2024 Devex World Luminaries
Dr. Oliver Alawuba
The visionary group CEO of United Bank for Africa, a financial powerhouse operating in 20 countries. Under his leadership, UBA is driving Africa’s growth, serving more than 40 million customers with cutting-edge digital banking solutions.
Dr. Oliver Alawuba
Group chief executive officer, United Bank for Africa
Tetiana Anderson
Anderson is dedicated to the power of narrative. From Baghdad to Brooklyn, she’s produced, written, and directed films and commercials while consulting for broadcasters, corporations, NGOs, and governments on branded content and communications strategies. Anderson will explore the intersection of storytelling, power, and humanitarian work, and how authentic, mission-driven narratives can shift perceptions, amplify marginalized voices, and ultimately shape a more equitable world.
Tetiana Anderson
Partner, Starfield Media
Pepukaye "Pep" Bardouille
Pepukaye "Pep" Bardouille is a transformative leader in climate change and sustainable development, with a proven track record of guiding communities toward climate resilience. She will explore how the World Bank's reform agenda can serve as a blueprint for a larger overhaul of MDBs and the urgent need for MDBs to align development goals with climate action.
Pepukaye "Pep" Bardouille
Director of Bridgetown initiative and special adviser on climate resilience, Barbados Prime Minister's Office
Priya Basu
She will share lessons from three decades of work in development finance, including leading the World Bank’s engagement in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
Priya Basu
Executive head, Pandemic Fund
David Beasley
The former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme and governor of South Carolina has raised billions of dollars while bringing global attention to the global hunger crisis. He’ll discuss lessons from his time at WFP and his hopes for U.S. leadership on global development challenges moving forward.
David Beasley
Distinguished professor of practice and public service, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
Chris Bessenecker
Chris is a social innovator and the founder of AfriScout, a platform leveraging satellite and mobile technology to provide crowd-sourced alerts, helping East African pastoralists adapt to and mitigate climate change. As Senior Director of Innovation at Global Communities, he leads the development of innovation to unlock new dimensions of performance across its programs. Chris joins us to lead our workshop on how NGOs can generate carbon offsets through their existing and future programs.
Chris Bessenecker
Founder, AfriScout; senior director for innovation at Global Communities
Niranjan Bose
A transformative force in global health, Bose oversees philanthropic investments in global health, Alzheimer’s disease, and U.S. health care as the science adviser to Bill Gates. Previously, he was chief of staff for the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, managing portfolios for enteric vaccines and pneumococcal vaccines. Niranjan will explore ways to strike the balance between leveraging established successes in global health and supporting new solutions while ensuring all of these advancements reach those who need them most.
Niranjan Bose
Managing director, Gates Ventures
Rutger Bregman
A historian and bestselling author, Bregman is renowned for his works on history, philosophy, and economics, including “Utopia for Realists” and “Humankind,” both New York Times bestsellers. You’ll hear about the concepts from his latest book, “Moral Ambition,” and get a sneak preview of his latest project to support individuals in making impactful career and life choices for a better world.
Rutger Bregman
Historian, author and co-founder, The School for Moral Ambition
Howard G. Buffett
The farmer, conservationist, and businessman will share his views on ways philanthropy can end world hunger.
Howard G. Buffett
Chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation
Anne Marie Burgoyne
Anne Marie Burgoyne leads the philanthropy of Emerson Collective, started by Laurene Powell Jobs. She supports organizations across sectors such as education, immigration, environmental justice, and health equity. Burgoyne will discuss how funders can use a range of tools, beyond just writing checks, to support grantees.
Anne Marie Burgoyne
Managing director, philanthropy, Emerson Collective
Courtenay Cabot Venton
An international development economist and founder and executive director of The Share Trust, Cabot Venton is known for her work with U.N. agencies and major donors to evaluate the effectiveness of social and environmental interventions in reducing poverty. She will make the financial argument for localization, pointing to new data on its cost-effectiveness.
Courtenay Cabot Venton
Executive director, The Share Trust
Stella Suge
A seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in managing international humanitarian and development nonprofits, Stella Suge is the executive director of FilmAid Kenya. At Devex World, she will highlight how the organization leverages film to provide critical information to refugees and displaced communities, enabling them to share their own stories.
Stella Suge
Executive director, FilmAid Kenya
Cecilia Conrad
She has influenced over $2.2 billion in grants to accelerate social change. Recognized as one of the most powerful women in philanthropy, she brings a wealth of experience in economics and advocacy for racial and gender equity. Conrad will discuss new models of impactful philanthropy.
