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Boniface Abudho
Africa Research Analyst at Knight FrankWith over six years of experience in Urban Management and Research, Boniface has served in various roles within both government and private sectors. Notably, he was a pivotal team member in reviewing the building codes for Malawi and Afghanistan and the Konza Techno City Development Plan. Boniface's educational background in Urban Planning and GIS provides a strong foundation for his professional work. As a corporate member of the Kenya Institute of Planners and the Commonwealth Association of Planners, Boniface is committed to promoting sustainable urban development. Currently, he serves as the Knight Frank Africa Research Analyst, acting as a Research Spokesperson for Africa. Boniface is passionate about real estate research and regularly contributes to several Knight Frank Global and Africa Research publications.
Niyi Adeleye
Head: Real Estate, Finance - Africa Regions at Standard BankAdeleye heads Real Estate Finance (Africa Regions) at Standard Bank Group where he is responsible for managing the real estate finance activities of the group across its 20 presence countries across South, Central, East and West Africa. With over 25 years’ experience and varying competences, he has worked in roles in real estate finance, investments and advisory; principal investment, project engineering and management. He is an AMDP, alumnus of Harvard University, Graduate School of Design and has master’s degrees in Property Economics and Construction Management from the London South-Bank University, UK and University of Lagos, Nigeria respectively.
Jesse Adonis
Account Executive at MRI Real Estate SoftwareJesse has extensive knowledge and experience of real estate solutions that cater for owners, investors and occupiers. He brings many years of insights from working in the South African Property Management market.
Justus Agoti
Manager Product Development & Uptake at Capital Market AuthorityJustus is an experienced capital markets expert. He has over 18 years experience in capital markets operations and strategy, specializing in Research, Economics, Financial Markets, Strategy and Product Development. Currently, he is the Acting Manager, Product Development & Uptake at the Capital Markets Authority. Mr. Agoti is also a member of various Working teams including the Market Development Committee, which evaluates current initiatives to grow the country’s capital markets.
Mr. Agoti has previously served as a Senior Researcher, coordinating the conduct of research studies and surveys aimed at developing new policies, systems and strategies for the better operation of Kenya’s capital markets. He has also previously actively participated in Public–Private Partnership
(PPP) engagements as a resource person.
Mr. Agoti holds an M.A and B.A degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi. He also has Human Resource Management and Accounting qualifications. He also has Financial Analyst
certification as a Capital Markets Securities Analyst (CMSA) from the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI®) and the Institute of Certified Investment and Financial Analysts (ICIFA). Mr. Agoti is a certified negotiator with a qualification in Negotiation Mastery from Harvard Business School (HBS).
Michael Aldridge
CEO of KOFISI AfricaMichael is a successful entrepreneur with over 15 years business experience in multiple sectors, including business services and retail. He is also committed to creating wider social impact in education through innovation in finance.
Michael cofounded KOFISI, the leading provider of flexible workspace, fit out and facilities management in Africa. Responding to client demand and the market opportunity, KOFISI, set a goal of being Africa’s top provider of inspirational workspaces. KOFISI and Sunbird operate in over six African countries including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Nigeria. KOFISI has office centres in Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa.
In 2009, Michael set up an investment office to manage Sir Rod Alridge’s portfolio of investments in business services companies, expanding its fundraising, corporate structuring and investing capabilities. Sir Rod Aldridge is founder of Capita Plc, Europe’s largest service outsourcing company with 64,000 staff and a FTSE listed.
Michael also worked at Kroll Inc, launching its Corporate Finance team to provide advisory services such as deal origination work for leading support services businesses, industrial and private equity clients. As a trustee of The Aldridge Foundation, Michael has worked directly with the Government of the United Kingdom, primarily with the Department for Education. Michael qualified as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen from the ICAEW in 2003 and holds an MA in Social and Political Sciences from St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge University, obtained in 2002. He is passionate about family, wellness, and creating systems to support entrepreneurship globally.
Heath Andersen
Data Centre Consultant at DC Design Africa
Mikayla Benkenstein
Managing Director of Hodari AfricaMikayla Benkenstein leads the Hodari team across the African continent. Mikayla inspires her team and industry partners to amplify their communication, performance and innovation so they have an influential impact on the industry. She mentors with passion, guiding her female peers in the construction industry to effectively strengthen and elevate their leadership position.
With over a decade of experience working for the project management giants, it was time to take the leap with business partner Jacques Jacobs launching a client centric project management business, focusing of delivering exceptionable service in Africa.
Mikayla holds a Bcom financial accounting and project management from Stellenbosch, a Post Graduate diploma in Interior Design and is a certified Primavera Planner.
When not working or travelling across the continent, Mikayla can be found in the quaint town of Hilton, KZN with her Husband ultra endurance cyclist Kevin Benkenstein and beautiful daughters Rachel and Grace.
Mark Berman
Director: Commercial Development of Alleyroads Group (Pty) LtdMark has been in the property industry operating in the commercial arena since 1993.
His experience is extensive as he has been trained and involved in all aspects of the commercial property industry which includes leasing, sales, design, development and project management. He has also designed and delivered a Property Development Master Class for The South African Property Investors Network.
Over the 30 years that He has been in the industry he has concluded around 2,500 leases, sold and built over 3 billion Rands worth of buildings.
He is currently the Commercial Development Manager at AlleyRoads and is responsible for the rollout of 150,00m2 of retail space over the next 4 years with a construction value of approximately 1,5 billion Rand.
Heri Bomani
Managing Director of Pangani GroupHeri Bomani is managing director of Pangani Advisory, a financial advisory and consultancy business with operations in Tanzania and Zambia. Previously, Heri served as CEO and managing director of Kenya Commercial Bank Tanzania, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) which is East Africa's biggest regional bank. Under his leadership, KCB Tanzania expanded from three to eleven branches and introduced the first Islamic banking product window. Prior to KCB, Henri was the head of retail banking at Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Tanzania Limited and served on the Board of Directors. Heri is also a music entrepreneur and founded Red Promotions Ltd., the region's first music and brand activation company. Heri was the deputy chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Civil Society and holds board positions in a number of other entities. He went to school in Tanzania, Zambia, and Kenya and graduated with a BS in economics from Cardiff Business School at the University of Wales in the UK. He is a Fellow of the second class of the Africa Leadership Initiative-East Africa and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Donald Borthwick
Managing Director: Industrial Structure & Kenya of GRIT REAL ESTATE INCOME GROUPA seasoned industry player, Donald has been involved in property development and investment for three decades! His early career was in international corporate finance in London and Paris, before heading up the Africa division of New London plc, an oil services company, gaining extensive continental experience in West and Northern Africa. At New London he performed corporate finance functions and negotiated joint ventures internationally.
After returning to South Africa in 1993, he started developing property with Gavin Borthwick in a long-established family company, Maponya Developments. Donald was intimately involved in the growth of Maponya, developing properties to a value in excess of R1 billion. After a long association with Grit through his later employment at Hodari Africa, he joined Grit full-time in 2022.
He is a chartered accountant, having graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1983. He served his articles with Deloitte. He is also a chartered management accountant.
Teddy Bukhala
Investment Officer at ProparcoAn investment officer at Proparco, the French Development Finance Institution, having cross-functional competencies in business development, corporate finance, investment management, capital raising, business operations, investor education and financial planning experience spanning over a decade in Kenya and the United Kingdom.
Based in the Nairobi office overseeing the corporate debt portfolio in East Africa for Proparco in the region across sectors such as manufacturing, agro business, urban development, hospitality, healthcare and education.
Ewan Cameron
Director: Africa of Westmont Hospitality GroupWestmont Hospitality is a substantial and respected owner of hotel real-estate across four continents. Prior to leading Westmont’s growth in Africa, Ewan fulfilled a number of leadership roles within the continent’s hotel industry, notably with Lonrho, African Sun and IHG. Westmont’s portfolio substantially operates under the mega brand systems of Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott and Hilton.
Ewan was born in Glasgow, Scotland.
Simon Chemaly
CA(SA) Consultant (VP Level) at ABSASimon holds the designation of Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) and is former graduate of Stellenbosch University. Simon’s career in the banking industry spans a number of years, whereby has worked in both South Africa and the UK.
Over the past seven years, he has specialized in Equity and Mezzanine Finance in two of the major South African banks, with a primary focus on commercial property finance.
More recently, Simon's professional accomplishments include his role in establishing and growing the Mezzanine finance product for Absa CIB Commercial Property Finance in South Africa. His contributions have been instrumental in expanding the product amongst new and existing clients through his innovative approach and strategic mindset.
Simon is known for his deal and structuring expertise in finance and banking.
Maruza Chikwanha
Development Director - Africa of Logistics Properties (ALP)Zimbabwean born and raised Maruza Chikwanha is the Development Director for award winning company Africa Logistics Properties based out of Nairobi, Kenya. Responsible for delivering Kenya’s first Grade A Industrial Park, he is an accomplished and versatile property developer with over 18 years of construction and development experience in emerging and developed markets, namely Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Australia. An environmentally and socially conscious property professional with an undeniable passion for the African continent and her people. He is a Construction Management graduate from RMIT University in Melbourne Australia and was a finalist of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Young Professional of the year.
Naomi Ciira
Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation Coordinator & Innovation Coor at Habitat for Humanity InternationalNaomi Ciira is the Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation / ShelterTech Coordinator.
In this role, she coordinates and delivers Habitat for Humanity’s ShelterTech’s 7 pillared initiatives to influence the adoption of affordable housing solutions and analyzes and interprets data sets.
Naomi is an adroit programs resource with over 10 years of experience supporting small and mid-sized businesses across Africa in project and program management and end-to-end operations consulting. Her work spans Real Estate, Capital Projects and Infrastructure, and Hospitality, amongst other industries.
She comes with robust knowledge and passion for the Real Estate and innovation ecosystem in Africa and beyond and is committed to the vision of Sheltertech becoming one of the top impact investment categories globally.
Louise Collins
Regional Director Energy & Engineering of JllLouise Collins heads up JLL’s Engineering & Energy business across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) and the Project & Development Services business in the United Arab Emirates.
With over 22 years of experience in the construction industry in Europe and the MEA, Louise has extensive design management and project delivery experience across various industry sectors, including sustainable projects.
Having spent most of her career in engineering consultancy, she is passionate about designing and delivering buildings that operate sustainably with low energy and water usage.
Louise works with clients across the region to implement new and retrofit rollouts that include short and long-term sustainability objectives and is leading JLL MEA’s net zero implementation on a number of active projects for key developers in the region.
Kieran Day
Group COO & CEO of Elewana Ltd and Cheli & Peacock Safaris LtdKieran is the Group COO and CEO of the group’s inbound tour operating division (Cheli & Peacock Safaris Ltd). He sits on the groups' main joint venture board with Minor International PCL.
Originally from a professional services background having worked for global firms KPMG and PWC in London and East Africa, he was instrumental in navigating various joint venture and acquisition strategies that were a core part of the group’s growth and expansion over the past 15 years. He oversees the group’s core operational functions and strategic partnership and stakeholder interests
Sebastian Dietzold
CEO of CPSSebastian grew up in Tanzania and lives now, after 15 years in Germany, with his wife and three kids in Mbweni Zanzibar. He studied civil engineering in England and Germany and specialised on real estate investment. During his time in Germany, Sebastian worked for real estate departments of major companies such as Deutsche Bank, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and KPMG. His vision is to set up reliable and professional real estate services in Zanzibar and Tanzania and to develop modern housing concepts for the growing and dynamic Africa mid class.
Mark Dunford
Managing Director of Knight FrankMark Dunford is the Chief Executive Officer of Knight Frank Kenya. He studied at the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne and began his career in the hotel yield management space. He grew as a hotel broker and development specialist and eventually transitioned into more generic leadership, offering advisory services, and building businesses across multiple global markets, thanks to his strong knowledge of international corporate growth and commercial real estate.
Mark firmly believes that real estate has a vital role to play in a global future that is socially and environmentally conscientious, responsible, and sustainable.
