Director and Practice Head, Africa at Eurasia Group- Washington, D.C - USA
Amaka Anku leads the Africa practice, with a specific focus on West Africa. She analyzes how politics, policy, and markets interact and the short- and long-term ramifications for investors.
Amaka has on-the-ground experience working in 12 different African countries with organizations such as the African Development Bank and the International Crisis Group. From 2011 to 2015, she practiced law in the international arbitration and litigation group of global law firm Shearman & Sterling, LLP, where she represented multinational corporations in multimillion-dollar, cross-border disputes throughout the region. Amaka is a regular commentator and speaker on Nigerian and African affairs. A native of Enugu, Nigeria, she is fluent in Igbo and French. Amaka holds a bachelor’s degree from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and doctor of law degree from Harvard Law School.
Founder , The Varanda Network-Canada
Bernadette Fernandes is known throughout her network as a connector, quickly recognizing problems and connecting them to solutions within the ecosystem. She is a proud immigrant by birth and a proud New Brunswicker by choice, and she speaks five languages.
Bernadette is passionate about economic growth, having spent the previous six years attracting investment to the region, developing companies’ export readiness, and contributing to major exporters’ growth plans. Her enthusiasm also extends to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, and to facilitating partnerships between entrepreneurs and enterprise for collaboration.
With an additional 25 years of experience working in the private sector, four of those working in Ireland; the United States (specifically Boston, New York, Charlotte); Guatemala; El Salvador; and Trinidad & Tobago, and with business relationships in over 50 countries across all continents, she has a deep understanding of cross-cultural communications and international business development. Bernadette takes pride in enhancing the customer experience, taking time to thoroughly understand every client’s pain points, and providing guidance and clear cut advice while balancing market objectivity with insider empathy.
She spent most of her private sector career in senior management in telecom before branching out into sales methodology consulting in Oil & Gas; and executive positions in Business Process Outsourcing and e-Learning. Some of her career highlights include signing a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with one of the World’s largest and most successful banks during a period of economic instability; and launching a 60-person operations center in a new country within 33 days of signing the MOU.
Currently, Bernadette is Founder & CEO of The Varanda Network, focused on three economic & community development streams: helping companies enter new, global markets through Trade & Export; attracting Foreign Direct Investment; and facilitating growing successful businesses in-market through International Business Development. Prior to The Varanda Network being selected as Canada’s Investment Team for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Canada in July, 2017, Bernadette spent five years working with the Province of New Brunswick’s Economic Development agencies focused on economic growth of the Innovation, Science & Technology sectors. As of January, 2018, The Varanda Network is on track to exceed Pennsylvania’s objectives and Key Performance Indicators.
Bernadette has a life motto of passion and purpose, spending much of her time giving back philanthropically to her community and abroad, and volunteering her time mentoring entrepreneurs, business immigrants, MBA candidates, startups, as well as empowering women, most recently in Africa. She has held several Board positions over the years and is currently sitting on the Boards of ConnexionWorks, the Business Immigrant Mentoring Program, and the Saint John Learning Exchange. Bernadette has studied internationally during her Bachelor’s Degree and her Master’s Degree. She enjoys traveling and networking always.
International Expert Adviser to the UN on Democratic Governance, Human Rights and IHL-Spain
Mr. de Cerón is a qualified lawyer and economist, PhD in Law and LLM in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
He garnered a prestigious reputation as private banker, but he decided to make a change for a fight, as rewarding as less paid: peacekeeping, democratic governance and human rights.
In recent years, he has been committed to develop a challenging professional career within the United Nations and the OSCE. He has lived in singular places such as: Kosovo, Nepal, Palestine, Sierra-Leona, Timor-Leste, Uganda and Ukraine. He has faced hazard environments, risking his own life; he speaks several languages and has undertaken numerous projects. He is also Goodwill Ambassador and member of many institutions dedicated to Human Rights and Sustainable Development.
Founder of WaziData & Soko-Kenya
Catherine Mahugu is a seasoned techpreneur, changemaker, sustainable luxury enthusiast, youth empowerment champion and a strong advocate of gender equality and equity.
With her award-winning entrepreneurial experience, she founded Wazidata. A design-led innovation company. It’s focused on harnessing the power of data and design to change lives for social good by applying human-centered design methodologies. Wazidata has worked with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Safaricom, FHI360 and Quicksand.
Catherine Mahugu is also the Founder of Soko (www.shopsoko.com). Soko is an innovation in fashion & technology; an ethical fashion brand that expands access to economic opportunity for artisans in emerging economies.
At Soko, she has effectively overseen the end to end operational execution and delivery of products to over 450 international retailers, several large brands such as Nordstrom, Fossil, QVC, TJMaxx, Edun, Esprit, Anthropologie and global e-commerce consumers. Notable press that has featured Soko products include Vogue and Glamour magazine. Celebrities such as Lupita Nyongo, Nicole Kidman, Oprah Winfrey and Emma Watson have been styled with Soko ‘s jewellery. By driving and supporting the technology innovation at Soko, she has contributed to transforming the traditional global supply chain and changing the fashion industry for good.
Her international achievements have made her a global thought leader in matters pertaining to the future of Africa, next-generation leaders and the role ICT and women play in the entrepreneurship realm. Her impressive contribution has become a point of reference in international case studies and successful experiences to follow.
An in-demand speaker, Catherine’s practical experiences, creative use of multimedia and her enthusiastic and passionate delivery, have proven to be a winning formula for tens of thousands of conference attendees including the Economist 2016 conference and Harvard 2017 conference.
She was featured in Forbes Magazine -June issue 2015 and Jan issue 2016 as one of the top 30 social entrepreneurs (2015 and 2016 ). She has also been featured on CNN, CNBC, Airbnb, Marie Claire, Alibaba, Huffington post, UN, World Bank and other mainstream media.
CEO, Black Shopping Channel (BSC)- Florida, USA
Cleveland Gary has gone from the fame of the NFL career into the business and financial world to make a difference by helping entrepreneurs sell their products on a Multi-Media global platform. Gary has continued to step outside the envelope and push his limits to reach goals that change the dynamics of economics by race, culture and gender. Gary has grown 2 television shopping channel concepts into business platforms that have grown into successful companies. Gary has been the driving force to renovate the TV Shopping Channel industry. Gary has taken the concept of television shopping channels beyond the vision of the past, simple television shopping into this century of true mass communication. Gary has taken the social platforms of the internet coupled with television shopping and further internet ecommerce to be completely commercialized using Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The two companies are truly phenomenal platforms developed by the newest American media mogul, Cleveland Gary. Gary has focused on television shopping channels that benefit people. The Black Shopping Channel sells the products of small business owners. Healthway Shopping Network, Gary’s first public company in its Pre-IPO stock sales stage, focuses on selling products that naturally improve the health of people and educating the public on the benefits of these products.
Gary, ever the innovator, continued to experiment and revamp the production process and put together his own multi-million dollar studios operating all the switches and buttons from controlling the lighting, to live broadcast switching of camera views on the switcher, and even editing the video once it was produced including all the graphics production. It became imperative to be able to produce infomercials on the road as a live show as many of the small business owners could not afford to travel to West Palm Beach. At this point, Gary made it all mobile and traveled to the businesses. Success was imminent as Gary was reaching the small business owner and helping him.
Financier Cleveland Gary has built a multi-billion dollar media empire that spans across the globe in 36 countries. The once NFL all pro running back that led the NFL in touchdown in 1990 is now selling the products of small business owners to consumers across the globe creating millionaires, his motto is: Moving forward, giving back! The Black Shopping Channel is the first of its kind, and has been in operation for over 8 years.
Going forward BSC is in the process of negotiating celebrity deals with Grammy award winner Natalie Cole, Model/Actress Beverly Johnson, and Singer/Actor Tyrese Gibson who has an interest in selling their products on BSC.
Mr. Gary’s vision is to take BSC across the globe into 210 million homes selling entrepreneurs products.
Mr. Gary has grown the Black Shopping Channel’s market cap to a billion dollar company, in the likes the Healthway Shopping Network, which currently broadcasts 24 hrs selling health products, it’s an internet based platform.
Gary has spent the past seventeen years growing opportunities for others across the globe. Gary serves as CEO of both Black Shopping Channel and Healthway Shopping Network.
CFA, Senior Vice President – Senior Research Analyst, Equities- New York
Christine Phillpotts is a Senior Vice President and Senior Equity Research Analyst covering Africa for Alliance Bernstein’s Emerging and Frontier Markets portfolios, including the Next 50 Emerging Markets Fund. She identifies and manages listed equity investments across 16 African countries, and she has contributed to the launch of the Next 50 Emerging Markets Fund. She also regularly contributes to the firm’s investment thought leadership by publishing articles and presenting on key emerging market investment topics. Prior to joining the firm, she was the Global Portfolio Manager for the Grassroots Business Fund (GBF), a fund which was established by the International Finance Corporation and invests in privately held companies in emerging and frontier markets. While at GBF, Phillpotts sourced, structured and supervised investments across several countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana, Rwanda and Mozambique. As a member of the fund’s internal investment committee, she also assessed and approved transactions in Latin America and Asia. Before that, Phillpotts was an equity research associate at J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
Phillpotts holds a BA in economics from Columbia University, where she graduated summa cum laude, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she received first-year honors. Phillpotts is the co-chair of AllianceBernstein’s Black Employee Resource Group and is a member of the Africa Investor Emerging Manager Advisory Committee. She previously served on the board of directors of the CFA Society of New York and the Harvard Business School Association of Boston. She is a Robert Toigo Foundation Fellow and a CFA charterholder. A specialist on emerging market investing, Phillpotts regularly presents at investment forums, including conferences hosted by the National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP), the Institute of International Finance, 100 Women in Hedge Funds, Harvard Business School, Wharton School of Business, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her investment perspectives have been featured in various media outlets including The Financial Times, Bloomberg, CNBC, and Business Insider. Phillpotts is fluent in French and English.
Director of Policy and Advocacy, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Forum- USA
Director North America, Sales and Commercial Strategy, Brussels Airlines- New York, USA
Christophe Allard holds a Master in Cross Cultural Management from ICHEC-Brussels. He started his aviation career as Head of the African Projects at Brussels Airlines in 2005. As such he was involved in many key developments in Central and Eastern Africa. In 2009, he founded Korongo Airlines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a joint-venture between Brussels Airlines and Groupe Forrest International. In 2010, he was appointed as Chief Executive establishing the 1st EU compliant airline in the blacklisted DRC. In January 2016, he returned to Brussels Airlines as Director Sales & Marketing North America. Today, 50% of Brussels Airlines traffic originating in North America has a final destination in Africa.
CEO, Largo Financial Services- USA
“Douglas A. C. Eze established Largo Financial Services Inc. in 2000 with a vision to provide
individuals and small business owners with the education and guidance needed to achieve financial
freedom. As a wealth strategist and award-winning insurance agent, Douglas believes in helping his
clients find money in places they may be throwing it away unknowingly and unnecessarily. He equips
individuals with the information and knowledge to make sound financial decisions. Douglas has been
featured on nationally syndicated media outlets, including CBS Radio Network, NPR, SiriusXM’s
Urban View, Clear Channel Radio Network and The Bev Smith Show. Additionally, Douglas is the
author of the critically acclaimed Creating Generational Wealth®: What the Super Wealthy Know that
You Need to Know.
The hard work and dedication Douglas has exhibited in his many years of business have brought
him widespread recognition and awards. He has been awarded the ACE Award through American
Classic Agency for eight consecutive years. National Life Group has recognized him as a
Chairman’s Club Qualifier and Diamond Club member, a significant recognition reserved for the
company’s top insurance representatives throughout the nation. Douglas is a distinguished member
of the exclusive Million Dollar Roundtable Court of the Table, an organization of notable financial
representatives. He was awarded the 2013 EPNET Male Entrepreneur of the Year in addition to
being nominated among the Top 100 Financial Advisors of 2013 by the International Financial
Leadership Association (IFLA). As a leading business figure, Douglas has also been featured in
Profile Magazine and Power Broker Magazine as one of the Top 25 Top Wealth Builders and
Financial Professionals in the Tampa Bay Area.
With nearly two decades of experience in the financial services industry, Douglas has continually
studied and trained to stay current on the principles and trends of personal finance and wealth
accumulation. His ability to explain concepts to clients in a manner that they can understand is what
Douglas is most known for. His “common senseâ€, pragmatic approach when considering financial
alternatives stands out among others. The mission of Largo Financial is to help clients discover their
path toward wealth and financial independence by improving their financial intelligence.”
Chief Strategist, Cannon Asset Managers & Citadel Asset Management-South Africa
Chief Technical Advisor to World Bank
Ph.D., CEO Chief Mischief Maker, The Freeman Institute-USA
Founder, Sishima Holdings- Zambia
CEO of Eczellon Capital - Nigeria
Diekola Onaolapo is passionate about the economic growth and development of Africa, and the attendant roles of investment banking in achieving it.
He believes investment banking institutions and professionals – with their understanding of markets, issues and needs of the continent, underscored by their expertise in the creation, generation, channeling and allocation of capital – will continue to play an important role in birthing he African dream. Investment bankers can provide invaluable help to leaders of African governments to generate and implement ideas for delivering developmental promises to their communities. They can also assist private African enterprises to create and sustainably grow value in their businesses. It is through this dynamics – where solutions to African problems are produced in Africa as products and services, on which sustainable businesses can be built – that lasting solutions to African problems can be delivered. This will create jobs and wealth, alleviate poverty and facilitate political stability and impactful economic development.
With this clear purpose, Onaolapo has therefore dedicated himself to a career in finance and investment banking. He has worked with international institutions such as Citibank and Standard Bank Group, before eventually founding Eczellon Capital, one of the fastest growing boutique corporate finance and advisory firms in Nigeria and Africa.
As founder and current CEO of Eczellon Capital, Diekola has led transactions and project initiatives across public and corporate private sector in Nigeria and other select markets in the African continent, including Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroun, Ghana, Liberia and Senegal. He has led capital market issues – debt and equities – for governments and private entities, mergers and acquisition, and structured project finance in energy and power generation, oil and gas, real estate, telecommunications, manufacturing and financial services. He has also been involved in a lead role on various PPP and public sector projects, including power sector privatization, federal and state road concessions, and the establishment of industrial parks.
CEO and Founder, GreyFire Impact- New York, USA
Danielle is a female futurist and serial entrepreneur who works on projects at the intersection of women, tech and social impact. Through her company GreyFire, she advises governments and companies on how to integrate forward-looking initiatives and connects technology companies and investment firms to ecosystems of underrepresented founders. Danielle was a founding partner in Tour of Tech: Lagos, an initiative to bring investors from Silicon Valley (TechStars, 500 Startups, Wingpact) to tour growing tech hubs in Africa. Danielle has over 10 years of experience in international consulting and finance in New York, London and sub-Saharan Africa. She has worked on over $25 billion in business transactions for global banks and advised private equity firms on acquisitions in Africa. Danielle is an advisor to social impact startups and a mentor to Columbia University’s business accelerator. She is a frequent speaker on topics related to women, social impact, technology and Africa on CNBC, at the United Nations, TEDx, Google, General Assembly and other events. She is also the author of “The Silent Rise of the Female-Driven Economy” a position paper on women and the future of business and innovation.
CEO, Neva Global Alliance- USA
Dr. Neva Helena Alexander, “Dr. Neva” as she prefers to be called, something that was customarily adopted in Saudi Arabia where it is in their culture to be called by one’s first names beyond academia. Dr. Neva is the Founder and CEO of Neva Global Alliance which is an international business consulting firm whose mission is to help businesses maximize business growth, revenue, and a global presence through tailor-made strategies for companies. Dr. Neva is a global entrepreneur, a speaker, and an author of two published books thus far, titled Females’ Guide to Understanding Leadership and #Ringleaders. She is currently an Adjunct professor at the New York Institute of Technology and the City of New York University School of Professional Studies program. She has also worked as a faculty and Associate Chair for the College of Arts Female Campus at Prince Mohammad University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Neva received her Doctorates in Education Leadership from Argosy University, her Masters of Arts in Social Science from Long Island University and a Bachelors of Arts from John Jay College of Criminal Justice majoring in Legal Studies. As an educator, she has published two educational research materials titled Saudi Arabia Female Students’ Perception of Effective Female Leadership and Gender Differences of
Perceived Leadership Skills among Saudi Students.
Economic Affairs Officer, Macroeconomic Policy Division, UNECA, Addis Ababa- Ethiopia
Eunice Ajambo is Economic Affairs Officer with the Macroeconomic Policy Division of the UNECA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She most recently served in the same position with the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination at UN Headquarters in New York, where she evaluated and reported on progress of the implementation of the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR), the primary policy instrument for defining the United Nations’ Operational Activities for Development. In December 2015, Eunice was granted a “Global Female Leadership Impact Award” and was inducted into the “Global Women Leaders Hall of Fame” by the Center for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD) in Dubai. In 2017, she was selected to be part of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS).
Eunice has researched and covered a diversity of contemporary economic and social issues, contributing to high-level policy development and providing intergovernmental support through the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA); undertaking strategic policy analysis at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) contributing to the first ever Africa Region Human Development Report; planning, leading, and coordinating a field mission with the African Development Bank (AfDB) East Africa Regional Service Center.
She has consulted, performing strategic policy and programme analysis for organizations including the Harvard China Fund, Allianz SE, AllAfrica Global Media, and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). Her Africa-related work has been published in scholarly journals and online with the Michigan Journal of Political Science and Harvard Business Publishing among others. Her research work on “Public Financial Management, Macroeconomic Stability and Economic Governance Institutions” is published in “Macroeconomic Policy Framework for Africa’s Structural Transformation” Carlos Lopes, Hamdok and Elhiraika (eds) Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.
Eunice is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, with a Master of Public Policy degree. She studied the International Baccalaureate Diploma at Red Cross Nordic United World College in Norway, and she holds a B.A (Hons) degree magna cum laude, international Political Economy from Carleton College, USA. Ms. Ajambo is an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow at the African Leadership Institute at Oxford University, and a Public Policy and International Affairs’ Fellow through Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School.
President, The Foundation for Democracy in Africa- Washington, D.C - USA
Director General, Katsina State Investment Promotion Council, Katsina State - Nigeria
Head of Political Risk & Trade Credit, Validus Holdings- New York, USA
Jared Kotler is Head of Political Risk and Credit, North America, at Validus Specialty. At Validus, Jared is in charge of underwriting and marketing political risk insurance and trade credit insurance throughout the North American region. Jared’s clients include international financial institutions, private equity firms and multinational companies who are either lending or investing in emerging markets. Before joining Validus, Jared was Assistant Vice President at Ace Political Risk and Credit where his responsibilities were similar to those that he currently has at Validus.
Prior to Ace, Jared worked as an Underwriter and Financial and Political Risk Analyst at Zurich Credit and Political Risk.Jared received a BA in Mathematics and Statistics from Rutgers University, an MBA in Finance from American University’s Kogod School of Business and an MA in International Economic Policy from American University’s School of International Service.
FounderCEO & CTO, Aer Wireless - Virginia
In his third decade in the telecom, technology and wireless industry, Mr. Walker’s multifaceted skill sets encompass the planning, design, and deployment of telecom, data networking, wireless and call-centers, and informs his keen insight in the tech/telecom and wireless sectors. In 1995, Mr Walker approached his managers in California with the idea of deploying fiber to the homes and buildings only to be told he was crazy. In 2010, Mr. Walker predict what Facebook and Google would later
do in 2015 at the World Global Congress in Barcelona. In addition, Mr.Walker predicted the following consolidations in the communications industry: in 2011, he the acquisition of AOL and Yahoo by Verizon; in 2014, the acquisition of Time Warner by AT&T, and even the issues that the company would be fraught with from a regulatory perspective; and also envisioned the possible tie up of Sprint and T-Mobile.
Mr. Walker is a veteran of the United States Army, 82nd Airborne Division (All American) and is the recipient of numerous military awards including the coveted Company, Battalion, Brigade and Post Soldier of the Month and Runner-up Post Soldier of the Year award. He also received two Congressional nominations to the U.S Military Academy at West Point. He is a graduate of Occidental College, California, where he earned a BA in Diplomacy & World Affairs with an emphasis on East Asia. He went on to attend Claremont Graduate School, Peter F. Drucker Center for Management, and attend Taft University Law School completing his first year before being lured back into the tech sector. Keith spent his formative years honing his technical skills at GTE/GTEL (Verizon), AT&T, SBC, Sprint, MCI, Lucent Technologies, and played a significant role at Gric Communications prior to and after the company’s IPO.
Currently, Mr. Walker and his team are deploying a disruptive form of wireless technology based on IEEE 802.11n standard that has solved the previously unsolved challenges of multi- hoping and meshing the network to cover any geographic area, while limiting ingress capacity loss to the messed network only 5%. The deployment cost of this technology is a fraction of the cost of a comparable fiber network. Current existing mobile networks, 3G, 4G and 5G is no match for this very disruptive technology that is based on Wi-Fi (802.11n). Towers are not required for the deployment of this technology and is unique in that it operates like a mobile network without the dead-spots, slow speeds and signal fading. It is adaptive to difficult terrain and can be deployed in mountainous and rugged environments.These networks can be used for Intelligent transportation systems, Autonomous driving, rural broadband solutions, Vehicular collision avoidance systems, and the delivery of broadband everywhere offering the best global “First Responders Network” unlike any other. This is the future of mobile broadband and wireless technology that will usher in a myriad of solutions for various applications.
Founder & CEO, Impact Entrepreneur, LLC - Massachusetts, USA
Laurie Lane-Zucker is Founder and CEO of Impact Entrepreneur, LLC, a for-benefit enterprise that includes the Impact Entrepreneur Center for Social and Environmental Innovation; the Impact Entrepreneur Network, a 18,700 member global network of entrepreneurs, investors and scholars; and a consulting company that works with blended value companies, impact investors and academic institutions.
For nearly 30 years, Laurie has been a “pioneer” (Forbes) and recognized leader in sustainability, social enterprise and impact investing. Laurie was the founding Executive Director of the international environmental organization, Orion, as well as the founder of a global sustainability think-tank, Triad Institute, and a “Founding” B Corporation, Hotfrog, which was the first company to complete a private equity transaction on an impact investing exchange.
Laurie is the bestselling and award-winning publisher and editor of books and magazines on sustainability and social impact, and the author of numerous articles on entrepreneurship and impact investing. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the University of Vermont’s top-ranked Sustainable Innovation MBA program. He did his undergraduate studies at Middlebury College and the University of Edinburgh, and his graduate work at Columbia University and the Bread Loaf School of English.
Co-Founder & CEO, Dedalus Global- USA
Founder and Presidentof JumpStart Academy Africa
Madelle Kangha is the Founder and President of JumpStart Academy Africa, a for impact social venture which seeks to transform Africa by fixing a broken education system. The Academy ensures inclusive and equitable quality education by improving learning outcomes for young people whilst supporting their personal and professional development. Since commencing operations in 2014, JumpStart Academy Africa has trained over 500 students, impacting them in the areas of Academic Excellence, Civic Engagement and Enterprise Creation. The Academy has also reached over 2500 students through community outreach programs and summer camps.
In recognition of her work with JumpStart Academy Africa, Madelle has been featured by Forbes as “Innovative Africans fixing a broken Education System”. She has also received awards and recognition from the Queens Young Leaders, American Express Emerging Innovators, Ashoka Changemakers, One Young World and Vital Voices. She was recently named as one of the 50 Most Influential Young Cameroonians 2016 by Avance Media Africa in the Personal Development & Academia Category.
Madelle is an alumnus of the African Leadership Academy, Watson University, the Monterey Institute of International Studies; and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Anthropology from the London School of Economics. Madelle is also the Founder of Youths4Change, a youth-led community based organization which mentors youths of all abilities across Cameroon. Madelle’s vision is to be a leading social entrepreneur, a mass recruiter of local change makers; a role model proving that citizens who channel their passion into action can achieve the impossible.
Partner, Middleton & Shrull, LLC- Boston, USA
Matthew is a partner at the law firm of Middleton & Shrull, LLC, where his practice is dedicated exclusively to customs and international trade law. Matthew’s experience includes developing and implementing import and export compliance reviews, audits, testing and programs; conducting import and export classification exercises; determining eligibility for free trade and other preferential tariff agreements; reviewing and recommending import and export valuation methodologies; assisting clients in structuring import and export transactions; completing import and export regulatory compliance due diligence in the context of mergers and acquisitions; making export license determinations and providing guidance on export license applications and management; and advocating, and filing disclosures, protests and petitions, on behalf of clients with the federal agencies that regulate international trade. Matthew was previously associated with a customs and international trade law firm in Dallas and Ernst and Young’s Global Trade practice in Dallas and Houston. Matthew is also a licensed customs broker and a fluent French speaker, having spent over a decade in francophone sub-Saharan Africa (Guinea and Togo).
