya in Tanzania
From 2006 to 2010, Magdalene held the position of Group’s Health and Safety
Manager for East Africa. With a strong knowledge on people, equipment and
systems, Magdalene was responsible for driving Kenya to the highest level of
achievement in safety standards both nationally and internationally and joined Groups prestigious
Excellence Club.
Before joining Bamburi Cement Ltd, Magdalene served in various management positions in Homegrown
Kenya Ltd and Wartsila EA Ltd.
Magdalene holds a degree in Civil and Structural Engineering, Moi University, Masters of Science in Health
and Safety, Diploma in HR among other accolades. She is a motivational speaker and farmer too.
Geoffrey Ndugwa
Uganda
Geoffrey Ndugwa has an MBA from Edinburgh Business School (Heriot- Watt
University UK) and a B.Eng (Hons) Civil Engineering from the University of East
London. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from the UK
Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and is a Chartered Marketer. He is a
member of both the Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers and the UK
Chartered Institute of Marketing. He is a graduate of the Lafarge University/Aston Business School
leadership development programme. He has also attended a number of prestigious managerial and
leadership related courses including the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS-University of Pretoria)
and the Institut Europeen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD).
He started his career as a Structural Engineer before joining Lafarge in Uganda in 2001. He held various
positions until 2006 when he briefly joined Barclays Bank as Head of Business Support. He returned to
Lafarge in 2007 to lead the transformation of Bamburi Special Products Ltd as Chief Operating Officer, a
position he has held since then.
Dan Omoro
Kenya
Dan Omoro is an Economics graduate who is currently Head of Personal
Banking at Stanbic Bank, Nairobi.
He started work in banking in 1998 at SCB in Nairobi, moving up to Business
Planning Manager by 2007.
In December 2008 he moved to CFC Stanbic Bank as a Regional Manager in Personal & Business Banking
and then to his current post in December 2010.
Victoria Otieno
Kenya
Victoria was a pioneer in introducing conventional banking to Southern Sudan by
assisting in setting up the the Nile Commercial Bank, the first conventional bank
in this area. She initiated the Governments and International Organisations
business at CFC Stanbic Bank and started the South Sudan initiative. In 2006 she
was awarded the Kwezi Khulu star by Stanbic bank in recognition of her
exceptional contribution to the performance of the bank in 2005.
She is a board member of Operation Smile, an organization which supports the reconstruction of facial
features of children with cleft lips and facial deformities. Victoria is also on the board of the Nadine Griffey
Academy, set up to provide a channel through which orphans receive financial support
Victoria has a BSc in Agricultural Economics from Egerton University, Njoro and an MBA in Strategic
Management from U.S.I.U, Africa.
Didier Sezirahiga
Rwanda
Didier Sezirahiga, joined Bralirwa Ltd -member of the Heineken Group, in
May 2009. Since June 2011, he is currently Regional Sales Manager for North
West Region of Rwanda and responsible for Export businesses of Bralirwa
Ltd.
Prior to the current position, he started as ITMO Project Manager after
which he became Commercial Projects Manager within BRALIRWA Ltd. He
managed to implement with success several Commercial Projects, such as
ITMO (In Trade Marketing Opportunities) project, StockPoints creation, Export Businesses and he made a
valuable contribution to EDEN Project and Perfect Execution implementation. Before joining Bralirwa Ltd,
he started his career in Oil & Gas industry where, from May 2002 to November 2008, he worked for Total
Rwanda Ltd, member of Total International Ltd and he joined ENGEN Rwanda Ltd, from November 2008 to
may 2009, after purchasing 100% of Total Rwanda Ltd businesses. During his 7 years work experience
in Oil & Gas industry, Didier has held several Commercial management positions where he served as
Sales Administration Manager, Network sales Manager and General Trade & Network sales Manager.
He Holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration (Sales and Marketing) from Kigali Institute of
Science, Technology and Management (KIST).
Benoit Sibomana
Rwanda
Benoit joined Bralirwa Ltd- member of Heineken Group in 1997. He is
currently head of Technological Control department. Prior to his current
position, he served as Production Manager and Quality Assurance Manager
in Kigali Coca-Cola soft drink plant. He also worked for ministry of education as Headmaster of a secondary
school from 1995 to 1997.