Hooman Ehsani
Director: New Developments of Greenhills InvestmentHooman Ehsani is the Director of New Developments for Greenhills Investments the developer of Tribe, a luxury 5-star boutique hotel, that has won numerous global awards including being named “one of the Top 100 hotels in the World” The Village Market mall and newly opened Trademark Hotel. Hooman is also the CEO of Century City Property with interests in residential and retail development, property brokerage services and consultancy. Century City recently won the International Property Award for the Best International Residential Development for their Palm Valley development in Nairobi. He is a graduate of Tufts University in Boston, where he majored in Economics and International Relations.
Hanna Fort
Country Director/ Group Head of Insight Secure (K) LtdHanna is a Country Director for Insight Kenya. She joined Insight in 2018 as a member of the risk team in South Sudan, and took on the role Country Manager for Kenya in 2020.
Hanna has extensive security and risk management experience and is responsible for the development and the delivery of security solutions for Insight and its clients.
With over seven years in the British Army, Hanna’s career has centered on investigative work and human intelligence. This has led to her being particularly capable in process driven work and the development of management systems as well as being able to understand and engage with people on a personal level.
Hanna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Archaeology from Newcastle University and a Master of Science in Forensic Archaeology from University College of London.
Andreas Fruhen
Partner at D4AfricaAndreas is currently a Partner at D4Africa, working on strategy and funding for Digital Transformation Projects across Africa.
He was the Enterprise and Solution Architect for M-Pesa for over 4 years where he was responsible for M-Pesa Architecture and Design across several markets like Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, DRC, Romania, Albania.
In 2015 he moved to Kenya and held several positions, such as the Deputy CTO and Director of Technology Operations in M-Kopa, COO for Internet Solutions, part of Dimension Data / NTT, CTO for Cellulant and Sabi (Nigeria) and Director of Technology at iXAfrica Datacentre, the first Hyperscale DC in Nairobi.
He also is Partner in Boolean Consulting, focusing on delivering Technology Solutions in South Sudan and an Associate at MFX Partners, a Consulting firm focusing on Digital Financial Services across Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.
Jeff Gable
Chief Economist at Absa GroupJeff Gable is a Managing Principal, Head of FIC Research and Chief Economist for Absa Group. His research teams cover fundamental macroeconomic and market strategy research on South African and across numerous Sub Saharan markets. Jeff joined the South African business from Barclays in late 2006 as part of the build out of the investment bank. In his 25 years as a professional economist Jeff’s career also spans Deutsche Bank in London, the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC, and the Canadian central bank. Jeff studied Economics at the University of Western Ontario and Queen’s University, Canada.
Winnie Gachagua
Manager: Occupier Strategy & Solutions at Knight FrankWinnie is a real estate professional with over 13 years of proven experience working in the industry in East Africa. She currently specialises in delivering real estate solutions for corporates and organisations in her capacity as manager in the Occupier Strategy and Solutions department at Knight Frank Kenya.
Her skillset cuts across all the core real estate services including strategic consultancy, landlord/developer advisory, real estate marketing, lease administration, transactions management, asset management, workplace consultancy and cross-border transaction delivery.
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Rory Gallocher
COO at Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in AfricaRory Gallocher is an urban development and affordable housing professional with 29 years of experience in the public and social housing space. His experience in affordable housing has encompassed research and writing in housing and infrastructure, the formulation of policies, laws and regulations for it, the design and implementation of the programs for government to fund it; the management of the grant programs to implement it; the management of entities responsible for the implementation of programmes and projects; and the training and education of government officials tasked with responsibilities for affordable housing delivery. He is the former CEO of the Social Housing Regulatory Authority in South Africa, prior to which he was the CEO of the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO). Rory participated in the Wharton School’s International Housing Finance Programme, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree as well as a Master’s Degree in Town and Regional Planning from the University of the Natal, South Africa.
Raghav Gandhi
Managing Director of Acorn Investment Management LimitedRaghav is an experienced real-estate professional with a proven track record of delivering results globally across asset classes. He has jointly led the growth of a major commercial real estate start-up venture in India and headed the development of projects across the MENA region for a major real estate developer in Kuwait, where he was also responsible for optimising returns from a number of underperforming investments. He subsequently established his own consulting practice, which advised GCC families and corporates on real estate transactions and projects in the UK and the Middle East.
Raghav joined Acorn in February 2020 as a consultant for the implementation of the Acorn REITs. He worked closely with the Corporate Finance and Corporate Affairs/Legal teams, as well as with transaction advisors, service providers and investors. Effective 1st November 2020, Raghav was appointed as Chief Investment Officer – AHL / Managing Director – AIML.
Raghav holds an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Sciences in Economics from the London School of Economics.
Priscilla Gathungu
at Java House Africa Java House Africa Concordia University-St. Paul at Java House Africa
Leena Gehlot
Director of Finch HattonsLeena is an entrepreneur entrenched in real estate and hospitality with experience in both Europe and Africa. She sits on the board of a multidisciplinary family business with companies in infrastructure, construction, hospitality, wildlife and tourism conservation and medical diagnostics.
Leena founded and led the partnership with Sir Richard Branson to build Mahali Mzuri, voted no 1 Hotel in the world by Travel and Leisure 2022 in the Maasai Mara. She also led the rebuild of Finchhattons and has led the operational team for the last 10 years from strength to strength winning Africa's leading tented camp 2021 and 6 years in a row prior to that for the World Travel Awards. She has recently been appointed as an Honorary Warden of Tsavo National Park.
Lucy Githinji
Affiliate Partner: East Africa Hub at JllLucy joined the JLL team in Nairobi in 2015 and was instrumental in setting up the Corporate Solutions business. Her role has changed over the years and she currently supports the the team as an Affiliate Partner. Lucy provides her local market knowledge and network, leveraging the JLL global expertise and network to deliver best in class real estate solutions to corporates across East Africa. Lucy is passionate about the opportunities our global best practice brings to the corporate real estate function and its impact on business performance. Lucy has over twenty-five years of experience in real estate, with multifaceted exposure to portfolio management, lease acquisitions, property sales and acquisitions. Lucy’s involvement in a variety of real estate functions has built solid expertise in supporting clients and projects in the financial services sector, technology, pharmaceuticals and business services sectors. Prior to joining JLL, Lucy was Head of Corporate Solutions for Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited and had oversight over East Africa.
V. Gikonyo Gitonga
Managing Director of Axis Real Estate LimitedA highly experienced and qualified Real Estate Professional Services expert. Holder of a MSc (Econ) in Urban Development Planning from the University of London and BA (Land Economics) from the University of Nairobi. A full member of The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (Valuation & Estate Agents Chapter). Registered Estate Agent.
A professional with significant experience in the Kenyan real estate market who has been involved in the formulation of profitable real estate strategies for medium to large corporate clients with a wealth of experince gained over the last 25 years. A well known Estate Agent and Property Negotiator who is well versed in various aspects of Commercial Property Leasing, Transaction Management, Tenant Representation and conducting Property Due Dilligence and Audits. Also an experienced property manager of Commercial office properties. His expertise now extends to greater knowledge of the growing retail property market.
Specialties: Commercial Property Lease and Sale Negotiations, Real Estate Market Research and Consultancy, Property and Facilities Management, Valuation of Property for accounting, insurance and mortgage purposes.
Wayne Godwin
Head: East Africa & Indian Oceans at JLL- CREATING EFFICIENT AND OPTIMAL CAPITAL STRUCTURES FOR REAL ESTATE IN EAST AFRICA
- AN OVERVIEW OF HOSPITALITY INVESTMENT IN AFRICA: How Is the Recovery Impacting the Flow of Capital into The Sector?
- DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTS
As Head of Hotel Advisory in Sub-Saharan Africa, Wayne focuses on delivering strategic advisory services and capital market oversight to local, regional, and global clients across Sub-Saharan Africa. Wayne has over 13 years’ experience in the hospitality real estate industry. His broad range of experience includes hotel feasibility assignments, commercial due diligence for hospitality platforms and portfolios, hotel asset management and operator selection and management contract negotiations.
Wayne joined the team at JLL in 2015, prior to which he was a Senior Consultant with a regional hotel and tourism consulting firm. Other previous roles include analyst at JSE listed Hospitality Property Fund and Consultant at hospitality and tourism advisory firms. Wayne has a BA in Tourism Development from the University of Johannesburg, a PDM from WITS Business School, and an MSc in Property Studies at the University of Cape Town.
Tarquin Gross
Head: Residential Agency at Knight FrankTarquin Gross has worked over 12 years in Residential Property. He started his career in Central London, working for Foxtons in one of their flagship offices in South Kensington. After six years, Tarquin returned to Kenya. He worked with various boutique agents around Nairobi, learning about the different areas, before joining Knight Frank in December 2020. Tarquin spearheaded the move by Knight Frank Kenya to steer the residential agency towards taking on a brokerage model.
Charles Haba
Managing Director of Century Real EstateCharles read law at the University of Rwanda and has more than 20 years’ experience in Real Estate and Housing Finance in both the public and private sector.
Today he runs Century Real Estate Ltd, which is a top property business in Rwanda (www.centuryrealestategroup.com), which has more than 200,000sqm in its property portfolio.
Charles is a Director/Investor in different companies in the domains of Private Equity, Venture Capital, Financial Solutions, Real Estate, Entertainment, Parking Solutions among others.
As a family man and father, off the business field, Charles has a passion for sports (especially cricket & tennis) and media.
Email : charles@centuryrealestategroup.com
Twitter : @CharlesHaba
Bani Haddad
Managing Director of Aleph HospitalityIn 2015 Bani Haddad founded Aleph Hospitality to provide hotel owners in the Middle East and Africa with a customised, results-driven alternative to traditional hotel management models. Bani has 28 years’ experience in the hospitality industry whereof 17 years have been focused on the Middle East and Africa. In 2022, Bani won “Business Leader of the Year” in the MEED SME Awards.
Under Bani’s visionary leadership, Aleph Hospitality has grown to become the leading independent hotel management company in the region, and in 2020 the company was valued at USD 20 million by a large European institutional investor who subsequently became a shareholder. Currently, Aleph has thirteen operating hotels in its portfolio and has earmarked a pipeline of 50 hotels in the Middle East and Africa by 2026.
Bani holds an MBA from IMHI, a joint programme established by Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and ESSEC. Originally from Lebanon, Bani has lived in the United Arab Emirates since 2005.
Anthony Havelock
Head: Capital Markets, Occupier Strategy & Solutions at Knight FrankAnthony started his career based in the UK. He joined Knight Frank in 2007, having spent 10 years active in the UK investment market. Remarkably during this period, he was involved in both agency and principal (client side) positions within the Capital Markets and Development sectors.
Anthony returned home to Kenya with Knight Frank in 2012. Over the past 10 years, based in Nairobi, he has run the Agency business and all the transaction focused teams. Both Commercial and Residential.
His focus now is on the Commercial sector, specifically Capital Markets, Commercial Leasing, Occupier Services and Corporate Real Estate advisory.
Dane Hilton
Regional Director - EA of HodariDane has 15 years’ experience working internationally, leading sophisticated real estate developments and acquisitions. He has provided stewardship in advising and implementation of real estate strategy across key sectors. He is proficient in all stages of the development lifecycle and capable of working autonomously and intrinsically with all stake holders, while providing superior service. Dane has a strong ability to communicate, manage, and motivate teams. He has a keen eye for detail when creating, managing, and delivering strategic objectives. He always holds himself accountable and upholds high standard of quality through attention to detail, thorough due diligence, design management, procurement, and site level supervision.
Jason Horsey
Executive Director of Unity HomesJason is the Executive Director at Unity Homes. Unity Homes is a vertically integrated real estate development company with almost 3,000 apartments under project at Tatu City, as well as in Nigeria by a sister company.
Prior to Unity Homes, Jason worked at Civicon, a regional construction company, from 2005 until 2017, where he went from Construction Manager in Uganda to eventually the Group CEO. Whilst at Civicon he was very involved in the nascent Oil and Gas industry and gained extensive experience in the region delivering projects in Uganda, South Sudan, DR Congo and Kenya.
In 2018 he took up an executive role at Unity Homes, where he was already a director and shareholder, and together with the other Executive Director in the business is responsible for implementing the corporate strategy. Jason holds an Oil & Gas MBA from Middlesex University.
