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Location: AA03 Volubilis
OVERVIEW
The event will convene a panel of 5 experts from the fields of technology, private sector, policy-advice, and academia. The panelists will present their take on the topic for 5-7 minutes, before the moderator engages with them about the opportunities and risks posed by generative AI, probing the unique characteristics that make Africa an ideal environment for technological innovation. Panelists will discuss the prerequisites for capitalizing on AI, exploring the various dimensions of infrastructure, regulation, education, collaboration, and funding that are crucial for success. Emphasis will be placed on evidence-based insights, real-world examples, and actionable recommendations, providing a comprehensive understanding of how AI can be harnessed as a transformative tool for sustainable development in Africa. The moderator will aim to foster a constructive conversation that illuminates paths forward, while also addressing potential pitfalls such ethical considerations.
MODERATOR
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Shirin Hamid Chief Information Officer, IMF |
Shirin Hamid is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Director of Information Technology at the IMF. She has more than 20 years of executive leadership in digital transformation and innovative use of information management and technologies for complex, large multinational and multi-dimensional organizations at an international scale. Prior to the Fund, Shirin was CIO at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for 6 years, where she led major digital transformations in the organization, spanning over 30 countries. Shirin also held the role of Chief Technology Officer and Director of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), where she worked to maximize the impact of technology on a global stage, covering 170 countries. Shirin’s work was recognized by the CIO 100 Award in 2019, 2021 and 2022. She was honored to be named as The World's 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government in 2019, Top 100 Premier Global IT Leader by ComputerWorld in 2014, as well as Asia CIO 100 Honoree Award in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
PANELISTS
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Pierrette Mahoro Mastel |
Mastel is an MSIT graduate with a major in Applied Machine Learning from Carnegie Mellon University. She is passionate about AI research, particularly in healthcare and ethics. Mastel has done work in NLP for a select East African languages and is currently working on a project with CyLab-Africa to develop an RRI framework for Sub-Saharan Africa. Mastel is also committed to fostering ML/AI in her community, serving as the current Lead Organizer of IndabaX Rwanda and a facilitator at AI Saturdays Kigali, both local AI communities working to grow and strengthen AI in Rwanda."
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Tholang Mathopa |
South African born Founder of leriba.ai Tholang Mathopa is an AI & Intelligent Automation Specialist. the Founder of Leriba AI, an AI Document Processing startup that leverages cutting-edge research based on Deep Learning Artificial Intelligence methodologies.
Her background is in Management Consulting with a decade experience in Intelligent Automation and AI systems training and implementation.
She realized the dire need for Future of Work skills development in South Africa during her tenure as an Intelligent Automation consultant in New York and returned to found RPA Nuggets, now Leriba AI, with the aim to alleviate unemployment by bridging the digital skills divide through Intelligent Automation and AI skills training.
Tholang is on a mission to train and up-skill one million women in Intelligent Automation and AI by 2025, to help increase representation and leadership for women in AI, through the 2025 1M Women in Intelligent Automation Initiative, a proactive approach to ensure that women are equipped with key skills and qualifications to play an active role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) economy.
To-date, Tholang has trained 3210 women across South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Lesotho, Zambia and Nigeria. 70% got employed within two weeks post training and 30% founded their own businesses, leveraging AI for competitive edge.
Her relentless quest to empower women through digital age leadership and AI skills training continues, aligned with the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (decent work and economic growth) and Goal 8 (economic empowerment).
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Kofi Dadzie |
Kofi is a technology strategy and risk governance consultant. He is the former CEO of Rancard where he led the company to earn a patent in contextual data graphs applied in conversational AI.
He consults as a tech policy advisor with the Tony Blair Global Institute in the development of national digital economy policy and strategies for economic transformation.
He serves as a non-executive director on the boards of:
● Impact Life Insurance,
● MTN Ghana,
● IC Asset Managers,
● Rancard.
Kofi has also served with:
● Founder Institute, mentoring technology-enabled startups,
● Ashesi University’s Corporate Advisory Council,
● the governing board of Genius Hive Music Academy,
● the Mastercard Foundation, developing strategy to empower young Africans in the digital economy.
He has been a contributor on technology evolution and startups in a global and African context at Facebook F8, Techcrunch Startup Battlefield, World Bank Econothon, Springboard Global Convocation, and other platforms.
Kofi has a computer engineering degree from Vanderbilt University, a public leadership credential from Harvard Kennedy School, is an Aspen Fellow, and an ardent student of Shotokan Karate.
PHOTOS
