Our Team

Academic & Business Advisors

Catherine Misigaro
Management Consulting in Africa

Catherine is a management consultant with experience in government, industry and agricultural value chains with a focus on entrepreneurship & investment. She has worked as a Senior Consultant at PwC Tanzania in multiple industries including, mining, banking, telecommunications and agriculture. A business graduate of Wesleyan College Catherine is a scholar of Africa Leadership Academy, South Africa.

Franklyn Lisk
Development Economist

Franklyn Lisk is a development economist and policy adviser with almost 50 years experience. He is currently Professor of International Political Economy of African Development in the Politics and International Studies Department, University of Warwick (UK) and Academic Director for Africa in the university’s Executive Office.

Kenneth Amaeshi
Sustainable Finance for Africa

Kenneth Amaeshi is a leading scholar on sustainable finance in the Global South & a leading proponent of Africapitalism. Professor of Sustainable Finance & Governance at the School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute & Chair in Business & Sustainable Development & Director Scaling Business Program in Africa at Edinburg University, he holds honorary and visiting professor position in several universities including LSE in the UK.

Guest Lecturers

Babatunde Habeeb Eyinola
Entrepreneurship in Africa

Habeeb Eyinola is a serial entrepreneur with diverse interests in Tech, Real Estate and Online Media. Habeeb has vast experience in consulting on emerging markets, sustainability and affordable housing.

Fernando Ongolly
Health Innovation & Anthropology

Fenandos Ongolly is a Kenyan Anthropologist interested in Technology adaptation, Health Innovation, Activism, immigration, Behavioral Science, and Implementation Science. He is currently pursuing his PhD at the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in University College Dublin. He has vast experience in conducting ethnographic research in health, higher education, business, and innovation contexts in both Ireland and Kenya

Joy Tendai Kangere
Race, Justice & Equity

Joy-Tendai Kangere is a dedicated activist and advocate inspired by the African principle of Ubuntu. A prolific achiever and collaborator, Joy-Tendai is fuelled by being community-focussed and authentically using her voice to elevate everyone that she connects with. A seasoned communicator Joy-Tendai is a Barrister, writer, trainer, and cofounder. She regularly contributes to topics of race, justice and equity as well as being called upon for her expertise in justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Leyla Karaha
Social Innovation in Africa

Leyla is a social innovation/entrepreneurship ecosystem builder. A graduate of accounting and finance and international relations at DCU Leyla is the lead organiser for Techstars Startup Weekend. Leyla is the Founder of YourY Network, a global community of social entrepreneurs and changemakers. She is currently working on a new social enterprise KPesa, which aims to help women owned micro and small businesses to have access to finance and network.

Raymond Martin Kassonga
Architecture in Africa

Raymond is a consulting architect and a Lecturer in the School of Architecture Construction Economics and Management (SACEM) at Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He obtained his Bachelor of Architecture from University of Dar es Salaam and thereafter his master’s from Makerere University. Raymond is also a registered arbitrator and an associate member in the Tanzania Institute of Arbitrators since 2015.

Oluwasegun Seriki
Sustainable Engineering in Africa

Oluwasegun Seriki is a Research Fellow at the Technological University Dublin, Ireland. He trained as a civil engineer, and has worked in several countries across Europe, Asia and Africa. He is currently supervisor of PhD candidates at TUD and conducts research within the network of strategy, social value/responsibility and project management, with specific focus on sustainable development in infrastructure investments in Africa.

Board of Directors

Gemma Smyth
Board Member

Gemma Smyth is Founder and Managing Director of &Smyth, a creative communications agency best known for its award-winning work with the Irish food, drink and agricultural industry. Gemma is a highly experienced communications professional who has worked in the Irish PR industry for almost two decades. Formerly an Account Director with leading international strategic communications agency, FTI Consulting, Gemma has advised on and delivered strategic communications for some of Ireland’s leading organisations and brands. Gemma is a full member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (MPRII) and a committee member of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists. She has an MA in Public Relations from DIT and a BA in Sociology and Classics from UCD. www.andsmyth.ie

Gillian Curran
Board Member & Treasurer

Gillian is an experienced investment professional with over 25 years experience in banking, investment management and capital markets. She is Chief Investment Officer of Tetrarch Capital, a successful Irish private investment firm and serves on the boards of a number of its investment vehicles. Previously Gillian held senior roles within the investment management industry, specialising in private credit and fixed income.

Robert Flood
Board Member & Education Advisor

With an academic background in nanotechnology and spectroscopy, Robert is head of International Affairs at Ireland's largest university, TU Dublin, where he is responsible for promoting the university globally, recruiting international students and partners, overseas delivery, the internationalisation of the curriculum and leading the University's internationalisation strategy. He contributes to national policy as a ministerial appointee to the High Level Group on International Education and as a member of the Dublin City Council International Advisory Board

Sandra Conway
Board Member & Chief Ethics Officer

With a background in human rights and corporate law Sandra has 20+ years experience in NGOs, the public and private sectors monitoring, examining, and handling legal affairs and policy. Sandra has worked with Transparency International Ireland, Frontline Defenders, The National Women’s Council of Ireland, Organisation for Security and Co-op in Europe and as an Election observer for the European Commission in Nigeria, Russia, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Tunisia & the Lebanon.

Toluwani Akaehomen
Chair

Toluwani is Principal Consultant at Vantage Dymensions Consulting, a people development consultancy, providing tailored, people-centered and relevant solutions to support individuals, teams and organisations in building (inclusive) leadership competencies, fostering communication effectiveness and enhancing business performance.. She is a strong advocate for socioeconomic inclusion of women and ethnic minorities and is committed to supporting female entrepreneurs of African descent in the diaspora and on the African continent .