Richard Hough
CEO of Africa Logistics PropertiesRichard is the former Development Director of Raven Russia and is a seasoned industrial property development and finance professional with 11 years experience developing modern warehousing in emerging markets. He has constructed in excess of 2 million sqm of modern grade A warehousing space across emerging markets for international tenant occupiers. Richard was previously the COO of ALP and took over as CEO in May 2019.
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Paul Jackson
CEO & Board Member and Chair of the Lobbying & Advocacy Committee at TUHF & AUHFPaul Jackson is a co-founder of TUHF and has been TUHF’s CEO since its inception in 2003.
Paul’s career in Development Finance commenced in 1987 at the Development Bank of South Africa as an Agricultural Economist, working his way up to the position of Divisional Manager, Rural Development. From there he moved on to become General Manager of the Transitional National Development Trust, and he was chair of the KwaZulu Natal Agricultural Forum during the transition. Paul joined the Johannesburg Housing Company as Operations Manager in 1999.
In addition to his Executive Director position within the TUHF Group of Companies, he holds board positions with the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance (CAHF) and Divercity Urban Property Fund. Paul has held board directorships on the Mvula Trust, Alexander Social Housing Company, Johannesburg Social Housing Company and Brickfields Housing Company.
Paul holds a BSc in Agricultural Economics (University of Natal), and a BSc Agricultural Economics (Hons) (University of Pretoria). He has also completed the Property Development Programme (SAPOA) and the Wharton International Housing Finance Course (University of Pennsylvania, USA).
Paul represented South Africa in Europe for rowing before his appointment as National Coach of the South African Olympic Rowing Squad for the Atlanta, Sydney, London and Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games – bagging a gold medal at the London Olympics.
Glen Jordan
Co-Founder of EmpowaYou never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
-Buckminster Fuller 1895-1983
A serial impact entrepreneur, involved in the creation and development of several successful impact businesses in Africa, Glen Jordan believes new technologies can, and should, improve life for the marginalized. Property is a key pillar in the creation of wealth, but due to financial systems that are not fit for purpose, inaccessible to millions. As the co-founder of Empowa, Glen is working on transforming the climate-smart affordable housing market through financial innovation.
Somaya Joshua
Head: Commercial Property Finance - Africa Region at Absa GroupI have over 20 years experience in Financial Services both within South Africa and Globally. My global approach to client centric solutions and risk management provides a unique perspective to the range of multinational clients supported.
My experience has allowed me to provide pragmatic solutions in commercial real estate, risk analysis, business process and risk management. My subject matter expertise has impacted external and internal stakeholders (including multinationals) in both strategic, financial and operational management.
I have managed change in different environments, developed high performing teams and partnered with other Executives on an ongoing basis. This results in positive outputs for the Company I am part of and innovative solutions to our clients.
John Kaburu
Regional Manager & Head of Mortgages at Absa Bank Kenya Plc
Dr. Dan Kagagi
Partner & Head: Financial Services at TripleOklaw AdvocatesDr Dan Kagagi is a partner at Triple OK Law Advocates where he heads the Financial Services practice. He has been an Advocate for over 30 years specializing in real estate, project and corporate finance. He is also a seasoned professional in the tourism and hospitality industry, with extensive expertise and a passion for promoting Kenya as a premier travel destination having previously served as the Chief Executive of the Tourism Trust Fund. Dan has played a pivotal role in driving the growth and development of the sector, making him a highly respected figure in the field. Known for his innovative thinking and ability to adapt to changing market dynamics, he has played a key role in positioning Kenya as a leading tourist destination.
Agatha Kakui
Manager & Investor Facilitation at Konza TechnopolisAgatha Kakui is the Manager, Investor Facilitation & One Stop Shop at Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA), the agency mandated to oversee the development of Konza Technopolis which is a key flagship project of Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic development portfolio. Since joining KoTDA in 2018, she spearheaded the journey to designating Konza Technopolis (KT) as a free zone and attained gazettement of KT as a Special Economic Zone- Konza Technopolis Special Economic Zone KTSEZ) in 2019, as well as membership of the Authority to the World Free Zones organization (WFZO), both known to spar investment uptake for Konza and the country at large, job creation and economic development.
She represented the Authority in the WFZO Annual International Conference & Exhibition (AICE) held in Jamaica in June 2022, and in Dubai on 1st to 3rd May 2023. World Free Zones Organization is the strongest, most active free-zone organization in the world that make other free zones achieve strategic objectives, make connections that matter, and get access to the industry’s most powerful insights, resources, and tools.
Agatha provided strategic leadership in Investor Facilitation and One Stop Shop, a division in the Business Development Department, mandated with the overall attraction of investors, business attraction and revenue generation in KT. Her accomplishments demonstrate her strategic vision, exceptional management capabilities, and strong dedication to advancing the development of the Kenyan economy. She holds an MBA in Financial Management and currently pursuing PhD in Finance & Investments from the University of Nairobi. Agatha is a Professional Member of the Marketing Society of Kenya.
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Crispus Kamau
Senior Business Analyst at GRIT REAL ESTATE INCOME GROUPPrior to joining Aii, Crispus was an Asset Manager for Sterling Real Estate Advisory. He was instrumental in the successful structuring of the largest REIT in Kenya (Laptrust IMARA I-REIT), which will list on the Nairobi Stock Exchange in 2023. Prior to that, Crispus was a strategic consultant at JLL. At JLL, Crispus provided strategic advice and real estate development solutions, including real estate market assessments, development advisory and financial and investment analyses for complex development projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. The clients included private and institutional investors, developers, financiers, landlords and occupiers.
Crispus holds an Honours Degree in property studies (RICS accredited) and a bachelor’s degree in Property Studies, both with distinction from the University of Cape Town (UCT). In addition, he is a MasterCard Foundation (MCF) scholar and a certified EDGE expert.
Charles Kanungi
Head: Property Asset Management at Britam Asset ManagersCharles is a dynamic real estate investment professional specializing in deal origination, investment screening, capital structuring, fund raising and real estate asset management with over 7 years’ managerial experience. He is the Head: Property Asset Management at Britam Asset Managers (K) Ltd where he heads the real estate services division that incorporates the real estate investment advisory, property asset management as well as facilities and project management. He has particularly undertaken investment advisory assignments for Pension Schemes in relation to structuring tenant purchase schemes (TPS), joint ventures (JVs), resettlement action plans (RAP), forward leases, debt swaps among others. He is a registered valuer with the VRB, registered estate agent with the EARB and is a full member of the ISK where he served as a member of the special committee that developed the ISK Valuation Standards 2021. He holds a MSc Real Estate Investment Finance from Oxford Brookes University and a Bachelor of Land Economics from the University of Nairobi amongst other investment certification courses.
Martin Kariuki
Sales Manager at Centum REMarin Kariuki is the sales manager, Centum Real Estate. He is responsible for the commercialization of the residential projects' developed by Centum RE in Nairobi, cutting across a broad spectrum from affordable housing, mid-market to high end.
He holds a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, CPA finalist and Master’s degree in project management.
He has over 8 years of real estate experience in Kenya.
Khalil Ketari
Director: Asset Management of Kasada CapitalKhalil is part of Kasada Asset Management team and leads Kasada’s workplace solutions initiatives.
Khalil has over 15 years of experience in the Real Estate and Energy sectors across sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Prior to joining Kasada, Khalil was based in Johannesburg where he was the CEO of a fast-growing co-working brand in Africa.
Khalil started his career at SAPIEM in the Oil and Gas sector, where he spent 12 years leading strategic large-scale projects and was part of the strategic team advising senior management on business development globally, in Nigeria, Angola, Singapore, Indonesia, and France. Khalil holds a BA in Civil Engineering from École Spéciale des Travaux Publics, and an Executive MBA from INSEAD.
Khalil is French and Tunisian and grew up in Tunisia. He speaks French , English and Arabic.
Zaharaa Khanbhai
Head: Commercial Property Finance EA at Absa Bank Kenya PlcZaharaa is a seasoned Corporate Banker with over 14 years of experience managing local and regional clients across the East African Region. Zaharaa is known for providing bespoke and ground-breaking solutions to clients’ unique funding, risk management and transactional requirements.
Jugal Khushalani
Director: Lodging Developments MEA of Marriott International
Mumo Kianga
Development Director of MiVidaMumo Kianga is a real estate development professional with over ten years of experience in structuring and delivering institutional-grade de commercial developments (+30,000sqm delivered), mid-market and affordable residential (+60,000sqm delivered) developments in Nairobi. Initially acting as Development Manager for the Actis-owned and funded Garden City Mixed-Use Scheme from 2015 to 2019, Mumo serves as Development Director for Mi Vida Homes, an Actis investee company focused on mid and affordable residential development in Nairobi and the wider region. Mumo holds a BSc in Architecture from the University of Nairobi and an Msc in Real Estate from Henley Business School, University of Reading.
Andrew Kusewa Kilonzi
Director of Boogertman + Partners
David Kimani
CEO & Co-Founder of RentScore
Trevor Kimani
CEO & Co-Founder of alphabloQI am a fintech enthusiast and have built businesses in lending, remittance, payments and insuretech over the last 11 years. having launched alphabloQ in 2022 I aim to use my skills to change the narrative of wealth creation from being a privilege to being a right, for people in the developing world. alphabloQ is a real estate investments platform that reduces the entry barrier for investors to access lucrative real estate investments.
William Kimaru
Founder & Managing Director of Illumine International LtdWilliam Kimaru is the founder and the managing director of Illumine International Limited, renowned for design, fit out and construction of a variety of turnkey projects. With over 26 years of experience, William has successfully executed numerous projects as a designer and contractor. His most iconic projects include:
Bata shoe company’s turnaround through design and construction of the over 55 retail outlets to create one of the leading shoe house in East and Central Africa.
Quick Mart LTD expansion strategy, through design, re-branding and construction of the over 55 “new look” Quick Mart Stores. Quick Mart is now the 2nd largest supermarket in Kenya, amongst other commercial and residential projects.
William’s exceptional skills in managing and leading teams, managing complex projects and passion for making space beautiful has earned him a reputation for delivering exceptional results. His commitment to meeting clients' challenging briefs, unique stakeholders’ requirements, and ability to balance multiple projects makes him a trusted partner in this industry. Notably, his thought leadership through depth of knowledge, talent in design, attention to details and discipline of execution has left quite an impression on his customers.
When not at at work, William enjoys playing basketball, is a biker and enjoys spending time with family.
Wendy Kimwatan
Project planning and procurement manager at Eco Steel AfricaWendy Kimwatan is the Project planning and procurement manager at Eco-Steel Africa Ltd, a leading innovator in mixed medium construction in East Africa, specializing in Rapid Sustainable Construction solutions. Wendy is responsible for overseeing the manufacturing, detailing and construction of Light Gauge Steel Framing (LGSF) projects with over 7 years of experience.
Wendy has a BSc in Quantity Surveying and is registered with the Board of Quantity Surveyors and Architects in Kenya (BORAQS). Currently, she is pursuing a master’s degree in construction project management at the University of Nairobi.
She has a passion for alternative and sustainable construction technologies and materials and has a strong track record of successfully completing innovative and eco-friendly building projects.
Ngatia Kirungie
Head : Secretariat at Kenya Pension Fund Investment ConsortiumNgatia Kirungie is Head Secretariat of the Kenya Pension Funds Investment Consortium (KEPFIC), a consortium of Kenyan pension funds with approximately USD 5.25 billion in assets that have come together to jointly assess and invest in infrastructure and alternative asset investments opportunities in the East African region. He is also of Managing Director of Spearhead Africa, a Nairobi-based full-service financing and advisory business, Africa Leader of the Obama Foundation and Lead Housing and Infrastructure Finance Advisor to The Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP), a USD 300 million World Bank funded program to deliver improved housing in Kenya. Mr Kirungie is a seasoned professional who formerly served as Goldman Sachs’ Executive Director of Emerging Markets (Africa).
