Mr. Charles Abani
UN Resident Coordinator for Ghana
Hamdiya has over 20 years’ experience in Finance and Investments and over 13 years’ experience in Venture Capital and Private Equity investing. She has supported the Venture Capital and Private Equity ecosystem development through education and influencing policy and regulatory outcomes for the industry in Ghana.
She is currently the General Manager of Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF), where she oversees the Investments and general operations of the Trust. Prior to joining VCTF, she was a Deputy Director at the Ministry for Private Sector Development, where she led in the provision of Business Advisory Services, financing arrangements, enterprise support services, skills development, entrepreneurship training, and promotional workshops for MSMEs.
She is an Angel Investor and was instrumental in the design of the Ghana Angel Investor Network (GAIN). She is also a Director of the Ghana Angel Fund and a Founder of the Lady Angel Network – which invests in women owned/led businesses. She chaired the Ghana Taskforce which successfully led to the establishment of a National Advisory Board (NAB) for Impact Investing Ghana (IIGH). Ghana, through IIGH is now a member of the Global Steering Group (GSG) for impact investing. She has been at the forefront of impact investing over the last 8 years, establishing the GIMPA Centre for Impact Investing and working closely with the team and other stakeholders in promoting impact investing in the country.
Ms. Ismaila currently serves as a Trustee of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investing. She is also a Council Member for the Ghana Alternative Exchange (GAX), An Investment Committee Member of the MasterCard Africa Growth Fund and a member of the Governing Council of the Star Ghana Foundation where she chairs the Fundraising Committee and co-chairs the Audit and Finance Committee.
Ms. Ismaila Holds an Executive Certificate in Private Equity and Venture Capital from Harvard Business School, a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University in the City of New York, BBA (Sum Cum Laude) from Monroe College and an LLB degree from the GIMPA Law School.
She is a Fellow of the 2019 Class of the Aspen Finance Leaders Fellowship and a Member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Mrs. Ibukun Awosika
Chairman, Nigerian National Advisory Board for Impact Investing
Ibukun Awosika is an African entrepreneur, author, international leader, and global culture shaper. She is the Chairman and Founder of The Chair Centre Group, a leading furniture and security systems provider in Nigeria. With an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from University of Ife and advanced degrees from various global institutions, including Lagos Business School, IESE Business School, Wharton and China European International Business School (CEIBS), Ibukun is both a student.
She serves as Chairman or Board member on various Corporate and non-profit boards around the world, cutting across Education (IESE Business School, Imperial Gate Schools, Pan Atlantic University), Energy (D-Light Inc.), IT (Digital Jewels Limited), Manufacturing (Cadbury Nigeria Plc), Retail (House of Tara International), Financial Services (Binance, Alitheia IDF Fund LP, Nigeria Advisory Board for Impact Investing), Corporate Governance (Convention on Business Integrity), Advocacy (Women in Management, Business and Public Service, IFVI International Foundation for Valuing Impacts), to mention a few.
In addition to her work leading businesses, Ibukun Awosika is also committed to serving nations. She was recently appointed to the UK G7 Impact Taskforce and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investing (GSG). She is a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and served on the pioneer board of the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund.
Over the years, she has received numerous awards locally and internationally. Her most recent recognitions are the 2020 Forbes Woman Africa Chairperson Award and the Beta Gamma Sigma 2020 Business Achievement Award. She is a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative and Aspen Global Leadership Network. She is also a recipient of 4 Honorary Doctorate Degrees.
Ibukun Awosika has spoken at numerous world conferences and platforms, including the Global Leadership Summit, where she shares her knowledge on several economic, leadership and faith-based topics. She is the founder of Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy; Convener of The International Woman Leadership Conference in Dubai; also the founder of the Christian Missionary Fund, a faith-based organization that works with hundreds of missionaries spread across Nigeria to change lives through the provision of medical, educational and general relief. Ibukun Awosika is a woman of many firsts; she was the first Female Chairperson of Nigeria’s Premier Bank, First Bank 2016 - 2021, the first Nigerian recipient of the prestigious International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) Award and the first African recipient of the International Friendship Award 2019 by the Queen of Spain.
As part of her commitment to investing in the next generation of business leaders, she started the 360 Executive Masterclass and The Life Series with Ibukun Awosika, which have directly impacted over 10,000 men and women and countless more across the world to date. She founded the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, a career centre established to checkmate the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria. She is also a judge on Jack Ma’s Africa’s Business Heroes program for African entrepreneurs.
Ibukun Awosika has multiple expressions beyond the boardroom. She is a seasoned author and shapes culture through her active involvement in media and purposeful entertainment. She featured in the highly rated Netflix Original blockbuster movie, Citation, and was the Executive Producer of ‘God Calling’, another exceptional movie which was released on Netflix in 2020. She is happily married to Abiodun Awosika and they are blessed with three wonderful sons.
