Antje Hargarter is an accomplished and visionary leader with over 15 years of experience guiding multi-disciplinary teams to drive sustainable strategic initiatives within large and complex finance and education organizations.
A dynamic and resourceful director, she is skilled in implementing robust strategies and leading high-impact programs aligned with industry trends through strategic planning and informed decision-making. She excels in engaging diverse stakeholders, influencing top leadership, and fostering a culture of sustainability across academic, corporate, and non-profit sectors.
Committed to leveraging technical expertise, strategic thinking, and creative storytelling, Antje drives positive economic and social change. She is highly experienced in steering academic improvements, enhancing educational offerings, and amplifying student engagement. With strong analytical skills and a talent for conceptualization, she continuously innovates and elevates excellence in sustainability, applying advanced knowledge and expertise in related fields.
Prof. Barend Erasmus is the Dean of Faculty at the University of Pretoria, overseeing one of the largest and most diverse faculties of natural and agricultural sciences in Africa. He leads a faculty with a strong international reputation in fields such as agriculture, biological sciences, forestry, mathematics, and physics.
With more than 10 years of experience in higher education leadership, research, teaching, and community engagement, he focuses on driving societal change toward a more sustainable future on the African continent.
Before joining the University of Pretoria in 2019, he held the Exxaro Chair in Global Change and Sustainability and served as the Director of the Global Change Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand. In this role, he led a donor-funded, industry-facing research institute addressing complex challenges related to climate change and sustainability, including water security, food systems, biodiversity, and energy transitions. Under his leadership, the institute tripled its annual income and secured funding for all staff and projects for three years beyond his tenure.
He holds a PhD in Zoology and has multiple publications in climate change adaptation, climate impacts, and environmental science.
Carol Ouko Misiko has over 20 years of expertise in building and transforming sustainability, enterprise risk, and compliance programs for renowned organizations. She leverages a background spanning in-house corporate and regulatory compliance programs and enterprise risk management experience to optimize risk-taking. She excels in coordinating executive teams and stakeholders across multiple entities and regions to drive meaningful change.
Carol has a proven track record of building trust-based partnerships across functional and organizational boundaries, informing executive and Board decision-making, and reconciling differing perspectives and priorities. She leads and develops multi-disciplinary teams with a management style characterized by supported autonomy, coaching, and mentorship.
She is a Certified Fellow of the Institute of Risk Management (U.K.) and holds a Postgraduate Certification in Sustainable Finance from the University of Cambridge, London (U.K.).
Mimi is an award-winning strategic communication and certified sustainability leader with vast experience and expertise spanning various markets in Africa and the diaspora across a medley of industries, including manufacturing, energy and policy. She is a GRI certified professional and holds various other sustainability certificates, including ESG Risk Management from the University of Cambridge Online and the Sustainability Leadership Executive Programme at Strathmore Business School, Nairobi.
Mimi has bylined multi-topic opinion pieces in local and regional media and spoken on matters of sustainability, tackling topics such as ‘business growth and sustainability’ at the Corporate Citizens of Africa Forum and ‘why ESG is good for business’, facilitated by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers. She has also moderated panels on sustainability, including at the 2024 Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) Masterclass on Sustainability and the Africa Private Sector ESG Forum 2024 in Lagos, Nigeria.
She is a member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals and the Public Relations Society of Kenya.
Saad Banzi is currently a Registrar of the Tanzania Institute of Bankers. He is also a secretary to the Board of Directors of the Institute and a custodian of the members' Register. Saad has a track record of delivering impactful solutions to clients, he helps businesses optimize their operations and improve profitability. Saad is also responsible for strategic planning, human resource management and planning, and strategic investment. Saad has been instrumental in driving the Institute’s growth in terms of membership.
Prior to his current job, Saad had an opportunity to serve in other organisations. He was first employed by the National Bank of Commerce-Tanzania (NBC) as a Bank Manager, responsible for managing Bank Branch Operations, which included managing credit advances which had a Total asset amounting to Tsh 2.7 billion, managing international trade operations and supervising overall customer services.
In the year 2009, Saad joined the College of Business Education Dodoma Tanzania to work as a lecturer and Head of the department of Marketing, leading a team of 10 academic staff and three supporting staff. Saad has led numerous successful initiatives that have significantly improved the department's operations.
Yvonne Namukonda is a senior finance leader with over a decade of experience in financial management and administration. She currently serves as the Finance Manager and Head of Finance and Administration at the Tanzania Institute of Bankers (TIOB), where she provides strategic oversight of the institute’s financial and administrative functions. Her expertise includes budget preparation, cash flow management, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
She has successfully led contract negotiations with government bodies, private institutions, and donors, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. Her leadership extends to organizational strategic planning and internal audits, where she plays a key role in strengthening governance and operational efficiency.
