David Kirk is Principal and Consulting Actuary, and Managing Director for Africa at Milliman. He advises life and non-life insurers across the continent on strategy, M&A, risk and capital management, and financial and regulatory reporting. He is a Fellow of the South African, UK, Namibian, Nigerian and Kenyan actuarial bodies, and also holds the CFA, CAIA and PRM qualifications.

He has led major regulatory and transformation projects across Africa and the Middle East, created the New Business Margin on Revenue methodology, and writes regularly on insurance strategy, capital and emerging market innovation. David serves as Head of Actuarial Function for several insurers and contributes to ASSA’s work on life insurance, SAM and microinsurance.

Yeside is a qualified actuary and a Fellow of both the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) and the Nigeria Actuarial Society (NAS). With over 20 years of experience across Europe and Africa, she is a seasoned insurance executive known for driving growth, innovation, and robust risk management in diverse and evolving markets. She has held senior and board-level roles, contributing to strategic direction, governance, and risk oversight. She currently serves as an Independent Director on several Boards, where she sits on Risk, Audit, and Remuneration Committees, strengthening enterprise risk management and supporting organisational sustainability objectives.

Beyond her corporate leadership, she is deeply committed to advancing the actuarial profession. She is a Past President of the Nigeria Actuarial Society and serves within the International Actuarial Association as Vice Chair of the Africa Committee, while also contributing to the Climate & Sustainability Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. She is also the co-founder of the African Actuarial Development Academy (AADA), an initiative dedicated to expanding actuarial capacity and strengthening the profession across the continent

Dr. Musiwalo Moses Khangale is the Manager of Stakeholder Programmes at Santam, leading the company’s flagship Partnership for Risk and Resilience (P4RR) programme. He brings extensive experience from senior roles in South Africa’s disaster risk and fire services system, including serving as Senior Manager of Fire Services at the National Disaster Management Centre.

He holds a PhD in Disaster Risk Studies, a Master’s in Disaster Management, and an MPhil in Leadership in Emerging Economies, complemented by executive training from Harvard Business School.

Dr. Khangale has played a central role in national resilience efforts, including heading the COVID-19 National Disaster Operations Centre, contributing to the White Paper on Fire Services, and co-chairing the UN International Search and Rescue Advisory Group for the Africa–Europe–Middle East region. At Santam, he oversees P4RR support to municipalities across South Africa and drives key risk-reduction partnerships.

Doubell is the founder and Managing Director of Cenfri, bringing extensive experience in development strategy with a particular focus on digital transformation and financial sector development. His recent work covers key areas such as data for development, digital governance, financial inclusion, microinsurance, anti-money laundering (AML/CFT), the distribution of financial services, and regulatory framework design. He has also played a leading role in conceptualizing diagnostic methodologies and using these tools to address policy questions and formulate evidence-based, consultative market development strategies.

Doubell’s professional experience spans across Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, where he has worked on projects that aim to improve financial access and inclusion. His expertise lies in designing financial sector strategies, innovating in financial inclusion, and ensuring that markets work for low-income individuals. As a development economist by training, Doubell is deeply involved in making financial markets more inclusive and accessible, focusing on low-income individuals who have traditionally been underserved by formal financial services.

He holds an MCom in Development Economics (cum laude) from Stellenbosch University, a BCom (Honours) in Economics (cum laude) from Stellenbosch University and Free University of Amsterdam, and a BCom in Mathematical Statistics from Stellenbosch University.

Mr. Chukwuemeka Akwiwu, also known as Emeka, is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in the reinsurance industry. Since 2021, he has served as the Group Executive Director of Continental Reinsurance Plc, overseeing approximately $200 million in premiums across Africa. Continental Reinsurance is the largest private pan-African reinsurance company, with offices in Lagos, Douala, Nairobi, Abidjan, Tunis, and Gaborone.

Before joining Continental Reinsurance, Mr. Akwiwu spent two decades at Gen Re, working in various roles across Manchester, London, and Johannesburg. His experience at Gen Re included serving as P&C Sub Sahara Regional Manager, Property Manager for South Africa, and Property Manager for the UK and Ireland. Mr. Akwiwu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government and Public Administration from Abia State University, Nigeria, and a Diploma in Insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute in London.

Mr. Philip Lopokoiyit is the Group CEO of ICEA LION Group. He was previously the CEO of ICEA LION General Insurance company having joined the Group in September 2021. He has a wealth of experience in Finance, Risk Management and Corporate Governance, having worked for over 20 years in various senior management capacities in multinational companies.

Philip was a board member of PSI (Principles of Sustainable Insurance) and a leadership council member of UNEP-FI until his term ended in December 2024. Philip is currently the Chair of the Nairobi Declaration on Sustainable Insurance (NDSI) and also a Non-Executive Director of NCBA Group Plc.

Mr. Ezekiel Abiola Ekundayo is a seasoned insurance professional with over 35 years of experience across various sectors of the insurance industry. He began his career in 1984 at a broking firm in Lagos, Nigeria, before joining WAPIC Insurance Company Limited, and later, Globe Reinsurance PLC in 1989. At Globe Re, Ezekiel’s hard work and resourcefulness saw him rise through the ranks to become Executive Director in 2000, Deputy Managing Director in 2001, and eventually the Managing Director/CEO in 2007. Under his leadership, Globe Re became the first Nigerian reinsurance company to do business with the Francophone countries on the West African Coast.