Emmanuel Alex Asiedu
IIGh Board Chair and Head, Africa Region Investments, Standard Bank
Emmanuel Alex Y. Asiedu is the Managing Director of STANLIB Ghana Limited. Prior to this he held lead responsibility for Ecobank’s investment management portfolio where his team managed retail and institutional portfolios.
Alex holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Ghana, Legon and a Master’s degree in Economics from Queen’s University in Canada. He is a Private Investors for Africa (PIA) fellow, a Yale World fellow and a member of the CFA Institute, the global organization at the leading edge of investment management practice.
He is currently the president of the Ghana Securities Industry Association, the umbrella body for capital market operators in Ghana and President of the CFA Society, Ghana. He also chairs the national advisory board of Impact Investment Ghana.
Alex is passionate about bringing about change in Africa and is involved in a number of social impact programmes and activities that aim at creating positive health and educational outcomes. He has lectured as an adjunct at Ashesi University, a leading Ghanaian university and works with the Share Foundation, a local not-for-profit that supports the educational needs of Ghanaian children. He is a Trustee of the Gaede Foundation supporting local communities with educational and health grants and providing start-up funding for micro-businesses.
He also serves on international advisory board of the West African Centre for Cell Biology and Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) and is a member of the management committee of the School of Social Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon.
Samuel Akyianu
Chief of Party Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund
Sam Akyianu brings over 25 years experience of in designing, implementing, and leading the delivery of financial advisory solutions across Africa and Asia covering a variety of sectors such as agribusiness for export; SMEs; private education, health insurance and services, and Private Equity ("PE") funds. Samuel has also led PE and Venture Capital ("VC") Regulatory environment reviews, including assessments of Ecosystems for Start-ups, Entrepreneurs, and SMEs.
Samuel has worked with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) since 2006 and has held various roles including Global Lead, Regional Lead, and Sector lead. In his most recent role as Global Lead, Samuel managed the investment advisory for IFC’s global portfolio of SME Ventures funds. Working with an investment team Samuel is experienced in conducting limited partner due diligence of PE Funds, analysis, design, and implementation of technical assistance and grant programs for portfolio performance and compliance.
Prior to IFC, Samuel was a Director of Investment for TechnoServe where he managed a $10 million investment fund to sustain TechnoServe's operations and financing guarantees for SMEs. In this role, he also managed a team to deliver Business Development Services and Investment readiness/Business Plans for Agribusiness SMEs
Hamdiya Ismaila
General Manager of Venture Capital Trust Fund
Hamdiya has over 20 years’ experience in Finance and Investments and over 13 years’ experience in Venture Capital and Private Equity investing. She has supported the Venture Capital and Private Equity ecosystem development through education and influencing policy and regulatory outcomes for the industry in Ghana. She is currently the General Manager of Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF), where she oversees the Investments and general operations of the Trust. Prior to joining VCTF, she was a Deputy Director at the Ministry for Private Sector Development, where she led in the provision of Business Advisory Services, financing arrangements, enterprise support services, skills development, entrepreneurship training, and promotional workshops for MSMEs.
She is an Angel Investor and was instrumental in the design of the Ghana Angel Investor Network (GAIN). She is also a Director of the Ghana Angel Fund and a Founder of the Lady Angel Network – which invests in women owned/led businesses. She chaired the Ghana Taskforce which successfully led to the establishment of a National Advisory Board (NAB) for Impact Investing Ghana (IIGH). Ghana, through IIGH is now a member of the Global Steering Group (GSG) for impact investing. She has been at the forefront of impact investing over the last 8 years, establishing the GIMPA Centre for Impact Investing and working closely with the team and other stakeholders in promoting impact investing in the country.
Ms. Ismaila currently serves as a Trustee of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investing. She is also a Council Member for the Ghana Alternative Exchange (GAX), An Investment Committee Member of the MasterCard Africa Growth Fund and a member of the Governing Council of the Star Ghana Foundation where she chairs the Fundraising Committee and co-chairs the Audit and Finance Committee.
Ms. Ismaila Holds an Executive Certificate in Private Equity and Venture Capital from Harvard Business School, a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University in the City of New York, BBA (Sum Cum Laude) from Monroe College and an LLB degree from the GIMPA Law School.
She is a Fellow of the 2019 Class of the Aspen Finance Leaders Fellowship and a Member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Reginald Yofi Grant
CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre
Reginald Yofi Grant, draws from over three decades of a successful career and experience in investment banking and finance as he heads the Ghana Investment Promotion Agency, under the Office of the President of Ghana.
He is unquestionably recognized in the fields of Financial Markets and Investment and has cofounded a number of companies including Grant Dupuis Investment Limited, and Praxis Fortune Caliber.
Yofi is an accomplished leader — an attribute that transcends beyond his country’s borders, where he is a key financial policy adviser. On the continent, he’s credited with having successfully led a number of advisory mandates involving both equity and debt transactions, including the development and implementation of AAF SME Fund LLC, one of the largest agriculture funds in Sub-Saharan Africa.
