Inclusive FinTech Forum

Economist,  specialised in Public Finance. Professional with over 20 years of acquired experience, with extensive knowledge in the planning, finance, public budget and blue economy sectors. He has experience in analytical skills, results-orientated planning, financial analysis of reports on the issue of good governance and structural reforms of Public Companies. He has also gained experience with the various negotiations between the World Bank, the IMF and the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe on different programmes. Development and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches to macroeconomic issues, especially public budgeting, budget execution and public reform issues. 
Moscow University - (1989 - 1994); Degree and Master's Degree in Economics.
Governor of the Central Bank of São Tomé and Príncipe (since December 2022). 
Economic Advisor to the President of the Republic (March 2019 - October 2021). 
Minister of Finance, Trade and Blue Economy (December 2016 - November 2018). 
Minister of Finance and Public Administration (November 2014 - December 2016). 
Adviser to the Minister of Planning and Finance (November 2012 - October 2014). 
Minister of Finance and International Cooperation (August 2010 - November 2012). 
Director of the Treasury (January 2010 - August 2010). 
Director of the Budget (March 2001 - December 2009).

Archie Hesse is the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) Limited – a wholly owned subsidiary of the Central Bank with the mandate to transform Ghana into an electronic payments society.

Archie is credited with the transformation of GhIPSS into a self-sustaining and industry transforming organization since becoming CEO in 2012.

Until his appointment as CEO in 2012, Archie served as the General Manager, Projects and Business Development Department where he led the implementation of a number of digital infrastructures to digitize payments and promote digital financial inclusion such as the National Biometric Smart Card Banking and Payment System –named e-zwich, the digitization of the clearing of cheques using the Cheque Codeline Clearing (CCC) with cheque truncation System and the Automated Clearing House (ACH) systems for direct credit and direct debit.

Under his leadership, GhIPSS implemented significant payment system transformational infrastructures and projects such as the nationwide domestic acquiring network and card scheme – gh-link, the GhIPSS Instant Pay (GIP) - an instant interbank account-to-account funds transfer system – Third in Africa at its introduction, the Mobile Money Interoperability platform – first platform level mobile money interoperability in Africa, the GhQR Code service which is the first National Universal QR code payment service in Africa and recently GhanaPay, first universal bank-led mobile money service in Africa.

Archie is a member of the Payment Systems Advisory Committee.

Until he joined GhIPSS, Archie worked for BMW Group for over a decade, leading various IT transformation initiatives in Logistics, Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing in Germany, the United States, UK, and South Africa.

Batya Blankers, is the Founder and CEO of Chancen International (CI).   CI offers excluded youth in Africa access to high quality skills development that leads to employment.  Utilizing an innovative and sustainable financing model known as the Income Share Agreement (ISA), students who join the CHANCEN community sign fair and ethical contracts to repay a percentage of their salaries over a set number of years when they graduate from rigorously evaluated education programs.  
 
Batya was born in South Africa and was given access to university in Germany through participation in an Income Share Agreement.  As a beneficiary herself, Batya is passionate about offering an ethical and fair financial aid model to fellow Africans to ensure more individuals have equal opportunities in accessing education on the continent and a role in building strong and peaceful economies.
 
In 2016, Batya led a feasibility study to assess the landscape for implementing ISAs in Rwanda and South Africa.  Confronted with a strong sense of urgency from education providers for an ethical and sustainable student financing product, she secured funding to launch a pilot in Rwanda in 2018 with two education partners.  Over the last six years, Batya has built and led a team of 57 in facilitating access to high-quality education that leads to employment for over 4000 young people with 12+ education partners. That number is expected to reach 16,000 by 2026 thanks to the successful establishment of a $40M blended finance vehicle and over $4M in philanthropic support for technology, market expansion and organizational development.  
 
Through her work, Batya has become a recognised expert on fair and ethical student finance and is invited to speak regularly and share learnings.  Some of her recent engagements include the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Business Forum and SOCAP in San Francisco as well as CIES in Washington DC.  Batya was a 2019 Ranier Arnhold Fellow with the Mulago Foundation and holds an MBA from African Leadership University.  

