Mr. Salvador Perez-Galindo
VISA
Senior Advisor, Global Government Engagement
Unleashing Digital Banking & Payment Systems to Drive Growth
Salvador Pérez-Galindo is responsible for managing Visa’s government relations in a macro-region comprising 90 countries in Africa, Middle East and Eurasia. Based in Dubai, his responsibilities include supporting the enablement of polices and partnerships to digitize payments, in collaboration with a broad array of stakeholders, including national governments, central banks, international multilateral organizations and the non-for- profit sector.
Salvador has more than 25 years of experience working with the public and private sectors. He has been with Visa since 2005, when he initially joined the Latin American region’s headquarters in Miami, USA, to establish and build the government relations function. Subsequently he moved from Miami to Dubai in August 2019, with his wife and son.Salvador has a B.A. International Affairs from El Colegio de Mexico and M.A. in International Economic Policy from Columbia University in New York. Additionally, he has several certificates from MIT, Colombia University, Oxford University, Michigan University, and the International Monetary Fund Institute, among others.
VISA
Senior Advisor, Global Government Engagement
Unleashing Digital Banking & Payment Systems to Drive Growth
Salvador Pérez-Galindo is responsible for managing Visa’s government relations in a macro-region comprising 90 countries in Africa, Middle East and Eurasia. Based in Dubai, his responsibilities include supporting the enablement of polices and partnerships to digitize payments, in collaboration with a broad array of stakeholders, including national governments, central banks, international multilateral organizations and the non-for- profit sector.
Salvador has more than 25 years of experience working with the public and private sectors. He has been with Visa since 2005, when he initially joined the Latin American region’s headquarters in Miami, USA, to establish and build the government relations function. Subsequently he moved from Miami to Dubai in August 2019, with his wife and son.Salvador has a B.A. International Affairs from El Colegio de Mexico and M.A. in International Economic Policy from Columbia University in New York. Additionally, he has several certificates from MIT, Colombia University, Oxford University, Michigan University, and the International Monetary Fund Institute, among others.
Mr. Isaac Kamuta
Ecobank
Group Head,Payments Services,Cash Management & Client Access
Unleashing Digital Banking & Payment Systems to Drive Growth
Ecobank
Group Head,Payments Services,Cash Management & Client Access
Unleashing Digital Banking & Payment Systems to Drive Growth
Mr. Jason Marshall
Yellow Card
Chief Operating Officer
Unleashing Digital Banking & Payment Systems to Drive Growth
Jason Marshall is a seasoned product management and operations executive with decades of FinTech experience. After serving on Yellow Card’s advisory board for three years he joined the company, as COO, with a mandate to rapidly incubate and scale functions outside of engineering and marketing.
His career, including roles at Walmart and First Data, focuses on using technology to address financial service gaps. At Walmart, he oversaw the largest U.S. private-sector payroll card program and managed global store-branded gift card initiatives, expanding to China, India, Mexico, and Central America. At First Data, his team increased ACH product revenue from $140M to $210M annually. As VP of Emerging Technologies at In Comm, he shaped mobile payments and crypto strategies. Jason's passion lies in disrupting the remittance industry.
Yellow Card
Chief Operating Officer
Unleashing Digital Banking & Payment Systems to Drive Growth
Jason Marshall is a seasoned product management and operations executive with decades of FinTech experience. After serving on Yellow Card’s advisory board for three years he joined the company, as COO, with a mandate to rapidly incubate and scale functions outside of engineering and marketing.
His career, including roles at Walmart and First Data, focuses on using technology to address financial service gaps. At Walmart, he oversaw the largest U.S. private-sector payroll card program and managed global store-branded gift card initiatives, expanding to China, India, Mexico, and Central America. At First Data, his team increased ACH product revenue from $140M to $210M annually. As VP of Emerging Technologies at In Comm, he shaped mobile payments and crypto strategies. Jason's passion lies in disrupting the remittance industry.
Ms. Joanna Sickler
Roche
Vice-President, Health Policy & External Affairs
Detection & Diagnostics: The Key to Unlocking Health System Resilience
Roche
Vice-President, Health Policy & External Affairs
Detection & Diagnostics: The Key to Unlocking Health System Resilience
Mr Kagiso Khaole
Uber
GM SSA
Data-Driven: Unleashing Africa’s Economic Potential
In his role as General Manager for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa, Kagiso Khaole is focused on
shaping Uber’s trajectory through transformative growth, sustainable business expansion and
fostering cohesive teams.
