The Mastercard Foundation today announced the appointment of Carole Wamuyu Wainaina, a Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer at Africa50 and Non-Executive Director at various organisations, to its Board of Directors.
Wainaina is a senior business leader with 35 years of global experience in multinationals and multilateral organisations in areas including strategy, organisational transformation, and human resources.
The Chair of the Board of Directors of the Mastercard Foundation, Zein Abdalla, said Wainaina’s experience in the public and private sectors, global networks, and knowledge of the African continent will be invaluable.
“I am delighted to welcome Wainaina to our Board of Directors. The Mastercard Foundation is executing a bold strategy to create economic opportunities for young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada. Carole’s,” he said.
Wainaina said: “I am honoured to join the Mastercard Foundation’s Board of Directors. I look forward to working with a dynamic team advancing education and financial inclusion to create opportunities for young people, build stronger communities, and contribute to more inclusive economies. This important work benefits all of us, and I am pleased to contribute to the Foundation’s impact in Africa and Canada.”
Wainaina has worked for several years at Africa50, the Morocco-based Pan-African infrastructure investment platform capitalized by African countries and the African Development Bank.
She was previously Chief Operating Officer, responsible for establishing Africa50 and leading a multi-disciplinary team including Strategy, Investor Relations & Fundraising, Communications, HR & Administration, and Environmental & Social Governance (ESG).
Wainaina has served as the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources at the United Nations, leading transformational initiatives for the Secretary-General and member states.
Wainaina’s experience in the philanthropic sector includes serving on the non-profit boards Impact(Ed) International, and Harvard Business School Africa Research Board.
She is an angel investor and mentor to several founders.
The Mastercard Foundation’s Board of Directors includes, Zein Abdalla (Board Chair), Retired President of PepsiCo, Inc.; Baroness Valerie Amos, CH, Master of University College, Oxford University and former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the UN; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Jay Ireland, Retired President and CEO of General Electric Africa.
Others are Louise Arbour, C.C., Jurist-in-residence at Borden, Ladner, Gervais LLP, a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and United Nations Special Representative for International Migration; Jennifer Fonstad,
Co-founder and leader of the Owl Capital Group.
Also is, Michael Sabia, Chief Executive Officer of Hydro-Québec and Robin Washington, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Sewit Ahderom, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Gro Intelligence; Tsega Gebreyes, Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer at Satya Capital Limited.
