Alumni Panel - Claiming Africa’s Place in Global Affairs
12:30-14:00 h. - Thursday, 19 th February – Room: 40.244 (Roger de Llúria)



 
● Musa Obed, Macroeconomy & Trade Analyst, African fintech & strategy
Musa Obed is a data-driven professional with a strong interest in fintech, economic policy, and Africa’s economic transformation. He previously worked at Fincra, where he contributed to building scalable financial infrastructure that enables seamless payments and cross-border commerce across the continent. Musa combines analytical rigor with strategic thinking, drawing on his background in data analysis to interrogate complex issues around public finance, macroeconomic reform, and productivity. He is motivated by a clear goal: using technology, data, and ideas to drive inclusive growth and institutional progress in emerging markets.


 
 
 ● Telma Nzams, MSc, Third-Party Governance Associate. Enterprise Resilience & Sourcing. Project Management
Telma holds a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies from UPF and a master’s degree in International Business, Economics and Management from KU Leuven. She is an Associate in Third-Party Governance at the Bank of New York, where she works across regulatory oversight, risk, and compliance. Telma co-organises Her+Data Manchester, building community and visibility for women and non-binary people in data. She is also a Youth Champion, supporting young people to lead with confidence and imagination.



  
● Irina Samy, Project Officer for NOVACT (International Institute of Nonviolent Action)
After graduating in Global Studies with a minor in Gender Studies at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Irina worked for the advocacy of the rights of migrant people in European border contexts between 2021 and 2024. Her work was done on Patras (Greece) and then specialized in the Spanish southern border - mainly Ceuta and the Canary Islands - where she worked both as a volunteer and later through her position as a Project Officer for NOVACT (International Institute of Nonviolent Action). In Barcelona she also worked on antiracist policies for the Barcelona City Hall and engaged in social work related to racism, migration, gender and social justice. Following the obtention of the “La Caixa” Foundation Fellowship, she moved to London in 2024 to pursue an MA in Migration and Diaspora Studies at SOAS. She is currently undertaking an MPhil/PhD in the department of Anthropology of the same university.