The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum, AWIEF, has announced the keynote speakers for its prestigious annual
conference taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre
(CTICC), 29-30 October 2019 for the advancement of women in Africa as
innovators and entrepreneurs.
A statement by Apo Group, made available to OpenLife states that this
year celebrates the 5th anniversary of its benchmarking Conference, Expo and Awards. There are more
than 60 African and global thought leaders across business and politics to
share insight and thought leadership, on the conference agenda.
The conference theme this year is, Enhancing Impact: Digitalisation,
Investment and Intra-African Trade. The two-day event aims to promote and
accelerate the growth of women-owned and women-led businesses for Africa’s
inclusive economic growth; share entrepreneurship trends; connect and network
with trailblazers from all over Africa and beyond.
AWIEF 2019 Keynote speakers are Dr Vera Songwe, United Nations Undersecretary
General and Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
(ECA); Arunma Oteh, Academic Scholar, Oxford University and former Vice
President and Treasurer of the World Bank; Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi,
Chancellor Nelson Mandela University and former Vice President and Special
Envoy on gender to the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The powerful and high-profile global speaker faculty include H.E. Fatoumata
Jallow-Tambajang, former Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia and
Minister of Women Affairs; Honourable (Prof) Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister
in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People with Disability, South Africa;
Virginia Blaser, Consul General of the United States Consulate General Cape
Town; John Groarke, Mission Director, USAID Southern Africa; Barbara Makhubedu,
Chief Financial Officer, Shell South Africa; Wendy Luhabe, Economic Activist,
Social Entrepreneur and founder of the Women Private Equity Fund and co-founder
WINDE; Michael Hailu, Director, Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural
Cooperation (CTA), The Netherlands; Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, World Bank
Country Director for South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini;
Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, founder and Chairman, APO Group, UK; and Alderman Dan
Plato, Executive Mayor, City of Cape Town, South Africa.
AWIEF is a platform that sees global thought leaders, industry experts,
policymakers, academics, development organisations and investors gather to
dialogue, connect, network, share, collaborate and transact in a combined
effort to boost Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
“The digital economy is driving business and is enhancing the impact of our
work. Investment in women-owned businesses is needed across the continent of
Africa,” said Irene Ochem, Founder and CEO of AWIEF. “It is important for
Africa to trade amongst itself, to collaborate and cooperate. What we need to
look at is the roles that women have in this process.”
The 2019 AWIEF Awards and Gala Dinner will take place on
Wednesday, 30 October 2019, at the CTICC, Cape Town. This year
the AWIEF Awards will also feature the APO Group African Women
in Media Award and the TIA Women in Innovation Award.
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