Rosalind Kainyah Keynote Speaker

Leading voice on sustainability and ESG, with a particular focus on Africa
Strategic advisor to clients including Mitsui, Tullow Oil, Actis, British Investment International, African Development Bank, as well as several SMEs
Non-Executive Director at discoverIE plc, Gem Diamonds Limited, CalBank Plc, Lekela Power, BTE Renewables and WE Soda Ltd

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Rosalind Kainyah's Biography

Rosalind Kainyah MBE is an advisor and keynote speaker on Sustainability, ESG, diversity and responsible business in Africa and beyond.

Throughout her career, Rosalind has been motivated by three beliefs, which have been reflected in all of her work. Firstly, she believes that prosperous societies are achieved by pursuing justice and fairness for the marginalised. Secondly, she believes that we are merely stewards of the environment and natural resources, and that we should meet our needs without compromising the ability of generations to come to meet their own. Finally, she believes that there is huge transformative power for businesses to be successful and profitable, when enacting her first two beliefs.

Rosalind is highly sought-after for business advice and strategic insights. She has over 30 years of experience working in senior legal, executive, operational and board roles across a range of sectors, including energy, financial services, consumer goods, manufacturing and technology.

She has worked for a number of companies and organisations including Anglo American, De Beers, Linklaters, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Environmental Change Unit at the University of Oxford, among others. Rosalind also mentors SME owners.

Rosalind is a Non-Executive Director on the boards of discoverIE plc, Gem Diamonds Limited, CalBank Plc, Lekela Power, BTE Renewables and WE Soda Ltd. She also sits on the board of Africa Gifted Foundation, an organisation focused on STEM education for girls in Africa. She has previously been a board member of Aker Energy, the Ghana Food & Drugs Authority, Results for Development, The Africa America Institute, and was Founding President of the Ghana Chapter of the International Women’s Forum.

Rosalind’s insights have featured in several media publications, from the Financial Times, Investor Relations Magazine, Africa Outlook, Energy Voice, and the George Washington Centre for Intelligence Business Education and Research, among others.

Rosalind completed a Bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Ghana, a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of London, and Master of Laws degree at University College London. She is a member of the Bar of England and Wales and of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Rosalind Kainyah's Speaking Topics

ESG – pure cost or value creating?

Exploring the perceived conflicts between financial performance and ESG, Rosalind explains how and why businesses can deliver their service or product for profit without overspending the world’s natural resources or overusing or abusing human resources She argues the importance of transparency and accountability and demonstrates how the right ESG initiatives can create value, improve efficiency and stimulate business growth.

Simplifying Sustainability: Believe it or not, you need rice to make good jollof rice!

Drawing on her years of operational experience, Rosalind demystifies sustainability theory and translates it into tangible action from the factory floor to the Boardroom. She explains and demonstrates how business leaders can identify and prioritise ESG and Sustainability risks and opportunities. She takes her audience “back to basics”, Rosalind explains and demonstrates how business leaders can identify and prioritise their ESG and Sustainability risks and opportunities and effectively manage the risks and enhance the opportunities.

Unearthing Africa’s true hidden gems

The fundamentals of sustainability - meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own – are already a way of life for many on the African continent. Reframing the portrayal of Africa and African businesses as those who must be helped, Rosalind casts the spotlight on some of the latest trends, developments and innovations from the continent, particularly within the field of ESG and sustainability.

Myth or Truth? Consumers will pay a premium for sustainable products.

Using case studies, Rosalind breaks down the "attitude-behaviour gap" in premium sustainable products. While two-thirds of consumers are willing to pay more for a sustainable product, two-thirds of retailers believe they will not (Forbes 2022). Rosalind demonstrates that adopting and communicating about real sustainable practices, without "greenwashing", enables companies to charge a premium for goods and services.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – the Skin or the Substance?

What does diversity mean to you? Rosalind believes it is about bringing together our lived experiences, as determined by our social, educational and economic environments. She emphasises the importance of recognising the differences in our lived experience, in order to truly understand the value of diversity and bring about inclusion and equality. We must look beyond percentages in diversity and instead look at the substance.

Rosalind Kainyah MBE answers "What is Sustainability?"

Is ESG relevant for small businesses?

Rosalind Kainyah - Sustainability Masterclass

Articles, Media & Podcasts

[Interview] The Power of Business as a Force for Good

The Room

Rosalind Kainyah articles

IR Magazine

Making funding flows fair: Must ESG be bad news for emerging markets? - Featuring Rosalind's insights

Financial Times

Interview with Rosalind

Myebook

21 women shaping, driving, and financing the global sustainability agenda - featuring Rosalind

Reuters

Comments & Testimonials

“Rosalind made such an impactful impression that we invited her to speak not once but twice. Her breadth of experience combined with her desire to use every interaction to learn more, means she is able to skillfully use her voice to provoke thoughts and actions that enables her audience to see how they can tangibly contribute to their company’s ESG agenda. That is why I’m excited to see the impact her voice will have in bringing African solutions to African ESG opportunities and risks.”

Teye Mkushi Executive Director Finance, Diageo

"Rosalind is an exceptionally gifted business, external affairs and ESG leader at both the executive and non-executive director levels. She has a unique ability to provide strategic insights grounded in a deep understanding of working in emerging economies. She is very effective at balancing multiple interests while leading discussions of complex issues. She is especially skilled at both developing innovative solutions - and delivering those solutions to grow business opportunities and manage risks."

Sandy Stash Independent Non-Executive Director at Diversified Gas & Oil Corporation, Former Executive Vice President at Tullow Oil plc

“Rosalind’s curiosity about our organisation and thorough preparation built a foundation for an inspiring, thought-provoking, and energising discussion amongst global Corporate Relations function. Drawing on her wealth of experience and knowledge, as well as her good humour and authenticity, Rosalind easily built connections with our attendees, not an easy feat over zoom, and brought examples of ESG best practice to our group that were relevant and motivating. The feedback received from our global team for Rosalind’s session was outstanding and a true highlight of the three-day conference for many.”

Dan Mobley Global Corporate Relations Director – Diageo