Momodou Lamin Bah, accountant general of The Gambia from 2014 until 2022, was appointed as The Gambia’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United States of America in July 2022. Bah, a chartered accountant, is an information technology expert with training in computer science and data processing at the University of Science and Technology in Ghana. He is also certified in the governance of enterprise IT (CGEIT) and is a certified information systems auditor and information security manager. From 2009 to 2014, Bah was a consultant with the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) project within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs. And before that, he was a financial management specialist at IFMIS. In addition, Bah has been finance and administrative manager at the Sunbeach Hotel & Resort in Bakau (2003 -05); internal audit manager for the International Bank for Commerce (Gambia) Ltd. (2002-03); IT manager for that same bank (1995-99), and data processing officer at International Trypanotolerance Centre (1985-95).
Ham Serunjogi
CEO & Co-Founder, Chipper Cash
Ham Serunjogi
CEO & Co-Founder, Chipper Cash
Ham is the Co-Founder & CEO of Chipper Cash. As CEO, Ham heads the Executive Leadership Team and is responsible for leading the company’s overall direction and strategy. After graduating from Grinnell College in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics, Ham began his career at Meta where he worked in their Dublin, Ireland, office and was responsible for building partner relationships with some of the company’s biggest UK advertisers. Ham serves on the Board of Trustees of his alma mater Grinnell College, where he is one of four Trustees that sit on the Investment Committee which is charged with overseeing and allocating the College’s approximately $3.5B endowment. In September 2023, President Biden appointed Ham as one of the inaugural 12 members of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States, which aims to enhance dialogue between U.S. officials and the African diaspora. Ham will serve for the 2023-2025 term. On a personal level, Ham swam competitively for many years and competed in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, representing Uganda. Prior to attaining his degree, Ham attended the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa where he was elected President of its Students’ Council. Ham is based out of Chipper’s global headquarters in San Francisco, California.
Ivy M. Tettegah
Creative Director, ILorm
Ivy M. Tettegah
Creative Director, ILorm
Ivy M. Tettegah is a multidisciplinary creator—an engineer by training and a storyteller by heart. As the founder and Creative Director of ILORM Studio, Ivy blends the precision of performance and automation engineering with a passion for the timeless craft of fabric development and garment making. Drawing from Ghanaian heritage, ILORM becomes a canvas for reimagining tradition in global design contexts. Ivy believes clothing carries memory, meaning, and economic power—and through this lens, uses fashion as a force for socio-economic upliftment, cultural continuity, and international collaboration.
ILORM Studio acts as a conduit—amplifying African craftsmanship, supporting sustainable fashion ecosystems, and challenging how the world engages with cultural identity in design. Ivy’s work invites a reimagining of Africa’s creative legacy within a future-facing global economy.
Kelly Chibale
Professor, University of Cape Town
Kelly Chibale
Professor, University of Cape Town
Kelly Chibale is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cape Town (UCT) where he holds the Neville Isdell Chair in African-centric Drug Discovery & Development. He is also a Schmidt Sciences AI2050 Senior Fellow, Full Member of the UCT Institute of Infectious Disease & Molecular Medicine, Founding Director of the South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery Research Unit at UCT, Founder & Director of the UCT Holistic Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), and Founder & CEO of the H3D Foundation.
Lamine Savadogo
President, Marison Energy Systems (Moderator)
Lamine Savadogo
President, Marison Energy Systems (Moderator)
Lamine Savadogo is the Founder and President of Marison Energy Systems, an International Business Development firm bridging the United States and Africa through technological, commercial and financial partnerships. With over three decades of cross-sectoral experience spanning government, academia and the corporate sector, Mr Savadogo has been a transformative force in strengthening US-Africa business relations.
As Global Ambassador for International Programs at the Edison Electric Institute, Mr Savadogo leads strategic engagements in Electricity Diplomacy advocating electrification as a pathway to industrialization and economic development across the African continent.
His non-profit organization, Sun Powered Water Works has already provided clean drinking water to thousands in Rural Mali, demonstrating his deep commitment to sustainable impact.
Mr Savadogo’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including, induction in the World Trade Hall of Fame, the Order of National Merit of Mali, and awards from the Edison Electric Institute, the Export Import Bank of the United States.
A fluent Speaker of Bambara, French, English and Portuguese, Mr Savadogo brings exceptional global insight, cultural fluency, and strategic foresight to every speaking engagement.
Join us as he shares his vision for energy-led transformation, sustainable development, and the future of US-Africa collaboration
Reuben E. Brigety, II
President, Busara Advisors
Reuben E. Brigety, II
President, Busara Advisors
Ambassador (ret.) Reuben E. Brigety, II is one of America’s foremost experts on African
affairs. From 2022-2025, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South
Africa. He also served as U.S. Representative to the African Union and U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Economic Commission for Africa from 2013-2015. From 2011-2013, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, with responsibility for Southern Africa and Regional Security Affairs. Amb. Brigety holds an M.Phil. and a Ph.D. in international relations from the University of Cambridge. He is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Fellow of the American Academy of Diplomacy.
panelists
Versatile Soundzz
Versatile Soundzz
Versatile Soundzz directed by Malari Moore is a vibrant musical collective specializing in traditional West African music from Mali, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Ghana. Blending the rich rhythms and melodies of these cultures with contemporary sounds, the group delivers captivating performances and hands-on workshops. Through music education for youth and adults, Versatile Soundzz fosters cultural pride, artistic expression, and community connection across generations.
Tracie Ohonme
Co-Founder and Vice President of Samaritan’s Feet International
Tracie Ohonme
Co-Founder and Vice President of Samaritan’s Feet International
Tracie Ohonme serves as the Co-Founder and Vice President of Samaritan’s Feet International, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to giving hope by giving new shoes to those in need. In 2003, Samaritan’s Feet has distributed over 11 million pairs of shoes across 109 countries and 625 U.S. cities. With over 22 years of experience, including her current role as Chief of Staff, Tracie brings a wealth of leadership and operational expertise. She possesses a strong skill set in nonprofit organizations, strategic planning, human resource management, fundraising, development, and marketing strategy. She has developed a unique ability to navigate complex challenges, build meaningful partnerships, and create opportunities for growth, all while staying grounded in the values of compassion, service, and equity.
Thompson Yao Avornyotse
CEO/ Master Weaver, T.Y.KENTE
Thompson Yao Avornyotse
CEO/ Master Weaver, T.Y.KENTE
Thompson Yao Avornyotse is my name, a Managing Director and owner of T.Y Kente Weaving Enterprise. I also occupy the office of Chief Executive Officer for T.Y Kente Travel and Tours. I crossed the age of fifty.
I am very dedicated, honest and an outspoken person who makes sure a committee development is assure.
Over the years, I played vital roles towards improvement of Akpokofe and the entire Agotime traditional area which I see to be my responsibility as a citizen.