Chairman at Ethium Capital Partners- Australia
head of Labor Mobility and Human Development Unit, International Organization for Migration (IOM)- Washington, D.C
CEO, African Growth Group Incorporated - Canada
“Malcolm J Mansfield leadership abilities are founded on three decades of experience in the finance and business community both in Canada and abroad.
Before founding AGG in August 2012, Mr. Mansfield served as CEO of his own Family Office in Toronto, CFO for Gako Petroleum in Ghana and CEO of SD Consultants in Canada.
In Canada, Mr. Mansfield specialized in the acquisition, structuring turn around, and financing of projects in mining, real estate and renewable energy
A few of the corporations he worked with were Genvar Engineering, Potentia Solar and Cross Pacific in Toronto, Canada, Gako Petroleum in Accra, West Africa and Hanjer Bio-Tech Industries in Mumbai, India.
Malcolm started the corporation (AGG) in August, 2012 when he was asked by the Investment Committee of South Sudan to visit the country and help find solutions to the housing shortage there. By December he had made two exploratory visits to South Sudan and Kenya to view the housing shortage first hand and In December 2012, he signed an agreement with the Governor of Bor, Jongeli State for a 30,000 housing unit project.
Mr. Mansfield has spent the last seven years cultivating a host of potential finance partners from USA, Canada, Europe and UAE for large African development projects.
As the head of a Single Family Office he has attended and been an invited guest speaker at infrastructure conferences, investment forums and Family Office Conferences in Califonia USA, Dubai, Monacco and Switzerland. ” Panelist financing construction
President of Endsight Consulting - Washington DC
Director of the Mayor’s Office of African Affairs (MOAA) - Washington, D.C
Executive Secretary, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission- Nigeria
Managing Partner, First African Investment Holding - United Kingdom
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dressmeoutlet.com- Nigeria
Global Vice President & Executive Director for Africa, Ashoka- USA
Senior Regional Health Specialist, USAID Kenya and East Africa Mission - Kenya
Executive Secretary, East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC)
Founder & CEO, Franchise Africa- United States
President and CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC- Washington, D.C, USA
Founding Chief Executive Officer of the World of Money.org- United States
Sabrina Lamb is the Founding Chief Executive Officer of the WorldofMoney.org, dedicated to the financial education of youth in the Tri-State New York City area. The organization was selected as a Promise Place by America’s Promise Alliance and by AOL Impact as one of ten top social good organizations in America. Since 2005, she has helmed the Youth Financial Education Training Institute, attracting financial experts adept in teaching youth 40 classroom hours of immersive financial education, as well as a mobile application. Near 4,000 youth, ages 7 – 18 have been empowered.
Sabrina has presided over the NASDAQ Opening/Closing ceremonies and testified on Capitol Hill before the House Sub-Committee Financial Services. Sabrina is a NAACP Image Awards nominee in Outstanding Literary Work-Instructional for her book “Do I Look Like An ATM? A Parent’s Guide To Raising Financially Educated African American Children”.
Sabrina has received several local, regional and national awards and commendations. Sabrina was one of the 2013 NBC News/The Grio 100 and one of Essence Magazine’s Shining Moments of 2013: “50 Women Who Made Us Proud”. She was the WBLS-FM correspondent at the 2008 – 2013 Democratic National Conventions and presidential inaugurations. Sabrina co-hosted “The Morning Shows” on WBLS-FM, 1600 WWRL; and WRKS-(KISS)-FM. In 2015, her sold out show “The Trial of Marissa Alexander” debuted Off- Broadway at the United Solo Festival and at the Cherry Lane Theater. Sabrina is a graduate of Lincoln University and attended St. John’s University School of Law.
Executive Director, Energy Action Partners- USA
Scott Kennedy has over 15 years experience leading and working on novel initiatives in higher education, international development, and sustainable energy. He currently serves as Executive Director of Energy Action Partners, an international nonprofit working to expand access to sustainable energy for developing communities.
Scott previously served as a faculty member and the founding Dean of Research at Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi, where he was a member of the executive management team, led the development of research policy & infrastructure, and oversaw the institute’s government-funded research portfolio focusing on advanced energy and sustainable technologies. Prior to that, he founded and led a graduate MSc program in Energy and Environment at the Malaysia University of Science Technology in Kuala Lumpur.
Known for his passion for integrating engineering education, sustainable development and social justice, Scott has been recognized an innovative educator and tireless practitioner who thrives on finding new connections and building synergies across disparate disciplines.”
CEO, Ghana Capital Partners- Ghana
Sidney founded Ghana Capital Partners (“GCP”) in 2012 as a boutique project developer and private equity investor focussing on investments in Africa.
Sidney has developed projects from greenfield in the renewable energy space, and also looks at typical minority equity investments into established businesses.
Sidney was instrumental in developing GCP’s 28MW solar PV project, which was awarded the runners-up prize at the West Africa Forum for Clean Energy Finance. Sidney has spent a considerable time on the continent and is a regular speaker at conferences. Sidney has been asked to speak at a number of conferences and roundtables, including:
• an EU roundtable in Brussels regarding energy access in Africa in 2013,
• a UN Foundation conference in Washington DC regarding mini-grids in Africa in 2014,
• Africa Investment Forums in Hong Kong in 2013,
• Africa Investment Exchange Power conference in London in 2015,
• Solar Media West African Solar conference in Accra, Ghana in 2015,
• The Lord Mayor’s roundtable on infrastructure in Accra, Ghana in 2015, and
• The Somali Renewable Energy Forum (“SREF”) in Hargeisa, Somaliland in 2016.
In addition to this, Sidney Yankson has consulted for the German Development Bank, KFW, regarding whether the GET-FiT programme could assist to galvanise the Ghanaian renewable energy market.
Prior to founding GCP, Sidney worked in finance for over 16 years and is a qualified barrister in Hong Kong.
Sidney has BSc Physics (Durham), LLB (Hons) in Law (London), LLM in American Law (Boston) and Postgraduate Certificate in Law (Hong Kong University).
In Sidney’s spare time he likes to play ice hockey, rugby, snowboard off piste and play royal tennis.
Chief Executive, Resource Associates Limited- Kenya
Executive Director, Invest Africa US- New York, USA
grandson of the iconic South African leader Nelson Mandela - South Africa
Executive Vice President, Hudson Consulting Group- United States
Founder and CEO, YES Builds-Tennessee, USA
Yesbuilds CEO Yolanda Shields USA Nashville native is a business leader and best-selling author. She has over 20 years of experience as a business leader and also does international workforce development and social entrepreneurship work in the continent of Africa and other 3rd World Countries. She is a much sought-after speaker and trainer in the area of small business, entrepreneurship, nonprofit startup and sustainability, fund development, grant writing, diversity, human capital management, career development, and social entrepreneurship. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States, France, and Africa. She was named in 2017 as one of the top African American in Nashville, TN.
She has earned a B.S. in Education and Social Work (APSU) MBA (HRM and Entrepreneurship). She has been appointed by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to the Statewide Labor and Workforce Development Board for the State of Tennessee and Vice Chair the Oversight Committee. She has assisted over 20 corporations in the areas of fund development, talent development, strategic planning, executive coaching/training, business operations and celebrity charity management. She is currently a mentor at the Vanderbilt University Wond’ry Innovation Center.She has worked with such celebrities as CeCe Winans, Darrell Green, Art Monk, Tony Boselli, and many others.
Yolanda’s first book released in September 2013 which included a 10-city tour in 2013-2014 across the United States, France and continent of Africa where she shared
her inspirational book dedicated to “Mothers & Son’s” – “Letters to Our Sons” – A Mother’s Journey Raising Sons to Become Men with Character and Courage.Her 2nd Book focused on Entrepreneurship and Business Strategy released February 2016 “Entrepreneurship is a MindSet not a Storefront”. For more information on Ms. Yolanda Shields visit www.Yesbuilds.com contact [email protected]
Founder, Solomon Hospitality Group LLC- Jamaica/USA
Zurich Solomon Jamaica/USA is the Founder of the Solomon Hospitality Group
LLC. The Solomon Hospitality Group LLC. Is a multi industry provider of investments services, and product. With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience Zurich has formed several partnerships with independent companies to provide investors, businesses, and organizations with an array of options to meet their specific investment, service, or product needs. Zurich has a diverse background in various industries as a business developer Zurich has a diverse background in entertainment in film, television, writing, and acting. He is also passionate about working with local community and international communities to find solutions to current challenges. Zurich is currently working with “CPR” community Police relations with his new technology, He has worked with several countries to proved growth in Technology, Marketing, Sales, Branding, Commodities, and Hospitality to meet supply in Demand. “I believe everyone has a story, a gift and passion to live the way you dream it”
CEO and Co-founder at Gebeya Inc - Ethiopia
CEO, Senditoo - United Kingdom
CEO, Yegomoto
Head of Innovation - Africa - Washington, D.C
Co-Founder, BitMari - Washington D.C, USA
MD Photizo Life Foundation and Convener, African Hair Summit- Nigeria
Born to the family of Honorable and Mrs. Osita Egwuatu, Adanna (translated from the Ibo dialect as ‘first girl’) Ifeoma Enwezor grew up in the Northern region of Nigeria in the company of two brothers and one sister. Her place in the family as advocate for her siblings and a ‘bridge to peace’ in trying times, underscored with warmth and love would mold her life story. Later on in life, she would mature into womanhood in a home of public service in politics, the combination of which will see her become a fierce advocate for social development, a Life Counsellor, Public Speaker and Political Analyst, with a special gift for mentoring and leadership.
As an African Voice Ambassador in her educative years with University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, Adanna worked tirelessly with young children in schools, educating them on developmental issues that pertain to the African continent and later as the Coordinator and Nigerian Representative of the Young Business and Professional Women (BPW) International, where she successfully engaged local women and young girls in the aspect of personality development, health, leadership and skills acquisition.
Adanna today has over ten years of experience working with youths, children and women on social development and mental health through different Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). She is the founder and president of the African Women Inspire Network (AWIN), an international NGO and a social platform that encourages business collaborations and sustainable business ventures amongst African women around the world.
She holds an MA in Global Development and Africa from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom and a BSc in Sociology from the University of Abuja amongst other qualifications.
Adanna Enwezor is the Managing Director of Photizo Life Foundation, a non-governmental organization committed to ensuring the mental and social wellbeing of the human race. Through her foundation, she has begun a movement to save lives and improve social development through The African Hair Summit, an annual event hosted in the Capital City of Abuja in Nigeria.
The Summit sensitizes African women on the harmful health effects of toxic chemicals in hair, beauty products and practices same time, promotes an awakening of the African Hair and Beauty Industry by demonstrating the sheer and undiluted beauty of the African People through natural and healthy practices.
CEO, Afriscaper- China
International Logistics Coordinator, Hue Logistics- United States
Akbar Muhammad, is a Historian and Consultant on International Affairs, Africa and the Middle East. Akbar has traveled to and met top diplomatic officials to over 144 countries around the world—including 44 African nations—and has lived in Ghana, Africa for over a decade. Through the Africa and Middle East Literacy Foundation, he continues to consult with African and World leaders to promote humanitarian efforts in many parts of the world, including galvanizing Business & Political leaders from the diaspora to work in Africa and other developing nations. In 2007 he organized a historic trip for a press delegation to travel to the Sudan for a visit to Darfur on a fact-finding mission, and through his efforts secured exclusive one-on-one interviews with Sudan’s President Omar El-Bashir for Black Entertainment Television (BET) and the TV-One Network.
Akbar Muhammad dedicates his time speaking and encouraging others to travel, work and do business in Africa. Over the years he has accompanied and arranged travel to Africa for thousands of experienced and first time travelers including notable celebrities, major sports figures and influential civic and business leaders. Akbar Muhammad’s extensive work and travel in Africa are reflected in his column “Africa and the World” which is published in African-American newspapers nationally. He is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Global Evangelical Christian Seminary at the University of Alabama. He is the founder of Youth 4 Africa Foundation, a non-profit organization based on the belief that Young Blacks in the Diaspora are due a personal journey “Back to Africa” to gain a historical perspective that reconnects lost cultural traditions of the past to present life choices. He believes “Taking Young People to Africa Can Make a Difference”. The Africa experience will aid our youth to understand their purpose, inspire fundamental discussions and shape positive self-images.
COO, Connectik Technologies Global- UK
Alain Dolium is a recognized expert on Digital Transformation and economic and social innovation with more than 22 years of experience. He is now Chief Operating Officer for Connectik -Technologies Global and CEO Connectik Africa. Alain has more than 22 years of experience in the design, innovation and implementation of disruptive strategies. Before joining Connectik Technologies Global (headquartered in London) as Chief Operating Officer, Alain was a member of the executive committees of DHL and CBS Outdoor in charge of the Digital Transformation, and founded two startups in the digital and big data industries.
Alain Dolium is a graduate of CHEDE (Cycle of High Studies for Economic Development) linked to the French Ministry of economy , of HEC Montreal in Financial Market, and the Amiens Business School in Marketing. He started his career in 1994 at Burke Marketing, world leader in Data Marketing, (Sold to the Taylor Nelson Sofres group since). He co-invents a model for the enrichment of customer knowledge in the field of banking and insurance.
Founder of AppsAfrica.com, Africa Tech Summit Kigali - London
@AppsAfrica / @AfricaTechSMT
Andrew is passionate about African tech having worked in a number of start-ups launching mobile, fintech and VAS services across Africa since 2009. He founded AppsAfrica.com, a pan-African media company focused on promoting and connecting the African tech industry in 2013. The platform shares news from across the ecosystem, while the AppsAfrica Innovation Awards celebrate the best in mobile and tech from across the continent annually. He is also founder of Africa Tech Summit London and Kigali which aim to connect tech leaders, innovators, investors and corporates to do business through the annual Summits.
Partner, Sofala Partners LLP- United Kingdom
Presidential Candidate, Democratic Republic of-Congo
D’Avenir (UPA), Ambassador of Peace, and currently a project development and independent business consultant in the UK. He has sojourned in many countries such as Ivory Coast, Switzerland and now resides both in the United Kingdom (20 years) and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is an independent business consultant in the United Kingdom. He brings investors and business opportunities to Africa. He helps to create teams of governmental officials to bring to life dormant projects in Africa by creating necessary contact with investors. Part of his experience is organizing international investors to visit project locations in the Congo DR. He is a lead negotiator with private investors to tackle projects in mining, road construction, environmental impact assessment and instigating project to effect the most convicting burden – “Building and Promoting the Land and the people of Africa”. Dr. Mukumbay was the Director of Contracts and Services of Ressource Afrique Ltd, London, UK from 2001 to 2004, where he executed company policies in Congo DR, Zambia and Ghana. His expertise involves trading in high temperature ores (copper, cobalt, coltan, cassiterite, etc…), Gold and Diamond. He traded in heavy industrial equipment and organizing shipping and delivery to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Ghana. He is very skillful in assessing trade requirements, negotiating contracts and implementing trade links with business partners and government officials in different countries.
Founder / CEO, The Cashew Apple Project, and wife of music legend Paul Okoye from rap duo P-Square - Nigeria
Born in Nigeria, African Royalty Anita Okoye is much more than just the wife of music legend Paul Okoye from rap duo P-Square. With an MBA and a law degree, she is also a philanthropist, an entrepreneur, and most importantly a mother. In 2016 she quit her job and became a full time entrepreneur with a mission to change the way Africa is seen by the people who don’t live there, as well as the people who do.
VP Global Projects, Netafim- Israel
Managing Director for Africa at Washington Media Group- Washington D.C. USA
Technology Analyst, AIG- Texas, USA
Ariane Youmsi is a young and ambitious African woman who works as a Technology Analyst at American International Group(AIG) a world leading insurance company.
Ariane was born in Douala, Cameroon on 8 August 1992. She graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Bamenda, Cameroon in May 2011, and from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in May 2016.
Ariane always had that inner push to serve the community. In that light, she was voted freshman initiative coordinator at the Empowering leadership Alliance(ELA) at The University of Texas at Austin; the only international student elected as an official of the organisation.The Empowering Leadership Alliance (ELA) is a computer science student organization aimed at helping minorities gain a sense of the opportunities that are available in the various fields of technology. She was also a leader of the Women in Computer Science (WICS) organization at the University of Texas at Austin. WICS is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a network community of women in Computer Science. WICS mission is to encourage and support women in computing through outreach, professional development, academic initiatives, and social events.
After receiving her education, Ariane started working at American International Group (AIG) with whom she had previously interned. At AIG, she is part of a rotational program in the Technology Department of the company. This rotational program has led her to experience different roles in IT such as Application Developer, Database Developer and Business Intelligence Analyst. At AIG she quickly became known for her relentless hard work and became an indispensable asset to her team. Three words that effectively describe Ariane are passionate,hardworking and problem-solver. She is passionate about Technology because she loves innovation, solving existing problems and making people’s life better. Her passion for the IT field led her to become a mentor for a non-profit organization named “ The Change Engine” that teaches girls in Cameroon to code and encourage them to get into STEM fields. The Change Engine’s mission is to empower underprivileged kids and young adults with Digital skills to create tech startups, access upper tier jobs and create tailormade solutions to Africa’s complex problems.
One of Ariane’s future goals is to bring top notch IT education to the developing world especially in Africa. Being born and raised in Africa, she has witnessed how brilliant many kids are over there but unfortunately, most lack any opportunity to put that brilliance and ingenuity to work. She is convinced that an education in IT can provide tremendous opportunities to these young people which can help raise many families out of poverty.
Creative Director, Akinyi Odongo KENYA(TM) - Kenya
OLegal and Compliance Project Manager - Silicon Valley, California
Alexandria Noel Butler, affectionately known as Lexi B, wears many hats including entrepreneur, speaker, editor, and writer. Raised in St. Louis, MO and living in the Silicon Valley, she graduated from Stanford University in 2011 and started working as an Engineering Program Manager. In this role she managed cross functional engineering initiatives for specific external partners where her love and passion for working with organizational leaders on solving hard cross functional problems and creating efficient processes. Lexi B currently works as a legal and compliance project manager in the Silicon Valley. When she is not project managing, she spends her time speaking in panels, leading workshops and participating in keynote speaking engagements about a variety of topics including diversity in tech, program management and career development.
She has always been very passionate in supporting young professionals in navigating the professional world. In February 2018, she launch “Unfiltered”, a weekly video series highlighting the soft skill tips and tricks to succeed in their career journey.
Senior Director, Global Market Development - United States
Founder, Chairman & CEO, Labacorp Group of Companies- Cameroon/USA
Managing Director, Kiza Solutions- Kigali, Rwanda
Bill Bennett, a software engineer and business analyst, started Kiza Solutions in 2013 in Kigali, Rwanda. After spending nearly four years in Kigali, Bill now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his family.
Kiza builds world-class, cost-effective, customized data solutions, serving clients in the USA and abroad with an “impact sourcing” model. Kiza provides comprehensive professional training and career opportunities to talented technology developers in Rwanda and is proud to participate in Rwanda’s goals of becoming a leader in ICT in Africa.
Kiza creates value for our clients by mitigating risk, realizing efficiencies and driving growth.
Kiza follows a proven design and assembly process that inspires trust from initial exploratory conversations through complete user adoption, delivering top-notch results.
Kiza produces beautiful, custom desktop and mobile applications leveraging the dynamic FileMaker platform. Owned and supported by Apple, FileMaker is a best-in-class tool to quickly deploy user-friendly, cost-effective, robust database solutions.
http://kizasolutions.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamfbennett/
Founder & CEO of EmptyTrips - South Africa
Founder, Chairman and CEO, African Integrated Development Enterprise- Boston
MasterChef Maroc- Morocco
VP, Alliant Emerging Markets - United States
Conal Duffy is Alliant Insurance Service’s practice leader for credit and political risk insurance. Over the last 18 years, including four years at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, where he was the Senior Insurance Officer for Africa and the Middle East, Mr. Duffy has placed credit and political risk insurance on transactions in more than 75 countries. Prior to OPIC, he was the Senior Business Development Associate for an international engineering and consulting company. Mr. Duffy began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer working in forestry and soil conservation in Mali. He is a graduate of Kalamazoo College where he received a certificate in International Business Management from Georgetown University’s Graduate School of Business, and spent a year in Aix-en-Provence, France during college. Mr. Duffy is a father of four and also a senior trainer for the Boy Scouts of America and hobby sled dog musher.
CEO, Medicines for Africa- Switzerland
Dr Lenias Hwenda is the CEO of Medicines for Africa, a social enterprise that reduces the cost, process, information and communication technology barriers that reduce cost-effectiveness when buying quality medicines in the public sector of African countries. She is a global health policy expert with significant experience in international affairs, public and private health sector in Africa and Europe. Lenias worked at the World Health Organization with the African Group of country missions to the UN in Geneva. She later served as an external expert for the World Health Organisation Prequalification Programme for Medicines supporting improvements in production quality standards by manufacturers in India, China, Europe and Africa. She trained as an immunologist and began her career on improving access to medicines working on vaccine development at the University of Oxford.
Founder, Flying Doctors Nigeria- Nigeria
Dr Ola Orekunin is a medical doctor, a trainee helicopter pilot and an entrepreneur who founded West Africa’s first indigenous air ambulance service, The Flying Doctors Nigeria which saves hundreds of lives across the region every year.
She is extremely passionate about healthcare/entrepreneurship in Africa and works with various foundations, charities and governments to improve standards of healthcare.
Dr Ola was born and raised in the UK. She studied medicine and surgery at the Hull-York Medical School after which she worked in Acute Medicine across the UK. She then went on to be awarded the Japanese MEXT scholarship which allowed her to further her studies in Tokyo, Japan.
She has published two medical textbooks ‘EMQ’s in Paediatrics’ and ‘Pre-Hospital Care For Africa’ as well as articles in the British Medical Journal, New York Times and the Huffington Post.
She returned to Nigeria to start the air ambulance service which uses a pool of aircrafts and doctors to save lives across West Africa.
She is an international speaker who has received multiple awards and nominations. These include the Mouldbreaker’s Award, the THIS Day Award, The Future Award as ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’, New Generation Leader for Africa, Ladybrille ‘Personality of the Month’, and Vanguard WOW Awards. She is also a TED fellow and has been honoured by the world economic forum as a Young Global Leader.
She is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians and an editor of the Journal of Emergency medical services.
She is a board member of & investor in tech-focused angel investment fund, Greentree Investment Company.
Chairman & CEO, Solomon Investments- Ghana
President, Africa Region, International Association for People and Performance Development- Ghana
Chairman of the United States Global Leadership Council-United States
Dr. Egolf is one of four founders and the Chairman of the United States Global Leadership Council. The USGLCouncil is an organization dedicated to the development and improvement of infrastructures through advanced business strategies and sustainable solutions. He speaks in economic business summits concerning ethics in business, leadership strategies, and structuring developing nations for success. He has acted as moderator for many global conferences.He is also a consultant and Advisor for Dr. Tshibangu Mukumbay’s presidential campaign in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dr. Egolf is also a consultant for a candidate in Zimbabwe.
Dr. Egolf works closely with Senator Richard Black of the 13th district of Virginia concerning Foreign Policy directly related to Syria.Dr. Egolf currently spearheads the debt reconstruction for three nations and is the liaison for economic development for Mauritania, Bahamas, Burundi, and Suriname. He is working with a colleague in developing an economic strategy for reconstruction for Syria – post war to be submitted to the Administration.Dr. Egolf was the Vice-President of the Human Rights Global Congress (HRGC) from 2013- 2016. A United Nations recognized organization that promoted civil dialogue and produced strategies for the defusing of conflict.
He is currently the host of Experience Life Today a weekly television program he and his wife founded in 2009 that is seen in four states Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia, including Washington DC.He received the Girma Wolde-Giogis Award (former president of Ethiopia) as a Human Conservation Solutionist as a result of his work as Vice President of the Human Rights Global Congress.
He was the Washington D.C. Capital Director for the United States National Prayer Council (USNPC) from May 2014 – Jan. 2016.He was co-founder and president of Mt. Calvary International Ministerial Fellowship (MCIMF) from 2003-2010. It began with 12 members and increased to 500 in seven years. Spiritual leaders represented six nations in West Africa. Dr. Egolf taught spiritual leadership principles and was a yearly conference speaker.
