Awardees Reena Moonoosamy and Manisha Dookhony shine in the Insurance and Investment Sectors
The Angaza Awards: Women to Watch in Banking, Finance and Investment program has announced the list of Top 10 women who are steering and shaping Africa’s financial services sector. Among the Top 10 are Mauritius’s Reena Moonoosamy, Group Chief Services Officer of National Insurance Co. Ltd., and Manisha Dookhony, Chairperson and Director of MINDEX Group and Chairperson of the African Legal Support Facility, an international organization hosted by the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Moonoosamy’s acumen and operational expertise have been instrumental in navigating complex transformations at National Insurance Co., including the acquisition of one of the largest pension portfolios. An active supporter of industry development, Reena has served as Vice President of Long-Term Insurance at the Insurers Association of Mauritius. Moreover, she helped steer industry advocacy for tax relief on personal pension policies.
Dookhony has achieved significant milestones at MINDEX, including obtaining licenses which positioned the firm as the only fully-licensed virtual exchange in the region. Her leadership at the African Legal Support Facility also drove impactful initiatives, funding 40 large-scale projects. As the Chair of the Harvard Group for Mauritius and a co-founder of the Women in Finance and Investment Association of Mauritius, she champions gender equity and professional growth within the industry.
The Angaza Awards list was compiled following a four-month entry period which attracted dozens of professionals from 11 countries across the Continent. Launched in 2020, Angaza Awards has helped raise international awareness of the seasoned African women who are shaping and influencing the financial services sector. The Awardees will be celebrated during the Angaza Forum which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya on October 16 and 17.
“Through the Angaza Awards, we uncover the hidden gems of Africa’s financial landscape — women whose impact transcends boardrooms and industries to create shared value,” said Nuru Mugambi, Angaza Forum Chairperson. “Their stories inspire us, reminding us that financial inclusion and empowerment is not just a sustainable finance goal but a catalyst for transformative change. As we amplify their voices, we pave the way for a future where women rise to the C-suite and beyond by driving impactful initiatives that reshape the fabric of our economies,” she said.
The Angaza Awards Judges Panel is constituted by Mutumboi Mundia, Chief Executive Officer of Prospero, an SME-focused impact investment organization in Zambia; Catherine Musakali, Co-Founder of Women on Boards Network Kenya; Hedwige Nuyens, Managing Director, International Banking Federation; Yawa Hansen-Quao, Founder, Leading Ladies’ Network (Ghana); Joanita Lunkuse-Jaggwe, a risk management specialist with UNDP; Luke Ombara, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Capital Markets Authority of Kenya; Esohe Denise Odaro, Head of ESG and Sustainability, PAI Partners (UK); Maxwell Pirikisi, Immediate Past President – South Africa-Nigeria Business Chamber (SA-NBC) and Director SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI); and Jo-Ann Pöhl, Senior Advisor at Kearney (South Africa).
About Angaza Awards
More than 30 women leaders from 16 countries have been honored since the inception of the Angaza Awards. The Nairobi-based nonprofit initiative receives backing from volunteers and sponsors who share a common belief in the transformative power of African women in the financial sector. Notably, applicants are not required to pay any fees for consideration and recognition. For more information, visit www.AngazaAwards.com