Timothy Kuria
Head: Industrials at KCB Bank Kenya LtdTimothy Kuria joined KCB in January 2013 and is the Head, Industrials, Corporate Banking at KCB Bank Kenya Limited. This includes the Hospitality Sector. His banking experience spans 23 years and covers a range of sectors including industrials, hospitality, energy, natural resources, transport (road, ports, rail and airports), telecommunications, large local corporates and multinational conglomerates, across leading banks that include Stanbic Bank (part of The Standard Bank Group of South Africa), Commercial Bank of Africa Ltd (now renamed NCBA) and KCB Bank.
Notable Transactions Include: Managing a portfolio of hotels and hospitality clients, Structured Trade Finance Oil & Gas Importation Transactions for Kenya and the surrounding regional countries, MLA, LA, Placement Agent, Facility Agent Roles for Annual Syndicated Revolving Commodity Finance Facilities, Debt Restructure Transactions etc. Tim has a Master in Business Administration (Finance) degree from University of Nairobi, a Bachelor of Commerce (Banking and Finance) degree from Kenyatta University, and various banking qualifications from The Institute of Bankers in South Africa, Damelin School of Banking (South Africa), Standard Bank of South Africa and Standard Bank (Mauritius) and other banking qualifications over his 23 year career.
Eric Latiff
Radio Host & News Anchor at Spice FM & KTN NewsEric is a seasoned communicator with over 20 years’ experience in media operations and management. Having worked as Senior Editor in charge of Digital Media at Capital FM and a News Anchor at KTN, Eric was also the founder General Manager at K24 – Kenya’s first 24-hour news television station - and was among the pioneers at Family FM/ TV and Kameme FM.
He is currently one of three hosts of Kenya’s premiere morning radio talk show – The Situation Room – that broadcasts on Spice FM and KTN.
He is also the Director and Lead Consultant for Zeze Digital Agency, a company that offers training and development of strategies in digital marketing and communications as well as corporate events.
Eric has conducted C-Suite and executive level training for organisations such as Habitat for Humanity Kenya, HIVOS Southern Africa (training teams from 5 countries on digital communication for transformation), Kenya Airways, Hemingways hotel, Kenya Markets Trust, Galana Oil Limited and others.
He has also conducted interviews and moderated conversations with key duty bearers in the public and private sector. Such include moderating the Presidential Debate 2022, interviews with Cabinet Ministers, Governors, international dignitaries and captains of industry in various sectors.
Eric serves as Chairman of the board of Superior Homes (Kenya) PLC, a real estate development company, and on the Advisory Board of Expertise Global Consulting, a Public Finance Management firm.
Pumi Lukhele
Development Manager at GREANompumelelo (Pumi) Lukhele is armed with over 18 years of experience in commercial real estate development and in the last 4 years Pumi’s experience expanded across the African continent delivering on retail, offices, hospitality, industrial and data center projects. Pumi joined Gateway Real Estate Africa (GREA) in 2018 when it was 2 years in business and was involved in introducing processes and procedures to be implemented specifically in the development department and then later integrated these into other departments. Pumi’s successful engagement with land and property owners, local authorities, financial institutions, local and international consultants/tenants as well as the media houses across East Africa and South Africa enhanced industry awareness of GREA’s appetite for commercial real estate investment and development. This resulted in the acquisition, refurbishment, and launching of its 1st retail property in East Africa in 2019 and further increased project pipeline within the East African Region.
Moses D. Lutalo
Managing Director of BrollMoses is a Chartered Commercial Property Surveyor with Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors UK, holds a specialist Property Manager Designation (SPM), a graduate of Urban and Regional Planning, a registered Physical Planner, and a registered Property Agent with the Association of Real Estate Agents of Uganda (AREA) who has been working within the property services industry for over 15 years starting as a property manager and growing through the ranks to run a fullyfledged Pan African Real Estate Consultancy Business in Uganda.
Moses is currently the Managing Director of Broll Uganda Limited responsible for establishing and leading the Broll Property Group business in Uganda. Broll Property Group is a Pan African Real Estate services business with offices in thirteen African countries Head quartered in South Africa.
During his 15-year career, Moses has gained exposure to the entire real estate investment value chain from development appraisal, feasibility studies, design, tender, project management, leasing, occupier services, property and facilities management, active asset management as well as disposal working with the best organizations in Uganda and East Africa such as Knight Frank to a level of Portfolio Manager, National Social Security Fund ( NSSF) as a Real Estate Analyst managing assets over USD 160 Million, UAP Nakawa business Park project management, leasing and setting up an internal property and facilities management business for the established UAP Properties subsidiary.
Moses is a board member of The Association of Real Estate Agents in Uganda and sits on the Board of Governance for the Real Estate Institute of East Africa. Moses is also a Non-Executive Director at Southgate Properties
Andrey Lyubimov
Development Manager at HassConsultI am an International Construction Project Director with over 18 years’ experience across Europe, Middle East and Africa successfully leading luxury residential, hospitality, office, retail and high end mixed use development projects.
My passion is to construct outstanding buildings. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with some of the world’s leading architects and firms on a wide range of high-profile projects. I am a highly experienced client-side project manager with a proven track record of:
• Full lifecycle project management expertise with detailed understanding of resource and cost control management.
• Excellent budget and financial management with additional expertise in investment funding.
• Regulatory requirements and adherence to local authority and corporate compliance frameworks, with a strong background in due diligence, contract management and project monitoring.
• Leadership experience in complex project environments with multi-functional teams including PMs, architects, engineers and external specialists with record of effectively delivering projects to budget and ahead of timescales.
• Stakeholder management expertise at all levels from site workers and senior leadership to investors with a proven track record of developing successful collaborative relationships upstream and downstream.
I have a strong construction management pedigree and combine these technical insights with qualifications in Real Estate Investment from one of the world’s leading business school making me as comfortable with investors in the boardroom as I am with onsite experts and teams.
I am always interested in expanding my network and sphere of knowledge, so please feel free to connect with me.
Mphokolo Makara
Head: EA - Investment Banking, Energy & Infrastructure at Standard BankMphokolo is an infrastructure finance specialist, currently holding the position of Executive Head
Energy and Infrastructure for the East Africa region at Standard Bank.
Having commenced her career in investment banking, her professional experience spans Coverage,
Treasury, Transactional Banking, Structured Finance and Infrastructure Finance. This infrastructure
sector led trajectory, is through her experience in concluding transactions the aviation, industrial,
power, health and transportation industries across both the public and private sector client base.
Her area of competence is across the debt spectrum for corporate and state owned entities, through
structuring and executing transactions in various markets. Her exposure and experience in asset based
and infrastructure finance transactions includes select equity and asset risk in assets such as power
generation plants, aircraft and locomotives, which are core to the operations of the aviation, mining
and select industrial sectors.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (Pietermaritzburg)
and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) – Investment Management degree from the University of
Johannesburg.
Her industry accolades include being awarded the Association of Black Security and Investment
Professionals (ABSIP) Young Talent Award in 2006 and the Project Finance Deal of the Year in 2016
(Government of Kenya Ministry of Health/General Electric managed equipment services) and in 2018
(Roggeveld 140MW wind power plant).
She currently serves:
- On the Board of Trustees of the Africa Women in Energy Development Initiative.
- As a member of the BRICS BWA Energy Security Working Group.
To plough back and participate meaningfully in the economy, she has leveraged her professional skills
by serving as a Non-Executive Board Member of the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SOC) Limited in
South Africa, also having served as a member of select sub committees of the Board.
She enjoys long distance running, having completed various marathons over the years. The most
notable of these being completing the Comrades Marathon in 2009 and obtaining her Six Star Finisher
medal in 2019 post completing the 6 world marathon majors.
Her passion for the African continent, more specifically its diversity in culture, has prompted her to
improve her French, as one of the languages spoken in 31 out of 54 countries on the Continent (and
internationally). She resonates strongly with social contribution and giving back, through various
BCom – Business Finance, Economics & Marketing
BCom (Hons) – Investment Management
initiatives and pledges, including her involvement with and having served on the Student Strategic
Enterprise Programmes of the African Leadership Academy. Leveraging off her network and running to
access privately funded donations, she has raised funds for social impact and charitable causes.
Mphokolo has been a member of Rand Merchant Bank’s (“RMB”) Investment Banking Division (IBD)
Strategic Forum, a sub-committee of RMB’s IBD Management Board. Members of the board are
appointed by recommendation for a 2 year term and are tasked with identifying, developing and
implementing strategic initiatives which are pertinent to the Bank’s operations, influencing the
sustainability and strategic objectives of the Investment Banking division.
Stephen Mallowah
Partner at TripleOkLaw
Clement Martineau
Co-Founder & Projects Director of iXAfrica DataCentreClément Martineau brings to IXAfrica, Real Estate and Construction expertise together with East Africa market knowledge. Clem arrived in Kenya in 2012 to manage the Real Estate portfolio of Orange Telkom (300+ properties across the country) and work on various other projects. Among them, Clem worked on the construction of a submarine fibre optic cable landing station (terminal "LION 2" connecting Kenya and Mayotte).
Currently, Clem is busy delivering the initial phase of fit-outs (2.25 MW of IT power) of the IXAfrica campus (total campus IT power being 22.5 MW ) as well as working on the second campus for the company.
Clément is also on the Board of the French Tech Nairobi and holds an engineering degree in Building Economics from Paris St Lambert, a reputable French building school.
Kenneth Masika
Chairman at REITs Association of KenyaMr. Masika has over 24 years of experience in the Property Industry. His specialties include Urban Property Valuations both in Kenya and in the East African region. He is also well versed in Property Management, Estate Agency Services and Feasibility Studies. His expertise spans valuation of various categories of assets including land buildings, furniture, fittings and equipment.
He holds a B.Sc. in Land Management from The University of Reading, UK. He is a Full Member of Institution of Certified Investment and Financial Analysis (ICIFA), a full member of The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK), a licensed and registered valuer by The Valuers Registration Board of Kenya and a Registered Estate Agent under the Estate Agents Act.
Mr. Masika is the immediate past CEO of the STANLIB Fahari I-REIT having joined the team running the first listed REIT in Kenya & East Africa in November 2016. During his leadership tenure, the REIT successfully grew its portfolio by acquiring a Grade ‘A’ Commercial Office building in Lavington Nairobi. Mr. Masika is a partner at Lloyd Masika Limited and heads the Agency Services. He is also the current Chairperson of the REITs Association of Kenya (RAK).
DM
David Mathu
CEO of National Housing Corporation
Peter Mayavi
Managing Director of International Housing SolutionsPeter Mayavi, Managing Director – Capital and Investor Relations International Housing Solutions, Kenya
Peter Mayavi an accomplished property development professional with over 14 years experience. He joined IHS Kenya from the Kenya Revenue Authority where he founded and headed the Construction and Property Development Division as a Chief Manager. The work at KRA included setting up the Division, property development spanning housing and commercial buildings for the Authority and property management for all the KRA Pension owned properties.
Peter also had a stint in Infrastructure Consulting, heading the local subsidiary of SMEC International as Country Manager and its head of Business Development.
His previous positions include Projects Manager for AMS Properties where he handled residential end-to-end developments, as well as overseeing commercial development. Peter has also held Project Management positions in the telecommunications sector as well as in Oil and Gas. Peter earned his BSc in Civil Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University in 2008 and an MA in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi in 2015. He’s currently pursuing a PhD in Project Finance from the University of Nairobi. He is also a corporate member of the Architectural Association of Kenya as well the International Project Finance Association.
Kenneth Mbae
CEO of Centum Real EstateKenneth joined Centum in 2010 as an intern in the real estate team and has grown to his current position though delivery of various projects including leading the setup of Pearl Marina (UG), establishing the estate and mall management business within Two Rivers Development, setting up Vipingo Development from value creations all the way to ground breaking. He also served as the Ag. Deputy Managing Director of Athena Properties.
Kenneth has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from Kenyatta University and a Harvard Graduate School of Design alumni having completed the Advanced Management Development Program. He is also a member of the Project Management Institute and Institute of Directors (Kenya).