Partner at VesaliuX, and Consultant at TCMS Global- USA
Dr. John Weatherspoon, JD, PhD is an Intellectual Property Consultant at TCMS Global (www.tcmsglobal.com) and a Partner at VesaliuX, a Cross-Border Accelerator for technology companies (http://vesaliux.com/). Dr. Weatherspoon is also an experienced business, corporate and intellectual property attorney with extensive experience advising corporate legal departments. For over the past fifteen years, he has represented numerous corporations and other clients. He regularly advises clients on strategies for patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret protection. He has served as outside legal counsel and in-house counsel for clients. As a patent attorney, he has experience handling intellectual property cases that cover a wide range of different technologies including, for example, technologies from the telecommunications, semiconductor, computer, aerospace, electronics, petrochemical, biomedical, nanotechnology, genomics and pharmaceutical industries, to name just a few examples. He also has extensive experience counseling clients on developing their intellectual property portfolios, and also enforcing intellectual property rights (through licensing; litigation; settlement; etc); providing competitor intelligence; and conducting patentability, freedom-to-operate, infringement, validity and product clearance opinions for clients. He regularly assists clients with strategic issues involving the acquisition, development and monetization of their intellectual property. He also has many years of transactional experience including preparation of collaboration agreements, and he also regularly conducts intellectual property due diligence for clients.
Founder /Director of Marketing The Cashew Apple Project - Nigeria/USA
A published children’s author, a storyteller, and a musician. The Founder/CEO of nonprofit “JUMA Kids Inc.”, her mission to help young readers and writers across the globe create something beautiful out of a difficult experience. She is the daughter of the the late Nigerian politician Matthew Mamah, and continues her father’s mission to create a better Africa, and a better world.
Partner, Famsville Solicitors- Nigeria
CORE PRACTICE AREAS: IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Mr Dayo Adu is a Partner and leads the Immigration employment and regulatory compliance practice group at Famsville Solicitors, is a corporate law firm with offices in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. He advises on issues relating to regulatory compliance with particular reference to expatriate employee work authorization and regulatory approvals. His clients include four of the largest FMCG’s, mining and resources including oil and gas, information technology, financial services and other industries.
Mr Adu is a professional negotiator and mediator and also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is also a member of the International Bar Association and has co-authored the Nigeria chapter for several notable international publications on Labour & Employment including the Global Legal Group publishers of Getting the Deal Through/International Comparative Legal Guide: for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. He also contributed the Nigeria chapter on overview of Nigeria Labour Laws published in the globally renowned xpertHRguide. He is a working member of the Global employment institute of the International Bar Association “IBA” and advises various multinational companies on their Corporate Immigration concerns on a daily basis.
Dayo advises on regulatory compliance and emerging corporate immigration issues in Nigeria. He is also a member of the team that produced the Corporate Immigration Manual in Nigeria.
President, World Green Economy Council- Egypt
From 2016- Till Present: President of WGECO: World Green Economy Council www.WGECO.org From 2008- Till Present: President of HRMI: Human Resource Management Institute www.HRMI.org From 2012- Till Present: Adjunct Professor at: Misr University for Science & Technology (MUST), the University of America (UA) and Euclid Intergovernmental University (EU) From 2016 -Till Present: Founding Member of the Supreme Energy Efficiency Committee of Egypt by the Ministerial decrees no 649 – 2016. From 2013-2017: Chief Consultant at United Nations- Energy Efficiency Project JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for developing the national energy efficiency standards & labeling (S&L), MEPS, testing laboratories, market analysis studies and public awareness campaigns to transform the Egyptian market towards high efficiency appliances. 2011- 2013: General Manager at Hyma Group, Egypt.
JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for Strategic Planning with the Balanced Scorecard. As well as Managing daily operations including: Marketing & Sales, HR, Supply Chain, IT, Manufacturing processes and Operating Budget in proactive ways to provide our customers with the highest quality plastic products & services at right prices and achieve annual revenue of EGP400 million with sustainable growth rate.
2009- 2011: Operations Director, Alshamrani Group, KSA. JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for all manufacturing and construction operations for the group of companies which include: steel fabrication factory, portacabin factory, concrete batching plant and contracting company with the aim of creating maximum value for the all stakeholders and Controlling an annual revenue of SAR 450 million. 2008-2009: Plant Manager, AutoCool Co, 10th of Ramadan, Egypt.
JOB SUMMARY: Managing day-to-day operations of the factory which include: HR, Supply Chain, R&D, Manufacturing processes and Operating Budget with Lean Strategies to provide accurate quality and quantity of HVAC products on-time delivery and customer satisfaction.
1997 – 2007: Technical & Quality Manager at Electrolux, Egypt. JOB SUMMARY: Establish and Maintain QMS (ISO9001), EMS (ISO14001) and OHSAS 18001. Develop Products and Manufacturing Processes according to Lean manufacturing techniques with agreed budgets. 1994-1996: Teaching & Research Assistant, Higher Technological Institute, 10th of Ramadan.
JOB SUMMARY: Teaching Mechanical Engineering Courses and Students Evaluation.
CEO, Emerald Planet Foundation and Host Emerald Planet TV - United States
Dr. Sam Lee Hancock is the President and Executive Director of Emerald Planet International Foundation (Emerald Planet) and The Emerald Planet Television Productions with its headquarters and television production studio in Washington, D.C., USA. (Emerald Planet is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1973, dedicated to sustainable environmental and economic development in 144 nations, 750 cities, and some 50,000 communities around the globe). This is an ongoing effort that identifies 1,000 sustainable economic and environmental “best practices” around the globe, linking leaders with ‘green’ technologies, services, and products to those in need around the globe. These linkages are created, supported, and expanded by weekly simulcast television programs to 2,095 stations around the United States and 214 countries and territories overseas by the Internet, in-country cable television channels, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and various other social networking sites, as well as features through local, national, and international radio broadcasts, billboards, and various print-based media. The Emerald Planet International Foundation collaborates with PanAmerican/PanAfrican Association in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Dr. Hancock provides professional services on creation of the agenda for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in the areas of sustainable food, clean water, sanitation, and energy production in both developed and emerging market nations including scalable small-to-medium sized enterprises. He is invited to and participates in United Nations conferences and seminars at: United Nations headquarters in New York; UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) headquarters in Paris; and was an official delegate at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dr. Hancock is President of Hancock International, focusing on global investments and exports. His activities include identifying, organizing, coordinating, managing, delivering, and evaluating the work of international project teams, technical specialists, manufacturers, and funding sources for projects in 72 nations. This work includes — but is not limited to — project and operations management, exporting/importing, systems evaluations, supply chain processes, statistical quality control, total quality management (TQM), and ISO 9000/9001-4 and ISO 14,000 certifications. Dr. Hancock has earned a doctorate in management with special concentrations in international economics, management information systems, political science, and leadership from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia USA. He is a Certified Professional Manager [CM] through the Institute of Certified Professional Managers (located on the campus of James Madison University), Harrisonburg, Virginia USA.
eHealth WHO African Regional Technical Officer, WHO
Board Advisor at Sonangol- Angola
CEO, Morgado, MorGroup- Netherlands
“Eng. Paulo J. Marques Morgado MBA, MPhill
CEO / Senior Partner International Strategy
Paulo J. Marques Morgado is the CEO of MorGroup, an initiative of international business experts with strong academic background born out of entrepreneurial spirit, and the desire to help companies across the world to thrive and grow in a sustainable manner. He is teaching at the University of Groningen, in the Faculty of Economics and Business, International Business and Management courses. Developed Learning Community themes involving cross discipline students and professionals towards solving real world challenges. He was Financial Director for Nalco Angola, a Joint Venture of Nalco Energy Services (an Ecolab Company) in Angola, to support the Oil and Gas industry. Elaborated a plan to improve finance, business reporting, and Business Operations. Developed profitability and performance visibility tools and engaged local and International Partners in several Projects to make improvements and build local capabilities. Between 2006 and 2013 worked at Eastman Chemical Company, based in The Netherlands as a Business Finance Analyst EMEA. Played a leadership role in driving new business development planning, Investment Appraisals, Capital Budgeting, Financial Planning, Strategic modeling, and support of the innovation process. Proposed numerous strategic investments to senior-level finance and business, and C-level executives.
His first university education is on Electrotechnics from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, with a specialty in Information systems, telecommunications and energy management. He has an MBA in General and Strategic Management from the Maastricht School of Management, and an MPhil in economics from the Maastricht School of Management. He is currently enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Groningen, with research on Sustained Competitiveness.
He worked in different industries like defense, telecom, data storage, FMCG, chemicals and Oil & Gas with large known international and global companies, in operations, sales and marketing and finance. He has people skills. He is creative and reveals vision and leadership, able to work with customers to solve sophisticated problems, generate ideas for new projects and programs. He has good presentation and coaching skills. He has developed competencies in finance, cross function processes, effective management, marketing, innovation, analytical and strategic problem-solving skills.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Project Management • Effective Project Management • Strategic Project Planning • Global Strategy • Innovation • Strategic Thinking • Financial Valuations for Joint Ventures • Global Perspectives • Six Sigma • Software Engineering • Strategic Account Sales • Applying Improvisation • Design Thinking • Excellence at work”
Co-Founder & COO Volta- California
Co-founder, GreenWize Energy- Kenya
Evans Wadongo is a Co-founder at GreenWize Energy, which is advancing cutting-edge African-designed renewable energy solutions in Sub Saharan Africa. He is also the founder of Sustainable Development For All, an organisation that has helped lift thousands of mostly rural people out of poverty. Mr. Wadongo is also the Chairman of Wadson Ventures, an angel impact investment firm working with promising African start-ups. At 19, he designed the first-ever African designed solar lamp, dubbed MwangaBora®. Evans has received several global awards including CNN Hero, Outstanding Social Entrepreneur in Africa, Pan Commonwealth Youth Award for excellence in Development, and the Mikhail Gorbachev Award for Man Who Changed the World. He has also been named among Africa’s ’30 under 30’ best young entrepreneurs by Forbes, listed among top 35 innovators under 35 by MIT Technology Review, and named among 20 Men who will shape the next 20 years by UK’s Esquire magazine. Wadongo grew up in a rural village in western Kenya before earning a BSc. (Honors) in Electronic and Computer Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Attorney, Foster LLP-Houston, Texas
Emmanuel Arowolo is an attorney with Foster LLP, a leading immigration law firm delivering a full spectrum of U.S. and global immigration solutions. Renowned for responsive, customized service, Foster works on behalf of the largest employers worldwide, top emerging and midmarket companies, investors and entrepreneurs, to provide mission-critical advice, consultation and immigration support. Foster is the Official Immigration Law Firm for ATGIS 2018.
Mr. Arowolo graduated from North West University, South Africa where he was awarded a Diploma in Human Rights Law followed by a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). Mr. Arowolo possesses more than 10 years of U.S. immigration law experience. Mr. Arowolo has experience handling various areas of U.S. Employment-based Immigration Law, with significant experience servicing multinational corporate clients, midsized companies and individuals looking to do business, expand operations or invest in the United States. He regularly advises U.S. based companies and their international affiliates on nonimmigrant and immigrant visa options as well as treaty based investment visas. He also has experience with EB-5 investments through regional centers. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the New York State Bar Association.
Managing Partner of Chanzo Capital-Ghana
Eric Osiakwan, Managing Partner of Chanzo Capital is an Entrepreneur and Investor with 15 years of ICT industry leadership across Africa and the world. He has worked in 32 African countries setting up ISPs, ISPAs, IXPs and high-tech startups. He Co-Founded Angel Africa List, Angel Fair Africa and currently serves on the board of Farmerline, SMS GH, Forhey, Teranga Solutions, SeeSayDo, Oasis Websoft, Siqueries, Amp.it, SameLogic, Bisa app, Wanjo Foods, Ghana Cyber City and WABco – some of which are his investments.
He was part of the team that built the TEAMS submarine cable in East Africa and an ICT Consultant for the WorldBank, Soros Foundations, UNDP, USAID, USDoJ, USDoS as well as African governments and private firms.
He authored “The KINGS of Africa’s Digital Economy”, co-authored the “Open Access Model”, adopted globally by the telecommunications industry, “Negotiating the Net” – the politics of Internet Diffusion in Africa and “The Internet in Ghana” with the Mosaic Group. He was invited to contribute ideas to Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Commission for Africa. Eric is a TED, Stanford, MIT and Harvard fellow.
Managing Director, First African Investment Holding- Angola
CEO, Blueprint Creative Group, The Branding Experts - Florida, USA
A self-proclaimed branding geek, Fabiola Fleuranvil gets deeply excited by solving the most complex branding challenges and repositioning brands for break out success. As CEO of Blueprint Creative Group established in 2006, she’s managed all aspects of marketing strategy and brand development for a range of industries from government and public agencies to higher education, travel and tourism, non-profit and social organizations, and the corporate sector. Her expertise and capabilities include marketing strategy, brand development, economic development marketing, public relations and media strategy, digital marketing and social media engagement, tourism promotions, and international relations. She keeps her finger on the pulse of marketing innovation by studying trends that shape consumer behavior, understanding how data drives marketing, and being a connoisseur of technology.
Since 2006, Blueprint Creative Group has earned credibility and a reputation for bringing organizations out of times of crisis, driving awareness for growing brands, and scaling media campaigns. As cultural connoisseurs and passionate world travelers, travel and tourism makes up a nice chunk of Blueprint Creative’s business. The agency has worked with destinations that either needed to reimagine their positioning and/or expand their reach to new audience segments, including VISIT Florida, Guyana Tourism Authority in South America, the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, Tourist Board of Spain, and Belize Tourism Board, among others. Corporate clients have included NeighborWorks America, Florida A&M University, Inter-American Development Bank, City of North Miami, City of Miami Gardens, Miami-Dade County, Florida Blue Florida Classic, among others.
As a result of her success in business and leadership and her advocacy for community development, entrepreneurship, and community organizing, Fabiola has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Legacy Magazine 2011 20 Under 40, South Florida Business Journal’s 2013 40 Under 40, the Miami Herald 2014 40 Under 40, Legacy Magazine 2017 Trailblazer of the Year, and Weston Lifestyle Magazine PR & Media award, among other recognitions. She’s also been profiled and featured more than 20 times in media, including Forbes, Miami Herald, NPR, South Florida Times, and the Miami Times, among dozens of other features. She was also added to the Miami Herald’s CEO Roundtable.
Executive Director & Co-Founder, Global Commerce Education- New York City, USA
Gene Detroyer is Executive Director and Co-Founder of Global Commerce Education Inc. (“GCE”). GCE features The G2 Experience, “G2” for Global Growth. It is an innovative learning program to accelerates the global expansion of companies by giving their leaders competencies through action learning, deep immersion and rich networking and global business hubs. The G2 Experience programs are designed uniquely for SMEs around the world wishing to enter global markets.
Mr. Detroyer is also visiting professor teaching International Business at the International School of Guizhou University of Finance and Economics in Guiyang, China.
Prior to that, Mr. Detroyer taught for 10 years at the European School of Economics where he taught the capstone course for MBAs, Entrepreneurship, and International Business. He also spent four years teaching Entrepreneurship and International Business at the Weller International Business School in Paris. France. He has lectured at the New York Institute of Business and Finance.
Before setting out on a teaching career, Mr. Detroyer spent 17 years with international companies including running a U.S. consumer division of a Dutch company. In addition to GCE, Mr. Detroyer previously successfully started two other companies, one in media and one in pharmaceuticals.
Gene has appeared on CNBC and was a member of the delegation to support legislation for the ExIm Bank for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from the Columbia Business School.
CIO, Humaniq - London, UK
Hazem is the Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Advisor of Humaniq and the founder of multiple accelerators and incubators. Hazem also sits on the board of multiple public and private entities where he focuses on the changing financial and regulatory systems and the global distribution of and access to finance, alternative finance and advanced technologies. Hazem has also worked with the Royal Bank of Canada and the Boston Consulting Group in various roles related to FinTech and frequently speaks on the future of blockchain and artificial intelligence and their changing legal and economic implications.
Co-Founding Director & Vice-President, Focal Point Global (FPG)- USA
Ms. Hussainatu Blake is Co-Founding Director & Vice-President of Focal Point Global (FPG)—an international EDTECH nonprofit empowering underserved youth to tackle community issues through global education and innovative technology. Since FPG launched in 2010, Hussainatu has developed and organized two HIVAIDS Education Initiatives, a Child Trafficking Awareness project, and their flagship project Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship Initiative (YEEI) connecting nearly 300 students from the US, Cameroon, The Gambia, Namibia, and South Africa.
Hussainatu began working with African immigrants while living in Germany, where she assisted the NAACP with educating Africans about their legal rights and available health resources. She also worked for World Relief in Maryland, where she assisted African immigrants, particularly teenagers, with legal issues. In addition, Hussainatu worked for the United Nations (UN) affiliate, International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Counter-Trafficking Department in South Africa, where she aided African immigrants who were trafficked throughout the African continent. She has written about slavery and racial discrimination in Africa for International Affairs Forum, a publication of the Center for International Relations in Washington, DC.
Hussainatu has been recognized by the US White House Champions of Change Initiative; featured on Black Enterprise; presented at TEDxEmory, and served as Keynote Speaker at the Southern Regional Model UN Conference and several top universities such as Harvard University, Tufts University, NYU, and Georgetown University. Hussainatu is also an Advisor for the Global Education Conference and member of the Global Campaign for Education – US coalition.
Hussainatu has a Bachelors of Arts from Tufts University, a Masters Degree in International Policy from Middlebury College and a law degree from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School.
Co-head of IOME Family Office- Saudi Arabia
Ida Beerhalter is co-heading IOME, an private investment office of omen principals from the Gulf with its head office in Riyadh, Kingdom Saudi Arabia.
Ditionally she currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of ustees of Astia, USA, a unique not-for-profit organization build on a mmunity of over 5,000 experts dedicated to propel women’s full neurs and leaders in high-growth businesses, fuelling innovation and driving economic growth, as Member of the Board of Auma Obama Foundation Sauti Kuu, Germany & Kenia, a foundation which provides structures and teaches children and adolescents to become mentally, socially and financially self-reliant, as Head of Family Office Investments Division at Green Sands Equity, a boutique private equity investment and corporate finance advisory firm, headquartered in San Francisco, as Vice Chairman of the board of Trustees of First Light Trust, United Kingdom, a grass-roots, community-based charity which assists the ‘hard to reach’ veterans by providing physical, emotional and psychological aid, as member of the advisory board of Professors Without Borders, United Kingdom, a social enterprise focused on providing higher education opportunities for students around the world, as Member of the Board of slavefreetrade, Switzerland, a movement aimed at eliminating slavery in the supply chains of the products that we buy, as Member of the Advisory Board of the Arab African Economic Development Initiative (AAEDI), Nigeria & Dubai, which will promote and improve international relations between Arab countries and African countries and the trade exchange and dealings between them, member of the board of Jim Button Foundation, Germany, which raises and donates funds to provide via its three social partners education for underprivileged children and youths in Africa, as Member of the Advisory Council of Omnia Strategy LLP, United Kingdom, a pioneering international law firm that provides strategic counsel to governments, corporates & private clients, as Senior Advisor to Women Political Leaders Global Forum (WPL), Switzerland, the global network of female Parliamentarians, as Advisor to Yunus Social Business GmbH, Germany, dedicated to setting up and investing in non-dividend companies created to solve sustainably social or environmental problems, as Investment Advisor at Bellwald Partner GmbH, Switzerland, the investment arm of a multi-family office, as Strategic Advisor to Impact Investment Partners LLP, United Kingdom, specialized in investing in critical service sectors in emerging markets, as Global Fellow of the G20 Foundation, a platform acting as process enabler and a facilitator between governments, business, academia and the millennial generation, as Member of the advisory board of Social Business Earth, Switzerland, dedicated to raise the awareness on Social Business and to create new social businesses that will benefit the poor and the disadvantaged in countries around the globe, as Ambassador to TBLI Group, The Netherlands, dedicated to raising awareness and educating financial professionals on the benefits and opportunities of ESG and Impact Investing, as Advisor to the Sofia Foundation and the Female Board Pool Brussels Chapter, Belgium, a pan-European not-for-profit organization with the distinct focus and mission to encourage women to positions of equity and influence on Boards of Directors of companies and organizations, and as Spokesperson of the advisory board of the Charité Entrepreneurship Summit, Germany. Ida is registered acquisition coach at High- Tech-Gruender-Fonds, Germany, which is managing three +250 mio € seed funds and which has helped to start up more than 500 companies since 2005 in Germany, and serves as expert reviewer and coach at the European Venture Contest, which identifies each year the most promising European companies from the LifeSciences, ITC and CleanTech sector out of more than 700 companies. She is also a seasoned Investor who manages her own investment portfolio. In 2015 Ida was selected as a 2015 TIAW World of Difference 100 Award recipient
Senior Research Analyst, EMPEA - Washington, D.C
Isabelle Diop is a Senior Research Analyst at EMPEA, where she covers Sub-Saharan Africa and India. She is from Senegal and is fluent in French. Prior to joining EMPEA, she worked for UBS and Paris-based Amundi Asset Management. She graduated from Brown University with a B.A in Business, Entrepreneurship and Organizations.
Founder ICT Africa- United States
Transformational Brand Strategist at JBK Brand Design- USA
Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, Convergencium LTD- Rwanda
CFO, Humaniq- United Kingdom
Javed Khattak is a qualified actuary (FIA) who is currently the CFO of Humaniq, the Co-founder & CEO of Zisk Properties and the Co-founder & CEO of JKCoach. His clients have included from startups to organisations with over liabilities of over £5bn and market cap of over £60bn. He is on various boards and regularly advises Companies on many different aspects including ICOs, crypto/blockchain, real estate, finance and strategy. He has advised and/or worked for some of the most respected global organisations including HSBC, Thomson Reuters, GSK, M&S, Aviva, PwC and PA Consulting Group – and often works with senior management to develop solutions to complex problems with a track record of delivering successfully. He is also a keen entrepreneur and investor, and a strong believer in giving back to the society.
His area of expertise include:
– actuarial; pensions / employee reward, investments and risk management, longevity, M&A
– strategy including economic, commercial & financial, innovation, new markets
– technology including blockchain, crypto, gadgets,
– data and modelling based analysis and decision making
– leading development of sophisticated models
– leadership / management
– stakeholder management, conflict resolution and developing long lasting relationships
Chief Executive, Periwinkle Group
Jo Cato serves an award-winning Chief Executive with extensive global and national strategic expertise at Periwinkle Group.
As its CEO, Cato plays a pivotal role in the strategic direction of all clients within the agency. Cato is one of the most respected strategists in Nevada, and has directed advertising, marketing and public relations campaigns for major corporations and public entities. She works closely with state and local elected officials, as well as corporations in the entertainment, medical, gaming, manufacturing, hospitality, energy and transportation industries to fully engage in policy discussions taking place throughout Nevada, regionally and globally.
Prior to launching her own firm, Cato worked as Vice President of Marketing and Government Affairs for a global tele-communications company, where she managed and carried out lobbying efforts at the local, state and federal government levels. In her capacity of VP of Marketing she was responsible to brand the corporation to consumers globally. A strategically minded professional, the heart of Cato’s passion resides in the development of marketing and outreach strategies for her clients. She is both widely recognized and highly regarded as a media and public policy expert and has served as an advisor to a wide variety of executives, public officials, businesses, and private and public agencies regarding public policy, strategic planning, strategic alignment, distribution, business development, global initiatives, branding globally, community outreach and diversity. Under Jo’s leadership, Periwinkle is certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and has developed small and diverse outreach programs for public entities and private companies in Nevada, Nigeria, Cameroon, Jamaica, Bermuda, Aruba, Kingdom of Bahrain to name a few since 2005. Cato is a visionary who conceives and manages innovative, effective, and fully integrated strategic services to media companies and projects. She has led major strategic campaigns on positioning, identity, naming and brand architecture assignments. Cato’s successful track record has also made her a highly sought-after public affairs and communications specialist by various entities within Southern Nevada, nationally and globally.
Her originality and ability to bring much clarity to complex projects has successfully delivered results for entities such as: (to name a few)
Executive Director, Ignite Trade Africa- Kenya
“KEZY KAMAU-MUKIRI is a graduate of the University of Nairobi where she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) and a Master’s degree in International Relations. She was called to the bar in 2005 and practiced Civil, Commercial and Business Law.
She is the CEO /Founder of Zuri Events Ltd (www.zurievents.com) – a brand management and experiential marketing firm which is the leading champion of Sustainable Event Management in East Africa. In this role, she provides strategic leadership within the areas of branding, business development, marketing, risk management, resource mobilization and partnership development. A dynamic lawyer and entrepreneur, Kezy is passionate about building strong brands and sustainable enterprises on the African Continent. She has worked with some of the region’s largest MNCs, government institutions, International Organisations and MSMEs.
