Zimba Summit 16

Akua Gyekye

Facebook Public Policy Manager, Africa

Akua Gyekye

Akua Gyekye is Facebook’s Public Policy Manager for Africa, where she focuses on issues relating privacy, online safety and security, freedom of expression, the impact of the Internet on economic growth, and new opportunities for democratic engagement across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Before joining Facebook, Akua was working as a project finance lawyer, qualified to practice in NY and the UK, at Clifford Chance. Akua previously worked in Nigeria and Liberia as a legal adviser and rule of law specialist at the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation and as an anti-corruption lawyer at USAID.
Akua holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Society, International Relations and Spanish from American University, a Law Degree from Cambridge University in England and a Masters of Laws in International and Comparative Law from the George Washington University Law School.

Basil Ajer

Director Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Division at Uganda Investment Authority.

Basil Ajer

Basil Ajer is the Director Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Division at Uganda Investment Authority. In a career spanning more than a decade he has built expertise in SME development programme, entrepreneurship and agricultural investments. He also is widely experienced in investments analysis, project development management, monitoring and evaluation, value chain analysis, rural development, agribusiness development. Basil has a MSc. Degree in Agribusiness Management, Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics and Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation and currently pursuing an Executive MBA.Basil Ajer is the Director Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Division at Uganda Investment Authority. In a career spanning more than a decade he has built expertise in SME development programme, entrepreneurship and agricultural investments. He also is widely experienced in investments analysis, project development management, monitoring and evaluation, value chain analysis, rural development, agribusiness development. Basil has a MSc. Degree in Agribusiness Management, Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics and Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation and currently pursuing an Executive MBA.

Brenda Busingye

Founder and CEO of Ambishon Fashion House

Brenda Busingye

Ambishion is a fashion brand born out of Brenda’s love for fashion. It started out as a small scale business with a workshop running at home. The fashion house has since then grown to a retail outlet in Ntinda, a suburb in Kampala. The brand prides itself in making trendy and unique outfits that are wearable for all kinds or events.

Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo

Director for Engineering and Communication Infrastructure at the Uganda Communications Commission.

Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo

Mrs Irene Kaggwa-Sewankambo is the Director for Engineering and Communication Infrastructure at the Uganda Communications Commission. She possesses a vast experience in the ICT sector spanning policy development, research, regulation and implementation in various aspects including internet development, licensing, universal access, quality of service, numbering resource management as well as promotion of research and innovation. An engineer by profession, Mrs Sewankambo holds a Master of Science in Communications Systems and Signal Processing from University of Bristol in United Kingdom and a Master of Science in Economic Management and Policy (Business Economic Pathway) from University of Strathclyde in United Kingdom. Prior to this appointment, Mrs Sewankambo was the Head of Research and Development Unit as well as Coordinator of the Office of the Executive Director.

Grace Makoko

Financial Literacy & Wealth Creation Advisor

Grace Makoko

Grace Makoko is a career banker with over twenty years experience in the banking industry in East Africa; having spent the last four years based in Nairobi ,Kenya. She began her illustrious banking career at Standard Chartered Bank Uganda straight after graduating from Makerere University in 1995. Grace joined the bank as a contract staff in the loans administration unit and raised through the ranks to become Head of Financial markets Uganda in 2007 Grace is a celebrated authority in the area of personal finance and wealth creation and has since 2010 contributed a bimonthly column on personal finance, money markets and banking in the Daily Monitor one of the nation's leading daily newspapers. To date she has authored over 80 articles and has helped raise awareness on the subject of financial literacy and wealth creation.

Kenneth Legesi

Manager, Corporate Finance / Infrastructure Advisory, Deloitte East Africa.

Kenneth Legesi

Kenneth is passionate about catalysing financing and developing innovative funding models for start-ups and SME businesses in Africa. He develops strategies and helps businesses execute on and operationalize their strategies including raising financing and supporting management teams.

He has over 15 years’ experience working with and advising businesses across multiple sectors including financial services, technology, manufacturing, health sciences and public sector organisations. He has practical experience having been involved in various start-up and SME businesses in different capacities as an investor, advisor, coach, and mentor. He has also worked with accelerator programmes and hubs in Uganda.

Birungi Bagenda

Managing Director, Mango Fund Uganda

Birungi Bagenda

Birungi has over 16 years experience in Financial Services in emerging and developed markets. She began her career handling Global Custody transactions and conducting Mutual Fund Analysis for some of the largest financial institutions in the United States including Mellon Trust, Deutsche Bank and Bank of America. In Uganda, Birungi served as Head of Investor Services for Stanbic Bank Uganda and managed the Financial Institutions Portfolio in Stanbic’s Corporate & Investment Banking Division and subsequently headed the the high value customer segment for Orient Bank Uganda. Birungi’s strong faith and Christian values are what led her to join the Mango Fund. She was inspired by the Funds objective to add value and impact communities.

He is an expert in Post Clearance Audit and Risk Management. Has been involved in coordinating several IMF Missions at the authority and well as Facilitated Strategic Workshops and Dialogue on behalf of the WCO/World Bank in Swaziland.

Felix Meißer

Facebook Account Manager for SMBs

Felix Meißer

Felix Meißer has been working with Facebook as an Account Manager for small and medium-sized businesses since 2014. Prior, Felix Meißer has been working as Analyst at Seedcamp, an early-stage investor in London, and as Investment Analyst at DuMont Ventures in Cologne. He holds a Bachelor degree in International Management from the University of Applied Sciences in Groningen and a Master degree in Business from the Smurfit School of Business, University College, Dublin.

Felix will hold a session about growth strategies and will advise companies in customized marketing solutions on Facebook and Instagram.

Patricia Russ

Associate Programme Adviser at United Nations/WTO: International Trade Centre

Patricia Russ

Patricia is currently working on projects in three countries (Kenya, Uganda and Bangladesh) that aim to boost the export competitiveness of SMEs in the IT and BPO sector in developing countries.She is going to moderate a session on trade and to talk about the work ITC does with women owned businesses, as well as about opportunities for female entrepreneurs in the UN system.

Selam kebede

Seedstars World's Senior Associate for Africa

Selam kebede

Selam passionately believes in technology being the biggest mover to change lives in emerging countries and sheloves the new 'Africa-Rising' narrative. While she holds a Black Belt in World Taekwondo from Kukkiwon, she is also 2016's Mandela-Washington Young African Leaders Fellow. When she isn’t traveling across sub-saharan Africa to discover the best startups, she spends her time researching Ethiopian history and contemplating Quantum Physics.Selam graduated from Aalto University, Finland with a Masters Degree in Communications Ecosystem. Originally from Ethiopia, she also holds a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering. During her college days , she was actively involved in organizing start-up, technology & entrepreneurship related events including Slush. Selam will be conducting a pitch training session for the women entreprenuers.

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