Dr Dayo Abinusawa is an enterprise strategist, innovation leader and the founding Executive Director of the African Business Trade Association. In this role he forges partnerships, shapes policy dialogue and unlocks market access to accelerate African trade flows and global investment. He is also the founder of Blended Institute, where he is spearheading a major organisational transformation centred on digital strategy and artificial-intelligence capability, ensuring that inclusive, innovation-led growth remains at the heart of development agendas.

Over a multidisciplinary career spanning infrastructure, venture capital, consulting, product innovation and academia, Dr Abinusawa has consistently translated technology into commercial advantage.

As European Deal Originator for US-headquartered yet2Ventures, he sourced and assessed breakthrough technologies across Europe, structuring single-asset deals of US $500k–$15 million and portfolio transactions up to US $50 million for acquisition, investment or licensing by Fortune 500 corporates.

Serving in senior user-research and product roles at Shell and Accenture in London, he delivered human-centred digital solutions that improved operational performance and customer experience.

Earlier, as Site Safety Manager on the 100 MW Trans Amadi Power Plant in Nigeria, he oversaw critical gas-turbine and transmission-line operations for Rockson Engineering, ensuring safe, on-time project execution.

Appointed Business Development Adviser to Project Vision, the Togo Economic Transformation Plan led by Sir Paul Judge (a Member of the Togolese President's Investment Advisory Council), he helped craft national investment strategy and sector-growth priorities.

A trusted adviser to start-ups, corporate boards and public bodies, Dr Abinusawa mentors entrepreneurs and champions inclusive innovation across African markets and the diaspora. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).

Dr Abinusawa has lectured at the University of Cambridge, King’s College London, the University of East London and the University of Roehampton on strategy, CSR, international business, sustainability, and innovation management.

He holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge, an MBA in Strategy and Organisational Performance from the University of Glasgow, and a BA in Marketing along with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from the University of East London.

An accomplished judoka, Dayo earned a bronze medal at his first British Judo competition and enjoys honing his skills on the tatami when not perfecting his golf swing.