Dr. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode
Founder Murtala Muhammed Foundation
Dr. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode
Founder Murtala Muhammed Foundation
Dr. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, Board Chair of AFWAG, is a seasoned business leader, development activist, social sector professional, and human rights advocate with a specialty in gender, youth, and equality initiatives.
As the founding CEO of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, she has committed her career to promoting development and thought leadership across Nigeria and Africa, focusing on reducing inequality, poverty, and hunger, while also championing economic empowerment, climate action, inclusion, education, disaster risk reduction, and peace and justice.
With a law doctorate and over two decades of experience in the development sector, Dr. Aisha employs her expertise in the creation and implementation of policies, programs, and initiatives that advocate for equity, fairness, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for women, girls, youth, and marginalized groups including older adults. Aisha is also a board member of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Women’s Leadership Board (WLB) and the Women and Public Policy Program (WAPPP), serving as an advisor and country expert for the University of Pennsylvania Law Global Women’s Leadership Project. Her latest academic contributions include chapters on SDG 1 “No Poverty” and SDG 5 “Gender Equality”, published by Routledge in 2021.
H.E. Rosalía Arteaga
Former President of Ecuador
H.E. Rosalía Arteaga
Former President of Ecuador
Madam Rosalía Arteaga was the First Ecuadorian woman becoming President and Vice-President of the Republic of Ecuador. In addition to her presidency, Arteaga also served as Vice President of Ecuador from 1996 to 1998. She was also Undersecretary of Culture and Minister of Education, Culture and Sports. General Secretary of Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization ACTO.
Beyond her political career, Arteaga is a well-respected intellectual and an accomplished writer. She has written numerous books, articles, and research papers, covering various topics such as education, culture, ecology, women’s rights, and the constitution. Her work has been published in multiple languages and in many countries worldwide.
Currently she serves as Executive President FIDAL Foundation and President of the International University of La Rioja UNIR in Ecuador.
Mukwandi Chibesakunda
CEO Zambia National Commercial Bank
Mukwandi Chibesakunda
CEO Zambia National Commercial Bank
Mukwandi has a banking career that stretches over two decades, during which she has held a multitude of high-ranking positions within Zambia’s financial sector. Currently, as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of ZANACO, one of Zambia’s foremost banking institutions, Mukwandi has made a remarkable impact. In recognition of her outstanding leadership and contributions to the banking sector, CEO Monthly, a globally acclaimed publication, honoured her with the title of Zambia’s CEO of the Year in 2021. Additionally, the Africa Leadership Magazine acknowledged her exemplary achievements by crowning her the African Female Leader of the Year for 2021. In the following year, 2022, Mukwandi received further accolades as she was bestowed with the Inclusive Leader for Zambia award at the Gender Mainstream Awards held in South Africa, which is an initiative by Business Engage. Her momentous strides in the banking sector have not gone unnoticed as she is also nominated for the African Banker Awards in 2023.
Academically, Mukwandi is well-accomplished. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Zambia and furthered her education by earning a Master’s in Business Administration from the Alliance Business School, Manchester University, UK. Apart from her impressive professional and academic achievements, Mukwandi is a distinguished alumnus of the Insead Business School Female Leadership Program. Her stature within the industry is reflected in her fellowships at the Zambia Institute of Banking and Financial Services and the Institute of Directors, Zambia.
Sarah Henry
Executive Director, Tandem Equality
Sarah Henry
Executive Director, Tandem Equality
Sarah Henry is an accomplished leader in the field of gender equality and development. She is currently the Executive Director at Tandem Equality. Before founding Tandem Equality, she was the President of the Global Center for Gender Equality, where she played a pivotal role in addressing the root causes of inequality and promoting gender equality worldwide. As the founding Executive Director of the organisation, Sarah built a highly skilled team and developed a compelling vision for their work. Additionally, Sarah has been a Senior Strategy Advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation since 2015. In this role, she has provided valuable insights and guidance on incorporating a gender equality perspective into the foundation’s initiatives. Her expertise extends to areas such as partnerships, global health, organisational strategy, and impact.
With over 20 years of experience, Sarah has dedicated her career to advancing gender equality and creating positive social change. She is passionate about building organisations that embody their values both internally and externally, ensuring that they have a lasting impact on the communities they serve. Outside of her professional life, Sarah resides in Seattle with her three children. She shares her home with a dog and two cats, affectionately referring to them as her “zoo.”
Antonio Belgravee
Managing Director, Positive Deviance Limited
Antonio Belgravee
Managing Director, Positive Deviance Limited
Antonio Belgrave is a highly esteemed leader with a proven track record of aiding hundreds of individuals in unveiling their leadership potential and transforming their organizations. His career, spanning over two decades in the pharmaceutical industry, includes numerous Director roles and the successful execution of strategic transformation projects of various scales and technical complexities. He has served at prestigious companies like Novartis, Astra, and SmithKline Beecham, and made a significant impact as the Director of Transformation for GSK UK, where he propelled business improvements across departments.
Currently, as the Managing Partner and Senior Consultant at Positive Deviant Limited, Tony extends his expertise to a diverse range of sectors, including Tertiary Education, Civil Service, Banking, NGOs, and Oil and Gas. Renowned for his compelling keynote speeches, Tony masterfully covers topics like Social Identity Leadership, Positive Deviance, and High Performing Teams, skilfully intertwining his organizational development, project management, and Lean Six Sigma knowledge to create resonating and impactful presentations.