Kezy is also the Executive Director of Ignite Trade Africa (www.ignitetradeafrica.com) – a Business Development firm that is working to promote Inclusive trade for Sustainable Development. Ignite Trade Africa works to enhance the participation of SMEs in Intra-Africa trade by building the capacity of SMEs through training and providing access to market information.
She is also a senior partner at Mukiri Global Advocates (www.mga-legal.com) – a Law Firm that offers legal, tax and business consultancy services.
In 2015 Kezy was selected to join the Mandela Washington Fellowship. The fellowship is the flagship project of President Obama’s YALI -Young African Leaders Initiative. This opportunity gave her access to a vibrant network of young entrepreneurs across Africa.
In addition, in 2015, she was selected amongst only 69 women entrepreneurs across the globe for the Vital Voices Global Partnership fellowship which seeks to enhance the capacity of entrepreneurs to build sustainable enterprises and change communities. Kezy is also an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women program.
Kezy is passionate about Internationalization of Trade. She sits on the board of the Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT) (www.owitnairobi.org) where she facilitates access to opportunities and partnerships for local MSMEs to access global markets for their products and services. “
CEO, Henson Geodata Technologies Ltd- Ghana
Founding CEO of wiseHer- United States
Kathryn Rose is a nationally sought-after digital marketing and sales strategist, personal branding expert, trainer, author and sought out speaker. For over 20 years, Kathryn has been keenly focused on developing, supporting, and connecting women to succeed in business. Kathryn is a fearless leader, true innovator and has demonstrated sales expertise across every channel platform.
Kathryn Rose is the founding CEO of wiseHer, a revolutionary platform offering on-demand expert advice for women in business, career and life. Prior to devoting her focus to wiseHer, Kathryn was an executive marketing consultant for large global and local clients developing targeted online campaigns resulting in millions of engaged fans, followers and connections. Kathryn experience has taken her from startup to multimillion dollar companies. She is an award-winning Wall Street sales leader driving $100 million+ in annual sales and in channel marketing with global B2B clients. She has been has been featured in Working Woman Magazine, Guideposts Magazine, Network CEO, and Fox News , CBS Marketwatch and Channel 12 News.
Kathryn is a highly sought after speaker at leading global industry events with technology powerhouses Google, IBM, Dell EMC and others and has delivered presentations at conferences focused on helping IT professionals, women and small business leaders achieve a higher level of success. Kathryn is on the faculty for the IT leading association COMPTIA and a member of the Executive Council of Advancing Women in Technology and a sales coach for MBA candidates at Harvard Business School.. She is the author of 9 books including two best-sellers: Solving the Social Media Puzzle and Return on Relationship.
Kathryn is regarded for her grit, tenacity, creative problem solving, glass-half-filled approach and her ability to laugh, always. A tireless champion for women, Kathryn has received accolades for her vision, commitment, and leadership. Kathryn has dedicated her career to coaching, speaking, and writing best-selling business books that drive business owners to greater success with their sales and marketing efforts. She has created an outstanding network of women at every level, and in many industries, to support and promote women in their businesses or careers.
Founder and CEO of KDHI Agriculture- Ghana
Commissioner on African Affairs, Maryland, and CEO of Miss Africa USA Pageant- Washington DC USA
Senior Partner & COO, Compass Solutions- Washington DC, USA
“A Business Executive with over 20 years of successful Technology Industry experience ranging from Telecommunications, Internet technology, Infrastructure and Cyber
security to Software & Technology People Resource solutions.
A seasoned professional with solid understanding of the Public, Private, Commercial and Corporate business
sectors in the United States and Overseas.
Successful track record in International Business Development (IBD), with strong and practical understanding of Evolving and
Emerging Markets (EE&M)
“
Founder and Managing Director, Baobab Consulting- New York
Executive Vice President, Initiative for Global Development (IGD)- Washington, D.C
Leila Ndiaye serves as the Executive Vice-President of the Initiative for Global Development (IGD). IGD is a Washington-based network of African and global business leaders who are committed to advancing sustainable development and inclusive growth through business investment.
Ndiaye, a native of Côte d’Ivoire and dual citizen of Senegal, will be responsible for driving the strategic direction for IGD’s programming and policy engagements, overseeing the growth of the Frontier Leader Network, and building strategic alliances with key stakeholders to advance organizational priorities.With 25 years of experience as an African affairs expert and accomplished senior policy and business strategist, Ndiaye has a proven track record in policy design and implementation at the highest level of African governments and the private sector.
Prior to joining IGD, she served as the Senior Director of Policy for African Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In that position, she developed, promoted and executed the US-Africa Business Center’s program of work relating to trade policy and investment between the United States and African countries. She initiated and managed the US-ECOWAS Business Initiative and spearheaded the Chamber’s program in Western and Central Sub-Saharan Africa, from Angola to Mauritania.
Previously, she worked with the government of Côte d’Ivoire as special adviser to the former Head of State, where she advised the Head of State on a range of policy, national security and economic issues to ensure that all duties were carried out in the best interest of the country as a whole.
Ndiaye is an Advisor to McLarty Associates, where she advises clients on trade and investment in West Africa. McLarty Associates is an international strategic advisory firm headquartered in Washington, DC, that delivers diplomatic solutions and advises many emerging companies venturing abroad.
Earlier in her career, Ndiaye held positions in the lobbying arena with Bayh, Connaughton, Fernsteinhem and Malone, law firm of former Senator Birch Bayh, in Washington, D.C. where she developed and managed the Africa portfolio and at the World Bank as a consultant.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce presented Ms. Ndiaye with the “US-Africa Business Center Outstanding Leaders’ Award 2018” in recognition of her exemplary leadership in US-Africa relations.
She is a recipient of the 2016 Excellence Award by the Women Ambassadors Foundation in Washington DC and was nominated in 2008 as one of the 50 most influential people of Côte d’Ivoire by the magazine l’Intelligent d’Abidjan and received the same year the Women’s Private Sector Initiative Award in Côte d’Ivoire.
In 1990, she was the first Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from Côte d’Ivoire to South Africa during apartheid. Leila Ndiaye is a member of the African Leadership Network, a membership community of the most dynamic and influential new-generation leaders in Africa.
She received a certificate from the Thayer Leaders Development Group (TLDG) at West Point for the “Women Leading from the Front Lines” Leadership Academy in August 2017.
Leila Ndiaye holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the School of International Service (SIS), at The American University in Washington DC, earned a Master of Arts in Diplomacy with merit from the Diplomatic Academy of London at the University of Westminster, and a PhD degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, from the Centre d’Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques (CEDS), Paris.
Founder & Producer, L'Afrique c'est Chic World and Africa is Calling You- France
Founder & President, Leading Women of Africa (LWA)- South Africa
Madelein is a Visionary Entrepreneur whose dream is to shape a new generation of African leaders through various programmes. Madelein has built an unparalleled reputation for her innovative thinking and her strategic approach to women and business development in Africa. Through her leadership, she is building global influence, catalyzing change and driving innovation.
She is Founder & President of Leading Women of Africa (LWA) and currently the Director of LWA-Corporate Investment, a firm that increases the number of women involved in investment, international trade and other services in Africa. She sits on the board of South African Small and Medium Enterprise Federation (SASMEF) and has experience in business development, strategic planning, policy, programme design, implementation, leadership training and women’s empowerment strategies. Madelein’s passion is seeing women contribute to rebuilding the continent through access in the mainstream economy. She was mentored by one of the founders of Africa, the First President of Zambia, Dr. David Kenneth Kaunda.
CEO & President, Constituency for Africa (CFA)- United States
CEO, Ross Solar Energy- Texas, USA
Michael Ross is a veteran – former US army combat engineer, and president of Ross Solar Energy Co, a division of Ross Medical Supplies, LLC (RMS). We are a Veteran Owned Small Business, based in Austin, TX, with office in Lagos, Nigeria. RMS has been in business since 2009 and has several companies under its LLC umbrella to include the following fields: Solar Energy, Medical Supplies, Wellness, and a non-profit organization.
Managing Director of Accite Holdings- Botswana
Michelle Adelman, Managing Director of Accite Holdings, has been named by CEO Magazine 2017’s “Most Influential Woman in Business” for Botswana & SADC North. She is a seasoned strategist, a recognized business leader, and a fierce social impact advocate who is passionate about developing sustainable methods to achieve food security in Africa and other emerging markets.
Accite is an impact investment fund building a portfolio of business in southern Africa based on renewable and sustainable technology. Accite’s development philosophy marries proven technologies, globally-experienced partners and localized business models to create businesses that create net new economic growth. Accite’s model focuses on investing in technology-led, renewable and sustainable projects in southern Africa. Current projects include utility production scale hydroponic horticulture and animal feed production.
Michelle also currently serves as Group Strategy Executive for Econet Wireless Group.
Author,co-founder & Managing Director of Africommunications Group (ACG)- South Africa
Author, co-founder & Managing Director of Africommunications Group (ACG), a pan-African public relations company, Mimi Kalinda leverages her experience of almost two decades in communications in Africa and abroad to argue and highlight the importance of giving Africans a voice and recreating the African continent’s narrative.
Following on the release of her new e-book, the PR and Communications maven continues the work of ensuring Africans are given a platform to shift the African narrative as the host of a new show called #TalkingToAfrica on Africa Business Radio (ABR). The objective of the show is to discuss the tale of Africa: what it currently is, who shapes it, how it impacts the continent’s development and what can be done to ensure Africans own their own storytelling tools and platforms.
The New York University graduate is also the Director of Communications for the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), a network of centres of excellence incubating STEM education for Africa’s brightest students while searching for the next Einstein in Africa.
Her love for Africa has allowed her to form part of 2017 Archbishop Tutu Fellow Leadership programme. Additionally, she sits on the Africa Brand Counsel and was nominated for the Women4Africa Awards 2016 as a finalist for the International African Woman of the Year Award.
Visionary Founder & Managing Director, Empower Limited- Tanzania
University of California, Berkeley- California
Founder & President, EB5 Capital-USA
“Angelique Brunner is the Founder and President of EB5 Capital, a $500 million EB-5 investment fund. She provides strategic direction to the entire company including oversight of the investments, marketing and legal departments as well as the company’s expansion into African markets.
Ms. Brunner is an expert in the creative financing industry, a highly respected EB-5 investment fund manager and an enthusiastic advocate for innovative corporate financing solutions. She represents the EB-5 Investment Coalition (EB-5IC) as its Industry Membership Chair & Spokesperson and serves as a board member for Invest in the USA (IIUSA), the Washington Architectural Foundation (WAF), and is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the Real Estate Executive Council (REEC), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is a Founding Member of the Silicon Valley Blockchain Society (SVBS).”
Chairman, Better Globe Group-Norway
Rino Solberg is a well-known Norwegian Inventor, Entrepreneur, Industrialist, Philanthropist, Speaker and Author who has built businesses on 4 continents over 50 years, written and published 10 Books within the area of “Personal and Business Development”.
Senior Director, Government Affairs & Policy, Sub Saharan Africa, Johnson & Johnson - South Africa
Group CEO, Moro Group-Bostwana
Founder and CEO, Astro Mobile Africa- South Africa
Munyaradzi Alois Gwatidzo is a Zimbabwean entrepreneur born on the 29th of March 1983. He is the Founder and CEO of Astro Mobile Africa an Afro Centric tech company that designs, manufactures and distributes premium electronic devices including but not limited to Smart TVs, Mobile devices and accessories.
He Founded Astro Mobile Africa in 2012, after having attempted various entrepreneurial ventures. Under his leadership Astro Mobile Africa has grown to become a genuinely Pan-African Multinational by setting up offices in Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius which serves as the headquarters. Astro Mobile Africa has a distribution network that spans the African continent. By 2020 Astro Mobile plans to be operating in 25 African countries. Currently Astro Mobile Africa is building a device manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe.
Munyaradzi Alois Gwatidzo’s vision and that of Astro is to pioneer innovation through localized creativity. This can be seen throughout Astro Mobile’s wide product range which is of premium quality designed for the African user and reasonably priced to ensure Affordability.
For his leadership excellence and business acumen, Munyaradzi has been recognized by business communities across Africa through the following accolades:
2015 AAE (African Awards for Entrepreneurs) Awards – Winner `Most Mature Business` Category. This Award Is Run by African Leadership Network.
2015 ZNCC (Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce) – Winner Young Entrepreneur of the Year
2015 SMES International Expo – Gold Medal in Telecommunications Category
ICT 2014 Achievers Awards – Runner Up Top ICT Company
ICT 2013 Achievers Awards – Top Young ICT Innovator of The Year
2013 Megafest Business Awards
2013 Buy Zimbabwe Awards – Innovation Award, 2nd Runner Up
ICT 2012 Achievers Awards – Runner Up Top Young ICT Innovator of the Year
In October 2015, Astro Mobile Africa was registered as the holding company domiciled in Mauritius with the strategic intent to support an aggressive multi-tiered African expansion with no less than seventeen priority countries targeted for activation by the end of 2020.
Owner and Operator, Maisie Dunbar Global Experience - Washington D.C, USA
Director Community Health Academy, Last Mile Health
CEO of Central Depository Securities Company- Kenya
Partner, Trans Sahara Investment Corporation- Pennsylvania, USA
FFounder & CEO, Africa Business Pages- United Arab Emirates
Naved Hasan started his career as sub-editor for GULF NEWS, Dubai in 1988. He is CEO and Founder of the Africa Business Pages – one of the leading B2B portals promoting trade to and from Africa. He is also Associate Editor for Africa Business Pages magazine published from Dubai since 1995. He is also a well-known speaker and travels around the world to deliver talks at various fora related to business in Africa.
Business Development Specialist, Export-Import Bank of the- United States
CEO of IMAD TECH- South Africa
Executive Director and CEO at the U.S. Bilateral African Chamber of Commerce- Texas, USA
Founder/Communications Manager, The Cashew Apple Project - USA
After completing her MBA at Berklee College of Music, self-proclaimed artistprenuer Natasha left the corporate world and founded the #iDefineHappy movement. Although she was raised in Philadelphia PA with little knowledge about Africa, In 2016 she joined forces with Dr. Theresa Mamah and Nigerian public figure/philanthropist Anita Okoye, and together they founded “The Cashew Apple Project”, a mission to uncover Africa’s hidden jewels. After visiting Nigeria for the first time she realized that there was a huge lack of information in the black community about the history of their culture and has since made it her mission to use art and entertainment to help close the gap that has separated Africans and Black Americans for so long.
Director, DNL Global Capital LLC- UK
Oladunni is a versatile business expert with almost 2 decades of cosmic professional experience spanning several industries such as Energy, Oil and Gas, FMCG, Education Management, Ecommerce, Real Estate, Investment banking and Project Finance (to mention a few) with wide geographical exposures across different countries. She has very strong analytical background designing business decision models for organisations.
Oladunni is also a certified business and career trainer, consultant and prolific writer. She has written several published and unpublished commentaries, quality management documents and professional books. She is the author of the award winning oil and gas book: “Blackgold Refinery Business Made Easy; the ultimate guide to Oil and Gas Refining business”, a book focused on refinery profitability.
As a business consultant and trainer, Oladunni has mentored several upcoming companies with major focus on profitability ensuring the companies made good return on investment (ROI) within realistic payback period. She has also coached several top level business executives. She is a frequent speaker at business events and has anchored several inductions, trainings, seminars and workshops for organisations across the several countries. She is currently the Director of Originations for DNL Global Capital an organisation focused on project finance for bankable projects across Africa and other Emerging markets.
Oladunni has a Bachelor of technology degree in Pure and Applied Mathematics, a MBA degree in Business Operations Research with a focus on Strategy and Decision Making. In addition to this she is a member of several professional bodies and institutes across several business fields.
Oladunni is an easy going, focused and result oriented professional with an amiable personality.
CEO of Invictus Group-Nigeria
BA (Global) International Studies & Forensic Criminology, Masters of International Relations and Counter-Terrorism Studies (Cum- laude)
Obinwanne Okeke is the founder of Invictus Group and has been extensively involved in sourcing, structuring, implementing and monitoring various private equity investments in African and Australian markets and has over 10 years of investment experience. Prior to founding Invictus Group, he assisted with founding and running other entrepreneurial establishments. He holds a Bachelors and a Master’s degree (MA) in International Relations and Counter Terrorism (cum laude) from Monash University, Australia and has received several leadership honorary awards from local as well as international organizations.
He has received several leadership honorary awards from local as well as international organizations and has been recognized by Forbes as one of the 30 entrepreneurs under 30 to watch. The leading publication also featured him on its cover for June 2016.
He is passionate about people and strongly believes in giving back. Over the last decade he has inspired both businesses and individuals in the private sector to invest in the less privileged and the uneducated in countries across the world. He spear headed inter alia the Literacy Africa project which saw 100 000 (one hundred thousand) books being donated to children in across the African continent in underprivileged schools.
Chief Executive Officer, Footprint to Africa- Nigeria
Osita Oparaugo, Barrister at Law, is the President and CEO of Footprint to Africa Limited. www.footprint2africa.com Footprint to Africa is an investment bridge and financial news company promoting intra African trade and foreign investment opportunities in Africa. He’s a board member of over six companies in different African countries and member, board of directors of Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce. Osita Oparaugo received his Bachelor of Laws degree from The University of Buckingham, United Kingdom and holds several international certifications, including certifications on Capital Markets, Project Finance and Business Strategy from Harvard Business School and Diploma on Cinematography, Film/Video Producing from New York Film Academy. He has also taken courses on resource development centering on project planning, development and implementation in developing countries.Osita Oparaugo is a Merit Award Winner in recognition of his selfless contribution and dedication to rural development in Africa. He is actively involved in various charitable causes around Africa and a lover of football and golf.
CEO, Strategic Security Systems (StratSec) Group of Companies
Oheneba Ofori Boateng is currently at the helm of Strategic Security Systems (StratSec) Group of Companies, which includes SPS the only Solar PV Panel manufacturing company in West Africa. StratSec, currently has 4 subsidiaries including; Strategic Power Solutions (SPS), a renewable energy solutions company, Strategic Clearing Agency (SCA), a supply chain services provider, EScripts a data management and ICT company and LIQSOIL, a construction and engineering company. StraSec employs over 150 staff with 18 satellite offices in all the 10 regions of Ghana, as well as offices in Hong Kong and Sierra Leone.
O. Ofori Boateng brings more than 14 years of corporate experience in Ghana and USA, where he has held many sales and customer relations roles.
A graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax Virginia, USA, Ofori’s career began when he served as a sales manager for Simply Wireless in Virginia from 2004 to 2006. After a short stint with Dell in 2006, Ofori transferred to serve as a customer relation associate and then manager with TD Bank in 2007 and then with Commerce Bank till 2008.
In 2008 Ofori made the decision to move back to Ghana to help grow the family business. Ofori has worked in various capacities in all the subsidiaries at 3SIL, now StratSec. After 8 years learning under his father, Ofori took over as CEO of 3SIL in 2016.
Ofori possesses a strong business and leadership record as CEO and has a deep understanding of the consumer and sales landscape within the African region and beyond.
Ofori is presently a Young Fellow and an Executive member of the Head of State Awards, an initiative by the Duke of Edinburgh. A strong believer in globalisation and collaboration, he is an Executive member of the International Chamber of Commerce, Ghana. He also serves as the chairman World Corporate Golf challenge and a member of International Chamber of Commerce Subcommittee.
Ofori led the rebranding of 3SIL to StratSec to position the company as a globally competitive organisation. Under his leadership SPS won the Emerging Energy Company of the year (Renewable) at the inaugural Energy Awards in 2017. In 2077 the company was also recognised for Best In Innovation at the United Kingdom Ghana Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, in recognition for its commitment to proactively driving improvement through commercial, environmental, and social responsibility.
Married to Sonja, Ofori has 2 beautiful girls; Konamah and Nhyira. He is also an avid golfer and a member of the Achimota Golf Club. Ofori is a staunch Christian and believes in the power of collaboration to achieve success.
Chairman, PDSIGROUP- Dubai, UAE
Founder and CEO, Rockwell Risk Advisors- New York, USA
Founder & Director, Selbourne Research- UK
I provide real time ground truth for businesses and development projects. With 10 years’ experience in payments services, data analysis and market research and a passion for data transparency and symmetry, i drive Selbourne Research’s vision, strategy and growth.
Executive Director, Horizon Africa-Virginia USA
“Philomena Desmond
International Consultant
Trade and Investment Business Development, Government Relations
and Diplomacy
Philomena Desmond is an international development professional, promoting US-Africa trade and investment, advising investors and companies on doing business in Africa. Ms. Desmond has been very successful at building relationships and strategic partnerships between US investors and companies interested in exploring the African market. She is an accomplished executive with over twenty years of experience in Africa market entry, project and deal identification, investment facilitation, and in-depth work in infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, financial services, healthcare and the education sectors.
Ms. Desmond has a global corporate and government clientele that ranges from Nigerian State governments, to clients in the United States, China, India, Nigeria, Guinea, Congo, Togo, Mali, DRC etc. In her business development capacity, Ms. Desmond is responsible for driving the development of new business opportunities through developing strategic relationships and joint ventures through integration and cooperation.
Previously, Philomena Desmond was a Senior Consultant for Business Women Network on International Business, where she headed their international product strategy, including international product research, brand development, and market entry strategy implementation. She was a member of the private sector coalition that lobbied for the passage of the Africa Growth and Opportunities (AGOA) act into law during President Jefferson Clinton’s administration, and was invited by President Clinton to the White House to witness the first signing into law the AGOA Bill. She has organized numerous successful trade missions to Africa from the United States and vice versa. She is the Executive Director for Horizon Africa.
Education, Credentials & Affiliations:
. Rowan State University, in Glassboro, New Jersey, Bachelors in Microbiology
. Southeastern University in Washington, DC Masters degree in Business and Public Administration
. Howard University, Washington, DC, graduate work in Microbiology
. Vice-President and Founding Member, African Business Women Network
. Member, American/African Business Women Association
. Member, Association of Women in International Business
. Member, Nigeria Peoples Forum
. Member, American Women Association of Lagos, Nigeria
. Vice-Chair, Friends of the Children of Angola”
Managing Director & CEO, Nabo Capital Limited- Kenya
“Pius Muchiri is the founding CEO of Nabo Capital Ltd, a boots-on-the-ground fund manager that helps investors to grow their wealth by identifying and seizing lucrative opportunities in Africa.
Growing up, it always puzzled him why only a few people enjoyed wealth and financial freedom while the vast majority languished in abject poverty. Driven to seek solutions and do his little bit to change the world he lived in, he pursued and attained CPA qualification in the year 2000 and subsequently launched his career in the field of accounting. Whilst accounting gave him a solid foundation on the basics of finance, it failed to satisfy his desire for a platform to change the economic fortunes of many.
A timely opportunity presented itself in 2004, when he joined the prestigious Centum Investment Plc; the largest private equity firm in East and Central Africa. Still burning with the passionate flame to create and grow wealth for others, the move to Centum was a natural fit that ushered him into the world of investments. He gladly switched careers and has since become one of that exalted fraternity of the less than 100 CFA Charter-holders in East Africa.
Pius then played a key role in formulating and implementing the now famous “Centum 2.0 Strategyâ€, that began the challenging journey of transforming the once laid -back $60 Million investment firm into a $1.8 Billion AUM one; certainly one of Africa’s most notable growth stories.
In 2009, he then took charge of the Public Markets Portfolio, then worth $23million, and pursued an ingenious “Quoted Private Equity†strategy, which was founded on the premise that, given the relative non- liquid nature of most listed securities in Africa, a rare opportunity existed to make extra-ordinary returns by applying the firm’s rich private equity expertise in the listed space across Africa. For 5 years, Pius and his team dedicated themselves to traveling across the continent, finding and investing in securities that were under-researched, below-the-radar, but that harboured significant growth potential. The strategy proved so fruitful that the portfolio more than quadrupled.
Encouraged by this unprecedented success, Pius and his entire team, urged on by colleagues and satisfied investors, made yet another trailblazing decision to spin-off from Centum and form a fully-fledged and independent asset management firm, licensed by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA). In 2013, they incorporated Nabo Capital Ltd, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centum in the business of helping individuals and institutions to create multi-generational wealth. This move flung the door open for other investors, besides Centum, to leverage on the team’s experience and expertise to partake of this team’s success equation.
Today, Pius manages portfolios on behalf of some of the largest Sovereign Wealth Funds in the world, insurance companies, investment companies and ultra-high net-worth individuals. He is not shy to note that he has the best job in the world; he believes Africa is the place to be for anyone wishing to make a remarkable difference and leave a legacy.
Despite his obviously demanding schedule, he remains the happily married father of three wonderful boys, and enjoys reading, traveling, fishing and swimming for rest and recuperation away from the daily grind. He is also an active member of his local Church. Obviously, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is yet another of his many talents.”
