Programme
CONFERENCE AGENDA
09:00 – 10:00
OPENING CEREMONY
MAIN STAGE
Welcome Remarks
Opening Keynote Address
Magda Wierzycka , Founder & CEO, Sygnia Asset Management
Opening Keynote Address
Magda Wierzycka , Founder & CEO, Sygnia Asset Management
10:00 – 11:00
Peace Dividends: Why Women-Led Enterprise Is a Security Strategy, Not Just an Economic One
Main Stage
(Brought to you in partnership with Open Society Foundations)
Africa faces the impact of a world in polycrisis, including wars, economic crisis, and climate change. Across its fragile and post-conflict states — from the Sahel to the Great Lakes to the Horn — women entrepreneurs are often the first to rebuild markets when formal institutions have collapsed. Yet their role is still treated as a footnote to peacebuilding rather than a driver of it. This panel examines how women-led enterprise stabilizes local economies, restores trust across divided communities, and creates the material conditions peace agreements alone cannot guarantee. The conversation will surface what’s working on the ground — and what capital, policy, and donor systems still get wrong.
Africa faces the impact of a world in polycrisis, including wars, economic crisis, and climate change. Across its fragile and post-conflict states — from the Sahel to the Great Lakes to the Horn — women entrepreneurs are often the first to rebuild markets when formal institutions have collapsed. Yet their role is still treated as a footnote to peacebuilding rather than a driver of it. This panel examines how women-led enterprise stabilizes local economies, restores trust across divided communities, and creates the material conditions peace agreements alone cannot guarantee. The conversation will surface what’s working on the ground — and what capital, policy, and donor systems still get wrong.
11:00 – 11:20
COFFEE BREAK & NETWORKING
11:25 – 11:40
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
MAIN STAGE
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat , United Nations Under-Secretary-General & Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
11:40– 12:30
Beyond Access: Reimagining Capital, Power and Market Systems for Inclusive Enterprise Growth
MAIN STAGE
(Hosted by Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund – Implemented by MEDA in partnership with Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners)
This panel explores what happens when investment moves beyond financing businesses to intentionally strengthening the agency, resilience and market influence of African enterprises. Rather than asking simply how businesses access capital, the discussion asks a broader question: How can investment ecosystems shift power so that African entrepreneurs are better positioned to own capital, shape markets and create inclusive economic opportunities?
The panel objective is to explore how investment vehicles, technical assistance providers and entrepreneurs can work together to transform the conditions that enable African enterprises – particularly those creating opportunities for women and young people – to grow, influence markets and contribute to more inclusive economic systems. The panel will demonstrate how capital, when combined with ecosystem engagement, technical assistance and power-aware investment practices, can strengthen both enterprise performance and broader economic inclusion.
This panel explores what happens when investment moves beyond financing businesses to intentionally strengthening the agency, resilience and market influence of African enterprises. Rather than asking simply how businesses access capital, the discussion asks a broader question: How can investment ecosystems shift power so that African entrepreneurs are better positioned to own capital, shape markets and create inclusive economic opportunities?
The panel objective is to explore how investment vehicles, technical assistance providers and entrepreneurs can work together to transform the conditions that enable African enterprises – particularly those creating opportunities for women and young people – to grow, influence markets and contribute to more inclusive economic systems. The panel will demonstrate how capital, when combined with ecosystem engagement, technical assistance and power-aware investment practices, can strengthen both enterprise performance and broader economic inclusion.
12:30 – 12:40
IGNITE TALK
MAIN STAGE
The Art of Turning the Tide
Carina Bruwer , Founder & CEO, Gigster
Carina Bruwer , Founder & CEO, Gigster
12:40 – 13:30
LUNCH
12:40 – 13:30
Perfect Pitch Clinic
EXPO FLOOR
A lunchtime session providing input and ideas to help 6 selected entrepreneurs position their businesses to attract capital and partners and grow.
13:30 – 13:55
FIRESIDE CHAT
MAIN STAGE
In Conversation with Dr. Judy Dlamini , Chancellor, University of the Witwatersrand; Executive Chairman, Mbekani Group; Founder, Female Academic Leaders Fellowship Fund (FALF)
Moderator:
Jillian Wolfe , Award-Winning International Journalist, Presenter, Executive Producer and Moderator
Moderator:
Jillian Wolfe , Award-Winning International Journalist, Presenter, Executive Producer and Moderator
13:55– 14:45
From Participation to Ownership: Women Building Africa’s Blue Economy
MAIN STAGE
Across Africa’s blue economy, women process the fish, run the small-scale aquaculture operations, trade the catch and carry the coastal tourism industry. What they do far less often is own the assets, control the capital and lead the value chains they built.
This panel takes on that gap. Where are the real commercial and investment opportunities for women across aquaculture, marine products, tourism and logistics? What does it take to access and structure capital in these sectors? And what has to change in policy, investment and markets for women to move from participation to ownership? A practical, commercially grounded conversation with investors, policy leaders and women entrepreneurs building blue economy business right now.
