His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo is the 5th President of Ghana’s 4th Republic, and was sworn into office for a  second term on 7th January, 2021.  He has been a prominent champion of human rights, rule of law, justice, freedom, and democracy in Ghana. Indeed, as a lawyer, he undertook many of the most important constitutional cases of the modern era in Ghana, which, inter alia,  protected the independence of the judiciary, the right of the citizen to demonstrate without police permit, and the right of equal access of all political parties to the  State-owned media. 

Nana Akufo-Addo has held numerous positions, and played various active roles in the public life of Ghana. He was a three term Member of Parliament from 1997 to  2008. He served as Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (2001-2003), and as  Minister for Foreign Affairs from April 2003 to July 2007, both under the  government of the former President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John  Agyekum Kufuor.  

On 23rd December, 2007, he was elected as the New Patriotic Party's presidential  candidate. In the 2008 presidential election, Akufo-Addo led in the first round of  voting, but failed to obtain the required 50%+1, pushing the election into a second  round runoff between him and the National Democratic Congress candidate, the  late John Evans Atta Mills, who eventually won with 50.23% as against Akufo Addo’s 49.77% vote.  

In 2010, he was elected presidential candidate of the NPP, but, again, lost the  2012 election marginally to the incumbent, the then President John Dramani  Mahama. The NPP challenged the results of the election through a petition at the  Supreme Court, losing by a 5-4 verdict. Akufo-Addo immediately accepted the 

decision, congratulated President Mahama, and called upon all NPP supporters to  accept the decision, even though he and they all disagreed with it.

This act of statesmanship culminated in the African Union, the European Union,  the United Nations, the United States of America, the Christian Council of Ghana  and the Chief Imam of Ghana, amongst others, applauding Akufo-Addo for  preserving Ghana’s peace, and maintaining Ghana’s status as a beacon of  democracy in Africa. 

Nana Akufo-Addo was, on 18th October, 2014, re-elected to lead the NPP into the 2016 general elections. He won the presidential election, after defeating the  incumbent, President John Dramani Mahama. He obtained 53.85% of the total  valid votes cast, as announced by the Electoral Commission, with 44.40% for the  losing incumbent. 

He was re-elected as President of the Republic in the 7th December 2020 election,  for a second term in office, having obtained 51.3% of the popular vote, defeating,  for the second time, his challenger, John Dramani Mahama, former President of  the Republic and NDC presidential candidate. 

NARDOS BEKELE-THOMAS is the Chief Executive Officer for the Africa Union Development Agency- New Partnerships for  Africa’s Development (AUDA- NEPAD). She commenced this role  in May 2022 having been unanimously endorsed by the African  Union (AU) Heads of State and Government during the 35th Ordinary Session of the AU.  

Her immediate former role is as the Resident Coordinator of the  United Nations (UN) and Resident Representative of the United  Nations Development Program (UNDP) in South Africa. In 2016  she served as the Senior Director of the Office of the former UN Secretary-General, H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, in charge of the overall management of the Office of the Secretary-General, the Office of the Chef de Cabinet and that of the Deputy Secretary-General.  

Madam Bekele-Thomas has also worked as the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident  Representative in the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Benin. In these roles she had the overall responsibility for high-level social, political, and economic policy advisory services to the  highest Government authorities at national and local levels and to key private sector and civil  society actors. Additionally, she has been responsible for the overall coordination of collective  UN operational activities for development results as well as the delivery of effective UNDP 

programme of assistance aimed at promoting and supporting pro-poor and inclusive economic  growth and development. The primary programmatic focus of her work includes policy dialogue  at the highest level of national governance, strategic public-private sector consultations, resource  mobilization, pro-poor policy and programme development and implementation at the local and  national levels.  

Prior to her appointment by the UN Secretary-General as Resident Coordinator and as Resident  Representative by the UNDP Administrator, in Kenya and Benin, she served for over four years  in Kenya as Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP with responsibility for the formulation and  implementation of UNDP programme of assistance to the Republic of Kenya. This included  support to national planning and development, private sector development, mitigation of the socio economic impact of HIV/AIDS, Governance, Capacity Building, Health Sector Reform as well as  Strategies and programme for Poverty Reduction 

Ms. Bekele-Thomas’ professional experience and background in the field of development span  a broad spectrum, including private sector development strategies and policies, public policy;  decentralized governance and participatory development; public/civil service reform and  management; public-private sector strategic partnerships; women and youth leadership;  empowerment and employment; and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) for  development. She is the author of numerous articles and monographs and member of various  Professional Organizations including the Allied Social Sciences Associations (ASSA), and the  American Economic Association. 

As Private Sector Policy Adviser (1998-2001), Ms. Bekele-Thomas conducted extensive research  on private sector development, supported the strengthening of African business associations,  provided advisory services and played advocacy role in the development and management of  micro, small and medium-scale enterprises. Based on her strong belief in promoting women and 

youth empowerment, she has carried out policy studies and developed programmes on the  promotion of entrepreneurship and business skills training for employment and job creation. Ms.  Bekele-Thomas has worked in collaboration with regional and international organizations,  including the African Business Roundtable (ABR) and the Corporate Council on Africa to promote  trade and investment in African Countries through private/public sector partnerships in the United  States such as in the States of Connecticut, New Jersey and Arizona. She has served in technical  and advisory capacities such as Technical Advisor to the Government of Uganda (1994-1998), on  advocacy, formulation and successful implementation of Decentralized Governance and Private  Sector Development and as a member of the Presidential Advisory Group, Republic of Benin  (1990–1993), in which she helped initiate and conceptualize a pro-poor programme on the Social  Dimensions of Development.  

Over the last four decades, Ms. Bekele-Thomas has also lived and served in various capacities in  Ethiopia (1974-1982), USA, (New York) (1983-1987 and 1998-2004), India (1987-88), Bhutan  (1988-1989), Comoros Islands (1989-1990), Republic of Benin (l990-1993), and Uganda, (1994- 1998), promoting human development anchored on the principles of economic, social, and political  rights for all.  

Ms. Bekele-Thomas is a member of the Group of African Imminent Women, she is a recipient of  the prestigious AU/DAF Award of “2015 Woman of Excellence” along with the Presidents of  Liberia and former President of Malawi. She was also honored in 2007 as recipient of the Living  Legend Achiever’s Award in recognition of her service and leadership role in the promotion of  sustainable human development globally, particularly in Africa. 

Ms. Bekele-Thomas holds a Master’s Degree in Economic Development, Monetary Economics  and Econometrics from New York University (NYU). 

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. The first woman and first African to hold the position. She is an economist and international development expert with over 40 years of experience. Dr Okonjo-Iweala was Chair of the Board of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, African Risk Capacity and Co-Chair of The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, in addition to serving as a Senior Advisor at Lazard and sitting on the Boards of Standard Chartered and Twitter, now X. She is Co-Chair of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Brookings and a Harvard Kennedy School Global Public Leader.
She served as Nigeria’s first female and longest serving Finance Minister (7 years) and was also the first female Foreign Minister. Her 25-year career at the World Bank culminated in her rising to the No.2 position of Managing Director, Operations.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala is the recipient of numerous honors and has authored several books. She holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from Harvard University and a PhD in Regional Economics and Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina: A visionary leader transforming Africa
Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, is globally acclaimed for his transformative leadership on development issues, and especially in Africa. Known as “Africa’s Optimist in Chief” for his vision for Africa and innovative ideas, he previously served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture. He was elected President of the African Development Bank in 2015, and unanimously re-elected in 2020. 

Adesina is an alumnus of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria, and Purdue University, USA, from where he obtained a PhD in Agricultural Economics and won the Outstanding Thesis Award. His tenure as Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister witnessed a revolutionary electronic wallet system that delivered seeds and fertilizers to 15 million farmers, and effectively ended decades of fertilizer sector corruption. 

As President of the African Development Bank, Adesina is spearheading an acceleration of Africa’s development. Under his leadership, the African Development Bank Group increased its share capital from $93 billion to $208 billion in 2019, the highest in the history of the Bank since its establishment in 1964. He has garnered global acclaim for effectively raising the effectiveness, impact, and leadership of the Bank on financial innovations. In 2022, the African Development Bank was ranked as the Best Multilateral Financial Institution in the world by Global Finance. In 2023, the African Development Bank was ranked as the Most Transparent Financial Institution in the world by Publish What You Fund, for its sovereign operations. 

Dr. Adesina led the Feed Africa Summit held earlier this year which attracted 34 heads of state and government and galvanized development partners and private sector and farmers for transformative actions for food self-sufficiency in Africa. The Summit mobilized $70 billion to implement the actions.   

Dr. Adesina is a 2017 World Food Prize Laureate, and recipient of several international and national honors, as well as several honorary doctorates from universities in the US, Africa, and Canada. 

Professor Benedict Oramah, a renowned Nigerian economist, who was appointed President and  Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export–Import Bank (“Afreximbank” or the “Bank”)  in 2015 after serving with distinction in other leadership positions at the Bank since 1994.  Afreximbank, a leading African multilateral finance institution, has made impressive strides under  Prof. Oramah’s leadership growing its assets by six- fold from about US$6 billion at the end of 

September 2015, when he assumed office, to US$37.3 billion by December 2023. The Bank has  also diversified its sources of income while achieving impressive Global Credit Ratings and  performance metrics.  

Despite global economic headwinds, under President Oramah’s leadership, Afreximbank achieved very strong year-on-year growth in earnings, profits and dividends pay-out while  sustaining its policy relevance across Africa. 

Prof. Oramah consistently keeps a laser focus on the Bank’s mission to advance regional  integration and industrialization across Africa. Under his leadership, Afreximbank has become a  prime facilitator of the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement and other  continental priorities.  

Prof. Oramah, an agricultural economist and author, holds M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from  Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He is a recipient of numerous national honors  including the high Nigerian national honor of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in  2022 by the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the Commander of the Order of the  Niger (CON) by the Nigerian government, the “Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Valeur” (Knight of the  Order of Valor) by the Cameroonian government, the Officer of the Congolese Order of Merit by  the Republic of Congo and The Order of Friendship by the Russian government. 

Prof. Oramah has also received many awards and recognitions, namely the 2023 Business  Leader of the Year by All Africa Business Leaders Awards; the 2022 Margaret Herz Demant  African Art Award by the Detroit Institute of Arts; the 2017 and 2022 African Banker of the Year by the African Bankers’ Magazine. He has been listed as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans by the New Africa Magazine and Jeune Afrique for multiple years since 2017. He was recognized as the Person of the Year 2023 by Forbes Africa and awarded the 2024 Financial Leadership  Award by the Africa Prosperity Network. 

In addition to being the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof. Oramah serves  on the board of several organizations. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund  for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the Chairman of the Management Board of Directors of  the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), the Chairman of the Executive  Committee of the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges (AATB), the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of  the African Union Covid-19 Response Fund and serves on the Consultative Board on the World  Cocoa Economy of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO). He is also a member of the  Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) Advisory Council, an Honorary Advisor of the Abia Global  Economic Advisory Council, a member of the Practitioners Advisory Board of the Institute for  Trade and Innovation (IfTI) at Offenburg University, Germany, a Board member of the Coalition  for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA) and a member of the Emerging Markets Advisory Council of the  Institute of International Finance (IIF-EMAC).  

Prof. Oramah is happily married and blessed with three daughters.

An astute businessman, philanthropist and industrialist, Abdul Samad Rabiu is the Founder and Chairman of BUA Group – a company which he established in 1988 and has grown to become one of Nigeria’s largest privately-owned foods, manufacturing and infrastructure conglomerates with diversified investments spanning key business sectors of the Nigerian economy. He is also the founder of the Abdul Samad Africa Initiative, ASR Africa – an African focused Fund for Social Development and Renewal which seeks to support Nigeria and other African countries in the areas of Health, Education, and Social Development. 

BUSINESS
Under Abdul Samad’s astute leadership, BUA has grown steadily over the years to entrench itself as a leading player with holdings in cement, sugar, rice, flour and pasta, edible oils, logistics, agriculture, construction, port operations, and real estate. With a firmly established reputation for innovation, BUA Group is one of the largest contributors to Nigeria’s GDP and among its largest employers of labour.

After finishing his degree in Economics from Capital University, USA, Abdul Samad returned to Nigeria from the United States and joined the family business, the IRS Group, until 1988 when he set up BUA Group to engage in importing and trading in major commodities like rice, edible oils, flour, pasta, and iron/steel rods. He later ventured into steel, billets, and iron ore importation, supplying multiple rolling mills in Nigeria.

EXPANSION & MANUFACTURING
Few years down the line, BUA acquired Nigerian Oil Mills Limited in 2001 which was at the time, the largest edible oil processing company in Nigeria. He was later to set up 2 flour milling plants in Lagos and Kano in 2005. By 2008, BUA, under Abdul Samad’s astute leadership, commissioned the second largest sugar refinery in sub-Saharan Africa. He then went on the acquire a controlling stake in the publicly listed Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (Sokoto Cement) in 2009 and commenced the construction of the over $1billion cement manufacturing complex in Obu-Okpella, Edo State commissioned in 2015 which was at that time, the single largest non-oil investment in South-South Nigeria and had a capacity of 6million metric tonnes per annum upon completion of the second line. This was a followed by a new 1.5million metric tonnes line in Sokoto in 2018 and another 3million metric tonnes line 2hich commenced in 2020 and was commissioned in 2022 bringing the total installed capacity for his cement holdings to 11million metric tonnes as of January 2022.

Other recent investments by the company include the $300million, 20,000hectares Lafiagi Sugar Estate project as part of the Nigerian Government’s Backward Integration Plan for the Sugar Industry which comprises a sugar mill, sugar refinery, ethanol processing plant and 35MW power plant. The company also built an export focused refinery in Port Harcourt – the only destination sugar refinery in sub-Saharan Africa and commenced new investments in flour milling and pasta production.

Abdul Samad Rabiu also announced the construction of a 200,000barrels per day petrochemicals refinery to be situated in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria and signed an agreement with Axens of France in August 2020 for the refinery aimed at solving Nigeria and West Africa’s petroleum refining needs.

MERGERS & PUBLIC LISTINGS
In January 2020, Abdul Samad Rabiu merged his privately owned Obu Cement Company with the publicly listed Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, where he already held a controlling stake in a 3.3billion dollars transaction. The resultant company from the merger, BUA Cement Plc, was the third largest company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange by market capitalization upon listing. 

He followed this success with a consolidation of all his foods businesses in Sugar, Edible Oils, Rice, Flour & Pasta Milling into a new company, BUA Foods Plc, which was also listed on the Nigerian Exchange in December 2021.

Both companies sit today among the top ten most valuable publicly listed companies in sub-Saharan Africa.

A former chairman of Tropical Continental Bank from 1993 to 2000, two-time former Chairman of Nigeria’s Bank of Industry, current Chairman and majority shareholder in BUA Cement Plc & BUA Foods Plc, Abdul Samad’s ever-expanding conglomerate boasts of several subsidiaries. 

Today, the BUA Group has been nurtured from a relatively small company in 1988 to a world-class conglomerate contributing significantly to the country’s GDP while providing employment opportunities for tens of thousands of Nigerians. These are in addition to heavy portfolio investments in key sectors of the Nigerian economy. 

PHILANTHROPY AND SOCIAL IMPACT
In addition to his economic contributions, Abdul Samad Rabiu, through the BUA Foundation and more recently, his Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), has also contributed immensely to various philanthropic and social development activities in different areas from healthcare to education, sports, water & sanitation amongst others. 

In October 2022, Abdul Samad Rabiu, through ASR Africa, donated US$500,000 to the United States Agency for International Development to partner on Tuberculosis (TB) control, HIV, and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention efforts in Nigeria. Through this partnership, ASR Africa’s contribution will provide: 11 loop-mediated isothermal amplification diagnostic machines, also known as TB-LAMPs, with laboratory reagents and consumables; renovation of 10 Tuberculosis Directly Observed Therapy or DOT centers; and approximately 1,200 dignity kits for survivors of gender-based violence across selected states in Nigeria. 