His journey at Uber commenced in 2021, where he spearheaded Mobility Operations, masterfully
scaling operations in SSA. He has engineered positive outcomes for drivers, riders, and cities
alike, leaving an indelible mark on the region's mobility landscape.
Kagiso's career journey spans diverse sectors, from Financial Services and Management
Consulting to Consumer Electronics and E-Commerce, including roles at Investec, ABSA,
Accenture and Samsung, where he held leadership positions, amplifying their presence and
influence
Uber
GM SSA
Data-Driven: Unleashing Africa’s Economic Potential
In his role as General Manager for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa, Kagiso Khaole is focused on
shaping Uber’s trajectory through transformative growth, sustainable business expansion and
fostering cohesive teams.
His journey at Uber commenced in 2021, where he spearheaded Mobility Operations, masterfully
scaling operations in SSA. He has engineered positive outcomes for drivers, riders, and cities
alike, leaving an indelible mark on the region's mobility landscape.
Kagiso's career journey spans diverse sectors, from Financial Services and Management
Consulting to Consumer Electronics and E-Commerce, including roles at Investec, ABSA,
Accenture and Samsung, where he held leadership positions, amplifying their presence and
influence
Mr. Robert Kayihura
Flutterwave
Global Head of Legal
Bob is the Head of Legal for Flutterwave’s global operations. He has over 20 years of leadership experience building legal operations designed to help leading and innovative technology companies effectively launch their products and services, and scale their operations across complex frontier and emerging markets.
His past roles include serving as Of Counsel and Vice-Chair of U.S. law firm Covington & Burling’s Africa Practice; Legal Director of Uber’s operations across Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan; and over seven years at Microsoft holding various roles including IP Transactions Attorney, Staff Attorney (chief-of-staff role to the EVP and General Counsel of Microsoft), and Legal Director for Microsoft’s operations for Sub-Saharan Africa. Bob started his legal career as a complex commercial litigation attorney with the Lane Powell law firm in Seattle.
Bob earned his Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Washington School of Law. He has a deep passion for ensuring the inclusion of African countries in the global shift towards digital and shared economies.
Flutterwave
Global Head of Legal
Bob is the Head of Legal for Flutterwave’s global operations. He has over 20 years of leadership experience building legal operations designed to help leading and innovative technology companies effectively launch their products and services, and scale their operations across complex frontier and emerging markets.
His past roles include serving as Of Counsel and Vice-Chair of U.S. law firm Covington & Burling’s Africa Practice; Legal Director of Uber’s operations across Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan; and over seven years at Microsoft holding various roles including IP Transactions Attorney, Staff Attorney (chief-of-staff role to the EVP and General Counsel of Microsoft), and Legal Director for Microsoft’s operations for Sub-Saharan Africa. Bob started his legal career as a complex commercial litigation attorney with the Lane Powell law firm in Seattle.
Bob earned his Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Washington School of Law. He has a deep passion for ensuring the inclusion of African countries in the global shift towards digital and shared economies.
Mr. Thomas Bruns
U.S. Department of Commerce
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Middle East and Africa
Turbocharging SMEs: Strategies for Accelerating U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment
Thomas Bruns is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East and Africa. In this
role, he directs the International Trade Administration’s efforts to increase U.S. market
access and commercial partnerships in a region undergoing historic transformation and
economic growth.
Bruns is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, most recently serving as the
Regional Senior Commercial Officer for the Gulf at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates. In this role, he oversaw the operations of four offices across the
UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. His previous posts included serving as: Deputy Senior
Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia; Senior Commercial
Officer in Sofia, Bulgaria; Deputy Senior Commercial Officer in Ankara, Turkey; and
in Washington, D.C. as a senior trade specialist in ITA’s Office of Russia, Ukraine, and
Eurasia.
Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bruns held positions in the private
sector, including serving as regional director and sales executive of Hilti, and sales and
marketing for Group PSA in France. Earlier in his career, he served as a Peace Corps
Volunteer, Associate Peace Corps Director, and independent consultant for UNESCO
and USAID in West Africa.
Bruns earned his BA from the University of Virginia and his MBA from the
Thunderbird School of Global Management and is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma
honor society for collegiate schools of business. He is bilingual in French and English,
and has studied Bulgarian, Russian, Turkish, and the West African languages of
Bambara and Wolof
U.S. Department of Commerce
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Middle East and Africa
Turbocharging SMEs: Strategies for Accelerating U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment
Thomas Bruns is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East and Africa. In this
role, he directs the International Trade Administration’s efforts to increase U.S. market
access and commercial partnerships in a region undergoing historic transformation and
economic growth.