Dean College of Administrative & Financial Sciences, Arab American University-Jenin, Palestine
Dr. Sussan has over 20 years of experience in the world of higher education, where he had taught graduate and undergraduate students at New York Institute of
Technology, University of Central Florida, and at the University of South Florida, as well as at Florida Institute of Technology. Dr. Sussan has over15 years of
consultation and training in countries such as Europe, South America, Central America, The Middle-East, The Caribbean Islands, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile,
Thailand, and the United States. He had served as a Dean of Academic Affairs (U.S.A) and as a Chair for the Department of International Business (U.S.A). He had
published over sixty research papers in per review journals and published a textbook in “Industrial Management”. Currently, serving in the Editorial Board as a
reviewer in six academic journals.
Dr. Sussan is a senior member of the I.I.E (Institute of Industrial Engineer) and had provided educational seminars, teaching, and research in a variety of
organizations in the area of global strategic management, quality management, management of technology, and research & development, some of which include Dow Chemical,
Westinghouse Nuclear Facility, Harris Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Corporation, Florida Power & Light, Bellsouth, AT&T, American Express, International Trade
Alliances, as well as many others, and serving as a Chair for student’s dissertation for the Ph.D., and D.B.A, programs.
He completed his B.S. degree in Engineering Technology from Gannon University in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Afterward he earned his M.S degree in Industrial Engineering from
Columbia University in New York, U.S.A. His Doctoral degree, from Nova Southeastern University in Florida, U.S.A, has two specialties, one in Human Resources
Management and the other in International Business.
University of California, Berkeley- California
Founder Director, World Development Foundation-India
“RC as he likes to be called, is a veteran in several facets of International Business Management. He was born on 01-01-1952. He is an academician, top executive and a management Practitioner. His educational accolades are B.E. (Hons) E&C Engineering (Madras University); B.E. (IIIE- Indl. Engineering); PGDIT (IIFT-New Delhi); MBA (Bangalore University); PhD in Management (Pondicherry University); PhD (Honoris causa-USA): PhD (Honoris causa-Uganda)- He is Cleared by WES (USA) for teaching in US Universities
His experience in dealing with many projects came about because he was a Managing Director of a premier Consulting Organization for 15 years, dealing with many global projects in all aspects of conceptualization, designing and execution of large projects. His Consulting career, academic career and industry career have run almost parallel.
His area of specialty is, creating a congenial environment for entry of firms into a foreign land (leveling the field) for sustainable and profitable businesses. His PhD thesis is a Global study of 25 countries about the Export and Trade Promotion Policies in finance and business development and directly relates to his actual work experience.
More data can be seen by googling raju chandrasekar”
Founder & Executive Chairman- HPS International Consulting Ltd- United Kingdom
A leading Pan African Investment advisory and financial communication firm serving African governments and private companies on strategic communications, financial PR and lobbying to help effectively position them with the financial markets in the process of the identification of source of funding and crisis communication
Headquarter in London the firm serves through its liaisons offices in Africa multinationals already doing business in Africa or exploring new business opportunities in Africa.
Prosper H. Sugewe is considered as one of the most experienced professionals for lobbying, investor relations, crisis communications and Litigation PR in Africa markets. After a completion of a Master degree in Business law at the University of Yaounde II in Cameroon, Prosper H. Sugewe has completed a second Master in International Investment & Finance at the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom. He gained a broad experience in investor relation and financial lobbying in his capacity as Senior Economic & Financial Consultant at the City of London.
He founded HPS International Consulting Ltd in 2007 and transformed it from a company with one small London office to a multinational consulting firm in major business, financial and political capitals throughout the Africa, Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions.
Prosper H. Sugewe is the Editor in Chief of HPS Finance Eco magazine and the President of Ewatch Africa Financial Corporation Plc. In addition he serves as the Trustee of the Africa Governance Report and seat of the advisory board of HPS Professional Academy. He is the author of numerous articles in the fields of foreign direct investment and economic communication, and has been a guest lecturer throughout the world
President, WestPark Entreprises Ghana (Black Ivy group) - Ghana
President WestPark Entreprises Ghana (Black Ivy group)Managing Director NAI Global – Sub Saharan Africa Real Estate & Development Director at BP Angola Region (Angola, Namibia, Congo and Moçambique) Real Estate & Development Director at Presild (Angolan Government) Asset & Property Management Director at Cushman & Wakefield Construction & Real Estate Management – Technical University of Delft – Netherlands
Valuation & Real Estate Management – ISEG – Portugal (post doc course)
MRICS – Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
APIMA – board member
AAMGA – board member
IFMA – member
ICSC – member
CMVM & CMC – valuation expert for listed real estate funds
FCPA
ABC
Founder, Nigeria Agribusiness Register-Nigeria
Roland is a Business Development Practitioner with specialization in agribusiness, trade and investment facilitation. He has 25 years’ combined experience in bilateral development assistance in trade capacity building, agribusiness development, and project management. Since year 2000, he has been involved in value chain assessment, design and development and has developed knowledge and established contacts in value chains such as rice, cashew, garments, cocoa, maize, sesame, sheanut, soybeans and processed agricultural foods for export from Nigeria to the U.S and Europe. He has also worked in government engagement, public- private partnerships, investment facilitation and promotion, trade corridor development in Nigeria including the Lagos-Kano-Jibiya (LAKAJI) trade and investment corridor. He has worked and continues to work for international development assistance projects and agencies including the U.K. Department for International Development and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). At USAID, Roland designed, launched and managed till close-out, the $16.8 million, 5-year USAID/Nigeria’s flagship trade capacity and investment facilitation Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport (NEXTT) Project. NEXTT facilitated over $50 million in exports of cashews and other products from Nigeria and facilitated over $30 million in new investments along the LAKAJI Corridor from 2012 to 2017. Prior to NEXTT, he successfully managed the Nigeria Expanded Export Project, a $2 million pilot export promotion facility funded by USAID/Nigeria from 2010 to 2012.
Roland is the founder of Rossland Group www.rosslandgroup.com, a diversified business development service provider for the agriculture and food sectors in Nigeria and Africa, offering services in recruitment, research, franchise development and business brokerage. He is also the founder and publisher of the “Nigeria Agribusiness Register” www.nigeriaagribusinessregister.com, a public-private partnership facility (modelled after the concept of Business Registers), for aggregating and profiling investment data in the agribusiness sector and used for measuring economic growth, jobs, inclusiveness, and to address barriers to investment growth in the agriculture sector. He is a firm believer in African entrepreneurship as a solution to the development challenges in the continent. Recently, he launched a unique program that helps employees transit to become employers through a mentorship and BDS support program called EnRise (rise with entrepreneurship!). Both EnRise and the Agribusiness Register are powered by Commodity Development Initiative, a non-governmental organization vehicle founded by Roland.
Roland has a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Business Administration. He was born in October 1967, and is married with a son.
Executive Chairman, Biosirus Inc-Canada
Rural energy access typically gets configured along the lines of traditional distribution networks (albeit on a smaller scale). This results in a fixed architecture
that is not easily scalable (from a few hundred watts to 5KW). With the aspirational growth in the community for economic development in a few years, the initial power
network has to be torn down and replaced with a larger one. In other cases, the initial network is overbuilt based on key anchor loads and growth assumptions, that do
not materialize. This makes the financial aspects unviable.
The best network architectures are ones that allow for plug and play inverter power blocks (1 KW each), that can accommodate several smaller DC inputs such as PV,
Batteries or other in various combinations as required. This flexibility allows for customization in the field without pre-engineering (either all PV or PV+Batteries,
only batteries, etc.). When the load grows, more power modules can be just daisy chained in a plug and play fashion. This allows for energy access beyond a few light
bulbs/fan, but rather allows for expansion to include a small fridge, a stove, or even agro-processing implements.
The best architectures allow for community development that includes clean water, medicinal refrigerators, freezers, hot water, power tools, etc. At the grassroots
level, the energy interchangeability between thermal and electricity must co-exist based on need and size.
Founding Director, Aphropean Partners- Austria
Executive Chairman, Merchants Company of West Africa Ltd (MECOWA Group)-Ghana
Dr. Ruben Atekpe is an accomplished investment banker with experience in structured finance transactions and projects. Dr. Atekpe completed an MSc in Management and PhD in finance at Imperial College-University of London, UK; his Doctorate thesis was on Forecasting Foreign Exchange and the Efficiency of Pricing Foreign Currency Options. Formerly a lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, he was part of the team that established the Executive MBA Program at the School. Dr. Atekpe served for several years as a Member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council for Africa, as the private sector representative for West Africa. He is a founding member of the Ghana Malaysia Business Council and the Ghana YPO Chapter. He serves on various boards including being Chairman of Butawu Rural Bank, Volta Region, Ghana.
CoFounder and CEO, HartNamtemah- Canada
Rodrigue FouaFou is the CEO and one of the global visionaries behind HartNamtemah Inc. an investment firm based out of Toronto, Canada which specializes in vetting, mentoring, investing in and strategic planning for African start ups.
HartNamtemah is to not only invest from a financial perspective but also believes in investing in the people behind the idea. Our philosophy is that through the mentorship and development of strong leaders and entrepreneurs and the sharing of our network of connections we can we can shed light on the amazing continent that is Africa, the continent on the move and allow it to shine. Over the last six years, we have invested close to $600K USD, mentored over 21 entrepreneurs and have brokered over 15 deals valued at $2M USD one of which is Kiro’o Games, a successful video game studio based in Cameroon.
Rodrigue affectionately known as Rod, has spoken at many conferences worldwide on the topic of investing in Africa including the Annual African Angel Investment Summit in Cape Town, South Africa and the NACO World Angel Investment Summit where he represented Africa in 2017.
A successful software engineer by trade Rod’s heart lies helping other entrepreneurs and start ups which is evident in his work as a mentor World Bank’s XL Africa a program that works to bridge the gap between African entrepreneurs and worldwide investors. He is also an active mentor and member of VC4Africa and Enablis. For more on Rod follow AfricaConnects on all major social media outlets.
HartNamtemah. Investing in African startups and the people behind them.
www.HartNamtemah.com
Chief Evangelist, CSforALL, Denver - Colorado
Ruthe Farmer has focused her efforts on diversity and inclusion in tech and engineering since 2001 and is currently Chief Evangelist for the CSforAll Consortium. She
served as Senior Policy Advisor for Tech Inclusion at the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy focusing on President Obama’s call to action for Computer
Science for All, and previously served as Chief Strategy & Growth Officer and K-12 Alliance Director at the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT).
Over the course of her career, Ms. Farmer has launched and scaled up multiple national programs including Aspirations in Computing the TECHNOLOchicas campaign for
Latinas, AspireIT outreach program, Intel Design & Discovery, Lego Robotics for Girl Scouts and more. She served as the 2012 Chair of Computer Science Education Week,
was named a White House Champion of Change for Technology Inclusion in 2013, received the Anita Borg Institute Award for Social Impact in 2014, and the Education UK
Alumni Award for Social Impact in 2015. She is a guest contributor for Techcrunch, Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, the Shriver Report, and the Huffington Post, and has been
featured in Forbes and TechRepublic for her work. Ruthe holds a BA from Lewis & Clark College and an MBA in Social Entrepreneurship from the University of Oxford Said
Business School and is passionate about integrating innovative business strategies into social change efforts. (229 words)
Ruthe Farmer has focused on inclusion in technology since 2001 and is Chief Evangelist at the CSforAll Consortium. She served as Senior Policy Advisor for Tech
Inclusion at the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy focusing on President Obama’s call to action for Computer Science for All, and previously strategy
and K-12 programs at the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) .
She has launched multiple national inclusion programs including Aspirations in Computing, TECHNOLOchicas, the AspireIT outreach program, Lego Robotics for Girl Scouts and more. She served as 2012 Chair of CSEDWeek, was named a White House Champion of Change for Technology Inclusion in 2013, received the Anita Borg Institute Award for Social Impact in 2014, and the UK Alumni Award for Social Impact in 2015. Ruthe holds a BA from Lewis & Clark College and an MBA in Social Entrepreneurship from the University of Oxford. (150 words)
Mediator and Arbitrator, Upchurch Watson White & Max- Florida, USA
USA, PresidentCEO, Druid Park Community Health Clinic and Center
Career Objective: To obtain a position in a Christian ministry or church that allows me the opportunity to combine my gifts of expository preaching, administration, community development corporation enterprise expansion, and world missions, for the glory of God and for the good of His people.
Career Experience:
President and CEO of Miracle Making Ministries (1990 to Present)
• Raised and managed over $15 million in 28 years
• Overseer of a staff of six and board of eight
• Created volunteer base of 400 active participants per year
• Facilitated over 10,000 commitments to faith in local missions
• Acquired 30 inner-city real estate parcels
• Served as a liaison between private & public agencies assisting non- profit community-based firms and organizations
• Designed and implemented a program of community development consisting of the following areas: housing, primary medical care, literacy & GED, after-school care for 1st-6th graders
• Taught courses as an adjunct professor in the following areas: leadership development, management, public administration, public speaking, public health administration and biblical studies
• Initiated plans for rebuilding an inner-city neighborhood and secured $2.5 million in real estate gifts
• Developed plan model for a $6 million commercial revitalization of an inner city block
• Responsible for international mission trips to five (5) continents and 34 countries.
CEO & Co-Founder, A Gift To Africa- United States
Global Business Ambassador, SheWorks- Nigeria
Sable shares from her over 20 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience that spans across the USA and several countries in Africa. She launched her first international organization providing HR services to clients in aviation, manufacturing, financial institutions, and telecommunications in private and government sector in Nigeria and Ethiopia. She co-hosted the first and only national agriculture conference for State Heads to bring agriculture back to the nation’s priority.She brings to her audiences global business experience with in-depth understanding of business start-up, building scalable and global businesses, with sensitivity to the impact of women businesses on family life. She incorporates her life experience, entrepreneurial training, and business building experience into her presentations. She is passionate about supporting female entrepreneurs build international partnerships that can open global doors to create profitable businesses. She holds an M.Sc. in Human Resources, recipient of the 10,000 women Goldman Sachs award for women entrepreneurs, nominee for the Yale Visiting Executive Exchange Program and IFC SME trainer.
Founder, Group Chairman & CEO, Capital Consulting - Cape Verde
Founder & CEO, Women Empowered Global- Sri Lanka
CEO, CAMSCORP- London
CEO of CAMSCORP the African commodity development company, headquartered in United Kingdom. CAMSCORP is an international commodity trading, advisory and investment business focused on Africa and raw and processed commodities. The aim of CAMSCORP is to build long-term sustainable raw commodity export business by owning the supply chain and we are operational in 13 African countries. CAMSCORP also invests in commodity processing in country to enhance the supply chain and create additional value. Simon has over 15 years investment banking experience in New York, London and Tokyo. Since 2010 he has built commodity business in Europe, Africa and Asia, successfully building many supply chains from inception, as well as providing start-up capital, financing and producing significant global International export volumes. Simon has been involved in many successful start-up businesses notably Credit Market Analysis Limited. Simon has numerous non-executive roles and is currently Chairman of Octopus Investments EOC committee, Octopus runs over £5.5 billion in funds in the UK.
Co-Founder, Africa Business Venture- London, United Kingdom
Founder & Executive Director, Resource Associates Limited- Kenya
? A consummate Business Advisor with over 19 years’ experience in consulting for organisations going through exponential growth, culture change, mergers and acquisitions, rebranding, restructuring and strategic realignment.
? Astute at delivering business solutions that drive strategy implementation through a professional and results oriented approach.
? At ease with interacting with Board of Directors and Business Executives in shaping strategy to optimize their leadership and human resource capacity.
? Analytical in approach; takes calculated risks and applies business acumen to drive financial results.
? Built a successful Human Resource Advisory firm with a brand recognized for delivery, professionalism, innovation and customization, best practice and market leadership in Kenya and the region.
? ICF Certified Executive Leadership Coach focusing on helping Executive Women Leaders lead fulfilling and successful professional lives
? Certified to serve on Boards through the Women Directors Leadership Summit Program at Strathmore University
CEO, Sky-View Consultants, FAA Licensed Commercial Drone Pilot- Kenya/USA
Simon M. Ngotho is a Pioneer Remote Commercial Pilot Instructor currently working at Quinsigamond Community College in Massachusetts, USA. Born in Kenya and raised in Kiambu, Simon moved to U.S.A in April 2001 after years of experience as a Sales Manager & Structural Engineering at Mugoya Construction & Engineers Ltd.
Simon is both the CEO & Director of Sky-View Consultants (A DRONES Consultancy Business) based in Boston, Massachusetts and Professional Instructor for Healthcare & Safety Trainings with American Red Cross across United States. He is also a Nurse & a Licensed Real Estate Agent in the State of Massachusetts.
He served as a Program Director at Charles River Center and Institute of Professional Practice (IPPI) before joining Advocates Inc., where he resigned and decided to pursue his goal in Managing his staffing business (Boston Medical Staffing).
In 2015 while still working in human services, he enrolled and completed a course in (UAS) Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Projects Management in Unmanned Vehicle University, Arizona, USA.
A former student leader in College, he graduated with Highest Honors in Nursing, Phi-Theta Kappa Award, several Academic Dean Awards among others.
He is a Member of the Highest body in Drones Industry Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International that represents Unmanned Systems & Robotics industry headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, USA.
Alongside his Training and entrepreneurial ventures, Simon hopes to open a UAV Training Academy in Nairobi, Kenya (Unmanned Systems Academy – USA) where he will train new Remote Pilots and introduce Commercial Drone Platforms to match with the Kenya’s growing economy. This innovation is a Multi-Billion Dollar industry which will make a considerable contribution providing alternative solutions in both private and public sectors.
The Future of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is here. If you want to Fly Drones, Do it Legally. Sky-View Consultants has experienced Experts and resources to empower your business or organization with the power of UAV technology – regardless of your industry. Whether you need FAA approval for your employees to be able to fly legally, FAA Part 107, or if you need us to fly an important job for you, we are here to help.
Our Clients base includes the following industries: *Oil Pipeline Inspections *Film and TV *VIP Security *Education *Fire/Rescue -Disaster Management *Infra-Red Sensor Operations *Cinematography *Law Enforcement *Search & Rescue *Construction *Electric Line Inspections *Event Planning *Real Estate *Structure Inspection *Agriculture -Forestry / Wildlife *Mining & Exploration *Leakage Inspections *Surveying and Mapping *Drone Pilot Training *Operations and maintenance of Oil & Gas Surface facilities
Co-founder, US-Africa Diaspora Business Council- United States
World-Renown Speaker and Marketing Strategist - USA/Canada
As the director of the Tracy Repchuk International Foundation in Burbank, CA, I am writing to your foundation to seek $1 million of the $7,792,068 Million in grant funding support needed to implement our SOAR School for children and women. Our goal is to empower children and women between the ages of 8 and 40 with technology and entrepreneurship skills through our weekly classes. Todays studies note that women make up nearly half of the workforce, yet only three out of ten computer systems analysts, engineers, and scientists and only one out of four computer programmers are women. SOAR academy’s initiative to help empower children and women to understand the importance of technology and entrepreneurship.Established in April 2018, the Tracy Repchuk International Foundation, an independent not-for-profit corporation, 501(c)(3), is a top rate training for children and women entrepreneurs organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes, including providing mentoring and financial literacy education to underserved and at-risk populations You will be happy to know that 100% of our Board Members have made a personal financial contribution to our organization. This is one of the many examples of our dedication and commitment to our mission.We plan to serve the communities of Southern California. We have a special emphasis on low-income communities, women, youth, and minorities. The Tracy Repchuk International Foundation is open to all, and our programs serve children, and women within our community at large.Our board has been following your grant making trends and feel that your mission statement aligns well with our mission to help empower children, and women in California equipping them with the skills and knowledge to become self sustainable for income production and to become proactive leaders in society.
On behalf of the Tracy Repchuk International Foundation board members, I invite you to review our request and consider a partnership in an initiative that has potential to be a national model for proven ways of effectively empowering children and women in technology and entrepreneurship in the Southern California region, across the country, and internationally. Our foundation will be sustained after your investment by special fundraising events and as we pursue other grant opportunities from public and private grants.Sincerely, Zurich Solomon Director of Outreach
Executive Vice President and CEO, US-Nigeria Trade Council- Georgia, USA
Titus Olowokere is the Executive Vice President / CEO of the US--Nigeria Trade Council, President Emeritus of the Alliance of Nigerian Organizations in Georgia (ANOG) and Director of Administration of NICORE (www.nicore--inc.com) an organization that facilitates the economic development of Nigerians and their communities in the United States of America.
On the professional landscape, Titus has held a succession of increasingly responsible roles in Engineering, Information Technology and Sales/Marketing. He has served as the Regional Capability Area Lead – database technologies, at Accenture, a leading systems integration and technology consulting company. While at Accenture, he served as Information
Technology Security subject matter expert and led Gap Analysis and Security compliance solution for a major European bank and State Government projects. In addition, he has worked in various management capacities for the State of Georgia, Business Process Automation (BPA), Austin, TX, John Holt Nigeria, PLC, General Motors and UAC of Nigeria PLC. He is currently the Managing Partner of Integral Systems & Technologies, an Information Technology Consulting company based out of Atlanta. Notably, while working at State of Georgia, he managed public health information technology projects and served as technical resource for an Enterprise Data Warehouse solution project.
In community development pitch, Titus has dedicated his time to nurture the Alliance of Nigerian Organizations in Georgia, ANOG (http://www.anogusa.org/Best_of_ANOG.htm) , a non--profit organization, as the umbrella organization of Nigerian Community that caters for the collective interests, and represents the single, unified voice of all non--profit Nigerian associations in Georgia, USA, across community, tribal, ethnic, educational, social, political and economic lines. He has grown the organization from a 21--member organization when he took over as President, to 43--member organization in a 3--year period of leadership. While serving as ANOG president, he organized the first Nigeria Unity parade in Atlanta (http://www.anogusa.org/Parade.htm) , the first Nigerian Community Leadership Development Forum (http://www.anogusa.org/Leadership_Forum.htm) as well as the Conference of Presidents (http://www.anogusa.org/Presidents_Conference.htm) to benefit, challenge and enhance the effectiveness of the Nigerian Community leadership in Georgia. He has worked with key individuals in Government, diplomatic cycle and private sector to establish the US--Nigeria Trade Council (www.usnigeria.org) as a veritable vehicle to promote bilateral trade relations between the US and Nigeria. The Trade Council also has a “Diaspora Initiative” which is designed to sprout the Nigerian Community in United States of America, beyond the overbeaten social scene, to a mutually beneficial patio of economic empowerment and opportunities awareness for Nigerians in USA. In his little spare time, Titus volunteers for the Hands--On Atlanta where he serves as Programs Manager. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Dallas, and has a passionate love for traveling.
CEO, SAVCA - South Africa
Tanya joined SAVCA in March 2017, after a rewarding 10-year career at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) with her last role being Director of Academic Programmes where she also served on the board of the Executive MBA Council (EMBAC), an international academic association that represents the Executive MBA industry.Tanya is passionate about human and organisational development. During her time as a learning and development specialist focusing on management and leadership development, Tanya gained valuable experience working with various companies across a wide range of sectors. She holds an MBA and Post-Graduate Diploma from GIBS where her MBA research focused on methods to develop a global mindset. Tanya also holds a BCom Informatics and Honours in Business Management from UNISA.Tanya is the mother of a teenage son and a sports enthusiast.
Co-founder and President, Ovamba Solutions - Cameroon
Viola Llewellyn is the co-founder and President of Ovamba Solutions, Inc. (www.Ovamba.com). Ovamba is an award winning African “FinTech” company that creates culturally attuned technologies to serve African SMEs with innovative Sharia compliant finance products, eCommerce, logistics services, and drives financial inclusion to promote growth. Ms. Llewellyn oversees strategic implementation, investor communications, and global business development for Ovamba.
Ms. Llewellyn’s past career includes building a $500MM life insurance investment fund for a Washington, DC based insurance investment firm where she led investor communications, and asset management divisions. She has held positions with companies such as Unisys Corporation, IBM, KPMG Consulting, BearingPoint and Rothschild’s. Ms. Llewellyn was listed in the “Digital Undivided Report” as one of the first Black women in the USA to have raised more than $1 million for a technology company.
This same ground- breaking achievement was later featured in the April issue of Vanity Fair Magazine and covered by Margo Lee Shetterly, author of “Hidden Figures” (https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/03/women-of-color-diversifying- entrepreneurship-in-silicon-valley-media-and-beyond) . She is listed on Innovate Finance’s 2016 & 2017 “Women in FinTech Power List”, and on “The Innov8tiv’s Top 50 Visionary Women in Tech To Watch in 2017” list. Ms. Llewellyn is further distinguished by being the first Female African Tech Founder to speak at “Slush”, Helsinki and “Slush, Tokyo” – yearly events that are billed as the biggest gathering of innovators, funders, startups and entrepreneurs in Europe and Asia respectively.