Prior to this partnership, he commenced the ongoing development of a N7.5billion 200-bed specialist hospital in Kano State and during the global COVID-19 pandemic, Abdul Samad Rabiu championed Nigeria’s donation to the Covid-19 intervention by a single individual or corporate donating amongst other things, 1.35billion Naira to the CACOVID Private Sector Coalition; 300million Naira to the Presidential taskforce on Covid-19; over 1billion Naira in cash donations to 10 state governments across the country; about 70 ambulances provided for over 15 states as well as the donation of medical equipment, facemasks, provision of raw/dry foodstuff for over 1.5million persons in Kano, Lagos and Rivers states, and the construction of health infrastructure. 

In 2021, Abdul Samad Rabiu set up the Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal through his ASR Africa Initiative. So far, the initiative has donated and/or commenced projects across Nigeria and Ghana including the 4billion Naira Police Hospital in Abuja, and donated 1billion Naira each for 6 universities across Nigeria through the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grants Scheme for infrastructural development. The beneficiaries of the 6billion Naira Tertiary Education Grants Scheme are, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ibadan, University of Maiduguri, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, University of Ilorin, and University of Benin.  

In addition, his ASR Africa initiative also donated 2.5billion Naira each through its tertiary healthcare Development Grants for health projects across 4 geopolitical zones in the country. These funds are being channeled towards projects in Sokoto, Ogun, Kwara and Edo States and include an Oncology and Diagnostic Centre in Ilorin, which is expected to be the largest in West Africa; the construction of the College of Medical Sciences at the Sokoto State University, and other infrastructure at the School of Nursing, Tambuwal, and the School of Health Technology, also in Sokoto State. These are in addition to 5billion Naira donated to build the first teaching hospital in Akwa Ibom State.

Abdul Samad Rabiu has always heeded the call to support in times of crisis, the latest being his donation to victims of flooding in Gombe State and Bauchi States. In the North-East of Nigeria, Abdul Samad Rabiu continues to be one of Nigeria’s largest private donors to reconstruction and development efforts. More recently, he also announced a donation of N10bn Security Support Fund to the Nigerian Government.

Abdul Samad Rabiu, through his various business interests has also been a champion of protecting the environment through his investments in manufacturing plants that meet or exceed stringent environmental standards with a focus on recycling most of their waste products, the use of cleaner energy sources like natural gas whilst reducing the environmental impact of their operations. These businesses are also involved in various community projects across Nigeria from Water and Sanitation, Electrification, Education and Sports in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

As a testimony to hard work, an indefatigable entrepreneurial spirit and consistently championing Nigeria as a preferred investment destination in Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu was reappointed by President Emmanuel Macron of France as the President of the France Nigeria Business Council in June 2022.   

A recipient of many awards, Abdul Samad Rabiu was awarded the 2022 CEO of the Year at the African CSR Awards, 2016 African Industrialist of the Year Award by the All-Africa Business Leaders Awards. Other awards include the 2022 Sun Man of the Year Awards, 2020 Vanguard Businessperson of the Year, and the New Telegraph Philanthropist of the Year 2021.

A recipient of several honorary doctorate degrees from various universities including the University of Benin, Nasarawa State University, Sokoto State University and Crescent University, Abdul Samad Rabiu is a fellow of the Institute of Directors, and he currently holds the prestigious Nigerian national honours of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) and Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) as well as the highest civilian national honour in Niger Republic.

As Senior Vice President for Research, Technology & Society, James Manyika focuses on advancing Google’s most ambitious innovations in AI, computing and science, and on areas with potential for beneficial impact on society. He is also responsible for leading and overseeing Google Research and Google Labs. 

Appointed by President Obama, James served as Vice Chair of the Global Development Council at the White House, serves as Vice Chair of the US National AI Advisory Committee (established by Congress to advise the President), and is Co-Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s AI Advisory Body. James is Chair and Director, Emeritus of McKinsey Global Institute, a Visiting Professor at Oxford, and has been a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Committee on Responsible Computing. H

e is a Distinguished Fellow of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute, a Distinguished Fellow in Ethics in AI at Oxford, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. A Rhodes Scholar, James has DPhil, MSc, MA from Oxford in AI and robotics, mathematics and computer science, and a BSc from the University of Zimbabwe.

Dr Mo Ibrahim is the Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which he established in 2006 to support good governance and exceptional leadership on the African continent.

Sudanese-born, Dr Ibrahim has a distinguished business career. In 1989 he founded Mobile Systems International (MSI), a world leading cellular consulting and software provider, and in 1998, Celtel International, one of Africa’s leading mobile telephone companies which pioneered mobile services in Africa.

Dr Ibrahim is also Founding Chairman of Satya Capital Limited, a private investment firm primarily focused on Africa.

Dr Ibrahim has received numerous honorary degrees and fellowships from a range of prestigious academic institutions including University of Birmingham, Bradford University, De Montfort University - Leicester, Imperial College - London, London Business School, Oxford University, Royal Academy of Engineering, SOAS - University of London, University of Pennsylvania and Lancaster University. 

Dr Ibrahim is also the recipient of a number of awards including The GSM Association’s Chairman’s Award for Lifetime Achievement (2007), The Economist Innovation Award for Social & Economic Innovation (2007), BNP Paribas Prize for Philanthropy (2008), Oslo Business for Peace Award (2009), Raymond Georis Prize for Innovative Philanthropy in Europe (2010), Clinton Global Citizen Award (2010), the Millenium Excellence Award for Actions in Africa (2012), the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2012), the Africare Leadership Award (2013), the Kiel Institute Global Economy Prize (June 2013), the Eisenhower Medal for Distinguished Leadership and Service (May 2014), the Foreign Policy Association Medal (June 2014), International Republican Institute (US) Freedom Award (2015), Danish CSR Honor Prize (2015), David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2017).

Dr Ibrahim is the Co-founder and Co-chair of the Africa Europe Foundation, which was launched in 2020 to reset and bolster Africa-Europe relations.

Selim Bora holds a BSc degree in Metallurgical Engineering, from the Middle East Technical University,  Ankara and MSc degree in Industrial Engineering from the Alfred University, New York.  

In 1989 Summa Inc. was established by the visionary and prominent construction magnate, the late Mr.  Mete Bora to carry out overseas contracting operations. Selim joined the family business in 1993 as  Business Development Manager in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. In 1995 Selim was promoted as  Regional Manager of Summa for the Russian Federation, based in Moscow and in 1999 became the  Chairman of Summa.  

Summa’s corporate modus operandi is based on out-of-the-box thinking, ingenuity, quality and client  satisfaction. Its track record for design, build, operate, and turn-key contract delivery capabilities speaks  for itself.  

Summa operates in 14 countries across 4 continents with particular know-how and focus in Sub-Sahara  Africa predominantly in; Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Rwanda, Congo Republic, Niger, Benin, Sierra  Leone and Democratic Republic of Congo.  

Under Selim’s leadership, Summa has been ranked as ENR Top 225 International Contractors for the  past 19 years. Apart from construction, today Summa is active in real estate development, hospitality,  healthcare, energy and mining sectors. Furthermore, Selim’s belief in the future of Africa has led Summa  to become one of the most prolific principal investors in the continent, with investments in airports,  hotels, shopping malls and residential real estate.  

Selim is passionate about philanthropy and acts as the Chairman of non-profit Akyurt Foundation which  focuses on eldercare. Currently acting as the President of the Turkish-Rwanda Business Council under  Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK); he is also serving as an advisory board member of the  Richard Attias & Associates and previously held the positions of Deputy President at Turkish Contractors  Association and Board Member at European International Contractors Association.  

In 2018, he won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and is the recipient of Republican  Presidential National Order of the Rank of Commander from the Republic of Senegal, the Republic of Niger and the Republic of Congo. Fluent in Turkish, English, French and Russian. 

Ms. Sanda Ojiambo was appointed Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Global Compact Office by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in April 2022. She has held the position of CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact since June 2020. Ojiambo has led the organization through transformative times, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she launched a new strategy to enhance the global impact of businesses upholding the Ten Principles and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through accountable companies and supportive ecosystems.

Ojiambo's leadership has been marked by her dedication to increasing business engagement with UN partners to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Under her guidance, the UN Global Compact has expanded significantly, with membership nearly doubling to over 20,000 companies. She has spearheaded the establishment of regional hubs in Abuja, Dubai, Panama City, and Bangkok, bringing the UN Global Compact closer to businesses worldwide.

Her career spans more than 20 years across public, multilateral, and private sectors. She has a profound understanding of the intersection between business and development, having worked on numerous public-private partnership initiatives and cultivated relationships with key business entities and civil society organizations.

Ojiambo's academic background includes a Master of Arts in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota, USA, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Development from McGill University, Canada. Her diverse experiences and strong educational foundation have positioned her as a pivotal figure in promoting sustainable business practices on a global scale.

The UN Global Compact, under her leadership, remains the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, with more than 20,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 62 Country Networks covering 78 countries and 14 Country Managers establishing Networks in 20 other countries. The initiative continues to drive businesses to integrate the Ten Principles in human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption into their core strategies, thus fostering a more sustainable and inclusive global economy.

Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa is UNDP Assistant Administrator, and Director, Regional Bureau for Africa at the rank of Assistant Secretary General. She leads over 4000 staff implementing a $1.2 billion annual development programme in 46 African countries. She is deeply passionate about equality, inclusion, reshaping narratives on Africa, mobilizing for youth entrepreneurs and the dignity of Africa’s people. Her vision “Africa’s Promise: The UNDP Renewed Strategic Offer in Africa” employs an opportunity lens to development practice in Africa. She established the Africa Influencers for Development (AI4D) to ensure that Africa’s Money works for Africa’s Development; the Africa Young Women Leaders Initiative; Africa Innovates Magazine; and the Africa Borderlands Centre. She leads UNDP Africa socioeconomic response and recovery from COVID 19 and (Co) Chairs the UN Africa Regional Collaborative Platform which oversees implementation of the Secretary General’s regional UN reform. She spent 10 years as UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Lesotho. As Chief (Africa) at UN OCHA, she led response to natural disasters, emergencies and transitions to recovery. Before the UN, Ms. Eziakonwa worked for “Initiatives of Change” serving as international coordinator of its’ “Creators of Peace – Women’s Initiative”. She is an alumni of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School Executive Programme and has a Bachelors in Education from University of Benin Nigeria.

Pamela Coke-Hamilton has served as Executive Director of ITC since October 2020. Since that time she has led the agency to meet the economic and trade challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent global supply chain disruptions. Ms. Coke-Hamilton has a breadth of experience and expertise in trade-related capacity-building and sustainable development and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable economies such as the small island developing states and least developed countries. Ms. Coke-Hamilton has worked extensively with the private sector and academia across African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to build trade-related institutional strength within member States. She also established the Women Empowered through Export (WeXport) platform to address the disadvantages that women-owned firms experience in accessing markets. She began her career in Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and later also served as Director of Trade, Tourism and Competitiveness of the Organization of American States (OAS) and Executive Director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA).

Doreen Bogdan-Martin took office as Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023. With over three decades of leadership experience in global telecommunications policy, Ms. Bogdan-Martin has emphasized the need for digital transformation to achieve economic prosperity, job creation, skills development, gender equality, and socio-economic inclusion, as well as to build circular economies, reduce climate impact, and save lives. 

Her historic election by ITU Member States in S​eptember 2022 made her the first woman ever to head the nearly 160-year-old organization. Known for mobilizing innovative partnerships, she aims to promote meaningful connectivity, intensify cooperation to connect the unconnected, and strengthen the alignment of digital technologies with inclusive sustainable development.

Cristina Duarte  Mrs. Cristina Duarte has been the United Nations Special Adviser on Africa and Under-Secretary-General of OSAA since 1 August 2020. She is the strategic adviser to the Secretary-General on African Affairs.  

Prior to joining the UN, Mrs. Duarte served as Cape Verde’s Minister of Finance and Planning for 10 years. She has also served as Director of a World Bank reform program and Vice President of Citibank giving her a valuable exposure on the functioning of international finance systems. When Mrs. Duarte left Government in 2016, she was invited to governance and advisory positions in various international and regional organizations; namely, Member of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration, Member of the United Nations High-Level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs, a Member of President Paul Kagame’s Advisory Committee on African Union Reforms, a Member of the Board of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and a Member of the Board of the Institute of African Leadership for Sustainable Development (UONGOZI Institute). 

Mrs. Duarte is committed to public service. Cristina holds a master’s in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policies from the Instituto Superior de Economia in Lisbon.

Damilola Ogunbiyi is the CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (UN  SRSG) for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. With Mrs. Ogunbiyi at the  helm, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) has entered into working relationships with over  200 partners, supported over 90 countries globally, and secured commitments of more than 

$600 billion in energy finance. This has been achieved through programmes such as Universal  Energy Facility, Powering Healthcare, Women and Youth at the Forefront, Cooling for All, and  Clean Cooking; and innovative initiatives such as UN Energy Compacts, Energy Transition  Plans, Universal Integrated Energy Plans, the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI), and  the Africa Renewable Energy Manufacturing Initiative (AREMI) among many others. Through  her leadership, SEforALL has grown its global influence and country support providing clear  pathways to accelerate progress towards universal energy access, ending energy poverty,  and advancing the global just and equitable energy transition. 

Prior to joining SEforALL, Mrs. Ogunbiyi was the first female Managing Director of the Nigerian  Rural Electrification Agency where she initiated the Nigerian Electrification Project, a USD 550  million facility which is a joint World Bank and African Development Bank programme that to  date provided energy access to over 5 million people across Nigeria. She also conceptualised  the Energizing Economies Initiative, estimated to impact 1.2 million SMEs. 

Before joining the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), Mrs. Ogunbiyi was the first female  General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board. Under her leadership, five independent  power projects were completed to deliver over 55 megawatts of power to Lagos State  hospitals, schools, and government facilities. 

Mrs. Ogunbiyi is a member of the Global Leadership Council (GLC) of the Global Energy  Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), an Advisory Board member of the Center on Global  Energy Policy, a member of the Development Advisory Council of the U.S. International  Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a member of the Clean Cooking Alliance Advisory  Board, a member of the Advisory Board of University of Oxford’s Future of Cooling  Programme, and Co-Chair of UN–Energy. 

She is a global leader and advocate for the achievement of the Sustainable Development  Goals (SDGs) with a focus on SDG7, which calls for access to reliable, affordable, sustainable,  and modern energy for all by 2030. 

Shortened Version 
Damilola Ogunbiyi is the CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for  Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. With Mrs. Ogunbiyi at the helm,  Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) has entered into working relationships with over 200  partners, supported over 90 countries globally, and secured commitments of more than $600  billion in energy finance. Through her leadership, SEforALL has grown its global influence  and country support providing clear pathways to accelerate progress towards universal  energy access, ending energy poverty, and advancing the global just and equitable energy  transition. 

She is a global leader and advocate for the achievement of the Sustainable Development  Goals (SDGs) with a focus on SDG7, which calls for access to reliable, affordable,  sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030.

Dr. James Mwangi is Group CEO of Equity Group Holdings, credited with democratizing financial access, leading Equity to become an integrated  financial services Group operating in 6 African countries with a client base  of over 17m, and an asset base of USD 13B+. James established Equity  Group Foundation to scale shared prosperity, mobilizing support of like minded partners to commit USD 582M+ for social impact. James is an  honoree of the 2021 Meaningful 100 Business designation; the 2020 Oslo  Business for Peace Award; the 2007 G8 Global Vision Award citing him as  “an initiator of a concept of the future that will shape the world economy”;  recognized in the FT’s 2009 list of ‘Top 50 thought leaders in emerging  markets’ and the ‘Top 20 most influential people in Africa’; is the holder of  the 2012 EY World Entrepreneur of the Year award, and he was named one  of the Bloomberg 50 in 2019. 

