Africa House @ Hedera (Thursday)*
Africa House is a platform to spearhead Africa's rising by bringing the best and brightest entrepreneurs, initiatives, and opportunities to leaders across industry and government attending Davos. Africa House is powered by The Giving Back Fund as a non-profit project and supported by a team of experts that bring together a combined 30+ years of experience on the continent and leading African initiatives.
* This is an invite-only, private event.
Africa House
Non-Profit Project at Davos
Africa House is a global movement that showcases the most exciting opportunities the continent has to offer as it continues its growth trajectory. By bringing together a broad community of industry leaders, governments, academics and civil society committed to Africa’s rising, we can turbocharge Africa’s future together.
Kojo Annan
Advisor at Africa House
Kojo Annan is a Principal at Vector Global, an investment vehicle that is focused on Innovation, Lifestyle and Sport in West Africa. Kojo is a serial entrepreneur and investor, currently Executive Chairman of Boardroom One, Chairman and Co-Founder of Made in Africa, Founder of Meridian Port Services, and Head of Africa10, a social enterprise dedicated to developing African youth through sports and education.
Betsabe Botaitis
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer at Hedera
Betsabe is an internationally accomplished strategist and fintech executive with over 15 years of experience ranging from large financial institutions to blockchain and cryptocurrency startups, and acts as both the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Hedera. Prior to joining Hedera, she held various senior positions at renowned and leading-edge companies including Uplift (leading Buy-Now-Pay-Later ("BNPL") in travel), Kueski (Mexico’s largest BNPL), Lending Club, and Citigroup.
Zenobia Godschalk
SVP, Communications at Swirlds Labs
Zenobia has over 20 years of experience in high tech PR and helping companies create and dominate new categories, and is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications of Hedera. Previously, she was a sell-side analyst with investment bank Morgan Keegan, where she was part of The Wall Street Journal’s #1 Ranked Software Analyst team. Zenobia graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Economics and Psychology, minor in Industrial Engineering.
Brett McDowell
Chair at Hedera's Board of Directors
Brett brings over 20 years of IT industry coalition experience, and is the Chair of the Hedera Governing Council. He has had founding executive roles at the Kantara Initiative, IDESG, DMARC.org, and FIDO Alliance. In addition, he has extensive multi-stakeholder governance experience, having served on the board or advisory board of MAAWG, NCSA, StopBadWare, and PCI SSC, among other industry coalitions.
Nilmini Rubin
Chief of Staff and Head of Global Policy at Hedera
Nilmini Rubin has over 20 years of experience in international technology, energy, and democracy policy and acts as both the Chief of Staff and Head of Global Policy of Hedera. Previously, she lobbied on cybersecurity for the Information Technology Industry Council and contributed to Meta’s policy programs team. Nilmini led Tetra Tech’s global division implementing energy and internet projects that resulted in millions of people gaining access to electricity for the first time.
