ACIS 2026 speakers.

Aleksejs Kornejevs is an accomplished digital solutions leader and Managing Director of X Infotech Africa, based in Nairobi, where he leads business development and supports the delivery of banking and government technology projects across African markets.

His expertise spans digital identity, biometrics, payment solutions and secure digital platforms, with extensive experience delivering complex technology projects across Africa and Europe.

Aleksejs has contributed to the successful implementation of 20+ projects across more than 10 countries, including national payment switches, passport production systems, instant card issuance and biometric registration solutions. His international project experience spans Kenya, Angola, Zimbabwe, Cameroon and Ireland, among other markets.

He brings a practical perspective on how digital infrastructure, trusted identity and payment technologies can enable more connected, secure and competitive economies.

Dr. Patricia Nzolantima is an entrepreneur, investor, governance strategist and international policy advocate with over 24 years of experience spanning business, finance, mobility, infrastructure and public-private partnerships. She is the Founder and Chairwoman of Bizzoly Holdings, Co-founder of EXP-Comuni-cart and Founder of Ubizcabs.

A passionate advocate for African ownership and women's economic empowerment, she works to expand access to capital, strengthen investment ecosystems and help African governments structure sustainable infrastructure partnerships.

Dr. Nzolantima serves on the Executive Board of the International Chamber of Commerce World Business Organization and is Co-Chair of the Harvard University Center for African Studies Leadership Council. She has also led B20 task forces under three consecutive presidencies.

Her vision is to help build an Africa where businesses and communities move beyond participation to ownership, wealth creation and lasting economic value.

Dr. Henry K. Murigi is an arbitrator, academic, author and Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with over a decade of experience spanning arbitration, mediation, alternative dispute resolution and complex commercial and economic litigation. He currently serves as Registrar/CEO of the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA), where he provides strategic leadership in the administration and promotion of alternative dispute resolution and the advancement of access to justice.

His multidisciplinary experience in commercial dispute resolution brings an important perspective to ACIS 2026 as African businesses increasingly trade, invest and build partnerships across borders.

At NCIA, Dr. Murigi is focused on strengthening institutional capacity, expanding international partnerships and positioning Nairobi as a leading hub for international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution in Africa and beyond.

Dr. Murigi holds a PhD in International Relations, an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law. He has published peer-reviewed research on prosecutorial powers, corporate crime and arbitration and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Law Society of Kenya.

About NCIA — The Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration is an arbitral institution established under the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration Act, 2013. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the Centre is strategically positioned as a gateway between Africa and the global business and legal community.

NCIA administers domestic and international arbitration, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution processes, providing businesses and other parties with predictable, efficient and flexible frameworks for resolving disputes. Its services include dispute administration, appointment of arbitrators and mediators, hearing facilities, professional training, capacity building, research and advisory services.

NCIA's vision: “The Premier Centre of Choice for Alternative Dispute Resolution.”

Dr. Krishantha Pathiraja is a distinguished senior professional with over two decades of experience spanning the public and private sectors since 2004, with extensive expertise in corporate governance, strategic management, public administration, international relations, diplomacy, academia, information technology, and international business development.

Board & Corporate Governance Leadership

Dr. Pathiraja currently serves as a Director of HDFC Bank, a position he has held since 2022. In March 2025, he was appointed Chairman of the Board Human Resource & Remuneration Committee (BHRRC), as publicly disclosed through the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). In August 2026, he was also appointed Chairman of the Board IT Steering Committee, further strengthening his role in providing board-level oversight of information technology strategy, digital capabilities, technology governance, and organizational capacity.

His board responsibilities reflect his extensive experience in strategic human capital management, remuneration governance, technology governance, risk oversight, organizational development, and institutional transformation.

In the private sector, Dr. Pathiraja has held senior advisory and leadership positions across a range of reputed companies and business groups. He serves as an External Director of Wardhana Venture Holdings and has undertaken strategic consulting and advisory responsibilities with several established organizations, including:

Prime Group of Companies, including Prime Lands and Prime Residencies – Strategic Consultant

JAT Holdings PLC – Strategic Consultant

Solex Group of Companies – Strategic Consultant

Through these engagements, he contributes to strategic planning, corporate governance, organizational development, business expansion, leadership, and transformation initiatives.

Public Sector & Institutional Leadership

Dr. Pathiraja currently serves as a Member of the Governing Council of the Industrial Training Institute, Katubedda, under the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), contributing to national-level vocational education, industrial training, skills development, and workforce capacity building.

He also serves as an External Faculty Board Member of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, contributing to academic governance, strategic development, and policy-oriented initiatives.

From 2019 to 2024, Dr. Pathiraja served as Chairman of the Palmyrah Development Board under the Ministry of Plantation Industries, where he provided strategic leadership in institutional development, sector advancement, organizational strengthening, and transformation.

He has also served as a Consultant to the State Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supporting matters relating to international relations, diplomatic engagement, strategic coordination, and external stakeholder relations.

Dr. Pathiraja previously served as a Board Director of the Sugathadasa Sports Complex Authority under the Ministry of Sports, contributing to institutional governance and strategic oversight.

Diplomatic & International Relations

Dr. Pathiraja has developed extensive professional relationships with foreign diplomatic missions, local diplomatic institutions, international organizations, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations.

His professional engagement has included relationships with internationally recognized organizations such as UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, and WFP, as well as foreign and local missions.

He has established significant professional and diplomatic networks across the East African region, particularly with Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi. His engagement has supported the development of professional and commercial relationships between Sri Lanka and Kenya, particularly in areas of investment, business development, institutional cooperation, and international trade.

His professional network in Kenya includes relationships with organizations such as the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest) and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), together with established financial institutions including Diamond Trust Bank (DTB Bank) and Equity Bank.

These relationships reflect his broader expertise in international business diplomacy, investment facilitation, cross-border commercial engagement, and strategic international partnerships.

International Academic & Professional Engagement

Internationally, Dr. Pathiraja holds several academic, professional, and research-related appointments.

He serves as a Scientific Advisory Board Member of the DK International Research Foundation, India, and has been appointed Executive Director of the International American Council for Research and Development (IACRD), USA.

He is also recognized as a Fellow Member of California Public University, USA, and a Fellow Member of the African Councils for Higher Education Commission (ACHEC), Ghana, West Africa.

In recognition of his contribution to research and academic excellence, Dr. Pathiraja was awarded the prestigious Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Research Fellowship Award by the European Council for Higher Education and Accreditation Board, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Academic & Professional Qualifications

Dr. Pathiraja's professional expertise encompasses business administration, strategic management, corporate governance, information technology, IT governance, organizational transformation, international relations, leadership, and institutional development.

He holds a PhD in Strategic Management, together with Honorary Doctorates in Business Administration and Information Technology.

He is also a Professional Member of the British Computer Society (BCS), United Kingdom, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Information and Communication Technology.

Strategic Advisory & Leadership

Beyond his formal board and institutional appointments, Dr. Pathiraja continues to serve as a strategic consultant and advisor to reputed organizations in Sri Lanka and internationally.

His broad professional portfolio combines board-level governance, strategic management, human capital leadership, information technology governance, diplomacy, international business development, academia, and institutional transformation.

With more than two decades of multidisciplinary experience, he brings a distinctive combination of corporate, public-sector, diplomatic, academic, and international business expertise, enabling him to contribute effectively to boards, institutions, government organizations, international engagements, and private-sector enterprises.

Dr. Pathiraja's career reflects a sustained commitment to strategic leadership, good governance, institutional excellence, international cooperation, innovation, and organizational transformation.