Equity Group, with James as its Managing Director and CEO have  developed and are implementing the `Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan’ and are its chief champions and global advocates with worldwide partners,  governments, and international institutions. James is a sought-after keynote  speaker for the African private sector at events such as the East African  Community Presidents meetings, the Commonwealth Group of Nations  meetings, and the recent historic US-Africa Leaders’ summit held by  President Joe Biden.

Cina Lawson is Togo’s Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation. Drawing from over 20 years of experience and expertise in digital policy and regulation, she has led Togo’s successful transition to an inclusive digital economy. Lawson began her career at the World Bank in Washington, D.C, assisting governments in emerging markets in executing regulatory reforms. She then worked for Alcatel-Lucent in Paris before joining Orange Group in New York City as Manager of Corporate Strategy and Business Development. 

As a minister, she transformed the regulatory environment to foster innovation, competition, and private investments. She has been uniquely innovative in championing private sector investment in the public’s interest via joint ventures and partnerships with global enterprises (e.g., Google, CSquared, Asseco, Axian). Under Lawson’s leadership, Togo became the first West African country to deploy 5G services. Over the last decade, she increased digital service penetration so that a majority of the population now has access to mobile telephony (from 33% in 2010 to 78% in 2021) to mobile internet (from 1% in 2010 to 74% in 2021), and to mobile money (from 1% in 2013 to 57% in 2021). Lawson also used digital means to better enable financial inclusion. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, she initiated and launched the digital cash transfer program Novissi, which distributed $34M in financial aid to a quarter of Togo’s adult population. 

Lawson’s leadership has gained international recognition, including from the World Economic Forum, SXSW, and Forbes. In 2019, she received the Harvard Alumni Public Service Award, becoming the first African female public servant honoree since its establishment. Lawson graduated from Sciences Po Paris and earned a Masters of Public Policy from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. She speaks Fluent French, English, and Ewe (Mina).

Paula Ingabire is a Rwandan technology enthusiast currently serving as the Minister of ICT and Innovation in the Government of Rwanda. Prior to her appointment as Minister, she served as Head of the ICT Business Development Department at the Rwanda Development Board where she led the implementation of National ICT programs notably eGovernment and Cyber Security and coordinator of the Kigali Innovation City, a project designed to nurture and strengthen a Pan-African Innovation eco-system. She coordinated the creation of Smart Africa, an initiative that seeks to leverage broadband infrastructure as a driver for Africa’s socio- economic growth.

She is a graduate of the MIT’s School of Engineering & Sloan School of Management, in System Design and Management. With 10 years’ experience leading ICT programs for economic development, she’s a keen advocate of the role of innovation and emerging technologies towards driving economic growth. 

Paula was named by Apolitical (2019) among the Top 20 of the World’s 100 most influential people in digital government. She serves on the Global Council of the World Summit Award Board of Directors, World Economic Forum Cyber Security Board and Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Global Network Advisory Board.

As Microsoft’s vice chair and president, Brad Smith is responsible for spearheading the company’s work and representing it publicly on a wide variety of critical issues involving the intersection of technology and society, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy, environmental sustainability, human rights, digital safety, immigration, philanthropy, and products and business for non-profit customers. He leads a team of roughly 2,000 business, legal and corporate affairs professionals located in 54 countries and operating in more than 120 nations.

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat has been Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation since December 2019, and has previously served as the first female Minister of Tourism (Jan 2018 -Dec 2019). Al-Mashat enjoys more than 20 years of international experience in central banking, financial systems, monetary policy frameworks, sustainable development, climate finance, and international cooperation policies and strategies.  

As a co-founder and a member of several advisory boards, international alliances and societies, Al-Mashat pushes forward partnerships and multilateralism as key enablers to accelerate sustainable development, climate action and gender equality. Managing the country’s partnerships with numerous bilateral and multilateral development institutions, she ensures the  alignment and synergies of development finance and activities across different economic sectors.  Her previous roles at the IMF, working with governments in the Middle East & Central Asia, Africa  and Asia, expanded her expertise of development systems and structural reforms in developing and  emerging economies. Al-Mashat has several publications in monetary policy, financial stability and  instructional reforms. In her capacity as Minister, she represents Egypt as Governor in several  international financial institutions, including the World Bank Group, European Bank for  Reconstruction and Development, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, and Arab  Bank for Economic Development; and as Alternate Governor of Egypt at the African Development  Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Islamic Development Bank.  

Al-Mashat is a member of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)  GenU Global Leadership Council, Founding Member of the Global Energy Alliance for People and  Planet (GEAPP), and Member of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Mission Possible for  Climate Action, Co-Chair of the MENA Stewardship Board (WEF); and Member of the New  Economy and Society Stewardship Board (WEF). There were several board affiliations, including  the Egyptian Stock Exchange, the Egyptian General Authority for Free Zones and Investment, the  Arab International Bank, the Arab Investment Bank, and the Middle East Economic Association. 

In June 2021, Al-Mashat launched a book titled “Stakeholder Engagement Through Economic  Diplomacy” for London School of Economics. She contributed several chapters to the International  Monetary Fund’s book, titled, “Advancing the Frontiers of Monetary Policy”, published in 2018  and edited by Maurice Obstfeld the Chief Economist at the time. Moreover, she pioneered an  international inclusive and consultative process to translate climate pledges into implementable  projects in developing countries and transition economies, producing the “Sharm El-Sheikh  Guidebook for Just Financing”, which presents an actionable agenda for all relevant stakeholder  listing their roles in achieving just financing outcomes, and maximizing the effectiveness and  efficiency of existing climate finance architecture. 

Al-Mashat received several international and domestic awards and recognitions; the “2022 Most  Visionary and Outstanding Minister of International Cooperation in Africa” Award by the Institute  for African Studies Elliott School of International Affairs George Washington University and the  GE7 Initiative; the “2019 Global Champion Award” from the World Tourism and Travel Council for  launching the Egypt—Tourism Reform Program that has created resilience to the sector; the “2019  Global Leader’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry”, as the Ministry of Tourism  has contributed the most to the global travel and tourism industry in 2018 and 2019 as Egypt’s  tourism revenues recorded a new historical high; the “2019 United Nations World Tourism  Organization Destination Marketing Award”, for best promotion video for a destination; and the  “2019 Leadership in Tourism Award” from the International Institute for Peace and Tourism. She  was selected among the top 50 most influential women in the Egyptian economy in 2015; the 2014  and 2015 “Choiseul Institute 100 Africa: Economic Leaders for Tomorrow”; the 2014 Young Global  Leaders (YGL) by the World Economic Forum (WEF); the 2014 top 10 most powerful women in  the Egyptian Banking Sector. She was also selected to the Government of France’s 2013  International Visitor Leadership Program; the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award, School of  Business, American University in Cairo (AUC), and the 2004 Ibn Khaldoun prize for the best paper  on one or more Middle Eastern countries given by the Middle East Economic Association. The  paper titled “Monetary Policy and Public Debt Management: An Empirical Assessment of the  Egyptian Experience”.  

Al-Mashat received her PhD an MA in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park,  USA, and BA in Economics from the American University in Cairo (AUC). She completed  Executive Education certificates in Leadership and Public Policy from the Kennedy School of  Government at Harvard University and Transformational Leadership from Said Business School at  Oxford University.

Publications & Research    

• Al-Mashat, R. (2022), “Beyond Pledges: Inclusive Partnerships to move Towards Climate  Resilience” World Economic Forum, World Economic Forum, Switzerland. 

• Al-Mashat, R. and Hamza, R. (2021), “Stakeholder Engagement through Economic Diplomacy:  Egypt Fostering Multilateralism & International Cooperation” Policy Reform in the Making,  London School of Economics. 

• Al-Mashat, R. Bejjani, A. and Dusek, M. (2020), “4 Ways Stakeholder Capitalism Can Create a  More Resilient Post-COVID MENA Region,” World Economic Forum, World Economic Forum,  Switzerland. 

• Al-Mashat, R., Clinton, K., Laxton, D. and Wang H. (2018) "First Principles", in Adrian, T., Laxton,  D., and Obstfeld, M, (eds), Advancing the Frontiers of Monetary Policy, International Monetary  Fund, USA. 

• Al-Mashat, R., Clinton, K., Laxton, D. and Wang H. (2018) "Managing Expectations", in Adrian, T.,  Laxton, D., and Obstfeld, M, (eds), Advancing the Frontiers of Monetary Policy, International  Monetary Fund, USA. 

• Al-Mashat, R., Clinton, K., Laxton, D. and Wang H. (2018) "Nuts and Bolts of a Forecasting and  Policy Analysis System", in Adrian, T., Laxton, D., and Obstfeld, M, (eds), Advancing the Frontiers  of Monetary Policy, International Monetary Fund, USA. 

• Al-Mashat, R., Clinton, K., Laxton, D. and Wang H. (2018) "Transparency and Communications",  in Adrian, T., Laxton, D., and Obstfeld, M, (eds), Advancing the Frontiers of Monetary Policy,  International Monetary Fund, USA. 

• Al-Mashat, R., Clinton, K., Laxton, D. and Wang H. (2018) "Canada: A Well-Established System",  in Adrian, T., Laxton, D., and Obstfeld, M, (eds), Advancing the Frontiers of Monetary Policy,  International Monetary Fund, USA. 

• Al-Mashat, R., Clinton, K., Laxton, D. and Wang H. (2018) "Czech Republic: Transition to the  Frontier", in Adrian, T., Laxton, D., and Obstfeld, M, (eds), Advancing the Frontiers of Monetary  Policy, International Monetary Fund, USA. 

• Al-Mashat, R., Clinton, K., Laxton, D. and Wang H. (2018) "India: Stabilizing Inflation", in Adrian,  T., Laxton, D., and Obstfeld, M, (eds), Advancing the Frontiers of Monetary Policy, International  Monetary Fund, USA. 

• Al-Mashat, R., Clinton, K., Laxton, D. and Wang H. (2018) "United States: Federal Reserve’s Dual  Mandate", in Adrian, T., Laxton, D., and Obstfeld, M, (eds), Advancing the Frontiers of Monetary  Policy, International Monetary Fund, USA. 

• Al-Mashat, R., Bulir, A., Dincer, N., et. Al, (2018) “An Index for Transparency for Inflation Targeting Central Banks: Application to the Czech National Bank”, IMF Working Paper,  International Monetary Fund, WP/18/210.

• Aichi, A., Al-Mashat, R., et. Al, (2018) “Estimates of Potential Output and the Neutral Rate for the  US Economy”, IMF Working Paper, International Monetary Fund, WP/18/152. 

• Dimian, Hany, and Al-Mashat, R. (June 2014) "Helping Advance the Economic Policy Making and  Management Process in Egypt: Initial Institutional Aspects for the Executive Branch", Rockefeller  Brothers and Japan International Cooperation Agency. 

• Al-Mashat, R., and Billmeier, A. (2012) "Push or Pull? The Determinants of Remittances to Egypt",  Review of Middle East Economics and Finance, 8 (2), article 2. 

• Al-Mashat, R. (2011). "Assessing inflation and output variability using a New Keynesian model: an  application to Egypt", in D. Cobham and G. Dibeh (eds), Money in the Middle East and North  Africa: Monetary Policy Frameworks and Strategies, London: Routledge. 

• Al-Mashat, R. (2011). "The Evolution of Monetary Policy in Egypt and Steps towards Inflation  Targeting", in D. Cobham and Mongi Boughzala (eds), Inflation Targeting in MENA Countries: An  Unfinished Journey, Palgrave Macmillan. 

• Al-Mashat, R, (2011), "Egypt: Monetary Policy & the Pass-through from Relative Price Shocks",  paper presented at the II Workshop on the Economics of the Mediterranean and the Euro Mediterranean Process, CREMed, Barcelona, Spain, June. 

• Al-Mashat, R. (2009). ‘Monetary policy in Egypt: a retrospective and preparedness for inflation  targeting,’ In H. Kheir-El-Din (ed.), What Drives Prices in Egypt?, Cairo: American University in  Cairo Press for the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies Publication. 

• Al-Mashat, R., and Billmeier, A. (2008). ‘The monetary transmission mechanism in Egypt,’ Review  of Middle East Economics and Finance, 4 (3), article 2. 

• Al-Mashat, Rania, (2008) “The Exchange Rate Pass-through in Egypt,” The Central Bank of Egypt  Working Paper Series, forthcoming. 

• Al-Mashat, Rania, (2008) “Modelling and Forecasting Inflation in Egypt: Do Monetary Aggregates  Matter?”, The Central Bank of Egypt Working Paper Series. 

• Al-Mashat, Rania and Andreas Billmeier (2007), “The Monetary Transmission Mechanism in  Egypt”, IMF.Working Paper, International Monetary Fund, WP/07/285. 

• Al-Mashat, Rania, (2006) “The Central Bank of Egypt’s Core (Underlying) Measures of Inflation,”  The Central Bank of Egypt Working Paper Series. 

• Al-Mashat, Rania, (2006) “Estimating the Nominal and Real Money Gaps in Egypt,” The Central  Bank of Egypt Working Paper Series.  

• Al-Mashat, R., “Vietnam’s Experience with Rapid Money Growth and Low Inflation”, Selected  Issues Paper, Country Report, SM/04/379, International Monetary Fund, 2004.

• Al-Mashat, R., “The Evolving Role of the State”, Selected Issues Paper for Vietnam, Country  Report 03/381, International Monetary Fund, 2003. 

• Al-Mashat, R., and Amine Mati, “Currency Crises in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA):  What are the Early Warning Signs,” Proceedings of the Conference on Rising to the Challenge:  International Crisis and Economic Management in Egypt, June 2003. 

• Al-Mashat, R., “Monetary Policy Transmission in India”, Selected Issues Paper, Country Report  03/232, International Monetary Fund, 2003. 

• Al-Mashat, R., “Financial Sector Development and Economic Growth in Egypt 1960-1999,” Global  Development Network and Economic Research Forum for Arab Countries, Iran and Turkey, 2002. 

• Al-Mashat, R., “Economic Trends in the MENA Region, 2002”, contributed to Chapter 2 on  Financial Markets in MENA, ERF for Arab Countries, Iran and Turkey Publication, 2002. 

• Al-Mashat, R., “Membership Overlaps in Regional Trade Arrangements in Eastern and Southern  Africa: Potentials, Limitations and Policy Recommendations”, Mimeo, Policy Development and  Review Department, International Monetary Fund, January 2002. 

• Al-Mashat, R., “Monetary Policy and Public Debt Management: An Empirical Assessment of the  Egyptian Experience”, Proceedings of the Economic Research Forum Seventh Annual Conference,  January 2002. 

• Al-Mashat, R. and Grigorian, D., “Economic Reforms in Egypt: Emerging Patterns and Their  Possible Implications”, The World Bank Policy Research Paper No. 1977.

H.E. Wamkele Mene was elected by the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States & Government of the African Union, to the position of Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat. 

Prior to being elected Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, he served as Chief Director: Africa Economic Relations, at the Department of Trade & Industry of South Africa. In this role, he was South Africa’s chief trade negotiator in the AfCFTA and Tripartite FTA negotiations. During his tenure as chief negotiator, South Africa ratified both the AfCFTA and Tripartite FTAs agreements. 

Prior to assuming this position, H.E. Wamkele Mene occupied the position of Director: International Trade Law & Investment Law at the Department of Trade & Industry, a role in which he was principal legal counsel on international trade law and international investment law. 

From 2010 until 2015, H.E. Wamkele Mene represented South Africa at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. He was elected to the position of Chairman of the WTO’s Committee on International Trade in Financial Services. 

