Top 10 Women to Watch in Banking, Finance & Investment

AFRICA’S TOP 10 WOMEN TO WATCH IN BANKING, FINANCE AND INVESTMENT TO BE CELEBRATED DURING ANGAZA FORUM IN KIGALI

Awardees represent financial sector innovation including Capital Markets and Gender Bonds, Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreements, Sustainable Insurance and SME Finance

30 March 2023:

The Angaza Awards: Women to Watch in Banking, Finance & Investment program has announced the list of Top 10 women who are steering and shaping Africa’s financial services sector. The list was compiled following a three-month entry period which attracted dozens of professionals from 17 countries across the Continent. Launched in 2020, Angaza Awards has helped raise international awareness of the seasoned women who are shaping and influencing the financial services sector through their organizations. The Top 10 will be celebrated during the Angaza Forum which will be held in Kigali, Rwanda on August 3 and 4. The Angaza Awards Judges Panel was chaired by Sustainable Finance and Responsible Investment in Africa Policy Expert Nuru Mugambi and constituted by Mutumboi Mundia, Director of Market Supervision & Development, Zambia Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Catherine Musakali, Co-Founder of Women on Boards Network Kenya; Hedwige Nuyens, Managing Director, International Banking Federation; Yawa Hansen-Quao, Founder, Leading Ladies’ Network (Ghana); Joanita Lunkuse-Jaggwe, Expert on Financing, Office of the Prime Minister, Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, Uganda and 2021 Angaza Awards Recipient; Luke Ombara, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Capital Markets Authority, Kenya; Esohe Denise Odaro, Head of ESG & Sustainability, PAI Partners (UK); Maxwell Pirikisi, Immediate Past President - South Africa-Nigeria Business Chamber (SA-NBC) and Director SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI); and Jo-Ann Pöhl, Senior Advisor at Kearney (South Africa).

“I commend the Judging Panel for another remarkable Top 10 list. The Angaza platform has amplified the commendable contributions African women have made to economic development, job creation and livelihoods,” said Ms. Mugambi. “Each year we see more women raising up their hands to showcase their accomplishments and it is encouraging to see the local, regional and even global impact they are creating.”

“Globally, we need to reframe what leadership in finance looks like. These African women have demonstrated commendable impact across various industries that make up the highly-competitive, male-dominated financial services sector. I am confident they will be an inspiration to their peers and the next generation of African women in finance,” said Mugambi. Financial Sector Innovation Professionals in Banking, Capital Markets, Insurance, Fintech, Investment Banking & Fund Management, Microfinance, and Savings & Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) and Public Sector were invited to submit their applications or nominations via the Awards Web page. Entries were received from Bénin, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Angaza Awards criteria included an assessment of the applicants’ area of responsibility and contribution to firm performance. High scores were awarded for achievement that transcended the institution and resulted in industry development and shared value creation.

The2023 awardees represent financial sector innovation including Capital Markets and Gender Bonds, Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreements, Sustainable Insurance, Fintech and SME Finance. The 2023Top 10 Women to Watch are as follows: