WORK & IMPACT

A decade of building. A continent of impact.

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Anna’s work spans innovation ecosystems, digital policy, research, and cross-regional collaboration. Below is a selection of the initiatives, projects, and partnerships that define her contribution to Africa’s digital economy.

AFRILABS

Building the backbone of African innovation

As Executive Director of AfriLabs from 2016 to 2026, Anna led the growth of one of Africa’s most significant pan-continental innovation networks—from 40 hubs across 40+ countries to 500+ hubs spanning all 53 African nations. Since May 2026, she has served as Executive Director Emerita.

Under her leadership, AfriLabs became more than a network. It became infrastructure—a platform for capacity building, policy influence, investment facilitation, and cross-border trade and collaboration at continental scale.

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AFRICAN NATIONS

TRADE & INDUSTRIALISATION

Building Africa’s trade and industrial future

Beyond ecosystem-building, Anna is a driving voice for intra-African trade and industrialisation—the next chapter of Africa’s economic transformation. She works with governments, private sector leaders, and multilateral institutions to move AfCFTA from framework to functioning market, build the industrial base that lets African economies add value rather than simply export raw inputs, and reduce the barriers that have long impeded businesses trying to trade and scale across the continent—barriers she has confronted directly through her own work.

As Executive Director Emerita of AfriLabs, she now channels this focus into targeted platforms—including hosting the Trade and Industry Track at the 11th AfriLabs Annual Gathering in Cotonou, Benin Republic, 2026—and continues to advise on trade and industrial policy through her role on Nigeria’s Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council, under the Office of the Vice President.

KEY MILESTONES

Institutionalised and expanded AfriLabs from 40 hubs to 500+ innovation hubs in 225+ cities across 53 African countries; the most geographically diverse private-sector innovation network on the continent supporting over 10 million innovators, entrepreneurs, and startups.

Designed and led impactful programmes and initiatives spanning capacity building for innovation hubs and startups, access to funding and investment, research and evidence generation, and innovation development across multiple sectors; delivered through national, regional, and cross-continental partnerships that have shaped the African innovation landscape.

Built and sustained partnerships with multilateral organisations including the African Union, UN agencies, ITC, and the European Commission; global tech companies including Meta, Google, and Microsoft; foundations including the Visa Foundation and The Gates Foundation; and development finance institutions including the AfDB, FMO, GIZ, and Afreximbank.

Secured AfriLabs memberships with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), and The Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security.

Currently serves as host of the Trade and Industry Track at the 11th AfriLabs Annual Gathering, Cotonou, Benin Republic (2026), convening stakeholders on accelerating intra-African trade and industrial capacity across the continent.

Founded and scaled the AfriLabs Annual Gathering which now stands as the largest convening of innovation enablers in Africa. It has been hosted across 9 African countries and by the African Union Commission and United Nations, including a virtual edition during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Formalised strategic global government partnerships including with the U.S. Department of State (Office of Global Partnerships), the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia, and the Korea-Africa Foundation under the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as partnerships with multiple African governments.

Led the development of key ecosystem platforms: AfriLabs Academy, AfriLabs Connect, and AfriLabs Connect Deal Room, enabling cross-border collaboration, learning, and investment across the continent.

Represented AfriLabs at ministerial roundtables, international conferences, and high-level global forums, delivering keynote addresses and advocating for Africa's innovation economy on the world stage.

Policy, advisory and global influence

Anna’s advisory work spans global institutions and continental bodies:

Founder & Council Member, timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation (UNDP)

Pan-African catalytic financing facility empowering entrepreneurs through thematic hubs and innovation-led learning in African universities via the UniPod network.

Founding Board Member, Africa Creative Alliance (ACA)

Leading efforts to connect Africa’s creative economy to continental and global markets—a key component of AfCFTA’s cultural and services trade protocols.