Prior to joining the Department of Trade & Industry of South Africa, H.E. Wamkele Mene worked for Wall Street based law firms in the London and Hong Kong offices.

H.E. Wamkele Mene has written and lectured internationally on international trade law, international investment law and international business law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Law) degree from Rhodes University in South Africa, a Master of Arts in International Studies & Diplomacy (with specialization in International Economics) from the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), University of London and a LL.M. (Master of Laws) in Banking Law & Financial Regulation from the Law Department of the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE). 

Mr. Samaila Zubairu has championed African value capture, job creation, and industrialisation, directing billions into transformative infrastructure over three decades. As President & CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) for six years, he has doubled membership to 42 nations, tripled investments to $13.2 billion, including the largest renewable energy acquisition on the continent, grown total assets from $4.1 billion to $12.3 billion, and increased total comprehensive income to $327 million, despite the challenges of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Under his leadership, the AFC has received numerous accolades, including Local Impact Champion at the 2023 Africa CEO Forum Awards, Equity Deal of the Year for the Infinity Energy Equity Investment and Lekela Power Acquisition at the African Banker Awards, and DFI of the Year for Europe & Africa at the Infrastructure Journal Global Awards. Mr. Zubairu was honoured as African CEO of the Year at the AsiaOne Magazine Awards for his visionary leadership.

As the pioneer CFO for Dangote Cement Plc, he launched Africa’s largest syndicated project finance facility and managed the unbundling of Dangote Industries Limited. At Africapital Management Limited, he partnered with AIIM to develop the Nigerian Infrastructure Investment Fund1.

Mr. Zubairu co-chairs the World Economic Forum’s Network to Mobilise Investment for Clean Energy in the Global South. He is an Eisenhower Fellow and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Nigeria. He holds a BSc in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University.
 

Ms. Corinne Momal-Vanian is the Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation. Previously, she worked in various senior positions and a variety of countries for the United Nations, most recently as Director of Conference Management at the United Nations Office at Geneva (2015-2020) and Director of Information (2010-2015).

Ms. Momal-Vanian served as Special Assistant to Kofi Annan in 2005 and 2006, traveling with him to some 20 countries as he worked to resolve crises, defuse tensions, highlight the plight of communities and individuals suffering from discrimination and abuses, build international cooperation and strengthen support for development and justice. She worked for a total of six years in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, after serving in two regional economic and social commissions of the United Nations.

Passionate about justice, gender equality, inclusion, innovation and learning, Ms. Momal-Vanian chaired the Steering Group of the International Gender Champions from 2016 to 2019 and was a co-organiser of the three editions of TEDxPlaceDesNations.

A French citizen, she holds a master’s degree in business administration from HEC Graduate School of Management, Paris, an advanced degree in international relations from the Institut Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) – Paris and an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Ms. Momal-Vanian is married and has two children.

Chido Mpemba is the Youngest Diplomat in the African Union Chairperson’s Cabinet. She leads on youth affairs, fronting the voices of over 870 million youth across the Governments in Africa as the African Union Special Envoy on Youth appointed by the Chairperson H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat and a decision endorsed by the Africa Heads of States for the inclusion of youth in the leadership structures of the African Union. 

Chido has been recognized as one of the ‘100 most Influential African Women’ alongside African Female Heads of States and was also named as one of the ‘Top 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent’. A former corporate banker by profession and social entrepreneur with investments in the hospitality industry, she has become a public policy expert with a keen interest and focus on geopolitics whilst pushing to end global inequalities with the interest of youth in the forefront. Earlier this year she founded a digital transformation campaign that has been launched in over 9 countries and has had an impact on over 1000 young people, through a public-private sector approach in tackling some of Africa’s challenges. 

Chido launched a listening tour campaign in 2022 and has visited over 30 Countries to engage with young people, encouraging solution focused intergenerational dialogues for socio-economic development, in addition using the opportunity to plant over 200 fruit trees to date in driving climate action to offset her carbon footprints and encourage food security in marginalized communities. A sought-after global moderator, she has moderated sessions for United Nations Special Advisor on Africa and the United Nations General Assembly President. As a young thought leader, she has published opinion pieces with the World Economic Forum, London School of Economics, Google and featured on META's "Africa's Rising Stars" Series and BBC’s Focus on Africa Documentary Feature and Podcast. 

Chido is currently a commissioner under the Climate Governance Commission which is chaired by the former President of Ireland and Chair of the Elders, Mary Robinson, she is a Leadership Council Member for Africa Reach which is Chaired by the President of Africa First Ladies and the First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingob and in addition a Global Leadership Council Member of Generation Unlimited. Chido is an alumni of the Emerging Security Sector Leaders (ESSL) Program from the Africa Center of Strategic Studies at the U.S National Defense University and an Alumni of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative as a former Mandela Washington Fellow. 

Ernestine White-Mifetu is the Sills Foundation Curator of African Art at Brooklyn Museum.  Her professional practice spans two decades and has focused on the education, development and advancement of creatives on and of the African continent. She has held directorial, curatorial and administrative positions within various cultural institutions in South Africa.

Ms. White-Mifetu’s curatorial focus is centered around 3 key areas:

1. To present to the global stage the diversity of histories and lived realities, talent and creativity that is within the African continent (past, present and future)
2. To create opportunities for artists from the African continent to expand their practice and visibility through exhibitions along with diverse forms of public engagements.
3. To create opportunities for the cross-pollination of ideas with creatives from the African continent and the diaspora.

Denim Richards has been performing for over two decades with over 40+ credits spanning  from Theater to Television and film. He can currently be seen starring in the role of ‘Colby  Mayfield’ opposite Kevin Costner in the hit Paramount Network series “Yellowstone,” for the  past five seasons. Which is cable’s #1 show in America, and is poised to be the #1 in the world  by 2024! 

Denim is also currently playing the role of ‘Elijah” on the hit Freeform show, “Good Trouble”. Additionally, Denim has starred as ‘Jack Brown’ in the feature film, “The Chickasaw Rancher,” which tells the remarkable story inspired by the life of renowned Chickasaw cattleman  Montford T. Johnson which is currently out on NETFLIX, as well as, having his two new movies  "County Line" that he stars in alongside Hollywood legend Tom Wopat (Dukes of Hazard) out  now on Amazon prime. 

Denim is not limited to acting as he is also a writer, producer and director with the 2021 short  film “The Zoo” that chronicles the heroic story of Africans in the Holocaust and their  unyielding will to never surrender, which was accepted into the “Pan African Film Festival” an Oscar qualifier.  

Denim relocated to Botswana in 2020, where he co-founded Khumo Studios with two  Batswana media professionals, positioning it to become the premier entertainment, film and  TV production studio for Africa. Denim’s goal is to tell original African stories through the lens  of the African people to be exported to the rest of the world. As the CEO of Khumo Studios; 

• Denim was invited to give a presentation on the state of the entertainment industry in  Botswana at both the day and night sessions of the 2023 FNB Botswana Budget  Review.

• He has brokered a partnership with Zambian production company Kazadi Films. Held and presented a Two-day Masterclass in Zambia for hundreds of entertainment  industry creatives. 

• Denim was also Forbes 2023 30 Under 30 speaker in Gaborone, Botswana. 

• Hosted a Ted X talk in Namibia on Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit 

• And was a keynote panelist at Forbes 30 Under 30 event in Gaborone. 

• Hosted “Understanding the Business of Entertainment” Masterclass for over 1300  entertainment industry hopefuls and professionals at the University of Botswana. 

• Created a platform for African women in the creative industry to showcase their  talents and network called Mosadi Khumo. 

• Keynote speaker at the 2023 US/Africa Summit held in Botswana. 

• Partnering with South African production company Ochre Moving Pictures to develop  and produce a one-hour drama series. 

Khumo Studios, with Denim Richards at the helm, have begun to expand into several other  African countries including Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, Malawi, South Africa and Kenya.  

Denim is slated to be a keynote speaker for the 2023 MIP Africa FAME Week – Film, Arts,  Media & Entertainment addressing: Cracking the Code: Understanding the African Market  for International Television and Film Content. While also moderating various panels at the  same event. 

"By all moral means necessary, Win" - Denim Richards

Uzodinma Iweala is an award-winning writer, filmmaker, and medical doctor. As the CEO of The Africa Center, he is dedicated to promoting a new narrative about Africa and its Diaspora. Uzodinma was the CEO,Editor-In-Chief, and co-Founder of Ventures Africa magazine, a publication that covers the evolving business, policy, culture, and innovation spaces in Africa. His books include Beasts of No Nation, a novel released in 2005 to critical acclaim and adapted into a major motion picture; Our Kind of People, a non-fiction account of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria released in 2012; and Speak No Evil (2018), a novel about a queer first-generation Nigerian-American teen living in Washington, D.C. His short stories and essays have appeared in numerous publications like The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair and The Paris Review among others. Uzodinma was also the founding CEO of the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, an organization that promotes private sector investment in health services and health innovation in Nigeria. He sits on the boards of the Sundance Institute, The International Rescue Committee and the African Development Bank’s Presidential Youth Advisory Group. A graduate of Harvard University and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and aFellow of The Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University, he lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Acha Leke is a Senior Partner in McKinsey’s Johannesburg office, Chairman of McKinsey’s Africa practice, and a member of McKinsey’s Shareholders Council – its global governance board. He started his career at McKinsey & Company as a Summer Associate in South Africa in 1998. He rejoined the Firm in Atlanta in 1999 and transferred back to Johannesburg in 2002 to help expand the Firm’s activities across Sub- Saharan Africa. Acha relocated to Lagos in 2010 to open up the Firm’s newly established office in Nigeria, and returned to South Africa in 2014. He leads the Firm’s Private Equity Practice in Africa and is a member of the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) Council. Until December 2018, he led the Firm’s Public and Social Sector Practice in Africa and was also the Senior Partner in charge of Global Recruiting for McKinsey worldwide.

Acha serves governments, multinational, and private sector institutions across Africa on issues of economic development, tax administration, growth strategies, holistic transformations, and investment decisions. He has worked across over 20 African countries to date.

Prior to McKinsey, Acha worked as a part-time Consultant on novel techniques to linearize High Power Amplifiers for wireless applications, while completing a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. He also received an M.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management from Stanford University, as well as a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering summa cum laude, with a minor in Economics, from the Georgia Institute of Technology where he graduated as Valedictorian (first Black Valedictorian in the School’s history) and was elected to Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu.

Acha is a co-founder and member of the Global Advisory Council of the African Leadership Academy, a co-educational boarding school which aims to develop the next generation of African leaders.  He is also a co-founder of the African Leadership Network, a network of the current generation of African leaders who aspire to bring prosperity to the Continent. He is a World Economic Forum (WEF) Young Global Leader Alumni (2008), and has received numerous recognitions including Africa’s Young Investment Professional of the year (Africa Investor, 2008); Top 40 men under 40 in South Africa (Destiny Man, 2010); Top 10 Youngest Power Men in Africa (Forbes, 2011); 50 Most Influential Africans (Africa Report, 2012, 2019; Jeune Afrique, 2018); 100 Most Influential Africans (New African, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016; Jeune Afrique, 2019); Top 20 next generation Francophone Africans (Forbes, 2013); Top 40 under 40 in Nigeria (Business Day, 2013); Top 20 Rising Stars in Africa (Euromoney, 2014).

He served on the WEF’s Global Future Council on Economic Growth and Social Inclusion for 2 years, after having served for 8 years on the Global Agenda Council for Africa; he also served on ONE’s Africa Policy Advisory Board. He is a member the Lagos Business School Advisory Board, and of President Kagame’s African Union (AU) Reform Steering Committee. He co-authored McKinsey’s highly acclaimed series of Lions on the Move reports and the latest book Africa’s Business Revolution: How to Succeed in the World’s Next Big Growth Market. He is regularly featured in various media (CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, Economist, FT, Wall Street Journal, Jeune Afrique, Harvard Business Review, etc.). 

Acha is from Cameroon and is fluent in both English and French.

Moky Makura was born in Nigeria, educated in England and has lived in London, Johannesburg and Lagos. She has been a TV presenter, producer, author, publisher and a successful entrepreneur in her own right. She is currently the Executive Director of Africa No Filter, a donor collaborative focused on shifting the African narrative.  

Moky started her media career as the African Anchor and field reporter for South Africa’s award-winning news and actuality show – Carte Blanche. She conceptualized, co-produced and presented a lifestyle TV series for the pan African pay TV channel MNet called “Living It”, which focused on the lifestyles of the African continent’s wealthy elite.  She also played a lead role in the groundbreaking and popular MNet Pan-African drama series Jacob’s Cross. 

Her book Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs with a foreword written by Richard Branson, featured on the top 10 best-selling business books in South Africa when it launched.  Moky has since compiled and published a number of non-fiction titles under her imprint MME Media. Titles include South Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs, Going Global which tells the stories of South Africa’s most successful global companies and a biography of one of its top entrepreneurs; Herman Mashaba, called Black Like You.  Moky started a fiction book series called Nollybooks aimed at getting young Africans to read, and then adapted the series for television co-producing over 21 television movies for the South African TV station etv. The books are available on Worldreader, and Okadabooks. 

Charles Murito is Google's policy lead for Sub-Saharan Africa He joined Google from his role as Acting MD & Chief Commercial Officer, Programming at Wananchi Group (Zuku) and previously held positions as Director, Business Development & Strategy, Middle East & Africa for Turner Broadcasting Ltd; based in London, he was responsible for developing and articulating the business development strategy of the company in Africa and the Middle East. 

Prior to Turner Broadcasting, Charles also spent time working for Warner Bros. in the US & UK as well as MTV Networks Africa. He holds an MBA from Cass Business School, London, UK

Short:
Halla Tómasdóttir is the CEO of The B Team, a global collective of business and civil society leaders catalyzing a better way of doing business for people and planet. Halla started her leadership career in corporate America working for Mars and Pepsi Cola. She was on the founding team of Reykjavík University where she established the Executive Education Department, founded and led a successful women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment initiative and was an assistant professor at the Business School. She was the first female CEO of the Iceland Chamber of Commerce and later went on to co-found an investment firm with the vision to incorporate feminine values and ESG into finance. The company successfully survived the infamous economic meltdown in Iceland. In 2016 Halla was an independent candidate for the presidency of Iceland. She entered a crowded field of candidates and finished as the runner-up with nearly 30% of the vote. 

Long:
Halla Tómasdóttir is the CEO and Chief Change Catalyst of The B Team, a group of courageous business and civil society leaders working together to transform business for a better world and confront our crisis of conformity in leadership. On a quest to inspire and empower leaders to embrace purpose-driven, gender-balanced and principled leadership, Halla started her career in corporate America with Mars and Pepsi Cola. She was on the founding team of Reykjavík University where she established the Executive Education Department, founded and led a successful women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment initiative and was an assistant professor at the Business School. She was the first female CEO of the Iceland Chamber of Commerce and later went on to co-found an investment firm with the vision to incorporate feminine values and ESG metrics into finance. The company successfully survived the infamous economic meltdown in Iceland. In 2016, Halla ran for President of Iceland as an independent candidate with no prior political experience and confounded expectations by achieving nearly 30% of the vote.

An active change catalyst, Halla was a founding member of the National Assembly held in Iceland in the wake of its financial collapse. She also founded and chaired WE 2015, a global dialogue on closing the gender gap. Her work has led her to the TED stage several times, and she has delivered keynotes and participated in dialogues around purpose-driven and principled leadership for companies and conferences around the world. In 2011, Newsweek named her to a list of 150 women who shake the world and following Iceland’s Presidential Elections in 2016, The New Yorker called her “A Living Emoji of Sincerity.”
Halla holds an international MBA degree from Thunderbird.

Jeff is the EY Global Chief Innovation Officer, challenging everything from the way EY operates internally to how we provide services to our clients.