Carmelle M. Cadet is the Founder and CEO of EMTECH, a technology company working with central banks around the world to make their financial infrastructures inclusive and resilient by design.  At EMTECH, Carmelle leads the vision of developing the next generation central banking infrastructure to drive financial inclusion, economic development and modernization of regulatory environments. From Digital Regulatory Sandbox to Digital Cash Platform (Central Bank Digital Currency), Carmelle and her highly experienced team of former regulators and experienced engineers, present groundbreaking and actionable tech solutions to solve current economic challenges. 

A thought leader and public speaker in fintech and regulatory innovation, Carmelle also advises other women, minority fintech entrepreneurs. She has won and has been nominated for several awards for her leadership and trailblazing work.

In her previous life, Carmelle was the Deputy CFO for IBM Blockchain where she spearheaded the global product commercialization and financial management strategy. With clients like Walmart, JPM Chase, Softbank, Carmelle oversaw the launch of several groundbreaking technologies that drove better food safety, strong cybersecurity and supply chain digitization. She joined the company as a Financial Analyst, and when Carmelle took over as Product CFO she helped lead a highly successful product launch that created 200+ jobs while driving strong revenue growth to over $100M in 3 years. 

Carmelle earned her Executive .M.B.A. from the New York University Stern School of Business with specializations in Leadership and Global Business, and her B.A. from Florida Atlantic University.  She is originally from Haiti, but now lives in NYC with her husband and son.

Diana Mpyisi is a currently the Founder and CEO of Blue Oceans, a media and communications consultancy firm. Established in 2017, Blue Oceans conceptualizes and implements communication and media-based strategies for its clients in the private, public and civil society sectors. The creation of Blue Oceans was largely inspired by the need to create content by Rwandans about Rwandans; to be shared with the world. As of February 2018, to date, Blue Oceans produces The Square, a weekly current affairs English show on Rwanda Television, hosted by Diana.

Diana has 23 years’ experience in demanding communication management roles, multi-skilling across a wide range of disciplines that range from Project Implementation; Journalism and Communication; Speechwriting, Knowledge Management in Youth Empowerment; Events and Protocol; High Level Conference Facilitation and Documentary and TV Production. Some of her previous professional roles include Director for Communication and Protocol in the Office of the First Lady of Rwanda (2007 – 2012), and English news anchor at Rwanda Television (2001 – 2003). She is a writer and has written for The New Times Newspaper (2002 – 2013), and various publications in Rwanda and on the African continent.

Diana is passionate about youth empowerment, and is currently the Co-Founder and Organiser of Spoken Word Rwanda – a platform that promotes poetry and spoken word talent amongst Rwandan youth since 2011 to date. Diana is also the Founding Curator for the Kigali Global Shapers Hub – an offshoot of the World Economic Forum for youth across the globe based on their Global Shapers program.
She is also a seasoned conference facilitator and technical advisor at major events such as Rwanda-Poland Business Forum 2024, Women Deliver 2023, Kwita Izina 2022, BPR Bank Merger Launch 2022, Kwibuka27, Rwanda Embassy in the Netherlands 2021, Africa Drone Forum 2020, Eisenhower Fellowships Regional Africa Conference 2019, Volkswagen Rwanda Launch 2019, Kenya-Rwanda Business Forum 2015, Transform Africa Summit 2013, to name a few. As a public speaker, some previous speaking engagements include:
•African Women Storytellers – 2024,
•Africa Leadership University – 2023,
•Norrken, Women in Business – 2023,
•Africa Communications Week, Rwanda – 2022,
•MTN Rwanda Youth Mentorship (YOLO Be Great), Rwanda – 2020,
•Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, Rwanda – 2019,
•G5 Business Makers Program: Meet the Professionals, Rwanda – 2018,
•Youth Connect Summit, Rwanda – 2017,
•Imbuto Foundation, Office of the First Lady, Rwanda – 2016 & 2018,
•Kigali Global Shapers, Rwanda – 2016 & 2018,
•Gashora Girls Academy, Rwanda – 2015,
•TEDx Kampala Youth Talk, Uganda – 2013,
•United Nations Global Youth Forum, Kenya – 2012,
•Tallberg Forum, Tallberg, Sweden – 2012.

Diana undertook her undergraduate studies in Journalism and Politics at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa (2002). This was followed by her graduate studies at the University of Warwick, UK, with an MA in Creative and Media Enterprises (2009), where she was a recipient of the prestigious UK Chevening Scholarship. As of May 2017, Diana became an Eisenhower Fellow, awarded by Eisenhower Fellowships President George de Lama and its former Chair, the late Major General Collin L. Powell.

