Anriette Esterhuysen
Association for Progressive Communications (APC), South Africa
Anriette Esterhuysen was the executive director of APC from 2000 to 2017. With many others she helped establish early email and internet connectivity in Africa as part of a collaboration between APC and the United Nations Development Programme in the 1990s. Anriette has served on the African Technical Advisory Committee of the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa’s African Information Society Initiative and has served on several United Nations internet and ICT working groups. She was a member of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group of the Internet Governance Forum from 2012 to 2014 and was appointed by the UN Secretary General to chair this group from 2019 to 2021. In 2013 she was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame as a Global Connecter. She currently serves on the executive committee of the IGF Support Association and boards of the South African Tertiary Education Network (TENET) and Connect Humanity.
Celine Bal
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs / IGF Secretariat, Switzerland
Celine holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in international Business Administration from the Vienna University of Economics and Business, after completing an exchange semester at HEC Montreal, Canada. She specialized in Strategic Management, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Edetaen Ojo
Media Rights Agenda, Nigeria
Edetaen Ojo is Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda in Nigeria. He is a member of the Advisory Network of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), a partnership of 39 governments working to advance Internet freedom. He has previously served as Co-Chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Nigeria; and Chair of the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX). In 2013, he was a member of the International Advisory Committee for UNESCO’s project on “The Safety of Online Media Actors Doing Journalism” and was also in 2013 named an Internet Freedom Fellow by the U.S. State Department. In January 2024, he was named by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) among 10 digital rights experts who have shaped Africa’s digital and Internet freedom advocacy landscape over the past 10 years.
Fola Odufuwa
Research ICT Africa, Nigeria
Fola Odufuwa holds a Master of Science degree in Radio Propagation (Physics) which he obtained in 1994 from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He has held several senior and executive positions throughout his career, including positions in broadcast engineering, communications, investment banking and financial services. He is a skilled project and business consultant and since 2001, he has coordinated many research and consulting assignments across four continents for several blue-chip organizations, regulators, and multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, United Nations, International Telecommunications Union, Asia Development Bank, among others. Despite being based in Nigeria, which is one of the world’s most complex emerging markets, he is recognized as an expert in telecoms research, investment analysis, and business strategy across the continent. Mr Odufuwa has extensive multidisciplinary expertise and stays up-to-date with the latest developments in his field. He frequently publishes articles and provides professional commentary in both local and international media. He is known for his broad perspective, analytical thinking, and competence that he brings to every assignment.
Herman Ngure
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
I am a finance professional with experience leading finance Functions in Sub-Sahara Africa for non profits. I am currently the APC finance manager, overseeing the finance function for the organisation.
Kwami Ahiabenu
Penplusbytes, Ghana
Dr. Kwami Ahiabenu is an accomplished leader with a diverse background in non-profit, government, and private sectors. He is renowned for his expertise in using technology to drive change and human-centered development. With extensive experience in digital transformation, media, communication, and ICTs, he offers coaching and mentoring to various sectors. Kwami’s work spans across multiple African countries. He holds prestigious fellowships and memberships in renowned organizations and has made significant contributions to promoting good governance through his organization, penplusbytes.org. He is a sought-after consultant and serves on several boards.
Liz Orembo
Research ICT Africa, South Africa
Michuki Mwangi
Internet Society, Kenya
Michuki Mwangi is the Distinguished Technologist for Internet Growth at the Internet Society. He leads the Internet Growth portfolio, which focuses on measuring, building, and extending a resilient Internet to those who need it the most. Michuki has a passion for developing strong local Internet technical communities and community-centered connectivity solutions, empowering local champions, promoting collaboration, and advancing Internet interconnection. These elements underpin a resilient and affordable Internet for all. He is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Peace Oliver Amuge
Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Uganda
Peace is the Africa Regional Strategy Lead at the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) where she works on the intersection of technology, human rights and gender. She’s a member of the UN Multistakholder Advisory Group (MAG) with the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). She is one of AfriSIG’s convener and a member of the Advisor Group for the Open Internet for Democracy Initiative.
Relebohile Mariti
Research ICT Africa, Lesotho
Relebohile Mariti is a researcher at Research ICT Africa. She previously worked as a research intern at J-PAL Africa. She holds a Master’s degree in Economic Science from the University of Cape Town and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the National University of Lesotho. She works on several projects, including the After Access surveys and analysis as well as the Africa Mobile Pricing Index (RAMP Index). Her interests include labour economics, digital economics and economic development.
Sandra Danai Makumbirofa
Research ICT Africa, South Africa
Sandra Makumbirofa (PhD) is a Senior Researcher at Research ICT Africa with over ten years of experience in economic research and policy. At RIA, she leads research on Economic Policy for AI, Mobile Data Pricing and Digital Trade. She has worked in the non-profit sectors with a focus on digital, trade and industrial policy.