He leads the global innovation network across Areas to help identify, share, and scale the best ideas. He also spearheads EY Global Innovation team’s remit to research and explore new technologies -- including establishing EY’s advanced and emerging tech labs on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Quantum, and Web3. 

He brings deep experience across strategy, investing, and building new ventures globally. Throughout his career, he has built new businesses across various concepts, including local commerce, B2B exchanges, services, mobile and big data at Boston Consulting Group, JAFCO America Ventures, J.P. Morgan Partners, and eBay.

Jeff sits on the Advisory Board for AI4All, a non-profit organization working to increase diversity and inclusion in artificial intelligence. He is also a member of the Forbes Technology Council and a member on the Business Council of the Asia Society and the founding Chair of Asia Society’s Technology and Innovation Council, helping drive the innovation and transformation agenda. In addition, he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of The World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Innovation Ecosystems. He has previously served on the Oxford Foundry Board at Oxford University. 

Jeff has an AB in Economics, master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management and an MBA from Stanford University.

Other credentials: 

• Member of Council on Foreign Relations (June 2022 – present) 
• Member of the National Committee on US-China Relations (December 2021 – present) 
• Founding chair of the Technology and Innovation Council at the Asia Society, leading its innovation and transformation agenda (July 2021 – present)
• Member of the Wall Street Journal CIO Network (June 2020 – present) 
• Member on the Asia Society’s Business Council (July 2020 – present) 
• Finance Leaders Fellow with the Aspen Institute (June 2019 – present) 
• Forbes Technology Council contributor (2019 – present) 
• Oxford Foundry Board, Oxford University (October 2017 – present) 
• Advisory Board for AI4All, a nonprofit organization working to increase diversity and inclusion in artificial intelligence (June 2017 – present) 
• Member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Innovation Ecosystems and WEF Global Future Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (2019) 
• Speaker at Global Milken Institute Conference (2018) 

Recent Bylines
To note, many of Jeff’s contributions have been through his LinkedIn Newsletter, Innovation Re:Imagined.

• Generative AI’s future in the enterprise: To infinity and beyond (fastcompany.com) (May 2023)
• Plenary I: The Future of Artificial Intelligence—Risk and Reward - YouTube (May 2023)
• ChatGPT and Generative AI: Exploring the Impact on Work, Interactions, and Creativity - YouTube (April 2023)
• (23) Behold the mobile robot: tomorrow’s “power tool” of choice? | LinkedIn (April 2023)
• Metaverse: Explain it like we’re 5th graders - Lenovo Late Night IT (cio.com) (March 2023)
• Investing In AI, Intelligently (forbes.com) (February 2023)
• (95) Three reasons why ChatGPT makes GPT-4 really exciting | LinkedIn (December 2022)
• Investing in tomorrow’s innovations today | Reuters (December 2022)
• Cutting Through the Web3 Hype: AI In The Decentralized Web (forbes.com) (August 2022)
• (99+) What real world realities might impact the metaverse evolution? | LinkedIn (June 2022)
• Five questions business leaders should be asking about Web3 (fastcompany.com) (June 2022)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn38ZJ2A2Nw (April 2021)
• The metaverse: An innovation worth leadership attention (fastcompany.com) (December 2021)

Emerging Tech Topics

• Gen AI/ChatGPT: GPT has captured our imaginations and is an impressive step for natural language generation and deep learning – tackling an astonishing range of language-based tasks without supervision. Unlike ads or other AI-driven mechanisms, ChatGPT responds in a human way. Its output isn’t yet perfect, but its human-like features have proven the tangible use cases of the technology. And, with ChatGPT reaching one million users within a week of release in December, the interest is definitely there. Jeff can not only share background on generative AI, including its capabilities and limitations, but discuss how we’ve reached a critical moment in the democratization of generative AI, which is imperative for driving user adoption and public trust in AI. Jeff can discuss how businesses can responsibly experiment with and assess the technology’s innovation potential, and share compelling use cases he’s seen across EY and the broader industry. He can discuss how GPT-4 has given innovators a great platform to work with and share his outlook for GPT-4.5, among other advancements.
• Separating the Quantum Hype from Reality: With quantum computing, Jeff believes the substance is what makes it really exciting. He’s seeing modeling-related tasks and the enhancement of ML and AI systems as quantum computing applications with some of the greatest potential to generate value for organizations across different sectors. Specifically, he can dive into the potential it’s driving in industries like health and life sciences and advanced manufacturing. 
• Web3: While it may be difficult to imagine what the decentralized web will look like, Jeff believes many of the fundamental technologies required to build this future already exist. As more people talk about the disruptive potential of Web3, he can dive into the critical innovations where global leaders should be shifting their attention now that will play a role in propelling Web3’s future adoption (including the metaverse, NFTs and DAOs).
• AI: IDC has predicted that we’ll see global spending on AI surpass $300 billion in 2026. However, this increased spending does not mean organizations are effectively deploying the technology. Jeff has led EY’s AI journey and helped it evolve from one beta experiment to having over 20 AI products used on 15,000 engagements in 100 languages. With more technology firms announcing investments in the generative AI or developing their own ChatGPT tools, Jeff believes organizations must prioritize AI investments that align with company-wide goals and drive ROI. To drive this latest stage of the global AI race, Jeff believes organizations must pivot away from “trial-and-error” and build strategic leadership teams to transform AI into an integrated engine of the firm. 
• Software Robots: Many think of robots in terms of hardware and the machines performing physical tasks. Less discussed, yet equally powerful, are the “invisible” software robots that are increasing productivity and uplifting jobs. There are many AI-driven uses that are often overlooked yet increase workplace efficiency. Jeff can discuss takeaways that tech leaders should consider when implementing software robotics within organizations, such as the industries they’re in, the impactful tasks/results they’re performing, and the importance of organizations having leadership that cultivates a symbiotic bot-to-human workforce. Mobile robots are being used in many offices, and experimentations are underway to determine the best uses on a case-by-case basis. While there is not a “one size fits all” approach with robots in the workplace, Jeff can discuss how to prepare for mobile robots in the office and how companies can find the right robot for their capabilities.

Susan Sabet launched PASHION a pioneering, quarterly, bi-lingual  Arabic & English, print & online fashion, beauty & luxury magazine in  2003, that enjoys a pan-Arab distribution in 9 countries. The magazine  has developed into a monthly digital copy as of December 2022. In May 2016, Susan launched PASHION Vienna, the first and only Arabic  fashion & luxury magazine in Austria, that was put on hold with the  pandemic start. 

For eight years in a row PASHION was the only Arab magazine, appointed  as media partner at the annual NYTimes Luxury Conference. Other  regular annual media partnerships include the bi-annual FFWD Dubai  event and The Bahrain Jewellery Fair and the Dubai Int.Property Show. Under the magazine’s umbrella, Susan first created Luxury for a Cause in  2008 and Cairo Fashion Nights in 2011 that annually promotes Egyptian  designers locally. She further organizes events internationally to promote  emerging Egyptian designers. 

Susan was appointed a judge for the Swiss Textile Award in 2008. 

Since 2014 she is listed as one of the top 500 most influential people in  the fashion industry by The Business Of Fashion. 

In 2017 she was chosen as a member of the British Fashion Council's The Fashion Awards voting panel. 

She was appointed project organizer and curator for the Egyptian  showcase at the IFS at London Fashion Week, February 2016 and  February 2017 and February 2019. 

Since 2016 she is also providing consulting service for the fashion and  luxury retail industry through her firm Susan Sabet Consulting . 

In November 2017 she was one of five founders of the Egyptian Fashion & Design Council – EFDC that is recognized and under the auspices of the  Egyptian Ministry of Trade & Industry,The Egyptian Ministry of Investment,  The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and the Egyptian Ministry of Planning.  

In May 2018 she was appointed on the advisory board of Fashion  Forward Dubai – FFWD. 

She was on the advisory board of the first edition of Fashion Trust Arabia,  launched in 2019. 

In 2019 she was appointed on the board of the Sednaoui & Egyptian  Products Co. a subsidiary of the Egyptian Holding Co. For Tourism &  Hotels. 

In 2022 she initiated and organized the first edition of Egypt Fashion  Awards, the yearly platform promoting young and emerging Egyptian  designers. 

In 2023 she co-steered the organization of the first official Egypt Fashion  Week. In the same year she was also voted one of Egypt’s Top 50  Women. 

She is a member of the BWE21 – Businesswomen of Egypt Association,  The Nefertari International Club in Cairo and is also a member of the  fundraising committee of the Chain of Hope organization founded by Sir  Dr.Magdi Yacoub.. 

Her background in children rtw manufacturing and retail, marketing as 

account director at the Cairo office at TMI for many years, and a freelance  experience as fashion editor at an Egyptian lifestyle magazine, rounds up  her experience within the fashion and luxury industry. 

Born and raised in Vienna, Susan holds the Austrian and Egyptian  nationality, and speaks German, English, Arabic and French. 

Kyle is entering his 17th season in the National Hockey League and second as the captain of the Buffalo Sabres. He has helped to foster an environment of excellence within the Buffalo Sabres over the past number of years. Under Kyle’s leadership, the Sabres have seen significant rises in the league standings while boasting one of the youngest rosters in the league. In 2022, Kyle was selected to lead a committee of his peers in search of the next Executive Director of the National Hockey League Player’s Association. After an extensive search, the committee tapped Marty Walsh to lead this effort, who was the Secretary of Labor under President Biden. 

On the ice, Kyle has totaled 230 career goals and 362 assists. He was a seventh overall draft pick to the New York Islanders in 2006 and a participant in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game. He has also represented the United States at three IIHF World Championships (2009, 2010, and 2012) and two IIHF World Junior Championships (2007 and 2008). 

Kyle lives in Buffalo, New York with his wife Danielle and their four children. He enjoys being an active member of the community as well as golfing, coaching his kids in various sports, and spending time with his family.

Zouera Youssoufou is the Managing Director/CEO of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), the largest private Foundation on Africa, based in Lagos. In this role, she leads the Foundation’s efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education and economic empowerment outcomes for the needy, primarily in Nigeria and in Africa. Zouera is responsible for the Foundation’s short, medium and long term strategies, provides overall management oversight for the Foundation, and provides support on Social Investments to the Corporate Dangote Group.  She sits on several Boards including Women’s World Banking, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, ONE Global Leadership Circle, Center for the Strategic Studies on Africa, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and African Business Coalition for Health (ABC Health).  As of March 2020, Zouera also coordinates the Secretariat of CACOVID, the Nigerian Private sector coalition against Covid-19. 

Prior to joining ADF, Zouera was the World Bank Country Manager for Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tomé and Principe. In that role, she was the front-line person in the relationship with all three Governments and conducted day-to-day dialogue with all levels of Government, donors and civil society. Prior to this, Zouera spent 6 years at the International Finance Corporation (private sector arm of the World Bank Group), where she led the Global Women in Business Program (WIN). In that role, she was responsible for creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the developing world, specifically in Access to Finance. Zouera joined the World Bank Group in 2005 from Citigroup’s Smith Barney unit in New York and Atlanta where she covered emerging markets and 13 industry sectors as an Equity Research Analyst. Her previous experiences include working with the European Union on private sector development issues, and management consulting with Deloitte in Ghana.  

Zouera holds an MBA in Finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a BBA in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s Isenberg School of Business.  She is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Hausa. She is married, with a son and a daughter.

Tokunbo has seen to the successful and seamless establishment of international partnerships in the biggest markets in Sub-Saharan Africa across diverse sectors including mobile technology, fashion, financial services and charities. He has acted in the capacity of Non-Executive Director, specifically Chairman, across various companies including Style House Files Limited, a fashion development agency that primarily focuses on the advancement of the African fashion Industry and wholly owns the Lagos Fashion Week platform, and Cellfind Nigeria, a leading mobile technology solutions company that provides tailored mobile solutions, location-based services, aggregation solutions, mobile applications, and value-added services to the mobile networks. 

Notably, Tokunbo Akerele has recently taken up a significant role on the Nigerian Government's Presidential Committee for Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. He has also held the position of Chairman at Business Connexion Nigeria BCX, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCX SA, a prominent IT Outsourcing Company and the largest provider of data services in Africa. BCX SA is publicly traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) with a substantial market capitalization exceeding US$200 million. Additionally, Tokunbo served as a Board Member on the Board Audit Committee of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, a company boasting revenues surpassing ₦150 billion and a listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. During the period from 2004 to 2015, he also assumed roles as a shareholder and Non-Executive Director at Altech West Africa, a key player in manufacturing starter packs and scratch cards (top-up cards) for telecommunications operators. 

Tokunbo was pivotal in establishing Altech West Africa as he leveraged his strong network in Nigeria to obtain all necessary licences and approvals from the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC). Tokunbo was a Board Member of the Samsung Corporate Citizenship Advisory Group and acted as an Independent Advisor to Samsung. He was a Director at Veritas Geophysical (2003-2007), a leading seismic company involved in the acquisition and processing of seismic data. 

At Veritas, Tokunbo managed government relations on behalf of the company. Over the years, Tokunbo has honed his leadership skills as the Managing Partner of TOA Advisory Services, an African Market Entry and Business Development Company working extensively to position international companies to successfully navigate Africa’s foremost emerging markets. Tokunbo sits on the Prince’s Trust International Africa Advisory Board as a Board Member - the international arm of the Prince’s Trust, the UK’s leading youth charity, founded by HRH, King Charles III. It works with partners around the world to deliver education, employment and enterprise programs that empower young people to learn, work and thrive. 

Tokunbo is also a trustee of Inspire Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to promote leadership by fostering knowledge sharing, mentorship and networking between current exemplary leaders and next-generation leaders. This platform provides inspiration and nurturing to members- young business leaders. 

Omoyemi Akerele is an experienced, renowned creative economy change agent and social entrepreneur with over 20 years of notable achievements in the areas of youth development, job creation, circular fashion development, showcasing and discovering talent and creating access to the market globally for Africa's evolving textile and apparel industry while working with multilateral agencies like United Nations agencies – UNIDO, She Trades and UNESCO; not for profit agencies like British Council, British Fashion Council, Best Seller Foundation; public sector agencies like Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Industrial Trust Fund, Nigerian Employers Consultative Association and private sector companies and Heineken. 

Omoyemi drives change across the ecosystem through her current position as Founder and CEO at Style House Files, Lagos Fashion Week where she applies core economic development principles to connect the missing gaps that exist within the African textile and apparel ecosystem such as capacity-building, skills development, access to capital, infrastructural development, artisanal skills preservation and closing the loop. 

Exhibits a motivational management style with a proven history of empowering creatives and providing launch pads for their creative career development through initiatives that have successfully empowered youths, created jobs, facilitated entrepreneurship and generated a ripple effect that's gradually filtered into the entire value chain. 

Trained as a medical doctor specialising in child and women’s health, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe is a philanthropist, Chancellor of University of Cape Town, and founder of African Fashion International.

Co-Founder and CEO of the Motsepe Foundation – one of the largest philanthropic organisations on the continent – she directly supports 12 of the 17 SDGs. Through Motsepe Foundation she has supported the university education of over 2,500 students, spearheaded Gender Responsive Budgeting Initiatives to the South African parliament, and published a resource guide The Little Black Book for marginalised women. 

Other Motsepe Foundation programmes include primary and secondary education and leadership initiatives; sports, music and arts; community development; a Centre for Gender Equality, Wellness and Leadership; and work with stakeholders and governments on initiatives to promote social cohesion, including a partnership with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. 

Dr Moloi-Motsepe, with her husband, was the first African couple to join the Giving Pledge and one of the first co-investors from the continent to join the Breakthrough Energy Venture.

Conceptualised as a platform to promote pan-African design and storytelling, her company African Fashion International has propelled numerous continental designers into the global market since 2007.

