Roberta Annan
Ghana’s Roberta Annan? an award-winning entrepreneur with different backgrounds in business, fashion and showbiz industries? has been appointed as United Nations Environmental Programme global supporter for the creative economy.
The United Nation supporters are prominent individuals from arts, science, literature, entertainment, sports or other fields of public life who have expressed their desire to contribute to raising awareness of the aims, objectives and priorities of the UN to convey messages about its activities and to extend its public outreach.
Roberta would, as a result, champion the cause of promoting awareness, investment and development of Africa’s creative economy as a natural continuation of her current advocacy, philanthropy and contribution to the industry.
This includes her African Fashion Fund (AFF), a non-governmental organisation founded in 2014 to empower fashion designers from Africa and its diaspora to succeed in the global fashion industry and market. The AFF has been recognised by the United Nations, Paris Peace Forum European Commission and major international luxury brands.
Roberta is one of the influential figures in Ghana’s creative space who have contributed to development in different ways.
She has several leadership awards such as 20 Under 40 Influential Business Leaders In Ghana, Feminine Ghana Achievement Award, Woman 2.1 Summit Award, 40 Under 40 Influential Business Leaders and Women’s Choice Awards Africa Entrepreneur of the Year.
She was the youngest African to be inducted into the African Leadership Hall of Fame and is part of the Young Leaders Circle for Milken Institute, as well as a member of Young Presidents Organisation (YPO).
Her appointment as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme to support the creative economy is her latest feat.
Originating from Ghana, West Africa, Roberta has lived and worked on four continents. Studying at Georgetown University, she holds a masters degree in Biotechnology. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Carleton University with a double degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology.
Roberta has worked with the United Nations as a consultant in resource mobilisation, where she mobilised funds that created fundraising strategies to expedite the implementation of UN projects across the world.
She is not only well recognised but also an avid philanthropist and is passionate about women’s development opportunities across Africa.
By Francis Addo