Runa Alam is a pioneer in the African private equity space. She started investing in private equity in Africa in the late 1990's when the Pan-African private equity industry started, and over the years has helped develop the African private equity space. Over the last 25 years she has helped create both African private equity managers/GPs and more than five funds. Runa is a co-founder and CEO of Development Partners International (DPI) with an AUM of over $3 billion managing three private equity funds and a venture capital fund. DPI is a recognized industry leader, having won many awards, and setting the standard for good financial returns and high ESG and Impact returns. DPI delivers high standards of ESG but also impact, under four impact buckets covering 8 UN SDGs: Gender (ADP III was the first 2x Flagship fund), Climate change mitigation and transition, Job Creation and Job Quality, and Financial Inclusion.While building DPI for the last 18 years, Runa has also served as the Chair of AVCA, an organization she helped found and where she created and served as the Chair of the AVCA Sustainability Committee, Board member and Vice-Chair of GPCA, former Steering Committee member and Founder's Circle member of PEWIN. In addition to this work; to help the private capital industry in Africa, Runa has worked on a number of Committees at the World Economic Forum working towards getting more investment into Africa, Emerging Markets and Fragile economies. She serves on the Board of CARE and of Princeton's Mpala Institute in Kenya. Runa is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School.Runa has garnered many awards including: Private Equity Affrica's Special Individual Recognition for contribution made to the industry over the last decade, Female Founder, and annual recognication for contribution to the industry. SuperReturn also honoured Runa with SuperReturn 2024 Outstanding Contribution to Private Capital award. DPI has been awarded many awards including: PEA's House of the Decade Awards and many PEA House of Year Awards as well awards for best exit, best deal, etc.