Initially established as owners and producers of Fashion Week, Dr Moloi-Motsepe currently oversees two bi-annual pan-African Fashion Weeks, a pan-African retail concept store and e-commerce platform, as well as a high-end luxury events arm of African Fashion International. The first Fashion Week on the continent to receive sponsorship from Mercedes Benz, African Fashion International is home to over 100 designers from Africa and the diaspora. 

Her philanthropic passion for education and skills development is evident through the African Fashion International Fastrack programme, which discovers, trains and mentors emerging designers who have since become renowned in the industry.

Recognised by editor Franca Sozzani, Dr Moloi-Motsepe received the inaugural Fashion 4 Development Franca Sozzani award and served as the only advisor from sub-Saharan Africa for the Copenhagen Fashion Summit. In 2022, she was honoured by Credit Suisse at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting as Woman of Impact. 

Career
African Fashion International, Founder, 2007 – present, South Africa
Motsepe Foundation, Co-Founder and CEO, 1998 – present, South Africa

Education
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Other professional associations 
Chancellor of the University Cape Town
Council member of Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership
Council Member of Harvard Women’s Leadership Board
Member of the Giving Pledge

Patrick Soon-Shiong, MBBCh, MSc, FRCS (C), FACS
Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD, is a surgeon, scientist, inventor, and philanthropist with over 500 issued  worldwide patents and 100 scientific publications. He serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of  NantWorks, an ecosystem of companies with developments in a wide variety of complex industries,  from medical science to biomaterials, from data transport to AI and from communications to mobility. 

In 2001, Dr. Soon-Shiong founded American Pharmaceutical Partners (APP), which produced over 300  million vials of injectable products annually for cancer, infectious disease, and critical care. In 2005, the  FDA approved his invention Abraxane, the nation’s first protein nanoparticle chemotherapy for breast,  lung, and pancreatic cancer. Abraxane has achieved over a billion dollars in annual global sales and has  been placed in the medical history collections at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. 

In 2011, Dr. Soon- Shiong founded NantWorks to establish an organization addressing health care, clean  energy and communication. Under this umbrella, he serves as Executive Chairman of ImmunityBio, Inc.,  a leading biotechnology company focusing on first in class vaccines, cytokines and natural killer and T  cell therapy for cancer and infectious diseases; Chairman and CEO of NantHealth, a Nasdaq listed  healthcare company converging biomolecular medicine and bioinformatics with deep learning AI to  empower physicians, patients, payers, and pharma to deliver the right care at the right time; Chairman  of NantG Power, a privately-held Graphene-based lithium battery company; Chairman of Calcean and  NantBioPlastics accelerating the worldwide transformation to renewable biomaterials and developing  industrial-scale methods of bioplastics manufacturing; and Owner and Executive Chairman of California  Times, publisher of two of the state’s largest newspapers, the Los Angeles Times and The San Diego  Union-Tribune. 

Dr. Soon-Shiong is also Chairman of the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation and of the Chan Soon Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine, a nonprofit medical research organization and minority owner  of the Lakers. 

In 2021, Dr. Soon-Shiong established NantAfrica, Nant South Africa (NantSA), and Nant Botswana  (NantBW) to establish a coalition of organizations for the acceleration of advance health in Africa with  the goal of manufacturing a billion doses of vaccines in South Africa by 2025. In 2022, he supported the  launch of the non-profit organization, Access to Advanced Health Institute, AAHI, to continue the  ground breaking research of the former IDRI institute. 

Born and raised during apartheid in South Africa, Dr. Soon-Shiong has lived in Los Angeles since 1980  and is a citizen of the United States. 

After 26 years of diverse experience at two leading multinational companies - P&G and PepsiCo, Ayman joined DMG as the Chairman & CEO. Ayman is the Chairman of UNGCNE & ABLC Egypt. Serves on the Board of School of Business at American University in Cairo and Investment Holding Company for Cinema and Cultural events. Advisor to MAF CEO in Dubai and sits on several other boards Oriental Weavers, NI Consulting, Solarize Holding. He also established Real Estate Academy in Egypt in cooperation with the American University in Cairo and the National University of Singapore. Mr. Ismail is a graduate of Harvard University.

Folly Bah Thibault is a journalist, Principal Presenter for Al Jazeera English, based in Doha, Qatar. She has covered some of the world's biggest news stories and interviewed top leaders and newsmakers, including UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Bill Gates and Nobel laureates Malala Yusufzai, Wole Soyinka and Dmitry Muratov. 

Folly is also a Global Champion for Education Cannot Wait, the UN’s Global Fund for Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises. She founded the NGO ‘Elle ira à l’école’ Fondation Kesso Bah- which promotes the education of young girls in Guinea and the West Africa Region.

Brian Menell is a British/South African businessman with over 25 years’ experience funding, developing and managing mining, energy, trading and agri-industry projects across Africa, Europe and the Americas.

He is the Chairman and CEO of TechMet Limited, a private investment company with a portfolio of world-class assets that responsibly produce, process and recycle the metals critical for the energy transition.   Brian serves as a Director of a number of TechMet’s investee companies, including: Trinity Metals Ltd.,  US Vanadium LLC,  Brazilian Nickel Ltd. and TechMet-Mercuria AG.

Brian was previously the CEO of Kemet,  a private investment group with a range of natural resource projects in East, Central and West Africa, including base metals and gold, forestry, energy and agri-industry. The group also advised certain African governments on resource policy and strategic transactions.

He is former Executive Director of Anglovaal Mining (AVMIN) with extensive base metal, precious metal, and ferrous metal interests across Southern Africa. Prior to this, he spent eight years with the De Beers Group.

Brian Menell is a member of the Wilson Center Global Advisory Council, a member of the RUSI’s National Security and Net Zero Transition Advisory Board, and serves on the US State Department Clean Energy Resources Advisory Committee (CERAC).

He holds a B.A (Hon.) in Political Science & Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Arsema Thomas (she/they) recently made their television debut as the coveted co-lead role "Young Lady Danbury" in Netflix's highly anticipated QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY. Previously, Arsema appeared in DJ Caruso's REDEEMING LOVE. Arsema earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from Carnegie Mellon and a Master's in Chronic Disease Epidemiology/Public Health from Yale University. In 2022, Arsema graduated from the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Arsema's diverse linguistic abilities in English, French, Spanish, Yoruba, and Amharic can be attributed to their innate passion for travel and immersion in different cultures. Throughout their life, Arsema had the privilege of living in several countries, including South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Togo, Comoros, Benin, and India. These experiences fostered a deep appreciation for the continent of Africa, drawing inspiration from their Ethiopian and Nigerian background. Arsema's journey is a testament to their talent, resilience, and compassion, and it leaves an indelible mark on both the artistic and humanitarian realms. Their strong philanthropic ties to Africa further highlight their commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

Bismack Biyombo Sumba is a Congolese professional basketball player. He currently plays for Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings and subsequently traded to the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets). Biyombo has also played for the Toronto Raptors and the Orlando Magic.

 Born in Lubumbashi, Congo, Bismack speaks five languages: English, Spanish and French, along with Swahili and Lingala. He is an alum of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Africa tour of September 2016 in Angola and played in NBA Africa Game in Johannesburg in 2015 and 2017.

 He travels regularly back to Africa and the DRC where he spends most of his Summers. He is passionate about giving back to his country and have invested to impact the local communities. He is the principal funder of the Kivu International School in Goma which open in September 2017. The expansive facility features a variety of classroom buildings, a library with more than 8,000 books, a 135-seat auditorium and an artificial turf soccer pitch.

 He also funded the Bismack Biyombo Basketball Stadium, the first covered basketball stadium in the DRC and one that will seat 1,000 fans. He has provided scholarships to over 20 DRC students to the attend college in the U.S.

Bismack was honored in 2018 at the BET Awards with the International Global Good Award, which recognizes global celebrities and public figures who use their platform for social good and exemplify integrity, courage, goodness and commitment to the global community.

Mimi Alemayehou—has been a leader on development finance and investing in infrastructure in the public and private sectors for more than 20 years. 

She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Semai Ventures LLC, which collaborates with mission-driven enterprises to advance sustainable development in emerging economies. 

She is also a Senior Advisor of the Three Cairns Group, a mission-driven investment and philanthropic firm working to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. 

Previously she was Senior Vice President for Public-Private Partnerships at MasterCard where her portfolio included initiatives designed to catalyze social impact and financial inclusion in emerging markets. 

As Managing Director of the Black Rhino Group and Chair of Blackstone Africa Infrastructure LP, she advanced major energy and infrastructure projects across Africa. 

Her government service includes an appointment as Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. government’s development finance agency, and as the U.S. representative on the Board of the African Development Bank. 

She is on the board of the ONE Campaign whose mission is to end extreme poverty. Previously she served on the board of Climate Change Crisis Real Impact and the board of Energy for Growth Hub.  Her other board roles have included: Fin Dev Canada, the US African Development Foundation, and Twitter, Inc. 

Walid Hareb Al Falahi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Consultancy, which he  founded in 2005. Dubai Consultancy focuses on creating high profile, highly targeted  business networks where potential buyers can meet the suppliers and their product on a  common ground. 

Walid is also the Vice President of one of the major property developers in Dubai, Akar  Properties and Vice Chairman of Sultan Investments. Co-founder of AKAD Development, an  independent housing development organization in Kurdistan, Iraq. 

After graduating from the Golden Gate University in San Francisco, he began his career with  Arthur Andersen in 1994 and then had a brief stint in Emirates Bank in 1997 for a year. He  joined the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority and worked till 2006 for close to a decade where he  was the Senior Business Development Manager. 

With this variation in business entities, Walid still maintains his strongest skill of networking  to build partnerships & relations in the corporate world. He solely established the first major  Humanitarian Free Zone city in the world, the Dubai Aid City in 2003, masterminded several  projects such as economical projects in Ghana, Kurdistan; Iraq, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. In  mid-2004, he won the Best Employee Award in the UAE, for outstanding achievement and  contribution to his field.

Walid was the Chief Executive Officer of the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, which  was initially a merger between the Dubai Aid City and Dubai Humanitarian City. Walid’s  leadership and consistency to the Dubai International Humanitarian City Project was a true  reflection of his dedication to delivering, and going on roads less traveled. 

He became the Executive Director of Zayed International Humanitarian Awards [ZIHA]. This  is one of the largest humanitarian awards being setup to help and leverage the needs of  people across the world with a total value of 6.8 million dollars a year that reflects the  transformative legacy of Sheikh Zayed and focuses the global/public mind on key and  critical efforts towards developmental challenges. Actively involved in different initiative that  contributes to the development of Islamic economy such as Halal Exhibition and Islamic  Summit and taking the lead to pursue the vision of boosting all investment opportunities  available in different sectors and countries. 

Currently, he is the Senior Advisor of Huawei Technologies in United Arab Emirates. 

Walid’s spirited enthusiasm makes him a strong believer that the world is a small place and  his asset of strong networking capabilities can open vast opportunities for businesses to  come together and reach new heights. 

The following lists additional experience and accomplishments that Walid has initiated on  economic development: 

• Advised UAE Government on the OECD MENA Initiative 

• Mastermind several projects such as economic projects in Ghana, Kurdistan, Iraq,  Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. 

• Management Consultancy for Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone 

• Establishment of Free Economic Zones in Morocco and Djibouti 

• Numerous trade shows and exhibitions - France, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia,  Russia 

• Edu Conference 2014 

• Milan Expo Challenge 2015

   

Experience Overseas 

• Establishment of Free Economic Zones In Morocco and Djibouti 

• Feasibility and Consultancy for Free Economic Zones 

• Advice for multinational companies from the Gulf who are interested to invest in Africa 

• Ghana National Railway Project, feasibility and financing 

• UAE Trade exhibition – Ghana 

• UAE Trade Center– Kenya 

• Trade Missions in Russia, China, France and East Africa.

Florizelle (Florie) Liser is the third President and CEO of CCA. Ms. Liser  brings expertise and an extensive network on trade and Africa to her  new role, along with a strong track record of working with the private sector to translate policy into action. She is the first woman to lead  the Council since its founding in 1993. 

Ms. Liser joined CCA from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative  (USTR), where she was the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for  Africa since 2003. At USTR, she led trade and investment policy  towards 49 sub-Saharan African nations and oversaw implementation  of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). 

Previously, Ms. Liser served as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for  Industry, Market Access, and Telecommunications from 2000-2003.  She also served as Senior Trade Policy Advisor in the Office of  International Transportation and Trade at the Department of  Transportation from 1987-2000; worked as a Director in USTR’s Office  of GATT Affairs and served as an Associate Fellow at the Overseas  Development Council (ODC) from 1975-1980. 

Currently, Ms. Liser serves as a re-appointed member of the 2022-2023  Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee for the Export-Import Bank  (EXIM) where she previously served from 2019-2021. Ms. Liser also  served as co-chair of the Advisory Council for the Millennium  Challenge Corporation and has also served as a Board member for the  Women in International Trade (WIIT). Ms. Liser holds a M.A. in  International Economics from Johns Hopkins University, School of  Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a B.A. in International  Relations and Political Science from Dickinson College.

Gayle E. Smith is CEO of the ONE Campaign. She has served as a top advisor on international issues for three American presidents and is one of the world’s leading experts on global development and global health security. She brings an unparalleled expertise and an extraordinary network of relationships across the African continent and around the world. 

In 2021, Smith took on a temporary role at the request of the Secretary of State and served as US State Department’s Coordinator for Global COVID Response & Health Security, where she played a leading role in the US effort to end the global pandemic. Prior to joining the ONE Campaign, Smith served as the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, where she led a staff of more than 10,000 people working to end extreme poverty, foster sustained and inclusive economic growth, and promote resilient, democratic societies all over the world. 

Smith had previously served as Special Assistant to President Obama and Senior Director for Development and Democracy at the National Security Council, where she played a lead role in the response to the Ebola epidemic and presidential development initiatives including Power Africa and Feed the Future.

Scott Eisner is president of the U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAFBC) at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He is also an officer at the Chamber serving as senior vice president. The U.S.-Africa Business Center is the business community's leading advocacy group aimed at strengthening U.S.-Africa trade relations. He directs the strategic activities of the USAFBC as it engages with senior-level U.S. government officials, international business leaders, and African governments. He is a former member of the U.S. Trade Representative's Trade Advisory Committee on Africa. Previously, Eisner was head of operations for the Chamber's International Affairs Division and vice president, African Affairs. Before that, he was deputy chief of staff at the Chamber, where he oversaw the Executive Office and was the senior staffer to the Chamber's president and CEO. He began his career at the Chamber as director of programs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, formerly known as the National Chamber Foundation. 

Before joining the Chamber, Eisner's had a diverse career across multiple sectors, including time in politics working on Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign and his reelection to the Senate in 2004. He worked for the International Republican Institute in Malawi, Africa, where he trained political parties on communications and campaign tactics. He was director of business development for the Kronk Boxing Gym, home to numerous world champions, including Tommy "The Hitman" Hearns and Lennox Lewis. 

Eisner was selected in 2019 to be a Presidential Leadership Scholars. Presidential Leadership Scholars brings together bold and principled leaders who are committed to facing critical challenges, both at home and around the world, and who are 

interested in exploring lessons learned during the administrations of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. 

He currently serves on the advisory board for City Year South Africa, Africa Leadership Academy USA, the Woodrow Wilson Center Africa Program Advisory Council, and The George Washington University - Elliott School of International Affairs. 

Eisner graduated with a degree in political science from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and two daughters 

Jacqueline Novogratz is the Founder and CEO of Acumen, a global community that fights poverty and builds dignity by investing in companies and change makers using both philanthropy-backed pioneer investing and for-profit impact funds. Jacqueline’s two decades of work with Acumen have impacted over 500 million people across Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and the United States. 

