Advisory Board
Advisory board 2026
Rumbidzai Chirumbwana is a Zimbabwean luxury fashion designer and creative entrepreneur, and the Founder and Chief Executive of MamboAnesu Estates, an African development platform delivering climate smart infrastructure across renewable energy, eco-conscious luxury real estate and smart agriculture.
Equipped with a legal background, she serves on the Board of the Hunhu Council of Fashion as Head of Retail and Sustainability, while holding a senior academic leadership post at a Cambridge affiliated independent school in Bulawayo. She brings capital strategy, contract discipline and institutional governance to the Zimbabwe Fashion Week Trust, where her focus is the industry’s transition from subsistence designing to sustainable, profit-driven global business.
Dr Walter Chipambwa is a transdisciplinary designer curently lecturing at Chinhoyi University of Technology in the School of Art and Design where he contributes to fashion design education, design research and the development of emerging creative talent.
His research and professional interests span fashion design, digital fashion, generative AI, sustainable and circular fashion, textile innovation, design education, cultural heritage and inclusive fashion. His work explores the intersection of technology, creativity, sustainability and African cultural identity, with a particular interest in how contemporary design can respond to local contexts while engaging with global fashion developments.
As a fashion and design scholar, he is passionate about strengthening the relationship between research, creativity and industry, while supporting the growth of Zimbabwe’s fashion ecosystem and the next generation of designers.
Valerie Kabov is an educator, art historian, and entrepreneur dedicated to contemporary African art, decoloniality, and economic equity in the arts. She co-founded First Floor Gallery Harare, Zimbabwe’s leading contemporary art space, and helped establish the African Art Galleries Association (2016) and the Emerging Painting Invitational (2019), a pan-African painting prize.
She serves on the advisory boards of the East African Museum of Art Nairobi (EAMAN) and the Multarity Project, contributing to global discourse on art and culture. Holding an MA in Art History & Theory from the University of Sydney and law and commerce degrees from the University of Melbourne, Valerie has been based in Harare since 2010, championing African art on the global stage.
Nico Abote is a seasoned media professional with over 20 years in TV and film, currently leading Abote Media Consultancy. A creative strategist, he has shaped media landscapes across Africa, the U.S., and Canada, producing high-quality content for TV networks, social media, and podcasts. He serves on the boards of Chengeto Africa and the Black Star International Film Festival, mentors with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and is a member of CSIF and IATSE Local 212 (Alberta).
Previously, he led major projects at Zimpapers TV Network (ZTN) and co-founded Play Afrika TV and My Afrika Magazine, amplifying African creatives. Currently directing Dance Matchmaker, a reality TV series in pre-production for Canadian TV, Nico has also produced Daughters of Legends and worked on the acclaimed film Jasmine Road (2019). His work blends storytelling, innovation, and social impact, championing African narratives on the global stage.