Royal African Society (https://RoyalAfricanSociety.org) is pleased to announce the co-election of four distinguished leaders to its Council: Ifrah Hassan Ibrahim, James Benoit, John Butt and Tammy Brophy. Their appointments further strengthen the Society's leadership as it celebrates its 125th anniversary, bringing together expertise in finance, sustainability, policy, investment, education and global development.
Chairman's welcome
Ms Arunama Oteh, Chairperson of the Royal African Society, said:
“As we celebrate 125 years of the Royal African Society, we are reminded of its enduring mission to deepen understanding of Africa and amplify African voices globally. The extraordinary leaders we welcome to our Council epitomize this mission. Their diverse expertise, passion for the continent and track records of excellence will strengthen our ability to serve as a bridge between Africa, the United Kingdom and the wider world.”
CEO's Comments
Stella Okuzu, CEO of the Royal African Society, said:
“I am thrilled to welcome these four distinguished leaders to our Council. Their combined experience in finance, investment, sustainability, education and leadership will significantly enhance our ability to deliver impactful programs and expand our reach across Africa and the United Kingdom. Their insight and strategic guidance come at a critical moment in our evolution as an organization.”
Profile of newly elected council members
Ifrah Hassan Ibrahim
Ifrah Hassan Ibrahim is the founder of Protea Advisory Ltd, a London-based consultancy that advises African and emerging market sovereign clients on debt management, sustainable finance and access to international capital markets.
He has over 15 years of experience in global investment banking, having started his career at UBS in Zurich and later held senior roles at Credit Suisse and Barclays, where he led Sub-Saharan Africa coverage and worked closely with finance ministries, central banks and multilateral institutions such as the World Bank.
A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Ifrah combines deep technical expertise in international finance with a strong commitment to the long-term economic development of Africa and wider emerging markets. His work focuses primarily on supporting African, as well as other emerging market sovereign borrowers, in strengthening their access to global capital markets, providing them with valuable insight into the economic and policy challenges facing the continent.
Born to Somali parents and raised in Switzerland, she brings a truly international perspective and strong diaspora connections. Fluent in French, English and Somali, and proficient in German, she is based in London and is well placed to support the Royal African Society's mission of connecting African expertise with UK audiences and institutions. His experience at the intersection of finance, public policy and international development will provide valuable strategic insight into the economic trends shaping Africa-UK relations.
james benoit
James Benoit is a Canadian-Mauritian banking executive with over two decades of global leadership experience in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) has built a distinguished career linking African markets to international capital and financial institutions.
As Managing Director and CEO of FCMB Bank (UK), James led the transformation of the institution into a fully licensed UK-regulated bank, expanding services to the corporate, retail and expatriate markets while strengthening its role as a bridge between the African and UK economies. He has also played a fundamental role at Afrasia Bank and held senior leadership positions in international banking, capital markets and regulatory strategy.
James has a strong commitment to inclusive and ethical finance, as well as extensive experience advising financial institutions and governments on market entry, regulatory frameworks and capital raising strategies. His global network spans investors, policy makers, financial institutions and diaspora entrepreneurs.
With deep personal and professional ties to Africa, James brings strategic vision and international networks that will strengthen the Royal African Society's work in promoting partnership and investment relations between Africa and the UK.
john butt
Born in Cameroon, John Butt has built his career driven by curiosity, pursuing the boundaries where disruption meets opportunity for growth. As General Partner of Conduit Ventures Ltd., a regulated UK-based investment firm backed by sovereign and institutional capital, he sets the strategic direction of funds that deploy innovative solutions in energy transition, water risk and food security to catalyze sustainable economic growth. He pursues these themes with particular conviction in select markets in Latin America, Europe and Asia, as well as throughout Africa.
His career has spanned Washington DC, Citigroup Global Markets and Price Waterhouse in Europe, and policy and investment banking in the former Soviet bloc, where he worked with governments and the private sector, laying an early foundation at the Bank of England. Having lived and worked in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, including China and Japan, he uses a distinctive cross-border lens. Their work is informed by an appreciation that culture, innovation, consensus-building and partnerships are as decisive as capital in driving positive outcomes in transition and established economies.
He has a biochemistry degree from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan-Flagler Business School, USA.
tammy brophy
Tammy Brophy is Associate Director of the Oxford MBA at the Saeed Business School, University of Oxford, where she provides strategic leadership for one of the world's leading business education programmes. She leads Oxford SAID's Africa Initiative, developing partnerships across academia, government and industry to strengthen engagement with the African business ecosystem.
With over a decade of experience at Oxford and prior professional experience in South Africa, Tammy has a strong record of linking academic insight with practical leadership and enterprise development. She has been instrumental in expanding African participation in the Oxford MBA and securing over £1 million in scholarship partnerships for African and female students.
Tammy's work focuses on inclusive growth, leadership development and knowledge exchange, and she has led key initiatives including the Oxford Africa Business Forum and programs supporting gender equality in business education.
A dual South African-British citizen, Tammy has deep experience in building partnerships across sectors and borders. His expertise in education, leadership development and Africa-focused collaboration will support the Royal African Society's mission to promote knowledge, dialogue and relationships between Africa and the UK.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Royal African Society.
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About the Royal African Society:
The Royal African Society, founded in 1901, is one of the UK's oldest and most respected societies and is the only Royal Charter dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of Africa and stronger links between the UK, Africa and the wider world. Our Royal Patron is HRH Prince Williams, Prince of Wales.
Through conferences, cultural festivals, publications and policy dialogues, the Society brings together business leaders, artists, academics, policy makers and civil society to showcase Africa's achievements and address its challenges.