He started his career in a local cosmetic company as a chemist 1993. Since 2001, he was active member of
a local team which founded the actual Rwanda Bureau of Standards; till today he serves the organization as
member of national CODEX committee and technical committees. Apart from his permanent job, he is a
consultant in ISO systems and food industry. He is proud of having succeeded in the start-up of a pilot
water treatment plant on behalf of Austrian bureau TBW (PROJET AEP KIGALI 2000).The project included a
treatment plant with approx 4000 m3/day from Nyabarongo underground, using a non conventional
technology with less imported or local chemicals as advantage. Due to this success, the government
invested in extension of the plant to 40000 m3/day and so doubles municipal total capacity.
He holds a Bachelors Degree in chemistry from the National University of Rwanda.
Neema Siwingwa
Tanzania
Neema is a Development Finance Specialist with 10 years of financial sector
experience in commercial and multilateral development banks (Treasury); and
working on financial sector reforms. She is passionate about financial sector
development in Africa, particularly improving access to finance and developing
capital markets. Neema served on the Board of the Financial Sector Deepening
Trust in Tanzania, and chaired their Investment Committee.
Neema recently completed the three-year Young Professionals Program at the African Development Bank
and has joined the Treasury department as a Senior Financial Analyst covering the development of African
capital markets and financial product development. Neema has an MSc in Development Finance from
University of Reading, and a BA (Hons.) in Economics with Development Studies from University of Sussex.
Neema is also passionate about philanthropy, and mentorship. She co-founded the Ahueni Foundation
which fosters philanthropic efforts in the Dar Es Salaam region of Tanzania, and has been active in various
community based initiatives including a mentorship program for pre-teen and teenage girls in Tunis.
Andrew Tobosa
Kenya
Andrew Tobosa is a certified Balanced Scorecard Master Professional (BSMP) from
the Balanced Scorecard Institute and George Washington State University (USA).
He also holds an MBA from Moi University and a Bachelors degree in Economics
from Kenyatta University. He is currently the Director of Strategy at the Kenya
Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat. He has 17 years of practical experience gained in
both the private and public sectors majoring in corporate strategy
developement and execution.
Previously, he worked for Energizer PLC international, Tourism Intelligence International (Germany) and
most recently at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) where he was the Head of Business Strategy and
Marketing and was instrumental in the development of the Kenya’s Vision 2030 Tourism sector Strategy.
Mr Toboso holds Professional membership with the Marketing Society of Kenya, Chartered Institute of
Marketing (UK), Kenya Institute of Management and the Institute of Balanced Scorecard (USA). He sponsors
and supports several community based initiatives in his rural home area of Butere District focusing on
environmental conservation, sports and education.
Vincent Waiswa Bagiire
Uganda
Vincent Waiswa Bagire is a well-respected thought leader in the ICT-fordevelopment field, in particular as an active voice and champion for the use of ICT
in rural development, agriculture, and youth initiatives. He is a member of the
Ugandan Parliament representing Bunya County West, Mayuge District in eastern
Uganda and belongs to the ruling NRM party.
Vincent cut his managerial teeth when he was appointed general manager of
AITEC Uganda in 1997. He also served as Chief Executive of a Washington DC
based not-for-profit, Bridges.org. It was then that the founder and chairperson,
Teresa Peters referred to him as one with “the mind and skills of an entrepreneur along with the heart and
vision of a practical philanthropist”. This observation came after Vincent set up a local NGO in eastern
Uganda, BROSDI to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban.
He undertook his undergraduate studies at Makerere University and later joined Glasgow Caledonian
University for his MBA where he excelled with a distinction. In 2008 he got his Msc in Economics with merit
from Bradford University. He derives his motivation from Mahatma Ghandi “be the change you wish to see
in the world”. In 2008 he was elected an Ashoka fellow for life in respect of his social entrepreneurship
initiatives.
Teddy Warria
Kenya
Teddy Warria is an African Renaissance Man, innovator, and entrepreneur. A
native of Nairobi, Kenya, he is the Head of Client Relations at Africa's Talking
(K) Ltd. where he works to connect SMSVoices.com with strategic clients and partners in Africa. He ensures
that organizations that can benefit from the use of SMSVoices™ are aware of the technology and its
benefits as well as ensure that the system is user-friendly and well represented in national and
international media.
Teddy Warria is a subject of Life Journeys: Scaling Heights - Conversations With High Achieving Men In
Kenya by Susan Wakhungu-Githuku, and co-author of New Horizons: A Practical Guide to Applying to
Universities in the US (2000) with Nathaniel Choge. Teddy is a member of Clinton Global Initiative and
Africa Cancer Foundation; he serves as the founding chairman of New Horizons Initiative, Inc. and Regional
Head of Africa 2.0 Foundation in Eastern Africa. He is a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow from
the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.