SAVCA Private Equity
(PE) Connect 2025
SPEAKERS
Annabel Bishop
Annabel Bishop
Annabel joined Investec in 2001 and currently serves as the Chief Economist. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked across a wide range of fields including macroeconomics, econometrics, financial markets, political and regulatory risk, public finance, and risk analysis.
She was awarded the Sake/Beeld Economist of the Year title in 2010 and has received numerous accolades, including multiple monthly Reuters Econometer awards and several Focus Economics awards for accurate forecasting across various economic indicators.
Annabel has authored an extensive collection of articles, both internally at Investec and externally, with publications in South Africa and internationally. She has also been a guest lecturer at several academic institutions, including GIBS, the University of Pretoria, Wits, UJ, and others. In addition, she has presented at numerous national and international conferences.
She is also a contributing author of the section titled “Financial Services Sector and Its Support to the Economy” in the publication Better Choices: Ensuring SA’s Future.
Gergana Ivanova
Transactions, EY
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana leads client technology for Strategy and Transaction in Africa. She has had various roles in data and technology over the years including digital and data analytics lead for Transaction Diligence in Africa, digital tool adoption in the EMEIA region such as NLG and AI-backed tools, as well as digital product development and implementation.
Gergana is an experienced professional in transaction support. She has extensive cross-industry transaction experience in the sub-Saharan context. Gergana works primarily with private equity GPs supporting across the transaction lifecycle on a range of M&A and capital market transactions. She primarily focuses on financial performance of private equity portfolio companies, especially in when and how they can harness technology and data to support their equity stories.
Gergana has worked with SAVCA on a number of events and initiatives including the SAVCA PE survey for Southern Africa, the Exits Masterclass and the SAVCA PE foundation program at GIBS.
George Odo
George Odo
George is the Managing Director for East & Southern Africa and a Senior Partner at AfricInvest, based in Nairobi, Kenya. A key member of the firm’s Executive Committee, George has over 16 years of experience at AfricInvest and has played a central role in establishing and expanding the firm’s presence in the region since launching its Kenya operations in 2009.
He has led the deployment of over USD 500 million across East and Southern Africa, managing investments across various strategies, including Private Equity, Private Credit, Venture Capital, and specialist investment vehicles – contributing significantly to AfricInvest’s regional growth.
Before joining AfricInvest, George spent a decade with CARE International, starting as a Project Manager in Kenya and rising to Regional Director for East & Southern Africa. This background gives him a unique blend of development and private sector expertise.
George has extensive board experience and has served on the boards of organizations such as Abacus Pharmaceuticals, Old Mutual Holdings, UAP Group, Family Bank, Mayfair Bank, Brookhouse International School, Britam Holdings, and the Danish Refugee Council. His sector expertise spans agribusiness, microfinance, banking, insurance, education, FMCG, plastics packaging, pharmaceuticals, and automotive services.
A committed lifelong learner, George has studied across four continents. He holds an Executive MBA, a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), and a Postgraduate Business Administration qualification (PBAS), alongside certifications in Audit, Private Equity, ESG, HR, and IT, underscoring his dedication to continuous professional development.
Graham Stokoe
Graham Stokoe
Graham is the Private Capital sector leader for EY Africa and is the EY Private leader for Strategy and Transactions in Africa. He has led > 150 buy-side and sell-side transaction diligence projects for Private Capital and Corporate clients on transactions across Sub-Saharan Africa. Joining EY’s Transaction Diligence team in London in 2004 and transitioning to the South Africa team in 2007, he has a wealth of experience in financial due diligence, M&A, IPOs, carve-outs and exit readiness.
He completed his BCom and BCom (Hons) at the University of Pretoria and is a CA(SA).
He is passionate about developing trusted transaction advisors and enabling capital flows to growing African businesses.
Kgabang Moloedi
Kgabang Moloedi
Kgabang is an Assistant Portfolio Manager in the Private Markets Investments team at the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund (EPPF). In her role, she is responsible for the analysis, execution, and post-investment management of private market opportunities.
She began her career at the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), where she spent two years in the Private Equity division as part of the graduate program. During this time, she was involved in a range of transactions across South Africa and the broader African continent.
Kgabang also completed a three-week training program at Goldman Sachs in New York, gaining valuable exposure to international financial markets and global investment practices.
A passionate and driven professional, Kgabang is committed to using her skills to drive positive societal change. Her career is strongly influenced by values of impact investing and social cohesion, which continue to shape her professional journey in the private markets industry.
Education
- 2015–2016: University of Cape Town (UCT) – Cape Town, South Africa
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Financial Analysis and Portfolio Management - 2011–2013: University of Pretoria – Pretoria, South Africa
Bachelor of Commerce in Investment Management
Kudakwashe Gumbie
Kudakwashe Gumbie
Kuda is a Senior Vice President at Verdant Capital, where he works on the Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund. He brings extensive experience in private equity, asset management, and corporate advisory, having managed over US$80 million in assets across multiple sectors.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Economics, Finance & International Trade from Deakin University in Australia and is a CFA Charterholder.
Prior to joining Verdant Capital, Kuda was a Portfolio Manager at Nurture Investment Management, where he led investment teams and structured deals across Africa. He has a strong background in financial modelling, valuations, and investment strategy development.
Kuda is passionate about entrepreneurship and youth development and actively mentors startups and emerging businesses.
Monya Bassingthwaighte
Monya Bassingthwaighte
Monya is the Investment Director for Southern Africa at Inspired Evolution, where she oversees the full investment lifecycle for the region – from deal origination and evaluation to negotiation, execution, and post-investment portfolio management.
With over 16 years of experience in clean energy technologies and investments, Monya brings a broad and diverse background across the sector. Before joining Inspired Evolution, she was a Principal at responsAbility Investments AG, based in Zurich, where she led and closed clean energy transactions across multiple emerging markets, including Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
Monya holds a Bachelor of Business Science from the University of Cape Town and a Master’s in Finance from the University of London.