Farah Esmail

Professional Focus

• 20 years’ experience in senior leadership, corporate governance, human resources, consulting, and commercial/corporate law
• Advises social enterprises and social impact organizations, as well as start-ups, family-run businesses and multinationals in a range of industries
• Board services, including board training, retreats, evaluations, appointments, family constitution and performance improvement
• Deep expertise in business and human capital strategy, organizational change, compliance, risk management, business development, strategic partnerships, international best practices
• Extensive international experience in North America and across Africa
• Adept at working in multicultural teams and a vast demographic, with strong understanding of cultural, local, regional and international team dynamics
• Fluent in English

Business Expertise

• Head of Kenya at a global board consulting and search firm based in Nairobi, Kenya
• HR and Legal Director, East Africa at KK Security (a GardaWorld company), Nairobi, Kenya
• Group Head of Legal and Human Resources, East Africa Region at Orbit Chemical Industries, Nairobi, Kenya
• VP and Senior Legal Counsel, Africa Region at Bridge International Academies, Nairobi, Kenya
• Senior Manager of Board Services of the Toronto District School Board, Toronto, Canada
• Senior Legal Counsel at Connections Education LLC, Baltimore, U.S.
• Civil Litigation Associate at Zeppieri and Associates, Toronto, Canada
• Commercial Litigation Associate at Beard Winter LLP, Toronto, Canada

Sector Expertise

• Corporate Governance/Board Services
• Internet Governance
• Social Enterprise/Social Impact
• Legal Services
• Human Resources
• Education
• Professional Services
• FMCG
• Security
• Technology

Education & Certifications

• MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, Toronto, Canada
• JD from Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, Canada
• BS (Hons.) in environmental science from University of Toronto, Canada
• Ontario Bar Admission, Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto
• Harvard University Certificate Course: Entrepreneurship for Emerging Economies
• Sirdar Applied Directorship Programme Certificate Course: Corporate Governance

Awards & Affiliations

• CMO Asia Africa's Woman Leadership Award, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Chair, Boyden Global Emerging Markets Committee
• Member, Boyden Dispute Resolution Committee
• Panellist, World Woman Leadership Congress, Mumbai, India
• Advisory Board member and Panelist, Age of Africa Symposium, University of Toront, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
• Board Director, Merican Limited, Nairobi, Kenya
• Board Director, Sohail Regency Management Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya
• Board Director, Sports for Change, Nairobi, Kenya
• Advisor to the Nairobi Securities Exchange and contributes to the ongoing Capital Markets Authority governance regulatory review.
• Board member and various officer positions, Association of Corporate Counsel, U.S., Canada and Kenya
• Judge, National Bodybuilding Championship (2018), Kenya Bodybuilding Federation, Nairobi, Kenya
• Organizing Committee Member, Wild Charge animal conservation non-profit, Nairobi, Kenya
• Trustee, The Mango Tree Trust education non-profit, Nairobi, Kenya
• Board Member and Chair, Back on My Feet homeless assistance non-profit, Baltimore, U.S.