Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen is an Ethiopian entrepreneur, diplomat, and public servant. Born in Addis Ababa, she has led various initiatives in economic development, business innovation,
and international relations across public and
private sectors.
Early Career and Public Service
In 2018, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed Mekonnen as the CEO of the Ethiopian Tourism Organization. During her tenure, she spearheaded a 10-year MICE strategy to promote business tourism, established a convention bureau, and initiated a strategy for stopover tourism. She also advocated for comprehensive tourism resource mapping, destination optimization, and job creation within the tourism value chain.
In 2018, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed Mekonnen as the CEO of the Ethiopian Tourism Organization. During her tenure, she spearheaded a 10-year MICE strategy to promote business tourism, established a convention bureau, and initiated a strategy for stopover tourism. She also advocated for comprehensive tourism resource mapping, destination optimization, and job creation within the tourism value chain.
Land Bank and Development Corporation
In 2020, Mekonnen was appointed as the Founding CEO of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Land Bank and Development Corporation. In this role, she focused on accurate landholding information, project concept development, and strategic planning for large-scale development projects, including the Beautifying Sheger Project. She also organized the “Invest Origins” international investment forum to attract foreign investment in sectors such as housing, health, hospitality, education, and ICT.
Return to Tourism
Mekonnen returned to the tourism sector as a State Minister, where she revitalized the sector through social media campaigns and international collaborations. She played a key role in the development of the East Africa Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy, launched in Addis Ababa in September 2024.