M. Kaniaru Wacieni
Africa50
Senior Investment Director
Senior Investment Director, Acting Head of Project Finance
has over 20 years of relevant professional experience. Joined Africa50 2019. Prior to Africa50, he was a Director at Globeleq in Nairobi focusing on power infrastructure investing across East and Southern Africa. Prior to Globeleq, he was an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan’s Power & Utilities group in New York where he advised on M&A, leveraged buyouts, restructurings and debt and equity financings across the energy sector, including several landmark transactions in the transmission and merchant power/IPP sectors. Began his career at Credit Suisse Boston, New York and London.
Africa50
Senior Investment Director
Senior Investment Director, Acting Head of Project Finance
has over 20 years of relevant professional experience. Joined Africa50 2019. Prior to Africa50, he was a Director at Globeleq in Nairobi focusing on power infrastructure investing across East and Southern Africa. Prior to Globeleq, he was an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan’s Power & Utilities group in New York where he advised on M&A, leveraged buyouts, restructurings and debt and equity financings across the energy sector, including several landmark transactions in the transmission and merchant power/IPP sectors. Began his career at Credit Suisse Boston, New York and London.
Mrs Emma Wade-Smith OBE
De Beers Group
Senior Vice President Government Affairs
Emma Wade-Smith OBE joined De Beers in February 2024 following a distinguished career as a British Diplomat.
Emma’s last government assignment was as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America and Consul General to New York. This followed five years as Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa. Before working on trade and investment, Emma led foreign and security policy at the British Embassy in Washington D.C. and headed the UK Government’s International Crisis Response Team. She was awarded an OBE for helping British Nationals to safety from all around the world.
De Beers Group
Senior Vice President Government Affairs
Emma Wade-Smith OBE joined De Beers in February 2024 following a distinguished career as a British Diplomat.
Emma’s last government assignment was as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America and Consul General to New York. This followed five years as Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa. Before working on trade and investment, Emma led foreign and security policy at the British Embassy in Washington D.C. and headed the UK Government’s International Crisis Response Team. She was awarded an OBE for helping British Nationals to safety from all around the world.
Mr Ian Wakefield
BD
General Manager Africa
Ian is a Medical Scientist by training and has completed his studies at the University of Cape Town. He has extensive experience in the healthcare sector in Africa and has built a rich career within the medical device field.
Ian has been the General Manager for BD Africa for the past 7 years. He is responsible for spearheading strategies to advance the company’s business goals for the region. He is passionate about advancing healthcare in Africa and believes that through public private partnerships a more efficient healthcare system can be developed to deliver better quality care to African patients.
BD
General Manager Africa
Ian is a Medical Scientist by training and has completed his studies at the University of Cape Town. He has extensive experience in the healthcare sector in Africa and has built a rich career within the medical device field.
Ian has been the General Manager for BD Africa for the past 7 years. He is responsible for spearheading strategies to advance the company’s business goals for the region. He is passionate about advancing healthcare in Africa and believes that through public private partnerships a more efficient healthcare system can be developed to deliver better quality care to African patients.
Mr. Herb Wallen
The Boeing Company
Executive Director, Commercial Sales & Marketing
Herb Wallen is Executive Director, with responsibilities for Commercial Sales
and Marketing in Southern Africa Countries, Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean
Islands. He previously had sales responsibilities in East Africa, West Africa and
Middle East Countries. Prior to sales, he served as Marketing Director with responsibilities in the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Poland and Africa.
He received his MBA from the Foster School of Business, University of Washington, and his Bachelor of Engineering from the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science, Hofstra University. Herb is a native of Jamaica and lives with his family in Dubai, UAE.
The Boeing Company
Executive Director, Commercial Sales & Marketing
Herb Wallen is Executive Director, with responsibilities for Commercial Sales
and Marketing in Southern Africa Countries, Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean
Islands. He previously had sales responsibilities in East Africa, West Africa and
Middle East Countries. Prior to sales, he served as Marketing Director with responsibilities in the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Poland and Africa.
He received his MBA from the Foster School of Business, University of Washington, and his Bachelor of Engineering from the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science, Hofstra University. Herb is a native of Jamaica and lives with his family in Dubai, UAE.
Dr. Thierry Wandji
Cybastion
CEO
Dr. Wandji is the CEO of Cybastion, an American tech company driving digital transformation across Africa. A U.S. cybersecurity expert of Cameroonian origin, he has expanded operations to over eight African countries, including building national data centers and launching cybersecurity agencies. He advises African Heads of State and the White House, and sits on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Africa Business Center board. Dr. Wandji holds degrees in engineering and cybersecurity from Polytechnique Montréal, Morgan State, the University of Maryland, and George Washington University. Cybastion is also a member of the Corporate Council on Africa.
Cybastion
CEO
Dr. Wandji is the CEO of Cybastion, an American tech company driving digital transformation across Africa. A U.S. cybersecurity expert of Cameroonian origin, he has expanded operations to over eight African countries, including building national data centers and launching cybersecurity agencies. He advises African Heads of State and the White House, and sits on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Africa Business Center board. Dr. Wandji holds degrees in engineering and cybersecurity from Polytechnique Montréal, Morgan State, the University of Maryland, and George Washington University. Cybastion is also a member of the Corporate Council on Africa.
Mr. Daniel Witt
International Tax and Investment Center
President
Daniel A. Witt is President of the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC), a nonprofit research and education organization which he helped found in 1993. Mr. Witt has been working to promote free markets and helping to lower the barriers to tax, trade, and investment in transition economies for over 30 years. Having worked with 85 countries, he has co-developed a unique neutral table to bring together the public sector, private sector, and academics to advance pro-investment economic policy reforms.
ITIC is a global brand that is trusted as a reliable source of tax and investment policy and administration expertise.
International Tax and Investment Center
President
Daniel A. Witt is President of the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC), a nonprofit research and education organization which he helped found in 1993. Mr. Witt has been working to promote free markets and helping to lower the barriers to tax, trade, and investment in transition economies for over 30 years. Having worked with 85 countries, he has co-developed a unique neutral table to bring together the public sector, private sector, and academics to advance pro-investment economic policy reforms.
ITIC is a global brand that is trusted as a reliable source of tax and investment policy and administration expertise.
Mr Samaila Zubairu
Africa Finance Corporation
President & CEO
Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, has led transformative infrastructure investments across Africa for over three decades. Under his leadership, AFC has doubled its membership, tripled investments, and more than doubled profits by 2023. Recognized globally, AFC has won multiple awards, including Pan-African Champion (2024) and DFI of the Year (2022). Mr. Zubairu co-chairs the WEF’s clean energy network, and his efforts in climate finance have set benchmarks in emerging markets. A former CFO of Dangote Cement, he is an Eisenhower Fellow and Chartered Accountant with a BSc in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University.
Africa Finance Corporation
President & CEO
Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, has led transformative infrastructure investments across Africa for over three decades. Under his leadership, AFC has doubled its membership, tripled investments, and more than doubled profits by 2023. Recognized globally, AFC has won multiple awards, including Pan-African Champion (2024) and DFI of the Year (2022). Mr. Zubairu co-chairs the WEF’s clean energy network, and his efforts in climate finance have set benchmarks in emerging markets. A former CFO of Dangote Cement, he is an Eisenhower Fellow and Chartered Accountant with a BSc in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University.