Takondwa Chirwa
Communications Expert | Marketing & Communications Manager, FINCA Malawi

Frances Ferreira
Gender Expert | Senior Adviser: Women and Girls, Commonwealth of Learning

Takondwa Chirwa is a strategic and results-driven professional with over 12 years of experience in women’s economic empowerment, microfinance, and commercial banking. As Marketing & Communications Manager at FINCA Malawi, she has led transformative initiatives that expand women’s access to finance, strengthen entrepreneurial capacity, and advance digital financial inclusion. Passionate about mentoring women entrepreneurs, Takondwa leverages practical business coaching, financial literacy training, and storytelling to help women overcome barriers to growth and amplify their visibility as business leaders.

A passionate leader in women’s empowerment and open education, Frances Ferreira brings decades of experience in leadership, skills development, gender equality, and distance learning across the Commonwealth. Since joining the Commonwealth of Learning in 2007, she has served in multiple roles, including Education Specialist, Acting Director: Skills, and now Senior Adviser: Women and Girls, leading the Empowering Women and Girls in the Commonwealth project to advance gender equality and improve livelihoods in underserved communities. Formerly the first Chief Executive of the Namibian College of Open Learning and Mayor of Grootfontein, Frances has been recognized with COL’s Distance Learning Experience Award and has co-authored several publications on open schooling, open educational resources, and women’s leadership in education.

Eunésia Pedro Mucavele
Accountant | Founder, Caminho do Sucesso Feminino

Sana Siddique
Development Practitioner | Social Safeguard & Resettlement Specialist

Eunésia Pedro Mucavele is a dedicated mentor and seasoned accountant with over 13 years of experience in NGO financial management. She has a proven track record of empowering women entrepreneurs across Mozambique. As the creator of the Caminho do Sucesso Feminino and Empreenda com Propósito mentorship programs, Eunésia has supported more than 40 women in strengthening and expanding their small businesses. Her holistic approach blends practical financial guidance with emotional well-being practices. She shares her expertise on the national TV program Manhãs Alegres on STV Soico, teaching financial literacy, business management, and emotional resilience to a wide audience. Her professional achievements include improving financial systems, increasing project funding, reducing reporting timelines, and minimizing audit irregularities. Eunésia combines technical expertise with human-centered mentorship to help women and communities build sustainable, purpose-driven businesses.

Sana Siddique is a passionate development practitioner with over 15 years of experience in gender empowerment, social development, and community engagement across Pakistan. She holds a Master’s in Economics and has implemented major donor-funded projects with partners including the Government of Pakistan, World Bank, DFID UK, USAID, Oxfam Novib, and Plan International. Her expertise spans gender analysis, social inclusion, project management, GBV/SE/SH interventions, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. Sana has designed strategies that enhance women’s participation and leadership, particularly in Sindh Province. Currently serving as Social Safeguard & Resettlement Specialist and Livelihood Specialist for the Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project (SFERP), she combines evidence-based interventions with inclusive development principles to promote accountability, sustainability, and social justice.

Keerthiha Sutharsan
Entrepreneur | Founder, CRAZE (PVT) Ltd

Julianne Verma
Entrepreneur | Advocate | Founder, Women in Construction and Trade Fiji (WICAT)

Keerthiha Sutharsan is a results-driven administrator and founder of CRAZE (PVT) Ltd, with more than a decade of hands-on experience in business unit development, team leadership, and strategic growth. Known for identifying business gaps and driving innovative, revenue-boosting solutions, Keerthiha excels in strategic business development, process optimization, and cost-effective decision-making. Her high-performance leadership style unites diverse teams to exceed targets and adapt to evolving market demands. With a strong blend of technical acumen and operational insight, she continues to foster growth, innovation, and excellence, empowering others and shaping the future of business as a dedicated woman entrepreneur.

Julianne Verma is a Fijian entrepreneur and gender-equity advocate dedicated to expanding opportunities for women in construction and technical trades. She is the Founder of Women in Construction and Trade Fiji (WICAT), leading a national network that supports women’s participation, skills development, and safety in male-dominated industries. She is also the Director of the Mount Sophia Group, and owner of Realm Manager, offering expertise in property advisory and operational planning. A Leadership Fiji Alumni, she brings a collaborative and community-centred approach to business and advocacy, using her platforms to strengthen women’s leadership and economic empowerment across the Pacific. Julianne participated in the 2024 Women’s Practice Parliament as the Minister for Trade and Commerce.