Elizabeth Wasunna

Elizabeth Wasunna serves as the Business Banking Director at Absa Bank Kenya PLC She sits on the banks Country Management Committee as a full member. She reports to the Managing Director, Absa Bank Kenya. Additionally, also sits on subsidiary i.e. Absa Asset and Absa Bancassurance Intermediary Limited.
Elizabeth has vast experience and skills in
• Development and growth of Women in Business, both on a financial and non-financial basis,
• Strategic Leadership in Business
• Development and growth of Small & Medium Enterprise & Commercial Banking Business in Africa,
• Development of Ecosystem partnership in Business i.e., value chain financing, supplier and
distributer financing using fintechs.
• She manages supports landing of propositions across the Absa Bank Franchise in Africa.
In her present role at Absa Bank Kenya Plc, Elizabeth is responsible for Commercial and SME Banking, Trade and cash management in Business Banking, Islamic Banking, Vehicle and Asset Finance and Agri Business.

Under SME, she spear heads the women in business proposition dubbed Absa SHE business
proposition with:|
• Development and management of key partnerships including ITC (International Trade Centre) under SHE Trades, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry ( KNCCI), Kenya Private Sector Alliance ( Kepsa) & Kenya Association of Manufactures ( KAM)
• Development of training programs for women on various fronts i.e. financial and non-financial
• Presentations on various platforms aimed at influencing corporates to support women
development aligned with the UN Sustainability Development Goals.

Elizabeth’s banking career and experience spans over 25 years having started off her career in Barclays Bank of Kenya as a trainee. She has worked in Tier 1 banks in different capacities, most recently as the Head of Business Banking at Standard bank in Malawi.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration from USIU. In addition, she has membership with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce where she serves as a Patron Member, and in Kenya Association of Manufacturers. She serves an active member in Agriculture Task force in AMCHAM – American Chamber of Commerce.
Elizabeth is a speaker having participated in various platforms as a guest speaker most recently at the 4th Annual Citam Business Forum held at Karen Campus. She has participated in over 10 engagements in 2023.

She is a recipient of following awards:
• Top 10 finalist of the Angaza Awards 2020/2021 (The Kenyan Wall Street body) acknowledging Women to Watch in Banking and Finance in East Africa.
• Acknowledged by Kayana News publication in Kenya year 2021 as Top Women to watch in
2021.
• Finalist for the individual awards for East Africa in the Accenture 2023 11th Gender
Mainstreaming Awards for her significant contribution to gender mainstreaming.