Shaping Global Policy: 14 Influential Leaders in Government & International Organizations

Africa Tech Festival are proud to present a compelling showcase of influential figures shaping policies and initiatives across continents.

From spearheading transformative climate innovation to orchestrating strategic trade and economic development, these leaders are pivotal in driving positive change on a global scale.

Join us as we delve into the profiles of these top-ranking government officials and key figures within international organizations, all featured in the esteemed 100 Most Influential African Leaders in Technology & Telecommunications 2023' Report.

OLAMIDE OGUNTOYE

Policy Lead - Climate Innovation, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Olamide's work focuses on the intersection of energy, climate, and tech policy.

Olamide leads the Tony Blair Institute’s work on technology and climate policy. He has a background in strategy consulting, working internationally to help investors, governments and corporate clients make better decisions about tackling climate change with innovation.

ALDERMAN GEORDIN HILL-LEWIS

Executive Mayor of Cape Town, The City of Cape Town

Geordin Hill-Lewis became politically active during his high school years. During his studies at the University of Cape Town, he founded the Democratic Alliance Students’ Organization (DASO). He worked as Chief of Staff in the office of former Western Cape Premier Helen Zille. In 2011, Hill-Lewis was elected as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly, becoming the youngest MP at 24 years old. During his time in the National Assembly, he has served in various portfolios, such as Trade and Industry and Finance, and most recently served as the Shadow Minister of Finance. On 18 November 2021, Hill-Lewis was inaugurated as the youngest Mayor of the City of Cape Town.

PHILIP THIGO

Senior Director for Africa for the Thunderbird School of Global Management & Senior Consultant at UNDP Regional Bureau, Africa Leading 4IR

Philip Thigo is a technology, data & public policy expert. He is the Director for Africa for the Thunderbird School for Global Management and a technical advisor at the Office of the Deputy President on Data, Innovation and Open Government.

In 2018, Mr. Thigo was recognized by Apolitical as one of the World's 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government, and is a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Futures Councils on Global Public Goods for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

ANDREW MOLD

Chief, Regional Integration & AfCFTA Cluster, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

Andrew specializes in matters related to trade, FDI and regional integration, and has a career spanning over 25 years.

He has worked extensively as a development economist in Latin America and Africa, and was previously a Senior Economist with the OECD Development Centre in Paris.

Andrew has obtained an undergraduate degree from Oxford Brookes, a Masters from Cambridge University, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the Complutense University, Madrid.

HON. MINISTER PAULA INGABIRE

Minister of ICT & Innovation, Republic of Rwanda

Paula Ingabire is a Rwandan technology enthusiast, who currently serves as the Minister of ICT and Innovation in the Government of Rwanda.

Prior to her appointment as Minister, she served as Head of the ICT Business Development Department at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) leading the implementation of National ICT programs notably eGovernment and Cyber Security; as well as the coordinator of the Kigali Innovation City Project, a flagship program of the Government designed to nurture and strengthen a Pan-African Innovation eco-system in Rwanda.

She also coordinated the creation of Smart Africa, an initiative that seeks to leverage broadband infrastructure as a driver for Africa’s socio- economic growth.

IDA NGANGA

Regional Head, UNESCO Emerging Technologies for Development

Ida Nganga In addition to her role at UNESCO, Ida is also the Global President, Startup Innovation for the Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade and Founder of the award-winning Regional Consortium for Development - RCD Africa, whose experts use technology and engineering as an enabler for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. She also a Co-Chair for Internet for Development Global Community (Internet4Dev).

Ida is one of the most awarded women in tech in Africa.

DR. TONNY OMWANSA

CEO, Kenya National Innovation Agency

Dr. Tonny has been involved in Africa's technology and innovation ecosystem for 15+ years, founding and running various entrepreneurship programs and accelerators, across different sectors including fintech and mobility. He created the Kenya Innovation Week and Nairobi Innovation week, mobilizing 50+ partners from the public and private sector and academia to enhance the local innovation ecosystem.

