ConstructAfrica has launched the ConstructAfrica Industry Advisory Board (CIAB), a 14-member panel of influential stakeholders from across Africa’s construction and infrastructure sectors looking to drive strategic infrastructure dialogue across the continent.

The strategic body will support ConstructAfrica’s mission to provide thought leadership, strategic insights and actionable intelligence for the African construction and infrastructure market, which is projected to reach approximately US$2 trillion in 2025, driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth, improved governance and increased investment in infrastructure projects. 

The continent's need for infrastructure development is underscored by an estimated US$130 billion annual financing gap, highlighting the critical need for strategic investments and innovative solutions.

The CIAB will work with ConstructAfrica to focus the world’s attention on this financing gap and shine the spotlight on potential solutions to bridge the gap as well as key infrastructure schemes. The board will also support ConstructAfrica’s growth, guide its content and engagement strategy, and strengthen its reach and relevance across African markets.

Chairman

Dr Nelson Ogunshakin will chair the CIAB, bringing more than 35 years of global experience in infrastructure investment planning, finance, procurement, delivery and asset management. Dr Nelson has numerous accolades, a few of which include being the founder and chair of the AEO Group, a specialist boutique infrastructure investment delivery and advisory entity.

He has also chaired the investment committee of infrastructure and climate fund manager ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment’s US$250 million PE Infrastructure Fund since 2015, presiding over the delivery of many sustainable power generation and transport projects in West Africa.

Dr Nelson is the immediate past CEO of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), with overall corporate responsibility for FIDlC's global operations. He was appointed a board member for Transport for London (TfL) by London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan between 2016 and 2024, a £12 billion annual turnover operator, and was awarded an Officer of Order of British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth for his contribution to the UK infrastructure development, engineering and construction industry.

CIAB Members

Chris Campbell

Chris Campbell is the CEO of Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), where he leads efforts to promote engineering excellence and professional standards. He has also served as president of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and chair of FIDIC’s Directors & Secretaries Advisory Council.

With over four decades in the industry, Campbell has held various senior positions including infrastructure manager for Transnet’s iron ore and coal export lines and executive general manager at South Africa’s Aveng Infraset.

Derreck Omath

Derreck Omath serves as the director-general of the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency (SIA), overseeing the planning and execution of national infrastructure projects. In this capacity, he has been instrumental in managing significant developments in the country, including affordable housing initiatives and judicial infrastructure enhancements.

Dr Olubukola Tokede

Dr Olubukola Tokede is a senior lecturer and associate head of school (international) at Australia’s Deakin University's School of Architecture & Built Environment. With over a decade of experience, he specialises in integrating lifecycle thinking into building and infrastructure projects.

Dr Tokede initiated and leads the 'Thinking Buildings' project at Deakin University, fostering collaboration between academia and industry to promote sustainable practices in the built environment.

He is a Life Cycle Certified Assessment Professional (LCACP) and is also the founder of the African LCA Society (ALIES), demonstrating his commitment to advancing sustainability assessment methodologies.

Dr Segun Faniran

Dr Segun Faniran is the founder and publisher of ConstructAfrica, and is recognised as a thought leader in the African construction industry. A civil engineer with more than 30 years of international experience, he has held roles in academia, government, contracting and consulting across Nigeria, Australia, the UAE, Oman, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

Dr Faniran has advised on infrastructure projects valued at up to US$13 billion across sectors such as aviation, retail, industrial, oil and gas, and power.

Engineer Amanuel Hailemariam

As general manager of the Ethiopian Association of Civil Engineers (EACE) and vice-president of the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Ethiopia Chapter, Engineer Amanuel Hailemariam champions professional standards, leads national infrastructure initiatives and drives sustainable development.

He is a registered professional engineer in Ethiopia and a certified project management professional (PMP) with more than a decade of experience in project and construction management.

Engineer Amanuel is widely recognised for his technical leadership, commitment to capacity building and active involvement in advancing Ethiopia’s engineering sector.

Gilbert Sassine

Gilbert Sassine is the group managing director of Craneburg Construction, one of Nigeria’s largest construction companies. With a track record of delivering complex, high-impact infrastructure and building projects, he has helped shape critical transport and urban development initiatives across the country.

Sassine is recognised for promoting local content, community development and quality-driven construction practices. He holds the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) for his contributions to Nigeria’s infrastructure sector.

Jenni Chamberlain

Jenni Chamberlain is the founder and CEO of Altree Capital, a leading provider of African asset management and investment advisory services to institutional investors globally. She serves as the portfolio manager for Altree Capital’s award-winning Africa Opportunities Fund and the Altree Credit Fund, and is the founding partner of the Altree Kadzi Gender Climate Fund, focusing on gender-lens and climate-smart investments in Sub-Saharan Africa.

