Roberta Annan
Born (1982-12-02) December 2, 1982
Accra
NationalityGhanaian
EducationCarleton University B.SC Georgetown University
Occupation(s)Business woman, Investor and Philanthropist
Known forBusiness
Children1

Roberta Annan ( born 2 December 1982)[1] is a Ghanaian businesswoman and the founder of the African Fashion Foundation. She is also an investor, philanthropist, and a United Nations Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador.[2] Annan was the youngest African to be inducted into the African Leadership Hall of Fame.[3] A graduate of Carleton University and Georgetown University, Annan began her career with an internship at the U.N. headquarters in New York City.[4] Annan is the owner of Annan Capital Partners, an investment company in Sub-Saharan Africa, and ALDG, a portfolio of assets in sustainable hospitality, agribusiness, and sustainable luxury in Africa.[5]

Education

Annan attended the SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International College. She graduated summa cum laude in Biochemistry from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and earned a master's degree in Biotechnology from Georgetown University.[6]

Career

Annan, who speaks both English and the Akan dialect,[7] worked as a Research Analyst Intern at the University of Giessen and with multi-nationals like Athgo International and MAP International between 2005 and 2007.[8]

In 2008, Annan joined the United Nations as an intern and later became a consultant for the UN, mobilising funds and resources for UN projects worldwide. In 2012, she founded Roberta Annan Consulting, re-branded to Annan Capital Partners in 2016 after two years with LJ Africa Advisors.[9]

In 2017, Annan was appointed the Senior Market Liaison for Fieldstone Africa where she led on business strategy and marketing. She has served on boards including The Frallain Group, Industrie Africa, Women's Empowerment and Investment Group, and Ghana France Business Club. She was an adviser to The Rose of Sharon Foundation, by Nigerian business magnate, Folorunsho Alakija and The European Commission Devco Steering Committee for the International Colloquium for the Creative Economy.[10]

In 2011, Annan founded the Africa Fashion Foundation (AFF) to support Africa's growing fashion industry.[11] She is the co-founder of the Impact Fund for African Creatives (IFFAC), a €100 million impact investment fund aimed at supporting Africa's creative and lifestyle industries.[12]

Roberta Annan Consulting was also a franchise owner of the Miss Universe Pageant from 2011 to 2015, but handed this over to new management after allegations that the contest had not been fairly run.[13][14][15]

Fund raising and philanthropy

Annan has been recognised for fundraising projects including the €100 Million Funds for African Creatives in partnership with UN-ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative.[16]

Annan Capital also raised funds through engagement with High-net-worth individuals, corporations and foundations for both non-profit and for-profit initiatives projects from $6MM to $100MM.[17]

Under the African Foundation Kayayei Initiative, Annan and other Ghanaian women including Ophelia Crossland, Torlowei and Velma Owusu-Bempah trained head porters known as Kayayei in fashion and millinery.[18][19][20]

During the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana, WEIG in partnership with Annan Capital Partners and GUBA, launched the COVID-19 Stimulus Fund, offering financial prizes to support and invest in female-led enterprises in Ghana.[21][22]

Awards and recognitions

Annan is a member of the Young President Organization (YPO) and currently the UNEP Goodwill Ambassador for the Creative Economy, '20 under 40 Influential Business Leaders in Ghana', the "40 under 40 Influential Business Leaders in Consulting" and the "100 Young Influential Africans", "Youngest African ever to be inducted into the African Leadership Hall of Fame".[23]

Annan spoke at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development round table panel discussion with Isabelle Durant, Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD; Mahendra Siregar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and Marisa Henderson, Head of UNCTAD Creative Economy.[24]

Annan is an advisory council member of the prestigious Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design. She works alongside Edward Enninful, Victoria Beckham, Naomi Campbell, Suzy Menkes and Sarah Mower.[25][26]

Awards

  • Global Style Icon Awards 2020 - Fashionpreneur of the year[27]
  • The Business Executive Award - She Achiever Award 2020[28]
  • 40 Influential Business Leaders Award 2018
  • 20 under 40 Influential Business Leaders Award 2017[29]
  • Ghana Feminine Awards[30]
  • Africa Leadership Hall of Fame (NYC)
  • World Fashion 4 Development Program (WF4D) Leadership Award[31]
  • Women Leadership Award Woman 2.1[32]
  • 2013 Game Changer Honors[33]
  • 2019 - ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD[34]

