Hedwig Siewertsen - Moderator (Head of Inclusive Finance - AGRA)

Hedwig Siewertsen - Moderator (Head of Inclusive Finance - AGRA)

Hedwig is the Head of Inclusive Finance at AGRA. She leads the financial inclusion agenda in AGRA, Sustainably Growing Africa’s Food Systems. Digital financial services and alternative delivery channels are opening up many opportunities for financial inclusion of smallholder farmers in Africa. The use of alternative data and the leveraging of public funds (blended finance) are key instruments of making financial services available for agricultural SMEs. Her daily job is to develop and design interventions that de-risk the lives of farmers and provide opportunities for agri-SMEs to serve African farmers better.

Over the past 20 years, she has been active in SME finance and development and agricultural (micro) finance as a consultant and impact investor in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia after graduating in Tropical Agriculture (Bsc) and Development Economics

Shaila Mahmud (Climate Finance Adviser - CABI)

Shaila Mahmud (Climate Finance Adviser - CABI)

She leads CABI’s work in the area of climate finance for promoting climate resilience in food systems. She is also the lead climate finance adviser for FCDO’s funded CASA programme, where she contributes with research to inform policy discussions as well as to inform the practice of the programme.

Shaila is a climate change and environmental economist who has worked for intergovernmental and not-for-profit organisations in climate finance. She worked directly under the Lead Negotiator for the Gambia at the UNFCCC COPs to provide strategic and technical advice across climate finance negotiation streams.

Ann Vaughan (Senior Policy Advisor for Climate and Agriculture - USAID)

Ann Vaughan (Senior Policy Advisor for Climate and Agriculture - USAID)

Ann works as a Senior Advisor for Climate Change in the Bureau of Resilience and Food Security (RFS) at USAID. RFS tackles some of the most pressing global issues, such as promoting inclusive growth in agriculture, enhancing resilience, ensuring nutrition, securing water, and improving sanitation and hygiene. Ann plays an integral role in supporting the Bureau’s initiatives in these sectors, striving to develop solutions that enable communities to adapt to and combat the effects of climate change.

Jedidah Ndubi (Senior Investment Associate - Acumen)

Jedidah Ndubi (Senior Investment Associate - Acumen)

Jedidah is one of the Portfolio Investment leads in the Acumen East Africa team. She has been leading on the Sunculture investment from the Acumen pioneer investing side and also has led on a number of other investments in aquaculture and horticulture that focus on the use of climate smart technology such as coldchain used by companies such as Sokofresh. Previously she worked for PwC and Ernst & Young. She graduated in Economics and Statistics and holds an MSc in Finance from the Univeristy of Nairobi.

Dr. Godefroy Grosjean (Senior Manager - CGIAR's Hub For Sustainable Finance)

Dr. Godefroy Grosjean (Senior Manager - CGIAR's Hub For Sustainable Finance)

Godefroy is the co-lead for the CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (or OneSF). OneSF was established in 2022 to leverage the CGIAR scientific expertise and extensive network to accompany private investors through the transition to sustainable and climate resilient food, water and land systems. OneSF, under the new Private Partnership’s for Impact (PP4i) Unit of the Partnerships and Advocacy (P&A) Global Group of the CGIAR, is tasked to support the implementation of the CGIAR Engagement Framework for Partnership & Advocacy, specifically targeting sustainable finance actors.

He is an experienced sustainable finance leader, driving global impact in food, climate, and carbon markets for nearly 15 years. Recognized as an expert in the field, passionate about leading multinational teams in designing and implementing science-based sustainable food and agriculture investments.

Maregesi Shaaban (Head of Agribusinesses at CRDB)

Maregesi Shaaban (Head of Agribusinesses at CRDB)

Maregesi Shaaban is an experienced banker with over 22 years of experience in the industry. His responsibilities include leading CRDB Bank’s Agribusiness Corporate clients and managing a loan portfolio worth over USD 450m. Currently, he holds the position of Head of Agribusiness at CRDB Bank Plc. where he manages the bank’s agribusiness portfolio.

Mr. Shaaban has been instrumental in promoting financial inclusion for economic development in Tanzania. He collaborates with different stakeholders to reduce the risks associated with agricultural finance for smallholder farmers (DAFS) and facilitate financial support to all actors involved in the agricultural value chain. Additionally, he led the initiative to automate the fertilizer digital supply chain under government subsidy, which benefited about 2 million smallholder farmers in the first year, and the goal is to reach 8 million farmers.