Mikir Shah is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Africa Specialty Risks, boasting over 25 years of experience in Africa.

Prior to ASR, Mikir was Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AXA Africa Specialty Risks. A highly skilled practitioner with extensive financial experience, Mikir has also previously held the position of Head of Insurance (UK) and Head of Financial Institutions at Barclays Investment Bank. He started his career at ABN AMRO Bank N.V where he became Head of European and Emerging Markets before joining Macquarie Capital as Head of India showcasing his diverse market experience and skillset.

An advocate of taking a proactive approach to insurance by finding and working with clients on the ground in Africa, Mikir was born in Kenya and has frequently visited Africa to understand client’s specific needs and provide solutions.

When not at the office, Mikir can be found at the gym completing high impact workouts.

Hany Assaad is the Co-founder of Avanz Capital Management LLC and the CEO and Managing Director of Avanz Capital Egypt, an Egyptian asset management company and a subsidiary of Avanz Capital Management LLC, established to manage fund-of-funds and other specialist private capital funds investing in private equity and venture capital. Hany has been a member of the Investment Committees of the Avanz Capital funds. He leads the sourcing, screening, negotiation of investments, and portfolio management as well as the environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects, working with fund managers in emerging markets to incorporate responsible and sustainable investing in private capital investments, and to strategically and effectively target to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. Hany has had a long career in emerging markets investments, including more than two decades at International Finance Corporation. He oversaw IFC’s funds business in several emerging market regions. He managed a substantial portfolio of funds, and was a member of several advisory committees. He is a strong advocate of gender-lens investing and is committed to increasing the proportion of women in fund management teams and investment committees.

Jesmane Boggenpoel is a co-founder and Managing Partner of AIH Capital, a South African generalist, wholly Black women owned and managed private equity fund that is focused on the mid-market. The purpose of AIH Capital is to ‘uplift and impact women though our investment choices’. AIH Capital brings gender diversity by investing in portfolio companies in male dominated industries or firms. Jesmane has extensive investment experience. Jesmane is the author of a book on racial reconciliation and inclusion My Blood Divides and Unites. Jesmane also created the online Udemy course: Dealing with the Heart of Race and Gender Inequality in the Workplace. Jesmane serves on the boards of a few JSE listed firms. She is also on the board of the agri conglomerate ETG that is headquartered in Mauritius with operations in 45 countries, including 26 African countries. Jesmane was the former Head of Business Engagement Africa of the World Economic Forum, based in Switzerland between 2014 to 2016. Jesmane is a Chartered Accountant (South Africa) and holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University’s JFK School of Government (US, 2012). Jesmane was honored as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum in 2013. Jesmane was selected a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader in 2022. Jesmane loves travelling and has visited 72 countries, including 22 African countries.

Nabil Fawaz is Global Head and Sector Manager for the manufacturing, agribusiness, and services sectors at the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the political risk insurance arm of the World Bank Group.

Fawaz has extensive experience in underwriting investment projects in emerging markets and advising clients on structuring transactions to mitigate political risks. At MIGA he has led transactions across all economic sectors including energy, oil and gas, financial markets, and telecommunications. He has helped investors manage political risk in different regions including Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

While at MIGA, he has also led various trust fund initiatives supporting private sector investment in conflict-affected environments including Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the West Bank and Gaza.

Before joining MIGA, Fawaz worked at the World Bank Group’s private sector arm, International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington, DC, where he focused on the development of financial markets in sub-Saharan Africa.

Fawaz holds a master’s degree in international management from the American Graduate School of International Management and a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University, with a concentration in finance.