As a Certified Public Accountant, Yvonne provides actionable financial consultancy and strategic advice to senior management. Passionate about innovation and capacity building, she is committed to enhancing operational efficiency and driving impactful decision-making within the organization.
Thabisile Phumo is an accredited public relations and communication specialist with 16 years of experience in the corporate affairs environment in the mining industry.
In her 20-year career, she has worked in diverse sectors within the communication and stakeholder relations field, focusing on, among others, executive public relations, reputation management, stakeholder relations, crisis communication, media relations, internal communications, brand management, strategy development, fundraising and information management. She has also spent at least 8 years as a part-time lecturer/course facilitator in corporate communications, corporate social responsibility and stakeholder engagement.
She has served in various industry roles, has authored 3 life skills booklets, and is the convener of the Inspired Connect Women’s Network.
She has worked in various roles in a corporate affairs environment at Anglo American, United Nations, UNISA and CGE. She has also done a lot of community project development work in the resources sector and in youth ministries. She is very passionate about personal development with a specific focus on performance coaching and career mentorship.
Wale Aboyade is an infrastructure development and finance expert with experience in engineering, finance, policy reform, and market shaping. He has a demonstrable track record in delivering high-impact infrastructure programs and projects in emerging economies.
Francesca Adrienne is a dedicated expert with over 15 years of experience in spatial science and five years in sustainable development, the circular economy, and the blue economy. She is passionate about creating a positive environmental and societal impact through innovative and collaborative projects.
As a consultant and founder of SHORE Institute, she leverages her expertise in spatial science and project management to enhance the understanding and management of Seychelles' marine environment using hydro(spatial) technologies and data.
Previously, as a project manager at UNDP, Francesca coordinated and executed various sustainability projects and policies, ensuring alignment with UN programs and the Sustainable Development Goals. Her expertise extends to marine resource management, ocean governance, marine spatial planning, and sustainable fisheries, where she has contributed to the design and implementation of blue economy initiatives.
Eager to learn and explore new domains within sustainability, she is committed to sharing insights and best practices to drive meaningful change.
Pauline Abiola-Oshunniyi is a global, multi-award-winning international development professional dedicated to advancing Africa's sustainability agenda. With over two decades of experience, she has worked at the intersection governance, sustainability, and private-sector impact across Africa. As Executive Director of DiBadili Institute, she leads policy advocacy, leadership development, and governance initiatives across Africa. Through ParallelPoint Consult, she drives ESG implementation, corporate sustainability, and private-sector-led impact strategies, helping businesses integrate sustainability into their core operations. She is passsionate about creating community-centric solutions, growing global enterprises of African origin, and enabling partnerships across the tri-sector (government, private, and development plus academia). Pauline is a pioneer Mandela Washington Fellow, Vital Voices Lead Fellow, and Fellow Institute of Humanitarian Studies and Social Development.
She has received multiple international recognitions, including the UN-Habitat Emerging Community Champion Award and the AU/UN-OCHA Helping Hands Award. She actively contributes to high-level dialogues with governments, development partners, and global institutions. She brings a pan-African perspective, fostering regional collaboration for Africa's transition from aid dependency to shared prosperity.
William Nyaoke is the Regional Director, East Africa at Norfund. He is responsible for maintaining and building Norfund’s portfolio in East Africa, focusing on generating deal flow and closing investments across all Norfund’s priority sectors including renewable energy, agribusiness and manufacturing, financial inclusion, and green infrastructure.
William has considerable experience deploying both equity and debt capital in various sectors in Sub-Sahara Africa.
He is an alumnus of Strathmore Business School.
Abiola Oshunniyi is a tri-sector innovator, sustainability-focused impact professional, and strategist with over 15 years of experience spanning financial services, healthcare, international development, governance, sustainability, and strategy consulting. Abiola is passionate about advancing public health systems, sustainability initiatives, and social development across Africa. He has led numerous initiatives aimed at maximizing resource impact, promoting digital health transformation, and fostering health system resilience.
Abiola's vast experience includes managing complex programs and providing advisory services for globally recognized institutions such as the Global Fund, World Bank, USAID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PACT, SFH, DFID, Qualcomm Wireless Reach, BMJ, UK Space Agency, CHAI, Inmarsat UK, Project HOPE, Salient Advisory, ACIOE Associates and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). His technical leadership has contributed to strengthening public health systems through the digitization of healthcare processes, strategic planning, and capacity-building initiatives. He has successfully designed and managed healthcare digitization efforts across over 10,000 healthcare workers in 36 states and led the implementation of innovative epidemic preparedness and response programs working with private, public, and development organizations (both local and international).
