Dr. Irene C. Isaka

Director General, NHIF

Dr. Irene Charles Isaka holds a Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Economics from the University of Dar es Salaam. She has a Post Graduate Diploma, in Pension Fund Investments, a Diploma in Risk Management for investment of Pensions Funds and a Diploma in Housing Finance. She is a certified Pensions Analyst.

Dr. Irene Isaka is the Director General of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) following the appointment by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania in January 2025.

Dr. Irene Isaka is the Director of Social Sectors at the East African Community Secretariat. Before that, she worked as Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) following the appointment by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania in 2021.

She also served as a Secretary General for the East and Central Africa Social Security Association (ECASSA), which oversees more than 21 social security institutions. Before that appointment, Irene worked as a Lecturer at the Institute of Finance Management (IFM) under the Department of Social Protection and Actuarial Studies.

In 2010, Dr. Irene Charles Isaka was the Director General of the Social Security Regulatory Authority (SSRA) following the appointment by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Under this capacity, she was able to set up systems and processes for the newly established Authority and worked with Tripartite to coordinate the implementation of Social Security Reforms.

Dr. Irene Charles Isaka represented the United Republic of Tanzania at the EAC as the chairperson of East African Pension Regulators, where she facilitated the establishment of the EAC Pension Policy, EAC Pension Strategic Plan and EAC Investments Policy.

She has worked with Stanbic Bank (T) Ltd as Head of the International Development Group (IDG), Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs) and the Public Sector. Before Stanbic (T) Ltd, Dr Irene Charles Isaka spent 10 years in the Social Security Sector based at the National Social Security Fund and the Parastatal Pensions Fund respectively as Investments Manager. She also worked as the Public Private Partnership Advisor to the Voluntary Sector Health Program, funded by USAID.

Dr. Irene Charles Isaka was also an active member of the Long-Term Development Finance Committee of the Financial Sector Support (FSP) project. This is among the fundamental technical committees that expedited the Second-Generation Financial Sector Reforms under the Bank of Tanzania. She actively participated in the transformation of TIB into a development Bank.

Tuse M. Joune

Executive Director, TBA

Ms. Tuse Joune serves as Deputy Chairperson of the TFC Board of Directors, coordinating Board business and follow-up on decisions.

She supports governance, member accountability and effective liaison between the Board and Federation management.

Gladness Deogratias

Head of Global Markets, NMB Bank Tanzania

Gladness Deogratias is a banking executive who is currently the Head of Global Markets at NMB Bank Plc, one of East Africa’s largest financial institutions, where she oversees the bank’s leading capital markets business, providing client-driven solutions for trading, origination, securitisation across a broad range of asset classes including sustainable financing.

Active within the organisation and community to drive diversity and inclusion, Gladness has been instrumental in promoting policies and programs to bring about diversity and inclusion including Finance2Equal program and Gender Bond. Prior to joining NMB Bank, Gladness was Head of Trading at BancABC. She began her career at Lehman Brothers and Deloitte.

She serves as an alternate board member of the Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company Limited (TMRC) as well as an advisory board member of ProjektInspire, a Tanzania-based social enterprise focused on youth in STEM.

Gladness holds an MBA from Oxford Brookes University and a BA in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Nottingham as well as a Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors (UK). She is an Eisenhower Fellow (2022) and was recognised as one of the Top 50 Women in Management by Women in Management Africa in 2020/21.

Mrs. Sauda K. Msemo

Deputy Governor, Financial Stability and (Financial) Deepening

Ms. Sauda Kassim Msemo, the Deputy Governor – Financial Stability and Financial Deepening (FSD) at the Bank of Tanzania.

Ms. Khadija Issa Said

Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, TIRA

Khadija is a seasoned insurance professional with over three decades of experience in the industry. She has been the Deputy Commissioner of the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA) since 2018. In this role, she oversees the registration and conduct of insurers, brokers, and agents, formulates and enforces insurance standards, and recommends regulations to support government policies related to insurance. Her expertise also includes standardising compulsory insurance contracts and ensuring clarity and fairness in insurance terms and conditions.

Safarani Seushi

MSME Inclusive Finance Manager, FSDT

Experienced development professional specializing in SME development, financial inclusion, and Agri-value chain development.

Joining FSDT for the role of Inclusive MSME Finance Manager following an extensive career in the NGO and the Financial Sectors, spanning over 15 years. Safarani has served in several leadership and project management roles including Country Lead and Senior Programme Manager with Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) Tanzania, and under the Grameen Foundation supported Natural Extracts Industries (NEI) in strengthening and engendering the vanilla value chain in Tanzania. Her work has widely centred on managing various transformative projects in Financial and Digital Inclusion for women and youth, promoting inclusion of youth and women living with disabilities, inclusive MSME development, and scaling the offering of Business Development Services linkages.

Her commitment to youth and women’s economic empowerment is evident in her work, which has fueled her passion for fostering change. She is deeply involved in mobilizing an ecosystem to ensure a more profound and sustainable impact, reflecting her strategic vision and leadership in the realm of economic and social development.

Safarani holds a Master’s Degree in Development Practice from Trinity College Dublin and a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

She is enthusiastic about advancing FSDT’s mission and applying her expertise to deliver meaningful and lasting impact.

Dr.Garvin Kweka

Medical Super- Specialist [Nephrologist], Muhimbili National Hospital

Dr. Garvin Kweka is a trained medical specialist from Muhimbili University of Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and a certified Non –Communicable Diseases (NCD) trainer for Tanzania Commission for Aids (TACAIDS). He has over 10 years’ experience working in internal medicine and holds interest in public speaking on health affairs particularly on stress management, mental challenges, and non-communicable diseases.

Dr. Baghayo Saqware

Commissioner, TIRA

Dr. Saqware is a Commissioner of Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA) from 2017-2019 and 2022 to date. Dr. Saqware started his career as compliance officer with National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and later he joined Institute of Finance Management and Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA) as a lecturer in Insurance, Social Protection and Risk Management subjects for the past 19 years. Prior to joining TIRA as a Commissioner of Insurance, he has held number management positions; he was Dean of Faculty of Insurance and Social Protection at the Institute of Finance Management (IFM), Ministerial Health Insurance Coordinator at the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Secretary to Insurance and Social Protection Technical Team that advice Bank of Tanzania on Insurance and Social Protection related matters. Dr. Saqware has extensive experience in Leadership, Research and Consultancies at varies levels.

Hon. Dr. Saada Mkuya Salum

Minister of State, President's Office - State House, Zanzibar

Hon. Dr. Saada Mkuya Salum serves as the Minister of State, President's Office (State House) for the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.

Helena C. Mzena

CEO, Jubilee Life Insurance Corporation of Tanzania

As the CEO of Jubilee Life Insurance Corporation of Tanzania Ltd., I lead a team of dedicated professionals who are committed to providing innovative and customer-centric insurance solutions. With over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, I have a proven track record of driving business growth, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering strategic partnerships.

I hold several certifications in accounting, leadership, and insurance, which have equipped me with the necessary skills to navigate the complex and dynamic insurance landscape. I am passionate about empowering women in leadership roles and promoting financial inclusion in Tanzania. My goal is to create a positive impact on the lives of our customers and stakeholders through our products and services.