Mr. Timothy Were is currently Director at the State Department of ICT and Digital Economyin Kenya’s Ministry of Information Communications and Digital Economy. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Egerton University, a Master’s of Science in Information Technology Management from Strathmore University and a Masters of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi – with a thesis looking at Cyber Norms. He is a 2021 graduate of the National Defence College – Kenya and has attended many other professional courses in project management, systems development, systems audit, service management, budgeting, procurement, strategic leadership, policy formulation and partnership management.

He is a technical leader with twenty years’ experience in the education/training, telecommunication, aviation, healthcare and government sectors. He has lately been involved in public service delivery systems and fibre infrastructure rollout, consolidated ICT procurement, and the legal framework for critical infrastructure protection, cyber security among others.

Violet Murwa is an Assistant Director of ICT at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, State Department for Diaspora Affairs, with over 20 years of experience in the public sector. Throughout her career, she has held various roles across different ministries, contributing to the growth and development of the ICT landscape in Kenya. Violet is particularly passionate about ICT policy, research, and the intersection of technology and governance, and has played a key role in developing several ICT policy and strategy documents that have shaped the direction of technology across the government.

Her academic pursuits reflect her deep commitment to understanding and advancing the field of technology. Currently, Violet is a PhD student in IT Security and Audit at Kabarak University, where she is honing her expertise in cybersecurity, focusing on the evolving challenges and solutions within this critical domain. She is particularly interested in the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity, recognizing the increasing importance of AI-driven security measures to combat emerging threats in an increasingly interconnected world.

Violet is also dedicated to giving back to the community. She volunteers as a mentor at Mama Africa Pendo Kenya, where she supports young girls interested in STEM. Her work aims to inspire the next generation of women leaders in technology, offering guidance and empowering them to pursue careers in ICT and other science fields.

A self-described “work in progress,” Violet is committed to continuous learning and personal growth, always striving to make meaningful progress one step at a time.

Hartnell is an experienced Data, Digital and Analytics professional with demonstrated expertise in the African banking and financial services industry. His specialization is in AI, Digital Transformation, Data management, Data Strategy, Data Governance, Business Intelligence, Big Data, Advanced Analytics, Data Architecture, Data Science, Data Visualization, Data modeling, Cloud Computing and Warehousing. He has a proven record of formulating Data and Digital strategies, executing dynamic transformational programs and leading complex technical teams.

He is currently the Chief Data Officer, Africa Regional Operations at Absa Group where he is responsible for Africa’s enterprise Data strategy, Data governance, Analytics, AI, Data monetization and effective data exploitation. In this role, he supports Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, Ghana, Zambia, Botswana and Seychelles on data strategy, operations and capacity building.

His previous role was Chief Data Officer for Kenya where he was responsible for the overall Data Analytics and Data Management agenda for the bank. Leading the Business Intelligence, Data Science, Model Analytics and Governance departments, he was responsible for developing and executing the Data Analytics roadmap to enable sustainable business growth and profitability as well as enterprise transformation by enabling digital and organizational transformation. He supported sustained customer experience through improved master data management, dependable data stewardship, exploration of new market opportunities, introduction of data partnerships, data led
sales and sales force effectiveness.

His key achievements include setting up and mentoring data teams, effectively managing digital transformation squads, delivering key finance, credit, retail and corporate use cases, setting up the foundation for digital transformation, developing AI models for business predictions, transforming enterprises to data driven organizations and maturing banks to the highest transformative Data Analytics maturity level.

Hartnell has also worked as a Data consultant providing advisory and analytics services to Governments, Parastatals, NGOs, Banks, Insurance firms, Telco’s and Industrial markets. He holds a Leadership certificate from IMD Switzerland, a master’s degree in analytics from Georgia Institute of Technology, an executive data science specialization from Johns Hopkins University, a degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Moi University and more than 150 certifications in digital and data.

Samuel Mbai is a renowned ICT and EdTech leader with over 12 years of experience in digital transformation, AI-driven learning solutions, and Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET). As Chief ICT Officer at the University of Nairobi, he has been instrumental in integrating cutting-edge technologies into education, ensuring institutions leverage AI, cloud computing, and digital platforms to enhance teaching, learning, and workforce readiness.

His expertise extends to e-learning innovation, having led the development of the IGAD AI-Powered E-Learning Platform, which provides scalable, AI-driven digital education across multiple IGAD member countries. Additionally, as the lead instructor at Safaricom Digital Academy, Samuel pioneered IoT training programs, empowering staff with future-ready digital skills and further solidifying his reputation as a transformative technology educator. A thought leader in AI adoption, blockchain credentialing, and digital skills development, Samuel is a Global CIO 200 Award Winner and a sought-after speaker at global forums such as the World CIO Summit among others.

Additionally, as the lead instructor at Safaricom Digital Academy, Samuel pioneered IoT training programs, empowering staff with future-ready digital skills and further solidifying his reputation as a transformative technology educator.

Gilbert K.C. Mutai is a seasoned business and technology leader with a proven track record in steering ICT operations and driving transformative digital strategies. As Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Car and General PLC, he oversees ICT functions across the group’s operations, spearheading digital transformation initiatives that have revolutionized customer experience, enhanced efficiency, and optimized business performance.

His leadership and impact have earned notable industry recognition, including his appointment to the IDC CIO Advisory Council (2023/24) and multiple accolades from the Global CIO Forum Committee as a transformative technology leader. In 2023, he led Car and General PLC to win the prestigious Plus One Award for Excellence in Manufacturing at the CIO Africa Dx5 Awards, a testament to his pioneering efforts in digital transformation. His contributions have also earned him several Africa CIO honors.

Before joining Car and General, Gilbert worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the Risk and Assurance Line of Service, where he specialized in IT governance, risk management, and compliance, implementing robust technology governance frameworks to ensure adherence to industry standards and policies.

He holds a Master’s in IT Management from the University of Nairobi, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Egerton University, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Mellany Msengezi is a marketing professional with over 20 years of experience. She is the Country Director and Manager for GOMYCODE Kenya. She has held several leadership positions in the eCommerce and Telecommunication industry. She holds an MBA from Nottingham Trent University (UK), Mellany is passionate about strategy, empowering teams, and delivering exceptional business results.