With a commitment to building sustainable global brands of African origin, Abiola has supported governments and the private sector in leveraging sustainability strategies and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to drive long-term value. His work with private sector institutions like Access Bank has contributed to numerous awards recognizing their leadership in sustainability, gender equality, and social responsibility.
Abiola has served and currently serving as a Technical Advisor to NASIDA, NASENI, NSBP, Global Fund C19RM/RSSH with the NCDC, the BMGF-funded CHAI led Digitally Enable PHC Project and the National Digital Health Initiative (NDHI). He is the Chief Responsibility Officer of ParallelPoint Consult, a frontline ESG and Sustainability Consultancy firm for Africa. He holds educational qualifications and certifications from prestigious institutions such as the UCLA Anderson School of Management, the University of Edinburgh, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Humanitarian Studies and a Fellow of the Academy of Public Health.
In addition to his professional achievements, Abiola is passionate about mentoring the next generation of innovators, businesses, and global leaders. He has served as a mentor and judge for various health tech accelerators, sharing his knowledge and experience to support emerging entrepreneurs across Africa.
Bezait Amare Teklemariam; have worked in the sustainability field for more
than 10 years. With a background in Law; I have led Environmental and Social
Sustainability Projects in H&M Group and Arise IIP in East and West Africa. As
a passionate and dedicated advocate of sustainable business practices, I have
devoted my professional endeavor to empower businesses which are
committed to create positive impact on people and planet.
I am a firm believer that businesses play a vital role in positively transforming
the social and economic state of individuals and communities. In my
professional appointments I have working with business to implement ethical
sourcing, execute long term strategic programs and fostering broader
stakeholder partnership.
I aim to continue supporting and promoting businesses which take proactive
approach in mitigating sustainability risks and setting ambitious strategies to
enable business continuity and resilience.
Damane Hlalele leads Arup’s Planning and Advisory business in South Africa, as well as the Johannesburg office. With 25 years’ experience, Damane is a civil engineer who has been able to integrate his knowledge of planning, engineering and finance when developing relationships as a trusted client advisor.
Working on projects across Africa, he has played a key role in delivering sustainable, reliable, and affordable infrastructure to create economic opportunities for the people and is driven to be consistently creative in meeting and exceeding technical requirements.
His experience spans the full project lifecycle, from initiation, management and through to the development of large-scale projects across a diverse range of public and private sector organisations, supporting clients to realise their development visions. Damane is passionate about harnessing innovation through technical, operational and implementation solutions to deliver social value for African clients.
Damane previously served as a member of Arup’s UK, Middle East and Africa Board, and is now member of both Africa Infrastructure Board and Arup South Africa Board.
Sandy is a Sustainable Finance Expert with over 7 years’ experience in implementing initiatives and projects in Sub Saharan Africa.
Prior to joining FSD Africa, he was an acting Regional Manager for Sustainable Investments and Regional Sustainable Finance Expert at WWF where he Co-led a Regional Sustainable Investments Programme (UK and Norway donor funded) and led the Africa Sustainable Finance hub. Through the programme he coordinated WWF’s technical input towards development of Green Finance in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar with links to China. At WWF he has additionally served as a project manager supporting the development of multi sector Bankable Nature Solutions (BNS), as part of support to the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD); he was core member of the Africa Sustainable Investment (ASI) programme Technical Advisory Group; a member of the Global Finance Practice Core Team; a member of the Green Finance ACAI community and extensively engaged with the Global Governance Practice supporting sustainable infrastructure work in Africa.
He was previously a Senior Finance Analyst within the Corporate Finance business at Deloitte East Africa; where he supported various buy-side & sell-side transaction advisory assignments including valuation of manufacturing, Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Rwanda, telecommunication, agriculture, energy, banking and automotive sector entities in East Africa; executing deals worth between USD 1M to USD 50M.
He has also worked as a Consultant at UN-HAHBITAT within the Global Urban Observatory (GUO) and was an Investment Analyst at a hedge fund in London Canary wharf.
Sandy possesses a MSc Finance, Investment and Risk degree from the University of Kent (Canterbury, UK), BSc Actuarial Science from Jomo Kenyatta University (JKUAT) and a Certificate in Sustainable Finance from Oxford University (Oxford, UK).
Outside work Sandy enjoys travelling, sports, culture, and innovation.