Cecilia Conrad
CEO, Lever for Change
Ertharin Cousin
Cousin has dedicated her career to tackling hunger and transforming food systems worldwide, currently as CEO of Food Systems for the Future and a former executive director of the U.N. World Food Programme. She will discuss how the outcome of this year’s presidential election may affect global food systems.
Ertharin Cousin
CEO and managing director, Food Systems for the Future
Ani Dasgupta
The president and CEO of the World Resources Institute is working on a just global climate translation. Dasgupta will speak about mobilizing finance for climate action, and what he hopes to see from global climate negotiations at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Ani Dasgupta
President and CEO, World Resources Institute
Enoh T. Ebong
As the director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Ebong drives sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in emerging economies, while boosting U.S. exports. She will join us to discuss sustainable infrastructure development in emerging economies, and efforts to bring U.S. private sector innovation to the projects the agency supports.
Enoh T. Ebong
Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency
Jonathan Fantini-Porter
Under his tenure as CEO, the Partnership for Central America has raised $4.2 billion to address the economic roots of migration in frontier and emerging markets. Fantini-Porter will highlight the power of public-private partnerships to address transnational challenges like conflict, migration, and climate change.
Jonathan Fantini-Porter
Executive director and CEO, Partnership for Central America
Jim Fruchterman
Fruchterman is a pioneering social entrepreneur and MacArthur Fellow, dedicated to democratizing technology for the 95% of humanity often overlooked by the tech industry. Committed to using tech for good, he joins us to explore practical and strategic uses of AI in global development work.
Jim Fruchterman
CEO, Tech Matters
Elisa Gambino
Gambino is an Emmy-award-winning producer and director whose work examines issues like health equity, climate change, and racial justice. She will explore ways that organizations can bring humility to their storytelling work and integrate their values into every stage of production.
Elisa Gambino
Principal, One Production Place
Tariye Gbadegesin
A dynamic leader in climate action and infrastructure investment who was recently appointed CEO of the Climate Investment Funds, or CIF, one of the world’s largest multilateral funds helping low- and middle-income countries adapt to and mitigate climate change. She will join us in the Devex Pro Lounge for a live recording of our This Week in Global Development podcast.
Tariye Gbadegesin
Chief executive officer, Climate Investment Funds
Kirsten Gelsdorf
Gelsdorf, a professor at the University of Virginia and co-founder of the "Read for Action" book club, will discuss how narrative and fiction can deepen public engagement with global crises, sparking meaningful dialogue and social action.
Kirsten Gelsdorf
Professor of practice of leadership and public policy; co-director of the University of Virginia Humanitarian Collaborative, University of Virginia
Adrienne Ghaly
Ghaly will speak about her work co-creating the “Read for Action” book club, a global initiative that connects readers with humanitarian policymakers, activists, and researchers. Her session will explore how fiction can inspire readers to take pro-climate and pro-humanitarian actions.
Adrienne Ghaly
Assistant professor of English, University of Virginia
Fabiano Godoy
Godoy is a leader in advancing natural climate solutions, overseeing a global portfolio of carbon projects at The Nature Conservancy. With a focus on project design and certification, he manages initiatives spanning 6.5 million hectares worldwide. Previously, he spent 16 years at Conservation International, shaping their carbon project portfolio. He will share insights on harnessing natural solutions for climate impact and the future of carbon markets.
Fabiano Godoy
Senior technical carbon advisor, The Nature Conservancy
Bruce W. Holsinger
A bestselling novelist and literary historian at the University of Virginia, Holsinger’s latest novel, “The Displacements,” envisions the devastating impact of a Category 6 hurricane on the U.S. south, sparking critical conversations about climate displacement. At Devex World, he will discuss how fiction can inspire fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to policymaking.
Bruce W. Holsinger
Linden Kent Memorial professor, University of Virginia
Amadou Hott
A dynamic leader with 26 years of expertise in economic policy and development finance, Hott recently announced that he is running for the presidency of the African Development Bank. He played a crucial role in maintaining economic stability and represented the African Union at G20 and G7 meetings, advocating for Africa’s inclusion in global finance discussions. At Devex World, he will share his vision for catalyzing private investment in green infrastructure and driving economic development across Africa.