Ms. Llewellyn is an honorary member of the board of trustees for the “International Women’s Think Tank” (IWTT – www.iwthinktank.org) where she guides IWTT on STEM issues, gender diversity and globalization. In 2017 she was appointed to the Advisory Board of the European Women’s Payment Network (www.ewpn.eu), and the African Women in Fintech & Payments Network (www.Africanwomeninfintechandpayments.com). She has previously served on the board of Africa’s leading tech hub and incubator ActivSpaces (www.ActivSpaces.com).
Viola Llewellyn’s family is originally from Cameroon. She was born, raised and educated in the U.K. and lives between the African Continent and the USA.
Director of Strategic Partnerships, DAI- France
Vanessa Adams joined DAI in 2016 with more than 20 years of professional experience, including with Fortune 500 companies in the United States. Vanessa has worked in 29 African countries with businesses and farmer cooperatives to increase productivity, meet buyer specifications, access finance, and compete in international markets. She partners with governments, donors, and businesses to develop and implement strategies that increase productivity, competitiveness, and trade, expand investments, improve business environments, access financial services, and reduce constraints to economic growth.
Vanessa managed $70+ million projects with multicultural teams, facilitated more than $300 million in exports from Africa, and catalyzed over $60 million in investments as well as more than $140 million in credit. She contributed to the founding of three pan-African nongovernmental organizations, including the African Cashew Alliance, Borderless Alliance, and Global Shea Alliance, as well as initiating the Women in Agribusiness Leadership Network in Ethiopia.
Investment Officer, Women’s World Banking Asset Management - New York
Yrenilsa Lopez is an Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager with Women’s World Banking Asset Management, directing private equity investments into gender-focused inclusive finance institutions. She is a board member for two investment companies in Latin American and also serves on the Advisory Board of the Financial Inclusion Equity Counsel (FIEC). Yrenilsa was previously with BlueOrchard Finance in Lima, Peru where she executed private debt investments and managed a portfolio of private debt investments to financial institutions serving the bottom of the pyramid. Prior to this, she was the Relationship Manager for Latin America for Developing World Markets based in Stamford, Connecticut. Yrenilsa began her career with the SME Finance department of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). She has completed all three levels of the CFA Institute exam series. She speaks fluent Spanish and conversational Portuguese.
Founder of Global Iinstitute for Change, Artist, Activist, Ambassador
From MTV to the historic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Yewande’s socially charged music has taken center stage with musical icons from the Black Eyed Peas to Maroon 5, but it is her work as an award-winning lecturer, social activist and honorary U. S. Cultural Ambassador that has become her greatest achievement. Today, this 2018 African Women in Leadership “Woman of Worth” and 2017 President Barack Obama Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree is recognized as an international expert in strategic diversity leadership, multidisciplinary education, social responsibility and youth development.
Under her capacity building consultancy, the Global Institute for Diversity and Change, Ms. Austin has been credited with improving the climate of nearly 3,000 academic institutions, government agencies and non-profit organizations through evidence-based strategies as an innovative educator, keynote speaker and social impact leader for 14 years. In 2014, she became Virginia Commonwealth University’s first Diversity Lecturer-in-Residence in the school’s 177-year history for the Office of the Vice-President for Health Sciences. During this 2-year residency, Yewande developed the nation’s first diversity healthcare curriculum for pre-health and professional health science students to improve patient-practitioner relationships and health outcomes. In 2016, VCU’s Office of Global Education awarded Ms. Austin with a Globe Faculty Fellowship under which she created “The Art of Change” – the department’s first social entrepreneurship class, which she conducted concurrently online with the University of Botswana. With the success of this 3-credit course, Ms. Austin was asked to direct a study abroad program in The Republic of Botswana – only the second trip to Africa in the department’s existence.
Through a combination of education, sustainable skill development and the arts, her humanitarian organization, the Change Rocks Foundation, has taught over 250,000 vulnerable youth, advocates and educators in 18 countries from North and Latin America to Africa and Europe how to create sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and injustice. In 2015, Ms. Austin’s TED talk about human trafficking, “Running into the Dark”, inspired her to produce a documentary, “Amazing Grace: Freedom’s Song” (2018), that will lift the veil on this $99 billion industry from America to Nigeria – 2 countries bound by a 400-year long history of slavery. Since 2007, Ms. Austin has served as a consultant to the U. S. State Department under which she has produced conflict resolution, peace building, youth empowerment and economic development programs across the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Botswana, Namibia and Malawi. She was recently awarded her 6th U. S. State Department grant to expand programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda for former child soldiers and genocide orphans respectively. Nominated as a CNN Hero for her global humanitarian efforts in 2017, 2014 and 2013, Yewande is currently building Alheri Village – a sustainable community that will provide housing, education, job training and healthcare services to some of the nearly 2 million survivors displaced by conflict with Boko Haram terrorists in Abuja, Nigeria. Her dream is for this transformational rehabilitation model to revolutionize how the world treats, manages and empowers vulnerable populations in our global community. It is this extraordinary mission that is inspiring a legion of everyday heroes to change the world.
Founder, MD, IBEX Frontier, IBEX Financial Consultancy Ltd- Ethiopia
Zekarias is the Founder & MD of IBEX Frontier with presence in Washington DC USA, London UK and Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
Zekarias has been at the forefront of providing deal sourcing, research, buy-side and sale-side Investment advisory and negotiation, and guiding international investors on bankable opportunities in Ethiopia. Starting from coining the term ‘Sheba Valley’ for Ethiopia’s tech space and representing and speaking on behalf of the flourishing Tech-start-ups’ in Ethiopia to providing investors’ guidance in route-to-Ethiopian-market, Zekarias is a ‘walking textbook’ of success in investing in Ethiopia.
Zekarias started his career in the private Banking sector in Ethiopia followed by a regional Finance & Treasury role at Shell Oil East Africa Hub leading Treasury & Credit operations, Change Management implementations in East African cluster that led him win a number of continental awards in his exceptional leadership and innovative achievements including ‘Crystal Award’ by Shell Oil for his breakthrough performance. He had run a consultancy office in Ethiopia in 2002-2004 advising Ethiopian businesses before expanding his international exposure since his relocation to the London in 2004 and has since worked across industries in Europe/USA. He has re-tuned his focus on Ethiopia and Africa and as a result has founded the London based IBEX Financial Consultancy Ltd in early 2016 and has been providing route-to-market and deal sourcing services for Ethiopian focused international investors and investment advisory to Ethiopian businesses.
Zekarias is a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) and an MBA Graduate of Oxford Brookes University in the UK.
Cofounder, COO, Annona- Washington, DC, USA
Zéluis Teixeira worked with UNICEF of Belize for 6 years and held executive leadership roles in multiple Fortune 500 companies before evolving his career to full-time entrepreneur. He is a member of the Open Society Institute’s Leadership Council, and has more than quadrupled the value of others’ investments while successfully founding a consulting company, two established tech companies, and a non profit prior to Annona. Annona is a social enterprise with a mission to improve global supply chains for the benefit of smallholder farmers and producers.
Exhibiting Opportunities at ATIGS
CEO, American Business Television Network- United States
Yusef Muhammad is the CEO of American Business Television. Mr. Muhammad has been in charge of business operations, distribution, programming, syndication, advertising, media and business consulting for more than 22 years. He often advises companies on how to effectively market on digital, mobile, social media, television, and radio. Mr.
Muhammad travels around the world participating and presenting at various international themed seminars and events while introducing and bringing awareness to U.S. companies on international trade as a member of The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Export Outreach Team.
CEO, Africa Investment Group LLC- Florida, USA
Reporter on Africa, Devex- United States
Managing Director, Feleman Limited- United States
“Akin Sawyerr is the Managing Director of Feleman Limited, an investment and consulting firm focused on catalyzing investments into endeavors in emerging and frontier markets. Mr. Sawyerr particularly focuses on financial technology solutions including: payments systems, remittances, and the deployment of blockchain solutions in businesses with high network effect potential.
He serves as Director of Splash Mobile Money, a mobile payments company in Sierra Leone where he provides strategic guidance on all matters concerning the company. He is also an advisor to several Fintech companies that have aspirations to be Global platforms.
Prior to Feleman, Mr. Sawyerr spent fifteen years in management consulting and Fortune 500 corporations. He led strategic and organization transformation projects at Booz Allen Hamilton and Accenture in Washington, D.C., and held leadership positions with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae over the years.
Mr. Sawyerr started his career at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington, D.C., in the Technology and General Services Group where he conducted economic research and data analysis in support of IMF country strategies in Africa, Asia and Europe.
Akin holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics with a minor in Political Science from Union College, New York, and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from The Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
He is a board member of the Dartmouth Entrepreneurial Network of Washington D.C., an alumni of the World Bank Institute, and the ASPEN Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE). “
Founder, Africans Building Africa- Illinois, United States
Emmy Award-Winning Journalist & Media Personality - United States
Bofta is an Emmy award-winning journalist, Speaker, Entrepreneur, Storytelling and Public Speaking Coach. She was recently honored with the Young, Gifted and Black award and selected as a Women of Excellence honoree by the New Pittsburgh Courier. Bofta has been honored for her work nearly every year in her journalism career, including a Regional Emmy award and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow award. For more than a decade, she’s reported and anchored live on the morning and evening
news for TV affiliates around the country, including CBS and ABC. She’s received Emmy nominations for more than half a dozen stories and also, recognized by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters for Excellence in Broadcasting. Bofta is
the first Ethiopian-American newscaster to receive an Emmy for her work. As a speaker and workshop facilitator, Bofta mixes high energy storytelling and strong content to empower audiences. Using her coaching skills, Bofta works with entrepreneurs, executives, authors and corporate professionals on crafting their signature talk, developing strong delivery and increasing their visibility.
Principal, Courtney Vaughan, LLC - United States
Courtney Ashley Vaughan is the principal of a 17-year-old boutique strategy-consulting firm providing management consulting and cross-border transaction advisory services for institutional building and infrastructure development. Ms. Vaughan is a multi-sectoral and multi-skilled strategist and an out-of-the-box thinker who advises in the financial, private, and government sectors about financing strategies to support growth. She is an effective coordinator, due diligence expert and negotiator who understands how organizations and markets work. Over the last two decades, Ms. Vaughan led several missions to Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East for the World Bank and private sector stakeholders, serving in various capacities on high-level and complex business cases across 40 countries worldwide. She is a leading advisor in the West African Sub-regional electricity infrastructure advisory space and has engaged the highest level of government in West African States and the United States. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Women in Housing and Finance ‘WHF’ and the Secretary of WHF Executive Board. She is also a member of the Board of Advisors of Emerald Planet International Foundation and a frequent guest on The Emerald Planet TV. Ms. Vaughan is the producer of Farm to Market Magazine™ and recently anchored The Future of Agricultural and Food Security in Africa, a four-part show that was broadcast live on Emerald Planet Television program (Channel 10 Television) on May 6, 2018. She previously served as a member of the Advisory Council for Natural Partners, and on the Board of Directors of the University of the West Indies, Washington DC Alumni Chapter. Ms. Vaughan is a member of The Bretton Woods Committee.
Ms. Vaughan previously served as a Managing Director of a Washington-DC based full-service economic consulting firm, leveraging her Wall Street and international development banking experience to bring multiple resources to support major investments in developing countries. She developed and authored the five-year strategic plan (2011) and accompanying three-year business plan (2006-2009) to institutionalize the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP), under the Public and Private Infrastructure Facility (PPIF) at the World Bank. WAPP is a 14-country electricity power pool, and an independently chartered subsidiary under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The WAPP business plan serves as the foundation that supports all subsequent WAPP business plans since the inception of the WAPP institution in 2006 in the Republic of Benin (ecowapp.org). Ms. Vaughan has an acute knowledge of how key Washington institutions (World Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and United States Export Import Bank) work and has represented private sector stakeholders to these institutions.
Ms. Vaughan previously served four Wall Street-based financial institutions, including Chase Manhattan Bank and Bank of New York and provided operational-level support for billions of dollars in syndicated loans. She also contributed to the restructuring of sovereign debt for Latin American countries under the Brady Bonds Guidelines. She has served the World Bank as a consultant and developed the baseline for financial sector vulnerability of eight countries in Europe and Central Asia — after Russia defaulted on its domestic debt in 1998 — and a consolidated private and financial sector development note for seven countries in Middle East and North Africa (MENA). She co-anchored MENA Private and Financial Sector Unit during the formation of the Global Development Gateway and participated in the preliminary digital readiness assessment of several MENA countries.
Ms. Vaughan’s speaking engagements include those where she offered perspectives and unbiased recommendations to improve economic conditions in African economies, facilitated discussions with heads of state, including President Obasanjo (Nigeria), and President Obiang (Equatorial Guinea), and engaged Capitol Hill, World Bank, and EXIM in discussions about mobilizing pipe mill companies to support the proposed US$4 billion South Sudan oil pipeline project. She is bullish on FinTech and has moderated a discussion with the Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel (Margaret Liu) of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors about Virtual Currency and the Regulatory Fabric.
Ms. Vaughan taught Mathematics at State University of New York, Maritime College, and Finance at George Washington University, holds a BA degree in Economics from Fordham University, a MPA degree in Advanced Policy Analysis Techniques from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, and a certificate in Managing Fiscal Risks from World Bank Institute.
White House Champion of Change- USA
Founder & President, Teke Global, Inc. - Washington, D.C, USA
Reuters Nigeria Business Correspondent & BBC World News Komla Dumor Awardee- Nigeria
Didi works as a Journalist, reporting for the BBC in Lagos and London. She has presented, produced and edited television, radio and digital content for the BBC News at 10, BBC World News, BBC Focus on Africa, BBC’s Business Daily, BBC’s Newsday, and BBC Radio 4. In 2016, she won the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award. She has been featured in Forbes Africa magazine and included in the Ynaija/Leading Women 2017 list of the 100 most inspiring women in Nigeria.
Founder, Debbie Peters Consulting-Zimbabwe
Board chair of African Union Pan African Diaspora Women Association-USA
Dr. Remi Duyile has Over 35 years of combined experience, and accomplishment as an International executive leader and project manager with a proven record of
innovation, effective communication, and ability to enhance team performance and deliver results.
She managed over 600 financial portfolios for high net worth companies in the financial Institution in tune of millions of dollars. Her 17 years Career span in
Corporate America Banking range from retail, commercial, private and mortgage banking, where she rose from teller to Vice President in the 90s. She is a serial
entrepreneur doing it big globally with her sound experience and exposure. Certified John Maxwell coach , speaker and trainer. A Les Brown Platinum Speaker. Remi is
the President Of Image Consulting Group, Board chair of African Union Pan African Diaspora Women Association USA, Member of the National coalition of the 100 Black
women (NCBW) and Chair NABF Economic & Finance Group to mention a few.
She bagged her undergraduate and MBA from the University of the District of Columbia in 1987 in Washington DC.
Dr. Duyile an eloquent International Keynote speaker is intentionally active in the Diaspora and abroad impacting the next generation and being a business bridge to
Global Investors. She is an astute legislative advocate and trusted community leader. An example of how faith, hard work and perseverance can lead to numerous
exposure and growth. Fondly supported by her loving husband for over 28years and her adorable grown responsible young adults.
CEO, Emerald Planet Foundation and Host Emerald Planet TV - United States
Dr. Sam Lee Hancock is the President and Executive Director of Emerald Planet International Foundation (Emerald Planet) and The Emerald Planet Television Productions with its headquarters and television production studio in Washington, D.C., USA. (Emerald Planet is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1973, dedicated to sustainable environmental and economic development in 144 nations, 750 cities, and some 50,000 communities around the globe). This is an ongoing effort that identifies 1,000 sustainable economic and environmental “best practices” around the globe, linking leaders with ‘green’ technologies, services, and products to those in need around the globe. These linkages are created, supported, and expanded by weekly simulcast television programs to 2,095 stations around the United States and 214 countries and territories overseas by the Internet, in-country cable television channels, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and various other social networking sites, as well as features through local, national, and international radio broadcasts, billboards, and various print-based media. The Emerald Planet International Foundation collaborates with PanAmerican/PanAfrican Association in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Dr. Hancock provides professional services on creation of the agenda for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in the areas of sustainable food, clean water, sanitation, and energy production in both developed and emerging market nations including scalable small-to-medium sized enterprises. He is invited to and participates in United Nations conferences and seminars at: United Nations headquarters in New York; UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) headquarters in Paris; and was an official delegate at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dr. Hancock is President of Hancock International, focusing on global investments and exports. His activities include identifying, organizing, coordinating, managing, delivering, and evaluating the work of international project teams, technical specialists, manufacturers, and funding sources for projects in 72 nations. This work includes — but is not limited to — project and operations management, exporting/importing, systems evaluations, supply chain processes, statistical quality control, total quality management (TQM), and ISO 9000/9001-4 and ISO 14,000 certifications. Dr. Hancock has earned a doctorate in management with special concentrations in international economics, management information systems, political science, and leadership from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia USA. He is a Certified Professional Manager [CM] through the Institute of Certified Professional Managers (located on the campus of James Madison University), Harrisonburg, Virginia USA.
Managing Director, First African Investment Holding-Angola
Broadcaster and Conference Host- London, United Kingdom
Born in Manchester to Ghanaian parents Henry Bonsu is a leading British African broadcaster. A Modern Languages graduate of Magdalen College, Oxford (1990), he has worked on some of the UK’s biggest current affairs shows, including BBC Radio 4’s Today. Henry has also presented programmes on satellite TV channels including Vox Africa (2008-14), BET International (2008-11) and Press TV (2009-15), and been an analyst on BBC News, Sky News, Al Jazeera and Arise News. He specialises in international politics, business, and health and education. Henry started his career in the early 90s as a print journalist initially writing for black diaspora publications like The Voice, and the Caribbean Times, then for mainstream newspapers including The Times, Daily Express, The Guardian and the London Evening Standard. In 2006 he helped to launch Colourful, a digital radio station targeting Europe’s African and Caribbean communities, focussing on politics, business, health and education. He has also provided media advice and training to politicians, business and charity leaders at home and abroad.
Henry is currently an international moderator and Master of Ceremonies, specialising in business and economic development and the Sustainable Development Goals. Celebrated for his dynamic, engaging style, in recent years he has hosted summits at the UN General Assembly in New York, at COP21 in Paris (2015), in Addis (2015), in Incheon (Development Cooperation Forum – 2015), Arusha (Future Fortified – 2015) and Johannesburg (Forum on China Africa Cooperation – 2015). Henry has also hosted the African Banker Awards at AfDB Meetings in Marrakech (2013), Kigali (2014), Abidjan (2015), Lusaka (2016) and Ahmedabad (2017).
In September 2016 Henry facilitated the pledging session of the Global Fund’s Replenishment in Montreal, and the UN Secretary General’s Together for the 2030 Agenda partnerships event in New York.
As well as cultural and development events, Henry hosts major business gatherings like the African Banker Awards, African Business Awards, and the Global African Investment Summit. His corporate clients include Maersk, KPMG, Amaris and Cartier International for whom he has facilitated conferences and ceremonies on key issues ranging from diversity to sustainability. Other highlights from 2017 include hosting the second German African Business Summit in Nairobi, the WHO African Health Forum in Kigali, the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit at UNGA 72, and sessions at COP 23 in Bonn. So far this year Henry has moderated several events, including the GPE replenishment in Dakar, which was the largest such education gathering of its kind. Here are some clips of Henry Bonsu in action.
http://webtv.un.org/search/together-for-the-2030-agenda-partnering-for-women-children-and-adolescents-to-thrive-and-transform-the-world/5135141951001?term=together%20for%20the%202030
http://webtv.un.org/watch/2016-un-global-compact-leaders-summit/4978160510001
http://cartierwomensinitiative.com/mediacenter/video/2015-full-awards-ceremony
https://livestream.com/accounts/16153738/LeadersSummit2017/videos/163131446
President, Focal Point Global- USA
“Ms. Hassanatu Blake is Co-Founding Director and President of Focal Point Global, a 501(c)3 Edtech youth nonprofit organization empowering disadvantaged youth to tackle community issues through global education and innovative technology. Since the organization’s launch in 2010, Blake has developed and organized two HIV/AIDS Education Initiatives, a Child Trafficking Awareness project, and their flagship project Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship Initiative (YEEI) connecting nearly 300 students from the US, Cameroon, The Gambia, Namibia, and South Africa.
In addition, Hassanatu also is passionate about improving health globally. She has worked with BroadReach Healthcare, US National Institutes of Health (NIH), University of Alabama, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and USAID on a variety of health projects in the US, Africa, and Caribbean. She has also written on a variety of health topics for the African-American online health resource BlackDoctor.org, based in Chicago.
Ms. Blake has been recognized by the US White House Champions of Change Initiative; featured on Black Enterprise; and presented at TEDxEmory, US Capitol, and several top universities such as Harvard University, Tufts University, University of Chicago, and Georgetown University. Blake is also an Advisor for the Global Education Conference and member of the Global Campaign for Education – US coalition.
Hassanatu holds an undergraduate degree from Tufts University, a Master of Public Health degree from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, and a Master of Business Administration from Plymouth State University.
“
Global Program Manager at Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator-New York, USA
After acquiring experience in the International Development and Government sector as a former UN and Cameroon Government staff, Iynna Halilou found her passions in entrepreneurship and its interplay with tech. She is the Global Program Manager at ERA, one of New York leading VC fund and startup accelerators. In her capacity, she works with international governments and other partners to support global startups looking to scale their operations in the US market. Prior to that, Iynna managed Yunus&Youth, a digital global accelerator, founded with the endorsement of Muhammad Yunus, that supports social entrepreneurs across the world looking to scale their ventures. She also was instrumental in the launch of the edtech startup Enza Academy as COO, where she now serves as an advisor. She was the first Archimedes Project Fellow and started a sanitation enterprise in Cameroon – her home country.
Iynna has been very outspoken about the role and advancement of women in tech and in societies. She is a Community Lead of AnitaB.Org for the New York chapter – the largest organisation that supports and elevates women in tech from the junior to C-suite level; the group has received support from leaders Sheryl Sandberg (COO at Facebook) or Marissa Meyer (former CEO of Yahoo).
She teaches coding to younger girls and enjoys geeking at tech conferences where she is a fierce advocate of women in tech and in leadership positions. She has been a speaker at the Lean Startup Conference with Eric Ries, WomenTechTalkToo and many more.
Originally from Cameroon and Madagascar by way of France, the UK, and now New York, she is a native French and English speaker as well as fluent in Spanish. She holds Master in International Affairs, specializing in International Development from NYU and a Bachelor in International Relations from Durham University.
Country Manager, U.S, Djembe Communications-USA
Former journalist having worked on foreign affairs stories with ABC, CBS and PBS FRONTLINE. A Franklin Fellow with the U.S. State Department (2012-2013) advising on communications outreach issues. Since 2015, U.S. Country Manager with Djembe Communications, an African-focused communications consultancy that puts a lens on game-changing innovation, entrepreneurship and social impact issues on the continent and diaspora. Our engagements and collaborations include: Gallery of Code (Abuja-based innovation hub led by Time Magazine’s Next Generation Leader Oscar Ekponimo); UC Berkeley Blum Center for Developing Economies; African Women in Tech (AWIT); Black British Female Artists (BBFA) and publishing house Cassava Republic.
Founder & Principal of America to Africa Consulting, LLC,(A2A)- USA
Ms. Jeannine B. Scott is Founder & Principal of America to Africa Consulting (A2A), LLC. Ms. Scott has enjoyed a long-standing career, bringing over 30 years of experience in the field of international development, spanning the private, non-profit, multi-lateral agency and US government sectors, both domestically and globally. With a particular focus on the African continent, she has traveled to and/or worked in over 40 countries in Africa, and has worked collaboratively with numerous private and public organizations in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
As Principal of A2A Ms. Scott focuses on brokering sound trade and investment linkages between?American and African companies. She provides strategic guidance, policy advice and partnership facilitation. Her work requires consistent levels of engagement, at high executive levels of multi-national corporations, as well as with small & medium businesses from both the U.S. and Africa, across a variety of sectors including energy, agri-business and others. As part of her services, Ms. Scott regularly oversees trade missions, and business-related symposia, provides linkages for capacity building and management training, as needed, and holds policy dialog with high-ranking officials as well as with businessmen from both the US and African countries.
