Jharna is a seasoned Finance Professional with 25 years of experience spanning Strategy, Operations, Finance, Risk Management, and Compliance. Jharna started her career at an international audit firm, BDO East Africa, where she rose to the position of Partner in Audit & Business Advisory Services. She then joined I&M Bank as part of the CEO’s Office, where she was part of the core team driving I&M Bank’s regional expansion, capital raising, and ultimately the listing of I&M Holdings on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Jharna continued her journey with I&M Group in a different avatar, joining I&M Burbidge Capital as Vice President – Corporate Finance & Operations, overseeing the organization’s operations and handling large, sensitive M&A and capital-raising transactions.
Jharna has a BSc in Economics, Banking and Finance from the University of London, is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK, and a Member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya. She is fluent in 6 languages.

Over the last few years, after taking charge of her own health and well-being, Jharna trained to become a Certified Performance Coach. She regularly coaches people who participate in the health and wellbeing programs offered by FITBANKER and is passionate about raising awareness of the health and wellbeing issues faced by women. She regularly speaks on these topics, especially Perimenopause and Menopause.

Jharna has a deep love and appreciation for art and craft, and is an avid quilter and embroiderer, taking part in local and international quilt festivals. Places of natural beauty are a balm to her; she enjoys hiking, having summited Mount Kilimanjaro, and is keen to raise awareness of the conservation of our environment and natural habitats. She also loves to shake a leg, something that is best done with good company.