Mariam Abdurrahman, ACMA, CGMA

In my role as a Consulting Chief Financial Officer (CFO), I fulfil a vital function by leveraging my extensive financial expertise to assist organisations across different industries in Dubai and West Africa. I undertake a range of responsibilities, including the development and execution of sound financial strategies, meticulous budgeting and forecasting, rigorous financial analysis, adept risk management, vigilant cash flow supervision, comprehensive financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with tax regulations. Moreover, I provide invaluable guidance to executive teams and collaborate with these organisations to facilitate growth initiatives and fundraising endeavours. In this capacity, I am dedicated to promoting financial health and prosperity across the organisations I engage with.

Arnergy, a pioneering cleantech company, is dedicated to revolutionising energy access in Africa. With a focus on providing modular, scalable, and reliable energy solutions to businesses and households, Arnergy has made significant strides in reshaping the continent's energy landscape. As Chief Financial Officer (CFO), I played a pivotal role in shaping the financial landscape of the innovative company. My multifaceted responsibilities spanned various dimensions of financial leadership, strategy, and relationship cultivation, significantly contributing to Arnergy's remarkable growth and financial prosperity. Here are some key highlights of my impactful contributions as CFO: •Revenue Growth: Through strategic financial management and growth-focused strategies, I spearheaded initiatives that led to an impressive 20% increase in Arnergy's top-line revenue. •Financial Strategy: I played a pivotal role in formulating and executing Arnergy's financial and operational strategies, aligning them with our broader business objectives. •Liquidity Management: Recognizing the importance of cash flow, I implemented robust systems and reporting mechanisms to monitor liquidity closely. This proactive approach enabled us to trigger the 3rd tranche of Series A drawdown six months ahead of schedule, ensuring financial stability and support for our expansion plans. •Investor and Board Relations: I nurtured strategic relationships with both existing and new investors, fostering collaboration with the board of directors and C-level executives. This collaboration significantly influenced sound decision-making and financial strategy alignment. •Data Integrity and Control: To ensure financial accuracy and mitigate risks, I established a rigorous month-end closing process with stringent controls, safeguarding the integrity of our financial data. •Credit Risk Framework: Recognizing the need for consumer financing, I designed and implemented a comprehensive credit risk framework.

With a workforce of more than 111,000 employees worldwide, the BASF Group plays a pivotal role in contributing to the success of its customers across nearly all sectors and in almost every country around the globe. The company’s diverse portfolio encompasses six key segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care, and Agricultural Solutions. In 2022, BASF achieved remarkable sales of €87.3 billion, a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. As the Treasury and Credit Risk Manager at BASF West Africa, I held a critical position responsible for overseeing financial operations, managing credit risk, and driving financial stability across a multi-country region moving across Nigeria, Central African Republic, Congo, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone. With my strategic financial acumen and comprehensive understanding of treasury management and credit risk, I played a pivotal role in optimising cash flow, ensuring financial stability, and driving sales growth. My role encompassed: Here are some key highlights of my impactful contributions as CFO: •FX Policy Management: I served as the executor and custodian of the foreign exchange (FX) policy, maintaining a zero FX exposure on the trading book, safeguarding the company's financial assets. •Working Capital and Funding: Expertly, I determined and met short-term working capital requirements while also addressing long-term funding needs. I employed advanced cash forecasting tools in conjunction with continuous monitoring of cash positions, loan rollover approvals, and credit lines, particularly in Import Finance operations. •Letters of Credit (LC) and Bank Finance Confirmation (BFC): I efficiently led the issuance of LCs and BFCs, ensuring timely and compliant presentations, facilitating smooth financial transactions and trade operations. •Cash Flow Optimization •FX Hedging Solutions •Credit Risk Management and Assessment

As Finance Director at EHE Group, I assumed a multifaceted leadership position. My role entailed strategic financial planning, project finance, and treasury management. I played a pivotal role in securing financial resources, restructuring debt, managing treasury operations, and exploring lucrative opportunities within the oil and gas industry. Here are some key highlights of my impactful contributions; •Fundraising: I orchestrated fundraising efforts to acquire vessels for the EHE Group, showcasing my ability to secure the necessary financial resources for strategic business expansion. •Debt Restructuring: Prior to the vessel sale, I successfully executed debt restructuring initiatives, ensuring optimal financial arrangements and cost-effectiveness for the company. •Treasury Operations: I managed the day-to-day treasury operations, demonstrating proficiency in overseeing financial transactions, liquidity management, and financial stewardship. •Oil & Gas Industry Deal Sourcing: Leveraging my industry expertise, I sourced and secured deals within the oil and gas sector, particularly focusing on project finance opportunities.

Louis Dreyfus Commodities is a globally recognized leader in the commodities trading industry. Operating from Dubai, UAE, and Lagos, Nigeria, the company is renowned for its excellence in the trading and processing of agricultural goods and services. My role as Country Finance Controller played a critical part in ensuring financial compliance and stewardship within this esteemed organisation. In both roles, my financial acumen, strategic thinking, and adaptability were instrumental in driving success within these dynamic and challenging business environments Here are some key highlights of my impactful contributions; •Budget and Process Development: I served as the owner, custodian, and developer of annual and re-forecast budget processes, driving effective financial planning and control measures. •Financial Strategy and Fund Raising: I played a pivotal role in formulating and executing gh company’s financial and operational strategies successfully raising a fund of over $40 million •Financial Authorization: As the most senior finance authorised signatory, I provided oversight and approval for all company expenditures, ensuring financial prudence and compliance. •Finance Control Measures: I created and executed finance control measures aimed at accurate expense allocation, preventing the need for corrective bookkeeping entries, and enhancing financial accuracy. •Process Optimization: I established controls, structures, and processes across various finance operations, including payments, receivables, collections, inventory reporting, and goods discharge. •Financial Reporting: I took ownership and control of the monthly close process, including consolidation and financial reporting, ensuring compliance with statutory global reporting requirements. •Audit Oversight: My role extended to overseeing internal and external year-end audits and serving as the signatory for audited financial statements, yearly Federal and State tax audits.

Trafigura is one of the world's largest suppliers of commodities. Founded in 1993, the company connects producers and consumers of minerals, metals and energy. In my role at Trafigura Ltd, I had the opportunity to contribute significantly to the company's success through various positions. Here are some key highlights of my impactful contributions; •Financial Fund Management: Managed and utilised over $1 billion in funds to drive commodity trading activities, leveraging a range of credit facilities, including bilateral, syndicated, committed, uncommitted, secured, and unsecured credit. •Strategic Financial Relationships: Cultivated and maintained relationships with leading financial institutions such as BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, Fortis, ING, ANZ, Sumitomo Banking Corporation, Banco Santander, Rabbobank, Credit Suisse, among others. •Negotiation Expertise: Personally negotiated a substantial $400 million back-to-back trade facility, showcasing strong negotiation skills and financial acumen. •Financial Risk Mitigation: Utilised various financial tools and instruments, including standby and documentary letters of credit, bid and performance bonds, corporate guarantees, forfeiting, securitization, inventory financing, pre-export financing, swaps, and futures hedging to mitigate payment, credit, and price risk, enabling successful trading activities. •Strategic Project Finance: Played a pivotal role as an analyst in raising funds for the execution of projects spanning Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, and Australia, demonstrating expertise in financial strategy and project finance. •Impactful Contributions: My contributions in this role significantly impacted Trafigura Ltd's financial operations and trading activities, solidifying my expertise in trade finance and treasury management.