From 2011-2016, Ms. Scott served as President of the U.S.–Angola Chamber of Commerce (USACC), a 25-year old organization which promotes trade and investment between the US and Angola. USACC counts amongst its members Fortune 100 and 500 firms as well as SMEs, representing a complex array of policy, economic and operational challenges. At USACC Ms. Scott provided strategic guidance for companies and investors; carried out trade missions; facilitated a number of business-related symposia across the U.S. and in Angola; and held policy dialogs with high-ranking officials as well as with businessmen from both the U.S. and Angola. She also provided linkages for capacity building and management training programs targeted especially towards SMEs and Local Content companies seeking to reach the next stage in business.
Executive Vice President & CEO, African Trade Center-Nigeria
Prince Oddy Nwaubani is currently the Executive Vice President/CEO, African Trade Center. He serves as the Lead Consultant and Head of Programme of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC Nigeria) and Technical Consultant to NEPAD Nigeria on Trade and Market Access Development. He has served on various advisory groups and Committees including; Member Think Tank Committee on the repositioning of NEPAD Nigeria Member, NEPAD Nigeria Committee on Trade and Investment Vice Chairman, Trade Fair Organizing Committee,Member, Planning Committee on the National Convention Against Corruption Cluster Member of the Social and Health Committee of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council(AU-ECOSOCC) Member of the National Executive Committee of AU-ECOSOCC Nigeria.
Over the years, he has worked closely with national, regional, continental and international agencies in a bid to help promote social and economic development in Africa with a view to contributing to shape a better future for Africa and its teaming youth population.As a trade and social development expert, he is involved in many ongoing projects and programmes aimed at promoting intra-African trade cooperation, increasing fdi flow to Africa, advocating for trade balance between Africa and its trading partners, reducing the number of out-of-school population in Africa, improving technology utilization and internet penetration, promote community action towards sustainable development, improving the standard of education and developing strategies for mitigating corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
Co-Founder & Director, Women in Infrastructure Development & Energy (WINDE)-South Africa
Founder, Whats in it for Africa- Belgium
Senior Newscaster, International Pundit & Talk Show Hostess- Nigeria
Consultant Green Economy, ZHE Africa- Nigeria
Born on the 10th April 1970. Holds BSc and MBA Degrees from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, certificate in French language as well as attain several training programmes in different countries. Abdulkadir speaks regularly on renewable energy and green economy, agribusiness, natural resources and MSME development within Africa and beyond.
Regional Director / Project Cordinator, Entreprisess DU Cameroun/Enterprise Europe Network- Cameroon
40 year old Cameroonian female. Mother of 3.Anglophone but perfectly bilingual. More than 18years of working experience. Worked with Standard Chartered Bank, The Bridge Africa (an American NGO) as Project coordinator for 3 years. Presently holds duals positions of Regional Director of ECAM (Entreprises du Cameroun) and Project Cordinator of Enterprise Europe Network(a European Union Project in Cameroon). Apart from being an Employee, I am equally the CEO of BETRAC Group, a construction company in Cameroon, which employs over 7 permanent staff and more than 50 auxillary staff. Member of over 20 commitees at the level of government, principally at the Prime Ministry, Ministry of SMEs, Ministry of Planning and the Economy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour amongst others. Expert in SME development.
Cameroon has enormous potential. Unfortunately, there is a huge communication problem which doesn’t permit the information about Cameroon, to be properly sold to the world. Coming from the biggest SME organisation in Cameroon- ECAM, I would like to showcase the business potential, opportunities which the Cameroonian SMEs have, and equally present the channels through which foreign companies could be assisted in their venture to do business in Cameroon
Publisher, ABBI Books and Africa Coordinator, TX Foundation - Nigeria
Adenike Adeyanju-Osadolor
Trained both at the University of Ife, Nigeria and Radcliffe College, Harvard, USA (Publishing Procedures), Adenike Adeyanju-Osadolor’s experience has straddled academia, book publishing and development work over the past four decades. She runs her own publishing outfit, ABBI Books which promotes women’s voice through publications by and on women and women’s issues. She is currently Africa Coordinator, TX Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting children’s education around the world and before that also Africa regional coordinator, International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW International), an international NGO focussed on women empowerment between 2011 and 2017. She is a staunch supporter of education of the girl-child as a way of giving them agency.
CEO & Co-Founder, International Ventures and Trade- California, USA
Director, Institutional Business Development, Trimble- United States
Managing Director, LoopSight Company Inc- Canada
Aures Tchana is the Managing Director of LoopSight Company Inc, a global Operations Consulting Plateform, which mission is to help organizations succeed in the 21st century by enhancing their agility to rethink, reimagine, and redefine their customer experience.
As a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with over 16 years’ experience in his journey of Business Performance Improvement. Aures is leveraging agile methodologies like Lean Six Sigma, Lean StartUp, Business Design by Innovation, Systems Dynamics and anticipatory model to built dynamics business Operation infrastructure. As a Continuous Improvement practitioner and system thinker, his focus is to support businesses to reach a sustainable performance by resolving wicked problems consequent of our VUCA world, full of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity.
Aures has accompanied many organizations in the design, the implementation and deployment of Continuous Improvement Strategy, Culture, Principles and Techniques, around business and customer requirements within an effective change management framework.
At Symcor Items processing Canada in the Mail and Distribution Services Business Unit, as Senior Value Stream Manager, Aures was able to improve the overall operations processes.
He lead the redesign of streamlined BU processes End to End, with the acceleration of the flow of material throughout the value chain, utilizing the “beat rate” to mitigate volatility in demand., Aures also managed to align the cost targets and cost reduction initiatives to meet stated financial targets. A Cost saving for over $ 300 000 per year was reached, with a significant 40% lead time reduction for the Mail and Distribution stream. Lean and Process control principles were embedded into employees on their day to day working environment through a smart Process Improvement deployment strategy. The customer experience in relation with Symcor-IPC processes needs and expectations was improved significantly. Aures coached 2 Black Belts and 3 Green Belts and business analysts to achieve the required business process sustainability.
At Labatt Breweries of Canada as Logistics Deployment Manager, with profound analytical skill, and relationship management, Aures was able to manage the Supply Chain Operations planning, the packaged goods production, the deployment process to exceed the Key Performance Indicator target, the Customer Fill Rate of 99%, equivalent to millions of dollars in profit.
At Boeing Company, at Altran Group (€2,12 Bn Consulting Firm), at Symcor Inc (Cost management Venture of Financial Institutions RBC, TD, Scotia bank, BMO), at the Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (Major Children hospital in North America), and Government Federal Agencies etc.., Aures’s business excellence contribution has improved operations processes to 70% from the initial state of performance while focussing on the Customer requirements fulfilment, employees experience, leaders’ empowerment and business performance improvement. The financial benefits started from around $300K CAD per year to several millions of CAD per year.
At the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Aures provide business improvement solutions to Small and Medium Businesses (up to 250 employees) by conducting business strategic analysis and End 2 End process performance review and optimization.
He has facilitated numerous Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Green belt and Yellow belt training. He has supported several business Innovation by design sessions to improve departments and Business Units. He has also played a role of strategist and an leadership coach for team leaders and Executives.
Aurès holds a Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management and Purchasing from the Skema Business School and a Master’s degree in Operations Management from the Bourg-en-Bresse School of Business and Industry, as well as a university degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Institute Of Technology (Paris XIII university). He is also a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Co-active Coach and Systems Thinker, with an high interest for the Strategy dynamics, and the Circular Economy.
Founder and CEO of Nubian Hueman - Washington D.C, USA
CEO Co-founder, Gebeya Inc- Ethiopia
Amadou has two passions in life: Africa and software engineering. He holds a BSc in Computer Science and MSc. in Management Information System from the USA. Over the last five years he has travelled across Africa searching for top software engineers and in the process, Amadou acquired a lot of knowledge on the IT landscape in Africa and the opportunities it presents. It is through his quest that he saw the potential of software improving African economies and solving socio economic issues across developing countries. This motivated him to Co-Found a Pan – African company, Gebeya Inc so as to nurture a-self-sustainable ecosystem that trains, hires, and incubates the best of IT African talent.
Managing Director, Tendy Group- Indiana, USA
Berthran is the Managing Director of the Tendy group of companies invested in logistics, distribution and retail. He also serves as the CEO of Tendy LLC, a US based consulting firm offering hands-on market entry and business development services for US based companies in various sectors including Tech, Defense, Energy and Infrastructure.
Prior to joining Tendy, Berthran served in various general management and technical positions. He served in key roles as an Assistant Director at Columbia University in New York and as a Senior Project Manager at The Resource Group (TRG), a Washington DC based strategic equity firm investing and building innovative software and IT-enabled service companies. In his roles he managed several Fortune 500 clients like Honda Canada, Yamaha and BMW; providing market research insights and technology to drive revenue growth at dealerships.
He is a passionate advocate of building strong private and public African institutions to drive the growth story of the continent. He is a member of the African Leadership Network, Africa CEO forum and Continental Business Network of NEPAD. He is also the chair for the International Market Place, Global Village project’s sustainability committee in the state of Indiana, USA.
Berthran’s expertise spans across various sectors, giving him a diverse perspective on growing businesses in difficult markets.
He is focused on developing sustainable models and ushering Africa into economic fruition through business development and global partnerships.
Berthran holds a Masters degree in Applied Information Technology with honors, a post graduate degree in Management Information Systems from Towson University and an Executive Education certificate from the Harvard Business School. He also holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Mathematics.
www.tendyllc.co https://www.linkedin.com/in/berthran-ugeh-8239484/
President, Zambia Renewable Energy Association- Zambia
Head of Africa and Middle East, NuRan Wireless Bradley Shaw- South Africa
Cape Town native Bradley Shaw is the Regional Manager Middle East and Africa at NuRAN Wireless. Bradley has fast established himself as one of the leading business development professionals in the African telecoms, media and technology (TMT) sector – specializing in SMEs and startups with unique offerings. Bradley’s experience spans the African continent, with a proven track record of increasing revenues for every brand and product he has represented. He holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business.
Bradley’s mantra is simple: Africa needs to increase trade, not aid. Bradley lives in Cape Town with his wife and three children but travels widely across the African continent.
Esq, Avocat à la Cour -Attorney at Law- Congo DRC
CEO, Travel Abroad Solution and Services Ltd-Rwanda
“My names are Mr. Mugme Elia, an economics student at University of Rwanda, Bachelors degree in Business development, Advanced certificates in Entrepreneurship and SMEs development.
I am the CEO of TASS Ltd, a tour and travel company with head office in Kigali -Rwanda, also am Insurance consultant at UAP insurance Rwanda.
I am passionate about entrepreneurship and job creation.”
Founder and Managing Director, Star Construction and Consultancy Ltd- Rwanda
Kazawadi P.D. is a founder and Managing Director of a 22 years old Star Construction and Consultancy Ltd with over 20 years experience in the construction industry of Rwanda. His practices range from leadership, civil engineering, project management, adjudication, mediation and arbitration. He is currently the president and the chairman of the Governing Council of the Institution on Engineers Rwanda and the Chairman of the Manufacturing Sector Skills Council within Rwanda Private Sector Federation and a member of its board. Professionally he is a Fellow Member of the International Academy of Project Management based in Hong Kong and Associate Member of Kigali International Arbitration Center, a Competent Communicator Member of the Toastmasters International based in USA among others.
Investment Manager at GroFin- Senegal
El Hadji Malick Soumaré is an Investment Professional currently serving Investment Manager at GroFin, a pioneering private development finance institution specialized in financing and supporting small and growing businesses (SGBs) across Africa and the Middle East. Before joining GroFin he was Investment Officer at Teranga Capital, a Private Equity firm investing in SMEs in Senegal. Prior to Teranga Capital, El Hadji was an Investment professional at AFIG Funds, the Atlantic Coast Regional Funds. Prior to joining AFIG, he held for one-year Google Student ambassador responsibilities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Partner, Baylis Emerging Markets- Nigeria
“Franklin Olakunle Amoo is a Partner at Baylis Emerging Market, an investment management firm focused on making growth equity investments in middle market
manufacturing and industrial assets on a pan-African basis. Franklin also serves as Chairman and Managing Director of the Whitman Group, a privately held Africa focused investment holding and advisory company with a portfolio of 13 operating companies – 8 of which are in Nigeria.
Prior to co-founding Baylis and Whitman, Franklin led the Strategic Credit Group at Mizuho Securities USA, the securities brokerage arm of the $1.8trillion Mizuho Financial Group, overseeing the firm’s activities with regards to originating,
structuring and trading illiquid and real assets. At Mizuho, Franklin reported to the CEO and helped establish the CLO, High Yield sales and trading, secondary loan
trading, structured finance and asset finance businesses; his mandate included originating, structuring and syndicating private capital raising and overseeing the
secondary loan and trade claims trading businesses. Having spent over 18 years working for a number of Wall Street firms across roles in proprietary credit trading,
principal investments, investment banking, research and institutional sales & trading, Franklin’s expertise has been in structuring and arranging project & asset finance,
infrastructure, energy, export credit backed, asset finance, leasing, securitizations, contract monetization and specialty finance transactions in developed, emerging and
frontier markets. He has developed recognized expertise in macroeconomic and fundamental credit analysis. Franklin began his career as an analyst in the Media &
Telecom Investment Banking Group at Bank of America.
Franklin chairs the Loan Market Association’s Task Force on African Secondary Loan Trading, served on the China Market Committee of the Structured Finance Industry Group, and presently serves on the advisory board of Africa GreenCo. Mr. Amoo is in service to the boards of the Wharton African Students Association Alumni Advisory Board, Collegiate School Alumni Executive Council, the Columbia University Young Lions Alumni Council, Prep for Prep and the Unity Preparatory Charter School of Brooklyn, chairs the board of the Fort Greene Family Support Group and formerly served as a director on the Executive Board of the United Nation Foundation’s Young Professionals. Franklin is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, and holds a BA in Economics from Columbia University as well as an MBA from The Wharton School, a Howard E. Mitchell and a Venture Incubation Program Fellow.”
Executive Director, Project Gaia, Inc- Pennsylvania, USA
President and CEO, Onebloom Corporation (Japan), and Strategic International Partner, Central Park Bees Ltd-Tanzania
Hiroyuki Itoh is a Japanese entrepreneur, and Founder, CEO and President of Onebloom Corporation based in Japan (a venture company of international trading house, international business investment & management, and related various business solution and practical business operational services and practices etc…). He is also in position of a Strategic International Partner of Central Park Bees Ltd Tanzania (a company of Bees and Honey related total services provider, and their honey related products and brand producing & sales company), and a Founder and Managing Board in a another private venture company (Trading and Marketing & Sales company) in Uganda.He and Onebloom Corporation is also a Official Country Representative Japan and Organizing Committee Member of Africa Trade and Investment Global Summit (ATIGS) to more promote and facilitate win-win international trade and foreign direct investment in Africa together with genuine global leaders.
After studying Global Politics major at HOSEI University in Tokyo Japan (including programs in Oxford University in UK) and studying Sports Business Management major at University in USA(selected in College Best Student Graduation Award), he started businesses and working career in international trading, marketing and sales, supply chain management etc of Automotive Steel sheet industry and the group companies businesses and operations management(Steel Service Centers of our subsidiaries and affiliates) etc for many years in and to Japan, South East Asian nations(Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam etc…) , and East Asian nations(Taiwan etc…)through one of the leading Japanese and International Trading House Conglomerated Company, and also worked in one of the leading International Business and Management Consulting Firm in Japan.
With its global network(Japan, Africa, Asia, Middle East, USA, Europe, South Latin America, etc) and based on trust from companies in various industries and from consumers in each region and nation, his Onebloom Corporation engages in multifaceted business activities by making the most of its Integrated Corporate Strength.
These business activities include marketing&sales of a variety of products and services within Japan, import and export, trilateral trade, Intermediate trade, and domestic and international business investment and management, products value chain development and the management, related various international business solution and practical business operational services and practices, etc All of his implementing businesses mission would be tried to economically and socially contribute for people’s and nature’s potential further development and prosperity in African nations, Japan, and in other part of developing nations like in Asia, Middle East, South Latin America etc.
Investment Management Officer, Shuraako-Colorado
Hillary N. Kellogg is the Investment Management Officer for Shuraako, a program of the One Earth Future Foundation. She joined Shuraako in 2014, bringing extensive experience in and international political and economic development and finance. In addition to managing the Shuraako portfolio, she is responsible for the conception and drafting of Shuraako’s Environmental and Social Management System. Prior to her role with Shuraako, she served as Senior Project Manager with Environmental Resources Management’s (ERM) social impact and sustainability performance assurance practices, Program Coordinator for African Development Solutions (Adeso, formerly Horn Relief) in Kenya and Somalia, and Business Development Director for a boutique energy commodity broker and asset manager. She has also consulted for the World Bank/IFC and several other international organizations. Ms. Kellogg has a Master of International Affairs (MIA) concentrating on economic and political development and environmental policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
Managing Partner, AMENA Trade & Investment Consulting GmbH- Germany
Director, Africa Fashion Guide Ltd- England UK
With 16 years experience in the global fashion industry living and working in 4 countries over 4 continents, Professional Fashion Designer Jacqueline Shaw birthed information based platform Africa Fashion Guide as a tool to educate, inform and retune the perceptions of Africa’s fashion and textile industry – a vehicle she sees for trade and development. Now an Author of the coffee table book Fashion Africa, an International Public Speaker, a University Fashion lecturer an African Fashion Business Consultant and researcher, Jacqueline who owns a Masters degree in Ethical Fashion and completing a Masters in Social Research is known for being an expert and most proudly an ambassador in the Ethical African fashion landscape championing for a more responsible way of doing fashion business and doing it well in Africa. She believes Africa is Fashion’s Future and has used her African fashion tee shirt campaign using fairtrade, organic African cotton tees made in Africa by Africans to spread this message on the catwalks of London Fashion Week to Ghana to Los Angeles. Jacqueline is unapologetically a champion for fashion in Africa and her work and reputation represents her enthusiasm and belief in this.
Founder and Executive Director, International Association of African NGOs- USA
Joyce Rogers Halliday is the founder and Executive Director of the International Association of African Non-Governmental. After her fifteen-years career in the Healthcare sector,as a Business Analyst and regulatory subject matter expert, Ms. Halliday decided it was time to follow her passion to serve the marginalized. While working as a Healthcare Business Analyst, she found time to volunteer in several charities and help to organize and structure new non-profit organizations. She serves as an advisor and strategist for several non- profit organizations in Africa, Caribbean and Latin America. She has spear-headed several projects to raise funds for non- profit organizations globally. She is a recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the African Women Cancer Awareness Organization for outstanding work in the support of African Women battling breast cancer globally. Ms. Halliday also served as the membership chair for the National Association of Professional Women (Maryland Chapter) and currently serves as a subject matter expert on healthcare regulatory issues for the Gerson Lehrman Group, Inc. New York. Ms. Halliday is also the founder of the International Business Strategies, a global business consulting firm that facilitates trade and investments in Africa and beyond.
President, Menes Konsult Limited-USA
“Attorney Menes splits his time between Dallas, Texas (USA) and Africa. With offices in the United States and major African countries, he and his team of well-trained
Legal and Business Specialists analysts provide US-quality representation to foreign companies, investors and project financiers/funders in Africa. Their focus is to
ensure success of foreign companies and investors in Africa by solving the local knowledge problems usually faced by foreigners in Africa. Each year, they work
directly alongside reputable foreign
investors/financiers/funders/construction companies to fund and execute viable private and government projects in Africa. Their
work ensures that foreign individuals and companies can successfully do business in Africa without being victims of fraud and corruption, while at the same time
providing much needed foreign investment and project funds to African countries. They provide project-funding facilitation, escrow and paymaster services, foreign
investor/partner matchmaking, pre-funding due diligence, post-funding project monitoring, and general corporate counsel services. “
I will like to provide real information to foreign companies and investors regarding how to succeed in Africa and also provide to Africans real information regarding
what it takes to attract foreign companies and investors for a successful business relationship for leading to mutual benefits and profits.
Public Affairs Reporting Student, University of Illinois at Springfield
Jacqualine Simone Jarju is pursuing a Masters in Arts (on sabbatical) in Public Affairs Reporting at the University of Illinois at Springfield.
In 2016, Jarju began to address global food insecurity by studying abroad in The Gambia focusing on West African culture, foods and interventions.
Jarju has a professional background in public and community affairs journalism, program development, community engagement and mass media marketing. She is an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Discovering practical ways to address global hunger and poverty is the focus of the “Culture of Food”, a term Jarju created to define the relationship between the food we eat and how our social, political and physical environment, ethnic origins and family practices shape our food choices and lifestyle.
At the African Trade and Investment Global Summit, Jarju will explain how these components impact food insecurity in Africa and possible strategies to address this issue.
Jarju derived “The Culture of Food” from her research, “Whole Armor: Strategies to Address Family Global Food Insecurity in Communities where Healthy Food is Available, but Hunger exists” at the 2018 Presidents United to Solve Hunger (PUSH) Summit.
Based on her initial research, Jarju presented, “Stones for Gold: How Embracing Indigenous Foods can Decrease Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates in The Gambia” at the University of Illinois at Springfield 2017 STARS (Student, Technology, Arts & Research Symposium).
Jarju is continuing her work with support of the Graduate Student Research grant from the University of Illinois at Springfield.
Founder & CEO, Global Sustainable Partnerships (GSP)- United States
Founder and Managing Director, Azurest Partners-USA
Investment Banking background with 13 years at Lehman Brothers and 3 years at JP Morgan Chase. Founded Azurest Partners in 2012 with a focus on bringing US investors and companies to Africa. We have a particular focus on West Africa (including Cameroon).
Founder CEO, African Sports Media Network-Texas, USA
Leslie P Koroma Sr is the Founder/CEO of African Sports Media Network publisher of African Sports Monthly Magazine which is Africa’s first ever and only comprehensive sports magazine that covers all sports disciplines across the continent and beyond.
A naturalized American residing in Texas, USA, he is a father of 4 beautiful and handsome kids and an avid techie and sports guy who once competed for his country of birth, Sierra Leone at various international Track & Field events.Retired from active athletics in 1999 a year short of the Sydney Olympics he now focuses on building capacity for African Sports at the Global Stage in Media, Athlete and Event Management.Leslie has a Bachelor’s Degree and various technical certifications in the Information Technology Field where he has worked for the last 22 years.He is recognized as one of the foremost experts in the African Sports landscape and is highly regarded as insightful and very Thorough in his work.
General Manager, Invest in Africa Now- Belgium
Mr M’Hamed Cherif holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Free University of Brussels (U.L.B.) and Master’s Degree in Econometrics. He started his career working alongside internationally known academicians, using econometric modelling for policy analysis and forecasts. He then joined the World Bank for nine years, before establishing his consultancy company. He is now a highly qualified and internationally recognised expert in the field of economic development, regularly invited to prestigious conferences as
speaker or panellist. Over his 40-year economic development career, he has worked extensively with the European Commission and the ACP Secretariat, mostly as Team Leader, providing advice at all levels of government to develop, implement and monitor policy reforms in a wide range of sectors. From 2006 to 2015 he managed the Ai Award winning BizClim programme which worked to improve the business and investment climate of ACP countries.
Throughout his career, Mr Cherif has built a large network of relevant contacts for the TSF project, including at very high level. This includes privileged relationships in both in public and private sectors, such as within international financial institutions, Regional Economic Communities and private sector organisations. He was the main driver behind the organisation of the EU-Africa Business Forum and other inter-continental forums. He has been involved in a large number of projects and initiatives, often marking significant new beginnings and innovations.
Mr Cherif has accumulated extremely valuable experience in various areas of development assistance related to private sector development and business environment reforms, structural adjustment programmes, development finance, food security, budgetary support and sector reforms (health, education, transport, fisheries, financial sector and agriculture, to name but a few). He has helped prepare more than 50 economic development programmes for the EU, and supported the development of hundreds of financially smaller but important projects aimed at fostering growth and employment.
He has served as strategic director for hundreds of events and conducted training for EC officials on budgetary aid, as well as on economic and financial analysis.
President, Council of Africa- Uganda
“I’m the President of Council of Africa, a pan-African international nonprofit organization working to promote liberty-centered development integration of the African markets and enterprises into a broad, prosperous, and sustainable continental economy.
Prior to becoming President of Council of Africa, I served as Vice President (East Africa) of the Board of the Association of Political Consultants in Africa, a position I serve to-date. I also served as Chief Executive Officer of Summit Foundation, Vice Chairman of Uganda Youth Network, and Eastern Africa Regional Youth Representative of the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region, among others.
In a nutshell, I have over ten years of progressive experience in the civil society sector, specifically focusing on democratic governance, youth empowerment and trade development.”