Amadou Hott
Former government minister of Senegal and special envoy of the president of the African Development Bank
Dr. Ann Hudock
Ann Hudock is the president and CEO of Counterpart International, with a career spanning over three decades in global development, civil society, and media sector strengthening. She began her work in Sierra Leone, supporting small farmers and women's cooperatives, and has since held leadership roles across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors.
Dr. Ann Hudock
President and CEO, Counterpart International
Shamil Idriss
Idriss leads Search for Common Ground’s efforts to end violent conflict. He will speak about the idea that conflict is inevitable, but violence is not, and discuss ways to build sustainable peace through dialogue, media, and community.
Shamil Idriss
Chief executive officer, Search for Common Ground
George Ingram
Ingram’s professional career—in government, the nonprofit sector, and now at the Brookings Center for Sustainable Development—has focused on international economic and development policy. He’ll join us at the Devex Pro Lounge for a conversation on several key Devex World themes, ranging from localization to the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
George Ingram
Senior fellow, Brookings Institution
Fisk Johnson
Fisk Johnson, CEO of SC Johnson, is a passionate advocate for practical paths forward on sustainability issues that include reducing plastic waste, green energy, carbon reduction, green chemistry, and ingredient transparency. He will discuss the emerging concern of plastic pollution and potential solutions to the plastic waste problem.
Fisk Johnson
CEO of SC Johnson
Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro
The former president and CEO of Global Fund for Women will discuss how investing in women and girls can accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro
Board chair, United World Colleges
Wendy Kopp
Kopp will discuss her work with People First Community to prioritize diverse, collective, locally rooted leadership development in sustainable development efforts.
Wendy Kopp
CEO of Teach For All and founder of Teach For America
Jin Liqun
A visionary leader in global finance, Jin Liqun is known for shaping the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and spearheading transformative development projects. At Devex World, he will discuss the bank’s evolving role in global development and infrastructure investment.
Jin Liqun
President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Sara Lomelin
Founding CEO of Philanthropy Together and named to Forbes’ 50 over 50 impact list in 2023, Lomelin is renowned for her work in diversifying philanthropy and promoting people-powered giving to support grassroots nonprofits. She’ll speak about the power of collective giving and its impact on civic engagement and philanthropy.
Sara Lomelin
Chief executive officer, Philanthropy Together
CV Madhukar
A powerhouse in impact investing and policy, Madhukar leads Co-Develop, a global fund that supports countries to build digital public infrastructure. He will explore the intersection of digital innovation and social impact, sharing insights on building a better-informed and more participatory society.
CV Madhukar
Chief executive officer, Co-Develop
Doug Miller
Miller is a systems entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in corporate sustainability and behavioral design. At Energy Peace Partners, he is leading the development of the global market for “Peace Renewable Energy Credits” to deliver catalytic private sector finance to scale access to renewables in fragile countries. Miller will join a workshop on carbon offsets where he’ll discuss clean energy as an alternative environmental solution.
Doug Miller
Director of market development, Energy Peace Partners
Dr. Stanislava Mladenova
A scholar and long-established practitioner across several continents, Stanislava's mission is to bridge the divide between security and development players, fostering cooperation to address the root causes of conflict and fragility that can only be addressed when these sides work together. She joins us for an exclusive Q&A session in the Devex Pro Lounge.
Dr. Stanislava Mladenova
Global fellow, Brown University
Dr. Nneka Mobisson
Dr. Mobisson is revolutionizing health care as the co-founder and CEO of mDoc, a digital health social enterprise that leverages AI and behavioral science to empower those at risk for chronic health needs. She will discuss how digital health platforms are improving access to care for underserved populations.
Dr. Nneka Mobisson
Co-founder and CEO, mDoc Healthcare
Scott Nathan
A leader in catalyzing private sector investment in places often deemed too risky by traditional investors, Nathan will discuss DFC’s strategy and the evolving role of development finance as a critical tool in sustainable growth.
Scott Nathan
Chief executive officer, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
Wawira Njiru
Njiru is revolutionizing Africa’s fight against childhood hunger, serving over 300,000 nutritious school meals daily while transforming local economies. Her innovative model isn’t just feeding kids, it’s transforming local economies by partnering with farmers, parents, and governments. She’ll share how scaling sustainable school feeding can unlock Africa’s potential and reshape the future.
Wawira Njiru
Founder and CEO, Food 4 Education
John Nkengasong
First director of the Africa CDC and first U.S. global AIDS coordinator of African descent, Nkengasong will speak to global health security and diplomacy in turbulent times.
