Wakesho Sonje is an experienced and highly accomplished professional with expertise in Sustainability, Environmental & Social Governance (ESG), Audit & Risk, and Public Affairs Management. Currently serving as an ESG Specialist for ICEA LION Group, Wakesho is responsible for integrating ESG principles into the company’s operations and developing sustainable solutions. She also plays a pivotal role as the Co-Chair of the ESG Taxonomy Working Group under the Nairobi Declaration on Sustainable Insurance (NDSI), where she shapes the development of a common ESG taxonomy, aligning the insurance sector in Africa with global sustainability and responsible finance standards.
As a member of the Global Reporting Initiative’s Due Process Oversight Committee (DPOC), Wakesho ensures that the GRI’s standards remain responsive to public interests. Additionally, she has contributed to the development of Tanzania’s National Sustainable Finance Principles and has led multiple pan-African sustainable finance initiatives during her tenure with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI).
Previously, Wakesho served as a Board Member at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in Kenya, where she chaired the Audit, Governance & Risk Committee and contributed to key environmental policy decisions. With a deep commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility, Wakesho continues to advocate for green finance and the adoption of ESG principles across Africa’s financial sectors.