Dr. Diane Karusisi is the CEO of Bank of Kigali Plc, Rwanda's largest commercial bank. She spearheaded the bank's digital transformation and played a pivotal role in expanding the BK Group into General Insurance, Investment Banking, and Technology. With a strong background in economics, she has held prominent positions at the National Institute of Statistics and the Office of the President of Rwanda. Dr. Karusisi also serves as a non-executive director on several boards, including the Rwanda Development Board and the University of Rwanda. Her exceptional leadership fosters growth and innovation, earning her high respect in Rwanda's financial industry.

Esselina Macome - Associate Professor at the Eduardo Mondlane University. She holds a Doctors Degree (PhD), in Information .Esselina Macome - Associate Professor at the Eduardo Mondlane University. She holds a Doctors Degree (PhD), in Information Technologies by University of Pretoria, in South Africa in 2003; she also has a Masters Degree (MSc) in Analysis, Design and Management of Information System by London School of Economics and Political Science of the University of London, in 1992. Dr. Macome also has a Bachelor Honors Degree in Mathematics Teaching by Paedagogische Hochshule Dresden- Germany, in 1987. In 2016, she concluded an international certification in Leadership for Financial Inclusion offered by Fletcher School. She successfully completed the courses on Digital Money, Leading Markets: A Global Tour,  Leading for Frontiers,  Bitcoin: Back to the Future,  Gender, regulating Fintechs, Humanitarian payment, product management  all offered by the Digital Frontiers Institute  in  partnership with Fletcher School as part of the  certified  digital finance practitioner, a 3 years program,  which she successfully concluded in September 2020.  In 2018-2019 she participated successfully in the Africa Board Fellowship   programme organized by the Centre of Financial Inclusion Accion (2018-2019). She participated in a course on Strategic Leadership in inclusive finance offered by Hardvard Bussiness School (March / April 2019). She is also a Certified Gender Equality Changmaker, by Digital Frontiers Institute since 2022

Dr. Macome joined the Central Bank of Mozambique in 2005 as Executive Director and Member of the Board, position that she held until 2015. Presently, beside the academic activity, she also works at FSDMOç (Financial Sector Deepening Moçambique) as Chief Executive Officer since July 2017, and was also appointed as the Presidente of the Board of Directors of Standard Bank Mozambique since December 2022.. Her interests include the usage of Information, Communication Technology for development and financial inclusion with more focus to Digital financial services (DFS), green finance and Gender related issues.
 In 2016, she concluded an international certification in Leadership for Financial Inclusion offered by Fletcher School. She successfully completed the courses on Digital Money, Leading Markets: A Global Tour,  Leading for Frontiers,  Bitcoin: Back to the Future,  Gender, regulating Fintechs, Humanitarian payment, product management  all offered by the Digital Frontiers Institute  in  partnership with Fletcher School as part of the  certified  digital finance practitioner, a 3 years program,  which she successfully concluded in September 2020.  In 2018-2019 she participated successfully in the Africa Board Fellowship   programme organized by the Centre of Financial Inclusion Accion (2018-2019). She participated in a course on Strategic Leadership in inclusive finance offered by Hardvard Bussiness School (March / April 2019). She is also a Certified Gender Equality Changmaker, by Digital Frontiers Institute since 2022

Dr. Macome joined the Central Bank of Mozambique in 2005 as Executive Director and Member of the Board, position that she held until 2015. Presently, beside the academic activity, she also works at FSDMOç (Financial Sector Deepening Moçambique) as Chief Executive Officer since July 2017 and was also appointed as the Presidente of the Board of Directors of Standard Bank Mozambique since December 2022. Her interests include the usage of Information, Communication Technology for development and financial inclusion with more focus to Digital financial services (DFS), green finance and Gender related issues.