Lucas Mbugua
Head: Corporate Planning at Mi Vida HomesLucas is a seasoned finance professional with a strong background in strategy and investment management. With twelve years of experience, he currently serves as the Head of Corporate Finance at Mi Vida Homes where his main role is in aligning business objectives with strategic initiatives. Prior to his role at Mi Vida Homes, he honed his skills as an investment manager at Quantum Power, where he expertly handled investment analysis, capital structuring, tax planning, and debt raising, successfully securing USD 60 million in debt. Lucas also gained valuable expertise during his tenure at KPMG East Africa, where he specialized in business valuations, due diligence, debt restructuring, and feasibility studies across diverse sectors in the East African region. Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from McGill University, he is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at Strathmore University to further enhance his strategic acumen and leadership abilities.
Nelly K Mbugua
Managing Director of Citiscape Valuers & Estate Agents LtdNelly is a highly experienced professional in real estate - valuation, property management and estate agency. She has over 25 years’ experience in real estate, having worked with leading real estate firms, handling a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial, and industrial properties. Nelly has effectively overseen the day-to-day property management operations of various properties, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks. Nelly is a member of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), as well as Environment Institute of Kenya (EIK). A licensed estate agent and a registered valuer.
Nelly holds a Master Degree in Project Management (UK) and a Bachelor's degree in Land Economics, a post graduate Diploma with ISK and a Certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment & Environmental Audit from African Nazarene University. Nelly is the outgoing Chairperson of The Estate Agents Registration Board.
Melisa Mclean
Investment Manager at I.H.S.Melisa Mclean –Has 20 years’ experience in the construction and development management environment as well as project sourcing and structuring of Affordable Housing residential developments. She has experience in Sub Saharan and East Africa as well as South Africa. Her current role as a Senior Investment Manager, includes Project sourcing and assessment which includes the technical assessment, determining the financial feasibility and immediate sub-place market fundamentals, structuring, and negotiating Affordable Housing residential projects, as well as presentation to credit committees and in certain instances performing the development asset management role. Previous experience includes performing a similar development management role at a construction company, with vast deal structuring and on-site implementation experience. She also worked as an investment specialist for a large financial institution as well as a financial analyst at a large commercial bank for several years, assessing potential residential developments and finally she started her career in Internal Audit for a Pension Fund, thereafter, moving to the investment management department. Melisa completed her BCom (Accounting) Degree at the University of Port Elizabeth. She also earned a BCom Honors Degree in Financial Management and Management and Cost Accounting degree, as well as a master’s degree in business leadership from the School of Business Leadership at the University of South Africa.
Shadrack Mella
Lead Valuer East Africa at JLLShadrack re-joined JLL in February 2022 as the Lead Valuer for East Africa from Acorn, a Purpose-Built Student Accommodation REIT in Kenya. At Acorn, he was responsible for acquisition, valuation, and research. He was previously with JLL between 2018 and 2021 as an Associate in the Valuation Advisory division.
His other experience is with a Kenyan real estate services company where his last role was as Property Portfolio Manager, where he oversaw the management of a portfolio of office, retail, and residential properties across the key cities in Kenya.
At JLL, Shadrack has undertaken valuation advisory assignments in over twelve countries in East, West, and Southern Africa. His experience spans several property types, including mixed-use, office, retail, industrial, residential, student accommodation, and hospitality. Shadrack is also experienced in property transactions, asset management, and feasibility studies.
Shadrack holds a BA in Land Economics and an MSc in Finance & Investments from the University of Nairobi. He is a member of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Preston Mendenhall
CEO of RendavourPreston has more than 20 years' experience in emerging markets. For Rendeavour, he leads sales, marketing and business development across the company’s new city developments. At Tatu City, he manages daily operations of the 5,000-acre Special Economic Zone in Kenya.
Previously, Preston was Head of Marketing & Public Affairs for Renaissance Group, the Moscow-based emerging markets investment firm. Prior to Renaissance, Preston was Vice President for Strategy of Russian Standard, Russia’s leading global consumer brand with interests in financial services and alcohol beverage production and distribution.
From 1993-2006, Preston was a producer and correspondent for NBC News, covering global events in the Soviet successor states, Europe, Central and South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Preston is a graduate of Cornell University and Phillips Exeter Academy.
Abdi Mohamed
CEO & Managing Director of Absa Bank Kenya PlcAbdi Mohamed is the CEO and Managing Director of Absa Bank Kenya Plc, effective from 1 May 2023. Abdi is a Kenyan with over twenty-eight (28) years of experience in the financial sector and has held various executive positions within Absa Group.
Prior to his appointment to Absa Bank Kenya, he was the Managing Director of Absa Bank Tanzania and acting Managing Executive for Retail and Business Banking, Africa Regional Operations, Absa- a role that spans multiple geographies where Absa operates within Africa.
He has also previously served as Chief Operating Officer for the Bank in Kenya.
Other roles he has held within the organization include Retail & Business Banking Director in Kenya and Zambia and Operations Efficiency Manager, Barclays Global Retail & Commercial Banking, London.
Abdi Mohamed holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) - Kenyatta University, Masters Business Administration (MBA) – Edith Cowan University and an Advanced Management Programme (IMD Business School – Switzerland).
Mehdi Morad
Vice President Operations Africa, Mauritius, Reunion & Seychelles at Accor HotelsWith over 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry across Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Mehdi has held progressive roles with leading hotel companies, including Hyatt hotels, Radisson Hotel Group & Emaar Hospitality Group. He started his successful career 18 years ago with Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile as Assistant to the Director of Revenue. His first appointment as General Manager was in 2010 at the Park Inn by Radisson Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Successive positions soon followed with the Radisson Hotel Group in Russia & Mauritius, with the latter as Cluster General Manager for two resort properties and in 2018, he moved to Dubai in quality of General Manager of the Address Boulevard Hotel. He then joined Accor as General Manager Movenpick Hotel & Residences Nairobi and Country General Manager Kenya for Accor in charge of 3 Fairmont Hotels, Ibis Styles and the ongoing projects, namely Pullman and M-Gallery.
Mehdi holds a Master’s Degree in Tourism & Hospitality Administration & Communication from the University of Perpignan in France Mehdi loves community and nature care, he enjoys fishing, wildlife photography and skiing, he is a crowned champion for supporting women in leadership. A natural leader known for public speaking and delivering masterclasses. Please join us in congratulating Mehdi on his new appointment and wishing him continued success.
Rose, HSC, FIP Mosero
Deputy Data Commissioner at Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, KenyaRose Mosero, HSC, FIP is the Deputy Data Commissioner- Compliance at the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, Kenya. Prior to taking up that position, Rose served as the Legal, Policy, and Regulatory Advisor to the Cabinet Secretary in the then, Ministry of ICT, Innovation, and Youth Affairs and was seconded to the ODPC to assist in setting up the Office as a technical data protection lead and advisor.
Rose served as a member of the Taskforce which developed the Data Protection Regulations for Kenya and was involved, in her advisory capacity, in the development of the Kenyan Data Protection Act, 2019.
Rose is a dually registered lawyer having been admitted as an Australian Legal Practitioner and an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. Rose is also a Fellow of Information Privacy having been conferred that designation by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.
Wangari Muchiri
Director: Africa of Global Wind Energy CouncilWangari Muchiri is the Director of Africa at the Global Wind Energy Council. She is a Renewable Energy Engineer and Energy Planning expert leading GWEC’s initiative to increase the development and deployment of wind power across the continent. In the last decade, Wangari has gained experience consulting in renewable energy, green buildings and sustainability throughout East Africa, Oceania and beyond.
Wangari has received several awards in her career including being named an African Power & Energy Elite, Obama Leader for Africa, A “REvolutionaries” award winner by Greenpeace, A top Woman in Wind Energy by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and a Top Woman Under 30 in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) by the Mawazo Institute during Africa Science week.
Wangari holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Renewable Energy) from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia and a Masters of Engineering (Energy Planning and Policy) from the University of Technology, Sydney.
Wangari also sits on various boards including the Kenya Green Building Society, ESI Africa Clarion Energy Advisory Board and the Buildings and Cities Journal Practitioners panel.
Wangari is passionate about ensuring a more sustainable world and hopes to play a vital role in seeing SDG 7 achieved by 2030.
Brian Muindi
Head: Corporate & Commercial Practice at TripleOkLawBrian is a partner at TripleOKLaw Advocates, LLP, an award-winning law firm recognized at the African Legal Awards 2022. He leads the firm's Corporate and Commercial Practice and has a proven track record of excellence and a deep understanding of both local and international legal landscapes. Brian's vast expertise spans across various sectors, including real estate, banking and finance, capital markets, high-value M&A, and complex corporate reorganisations. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) for both United Kingdom and Kenya branches, Brian's expertise extends to commercial alternate dispute resolution.
Brian has over 10 years of experience in deal advisory and was the principal legal adviser on the establishment of the first development REIT in the country and globally, the first purpose-built student accommodation REITs in Africa and the first REIT issuances to list on the OTC segment of the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
As a participant in the development of the REIT Toolkit, Brian will share his insights on the initiative's potential to reduce the cost and time to originate a new REIT and his unique perspective, derived from his extensive experience as legal adviser to ¾ of the authorised REITs in Kenya.
Eric Mujera
Executive Director of Identigate Integrated Solutions LimitedMr. Eric Mujera is the Executive Director of Identigate Integrated solutions Ltd, a leading Software development firm in East and central Africa.
He has a strong background and professional experience in the Technology, Telecoms and Healthcare domains having held senior leadership roles in firms like Seven Seas Technologies, Linksoft Integrated solutions and most recently Syniverse Technologies LLC a global US based Telecoms firm where he was leading the entire Sub Saharan Africa region operations.
He has a training background in Computer Science and has domain expertise and industry certifications in Technology, Telecoms, and Healthcare across the various industry verticals including but not limited to financial Services, Government institutions, Large Private Enterprises, leading Telcos and Healthcare institutions working in tandem with leading global vendors like GE ,ABBOTT, VARIAN, CISCO, ORACLE, IBM, EMC & VMWARE among man others.
He has been part of large Transformation projects across the entire sub Saharan African Market including but not limited to Huduma Kenya, Managed Equipment serves MOH, Cloud managed services project in Safaricom , among many others.
John Mulatya
Founder & Director of MAAS AdvisoryJohn Mulatya, A hands-on professional in the built environment with experience in management, business development, research, participative planning, facilitation of planning and management processes, integration of designs, programs, strategies, and policies in areas of sustainability, green building certification and construction project management.
As the founder and Director of Mulatya Africa Advisory Services (MAAS), I am excited to be part of the 10th Annual East Africa Property Summit themes Dynamic Frontier as a moderator on the Special Economic Zones sessions and its nexus as Kenya’s platform for economic growth.
With 10 years of experience in the industry, I have the knowledge and expertise to help our clients navigate the complexities of the construction and real estate markets in Africa. We are dedicated to bringing solutions to the market to solve pressing problems facing the built environment in Africa. We are committed to making a positive impact on the continent through MAAS’ innovative solutions.
Samantha Muna
Director: Business Development of Trianum Hospitality LimitedA 28-year career in hospitality spanning hotel operations, hospitality consulting and hotel development or investment advisory. Samantha is currently the co-founder, Group MD and Business Development Leader at Trianum Hospitality, East Africa’s leading 3rd party hotel management company for hotels and extended stay serviced apartments. The Trianum portfolio comprises of 7 properties, 5 independent serviced apartment complexes with 179 units, 1 hotel with 109 rooms and 1 apart hotel that has an international franchise. Our full year performance for 2022 saw recovery at 2019 levels yet with revenues 11% higher than pre-covid levels.
Samantha previously directed Hilton’s expansion in Eastern and Southern Africa and also worked with HVS working on more than 40 hospitality projects in East Africa. She has been a General Manager with the Tamarind Group and has worked with hotel asset management firm CHM in Beverly, MA. Her career spans three continents in USA, Europe and Africa.
She holds a Masters degree in Hospitality Management (MMH) specialized in Hotel Real Estate Finance from Cornell University, USA, a Bachelor of Science degree in International Hospitality Management from Hotel School Les Roches, Switzerland and a Diploma in Hotel Management and Administration from Kenya Utalii College.
Gadwel Musyoki
Director: Business Development of Bakyson Enterprises Limited
Stella Mutai
Head: Mortgage Business at HFC KenyaStella Mutai, Head of Property Finance NCBA Kenya, has over 10 years’ experience in Property Finance, Diaspora-Banking, and Retail Banking Product Development, sales and marketing in local, regional and diaspora markets.
