Book Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg
She doesn't just speak about change — she has spent two decades building it. From SXSW to the CIES Presidential Plenary, Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg brings rare cross-sector fluency, five languages, and the authority of someone who has led institutions across 19 countries.
Inquire About SpeakingFour Talks. One Rare Perspective.
The Architecture of Ambition
What does it actually take to build institutions designed for everyone — not just the people who already have access? Drawing from founding Akili Dada, B-WEL, and leading the Alliance of Bioversity International across Africa, this talk reveals the systems-design choices that determine who thrives and who gets left behind.
Best for: Philanthropy · Higher education · Corporate DEIFeeding the Future
Africa's food systems are the most consequential design challenge of our time. Why do science, gender equity, and political will have to work together — and what happens when they don't? A data-rich, narrative-driven talk on the intersection of climate, agriculture, and the women scientists changing the game.
Best for: Agriculture · Climate · Science policy · International developmentThe Polyglot Leader
Five languages. Five professional dialects. What happens when you stop seeing cross-sector fluency as a liability and start treating it as a superpower? A talk on leading across silos — and why the most important skill for 21st-century leaders isn't expertise, it's translation.
Best for: Corporate · University · Global conferencesPower, Proximity, and Purpose
Proximity to the people most affected by a problem changes the quality of its solutions. This talk examines how to build institutions that don't replicate the inequities they were designed to solve — and why that requires more than good intentions.
Best for: Philanthropy · Social impact · ESG-focused corporateWhere She Has Spoken
WHAT ORGANIZERS SAY
Voices from the Room
“Wanjiru’s wisdom should be shared widely and it’s great that that is happening through platforms like this (…and the G20)”
“Thank you Wanjiru for representing the African woman so unapologetically. It’s interesting to see your journey and your boldness is so refreshing. Keep soaring!”
“Wow!! I love watching this over and over and over!! I admire the confidence of Dr. Wanjiru. I am lucky to have the opportunity to learn from the top women in Africa”
AMATH PATHE · MANAGING DIRECTOR, AFSF
“At AFSF, we convene heads of state, ministers, scientists, and chief executives from across the world to advance Africa’s agricultural transformation. In that context, the bar for a keynote speaker is not merely expertise — it is the ability to move a room that has heard everything. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg clears that bar with ease.
Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg speaks with the rare authority of a practitioner. She led AWARD for years, embedding gender equity into the DNA of African agricultural science at a continental scale. She knows the CGIAR system, the policy environment, the funding architectures, and — critically — the women who do the actual work of feeding this continent and are so rarely centred in the conversations about it. When she speaks about agricultural transformation, she is not interpreting evidence from a distance. She is reporting from the field.
What makes her exceptional on stage, beyond her depth of knowledge, is her ability to reframe. She takes assumptions that a room has held for years — about leadership, about who belongs at the table, about what ‘transformation’ actually requires — and she dismantles them precisely and generously. Audiences don’t just leave informed. They leave with a different set of questions.
For any forum serious about advancing Africa’s food future — and about ensuring that future is built by Africans, for Africans — Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg belongs on your programme. I recommend her without qualification.”
PLANNING YOUR EVENT
Frequently Asked Questions
What formats does Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg offer? +
Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg delivers keynote addresses, conference plenaries, panel presentations, and moderated discussions. She speaks at corporate leadership events, academic conferences, philanthropic convenings, and international development forums. Each engagement is tailored to your audience.
Does she speak internationally? +
Yes. Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg has led organisations across 19 countries and speaks fluently in five languages. International engagements are warmly welcomed across Africa, Europe, North America, and beyond.
Can the talk be customised for our event? +
All talks are tailored to your audience and context. During the inquiry process, her team works closely with organisers to ensure the content lands with maximum relevance and impact — from framing to specific examples.
How far in advance should we book? +
We recommend reaching out at least 6–8 weeks before your event to allow time for planning and preparation. All speaking inquiries receive a response within 48 hours.
Book Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg
For keynotes, panels, and plenary sessions. Response within 48 hours for speaking inquiries.