Fadilah Tchoumba is the CEO of ABAN and the fund manager for Catalytic Africa, a co-investment facility for early-stage startups in Africa. She also serves as the Director of the African Business Angel Vehicle, a fund focused on sector-specific ventures. Additionally, Fadilah is a founding member and senior analyst at Amzill, a data collection and analysis firm, and she is on the advisory board of ENRICH in Africa. Before joining ABAN, Fadilah managed investment portfolios for institutional investors with interests in African trade. She also served as Director of Business and Innovation for the Royal Commonwealth Society, where she led the development of innovative projects aligned with Commonwealth values. Fadilah has been instrumental in creating tech-driven funds for innovative startups, including sharia-compliant vehicles, establishing herself as a leader in alternative asset classes in Africa. Passionate about innovation and sustainability, she advocates for early-stage investing, cross-border investments, and policy development to drive success in Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Fadilah holds a BA in Economics and Philosophy from Connecticut College, a diploma in International Commerce and Trade from Georgetown University, and a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics.

Mr. Haim Taib, Founder and President, Mitrelli and Menomadin Group, is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with over three decades of experience in Africa. Mr. Taib has led numerous infrastructure projects, significantly improving quality of life and economic growth. 

As the founder and president of Mitrelli, he has overseen close to 100 projects in countries like Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Mozambique, focusing on sectors such as urbanization, water and food security, energy, education, healthcare, and technology.

Mr. Taib also leads the Menomadin Group, which drives global value through strategic investments. Menomadin's diverse portfolio includes real estate, capital markets, and startups, all aligned with ESG standards and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Their innovative financing and collaborative approach ensure impactful projects across sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

Hannah B. Acquah is an Economist, Entrepreneur and Business Executive with over 21 years of professional experience across four continents (Africa, Asia, the EU/UK, and the USA) and has worked for and consulted with financial institutions such as Acumen Fund, (former) Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and (former) Bank PHB; multi-national institutions such as Deloitte & Touché, GIZ and the United Nations; and learning institutions, including Ashesi University, Lagos Business School, The MBA Tour, YALI West Africa, and took a crash apprentice course as a finalist on the inaugural Apprentice Africa reality show in Nigeria (2008).

In November 2023, Hannah Bertilla Acquah was appointed as a Trade Finance Consultant for the Trade Finance Company, UK.
Furthermore, in August 2023, Miss Acquah was designated as the CEO and Head of Secretariat of the Ghana Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (GVCA). Her primary role is to grow the PE/VC industry in Ghana by attracting more capital into the asset class that can be invested in local and regional businesses. GVCA serves as a voice for industry practitioners in stakeholder engagement and advocacy, pursues initiatives that bring legitimacy to its members, and develops the capacity of industry players so they can safeguard investors and investees.

Hannah is also the Founder and Managing Consultant of TKC Africa Ltd., a Business and Investment consulting firm that facilitates Africa-wide projects for over 100 companies across multiple sectors (such as Agriculture, Energy and Technology); with a combined financial value of approximately $500 million USD. Over the past 14 years, TKC Africa has continued to be the preferred consulting firm due to our outstanding results in consulting, capacity building, and representing both local and international clients in the areas of Change Management, Business Development, Expansions, Executions and Structuring Support Services; including Investor Relations.

Miss Acquah holds an Executive Certificate on the Framework Gender and Organisational Leadership from Gender Equity Digital Frontiers (2024); Executive MBA Certificate from Harvard Business School/HarvardX, USA (2021); an Investment Management Certificate from UNECA/African Institute for Economic Development & Planning, Senegal (2021); a Master’s degree in Economics (honours) from Vanderbilt University, USA (2006); a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) and International Economics from the University of Maryland, USA (2003); a Mandarin (Chinese) Certificate from Delter International Business Institute, Beijing, China (2007); and an International Baccalaureate diploma from Vienna International School (V.I.S.), Austria.

Hannah was a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts (UK), a Wimbiz member (Nigeria), and an Acumen and YALI Fellow (USA) and was listed as one of the ’25 Faces of New Africa’ (BRICS Magazine, 2013). Hannah is an Austrian/Ghanaian national and is multilingual and multicultural, with diverse leadership and business acumen.

Israel Bimpe is the CEO of Irembo, a Rwandan software that develops platforms to help governments and companies manage digital workflows for services management, and payments. With IremboGov and IremboPay, Irembo digitizes and automates siloed processes for Government institutions to provide services on a one-stop platform. Israel previously served on Irembo’s Board of Directors. Before Irembo, Israel was the Director of Africa Go-To-Market at Zipline.