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400+
PARTICIPANTS
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SPEAKERS
55+
12
PANELS
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01
DAY
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER
WINNIE BYANYIMA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNAIDS
Winnie Byanyima is the Executive Director of UNAIDS and an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, leading global efforts to end the AIDS pandemic by 2030. A longstanding advocate for social justice and health equity, she is also co-founder and co-chair of the People’s Medicines Alliance, which champions equitable access to lifesaving medical technologies.
Previously, Ms Byanyima served as Executive Director of Oxfam International and as a Member of Parliament in Uganda. She founded the Forum for Women in Democracy and has played a leading role in global coalitions addressing social and economic inequality. In 2025, she served on President Ramaphosa’s G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality.
SPEAKERS
SPEAKER
WINNE BYANYIMA
Executive Director, UNAIDS
Winnie Byanyima is the Executive Director of UNAIDS and an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. A passionate and longstanding champion for social justice, Ms Byanyima leads the United Nations’ efforts to end the AIDS pandemic by 2030. Ms Byanyima believes that health care is a human right, and she is the co-founder and co-chair of the People’s Medicines Alliance, advocating for equitable access to medical technologies that help to prevent and respond to current and future pandemics.
Previously, she has served as the Executive Director of Oxfam International, and as a member of parliament for her country, Uganda. She has been deeply involved in building global coalitions on social and economic justice, and founded the Forum for Women in Democracy, a Ugandan nongovernmental organization. Ms Byanyima is also a globally respected leader on inequality and in 2025 served on President Ramaphosa’s G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality.
SPEAKER
ETHIOPIS TAFARA
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, Africa at IFC
Ethiopis Tafara is IFC’s Regional Vice President for Africa, overseeing investment and advisory operations across a $20 billion committed portfolio and more than 800 staff working to strengthen the private sector’s role in addressing the continent’s development priorities.
Previously, he served as Vice President, Chief Risk, Legal & Sustainability Officer and Partnerships at the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and as Vice President and General Counsel of IFC, where he led the organization’s legal, compliance and ESG functions.
Before joining IFC, Ethiopis spent nearly two decades in international securities regulation and cross-border law enforcement, including as Director of the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He has also held senior leadership positions across several international financial and regulatory bodies.
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SPEAKER
MAURIZIO CAIO
FOUNDER + MANAGING PARTNER, TLCOM
Maurizio Caio is the Founder and Managing Partner of TLCOM, where he leads the firm’s strategy and management and serves on the boards of Pula, Littlefish, and Swypex.
Before founding TLCOM, he was a Director at Bain & Company, where he led the firm’s EMEA Telecom & Technology practice across Europe and San Francisco, and previously worked at McKinsey & Company on technology and growth strategy.
Beyond investing, Maurizio co-chairs the VC Committee at the African Private Capital Association, serves on the Africa Council of the Global Private Capital Association, collaborates with Stanford SEED, and teaches strategy and venture investing at NUTM. He also developed and taught Ashesi University’s original venture capital course.
PAST SPEAKERS
H.E. PRESIDENT DANIEL CHAPO
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE
ANDREA IYAMAH
FOUNDER & CEO @ ANDREA IYAMAH
PROFESSOR YEMI OSINBAJO
IMMEDIATE PAST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
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CUPPY
DJ | PHILANTHROPIST
SAMEH SHENOUDA
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER @ AFRICA FINANCE CORPORATION
LADI BALOGUN
CEO, FCMB GROUP
NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE WTO
JUDE 'M.I.' ABAGA
ARTIST | CEO, TASCK
TSHEPIDI MOREMONG
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT AFRICA 50
ACHA LEKE
SENIOR PARTNER AND CHAIRMAN, MCKINSEY & COMPANY AFRICA
ABOUT COLUMBIA AFRICA CONFERENCE
The Columbia Africa Conference is a student-led platform bringing together leaders, thinkers, builders, and communities shaping Africa’s future.
For more than two decades, CAC has created space for bold conversations, meaningful connections, and a richer understanding of the continent’s role in the world.
This year, Africa Ahead explores how Africa can shape the next global order across business, technology, policy, culture, and society.
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