Dr. Jacqueline Chimhanzi
CEO Africa Leadership Institute
Dr. Jacqueline Chimhanzi
CEO Africa Leadership Institute
Dr. Jacqueline Chimhanzi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship, an initiative designed to foster a new generation of African leaders, which is run in partnership with Oxford University. This role indicates her strong desire to see a better Africa in her lifetime. Jacqueline has a strong commitment to fostering leadership and strategic growth across Africa.
She has not only achieved high-ranking positions in influential organizations, but has also used her influence to guide and shape the continent’s trajectory. The Forbes and “100 Most Reputable Africans” recognitions speak volumes about her impactful leadership and dedication to positive change. Her involvement on various advisory and non-executive boards, including the ONE Campaign Global Board and the ONE Campaign Africa Policy Advisory Board, the AdvTech Group, and Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, shows her commitment to guiding organizational strategy and governance, particularly in the realms of audit, risk, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters.
Rose Wachukwa Macharia
Senior Advocate, Kenya High Court
Rose Wachukwa Macharia
Senior Advocate, Kenya High Court
Rose Wachuka Macharia is a prominent figure in Kenya’s government, currently serving as the Chief of Staff for the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya. With over a decade of experience in senior government positions, Rose, an Oxford-trained policy expert and former diplomat, has played a pivotal role in Kenya’s significant achievements. Rose’s human approach to public policy has contributed to the successful transition of students from primary to secondary education, the establishment of an athlete-centric management approach that positioned Kenya as a resilient sports nation, and the development of gender-responsive sports policies.
In her current role, Rose leads a team of nearly 100 people, overseeing the implementation of the judiciary’s vision of Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ). She also chairs the Nalafem Collective Council, a Pan-African group of feminists, and has served on numerous boards and initiatives focused on women’s advancement, education, sports, and good governance. Rose holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Moi University and a Master of Public Policy from the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. She is also an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. For her exemplary leadership in public service, Rose has been honoured with the Presidential Award of the Grand Order of the Burning Spear.
Margaret Mliwa
Ford Foundation Regional Program Officer, East Africa
Margaret Mliwa
Ford Foundation Regional Program Officer, East Africa
Margaret Mliwa is a Regional Program Officer based in the Ford Foundation’s office for East Africa in Nairobi. She has more than 30 years of social justice experience, working with government, civil society, and philanthropy to advocate for and implement policies that champion community-driven programs with an emphasis on girls and women’s voices, rights-based approaches, and strengthening leadership and capacity development among youth/women-led networks and organizations. She has been instrumental in catalysing and nurturing the growth of local, national, and global youth social justice movements to push for
government accountability and responsiveness, and to put mechanisms in place for meaningful youth engagement to improve resource distribution and service delivery.
Before joining Ford, Margaret was the country director of Restless Development Tanzania, a global youth-led development agency. Before that, she served as head of the Youth Social Mobilization Unit of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the government of Kenya and as lead consultant in the development of the National Youth Service framework for the Sierra Leonean government. Margaret is a recipient of a Commonwealth Scholarship and holds a bachelor’s degree in education.
Siraj Abdullahi
Executive Director, Mainstream Energy Ltd
Siraj Abdullahi
Executive Director, Mainstream Energy Ltd
Siraj Abdullahi has an impressive career spanning law, banking, and the energy sector. He began with a legal foundation, admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. This legal expertise served him well as he transitioned into the world of banking at Continental Merchant Bank Plc. His banking career flourished, taking him to Broad Bank and eventually to Guaranty Trust Bank, where he rose through the ranks to become Divisional Head North West and a member of the Executive Management team.
Siraj’s dedication to public service is evident in his time as Special Assistant to the Minister of Commerce. In this role, he represented Nigeria on the international stage, participating in trade negotiations. His commitment to efficiency and customer service is further highlighted by his appointment as Deputy Director at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Notably, Siraj spearheaded initiatives that transformed the CAC into a more user-friendly organization and implemented online company registration.
Currently, Siraj leverages his extensive experience as Executive Director at Mainstream Energy Ltd., the largest power generation company in Nigeria. His leadership ensures the smooth operation of Kainji, Jebba, and Zungeru hydropower plants, contributing significantly to 25% of the nation’s electricity generation.
Siraj’s influence extends beyond the professional realm. He actively participates in various organizations, serving on the boards of directors for banks, electricity distribution companies, schools, and free zone companies. His commitment to social responsibility is further reflected in his role as a member of the Board of Trustees and Executive Secretary for the Mainstream Foundation.
Susan Sherrerd
President and Executive Director, Muirfield Foundation
Susan Sherrerd
President and Executive Director, Muirfield Foundation
Susan Sherrerd is a leader in philanthropic strategies for gender equity and a global advocate for women and girls. As President and Executive Director of the Muirfield Foundation, Susan supports historically underfunded, women-led, and girl-serving nonprofits across the United States and Global South. She is a Funding Partner of Co-Impact’s Gender Fund, a global collaborative focused on systems change initiatives in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Susan serves on the board of advisors of the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls and is an emeritus advisory board member of Girl Up, United Nations Foundation. She also advocates for donors to mobilize resources to underserved communities and promotes more inclusive philanthropy. Prior to her philanthropic work, Susan led a career in international business. She graduated with honours from Princeton University and earned an MBA from the Wharton School and an MA from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.
