#15
FCS CATHERINE MUSAKALI, OGW
CHAIR WOBN
FCS Catherine Musakali serves as Co-founder and Chair of The Women on Boards Network (WOBN), a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing gender diversity within corporate boards.
WOBN actively promotes and encourages women to assume leadership roles on boards, offering a networking platform for women across diverse fields and ranks. The organisation supports those already serving on boards by facilitating effective role fulfilment. It also focuses on upskilling and preparing women in senior leadership positions who aspire to serve on boards.
Under her dynamic stewardship, WOBN has experienced exponential growth, currently boasting over 900 registered members. Additionally, during her tenure, WOBN has successfully placed more than 100 women on various boards. It is worthy to note that in November 2023, WOBN hosted its third edition of the WOBN Awards, a platform recognising individuals and corporate entities actively advocating for gender diversity.
Propelled by Catherine’s chairmanship gusto, WOBN has engaged both local and international industry leaders as mentors for its members. For instance, the organisation has established strategic partnerships with LeadWomen and Columbia Global Centres to support women leaders in their professional journeys. This collaboration, focused on preparing members for global board positions, includes a 6-month mentorship program that has seen the successful graduation of five cohorts. The recent cohorts even had the unique opportunity to complete their program in Paris, gaining immersive experiences at Euronext and Autorite Des Marches Financiers. The positive impact of these initiatives is evident in the notable improvement in diversity on corporate boards.
In addition to Catherine’s transformational leadership at WOBN, she has overseen the establishment of a junior wing within the organisation. This programme specifically focuses on preparing both girls and boys, starting from the age of 12, for future leadership roles.
Prior to co-founding WOBN, Catherine was a past Chair of the Institute of Certified Secretaries of Kenya (ICS). In this role, she significantly elevated the standing of the Institute, positioning it as the leading organisation for matters related to governance.
Catherine’s unwavering commitment to sound corporate governance earned her the appointment as Chair of a Committee at the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), entrusted with the crucial task of developing the Code of Corporate Governance for Issuers of Securities in Kenya. Subsequently, Catherine was invited by the State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC) to spearhead the team responsible for crafting Mwongozo, the Code of Corporate Governance for State Corporations.
Catherine also led the team that formulated the ICS Code of Corporate Governance for Private Organisations in Kenya. Widely recognised and esteemed in the industry as a governance expert, she has not only developed governance policies for numerous institutions, but has also provided consultancy services for global entities such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank. Catherine’s dedication to promoting governance excellence is further evident in her role as a past Chief Judge for the Corporate Governance FiRe Awards.
Furthermore, she served as a valuable member of the Capital Markets 10-Year Master Plan Implementation Committee from 2013 to 2023, contributing her insights and expertise to the strategic development of the capital markets sector.
A devout Roman Catholic, Catherine is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a Fellow of both the ICS and the Institute of Directors of Kenya (IoD-K), and a member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). She is also a Governance Auditor, Corporate Governance Trainer, and Board Evaluator. Presently, she serves on the boards of Total Energies, Kenya Railways, and Breakfast Club Africa – a Pan African CEO membership organisation. She has previously served on the Boards of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI), Faulu Microfinance Bank, Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examination Board (KASNEB) and the Business Registration Service, among others. She is also a judge for the pan African Angaza awards, aimed at recognising exceptional women in banking, finance and investment sectors.
As Founder and Managing Partner of Dorion Associates LLP, a firm specialising in governance matters and commercial legal consultancies, Catherine has established herself as a prominent figure in the field.
Before establishing Dorion Associates, Catherine spent over 15 years at Vivo Energy Kenya (formerly Shell), serving as Company Secretary and Head of Legal. In this capacity, she efficiently managed legal functions for Shell’s operations across various African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia. Her international experience extends to the United Kingdom (UK), where she specialised in Mergers and Acquisitions and other commercial transactions. She also played a key role as the Legal Focal Point for Shell’s businesses in 23 African countries.
Catherine’s dedication and impact were nationally recognised when she was honoured with the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) award by HE the President of Kenya on December 12, 2022. This prestigious award acknowledges her outstanding contributions to institutionalising good governance practices in Kenya.
Catherine, who deems ethics and integrity as non-negotiable values, attributes these principles to her parents – also staunch Roman Catholics. Her father, in particular, introduced her to governance during her primary school years. He orchestrated daily cabinet meetings throughout school holidays, designating himself as the President of their home, appointing her mother as the Vice President and Minister for Home Affairs, while her siblings held Ministerial posts. Each family member was obliged to deliver daily reports on their respective ministries. This upbringing instilled a robust governance culture and strengthened family bonds. Presently, Catherine and her siblings, along with their spouses, convene monthly, rotating hosting duties.
Married to Dr. Patrick Wabomba, an orthopaedic surgeon, Catherine is a mother to three children – Francis, Anthony, and Laura. Embracing the outdoors, she walks six kilometres daily, reciting her Holy Rosary. Catherine’s passion for people manifests in her generous investment of time, offering mentorship, coaching, and unwavering support to help others thrive.