In 2011, Ezekiel joined WAICA Reinsurance Corporation as the Pioneer MD/CEO, where he led the organization from its inception to one of Africa’s fastest-growing and leading reinsurance companies. His leadership has been marked by strategic business expansion, including the establishment of four subsidiaries and four regional offices. Appointed Group Managing Director/CEO of WAICA Re in 2018, Ezekiel oversees the company’s subsidiaries and has been integral in driving the corporation’s success. His expertise spans a wide range of areas, including brokerage, marketing, underwriting, reinsurance, investment, and risk management. He is a bilingual executive, fluent in both English and French, and has attended various executive courses, including leadership and strategic management training at top institutions such as the Lagos Business School, the Wit Business School at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, and D&B Business Training Services in London.

A strong advocate for insurance education and workforce development, Ezekiel has mentored younger professionals in the industry and is a member of the Governing Council of the West African Insurance Institute. He was awarded the Fellowship of WAII in 2019 for his academic excellence and contributions to the development of the insurance industry in West Africa. Ezekiel holds a degree in Insurance from Lagos State Polytechnic, Nigeria, an MBA from Lagos State University, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, London (specializing in reinsurance) and the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Nigeria.

Patty Karuaihe-Martin is the Managing Director of NamibRe and immediate past President of the African Insurance Organization (AIO). She succeeded Cherif Benhabiles and took on this leadership role at a critical time when the organization is focusing on the challenges of rising natural catastrophes across Africa.

With over 30 years of experience in the financial sector, Karuaihe-Martin has been at the helm of NamibRe since 2014. She is a graduate of prestigious institutions, including HEC Paris and the Universities of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape-Occidental, KwaZulu-Natal, and Stellenbosch Business School in South Africa.

Her leadership extends beyond NamibRe, having served as Chairman of the Board of the Organization of Eastern and Southern Africa Insurers (OESAI) from 2018-2019. She was also Vice-President of the AIO from May 2023 to January 2024, further cementing her influence in the African insurance sector.

Roelof Coertze is Prudential plc’s Environment Director. He is based in the vibrant city of Nairobi.  Roelof joined Prudential in 2019, and since then, he has made significant contributions to the Actuarial, Risk, and Sustainability teams, as well as the regional Africa team. His expertise has been instrumental in developing climate scenario testing for the Group, and he has co-authored several sections on climate in its Sustainability reports. Most recently, Roelof served as the Head of Enterprise Risk Management for Africa.

Roelof is unwaveringly committed to sustainability, both professionally and personally. He has been actively involved in volunteering and co-chaired the Actuaries Carbon Collaboration alongside the then president of the UK actuarial society. On a personal note, Roelof is a proud father of two, and is dedicated to making the world a better place for future generations. He also recently achieved the impressive feat of completing a half marathon in a Kenyan wildlife sanctuary.

Zibusiso serves as a Climate Finance Officer at FBC Holdings Limited, bringing practical insights from prior experience as an Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Officer.

He focuses on the financial sector’s role in responsible ESG integration and reporting, specialising in sustainable and blended finance, ESG strategy, and the development of inclusive financial products. With a background in Environmental Science and Health and currently pursuing an MBA in Impact Entrepreneurship, Zibusiso actively contributes to regional sustainability efforts, having been part of the NDSI’s ESG Roadmap Working Group and the Southern African Climate Finance Partnership Programme. He offers invaluable perspectives on climate finance and practical ESG integration within emerging markets.

Zillah Malia is a Senior Manager – Climate Finance at FSD Africa, where she leads Sustainable Insurance, Renewable Energy, and Climate Adaptation programs. An economist with over a decade of experience in sustainable finance and development impact, she has worked across more than 30 African countries. Zillah is a Certified Expert in Sustainable Finance, Climate Adaptation Finance, and Renewable Energy Finance, and holds a Diploma in Green Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. She has published several papers on sustainable development and is a recognized thought leader in the field. Her work focuses on designing and scaling innovative financial solutions that support climate resilience and serve vulnerable communities

Kelvin is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of diverse leadership experience across the development, corporate financial services, and startup sectors. As a qualified Actuary, he has built a strong career working in emerging markets, holding senior executive roles in a variety of industries. Kelvin has served as CEO of a life insurance company in Tanzania, Regional Director for a digital health company in Kenya, and co-founder and COO of a healthtech startup in India and Pakistan. His entrepreneurial spirit and leadership have shaped his ability to navigate complex environments and deliver impactful solutions.

Currently, Kelvin is the Director of Adaptation and Resilience at FSD Africa, where he leads efforts to drive financial market innovation across Africa. His focus is on enhancing resilience and enabling green, inclusive growth across the continent. Based in Cairo, Egypt, Kelvin is deeply committed to making a positive impact in the regions he serves.

Gerald is the Chief Investment Officer at ICEA LION Asset Management Limited. He holds a Master’s Degree in Financial Management, Bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and Bachelors degree of Commerce from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Gerald is an investment professional with over 18 years expertise in investment strategy, asset allocation, and portfolio management across a wide range of asset classes. In addition, he has a proven track record of implementing robust governance frameworks and aligning investments with client liability profiles to deliver exceptional outcomes in complex, global markets.

He is a passionate advocate for the growth of Africa’s capital markets and has spearheaded numerous research initiatives for global development finance institutions and industry associations. He previously worked with RisCura Africa as the Executive Director, Atria Africa as a Partner, Imara as a Fund Manger, Business Partners International as the Regional Investment Manager and at FutureGrowth Asset Management as a Credit Analyst.