She is an MBA Graduate in Strategic Management and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree from Daystar University.
Stella also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management from Kenya Institute of Marketing (KIM), and a Professional Diploma in Marketing and Certificate in Real Estate and Property Management.
She is a Full Member of Kenya Institute of Management and Member of Women in Real Estate (WIRE).
Allan Mutuma
Programme Manager at Data Agenda & Open Access Initiative
Tilda Mwai
Research Associate at Estate IntelTilda is a Research Associate at Estate Intel, in charge of the team’s research and insights. She is also responsible for analysing macro-economic and real estate data to generate high level insights on the real estate market across Sub-Saharan Africa. Her knowledge and experience spans all real estate sectors and includes key markets across East, West, South and North Africa.Tilda holds a Bachelors in Real Estate from the University of Nairobi and is currently pursuing an MSC in Analytics and Consultancy from Heriot Watt University.
Beatrice Mwangi
Research Manager at CAHFBeatrice Mwangi is a Senior Research Manager at the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa, and
supports the AUHF through the Lobbying and Advocacy Committee. She has 7 years’ experience in the real estate sector mainly focusing on housing, and has extensive knowledge and experience in research, data analysis, project financial analysis and project management. Beatrice holds a Bachelor’s degree in Project Planning and Management, and recently completed the Housing Finance Course for Sub-Saharan Africa at the University of Cape Town. She is currently undertaking her Masters in Project Management at Liverpool John Moores University, alongside a course in Urban Management Tools for Climate Change with IHS at the Erasmus University, Rotterdam. She is passionate about the betterment of humanity through dignified and affordable housing for all
Edwin Mwangi
Chief Business Officer at WorkpayEdwin has over 10 years of experience in banking, entrepreneurship, and business development. He is a master of building business and accelerating growth through Business Management. He has worked for the largest banks in East and Central Africa in various capacities, including bank operations, treasury, and as an Oracle ERP financial system analyst. Edwin has experience working in different regions, giving him a unique perspective on business development. He is an MBA graduate from the University of Nairobi and is currently pursuing his PhD in Business Administration. Edwin also holds a certificate in SAP ERP from SAP Academy in South Africa and is an alumnus of the Google for Startups Africa program. With his expertise in digital marketing and go-to-market strategies, Edwin champions Workpay's growth and enables other businesses to thrive through the Workpay solutions.
John Mwendwa
Advisor to CS at Ministry of Investment Trade & IndustryJohn is the Senior Advisor, Investments in the Ministry of Investments, Trade & Industry. He leads investment advisory services across public-private sector interface across all sectors in the Country. Prior to his current role he served as the Secretary/ Director General, Department of Business Reforms & Transformation where he was responsible for the development and implementation of the Business reforms agenda across Government.
He has served in a number of Government Ministries including East African Community & Regional Development; Industry, Trade and Cooperatives and Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. His earlier career in Banking saw him serve in various parts of the Barclays Group in strategy and executive management in Kenya and South Africa.
John has held various directorships including at the Business Registration Service, the Industrial Development Bank Capital. He was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) in 2018 by the President of Kenya for his outstanding role in championing the Ease of Doing Business agenda that saw Kenya rank 56th globally in 2019 up from 136th in 2014, and amongst the top most improved countries globally. John has a Masters of Commerce Degree in Finance from Strathmore University and Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Finance from Kenyatta University. He is a member of the Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies of Canada (AAFSJ) and has published several journals on topical stock market issues.
Ranee Nanji
Executive Director of Tilisi Developments PLCRanee Nanji is currently serving as the Executive Director of Tilisi Developments PLC, a mixed use, master planned and controlled development in Limuru, on the outskirts of Nairobi. She is also a Director of the Spin Ventures Group, a diversified family conglomerate.
Ranee earned a BSc in Mathematics and Business Studies from Warwick University and is a Chartered Accountant. Prior to joining the Spin Ventures Group and Tilisi in 2013, Ranee spent several years working in a FTSE-100 Company in London, before returning home to Kenya to lead the Tilisi development. As Co-CEO of Tilisi Developments PLC, Ranee played a key role in the development of the 400 acre land parcel. Under her leadership, Tilisi has evolved from a mere concept to a community, with the first businesses operational and residents living on the development.
She now serves as Executive Director and works on more strategic aspects of the project.
Patricia Njeri
Director: Business Development of Ezen FinancialsPatricia Njeri is a Director at Ezen Partners Ltd, an award-winning Real Estate Software company based in Nairobi Kenya. She holds a bachelor's degree in Land Economics from Egerton University and a Master's in Economics from The University of Nairobi. She's passionate about sales and leads the Business Development team where she has spearheaded the growth of Ezen for 13 years to become the leading software for mid-sized commercial real estate companies.
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Hilda Njoroge
RAK Secretary & Property Investment Manager at Co-op Trust Investment Services LimitedHilda has over 10 years’ experience in Investment Management with a focus on Asset and Portfolio Management, Investment Analysis and REITs. She is the head of the property business activities at CISL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Co-operative Bank of Kenya. Prior to joining CISL, Hilda worked at STANLIB where she was a core team member of the team responsible for the launch and successful listing of Kenya's first Income Real Estate Investment Trust (I-REIT) dubbed the “Fahari I-REIT” in November 2015. While at STANLIB, she also provided strategic property investment advisory services to segregated mandates. Hilda has also worked with Acorn Group Holdings where she gained experience in real estate development, feasibility studies, deal origination & execution and project finance.
She holds a MSc. in Real Estate Investments and Finance with distinction from Heriot-Watt University Scotland, United Kingdom and a B. Com Finance Honors degree from Strathmore University, Nairobi. She is a full professional member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) and the Institute of Certified Investment and Financial Analysts (ICIFA). Hilda is currently the Secretary of the REITs Association of Kenya (RAK) and serves on the Alternative Investments Committee of the Fund Managers Association (FMA) in Kenya and also sits on the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) REITs Taskforce.
Derrick Nkera
Associate Director of Turner & TownsendDerrick Nkera is the Associate Director, Turner & Townsend for Rwanda with a combined experience of 15 years in the Construction Industry across East and South Africa with specific experience in Project, Contract and Cost Management in the Infrastructure and Real Estate sectors.
Derrick holds a BSc Honours degree from the Cape Town University in South Africa and worked in South Africa for 5 years before relocating to Rwanda and managing projects on behalf of contractors, developers and financers.
Ronald Nyairo
Real Estate Developer & Angel Investor at Residency Africa & ProptechRonald is a real estate developer and angel investor. He has founded companies active in both residential real estate development and flexible offices in Kenya. He is currently Managing Director of Residency Africa, and Director of Workstyle Africa. As an angel investor, he has supported companies in fintech, insure-tech, health-tech and e-commerce across five markets in Africa & North America.
Prior to Real Estate development, Ronald worked in strategy and finance consulting at McKinsey & Company and PwC, as well as in investments at Scotia Bank Group. His work experience spans 8 African countries, North America and Israel. Ronald holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University, Canada.
Hano Oberholzer
Specialist Edge Consultant at Alleyroads Group (Pty) LtdMy name is Hano Oberholzer. I am specialist EDGE consultant for the Alleyroads Group. Alleyroads is an Award-winning, leading black-owned national-scale property developer and landlord focusing on two core areas.
• Affordable residential housing
• Retail and industrial property
Alleyroads' vision is to remain a long-term holder of property for rental stock and unlock sustainable value from its assets under management through strategic development and acquisitions. I qualified in sales & marketing in the early 90s where, after I joined Senwes, an Agricultural company with an annual turnover of R 3,5bil. I have completed various management courses that applied to my field of business—equipping me with vast experience in the Agricultural sector, Industrial sector, and Building & construction sector with the goal to focus
on sustainable futures.
With 10 Years in the Agricultural Sector as a business unit manager, that finished first in 2011 overall of all 38 retail branches on bottom-line profitability, also contributing R 163mil to the company turnover. During my stay, received the accolades for Best Mechanization Finalist 2010, Best retail Branch 2010 & 2011. I spent eight years in the Industrial sector, and I was working for a large tyre servicing company in South Africa, being nominated as one of the fastest growing business managers in South Africa, also contributing to growth for the brand on an international level in Kenya for just over three years, focusing on the development and securing of market share in the Kenyan market. In 2015 -2017 I was spreading my wings in property development, unlocking the value of just over R 80mil in the retirement accommodation market space.
After which, I have been focusing on adding value to all aspects of the property development sector within the South African market but more especially focusing on greening solution, including utility management and green energy management. I have extensive experience in new business development which stimulates me as an individual with the ultimate aim of achieving success in each new venture.
I have successfully competed and completed six full Ironman Triathlon events and several multi-stage mountain bike events. I enjoy reading up on new business start-ups to understand how and what the founders did to be successful in their field. If I'm not reading or spending time with the family, you will find me exploring new single tracks in the bush on my Mountain Bike. In closing, I am a dedicated business developer passionate about staying at the forefront of technology and creating innovative solutions to complex problems.
Louise Oertel
Director: Commercial of Alleyroads Group (Pty) LtdI am currently the Commercial Director of Alleyroads, an award-winning, leading black-owned, national scale property developer and landlord focused on affordable residential housing (“Alleyroads Residential”), and retail and industrial property (“Alleyroads Retail & Industrial”).
Tasked with implementing strategies aligned to Alleyroads’ goals and objectives in order to accelerate growth drawing extensively on my experience as the caretaker of shareholder value.
Throughout my career within a broad range of investment sectors, I have honed my financial acumen, developing an ability to identify key financial indicators and leverage them to drive value for all stakeholders.
Prior to joining Alleyroads I was a director of Vulindlela Holdings, responsible for managing the company's finances and overseeing private equity investments. In this role, I gained valuable experience in deal structuring, financial analysis, risk management, due diligence. I worked closely with the investment team to identify new opportunities and develop investment strategies and playing the leading role in securing funding for various projects.
Ebele Ogbue
Regional CEO, East & Southern Africa of United Bank for Africa Plc
Kehinde Ogundimu
CEO & Board Chair of NMRC & AUHFKehinde Ogundimu is an award-winning professional with over 30 years of corporate work experience spanning financial advisory services, oil & gas and diversified banking in Africa and America. He has held senior leadership positions at various blue-chip companies including PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Chevron in Nigeria and at Pepco Energy Services, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and Capital One Bank in the United States of America.
Kehinde joined NMRC is 2015 as the pioneer Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer and was appointed as the CEO in 2018. He is passionate about the economic empowerment of citizens to advance development around the world. Energetically involved in the real estate finance and advocacy, Kehinde is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Union for Housing Finance (AUHF) a not-for-profit organization based in South Africa.
Kehinde holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc Honors) degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Ibadan and obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Lagos, Nigeria. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA), a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (FCTI) and Member, Institute of Directors of Nigeria (M.IoD).
Kehinde has attended several executive management programs in leading educational institutions including Harvard Business School, University of Cambridge, University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Christabel Ojuok
Co-Founder & COO of RentScore
John Okwiri
Ag. CEO of Konza TechnopolisJohn Paul Okwiri is the Acting Chief Executive Officer
of Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA), the agency mandated to oversee the development of Konza Technopolis which is a key flagship project of Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic development portfolio.
Since joining KoTDA in 2015, he quickly become a leader in Supply chain Management known to span the breadth of investment strategies and projects to transform resource mobilization of some of the largest projects in Konza Technopolis through the procurement process.
Mr. Okwiri provided strategic leadership in the procurement and implementation of Konza Phase 1 Horizontal Infrastructure, leading to the successful delivery of Konza phase 1 Horizontal Infrastructure for Konza Technopolis. He also led in the procurement and implementation of an Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) project, leading to the establishment of Kenya Advance Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), contributing significantly to Kenya's knowledge economy. Further, his business acumen was instrumental in strategically mobilizing resources for the construction of a tier 3 National Data Center (Uptime Certified) at the Konza Technopolis which is fully operationalized transforming the cloud infrastructure and data center services in Kenya.
