Sir Mo Ibrahim
Biography
Dr Ibrahim is the Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation which he established in 2006 to support good governance and exceptional leadership on the African continent.
Sudanese-born, Dr Ibrahim has a distinguished business career. In 1989 he founded Mobile Systems International (MSI), a world leading cellular consulting and software provider and in 1998, Celtel International, one of Africa’s leading mobile telephone companies which pioneered mobile services in Africa.
Dr Ibrahim is also Founding Chairman of Satya Capital Limited, a private equity fund focused on Africa and Chairman of TPG-Satya, a Joint African Investment Alliance.
Education:
The University of Alexandria, Egypt - BSc Electrical Engineering
University of Bradford, UK - MSc Mobile Communications
University of Birmingham, UK where he was a Senior Research Fellow and earned a PhD in Mobile
Communications
Honorary Degrees, Doctorates and Fellowships:
University of Pennsylvania
London Business School
SOAS - University of London
Imperial College
Birmingham University
Bradford University
De Montfort University, Leicester
Royal Academy of Engineering
Bartels Fellowship, Cornell University
Lancaster University
Awards
The GSM Association’s Chairman’s Award for Lifetime Achievement (2007)
The Economist Innovation Award for Social & Economic Innovation (2007)
The FIRST International Award for Responsible Capitalism (2008)
BNP Paribas Prize for Philanthropy (2008)
Oslo Business for Peace Award (2009)
Raymond Georis Prize for Innovative Philanthropy in Europe (2010)
Clinton Global Citizen Award (2010)
The Millenium Excellence Award for Actions in Africa (2012)
The Africare Leadership Award (2013)
The Kiel Institute Global Economy Prize (2013)
The Witness ‘See it, Film it, Change it Award (2013)
The Eisenhower Medal for Distinguished Leadership and Service (2014)
The Foreign Policy Association Medal (2014)
International Republic Institute (IRI) Freedom Award (2015)
Danish CSR Honor Prize (2015)
David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2012,2017)
Dr Ibrahim was made Commander of the Order of the Lion (Senegal) by President Macky Sall (February 2014)
Commandeur of the Wissam Arch by H.M. King Mohammed V1 of Morocco (July 2014)
Dr Ibrahim has featured in the following Influential Lists:
TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world (2008)
The New African: 2014 Most Influential Africans
Bloomberg Markets 50 Most Influential (2015)
Jeune Afrique 100 most influential Africans list (2019)
The Africa Report’s the 100 most influential Africans (2019)
Board, Advisory Committees and Council Memberships
American University in Cairo
B Team
21st Century Council
Council on Foreign Relations (Global Board of Advisors)
Global Commission on Business and Sustainable Development
International Crisis Group
Mandela Rhodes Foundation
Mercy Corps Global leadership Council
ONE
Open Government Partnership (International Expert Panel/Ambassadors)
Reuters (Editorial Advisory Board)
Trade out of Poverty (Advisory Board)
Honorary Chair of the World Justice Project
School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute
Dr Ibrahim is also a member of:
The Giving Pledge
Global Philanthropist Circle (Synergos)
UNCTAD’s panel of Eminent Persons

AfriSoc
Oxford Africa Society
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