To date, Acumen has invested more than $154 million of patient capital into 167 companies, and is also responsible for nearly $243 million in assets under management via its for-profit funds. Realizing that human capital is as critical as financial capital, Acumen also trains social entrepreneurs and innovators through Acumen Academy, which has cultivated 1,300 leaders in 61 countries. Through its online courses, Acumen Academy has influenced more than a million individuals from 193 countries.

Jacqueline is the author of two award-winning books: the best-selling The Blue Sweater (2010), and Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World (2020). She is a member of the B-Team and serves on numerous boards and advisory boards. She has been named one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy, one of Insider’s Climate Action 30 leaders, one of the 25 Smartest People of the Decade by the Daily Beast, and one of the world’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds by Forbes. She holds an MBA from Stanford University and a BA in Economics/International Relations from the University of Virginia.

Caroline A. Wanga is the President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Essence Ventures – a portfolio of brands that aims to activate a boundary-less and frictionless global Black economic ecosystem. Essence Ventures brands include ESSENCE, the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and communities; Afropunk, the multi-medium platform that uplifts and unleashes Black expression and individuality now and in the future; BeautyCon, the experiential and content focused platform that aims to transcend the aesthetic of attraction and enable an  individualized empowered existence and experience on what beauty is; and Essence Studios, a production studio and original content hub  focused on authentic Black story-telling, story-making, story-sharing, and story-doing. 

Caroline joined Essence Ventures as Chief Growth Officer in 2020 from the Target Corporation, where  she served as Chief Culture, Diversity and Inclusion Officer. She began her 15-year Target career in  supply chain, serving in a variety of transformational leadership roles, including modernizing Supply  Chain, Business Intelligence, and Digital and Strategy capabilities. 

Prior to Target, she held several roles  in the non-profit sector. A self-proclaimed cultural architect with a passion for constructing,  deconstructing and reconstructing organizational culture, she champions and inspires authenticity and  thrives in innovative environments. With a background in corporate and community leadership, her  career expands over several disciplines and capabilities including youth development, grant-writing,  community organizing, supply chain, human resources, equity, culture and media. 

Caroline has worked her way up from entry-level positions to the highest of senior leadership roles and  is passionate about modeling what she teaches. Her “real-talk” delivery, witty thought leadership and  unmitigated perspective on authenticity as a differentiator for individuals and organizations, make her a  highly sought-after keynote speaker, equity strategist, thought leader, and community influencer. She  unapologetically believes that who each person is, is non-negotiable and is often quoted saying, “Who  you are is who you are. If you cannot be who you are where you are, you change where you are not who  you are.” 

In 2020 she co-founded WangaWoman LLC., whose mission is to “Democratize Authenticity.” Among other accolades, Wanga has been awarded the “Anthem Award” for Business Leader of The Year – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Steve and Majorie Harvey Foundation “Helping Hands” Award, and the For(bes) The Culture AfroFuture Award. 

She has two honorary doctorate degrees from her alma  mater Texas College and Dillard University, respectively. She has been previously named Top Executive  in Corporate Diversity by Black Enterprise and recognized by Savoy as one of the Most Powerful Women  in Corporate America. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC,) the American Airlines  Community Council, and the McDonalds MultiCultural Marketing Advisory Council. She is a former  member of the Talladega College Board of Trustees, previously served on the Intersectionality, Culture,  and Diversity Advisory Board for Twitter and served as co-chair of the Retail Industry Leaders  Association (RILA) Diversity & Inclusion Initiative. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas College,  a Historically Black College/ University (HBCU,) is a Kenyan citizen, and her life’s greatest  accomplishment is her daughter, Cadence.

Larry Madowo is an International Correspondent for CNN based in Nairobi. He is also the host of African Voices Changemakers, a long-running CNN series which profiles outstanding individuals from across the continent. Since joining the network in 2021, Madowo has covered some of the biggest stories from around the globe and brought in a unique perspective from his region, delivering insight into the political, economic and cultural influences of the African continent to CNN’s global audience. 

He joined CNN from the BBC, where he served as the network’s North America Correspondent in Washington, D.C. In that role he covered major U.S. news stories including the Covid-19 outbreak, the 2020 presidential election and the protests following the death of George Floyd and the trial of Derek Chauvin. He also was a fill-in anchor for the network’s flagship BBC News America show that airs globally and on PBS stations across the United States. Madowo previously served as the BBC Africa Business Editor, where he oversaw the launch of six syndicated shows in three languages and managed more than two dozen business journalists based in London and four African countries. 

Before joining the BBC, he worked for NTV Kenya and CNBC Africa, where he anchored the business channel’s daily market shows Open Exchange, Power Lunch and Closing Bell in Johannesburg. Named a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum in 2020, Madowo started his broadcasting career at Kenya Television Network at the age of 20.

Wangari Muchiri, Director of Africa at the Global Wind Energy Council, is a visionary Renewable  Energy Engineer leading initiatives to advance wind power across Africa. Honored as a top  influencer in climate leadership, she has received awards from Insider magazine, Obama  Foundation, Greenpeace, and GWEC. Wangari holds engineering degrees from University of  New South Wales and University of Technology, Sydney and is pursuing an Executive MBA at  Oxford. She sits on various boards including Kenya Green Building Society, ESI Africa Clarion  Energy Advisory, and Buildings and Cities Journal Practitioners.

Jose W. Fernandez was confirmed by the Senate as Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment on August 6, 2021.  He leads the State Department’s bureaus and offices that stand at the center of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts on climate change, clean energy, health, supply chain security, and other economic priorities. Under Secretary Fernandez is also the United States Alternate Governor to the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Inter-American Development Bank.  From 2009 to 2013, he served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, one of the bureaus he now oversees.

Prior to his most recent appointment at the Department of State, Under Secretary Fernandez was a partner at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP in New York. His practice focused on mergers, acquisitions, and finance in Europe and emerging markets, advising U.S. and foreign clients in the telecommunications, energy, water, banking, and consumer industries. He was named one of the “World’s Leading Lawyers” by Chambers Global for his M&A and corporate work, a “Highly Regarded” practitioner by the International Financial Law Review, and one of the "World's Leading Privatization Lawyers" by Euromoney Publications.  He has been chair of the Inter-American law committees of both the American Bar Association and The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, as well as of the Cross-Border M&A and Joint Venture Committee of the New York State Bar Association.  Most recently, Fernandez was an adjunct professor at Rutgers Law School, where he taught the course on international business transactions. 

A life-long supporter of the arts and education, Under Secretary Fernandez has served as a trustee of Dartmouth College and NPR-station WBGO-FM, and on the Board of Directors of Acción International, the Council of the Americas, Ballet Hispanico of New York, the Middle East Institute, and the Partnership for Inner City Education. He was the Transition Policy Director for then-Governor-Elect Phil Murphy of New Jersey in 2017, and a director of Iberdrola S.A. until assuming his current position.

The Under Secretary graduated from Dartmouth College and received an honorary degree from the College. He earned a Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law, where he was awarded the Charles Evans Hughes Prize and a Parker School Certificate of International Law with honors.

Deniece Laurent-Mantey currently serves as a Special Advisor in the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. In that role, she is responsible for implementation of President Biden’s U.S.- Africa Leaders Summitcommitments. From March 2021-June 2022, she served as the Director for Southern Africa and Trade and Investment at the White House National Security Council where she was responsible for U.S. bilateral relations with southern African countries and led the successful relaunch of the Prosper Africa initiative. In July 2023, Laurent-Mantey transitioned to the National Security Council’s Director for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit where she led over 18 U.S. government agencies and coordinated with various stakeholders to implement and execute President Biden’s priorities and commitments for the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. In advance of the Summit, Laurent-Mantey led efforts to help generate $15 billion in new commitments to support trade and investment across Africa, and a $55 billion commitment in putting considerable new resources toward advancing U.S.- Africa shared priorities over the next three years. Under her leadership, the White House launched the Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA), a signature initiative of the Biden-Harris Administration to invest over $700 million in Africa’s digital transformation.

 Laurent-Mantey was the policy architect behind the creation of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States, which was announced by Vice President Kamala Harris at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit to strengthen the dialogue between United States officials and the African diaspora.

 Laurent-Mantey began her career at the U.S. Department of State in 2008. From 2019-2021, she served as a member of the Secretary of State’s policy planning staff, where she provided U.S.-Africa policy recommendations to the Secretary of State. From 2014-2019, she held the position of Acting Deputy Director and Desk Officer in the Bureau of African Affairs. From 2012-2014, Laurent-Mantey served as Special Assistant to Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry; and Staff Assistant and intern in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science; the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; and the Bureau of African Affairs from 2008-2012. 

Laurent-Mantey is the recipient of two Department of State Superior Honor Awards and two Meritorious Honor Awards. She was named one of the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) in 2018. She graduated from Howard University with an MA in African Studies and Public Policy and has a BA in International Relations from Syracuse University. She is married to Rev. Henry Laurent-Mantey and they are the proud parents of three boys.

Shakti Ramkumar is a climate action and clean energy advocate, passionate about collectively building a globally equitable energy system that operates within our planetary boundaries. Shakti is currently the Senior Director of Policy and Communications at Student Energy, a global youth-led organization working with a network of 50,000 young people in 120+ countries to accelerate the transition to a just and sustainable energy future.

Shakti directs Student Energy’s research and youth engagement portfolio, which has published research including the Global Youth Energy Outlook, Youth Impact Framework, and the Energy Transition Skills Project. She also leads the development of accessible energy education content for the Energy System Map, which has reached 17 million users globally. 

Shakti regularly speaks about the crucial role of youth in just energy transitions in spaces including UN Climate Change Conferences (COP) in Madrid, Glasgow, and Sharm El-Sheikh, the Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation forum, the Canadian Energy Regulators’ Conference (CAMPUT), and media outlets including the CBC, BBC, and National Observer.

Martin Ochien'g is a holder of an MBA degree in Strategic Marketing and Management from Oxford University. His career spans over 28 years of experience in international trade, business management and leadership in industry-leading global organizations.

Niraj Varia is the CEO of iProcure, Africa’s leading tech and data-driven agricultural inputs supply company streamlining the delivery of crucial agricultural inputs to over 1,000,000 African farmers. 

Prior to joining iProcure, Niraj was a partner at Novastar Ventures investing in healthcare, finance, education, and agriculture with a focus on African markets. 

Niraj founded and advised several African businesses across 12 African countries throughout his career including ventures in food service, agriculture, and energy, and four years as a Project Manager at McKinsey. 

Media Mentions: 

1. Ex-Novastar partner Niraj Varia takes on new challenge as CEO of Kenyan agtech iProcure (TechCrunch) 

2. iProcure CEO Niraj Varia On Revamping Africa’s Agrifood Supply Chain (WeeTracker) 

3.  A more efficient agri supply chain in Kenya: The business model of iProcure (HWMIA) 

4. Kenyan agtech iProcure raises $10.2M to grow its input supply network. (TechCrunch) 

Lakeshia Ford is a communications strategist who is passionate about connecting African businesses to the global market and mobilizing public diplomacy in Africa. She has spent her professional life working in media and international relations, gaining experience from companies such as CNN International, Viacom Inc., M&T Bank, United Nations Information Centre and the U.S. Department of State (Bureau of Consular Affairs).

From her work experience and studying in Ghana, Lakeshia realized that African narratives, if not neglected, were deeply misrepresented in Western media and institutions. The gap led her to move to Ghana and start Ford Communications, a 360-degree strategic communications agency that provides public relations, brand management and market entry services. The organization uses its core offerings to help local companies gain international exposure and assists international businesses effectively connect with markets throughout Africa. 

Through Ford Communications, Lakeshia has worked with institutions and brands such as World Remit, Arsenal Football Club, Patron Silver, The British Council, MTN Ghana, Ghandour Cosmetics and organizations like the British Council, the African Union and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to name a few and has serviced companies across industries from oil and gas to technology, with business to business marketing strategies. Having worked and schooled in Ghana since 2008, Lakeshia is adept at market intelligence, at all segments. 

Lakeshia is a strategist and sits at the intersection of diplomacy, marketing and Africa. She uses culture as a tool to forge business and connection between disparate audiences. Under Ford Communications, she produces special projects that elevate this effort. For example, she founded Beyond the Return Afro-Caribbean Festival WoodXWatta™ a multi-city destination experience that connects the futures of Africa and the Caribbean through trade, investment and pop culture.  In November 2019, Ms. Ford was featured in a BBC documentary which covers the Year of Return. In this piece, she sheds light on her work in Ghana and the opportunities the African continent holds for those willing to take action. Lakeshia launched a podcast called Yard Abroad, which unpacks living and doing business in Ghana, in efforts to support expats and businesses with their move to Ghana. The podcast will be rebranded to Africa Beyond Travel™, which will speak more to investing and trading with African businesses. She intends to continue to scale these efforts through collaboration.  In 2022, Ms. Ford was part of the organizing team on Chance the Rapper and Vic Mensah’s Black Starline Festival and will expand her collaborations in 2024.

Lakeshia attended Spelman College, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Studies. She also gained an M.A. International Communication from American University in Washington, D.C., and has extended her knowledge of media, data and technology through the University of Oxford’s Media Policy and Technology Programme.

Lakeshia is Jamaican-American and lives in Accra, Ghana. She’s a lover of Christ, passionate about innovation, diplomacy, body movement and food. 

Shorter Biography
Lakeshia is a communications strategist and CEO of Ford Communications a 360-Degree Public Relations Agency and Communications consultancy servicing Africa, America and the Caribbean. Her work is at the intersection of diplomacy, marketing and Africa. In addition, Lakeshia is the Vice President of the Ghana-Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and founder of Afro-Caribbean Festival ‘Wood and Water,’ which focuses on connecting the futures of Africa and the Caribbean/Diaspora through trade, investment and pop culture. Lakeshia has lived and done business in Ghana for over 10 years and is passionate about facilitating trade relations between emerging market. Lakeshia is working with businesses from Africa and the Caribbean to trade services and products across regions. Ms. Ford earned her B.A. Economics from Spelman College and M.A. International Communication focusing on Public Diplomacy and Information & Communication Technologies for Development from American University School of International Service and a certificate in media and data policy through the University of Oxford (Media Policy and Technology Programme).

Sophie Masipa is an entrepreneur, marketing and communications specialist and speaker. 

Sophie Masipa is the Co-Founder and CEO of MwunganoESG, the first a pan-African ESG specialist  consultancy that assists African and international organisations to develop a curated holistic  communications approach to ESG, sustainability and climate change for a more inclusive economy.  

Sophie is Founder of Kgommuu International, an environmental infrastructure development and  investment company that aims to bridge the blue economy, circular economy, technology and  inclusive industrialisation. 

Previously, she served as the Head of Communications and Media Relations at the Mo Ibrahim  Foundation and occupied various brand and marketing positions within Brand South Africa Unilever,  Colgate-Palmolive and Nedbank. She has solid experience and track record in areas of marketing,  branding and communications. 

Sophie is a non-Executive Director of Ocean Hub Africa, Advisory Board Member of Genesis Energy  South Africa and Africa Communications Week, and the Southern and East Africa Associate for the  World Ocean Council.  

She is a member of AfroChampions, the ULTRAMARINE Community, Women in Sustainability, the  African Circular Economy Network, Africa 2.0 and the African Leadership Network. 

Sophie was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent under 40 in the  Diaspora under the Governance and Politics Category. She is a Crans Montana Forum New Leader for  Tomorrow 

She is passionate about African development.

Daniel Sackey is the Regional Executive for Anglophone West Africa. With a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Ghana and an MBA in International Banking and Finance from the Birmingham Business School, he started as a risk analyst in 1995 and he swiftly climbed the ranks within Ecobank. His previous roles include Managing Director of Ecobank Rwanda, Deputy Group Risk Manager, and Regional Risk Manager for the Ecobank Group. His diverse experience and dedication establish him as a significant figure in the banking sector.