Moderator:
Andrew Douglas , Managing Partner, Douglas Day
Panelists:
Marcia Korsten , Head: Oceans Economy, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), South Africa
Lucretia Chopera . Africa Deal Flow Lead, Katapult Ocean
Thando Mozomba , Venture Development Manager, OceanHub Africa
This panel takes on that gap. Where are the real commercial and investment opportunities for women across aquaculture, marine products, tourism and logistics? What does it take to access and structure capital in these sectors? And what has to change in policy, investment and markets for women to move from participation to ownership? A practical, commercially grounded conversation with investors, policy leaders and women entrepreneurs building blue economy business right now.
Moderator:
Andrew Douglas , Managing Partner, Douglas Day
Panelists:
Marcia Korsten , Head: Oceans Economy, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), South Africa
Lucretia Chopera . Africa Deal Flow Lead, Katapult Ocean
Thando Mozomba , Venture Development Manager, OceanHub Africa
14:45 – 15:00
From Ideas to Income: Unlocking the Power of IP for Women Entrepreneurs
MAIN STAGE
Intellectual property (IP) is a powerful tool for transforming creativity and innovation into sustainable economic opportunities. This presentation will explore how women entrepreneurs can leverage IP to protect their innovations, build stronger brands, and generate income. Drawing on practical examples and WIPO’s support programs, the session will highlight how IP can serve as a catalyst for business growth, competitiveness, and long-term value creation.
Loretta Asiedu , Director, Division for Africa, Department for Development Cooperation, Regional and National Development Sector, World Intellectual Property (WIPO), Switzerland
Loretta Asiedu , Director, Division for Africa, Department for Development Cooperation, Regional and National Development Sector, World Intellectual Property (WIPO), Switzerland
15:00 – 15:45
PROGRAMME LAUNCH: AWIEF – Nedbank Women Enterprise Growth & Export
MAIN STAGE
How can targeted enterprise development support help women founders overcome market barriers?
Official launch of the new AWIEF – Nedbank initiative – a three-year partnership to support 75 women-owned small and growing businesses, 25 per cohort per year, with enterprise supplier development and market access. The 12-month programme will help participants strengthen their operations, improve their finance, market and export readiness, and position them to enter larger domestic, regional, African, and international markets.
Panelists:
Irene Ochem , Founder & CEO, AWIEF
Nirmala Reddy , Head, Enterprise & Supplier Development, Nedbank
Official launch of the new AWIEF – Nedbank initiative – a three-year partnership to support 75 women-owned small and growing businesses, 25 per cohort per year, with enterprise supplier development and market access. The 12-month programme will help participants strengthen their operations, improve their finance, market and export readiness, and position them to enter larger domestic, regional, African, and international markets.
Panelists:
Irene Ochem , Founder & CEO, AWIEF
Nirmala Reddy , Head, Enterprise & Supplier Development, Nedbank
15:45 – 16:00
COFFEE BREAK & NETWORKING
16:00 – 17:00
MASTERCLASS: Futures Thinking
EXPO FLOOR
For decades, efforts to advance women’s economic participation have focused on access to education, finance, markets, networks, and opportunity. While these remain important, the next challenge is ownership. How do women move from participating in existing systems to shaping the systems themselves? This interactive session explores how entrepreneurs and leaders can use futures thinking (strategic foresight) to become active architects of Africa’s economic future. Rather than waiting for change to happen, participants will learn how to identify emerging shifts, challenge assumptions, recognise new opportunities, and influence the direction of markets, industries, and communities. Drawing on practical tools from strategic foresight, the session will demonstrate how a future-focused mindset can help women leaders build resilience, exercise greater strategic agency, and position themselves at the forefront of innovation and growth. The future is a space to be shaped, and women have a critical role to play in creating Africa’s preferred futures.
16:00 – 17:00
WORKSHOP: CLIMB: Building Beyond Access — A Digital Leadership Model for Entrepreneurs
EXPO FLOOR
Access isn’t enough. This workshop unveils CLIMB, a research-backed model helping women entrepreneurs claim ownership, scale, and economic power — not just participate in the digital economy.
Built from doctoral research with African women entrepreneurs, CLIMB is a five-stage engine — Cultivate, Leverage, Integrate, Mobilize, Build — that moves women from digital mindset to market dominance: sharpening skills, expanding networks, mobilizing markets, and building systems that scale. The model provides a practical pathway for leveraging digital tools, leadership development, peer learning, and ecosystem engagement to build sustainable ventures.
Aligned with AWIEF 2026’s theme, Beyond Access: Owning Capital, Markets & Power, this workshop is a call to lead boldly — using digital leadership to own market position, harness community power, and build enterprises that fuel inclusive growth across Africa and the diaspora.
Built from doctoral research with African women entrepreneurs, CLIMB is a five-stage engine — Cultivate, Leverage, Integrate, Mobilize, Build — that moves women from digital mindset to market dominance: sharpening skills, expanding networks, mobilizing markets, and building systems that scale. The model provides a practical pathway for leveraging digital tools, leadership development, peer learning, and ecosystem engagement to build sustainable ventures.
Aligned with AWIEF 2026’s theme, Beyond Access: Owning Capital, Markets & Power, this workshop is a call to lead boldly — using digital leadership to own market position, harness community power, and build enterprises that fuel inclusive growth across Africa and the diaspora.
17:00 – 17:45
Business Solutions Roundtables: Ask the Experts
Interactive roundtables where entrepreneurs can discuss real business challenges with experts and get practical ideas, advice, and next steps.
All Day
NETWORKING
EXPO FLOOR
B2B Meetings & Networking
18:00