In his role at Kenya National Innovation Agency, Tonny he oversees the development and management of the National Innovation System. He is a member of ISACA, IEEE, the Board of Trustees of Kenya National Research Fund, and a Commissioner at the National Commission of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

ABIMBOLA ALALE

MD & CEO, Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited

Abimbola has pursued an active career in the space sector for over two decades. She is one of the conveners of Women in Aerospace in Nigeria, and was a two terms council member of Global Future Council on Space from 2020-2022.

Abimbola has also served in various capacities both at the National Space Research Development Agency and Nigerian Communications Satellite as an Assistant Project Director and Executive Director Marketing respectively.

She was part of the team that championed the manufacture and launch of the first Sub-Saharan Africa communication satellite (NigComSat-1) in 2007 as well as NigComSat-1R in 2011.

TIMOTHY WERE

Deputy ICT Director, Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Kenya

Mr. Timothy Were is a technical leader with 20+ years of experience in the education/training, telecommunication, aviation, healthcare and government sectors.

He has lately been involved in policy formulation and implementation of public service delivery systems and national fibre infrastructure rollout, consolidated government-wide ICT procurement and the legal framework for critical infrastructure protection and cyber security among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Egerton University, a Masters of Science in Information Technology Management from Strathmore University and a Masters of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi.

HON. MINISTER DAGMAWIT MOGES BEKELE

Minister of Transport & Logistics, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Dagmawit Moges Bekele was appointed as Minister of Transport of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) in October 2018, and has master’s degree in Public Management and Policy (MPMP) from Addis Ababa University (AAU).

Ms. Moges is an FDRE Cabinet Member and a Member of the House of Peoples’ Representatives of Ethiopia (HoPRE). She is also a Board Chairperson of Woldia University and the Ethiopian Postal Service Enterprise. She is also a Board Member of Ethiopian Airlines; Ethiopian Petroleum Supply Enterprise; Ethiopian Investment Commission; and Ethiopia’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) Board.

MOUSTAPHA MAMY DIABY

Senior Advisor, ICT and Digital Transformation, African Union Commission

Moustapha Mamy Diaby, born in 1971, is a Guinean engineer and politician. He's an expert in ICT Project Management, Regulation and Digital Transformation.

His previous positions include Minister, Special Advisor to the President of the republic of Guinea, and Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy.

Moustapha is also the President of the African ICT Ministers consul in the framework of the Smart Africa Alliance and President of world French speaking Telecommunications/ICT regulators forum (FRATEL).

SIYABONGA MAHLANGU

Group Executive: Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations, Telkom

Dr Mahlangu is responsible for Telkom Group’s strategy and approach to regulation. He is at the heart of market regulation, merger and acquisitions, the role of bid tech and the impending licensing of high demand spectrum in South Africa.

Dr Mahlangu is an attorney. He began his career at Webber Wentzel and later co-founded MNMR Attorneys, a boutique black-owned commercial law firm.

TEJUMOLA ABISOYE

CEO and Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund

Tejumola Abisoye is a lawyer with experience in development finance, project management, and monitoring and evaluation. She is currently the CEO and Executive Secretary of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).

At LSETF, Ms. Abisoye coordinates the design and implementation of programs that address youth unemployment in Lagos State. Through her role, she has supported over 15,000 small businesses to create and sustain over 100,000 jobs and supported the training of over 5,000 youths.

HABIBA BEN BARKA

Chief of Africa Section, United Nations Conference on Trade & Development

Habiba Ben Barka is a specialist in economic, public policy, finance, trade and development analysis for African countries. She is the Chief of Africa Section at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), leading the organization’s work on economic development in Africa.

She joined the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in 2017, where she led UNECA’s initiatives on innovative finance in Africa while providing economic intelligence and advisory support on broader finance, economic governance and public management issues in Africa.

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