Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference 2017 Speaker Highlights in Pictures

This year's Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference welcomed some of the most inspirational women entrepreneurs from across the African continent to share their stories, inspire, and connect with each other and the next generation of women entrepreneurs.

A speaker line-up of 30 of Africa's most respected, experienced and inspirational women entrepreneurs representing 12 countries on the continent, took to the podium and the speaker panels to share their considerable insights. Each panel discussion looked to tackle some of the most important topics and challenges facing the growth and development of Africa's women entrepreneurs. The conversation was lively, insightful, passionate and filled with informative take-aways for the audience. 

Welcomes & Open Session Speakers

Melanie Hawken

Founder & CEO, Lionesses of Africa

Angela Mhlanga

Head of Insurance-Wealth, Standard Bank (South Africa)

Lulu Rasebotsa

Managing Director, Liberty Life (Botswana)

Tara Fela-Durotoye

Founder & CEO, House of Tara International (Nigeria)

Dr Victoria Kisyombe

Founder, SELFINA (Tanzania) 

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Panel 1: Trailblazing Women in Manufacturing

Kofo Akinkugbe

Founder, Secure ID (Nigeria)

Kate Quartey-Papafio

Founder, Reroy Cables (Ghana)

Mayleen Kyster

Founder & Executive Chairman, Africa Steel Holdings (South Africa)

Ally Angula

Group Managing Director & Co-founder, Leap Holdings (Pty) Ltd (Namibia)

Flora Mutahi

Founder & CEO, Melvin Marsh International & Chairperson, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (Kenya)

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Panel 2: The Change Makers - Africa's Women Eco-Warriors

Jayshree Naidoo

Head of Standard Bank Incubator and Interim CEO Feenix Trust (South Africa)

Dr Gladys Kalema Zikusoka

Founder & CEO, Gorilla Conservation Coffee (Uganda)

Chioma Ukonu

Co-founder and COO, RecyclePoints (Nigeria)

Vere Shaba

Founder & Director, Shaba & Ramplin Green Building Solutions (South Africa)

Lorna Rutto

Founder & CEO, EcoPost (Kenya)

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Panel 3: Funding the Next Generation of Women Entrepreneurs

Polo Leteka

Co-founder & Executive Director, IDF Capital & Co-founder of Alithea Identity Managers (South Africa)

Phuti Mahanyele

Executive Chairperson, Sigma Capital (South Africa)

Andrea Bohmert

Partner, Knife Capital (South Africa)

Heather Sonn

Managing Director, Gamiro Investment Group (South Africa)

Juliana Rotich

Advisor, African Technology Ventures (Kenya)

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Panel 4 - The Brand Builders Going Global

Monalisa Zwambila

Founder & Group CEO, Riverbed (South Africa)

Ntsiki Biyela

Founder, Aslina Wines (South Africa)

Renchia Droganis

Founder, Africology (South Africa)

Yodit Eklund

Founder, Bantu Wax (Senegal)

Lilly Alfonso

Founder, CEO & Head Designer, Lilly Alfonso (Malawi)

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Panel 5 - Leveraging Technology for Social Good

Ellie Hagopian

Head of Wi-Fi Strategy, Liquid Telecom & Entrepreneur-in-Residence, CSIR

Rapelang Rabana

Founder, Rekindle Learning (South Africa)

Juliana Rotich

Co-founder, Ushahidi and BRCK Inc (Kenya)

Nkemdilim Begho

Founder, Future Software Resources (Nigeria)

Catherine Mahugu

Founder, Soko(Kenya)

Suzana Moreira

Founder, moWoza (Mozambique)