Anita Erskine, is a highly esteemed figure in Media and Communications. With over two decades of experience in Strategic Communications Management and Television Content Development and Management, she is widely celebrated for dedicating her voice to shaping Africa's narrative and emphasising the imperatives of sustainable development. Anita is the Executive Director of Erskine Global Communications. The organisation has a mandate to use storytelling and various communications tools like documentary, short film, and talk show production, community engagements and training to heighten awareness and inspire action on urgencies around equal opportunities for women and girls in leadership and education, digital advancement, youth employment, climate awareness, entrepreneurship in Africa and the Diaspora, and sanitation. She is also an impact investor, with a special focus on female – led tech start-ups in Africa.
With a broadcasting career that dates to 1997, Erskine has successfully produced and hosted over 15 radio and television programs, to the delight of audiences across Africa, Canada, Europe, and Asia. In 2014, "Anita Erskine's Sheroes," - an empowering talk show with a global viewership of 15 million to date, became the flagship production of her organisation, while serving as Erskine’s tribute to empowering women worldwide through the art of storytelling.
Erskine is a highly live event host in the high-level Pan-African and global events circuit, having hosted almost 300 global events, ranging from high-level dialogues to prestigious award ceremonies. She facilitates events hosted by governments, international economic agencies, and multinational corporations. More recently, she has hosted and moderated events such as COP28 – AI for Climate Action in the UAE, the Qatar – Africa Business Summit in Rwanda, the Atlantic Council’s AfriNext Conference in the USA, the EurAfrican Forum in Portugal, the World Bank Group's launch of the Global Financing Fund at the World Health Summit in Germany, AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2023) in Guyana, the Africa Prosperity Dialogues in Ghana, the UN ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment in Switzerland, Women Political Leader Summit 2024 in Greece and the 13th African Games in Ghana.
In 2020, she became the official host of Africa’s Business Heroes - The Jack Ma Foundation's flagship philanthropic entrepreneur program in Africa - a role that affords her the opportunity of contributing to the growth of Africa’s Entrepreneurial ecosystem by hosting the show and providing communications training to the diverse collective of ABH finalists both on the African continent and in the Diaspora.
Anita is an unapologetic social impact advocate. In 2019, she launched the STEM Woman Project, designed to curate hybrid events fostering awareness and interest in STEM among young ladies aged 15 to 25. The program facilitates engagement between accomplished women in STEM and aspiring female students. Additionally, the STEM Woman Project doubles as an awards scheme, recognizing and celebrating inspirational women leaders in the STEM field. The Women’s Elevation Fund, founded in 2018, provides scholarships and bursaries to brilliant but marginalised girls who have an ambition to pursue careers in Film and Television. The WEF currently has five beneficiaries. She mentors Female entrepreneurs across Canada, and a collective of female Film and Television Directors through Black Women Film Canada.
Anita Erskine has been ranked one of the top 100 Career Women Africa in 2024, twice named among the 100 Most Influential Women in Africa and among the 500 most influential Africans around the world, one of the top 100 Women CEO's in Africa, in the Top 100 Career Women in Africa list, and acknowledged as one of the Most Distinguished Change Makers (Women) in Africa. In 2023, she was ranked among Africa's top 50 Most Impactful Voices, cementing her role as a storyteller of repute. She is also the recipient of the 2021 Trent University Alumni of the Year for using her voice to advocate for Youth and Women.
Anita's determination to showcase the burgeoning prosperity of Africa through her presence, voice, and persona is fortified by her unwavering tenacity, discipline, and focus — qualities she staunchly believes should never be compromised in the pursuit of ambitious excellence.
Anita Erskine has a Masters in Communications Management from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and a Bachelors of Arts in Cultural Studies from Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.