Furthermore, John Okwiri led the successful bid by Konza Technopolis to host the 40th International Association of Science Parks (IAPS) 2024 Conference, showcasing his excellent leadership and organizational skills. His accomplishments demonstrate his strategic vision, exceptional management capabilities, and strong dedication to advancing the development of the Kenyan economy.
He holds an MBA in Procurement & Supply Chain Management from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting. John is a Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS-UK) and of the Kenya Institute of Supplies & Management.
Johnstone Oltetia
CEO & Board Member and Treasurer of KMRC & AUHF- COLLECTIVE ACTION TO MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING A REAL POSSIBILITY: WELCOME TO THE AUHF
- EXTENDING THE ACCESS FRONTIER FOR HOUSING FINANCE: INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR OFFTAKE
Johnstone Oltetia is a finance and investment executive with over 25 years’ experience. He is the CEO & Managing Director at the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC), a non-deposit taking mortgage refinance pioneer in Kenya, where he is responsible for its successful establishment and operationalization. He provides strategic, financial and operational leadership for the company.
His career includes roles at the National Treasury of Kenya as a senior financial sector adviser responsible for financial sector policy reforms on banking, micro finance, capital markets, pensions and insurance.
Prior to this, he held progressively responsible positions at the CMA Kenya leading teams responsible for oversight of Bonds and Equities trading, fund management, investment banking stockbroking and investment advisory services.
Wolfgang Omondi
Head of Trading at Absa GroupWolfgang has over 20 years’ experience in Financial Markets having worked in senior roles for banks and financial institutions in Kenya. He has contributed immensely to the development of the Treasury and Markets business both in the country and East Africa and served on a number of market committees.
He joined Barclays Bank as a Senior Trader in 2013 and rose to become Head of Trading, a role he currently holds. He has previously worked for Stanbic, KCB, Standard Chartered, Ecobank and GenAfrica.
Wolfgang holds an MBA (Finance) from the University of Nairobi and a B.Comm. (Accounting) from Shivaji University (India). He also holds the ACI certification.
Ronald Omyonga
Co-Founder & Chief Relationship Officer of iBuild GlobalRonald is a co-founder and Chief Relationship Officer at iBUILD Global Inc. the creators of the iBUILD mobile and web application, citizen-to-citizen (C2C) housing market disruption tool that empowers people to build, reversing their housing plight through small-scale construction based on each individual's unique needs. iBUILD empowers a citizen-focused, virtual marketplace where consumers directly engage with: architects, lenders, artisans, material suppliers, and certified contractors. iBUILD equips small scale construction markets in developing nations to scale up and to meet their exponentially growing housing demand. The iBUILD mobile and web application is designed to lower the transaction costs of construction by providing citizens direct access to a dynamic ecosystem of competitive housing construction services and by creating transparency of transactions across all stakeholders throughout the entirety of a project. Citizen- initiated housing construction to meet unique individual needs, leveraging a local ecosystem of contractors and laborers, lenders and suppliers in a competitive marketplace, is the most cost-effective and expedient solution to stimulate construction at scale in order to address the acute affordable housing shortage.
Ronald is also a member of the Board of Directors, Engineers Without Borders Canada. Prior to co-founding iBUILD, Ronald, an architect, was the Housing Support Services Specialist for the Mastercard Foundation supported HMF project at Habitat For Humanity International based in Kenya. His over 20 years work experience has seen him work in various sectors from slum upgrading, microenterprise development, multi-sectoral rural development, human rights approach to design and delivery of basic services in underserved communities including water, sanitation and solid waste management, affordable housing technology and design options and how you interlink that with financing.
Tom Onyango
Senior Partner: Head of Real Estate & Banking Practice at TripleOklaw AdvocatesTook my Degree in Bachelor of Laws at University of Nairobi and graduated in September 1986.
Was admitted to the Bar on 15th November 1987.
Attained Global Executive Masters in Business Administration, USIU, Nairobi (August 2011)
Through the last 35 years I have gained extensive training in the Legal Service industry in Kenya and the region, making me self-motivated, resourceful and proactive with the ability to think creatively and the will to learn.
I am an acknowledged expert in my chosen field of Real Estate and Banking. Although those are my primary areas of practice, at the present time I spend more time grooming the next generation of leaders in the firm to ensure continuity of the firm going forward and to maintain integrity in the practice of law.
Roop Vivek Pandit
Head Office Manager at Voi Wildlife LodgeRoop is the current Nairobi Operations Manager for Voi Wildlide Lodge, Manyatta and Man eaters Camps. In her current position, Roop handles the day to day operations of all 3 camps, with a specific focus on cost management and revenue generation strategies. Having joined the family owned and run business 10 years ago, Roop has seen the effects first hand of local and international events upon her specific section of the tourism sector, which has caused adaptability and flexibility to become key parts of her ethos.
Li Xuan Peng
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Endeavours Construction CompanyI am a co-founder and the managing director of Endeavours Construction Company Limited responsible for overseeing all the projects at the company.
I hold a degree in bachelor of Science in Construction Project management. My skills and experience have enabled me to successfully execute high end, Standard and Low-cost projects in Kenya, both as a Contractor and a Developer. Over 10 years, I have led both administrative and technical aspects of the company.
We have done Naserian Palatial Houses for County Pension Fund, Kibera Mixed Development, Stoni Athi phase 2 and Kisumu Kanyakwar for National Housing Corporation and Proposed Nyaatha plaza for Archdiocese of Nyeri among other as a Contractor. We have done InDesign Makumbi Park and Proposed Leo Residence among others as a Developer.
Dennis Quanash
Kenya, Ghana & Nigeria Lead - EDGE Green Building Market Transformation Program at IFCDennis Papa Odenyi Quansah is a Green Building Lead at the International Finance Corporation where he leads the IFC EDGE Green Building Market Transformation Program across Western and Eastern Africa and serves as a support for the Africa sub region. He works with IFC’s global partners in green building certification and is responsible for identifying early EDGE adopters amongst commercial and residential developers, financial institutions, industry organizations, and other stakeholders; presenting the technical and business case for EDGE; and assisting in registering projects for EDGE certifications. Papa Odenyi works with national and local governments to ensure EDGE is integrated into incentives and policy planning and to assist governments create green building codes on national and local levels
He is also an Urban Development professional with a multi-disciplinary background. He has experience working in the built environment in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya and other countries in Africa and has participated in several urban redevelopment projects. He has over the past 12 years provided specific technical inputs for various real estate projects in Africa. His expertise includes Green Buildings, Sustainable Real Estate Development, Real Estate Management, Real Estate Valuation and Business Development.
He holds an MSc in Urban Policy and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science, (LSE) in the UK and an Undergraduate degree in Land Economy from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology in Ghana. He is also a member of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors..
Christiaan Rademan
Director of Rider Levett Bucknall
Graeme Reid
CEO of Tilisi
Matthew Renshaw
Senior Director: Project & Development Services, MEA of JLLMatthew has held various executive position having worked and led teams across Africa and in the United Kingdom. This has involved key strategic roles across project deliver and the management of business and project teams. Matthew has experience that covers multiple sectors, including residential, commercial, hospitality and mission critical facilities – Data Centres and Healthcare. His expertise is a particular focus on planning and delivery strategy from pre-development to construction of Capital Projects.
Matthew started is career gaining experience with an International General Contractor where he held the role of commercial engineer for projects across Africa and in the United Kingdom – thereafter holding a Project Director position for a global design firm. This role included the delivery of Design & Build projects through the bid, planning and delivery stages of the project. Followed by various consulting roles as a Strategic Advisor for Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) in the UK and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for the Department of Health, South Africa
More recently Matthew has played an integral role in the management of teams and projects across Sub-Saharan and North Africa – including project controls, planning & programming, cost reporting, design management, risk management and reporting.
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Eng. Esther Segero
President at WIREEng. Segero is a seasoned registered Professional Civil Engineer and the President of the Women In Real Estate Society in Kenya. She leads the Construction Department at BuildX Studio – a design build, B Corporation in Kenya.
Eng. Segero earned her bachelor’s degree from Moi University, and an MBA from The University of Nairobi. She is a Young Africa Leadership _ Mandela Washington fellow with a keen interest in entrepreneurship, sustainable construction and women leadership. She is passionate about the prospects of more women in construction, real estate and the future opportunities it provides in construction.
“Engineering is the art of directing the great sources of power in nature for the use and convenience of man.”
Ashmi Shah
Retail Portfolio Manager at Knight FrankAshmi specializes in retail management, retail agency & portfolio accounting. She has expertise in these areas spanning close to two decades. Prior to joining Knight Frank, Ashmi has worked with Colliers International (Australia), Jones Lang Lasalle (Australia) and DTZ Debenhem Tie Leung (UK).
At Knight Frank, Ashmi provides integrated services to corporate and individual developers in Nairobi.
She identifies and oversees due diligence for cross border ventures for local, national and international retailers. She is also in the business drafting, negotiating, and monitoring all leases, licenses and sub-contracted services, aiming to optimize value per sq. ft in the retail portfolio.
Seeta Shah
Senior Affordable Housing Specialist at FSD KenyaSeeta Shah is the Senior Affordable Housing Specialist at FSD Kenya, which launched its Affordable Housing program in 2020 with FCDO funding.
FSD’s Affordable Housing program spans all submarkets including incremental housing, informal settlements, urban rental and formal housing.
Seeta has over 25 years of international real estate experience focusing on affordable housing investment, policy and research. Her practical experience in the field allows her to facilitate engagement between government, private sector, DFIs, NGOs and the wider public, to improve the enabling environment for affordable housing.
Seeta has an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA from the University of Cambridge, and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Institution of Surveyors of Kenya. She serves voluntarily on the Board of Friends of City Park.
Tejas Shah
Director of PVP HospitalityTejas Shah, is part of PVP Hospitality, providing support to Owners to create formal structures around the development and asset management of hotel projects, planned and operational, in the region. The goal is to provide solution-centric advice while keeping in mind the interests of all stakeholders.
Prior to joining PVP Hospitality, Tejas worked with Hyatt Hotels Corporation as the Regional Vice President – Development, in Sub-Saharan Africa. In his 13+ years tenure in Development, Tejas focused on growing Hyatt’s portfolio in varied emerging markets across different geographies in Africa and the Indian subcontinent. He established strong relationships in the industry and worked on 50+ deals across 40 cities in 10 countries. A Chartered Accountant by education, Tejas brings an analytical approach to the business with a strong focus on building connections.
Zoravar Singh
Managing Director of IjengaZoravar Singh is a Director of iJenga, an integrated real estate development and investment company. Zoravar also serves as a Director of the Kenya Property Developers Association where he Chairs the Affordable Housing Task Force.
Previously, Zoravar served as General Manager for Agriculture at Equity Group Foundation, CEO of Community Lab with The Earth Institute at Columbia University, where he focused on health systems and integrated development in developing countries, and real estate investment banker. Zoravar started his career as a management and technology consultant at Accenture.
Zoravar received a Bachelors of Commerce in Operations Management from the University of Alberta and a Masters of Business Administration in real estate and finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Godfrey Danisa Tapela
Senior Investment Officer at IFCGodfrey Tapela is a Senior Investment Officer at IFC which is the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group. He is based in Nairobi, Kenya and is responsible for investments in the commercial property including affordable housing, retail and tourism sectors.
Godfrey joined IFC in 2001 in Johannesburg, South Africa where for a number of years he was responsible for the origination, execution and supervision of real sector deals in several countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016 he moved to Nairobi.
Prior to IFC he worked in South Africa for ABSA in investment banking, Eskom as a Projects Engineer and for DLV Consulting Engineers as well as in Zimbabwe for Stewart Scott Consulting Engineers as a Consulting Engineer.
He holds a Master in Business Leadership (MBL) from UNISA, a BSc Electrical Engineering (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe, a Graduate Diploma in Marketing from the Institute of Marketing Management and is a registered Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa.