John Nkengasong
U.S. global AIDS coordinator and senior bureau official for global health security and diplomacy, U.S. Department of State
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
An expert on food ecosystems, entrepreneurship, social innovation, and youth development, Nwuneli will speak about ONE's efforts to connect African countries with the financing they need to create economic opportunities and healthy lives.
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
President and CEO, ONE Campaign
Eva Oloumi
Eva Oloumi is the visionary behind Paradeigma, where she pushes the boundaries of collaborative design and strategic foresight to tackle some of the world’s toughest challenges. She helps organizations break free from short-term thinking to drive lasting, systems-level change. At Devex World, Eva will dive into how engaging diverse voices and embracing strategic foresight can unlock bold, innovative solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems — and why the future depends on it.
Eva Oloumi
Chief executive officer, Paradeigma
Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi
Owusu-Gyamfi is a driving force in transforming Africa’s economic landscape. At Devex World, she will discuss Africa’s agenda for global and continental financial architecture reform, as well as Africa’s economic transformation and what that means for the continent and the world.
Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi
President and CEO, African Center for Economic Transformation, or ACET
Dr. Raj Panjabi
A globally recognized authority in health care, public policy, entrepreneurship, and technology, known for his pivotal role in the largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign and multiple public health crisis responses. At Devex World 2024, he will share stories from working on the frontlines of health care, and lessons on innovation and leadership.
Dr. Raj Panjabi
Co-founder, Last Mile Health; former White House senior director for global health security
Kim Poole
Kim Poole is a dynamic soul-fusion artist and the visionary behind the Teaching Artist Institute, using art to drive social transformation and empower African women. At Devex World, she will explore how artists and communities are using art as a vehicle for empowerment, particularly in health, education, and economic growth, and will perform at our reception.
Kim Poole
Executive director, Teaching Artist Institute
Max Primorac
Primorac is a former USAID adviser and author of a controversial foreign aid policy, Project 2025, for a potential Trump administration. He will dive into the challenges of global development and conflict recovery, sharing insights on U.S. foreign aid, Ukraine’s reconstruction, and how Project 2025 aims to realign America’s approach to international crises.
Max Primorac
Senior research fellow in the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, The Heritage Foundation
Rakesh Rajani
Rajani is on a mission to revolutionize public sector infrastructure in the global south to make it more effective, inclusive, and affirming of human dignity. With 25 years of experience in civil society and philanthropy, he previously conceptualized systems change at Co-Impact and led civic engagement at the Ford Foundation. Rajani will delve into the realities of systems change and explore philanthropy’s role in driving long-lasting social transformations.
Rakesh Rajani
President, JustSystems
Nithya Ramanathan
Ramanathan is revolutionizing public health by empowering governments with the data they need to drive impact. Nexleaf's cutting-edge technology helps safeguard vaccines for 1 in 10 babies worldwide, collaborating closely with ministries of health across Africa and Asia. At Devex World, she will reveal how data, technology, and partnerships can transform health systems and create lasting solutions for global challenges.
Nithya Ramanathan
CEO and co-founder, Nexleaf Analytics
Sid Ravinutala
Sid leads data science at IDinsight, leveraging experience from McKinsey’s QuantumBlack and Harvard to drive impactful policy decisions through advanced analytics. He will explore the practical and strategic uses of artificial intelligence in the global development sector.
Sid Ravinutala
Data science director, IDinsight
Jim Richardson
With over 25 years leading foreign assistance and strategic policy, Richardson played a pivotal role in reshaping USAID, focusing on ending the need for foreign assistance. Here, he’ll discuss the potential impact of this year’s election outcome on U.S. foreign assistance, climate finance, global health, and multilateral engagement.
Jim Richardson
Executive director, Office of Secretary Mike Pompeo
Michelle Risinger
A trailblazer in innovation strategy, design thinking, and social impact, she’s trained thousands in unlocking creative solutions to social challenges. Risinger joins us to offer bold insights on how organizations can incorporate artificial intelligence in a way that fosters environments where creativity thrives and lasting social change is possible.
Michelle Risinger
Founder and CEO, Rising Solutions
Jaime Saavedra
With experience as Peru’s Minister of Education and a track record in poverty reduction, Saavedra currently leads human development for the World Bank across Latin America and the Caribbean. He will explore the complex interplay between individual leadership and systemic change in education.