Bruns is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, most recently serving as the
Regional Senior Commercial Officer for the Gulf at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates. In this role, he oversaw the operations of four offices across the
UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. His previous posts included serving as: Deputy Senior
Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia; Senior Commercial
Officer in Sofia, Bulgaria; Deputy Senior Commercial Officer in Ankara, Turkey; and
in Washington, D.C. as a senior trade specialist in ITA’s Office of Russia, Ukraine, and
Eurasia.
Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bruns held positions in the private
sector, including serving as regional director and sales executive of Hilti, and sales and
marketing for Group PSA in France. Earlier in his career, he served as a Peace Corps
Volunteer, Associate Peace Corps Director, and independent consultant for UNESCO
and USAID in West Africa.
Bruns earned his BA from the University of Virginia and his MBA from the
Thunderbird School of Global Management and is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma
honor society for collegiate schools of business. He is bilingual in French and English,
and has studied Bulgarian, Russian, Turkish, and the West African languages of
Bambara and Wolof
Mr. Tuface Idiba
Hypertek Entertainment
Chief Executive & Artist
From Creative Industries to Sports: Financing the New Growth Sectors
Hypertek Entertainment
Chief Executive & Artist
From Creative Industries to Sports: Financing the New Growth Sectors
Julian Pecquet
Jeune Afrique / The Africa Report
Washington Correspondent
The Business of Aviation in Africa
Julian Pecquet is the US correspondent for Jeune Afrique / The Africa Report, the leading global news source on African business and politics. Based in Washington, he covers a host of US-based institutions including the Joe Biden administration and Congress as well as the United Nations and the World Bank / International Monetary Fund.
Julian previously wrote about US policy in the Middle East and North Africa for Al-Monitor, a US-based online publication, where he won several national awards for his coverage of foreign lobbying. He is also the founder of Foreign Lobby Report, a news site dedicated to coverage of the influence industry in Washington.
Before that he covered global affairs and healthcare policy for The Hill and worked for several newspapers in Florida. A naturalized French immigrant to the US, Julian is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and the Political Sciences Institute (Sciences Po) in Strasbourg.
Jeune Afrique / The Africa Report
Washington Correspondent
The Business of Aviation in Africa
Julian Pecquet is the US correspondent for Jeune Afrique / The Africa Report, the leading global news source on African business and politics. Based in Washington, he covers a host of US-based institutions including the Joe Biden administration and Congress as well as the United Nations and the World Bank / International Monetary Fund.
Julian previously wrote about US policy in the Middle East and North Africa for Al-Monitor, a US-based online publication, where he won several national awards for his coverage of foreign lobbying. He is also the founder of Foreign Lobby Report, a news site dedicated to coverage of the influence industry in Washington.
Before that he covered global affairs and healthcare policy for The Hill and worked for several newspapers in Florida. A naturalized French immigrant to the US, Julian is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and the Political Sciences Institute (Sciences Po) in Strasbourg.
Hon. Sosten Gwengwe
Republic of Malawi
Minister of Trade and Industry
The Business of Aviation in Africa
Republic of Malawi
Minister of Trade and Industry
The Business of Aviation in Africa
Ms. Toyosi Ogunseye
The Presidential Precinct
President and CEO
From Hustle to Million Dollar Businesses: The Unfolding Story of African Entrepreneurs
Toyosi Ogunseye is the President & CEO of the Presidential Precinct- a consortium of the University of Virginia, College of William &Mary, Montpelier, Monticello and Highland. She ensures the strategic direction of the organization’s commitment to delivering world-class programming that addresses the most pressing challenges of emerging leaders. She has over two decades leadership experience in media and communications.
The Presidential Precinct
President and CEO
From Hustle to Million Dollar Businesses: The Unfolding Story of African Entrepreneurs
Toyosi Ogunseye is the President & CEO of the Presidential Precinct- a consortium of the University of Virginia, College of William &Mary, Montpelier, Monticello and Highland. She ensures the strategic direction of the organization’s commitment to delivering world-class programming that addresses the most pressing challenges of emerging leaders. She has over two decades leadership experience in media and communications.