Personal life

Annan lives with her mother and her son Allain in Accra, Ghana.[35]

References

  1. ↑ "SowetanLIVE". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  2. ↑ Environment, U. N. (2019-08-20). "Roberta Annan". UNEP - UN Environment Programme. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  3. ↑ "Roberta Annan Inducted Into the African Leadership Hall of Fame". Ghana Online News. 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  4. ↑ "Africa Style Profiles: Roberta Annan, Africa Co-Chair, World Fashion Development Program". HuffPost. 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  5. ↑ "Roberta Annan Capital Partners to help with Ghana Smart Cities project". Consultancy Africa. 2019-02-20. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  6. ↑ by (2016-08-26). "How Ghanaian Entrepreneur Roberta Annan Built A Business Blending Cultures". Moguldom. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  7. ↑ "Good Pitch". Good Pitch. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  8. ↑ "How Ghanaian Entrepreneur Roberta Annan Built a Business Blending Cultures". 26 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "Roberta Annan". Business World Ghana. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  10. ↑ "Ghanaian Owned Luxury Group, Frallain, Inc., To Partner With Guaranty Trust Bank Lagos Fashion And Design Week". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  11. ↑ "Glitz top 100 inspirational women – Page 100 – Glitz Africa Magazine". Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  12. ↑ "A fund for African Fashion". UN Environment. 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  13. ↑ Debrah, Ameyaw (2015-09-09). "Miss Universe Ghana Organizers Wanted By Police?". Yen - Ghana news. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  14. ↑ admin (2014-04-15). "Hanniel Jamin News: Miss Universe Ghana sues organizers". Ghana Live TV. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  15. ↑ Tamakloe, Nana (8 September 2015). "Leaked Letters Show Miss Universe Ghana 2015 Paid For Victory And Put Roberta Annan Pr To Shame - FashionGHANA.com: 100% African Fashion". Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  16. ↑ "Roberta Annan's African Fashion Fund, ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, and the European Commission Lau". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  17. ↑ "Ghana: Press focuses on Ghanaian companies engaged in export to members of AfCFTA, others". Journal du Cameroun (in French). 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  18. ↑ "African Fashion Foundation: the Kayaye Project". Vogue Italia (in Italian). 6 April 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  19. ↑ "African Fashion Foundation, The Lotte To Launch Kayayei Fashion Training Programme". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  20. ↑ "7 Inspiring Ghanaian Fashion Brands from the Glitz Fashion Week". Glamour South Africa. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  21. ↑ "Winners of COVID-19 Stimulus Fund to Receive Packages Friday - MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  22. ↑ "Roberta Annan writes...... Women in Leadership: Achieving an equitable future in a COVID-19 world". 11 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Roberta Annan to be inducted into the African Leadership Hall of Fame – Today Newspaper". Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  24. ↑ "Roberta Annan to speak on creative economy at UNCTAD dialogue". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  25. ↑ "Roberta Annan joins Edward Enninful and other industry players on Condé Nast College Of Fashion & Design Advisory Council". Bra Perucci Africa. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  26. ↑ Design, The Condé Nast College of Fashion &. "Roberta Annan Appointed As Member Of Condé Nast College Of Fashion & Design Advisory Council". prnewswire. (Press release). Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  27. ↑ "Nedy Music honoured at Global Style Icon Awards". GhanaWeb. 2020-12-22. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  28. ↑ "37 women honored at 6th Feminine Ghana Achievement Awards". The Business Executive. 2020-09-05. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  29. ↑ "Ghana's 20 under 40 Influential Business Leaders 2017". Business World Ghana. 2017-03-08. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  30. ↑ "Roberta Annan". Global Landscapes Forum Events. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  31. ↑ "Fashion 4 Development First Ladies Luncheon - Vogue.it". vogue (in Italian). 27 September 2013. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  32. ↑ "Roberta Annan Appointed UN Ambassador For Creative Economy". DailyGuide Network. 2019-08-29. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  33. ↑ "Gamerchangers Reach for Change". Reach for Change. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  34. ↑ "ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD". hautefashionafrica. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  35. ↑ Gachango, Rayhab (2017-07-20). "20 Questions With Ghanaian Entrepreneur Roberta Annan". Potentash. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
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