Themes
Elsie S. Kanza is a national of Tanzania, who was born and raised in Kenya. Elsie serves as the Senior Director, Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum. At the Forum the Africa Team is responsible for the Forum’s Africa Strategy and champions multi-stakeholder regional initiatives, such as Grow Africa partnership initiative, Africa Strategic Infrastructure Initiative, Water Resources Group Partnership initiative, and Responsible Mineral Development Initiative in collaboration with regional organisations. Previously she served as Personal Assistant to H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania responsible for Economic Affairs from 2006 to 2011. Prior to that, she worked with the Ministry of Finance and central Bank of Tanzania in various capacities from 1997 to 2006. Elsie holds a BSc (cum laude) in International Business Administration from the United States International University – Africa, an MSc in Finance from the University of Strathclyde and an MA in Development Economics from Williams College. She is also a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2011) and an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow (2008).