Mr. Jacob Ouma
AdMedia Communications Ltd.(Kenya, SA)
Group Managing Director
From Hustle to Million Dollar Businesses: The Unfolding Story of African Entrepreneurs
AdMedia Communications Ltd.(Kenya, SA)
Group Managing Director
From Hustle to Million Dollar Businesses: The Unfolding Story of African Entrepreneurs
Ms Olawunmi Ilesanmi
3lcinovate Energy Limited
Founder and Chief Executive
From Hustle to Million Dollar Businesses: The Unfolding Story of African Entrepreneurs
Olawunmi is the founder of 3lcinovate Energy, a leading entity in the downstream oil and gas sector renowned for its commitment to integrity, innovation, and excellence. Through strategic alliances with international and local businesses, and collaborations with oil marketing companies, 3LCi actively contributes to the growth and prosperity of Nigeria's economy.
With a career spanning 15 years across diverse sectors including oil & gas, logistics, manufacturing, and consulting, Olawunmi has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise. Additionally, she established the elcinnovate foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to driving progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. She holds a doctoral degree in International Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University.
3lcinovate Energy Limited
Founder and Chief Executive
From Hustle to Million Dollar Businesses: The Unfolding Story of African Entrepreneurs
Olawunmi is the founder of 3lcinovate Energy, a leading entity in the downstream oil and gas sector renowned for its commitment to integrity, innovation, and excellence. Through strategic alliances with international and local businesses, and collaborations with oil marketing companies, 3LCi actively contributes to the growth and prosperity of Nigeria's economy.
With a career spanning 15 years across diverse sectors including oil & gas, logistics, manufacturing, and consulting, Olawunmi has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise. Additionally, she established the elcinnovate foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to driving progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. She holds a doctoral degree in International Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University.
Mr Helio Cumbi
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Director Africa and International Finance Institutions
From Hustle to Million Dollar Businesses: The Unfolding Story of African Entrepreneurs
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Director Africa and International Finance Institutions
From Hustle to Million Dollar Businesses: The Unfolding Story of African Entrepreneurs
Ms. Ashley Bubna
U.S. Department of State
Senior Commercial Officer
Data-Driven: Unleashing Africa’s Economic Potential
Ashley Bubna is the Senior Commercial Officer for the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, leading the bureau’s commercial diplomacy efforts to advance U.S. trade and investment with Africa. She also leads the bureau’s Commercial and Infrastructure Unit, covering energy, transportation, and digital alongside United States economic initiatives Power Africa, Prosper Africa, and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI). Ashley leads the Department wide efforts on Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA).
Ashley spent the previous six years as a Senior International Trade Specialist (Desk Officer) in the Office of Africa at the U.S. Department of Commerce where she covered the Horn of Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa at various stages. Ashley also served as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA) and as the Acting Director for the Office of Africa and as the Senior Commercial Officer in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Maputo, Mozambique; and Johannesburg, South Africa. Prior to the Office of Africa, Ashley worked in the department’s trade promotion office, leading delegations of U.S. companies in the energy, digital and health sector on international trade missions and organizing U.S. company participation at domestic and international trade shows.
Before joining the Commerce Department, Ashley served as an International Program Specialist in the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture where she worked on trade policy and international trade capacity building for Latin America, Asia and Africa. Ashley holds a M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution with a concentration in U.S. Foreign Policy from American University. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Louisiana State University.
U.S. Department of State
Senior Commercial Officer
Data-Driven: Unleashing Africa’s Economic Potential
Ashley Bubna is the Senior Commercial Officer for the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, leading the bureau’s commercial diplomacy efforts to advance U.S. trade and investment with Africa. She also leads the bureau’s Commercial and Infrastructure Unit, covering energy, transportation, and digital alongside United States economic initiatives Power Africa, Prosper Africa, and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI). Ashley leads the Department wide efforts on Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA).
Ashley spent the previous six years as a Senior International Trade Specialist (Desk Officer) in the Office of Africa at the U.S. Department of Commerce where she covered the Horn of Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa at various stages. Ashley also served as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA) and as the Acting Director for the Office of Africa and as the Senior Commercial Officer in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Maputo, Mozambique; and Johannesburg, South Africa. Prior to the Office of Africa, Ashley worked in the department’s trade promotion office, leading delegations of U.S. companies in the energy, digital and health sector on international trade missions and organizing U.S. company participation at domestic and international trade shows.
Before joining the Commerce Department, Ashley served as an International Program Specialist in the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture where she worked on trade policy and international trade capacity building for Latin America, Asia and Africa. Ashley holds a M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution with a concentration in U.S. Foreign Policy from American University. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Louisiana State University.