Mia Thom is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in regulating innovation and business models aimed at fostering financial and economic inclusion. She has been a key member of Cenfri since 2012, where she leads the insights team and collaborates with thematic and programme leads to implement impactful agendas. Mia’s work primarily focuses on private sector innovation, insurance market development, green finance, and digital transformation, with a strong emphasis on addressing challenges within payment systems, inclusive integrity, and market development.
Over the years, Mia has spearheaded several multi-year programmes and diagnostic initiatives, helping to build roadmaps for partners interested in unlocking developmental outcomes. Notable achievements include leading the Risk, Remittances, and Integrity (RRI) programme on behalf of FSD Africa, as well as designing and implementing the Making Access Possible (MAP) financial inclusion diagnostics in partnership with UNCDF and FinMark Trust. She has also worked extensively on insurance market diagnostics with organizations like DFID and the World Bank, focusing on countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda. Additionally, Mia is actively involved in global initiatives, serving as a member of the UNEP Principles for Sustainable Insurance initiative, the Insurance Development Forum, and the Microinsurance Network.
Mia is also the Co-Chair of the ESG Roadmap & Reporting Working Group under the Nairobi Declaration on Sustainable Insurance (NDSI), where she plays a critical role in shaping and advancing ESG practices and reporting frameworks for the insurance sector.
Mia holds a Master of Development Finance (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch Business School in South Africa and is a Chartered Accountant registered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). She also passed all levels of the CFA exams and holds Honours degrees in Economics and Accounting from the University of Stellenbosch.