Stuart Teare
Associate Director of Turner & Townsend
Kevin Teeroovengadum
Board Member at Janus Continental GroupKevin Teeroovengadum is a Board Director of JCG (Janus Continental Group) comprised of market-leading companies in the Energy, Real Estate, Conservation and Hospitality sectors based across 10 countries in Africa. Kevin holds a BSc in Economics, MBA and MSc in Finance from Leicester University, UK. He worked for KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst & Young in corporate finance and strategic consultancy before moving to Loita Capital Partners Group based in South Africa. He joined Actis in 2007, the leading Emerging Market Private Equity Firm, as a Director as part of their Africa real estate team where he led a number of transactions and exits. He was the co-founder and CEO of AttAfrica in 2013 which became the premier investor of shopping malls in Africa. He is a frequent writer and speaker at conferences globally and currently serves on numerous boards of companies in Mauritius and South Africa and also advises a number of companies in Africa leveraging his 22 years of experience in Africa in financial services, real estate/hospitality sector. He is also the co-founder of ProptechAfrica.
Daniel Trappler
Senior Director: Development - sub-Saharan Africa of Radisson Hotel GroupBased in Cape Town, Daniel focuses on accelerating and executing the Radisson Hotel Group growth strategy in the English-speaking countries across Sub-Sahara Africa, particularly, South Africa. Another key focus in Daniel’s portfolio is the raising of finance for hotel owners in order to expedite both new developments and conversions across the African continent, working closely with the rest of the African Development team. Daniel recently joined Radisson Hotel Group after six years at HTI Consulting, focusing on hotel development, acquisition finance raising and hotel brokerage. Having held previous positions at JP Morgan (London), LaSalle Investment Management (London), and JLL (Johannesburg), Daniel will significantly aid Radisson Hotel Group’s owners and their financial requirements with his wealth of knowledge and expertise in debt finance raising requirements of owners, deal-making and financial analysis.
Daniel brings complementary skills to the development team across the continent and is a key member in driving Radisson Hotel Groups new five-year plan for Africa. A South African national, Daniel holds a Business Science Degree from the University of Cape Town, where he also completed his master’s in financial economics and international trade.
Wayne Troughton
CEO of HTI ConsultingWayne is the Chief Executive Officer of HTI Consulting. He has been involved in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industries for 30 years. He has held operational management positions in 5-star hotels for 9 years in the United Kingdom and South Africa working for international management companies such as: Three Cities Hotels, Sun international and Forte Hotels. He began consulting in 1999 with Grant Thornton. In 2003 Wayne left Grant Thornton to start HTI Consulting.
Wayne has experience working in or consulting to clients for the past 20 years and has worked in over 40 countries in Africa and the Middle East. Key skills include brokerage, asset management, operator selection and management contract negotiation, due diligence, financial analysis, feasibility analysis.
Darren Veenhuis
Head: Corporate Finance at GRIT REAL ESTATE INCOME GROUPExperienced Institutional Financial services sector professional with a background in capital markets & investment banking across London, Europe and Africa. A Chartered accountant by training and a CFA charter holder, his prior experience included roles with Ernst & Young, JP Morgan (London) and latterly Deutsche bank (London) as head of Emerging market equity sales. Currently holds the position of corporate finance and investor management principal with LSE listed Grit Real Estate Income Group supporting the Group’s capital market activities.
Jean-Sebastian Vimar
Director-EA: Strategic Consulting of JllSébastien joined the JLL Strategic Consulting team in 2021 as a Director to oversee consulting assignments in the Eastern African region. His role consists in helping clients with complex real estate investment and development strategy as well as corporate organization and portfolio strategy. He is based in Djibouti.
Prior joining JLL, Jean-Sébastien was specialized business intelligence advisory which he provided through his own firm. He was often working with other consulting firms such as JLL and especially the Strategic Consulting team which he joined in 2021.
He started his career in the real estate industry in 2013 as an analyst in the consulting department at JLL in Paris. In 2014, he joined the company Deltatore in Paris as a Business Intelligence Manager. During this experience he worked on market watch, competitive analysis, standards, technologies, and anticipation of product releases.
In 2016, he joined the company Techno Pro in Djibouti and worked on rental management issues.
In 2018, he created his own consulting firm focused on Business Intelligence and real estate advisory works which enabled him to conduct numerous assignments across the African continent.
Jean-Sébastien holds a Master Degree in Marketing, Communication and Media from EDHEC Business School in France with a specialization in project management. He holds an MBA in Business Strategy and European Intelligence and has a Master Degree, State Title, in Business Intelligence from EEIE.
David Irungu Waggema
Chief Officer: Strategy, Risk and Compliance & Treasure at REITs Association of KenyaA seasoned capital markets, Business Development, Innovation, ICT, Strategy, Risk & Compliance professional of integrity and excellence. A focused and results oriented team leader/player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Privileged to have a wealth of over 19 years (13 years in management) in the Capital Markets and ICT culminating in being the Chief Officer, Cash Markets & Chief Officer – Strategy, Risk and Compliance at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. He has a singular goal to transform the financial markets in Kenya, Africa and beyond! Has honed various valuable skills such as strategy formulation, Business planning and modelling, innovation and change leadership, securities trading, programme, project and operations management, IT & Corporate governance.
Has had first-hand exposure and involvement in the various developments in the capital markets in Kenya such as the implementation of the Central Depository System, the Automated Trading System, Wide Area Network, Automation of Bonds, Setup of the Derivatives market, REITs, rolling out of the Broker Back Office system, Internet & Mobile Trading, M-Akiba, Ibuka programme, issuance of the first Green Bond in Kenya, Green I-REIT & D-REITs as well as leading in the NSE Mid-Term Strategy 2020 – 2024 review and implementation as well as championing the Enterprise Risk & Compliance Management frameworks as well as the Business Continuity and Data Privacy & Protection programmes.
He has global exposure to capital markets spanning from the Nairobi Securities Exchange, the London Stock Exchange, Korea Exchange, the Dubai Financial Markets, The Egyptian Exchange, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Irungu Waggema sits as the past Chair of the Product Review Committee at the Nairobi Securities Exchange Plc., and current Treasurer of the REITS Association of Kenya, RAK. He was the past Secretary of the Disruptive Technology Working Group of African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) and currently a member of the commercial Committee of ASEA, member of the M-Akiba Implementation Team, the African Block Chain Alliance, World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) - Fintech working group and the ISACA. He has also authored the M-Akiba Bond Issuance Report, 2018 and part of the editorial team for a white paper for the UNECE on the use of Blockchain Technologies, Trade Facilitation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, participating in writing for the AUDA NEPAD on the adoption of block chain for
Africa
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Wangechi Wahome
Associate Partner | Advocate at Sisule & Advocates LLPWangechi Wahome is a highly accomplished Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and an experienced Patent Agent, with over a decade of supporting tech startups. As an Associate Partner at Sisule & Associates LLP, she specializes in legal, innovations, and strategy. Wangechi is a crucial figure in the startup ecosystem, with a deep understanding of company setup and structuring, as well as corporate governance. Her expertise also extends to navigating the regulatory framework surrounding disruptive innovations, particularly in the areas of PropertyTech, Agritech,Fintech, and Edtech.
In addition to her work at Sisule & Associates, Wangechi is the CEO of Anza Village, a startup ecosystem enabler with a presence in 16 African countries. She has also held key positions as a Tech Lawyer in prominent organizations such as Safaricom, IEBC, and Kenya Accreditation Services. With her extensive experience in both the legal and tech industries, Wangechi is a sought-after advisor and mentor to many young entrepreneurs.
Wangechi's exceptional communication skills and attention to detail make her a trusted partner for clients seeking legal support around innovation. Her passion for enabling innovation and commitment to supporting startups have earned her a reputation as a leading figure in the startup ecosystem. When she's not working, Wangechi enjoys farming, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Eng. Edmond Wakachunga
Data Center Design Manager / Mechanical Engineer at Remax Consult LtdEdmond Wakachunga graduated from Moi University in 2003 with a B.Tech (Hons) in Production Engineering. He is a member of the following professional associations:
•Registered Consulting Engineer, Engineers Board of Kenya (No. E448) –
•Member, Institute of Engineers of Kenya (M-4273)
•Member, Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (No. 116)
And he also has the following professional accreditations:
•Accredited Tier Designer – Uptime Institute (No.715)
•Certified Network Infrastructure Design Professional (CNIDP)-CNET
Kioi Wambaa
Managing Director: Kenya of I.H.S.Kioi is the Co-Managing Director for IHS Kenya responsible for Credit and Portfolio Management. He comes with over 28 years’ experience in Construction, Engineering, Development Management and Real Estate Investment. Over the years he has gained experience in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa across different asset classes working for sovereign backed asset owners and blue chip Development and Construction companies. He holds an MBA from Bradford School of Management in the UK, an Honours Degree in Civil Engineering from Loughborough University in the UK and a Diploma in Building Engineering from the Kenya Polytechnic. He is affiliated to the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, the Institution of Civil Engineers in the UK, The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in the UK and The Urban Land Institute in the US.
Stephen Wanjala
Executive Director of HDFC- Housing and Development Finance ConsultantsStephen Wanjala serves as the Executive Director for Housing and Development Finance Consultants (HDFC) (Africa) Ltd, oversees the design and implementation of innovative projects in the affordable shelter finance in Africa. Stephen is leading initiatives to promote action research in housing finance programs and stimulating investment in the affordable housing finance sector.
He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial sector, including extensive work experience in housing finance and development finance. He has been a leading expert in housing finance in Africa, and is known for his expertise on the finance and regulatory components.
Allan Wantenaar
VP: Advisory Services at HTI ConsultingAllan Wantenaar formed a strong foundation for his career as a specialist Hotel Advisory Consultant, having worked for international corporates who specialise in this sector, including Grant Thornton (now BDO) and JLL, before joining HTI Consulting in early 2019. Allan has worked in the consulting space for over ten years with over 70 completed projects in markets throughout South Africa as well as countries elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe (amongst others). His advisory assignments include Feasibility Studies, Due Diligences, Operator Selections, Valuations and Management Contract Negotiations.
Ciru Wanyoike
Group Commercial Director of Mi VidaCiru Wanyoike is the Group Commercial Director at Mi Vida and Garden City. She oversees the commercializing of the entire Garden City estate, with a goal of maximizing the value of the portfolio; that includes a premier retail mall(Garden City Mall), modern residential units (Garden City Residences) and Garden City Business Park with Grade A office space. She also heads Auris Property Management, a sister company, providing a full fledge of property services. Auris Property Management provides; property management/facility management services, sales and marketing services, and project management services to Actis portfolio projects and third parties alike.
Ciru has over 16 years of combined experience in real estate and finance. She has worked in both USA and Kenyan markets, where she dealt with both commercial and residential real estate projects, including working on restructuring complex real estate transactions. She also serves on several Boards where she is keen on corporate governance.
Ciru holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Psychology from Boston University (Boston, USA). She also holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and a Masters in Finance, both from Bentley University (Boston, USA).
Karimi Warui
Vice President: Investment Banking at Renaissance CapitalKarimi Warui is currently the Head of Investment Banking for Renaissance Capital EA. She has over 16 years’ experience in the Investment Banking and Capital Markets. She previously worked at I&M Bank as a Corporate and Strategic Planning Manager and also held a managerial position in Investment Management Services (IMS) and in I&M Capital Limited. Prior to that she held the position of Corporate Finance Analyst at Dyer and Blair Investment Bank.
As part of the Investment Banking team at RenCap, Karimi has led and coordinated landmark transactions notably: the establishment of the US$ 75mn Acorn Student Accommodation D-REIT and I-REIT; the acquisition of 49% stake in KEG; LeapFrog sale of 30% of their holding in Goodlife Pharmacy; KenGen Rights Issue of USS 263mn that remains the largest Rights Issue in East Arica; the largest capital raise in Rwanda by the BK Group Rights Issue of US$70mn, and the IPO and listing of Cipla QCIL in Uganda, that was the first pharmaceutical company to list in East and Central Africa.
Reinhard Winsauer
Senior Transactor at RMB
Gerhard Zeelie
Head: Property Finance Africa at NedbankGerhard has 14 years’ experience in property finance and has held various senior positions in retail and investment banking. A chartered accountant with an MCom (cum laude) from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, Gerhard was the Head of Real Estate Finance: Africa Regions at Standard Bank before joining Nedbank in 2018.