As a council member of the Continental Business Network of the African Union, and a member of the board of trustees of the OACP Endowment and Trust Fund he remains passionately committed to shaping the continent’s financial and economic transformation.
Yofi is also on the Steering Board of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) representing Sub-Saharan Africa and continues to serve on a number of private and public sector boards.
He is a fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN).
Yacouba Ouedraogo
Co-founder Africa Impact Investing Partnerships Center , Member, Burkina Faso Impact Investing Taskforce
Yacouba Ouedraogo
Co-founder Africa Impact Investing Partnerships Center , Member, Burkina Faso Impact Investing Taskforce
Yacouba Ouedraogo is an international development professional based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. He is a member of Burkina Faso National Advisory Board Taskforce on Impact Investing, a fellow of the Africa Impact Investing Programme and an accredited trainer for the SDG Impact Standards for Enterprises. Yacouba has over 25 years senior management experience in rural development, forestry, agriculture, climate adaptation and mitigation in the West and East African regions especially in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya and Ethiopia.
He has supported the work of several international organisations including the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD; GlobalCAD; Climate Analytics in Burkina Faso; the Global Green Growth Institute Burkina Faso Office; International Development Enterprises; the World Agroforestry Centre; Concern Universal in Guinea and Tree Aid in West Africa. Yacouba brings over cutting edge knowledge of the emerging trends in global development finance, impact investing and public-private partnerships; a passion for catalyzing public and private investments towards the achievement of the SDGs.
He holds an MBA Degree, obtained in 2011, at the University of Exeter Business School in the UK and a Rural Development Technical Engineer degree obtained in 1989 at the Rural Development Institute of the University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Yacouba is currently a PhD Candidate in Development Finance in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Stellenbosch Business School, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa. His research investigates the economy-wide impact of public and private investments in energy, transport and telecommunication infrastructure in Burkina Faso.
Tracy Kroner
Investment SpecialistInvestment Specialist, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
Amma Lartey
CEO of Impact Investing Ghana
Amma Lartey is CEO of Impact Investing Ghana (IIGh), the Ghana National Advisory Board for Impact Investing, and a member of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investing. IIGh is a platform representing all the stakeholder groups needed to redirect significant capital flows toward social and environmental impact in Ghana - bringing together leaders from the worlds of finance, business, government, social organizations, and philanthropy.
Amma has led organizations in the US, Ghana and across Africa. She led the Africa region of Reach for Change - a Venture Philanthropist that runs accelerators, incubators, and hubs for social enterprises in key growth markets including Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia Rwanda, Tanzania, DRC and Chad, and currently serves on the board of Reach for Change, Ghana.
Amma is an accredited trainer for the SDG Impact Standards where she helps organizations integrate sustainability and the SDGs into their operations. She is an experienced executive coach and trainer with a mission to help leaders increase their impact and personal development. Over the past sixteen years, she has coached leaders and supported teams to help over 3000 entrepreneurs launch, grow or scale.
Amma graduated with a BA from the University of Ghana and an MBA from Babson College. She is a fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative-West Africa and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Maria Etemore Glover
Projects Lead of Impact Investors' Foundation
Etemore is the Chief Executive Officer of The Impact Investors Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded in partnership with The Ford Foundation, Africa Capital Alliance, BusinessDay Media Limited, Bank of Industry and Dalberg Advisors. She was previously the pioneer Executive Secretary of The Knowledge Exchange Centre (KEC), a non-profit organization focused on bridging the skills gap for young unemployed graduates.
While at KEC, Ms Glover was responsible for translating and implementing the five-year vision and strategic plan of the organization. She has worked on several youth development programmes with the government and has a wide range of experience in banking, research, monitoring and evaluation, project management, strategy and planning.
As the Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian National Advisory Board for Impact Investing she is responsible for implementing its vision and strategies and coordinating projects. In the last year, Etemore established a task force consisting of private and public sector actors in Nigeria to set up a National Advisory Board (NAB) for Impact Investing, the highest national body responsible for promoting social investments in the country and building the market infrastructure. Etemore led the establishment of the Nigerian NAB, which will be under the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment, the umbrella body with 35 NABs across 28 countries and regions. She also engages with development finance institutions (DFIs), bilateral and multilateral agencies, and local and foreign investors to grow impact capital and investment in Nigeria.
She is a problem-solver, learning and development strategist and trainer with extensive knowledge and experience in the development and management of capacity-building programmes for youths; programme evaluation; budget; fundraising strategies; leadership; NGO management and consultancy, research, finance and impact investing. Etemore is also an MSME Consultant with over 10 years of experience in setting up and running startups. She is an Associate Member of the Learning and Development Network International.
Ms Glover holds a double honour in Economics and Education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Leicester. After transiting to the nonprofit sector, she further obtained a Post-Graduate Certificate in NGO and Development Management from the University of East London, UK.
