What: BAFT WTB Briefing – an Educational and Networking Event
When: Thursday May 14, 2026, 11am to 2pm
Where: TDB Group Office, Nairobi
This invite-only briefing brings together women leaders and allies across the industry for meaningful conversation and connection. The event is open to all invited guests, regardless of gender, with limited seating available. Kindly RSVP via your email invitation.
Interested to attend but didn’t receive an invitation? Please express your interest by contacting [email protected]
Times are in East Africa Time (EAT)
9:30 - 10:00
10:00 - 10:10
Tod Burwell
President & CEO
BAFT
10:10 - 10:30
Joy Ntare
Group Executive Vice President Finance and Risk Complex
The Eastern and Southern African Trade & Development Bank (TDB)
10:30 - 11:15
This panel moves the conversation beyond inclusion to influence, highlighting how women leaders are actively shaping the transactional banking landscape across Africa, with a spotlight on East Africa. East Africa sits at the heart of financial transformation marked by rapid trade flows, currency volatility, and regulatory complexity. Navigating this environment demands leaders who can balance growth, risk, and resilience amid an increasingly complex geopolitical and economic backdrop. Across Africa, and particularly in East Africa, transaction banking is evolving facing FX volatility, regulatory reforms, correspondent banking de-risking, and accelerated digital transformation. Women leaders are at the forefront, driving innovative solutions that enable resilient cross-border trade and payments across the continent. This discussion will examine how women executives are: • Shaping cross-border payments and regional integration to enhance efficiency and interoperability • Modernizing trade finance to support intra–Africa Trade • Strengthening correspondent banking relationships amid de-risking pressures • Managing liquidity and FX volatility in high-growth, fragmented markets • Leading regulatory and compliance strategy to navigate complex requirements • Building the next generation of women leaders, ensuring sustainable pipelines for strategic influence. This session positions women not as participants, but as decision-makers and architects of the future of transaction banking in Africa.
Moderator
Chuene Setati
Head of Africa Regions Sales
Absa Bank South Africa
Panelists
Alice Azevedo
Deputy Director, Head of International Division, Financial and International Department
Banco Fomento Angola, S.A.
Caroline Kariuki
Head, Trade and Working Capital
Absa Bank Kenya
Nellyana Mmanyi
Director, Corporate Banking,
Absa Bank Tanzania
Mwaya Siwale
Associate Executive, Trade Finance Department
The Eastern and Southern African Trade & Development Bank (TDB)
11:15 - 11:45
Esther Waititu
Chief Financial Officer
Safaricom PLC
11:45 - 11:50
Setumo Seroka
Head Cash Management
Absa Bank
11:50 - 12:30
Tod Burwell is the President and Chief Executive Officer of BAFT. Prior to being promoted to CEO, he served as the Senior Vice President of Trade Products with oversight of all trade-related initiatives including the Global Trade Industry Council, Trade Committees, and other strategic initiatives of the organization. Mr. Burwell has over 25 years of trade, supply chain and cash management experience as a banking practitioner, as well as serving as a consultant to global corporations and suppliers of strategically integrated trade solutions. Prior to joining BAFT, Mr. Burwell was a Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase and held senior global management roles responsible for trade operations, launching the logistics business and managing global product sales for trade finance and logistics management.
Ms. Ntare joined the Bank in April 2014 with over 26 years of experience in accounting and finance. She was previously employed by the Central Bank of Rwanda for 20 years in several capacities including as Director General for Financial Stability and Director of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions. She also worked at the Tanzania Electric Supply Company. Ms. Ntare holds Advanced Diploma in Accountancy and a MBA from Cardiff Business School, University of Wales. She is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR)
As the Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom, Esther leads the evolution of M-PESA from a payments platform into a full-stack digital financial ecosystem spanning credit, wealth, insurance, APIs, and merchant solutions. She is a transformational fintech and financial services leader focused on leveraging technology, trust, and partnerships to drive inclusive economic growth at scale. With more than 19 years of experience across Sub-Saharan Africa, Esther has led strategy, product, sales, operations, and channel management functions, delivering significant growth across payments, lending, and trade finance. She is recognized for building future-fit financial platforms, leading large-scale transformation initiatives, and aligning commercial growth with strong governance, ESG outcomes, and customer trust.