At Altree Capital, Chamberlain’s approach is bold and transformative, investing in businesses that drive financial returns, economic growth and social equity alongside climate resilience.  She was named to the Africa Asset Management Power 50, ranking among the top 10 most influential, innovative and powerful figures in the African asset management industry.

Before Altree Capital, Chamberlain founded Securities Africa, a pan-Africa brokerage and advisory firm, and held senior roles at the UK’s HSBC and France’s Societe Generale, specialising in African equities. Her extensive experience encompasses investment banking, corporate advisory and a commitment to sustainable and inclusive investment practices across African markets.

Mark Worrall

Mark Worrall is the CEO of Estates and Infrastructure Exchange (EIX), a regulated global platform that is revolutionising infrastructure project financing and trading. Under his leadership, EIX is helping bridge the US$64 trillion gap in global infrastructure funding by offering institutional-grade investment opportunities and ensuring efficient financing solutions for project owners.

Worrall’s entrepreneurial journey includes founding US-based Expand Consulting and Sweden-based Propel Capital Partners, focusing on corporate and project fundraising. His earlier career features senior roles at Canada’s Thomson Reuters and Algorithmics, specialising in enterprise risk and European expansion.

Matthew Jordan-Tank

Matthew Jordan-Tank is the director of sustainable infrastructure policy and project preparation at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), overseeing policy support and project preparation across the energy, transport and municipal sectors. His work includes upstream policy support, public-private partnership (PPP) transaction advisory and enhancing project preparation efficiency.

Jordan-Tank has been instrumental in various working groups for multilateral development banks (MDB), the G20 intergovernmental forum and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on global infrastructure initiatives. Before this, he served as head of the Infrastructure Policy Unit at EBRD and as a senior urban transport specialist.

Malani Padayachee-Saman

Malani Padayachee-Saman is a professional civil engineer and the CEO of MPAMOT, South Africa’s first women-owned and led engineering and development consultancy. With more than three decades of experience in urban infrastructure and project management, she has led projects for major public sector clients, including municipalities, freight transport and logistics company Transnet, state utility Eskom and Airports Company South Africa
(ACSA).

A passionate advocate for female leadership and the growth of small consulting practices, Padayachee-Saman serves on the FIDIC Global Leadership Forum advisory board as the sole CEO representing Africa, and is also a member of the South African Academy of Engineers.

Professor Dr Khumbulani Mpofu

Professor Dr Khumbulani Mpofu is the vice-chancellor of Zimbabwe’s Solusi University and is also vice-chair of the International Railway Research Board at the International Union of Railways. He is the founder and board member of South Africa’s Rail Manufacturing Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator and was previously professor of industrial engineering at Tshwane University of Technology, where he also served as research chair in future transport manufacturing technologies and Gibela research chair in manufacturing and skills development.

Professor Mpofu is a global leader in industrial engineering, with expertise in advanced manufacturing, robotics, mechatronics and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. He has been instrumental in fostering deliberate industry driven engagements with academia and is committed to driving innovation and sustainable development in Africa's knowledge economy, engineering and education sectors.

Rachel More-Oshodi

Rachel More-Oshodi is managing director and CEO of ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment, with more than 20 years of experience in investment banking, private equity and development finance. More-Oshodi has successfully structured and financed projects with an overall value exceeding US$7 billion, enhancing energy access, transport networks and industrial infrastructure across emerging markets.

Her previous leadership roles include positions at France’s TotalEnergies, South Africa’s Rand Merchant Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the US’ AES Corporation, spanning regions such as Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Richard Stockdale

Richard Stockdale is an international corporate consultant and senior independent director at Dar Global, a London-listed luxury property developer. A former CEO of UK-based Lloyds Banking Group’s Middle East and India operations, he brings decades of global leadership in finance, governance and business strategy. Stockdale has advised institutions across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe, with a focus on governance, sustainable development and anti-corruption.

He is a fellow of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Bankers, an honorary chartered fellow of the City of London’s Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, and a life fellow of the Indian Institute of Directors.

ConstructAfrica delivers actionable market intelligence, construction project updates and infrastructure data through its online platform. With a focus on equipping industry players, investors and policymakers with actionable insights, ConstructAfrica plays a vital role in building a more sustainable and better-connected construction industry across Africa.

For more inquiries, contact:
Dr Segun Faniran
Email: hello@constructafrica.com  
Phone: +971 56 566 4792

Top photo: Africa on the globe (© James Wiseman | Unsplash)