Ayanna Lonian is a Director of Content Acquisition and the Head of the Worldwide Major Studio Licensing & Strategy Team for Amazon’s Prime Video streaming, subscription on-demand (SVOD) video service. In this capacity, Ayanna leads a team of content acquisition executives which is responsible for negotiating global content licensing agreements with US major studios and TV network groups to secure the SVOD streaming rights to popular TV series and movies which Amazon makes available on its Prime Video streaming service on a worldwide basis. In addition, she oversees the daily business activities, general management and business functions for Prime Video Direct (PVD) (https://videodirect.amazon.com) on a worldwide basis.  Ayanna leads a content program management team which is responsible for facilitating the internal execution and ingest of all of Prime Video’s worldwide SVOD licensing agreements with internal stakeholder teams and systems (e.g., Accounting, Video Supply Chain, etc.) post deal-execution/deal-signature.  Ayanna is also responsible for managing the dedicated team of content acquisition executives who acquire locally produced Nigerian/Nollywood, South African, etc., and US/Hollywood content on behalf of Prime Video’s service in sub-Saharan Africa (e.g., South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya etc.).

Prior to her current role at Amazon.com, Ayanna was on the content distribution team for The Walt Disney Company’s Disney and ESPN Media Networks (DEMN) division.  In that role, she was responsible for negotiating key deal terms (e.g., distribution parameters, license fees, marketing commitments, etc.) with cable, satellite and telco operators for the US domestic distribution of ABC Entertainment, ABC News Now, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Freeform, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD and ESPNU content on linear TV and digital platforms. 

Prior to The Walt Disney Company, Ayanna was a member of the Corporate Planning team at The New York Times Company. In this role, she performed valuation and due diligence analysis to support corporate acquisitions, including NYTCo.’s $33M acquisition of ConsumerSearch.com. 

Prior to NYTCo., Ayanna was a member of the Consumer Devices, Media & Entertainment research team at Forrester Research, where she co-published reports analyzing the impact of emerging technologies on the media and entertainment industries for Fortune 500 clients. Prior to Forrester, Ayanna worked in a product management role for Africana.com. There she was part of the original 6-person team that built Africana from the ground up. Her day-to-day responsibilities included developing unique programming and interactive features for Africana.com’s content verticals. She remained at Africana.com until its acquisition by the Time Warner Company. The site was subsequently integrated into AOL Blackvoices.com.

Ayanna is an alumna of Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard College and the Kellogg School of Management. 

Christine Souffrant Ntim is an award-winning Haitian-American & Ghanaian, tech ecosystem expert for emerging markets. She was selected and featured in Forbes 30 Under 30, AdAge 40 Under 40, TEDx, Entrepreneur Magazine, Essence, Black Enterprise, Ebony Magazine, Huffington Post, Inc Magazine, Haiti Changemakers 1804 List, and more.

After a successful career in banking and non profit development, Christine started her tech career as the founder of Vendedy (currently a case study at Harvard business school)- which is a social enterprise connecting tourists to street markets via a central digital database. The marketplace of street foods and street products was created with the aim of digitizing a $10 trillion dollar black market economy and alleviating billions of street vendors out of poverty.

Today she is the founder and CEO of Global Startup Ecosystem (GSE), a tech recruitment company that is home to the world’s first digital talent career accelerator platform and the fastest growing network of tech summit programs in emerging markets. With a mission to prepare individuals and institutions for the digital age, GSE brings together celebrities, corporate leaders, government officials, and tech ecosystem influencers to build tech career hubs that can support the sustainable development goals of workforce empowerment by 2030. The objective is to build the workforce of the future.

A well sought after serial entrepreneur, Christine speaks on digital entrepreneurship, personal branding, career planning, and future tech for emerging markets at over 20+ global conferences a year- which includes former appearances at the United Nations, Davos, TEDx, SXSW, European Union Forum, SEC- Security Exchange Commission, US State Department Tours, New York City Mayor's Office, Startup Grind Global, SeedStars World, and more.

For fun, she travels and binge watches top business shows with her husband and 4 kids.

Top Awards:

• Forbes 30 Under 30

• Adage 40 Under 40

• Caribbean Changemakers 30 Under 30

• Most Influential People of African Descent 40under40

• Bill Gates Millennium Scholar

• Haitian Roundtable 1804 Changemakers

• GES 2017 USA Representative

• Clinton Global Initiative University Honor Roll

Former Minister for Botswana, global economist and international trade and development specialist, Kenewendo is also a member of the UN SG’s Common Agenda project on the Gender Architecture of the UN and the Group on Sustainable Financing, G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council and a WPL Special Envoy to the G7 & G20. She currently serves as Managing Director of Kenewendo Advisory and Non-Resident Fellow with Center for Global Development.

Phumzile is the deputy Chairman of Imperial Logistics / Non-Executive Director of DP World Group and a Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Afropulse Group (Pty) Ltd. She was appointed by President Ramaphosa as a Special Investment Envoy and is the Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council on Investments.

Long-Form 
Tayo is the founder & Group CEO of Paga (www.paga.com). Paga is building the PayPal for  Africa and is one of the leading mobile payment companies in Nigeria, its first market.  

Before Paga, Tayo was Vice-President at Travant Capital Partners, a private equity fund in West  Africa. Before joining Travant, Tayo was a Manager, Corporate Development at Cisco Systems in  San Jose, California. 

Paga has been selected to the prestigious Fintech 250 list of most promising Fintech companies  globally three times, most recently in 2022. Tayo’s work at Paga has been recognized globally - in  2014, CNBC selected Tayo as the Entrepreneur of the Year in West Africa, and in 2015 the  African Leadership Network selected Paga as the outstanding growing company of the year in  Africa.  

Outside of Paga, Tayo serves on the Merchant Council for Visa Inc CEMEA Region. He is also  the co-founder of Kairos Angels, an angel investment club, and an Endeavor Entrepreneur. 

Tayo earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of  Southern California and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Graduate School of  Business, Stanford University. 

Short-Form 
Tayo is the founder & Group CEO of Paga (www.paga.com). Paga is building the PayPal for  Africa and is one of the leading mobile payment companies in Nigeria, its first market. Tayo  serves on Visa Inc’s Merchant Council, is the co-founder of Kairos Angels, an angel investment  club, and an Endeavor Entrepreneur. 

Aisha Augie is an advocate for the Creative & Cultural Sector in Africa and the Creator-General at the Center For Art & Creative Talent, a non-profit founded in 2012 committed to bridging the gaps at the intersection of Talent, Financing and Intellectual Property in Nigeria. 

A Communications Strategist and Creative Artist well known for her award winning photography and storytelling over the years, She is multifaceted, with relevant experience as an entrepreneur. 

Aisha also worked within multiple industries in the private sector before delving into public service in Nigeria for the past 8 years as an advisor to leaders on both the subnational and national levels of government. She is a bridge builder between these sectors and engages in development initiatives and policy creation with emphasis on youth and women empowerment, amongst other causes.‘

Claudia Lumor is the Founder of Kollage Media, producers of GLITZ AFRICA Magazine. She is also a UN Ambassador Ghana (UNFPA) and Ghana Tourism Ambassador for Fashion Development. 

She graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a B.A in Economics and Law, and also studied Corporate Finance Law at the University of Westminster Law School, London. 

Claudia also holds an Executive Diploma in Publishing from Yale University. Her first job was with Santander Bank UK where she worked for 4 years as a Personal Banker and later as a Savings Specialist. In 2010, she moved to Ghana where she worked with Stanbic Bank for 2 years. In the year 2011, Claudia took a bold step and followed her passion of changing the narrative by promoting a tasteful depiction of Ghana and Africa as a whole - to promote investment, tourism and telling great stories of our icons and inspirational personalities to inspire others. 

This inspiration led her to set up her own company - Glitz Africa Magazine. 

Glitz Africa Magazine is a Pan-African aspirational lifestyle brand and its extensions include: 

• Ghana Women of the Year Honours, She Summit 

• Ghana Female CEOs Summit 

• Glitz Africa Fashion Week, Beauty Forum  

• Glitz Style Awards 

• Glitz Africa Living Magazine 

• Glitz Africa Care Foundation; a foundation created to focus on maternal health/childcare issues as well as women and youth advocacy. 

• SheAfrica Dialogue 

• SHE Boss Global 

Glitz Africa championed and pioneered the developing fashion industry we have in Ghana now. She has led key fundraising and projects for UNFPA as their Goodwill Ambassador. She has been celebrated in various platforms for her passion for women/children advocacy, her innovation and commitment to fashion development in Ghana and in the sub-region. Claudia is also on selected boards. 

She is married with 3 kids. 

Achievements/Awards 

• British Council Fashion & Design Young Creative Entrepreneur of the Year 2015

• Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 

Claudia has also been honoured on various platforms including:

• BoF 500 

• Top 50 African Event Influencers 

• 40 Most Inspirational Female Leaders in Ghana 

• Top 40under40 business leaders in Ghana 

• Top 50 young entrepreneurs in Ghana 

• 100 Most Influential Women in Ghana 

• The Most Influential Young Ghanaians 

• Most inspirational Women in Ghana

• Most powerful players in African Fashion in a UK publication to mention a few.

Audu is a multi award winning entrepreneur, entertainment lawyer, and expert in the creative industry. He is renowned as the Founder/Executive Vice Chairman of Chocolate City Group, a prominent media and entertainment conglomerate. This group comprises entities such as Chocolate City Media, Chocolate City Kenya, CCX, and Chocolate City Music – one of Africa's largest record labels. It has been instrumental in the careers of multi award winning artists Young Jonn ,Ckay, Blaqbonez Femi Kuti, M.I Abaga, and CandyBleakz. In a groundbreaking move, Chocolate City partnered with Warner Music Group in 2019 to expand Afrobeat music's global presence.

Audu is also Co- Founder/ CEO of Pixel Ray Studios a Pan-African film studio and soundstage production company which aims to improve the quality of film production across Africa and the Caribbean by establishing world class film studios and schools in key markets. PRS is currently working with the Governments of Ghana and Barbados in this regard. 

Audu is well recognized as one of the pioneers of  Afrobeats music genre. He has spearheaded copyright reforms, led vital committees in the Nigerian Senate, and contributed significantly to the development of policies to aid the growth of the Nigerian creative industries.

Passionate about social justice and entrepreneurship, he has evaluated aspiring entrepreneurs in prestigious panels like Microsoft's Passion to Empire, Chivas The Venture Competition, and M.I.T Inclusive Innovation Global competition. Audu serves on boards of severall organizations, including Syndicate Limited, Recycle Points, Global Rights Africa, NESG, Limitless Studios, and Esaiyo.

Audu's educational journey spans the University of Jos, Pan African University, Lagos, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management. His multifaceted career encompasses entertainment, law, social justice advocacy, and entrepreneurship, leaving an indelible mark on the global creative landscape.

Areej Noor is a writer, producer, political analyst, and entrepreneur. At MSNBC, she produced UP with Steve Kornacki, a roundtable discussion news program. Prior to that, she did a stint with Al-Jazeera English. Areej began her career as a researcher for the Brookings Institution focused on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. Her writings have been featured in the Times of India, Gulf News, and international editions of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar among other publications. After consulting for the World Bank, she founded STATEMENT. Areej is based in New York City and Cairo.

Vera Songwe is Chair of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility. Songwe is co-chair of the High Level Panel on Finance for Climate Action. She is a member of the Global Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ).   She is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.  Songwe was previously Under-Secretary-General at the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Songwe has been recognized as one of Africa’s 100 most influential people in 2022 and was a recipient of the All Africa Continental Leadership Award, Songwe was named one of the nominees for Forbes Africa 50 Top Women in 2023. She recently co-authored a book entitled “ Régional Integration in West Africa: Is There a Role for a Single Currency? 

She has spent the last three years championing the cause for additional liquidity for emerging markets and the need for a new global financial architecture fit for the 21st century’s development challenges. 

She has held a number of senior positions at the World Bank, and the International Finance Corporation. Her main areas of interest are financial stability, macro-prudential policy, fiscal and monetary policy, innovative financing mechanisms for development, climate finance, agriculture, energy, and economic governance. She has extensive experience working in Africa, East Asia, Europe and Central Asia and South Asia regions.

Prior to joining the Bank, Dr. Songwe was a Visiting Scholar at the University of Southern California and at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Dr. Songwe holds a PhD. in Mathematical Economics from the Center for Operations Research & Econometrics from the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium. She holds a BA in Economics and a BA in Political Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Somachi Chris-Asoluka is the CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy empowering young African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries. Somachi is responsible for the overall development, implementation and execution of the Foundation’s overall operations, strategic marketing and corporate communications, policy and advocacy, and TEFConnect - Africa’s largest digital entrepreneurship ecosystem. 

Prior to her appointment as CEO, Somachi was the Director of Partnerships and Communication, where she played a key role in mobilizing partnerships that contributed to the Foundation’s scaled impact of directly funding over 18,000 African entrepreneurs with up to $100 million, who went on to create more than 400,000 direct and indirect jobs in their communities. These partnerships with private institutions, global development agencies and government bodies include organisations such as the European Union, United Nations Development Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Google, the United States Government, and many more. 

Since joining the Foundation in 2014, Somachi has also served as the Head of Research, as well as the Head of Policy and External Relations. Somachi graduated Summa Cum Laude from Saint Mary's College of California with a BSc. in Economics and minor in Mathematics and received the “Adam Smith” award given to the highest performing graduating student in Economics. She also has a Master's Degree in International and Development Economics from Yale University. She is a Deputy Champion of the World Economic Forum (WEF) EDISON Alliance. She is a member of the Financial Women's Association, San Francisco, USA, the Omicron Delta Epsilon (National Economics Honor Society, USA) and a fellow of the Moremi Initiative for Women's Leadership in Africa – a programme that annually identifies and engages the top 25 most promising women leaders on the continent.

Dr. Joy Kategekwa is a respected international trade and investment lawyer with a firm conviction about Africa’s ability to prosper through efficient utilization of its vast assets. She has dedicated her 20-year career to structuring Africa’s trade policy, negotiations and industry landscape for sustainable development, and to ensuring that Africa’s integration into global trade is beneficial and wealth – creating. With a Ph. D In International Trade Law from the University of Berne’s World Trade Institute, and authorship of consequential books – like “Opening Markets for Foreign Skills: How Can the WTO help?”, she has distinguished herself as a thought and practice leader, and a front runner on knowledge – generation for trade – led economic integration, growth and prosperity. 

Dr. Kategekwa serves as Director of the African Development (AfDB) Bank Group’s Regional Integration Coordination Office – leading the team delivering the Bank’s transformative Integrate-Africa portfolio. Her vision in this role is to champion the design and financing of new – generation integrated multi-country operations that are industrialization - promoting. She is passionate about making integration a People’s Agenda and spearheads this, in part, through high – level policy dialogue to foster reforms towards integrating markets, finance, people, productive capacity and macroeconomic policies. Previously, she served as Regional Strategy Advisor to the UNDP Assistant Secretary General responsible for Africa, overseeing the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) portfolio, the HERAfCFTA Initiative, and the AfCFTA Futures Report. She is the Founding Head of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Regional Office for Africa (Addis Ababa) – where she led the technical advisory teams on design of the AfCFTA. 

She is a seasoned negotiator with proven ability to secure deals on finance, investment and trade – and previously served as an official of the Secretariat of the World Trade Organization. She sits on the AfCFTA Secretary General’s Advisory Council on Trade, Investment and Industry; the Advisory Board of the African Journal on International Economic Law (AJIEL); and has served on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Trade and Investment (2018 – 2023). She is passionate about building the next generation of Africa’s trade law/policy practitioners and has spent over 15 years offering guest lectures on international trade, investment, regional integration and development at leading global centres of learning. She is a trained classical vocalist, a song – writer, and piano player. She is married and is the proud mother of 5 beautiful girls.