Advisors & Sponsors
As we come together in Johannesburg, we are grateful to our host committee and local partners grounding the Festival in the region, our thematic track advisors bringing deep expertise, and HRFN’s Steering Committee guiding the network’s strategic vision.
2027 Festival Host Committee
Hawa Ba, Open Society Foundations
Briggs Bomba, TrustAfrica
Audrey Elster, The RAITH Foundation
Diakhoumba Gassama, The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
B. Caroline Kouassiaman, Initiative Sankofa d’Afrique de l’Ouest (ISDAO)
Mukami Marete, UHAI EASHRI
Lusako Munyenyembe, Ford Foundation
Jabulani Pereira, Nurture Retreat and Wellness Center
Track Advisors
Climate Justice
Lisa Chamberlain, Environmental Justice Fund
Pontso Mafethe, Global Greengrants Fund
Boaventura “Boa” Monjane, Grassroots International
Payal Patel, American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
Technology
Billie Goodman, Access Now
Ashnah Kalemera, The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)
Jan Moolman, Numun Fund
Naomi Alexander Naidoo, Luminate
Democracy
& Civic Space
Maria Clara Araújo dos Passos, Black Feminist Fund
Marissa Guerrero, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Karen Karnicki, Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Otto Saki, Ford Foundation
Bryan Sims, Humanity United
Lillian Muyambe Tamale, CIVFund
Festival Sponsors
The Funding Futures Festival is made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors, including the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation and Humanity United. We are grateful to them for their help bringing the Festival to life.
We are currently inviting sponsorship, including for track activities (climate, technology, and democracy and civic space), our cultural offerings, and site visits. Sponsors will be featured in Festival materials and beyond.
For information on how to support and sponsor the Festival, contact HRFN’s team at conference@hrfn.org.
Thank you to HRFN’s core supporters and dues-paying members, whose contributions sustain and embolden our work.
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