Jaime Saavedra
Human development director, Latin America and the Caribbean, World Bank
Scott Salandy-Defour
The visionary behind Liquidstar, Salandy-Defour, has a history of driving groundbreaking tech projects for U.S. utilities and global organizations. He will draw on his expertise in IoT, wearable devices, and big data, and discuss how technology can revolutionize operations across industries.
Scott Salandy-Defour
Co-founder and CEO, Liquidstar
Ambika Samarthya-Howard
Ambika Samarthya-Howard is a communications strategist and documentary video producer with two decades of experience at the intersection of storytelling and social good. She leads the Solutions Insights Lab at the Solutions Journalism Network, and at Devex World will lead a flash talk on how we can find solutions in the most unlikely places.
Ambika Samarthya-Howard
Chief innovation officer, Solutions Journalism Network
Manoj Sinha
A pioneer in the minigrid industry recognized as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders, Manoj Sinha is driving clean energy access across Africa and South Asia. At Devex World, he will highlight the transformative work of Husk Power Systems in rural communities, where microgrids are bringing affordable, reliable, and renewable energy to off-grid areas, unlocking economic opportunities and improving health outcomes.
Manoj Sinha
CEO and co-founder, Husk Power Systems
Gayle Smith
Smith has shaped U.S. global development across three administrations, bringing nearly 20 years of on-the-ground experience in Africa. As a former USAID administrator and CEO of the ONE Campaign, she’s been a relentless advocate for global health and development. She will reveal how bold leadership in global development can drive change, sharing insights from her roles in government and her frontline work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gayle Smith
Former USAID administrator, global COVID-19 coordinator, and senior White House official
Stephanie Smith
Stephanie Smith leads the partnerships, operations, and community pass ecosystem functions at Mastercard, focusing on enabling access to essential services for underserved communities through a digital platform. She joined Mastercard in 2014 and previously worked in consulting and data analytics for government, nonprofit, and private sector partners.
Stephanie Smith
Senior vice president of community pass, Mastercard
Vera Songwe
Vera Songwe is an expert on fiscal policy, innovative financing, and economic governance, with a distinguished career spanning leadership roles at the World Bank and the United Nations. She will delve into her current work with the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility, an initiative aimed at reducing borrowing costs and unlocking capital for African nations to recover from the pandemic and invest in long-term growth.
Vera Songwe
Chair and founder of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility
Joseph Ssentongo
As acting CEO of the Global Innovation Fund, Joseph leads the organization’s mission to identify and fund innovations that can transform the lives of those living on less than $5 a day. At Devex World, he'll join us in the Devex Pro Lounge to discuss the impact of funding innovation to drive inclusive development and economic transformation.
Joseph Ssentongo
Chair and founder of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility
Kevin Starr
Leader of the Mulago Foundation, Starr is known for finding and funding scalable solutions to poverty through strategic support and unrestricted funding. He joins us to discuss empowering early-stage social entrepreneurs to design impactful solutions and build strategies for large-scale implementation.
Kevin Starr
CEO, Mulago Foundation
Abe Tarapani
Dedicated to harnessing deep technology for sustainable development, Tarapani is transforming how organizations respond to societal shifts and climate challenges. He joins us to explore practical and strategic uses of AI in global development.
Abe Tarapani
CEO, Atlas AI
Axel van Trotsenburg
A leader in transformative efforts to integrate sustainability, resilience, and inclusion into global development, he drives key initiatives at the World Bank on areas such as climate change, fragility, and poverty reduction. At our event, he will explore how the World Bank is mobilizing resources to expand partnerships and boost prosperity for vulnerable communities worldwide.
Axel van Trotsenburg
Senior managing director, The World Bank
Caren Wakoli
As the founder and executive director of Emerging Leaders Foundation-Africa, Wakoli is dedicated to supporting young leaders in governance and public affairs. Wakoli will share her expertise on what it truly takes to localize decision-making and funding.
Caren Wakoli
Founder and executive director, Emerging Leaders Foundation
Lydia Wilbard
Wilbard’s journey mirrors the young women CAMFED supports — overcoming personal challenges to fund her own education. Now, she leads strategic partnerships to uplift marginalized girls through education and mentorship. Wilbard will discuss scaling impact through peer mentorship and how education can ignite transformative change in communities.
Lydia Wilbard
Executive director for Learning and Engagement, CAMFED
Samuel Worthington
Worthington has spent decades shaping global humanitarian efforts and forging partnerships that challenge conventional aid models. At Devex World, he’ll dive into how NGOs can disrupt traditional power structures, influence top-level policy, and respond to complex global crises.
