Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive Officer at Absa Group Ltd.

Ms. Lillian Karuri is the Chief Operations Officer for Corporate and Investment Bank – Africa at Standard Bank Group Ltd.

An industry respected leader in Operations and Technology strategy, with over 16 years of international experience and thought leadership in managing multimillion-dollar commercial partnerships and transforming large-scale operations, Lillian has worked with some of the world’s largest corporations including IBM, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Eskom, Absa and currently Standard Bank Group Ltd.

She brings over 10 years of Board experience in both private companies and non-profits where she advises on strategy, communications, and leadership. She is a passionate advocate for literacy programs in Africa and chairs a charitable non-profit focussing on capacitating rural schools through digital programmes that develop teachers and enhance curriculum to give children a future-fit educational experience.

An ardent supported of gender equality, Lillian is also actively involved in numerous initiatives and programs aimed at creating inclusive and diverse work environments. Under the ambit of (IWF) the International Women’s Forum where she is a Fellow, she mentors and coaches over 20 mid-career women in different parts of the world, fostering their growth and success.

Lillian holds a BSc. In Business Strategy and an MBA from the University of Maryland in the United States, and a Masters in Law (LLM) from University of London. She is a Certified Master of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), and a Fellow of the International Women’s Forum Centre for Leadership.