Global Chairman, Tokunbo Orimobi-Nigeria
“Michael is an ingenious and astute commercial lawyer with years of experience in capital markets, M&A and finance. He holds a Bachelors degree in Law (LLB) from the University of Lagos. Furthermore, he has a Masters degree in Commercial Law (with emphasis on Corporate Finance law, International Commercial Tax, International Intellectual Property Law and Corporate Governance) from the University of Cambridge.
He started his career as an investment banker and was involved in structuring several Nigerian and Cross-border commercial transactions, such as Financial Analysis and Valuation of Companies, Mergers & Acquisitions, Listing of Companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Core Investor Sale, Privatization & Commercialization, Balance Sheet Restructuring, Corporate Restructuring, Issuance of Equity, Debt and Hybrid Instruments (Private Placements, Special Placings, Public Offers) and Foreign Direct Investments.
He is currently the Global Chairman of the Tokunbo Orimobi Legal Group – an international legal practice with offices in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, London and New York. Michael doubles as theManaging Partner ofthe Group’s Nigerian Practice – Tokunbo Orimobi LP. Michael, in the course of his legal career has been able to perfectly combine his legal background with his investment banking experience in proffering highest quality legal advisory services to clients.
Michael is ranked as a Leading Lawyer for Capital Markets Deals in Nigeria by the IFLR1000, emerged as Lawyer of The Year, Nigeria & Leading Adviser, Nigeria in the ACQ Global Awards and was awarded Marketing Law with Accolades Award in the 2016 DealMakers Country Awards.Under his tenure as Managing Partner of Tokunbo Orimobi LP, the law firm has won several awards such as Corporate Finance Law Firm of the Year, Nigeria – 2016 Corporate Int’l Magazine Global Awards;Most Innovative Law Firm, Nigeria – 2016 Acquisition International Magazine Awards; Recommended Firm for Financial and Corporate Deals (2016) & Energy and Infrastructure Deals (2015) – IFLR1000; Corporate Finance Law Firm of the Year, Nigeria – 2015 Deal Makers Country Awards; Regulatory Compliance Practice of the Year, Nigeria, Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year, Nigeria & Best Commercial Law Firm of the Year, Nigeria – 2015 Acquisition International M&A Awards; Full Service Law Firm of the Year, Nigeria, Project Finance Firm of the Year, Nigeria & Litigation Law Firm of the Year, Nigeria – 2014 ACQ Global Awards etc.
He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association. ” Panelist Track O, Track P, Track S, Investors & Executives Roundtable, Track V.
Co-Founder & Director, Seawater Eco Farms-United Arab Emirates
Programme Officer, Economic Commission for Africa- Ethiopia
Currently I am working as Associate Professional Officer for Climate Adaptation (Agriculture & Trade) for the Economic Commission for Africa. I have MSc in Sustainable Development from Uppsala University in Sweden, Agricultural Economics (MSc.) Haromaya University and BSc. in Natural Resource Economics and Management from Mekelle University in Ethiopia. I have 9 years of working experience in social and business environments both in Ethiopia and Sweden. I am also part of a Young Innovation Hub, an organization that works on youth empowerment and leadership skills that advocate for matters of sustainable development, youth, entrepreneurship, environment and education
Managing Director, Mercton Resources- Ghana
Founding Partner, Ceres Law PC-USA
Rudy’s work has transcended over 20 years of international legal and financial experience, including representing Fortune 500 companies (Boeing, Marriott, etc.), and he is particularly versed in conducting business in Africa and Europe. Currently, Rudy is the Founding Partner of Ceres Law, a minority international corporate law firm based in New York, serving domestic and international clients in a variety of disciplines and industries. Ceres Law develops outstanding and diverse legal teams to deliver effective legal advice and results for our clients in, among others, the U.S. and numerous countries in Africa. From corporate transactional and compliance counseling to fund formation, litigation to international arbitration, we draw on the multifaceted background and expertise of our colleagues to advise and advocate on the issues that matter most to our clients, from a “business first” perspective.”
Founder & CEO of AGRI-INVEST Sarl- Cameroon
Director, African Alliance of Digital Health Networks (AKA African Alliance)-Nigeria
“Olasupo Oyedepo is currently playing a leadership role in the African Alliance of Digital Health Networks, a peer learning network, established (with support from Digital Square at PATH) to provide coordinating support to existing digital health networks across the continent, to help to align and leverage the strengths of and lessons learned from those networks. The African Alliance will help to incubate and grow human capacity in Africa to leverage the power of the digital in health across the continent.
He is the Project Director of the Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation’s ICT4HEALTH Project in Nigeria. He is particularly passionate about country leadership and governance of digital health investments and activities in LMICs. “
President and CEO, P&T Management Corporation - Canada
Group MD/CEO- Florida, USA
Executive Chairman, Mainstrategy- United Kingdom
Consultant /Adviser to Governments, companies & corporations on development of international trade.
Built, grew and sold several companies in UK, South East Asia, Africa largely based on export sales performance. Exporting success is vital.
Executive Chairman of Mainstrategy Ltd London & Europe. Specialist team of global export Directors
Richard Unwin is Special international adviser to United Kingdom, Government owned, The Royal Mint.
Member of Association of Economic Representatives, London (AERL)
Founder Member and Companion of Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management.
Former chargé d’affaires for Government of Solomon Islands in Brussels (Sat for 2 years on ACP committee of Ambassadors.
Passionate about the huge export growth potential across Africa.
Richard completely supports the WTO policy of reduced trade barriers, improved transportation links, information technology and the emergence of global value chains give small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the potential to become successful global traders, according to the WTO’s flagship report recently launched.
Exporting & trade development will increase profits for companies and generate revenues for governments. It is however a specialized skill. Nothing replaces experience.
Founder of the NGO, Hives Save Lives -Africa in 2003. Poverty alleviation solution by training thousands of beekeepers to construct beehives and produce tons of honey and beeswax as a self-help family income source. Benefits also some refugees.
CEO, HartNamtemah Inc
Rodrigue FouaFou is the CEO and one of the global visionaries behind HartNamtemah Inc. an investment firm based out of Toronto, Canada which specializes in vetting, mentoring, investing in and strategic planning for African start ups.
HartNamtemah is to not only invest from a financial perspective but also believes in investing in the people behind the idea. Our philosophy is that through the mentorship and development of strong leaders and entrepreneurs and the sharing of our network of connections we can we can shed light on the amazing continent that is Africa, the continent on the move and allow it to shine. Over the last six years, we have invested close to $600K USD, mentored over 21 entrepreneurs and have brokered over 15 deals valued at $2M USD one of which is Kiro’o Games, a successful video game studio based in Cameroon.
Rodrigue affectionately known as Rod, has spoken at many conferences worldwide on the topic of investing in Africa including the Annual African Angel Investment Summit in Cape Town, South Africa and the NACO World Angel Investment Summit where he represented Africa in 2017.
A successful software engineer by trade Rod’s heart lies helping other entrepreneurs and start ups which is evident in his work as a mentor World Bank’s XL Africa a program that works to bridge the gap between African entrepreneurs and worldwide investors. He is also an active mentor and member of VC4Africa and Enablis. For more on Rod follow AfricaConnects on all major social media outlets.
HartNamtemah. Investing in African startups and the people behind them.
www.HartNamtemah.com
Founder and Managing Director, Oxygen Africa- Zimbabwe
Simbarashe is 33 years old and is the Founder and Managing Director of Oxygen Africa, a Zimbabwean renewable energy development company focused on commercial and industrial rooftop solar photovoltaic projects. Oxygen is currently developing 50MW rooftop solar project with Old Mutual Property Zimbabwe, the largest property investment managers in Zimbabwe; as well as a second with Minerva Risk Advisors, a leading provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting in Zimbabwe.
In 2018 Simba has been named by Forbes Magazine as one of Africa’s 30 most promising young entrepreneurs as well as in 2016 he was also named one of Africa’s 30 most promising and inspirational young entrepreneurs in Africa by Forbes Magazine. Simba has also been recognised by the Africa Youth Awards as one of 100 most Influential Young Africans of the year. Afk Insider magazine named him among 12 Most Promising African Entrepreneurs of 2016 whilst in 2017 Africa.com named him among 40 Africans Under 40 – Making It In Africa.
Most Influential People of African Descent under 40 (MIPAD 100), a global civil society initiative whose efforts are in recognition of the UN-backed International Decade for People of African Descent, named Simba among its 2017 honourees for business and entrepreneurship inside Africa. Medium.com’s listed Simba among 100 game changers for inspiration on how you can hack entrepreneurship and growth in its 100 Must-Follow Black Entrepreneurs, Influencers & Speakers list of 2017.
Oxygen has received support from the Ministry of Energy & Power Development, National Project Status from The Ministry of Finance & Economic Development and a Climate Action Endorsement from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate for driving and championing the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Climate Action (13), Affordable & Clean Energy (7), Decent Work & Economic Growth, Sustainable Cities & Communities (11) and Responsible Consumption & Production (12).
The total cost of the 20MW Old Mutual & Oxygen project is anticipated to be US$26.4 million. The African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy For Africa fund has awarded the project a US$1.2 million dollar project preparation grant and we have senior debt terms from FMO – Netherlands, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, OPIC – USA, Standard Bank, MBCA Bank (Zimbabwe), NMB Bank (Zimbabwe) and CABS (Zimbabwe)
CEO, The Khana Group- New York, USA
Director and Co-Founder, Renewables Africa- United Kingdom
Tony Tiyou is the Director and co-Founder of O’wango & TT Smart (O&TT), an engineering consulting firm that supports businesses in the UK and in African Countries and provides solutions in Renewable Energy and Energy Management. Prior to setting up his business, Tony worked as Development Engineer, Project Manager, Lead Consultant and Business Development Manager in several companies for about a decade in the Automotive and the Renewable Industries.Tony holds a triple Engineering Master’s Degree from Cranfield University (UK), Ecole Centrale de Lille (France) and Faculte Polytechnique de Mons (Belgium). A registered PRINCE2 Practitioner, Tony has also been recognised as an achiever of the Galileo Master Certificate from the European Energy Centre (UK) and holds qualifications as a Renewable Energy expert.
In September 2016, Tony launched Renewables in Africa (www.renewablesinafrica.com), the expert blog about Renewable Energy in Africa. The ambition is to Raise the Technical Awareness about Renewable Energy and Energy Management in the African Continent and disseminate the information. As much as helping businesses primarily, it is also about getting the civil society understanding what they need, what they buy and to some extent as well, how to better use this energy.Tony is also the co-Director of Reach Society, a social enterprise that is aiming to encourage, motivate and inspire young Black people. The society was recently honoured by the Queens’s Award for Volunteer Service (QAVS), which the MBE for volunteer groups.
Founder & Managing Director, Walker Consulting Services - Zimbabwe
Cheif Operations Officer, Mole Projects and Machinery Limited- Ghana
OLE PROJECTS AND MACHINERY LTD – COMPANY PROFILE
Mole Projects and Machinery Limited (MOLE) is a limited liability company registered under the Companies Code of Ghana, 1963. The company was founded in 2013 by Mr. Mesuna Osman and Mr. Sumaila Mesuna, co-owners of Naagamni Oil Limited. Mole engages in the following activities: rental, leasing and sale of vehicles. We work closely with our clients to provide tailor-made services to satisfy their needs. This includes plant and equipment hire as well as sales of excavation and earthmoving equipment.
Our client base includes reputable entities such as the Parliament of Ghana, Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited, NPA, Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) among others. For many businesses, timely, efficient and reliable logistical support is central to the success of their business. We ensure that this is taken care of to enable our clients focus on their core business for efficiency and higher productivity.
MISSION: To serve as a reliable hub for simple and secure logistics/ construction solutions in Ghana and beyond.
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VISION: To become one of the market leaders in the delivery of timely logistics and construction services in Ghana and beyond.
VALUES: Our values are built on excellent and timely service delivery by nurturing trust between us and our clients.
SERVICES
Mole Plants and Machinery provides a broad range of equipment and transportation services.
At Mole, we understand that each client’s need is unique. Our rich experience and expertise in logistics puts us in pole position to provide haulage and transportation services across the country. Aside theses services, we offer customized services to fit the needs of each client to ensure efficient and effective delivery of their core services.
1. Sale, Rental / Leasing of vehicles on short term and long term basis.
2. Plant and Equipment Hire
3. Excavation and Earth works
4. Transportation and Haulage Services
5. Construction
6. General Trading and supplies
7. To advice, train and equip clients with the technical knowhow on equipment.
Through our operating lease, we take off your burden of having to deal with the daily hassles of repair and maintenance costs. Under this system, the following benefits could be gained;
1. Instant reduction of maintenance and repair cost.
2. Efficiency and Effectiveness of transport services
3. Clients would have an Off balance sheet financing method
4. No Insurance and DVLA cost
5. No down payment for the vehicle which certainly enhances clients cash flows
6. All other related issues on the road including regulatory requirements are taken up by us.
7. Clients would drive any car of their choices without worrying about how it was acquired and how it is managed. Clients are only to call on Mole and we will be there to answer.
8. Stand-by Vehicles are available for client’s use during maintenance. This is to ensure no disruptions in service delivery.
9. Clients are not affected by currency fluctuations as our arrangements are done in the local currency and as a hedge against inflation.
10. At a small premium, executive and luxury vehicles can be changed annually to ensure that executives drive current models of vehicles and to reflect their status in the industry.
11. Vehicles could be branded for clients to promote their corporate image.
Through our advisory services, we assist clients to make better choices on the type, make or brand of equipment/vehicle to buy/lease/rent. This is done to ensure clients work within their budgets and to have best of services they require. Fleet management is part of our services and in some peculiar instances we buy off assets from clients. We listen to clients and present to them unique and effective solutions.
Below are the list of our clients;
1. Parliament of Ghana
2. ABI Consultancy
3. Shantui West and Central Africa Ltd
4. Smaes West Africa
5. Stanbic Bank Ltd
6. Skones Security
7. Nerjet Ghana Ltd
8. RIGWorld
9. Africa Centre for Energy Policy
10. Oleum Ghana Limited
11. Homeland Petroleum Limited
12. USAID, Systems for Health
13. Plan Ghana
14. Delmes Company Ltd.
15. Icon Investment Ltd.
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Partner, Strachan Partners- Nigeria
I am a legal practitioner in Nigeria and a partner in the law firm, Strachan Partners. I generally provide legal advisory services to foreign businesses and investors interested in doing business in Nigeria- the legal requirements of doing business and sustainability in diverse sectors of the economy.
CEO, Pfortner- South Africa
Founder and CEO of Pfortner. Aubrey founded Pfortner in 2008. From humble beginnings in his garage, the business has grown and now serves customers in 15 countries. Pfortner secures IoT and Messaging systems using the highest levels of encryption and its patented STEALTH technology. Pfortner’s customers include multinational tier 1 banks such as Barclays and FNB as well as some of the big 4 consulting companies like PwC.
Founder & CEO, Omanbapa Ghana Ltd- Ghana
Bernard Oduro Takyi is Young Commercial Farmer and the Founder/CEO of Omanbapa Ghana Ltd (www.omanbapaghanaltd.com), which is an award winning Agribusiness Company in Ghana with focus on organic & mechanized farming, unique branding, secure packaging and efficient door to door sale of Farm Products (Food Crops, Vegetables, Fruits and Bush Meat).I am also the Founder and CEO of CEEP Ghana Ltd (www.ceepghana.com) with core expertise in Entrepreneurial Education, Mentorship, Professional Learning and General Business Consultancy Services. CEEP Ghana Ltd currently is the representative of TPLC-Mauritius, Fitch Learning-UK, Harel Mallac Technologies-Mauritius and Harel Mallac Global Services Ltd. I am also a Managing Partner of PEB SERVICES LTD which is a leading Private Limited Liability Company in Ghana with expertise in General Merchants, Business Consultancy, Business Facilitations, Project Analysis etc established since 2006.
I am a self-motivated Young Entrepreneur with over 4years practical experience in Agribusiness Entrepreneurship and Grant Management. I am both a National and an International Award Winner in the field of Agribusiness Entrepreneurship. I am a USADF Agribusiness YALI Entrepreneur 2016 Grant Award Winner, Best Sunyani West District Vegetables Farmer from the Ministry of Food & Agriculture (2012 & 2015), Best Sunyani West District Farmer Based Group, Omanbapa Group (2014), Ghana’s Next Young Entrepreneur Award for the Most Innovative Agribusiness Company (2013) and Enablis Entrepreneurial Network Award for Business Launchpad Award for Agribusiness Company (2014). I am also a 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow of Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
I am also a Graduate of University of Ghana, Qualified Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute, UK and Associate Member of the Association of Certified Chartered Economists, USA and also double as an Entrepreneurship Empowerment Program Trainer for Agripreneurship currently a Facilitator for the National Youth Council of Namibia on Youth Entrepreneurship in Value Addition Agriculture. I am currently the elected Regional Coordinator of Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs-West Africa (CAYE-WA) with the oversight mandate of advancing the promotion of Youth Entrepreneurship in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Cameroon. I also double as the Official Representative of The Mauritius Chemical and Fertilizer Industry (MCFI) Ltd as well as Chemco Limited.
Again as the Regional Coordinator of CAYE-West Africa, I led the CAYE African Delegation to the 3rd Commonwealth-China Global Business Summit that was held in China dated September 24-29, 2017. I am also the Official Representative for the 2018 Africa Trade and Investment Global Summit (ATIGS) to be held in USA in June 2018. My Entrepreneurial Interest lies in the area of Agribusiness, Manufacturing, Technology, Real Estate, Fund Management, Sales & Marketing, Fashion, Equity Financing, Business Fronting and Entrepreneurial Education/Mentorship.
Managing Director, Afrinet Capital- United States
Berthin represents Afrinet Capital, a venture fund focusing on strategic investments in Sub-Saharan Africa. His vision for the impact of technology on emerging markets has led him to focus on connecting entrepreneurs and investors across the globe. His background plays a role in his passion with the East African Region, this allows for an extraordinary understanding of the top startups in Africa and their potential. Through partnerships with local experts, Berthin has created a network of the next generation of entrepreneurs in Africa.
Bertin in NY and Declan in Nairobi, cpied here, who are Co-founders of Afrinet Capital – the NY/Nairobi based Venture Capital firm focused on East Africa opportunity and they are making strides in supporting local startups and connecting them with Investors as well as on the way building a Pan-African Venture Capital fund.
Congolese Professional NBA Basketball Player
Founder, CEO and Chief Content Officer, Pearl Dream- New York
Mr. Brian Asingia is a NY based Ugandan using people, technology and process skills to create social-economic inclusion and build meaningful ecosystems such as DreamAfrica, a global subscription and revenue share based streaming platform for multicultural content backed by a cross-cultural storytellers network and #AskAingia, a global network for early adopters and customer driven innovators. His media, technology and impact story builds on his experience as a Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur and an alumnus of ALTIS Milan e4Impact MBA (Tangaza), The New York Stock Exchange, Lafayette College, United World College USA and Ntare School. He is a writer, speaker, analyst, lifelong learner of DevSecOps with a passion for AI, AR and Cryptocurrency on blockchain, the platforms beyond mobile with potential for global identities and transparent value exchange. Asingia is the global citizen @brianasingia, of #AskAsingia by BrianAsingia.com and @wedreamafrica, the DreamAfrica platform wedreamafria.com as seen in The Next Africa by J. Bright and A. Hruby (MacMillan 2015), Harvard, Wharton, and Columbia.
CEO, Size Chunk- South Africa
I am a young entrepreneur from Zimbabwe. YPO member harare chapter, I have been doing business in Zimbabwe for over 15 years and survived the economic meltdown. I have been able to expand my business to South Africa, Dubai and and have a tourism startup in USA. I have been a speaker at an LPG conference in Tanzania and South Africa. Agriculture conference in Dubai and have featured on CNBC Africa Power Lunch, Closing bell and Political Capital.
Founder of Startup52- New York, USA
CHIKE DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE BEAUTY IN THE THINGS THAT BOTH BIND US TOGETHER AS WELL AS THOSE THAT MAKE US UNIQUE.
BACKGROUND
Chike is an Educator, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Investor, Humanitarian, Entertainer and Biomedical Engineer who is passionate about empowering untapped communities and increasing representation through diversity and inclusion in tech and entrepreneurial spaces. Chike is the executive producer, creator and host of ‘Tech:inCOLORS’, a facebook live show that explored the intersection of tech, entrepreneurship, culture and inclusive diversity.
Born in Nigeria, Chike is one of six siblings currently living in 5 countries on 4 continents. A well travelled lover of people and cultures, Chike draws inspiration from the beauty in the things that both bind us together as well as those that make us unique. He is an ardent believer in the social and economic benefits of inclusive diversity and continues to advocate for its adoption.
CEO, Managing Director at Daineth Enterprises Nairobi,- Kenya
Catherine Mureithi is a professional in Diplomacy & International Studies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications & Sociology and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Relations, all from the University of Nairobi.
She is also the Managing Director and CEO at Daineth Enterprises which provides services of General distribution and supply. Daineth Enterprises was incorporated in 2009 with its head office in Nairobi. Since its inception, it has provided standardized quality services and strives to meet its customer needs.
Ms. Catherine is also a Patron Member of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry. His co-option to Nairobi Chamber will immensely rejuvenate the county due to her connections and goodwill. She is a Communications guru, and an inspiring focused Business Leader who is tenacious, organized, outgoing and possess good analytical & interpersonal skills.
Founder of DataGig - Texas, United States
Eunice is an entrepreneur and founder of DataGig, a full-service, enterprise software technology firm, focused exclusively on Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics Technology. Prior to founding DataGig, Eunice was a Product Consultant and Analyst of the Canadian Business Unit at Apple. She is also a Founder Institute graduate, a program that teaches all facets of start-up development and growth from concept, to fund-raising, to validation and expansion, all the way to exit. Eunice holds a BS in Mathematics and Statistics with a minor in Finance from Louisiana Tech University.
Eunice strongly believes in building the next generation of women and minorities in the tech industries and volunteers by mentoring students in Code2College, a non-profit whose mission is to dramatically increase the number of girls, underrepresented students of color and low-income students who enter STEM degree programs and fields. As well as FavCode54, a non-profit initiative that aims to teach, mentor, and build the next generation of African Software Developers and Data Science using everyday people with no skills and turning them into tech geniuses fully equipped to work with tech companies in their local communities & Globally.
CEO and COfounder, BMEET- France
“I left My family and my country (Cameroon) in 2012 to finish my Engineering Studies At the ESIGELEC of Rouen in France. During my scholarship at ESIGELEC, my cofounders (Jean Philippe Veigne, Maxime Kuitche) and I made the observation that lot of African Countries weren’t present on the internet because they did not master digital technologies and they lack resources to invest in digital. We decided to create BMEET, a digital platform that brings more visibility to African SMEs more quickly, and without the constraint of being able to master digital technologies. In addition, Bmeet brings them more business opportunities through the internet. Bmeet was officially born in September 2016 after our engineering studies. Our platform has been available since September 2017 on www.bmeet.co and we already have more than 450 companies that are registered.
The African continent is currently undergoing a deep and strong digital transformation that is boosting not only economic habits, but also human values. It will be a great pleasure to share my small experience of digitization in Africa as well as the challenges that we must brave every day.”
Founder & CEO, Tentmaker House- Ghana
Henry is an entrepreneur and an investment banker with over 14-year experience in the banking and financial service industry. He is the CEO of Prime2Prime Ideas Limited, a solution driven consultancy which offer solutions in Research, Events and Training and Advisory – Investment and Accounting support. At Prime2Prime, Henry is responsible for strategic planning and direction. He performs the same function as the Lead Consultant/CEO at Tentmaker Ghana, an Entrepreneurial and business incubator hub.
Prior to Prime2Prime Ideas and Tentmaker Ghana, he worked as a head of branch, manager – business development and later as credit manager at Ideal Finance between June 2014 and July 2015.
Henry also worked with Beige Capital Savings and loans as a Branch Chief Executive for its Madina main branch from April 2012 to March 2014. He Joined Beige from Akuapem rural bank limited where he spent about eleven (11) years between August 2001 and April 2012 in various capacities and roles such as head of department, agency, and branch. His contribution to the companies he has been associated and worked with has been one that will promote long-term development of the business.
Working as operations manager, Branch chief executive and head of units and branch, Henry is well vest in corporate governance issues, team building, and strategic planning. With an accounting, project management and finance background, Henry has developed himself over the years as a reliable professional.
His entrepreneurial acumen has led him to many speaking engagement as a lay preacher, career coach and a motivational speaker. He has been involved in some corporate restructuring and strategic planning sessions in his career life. He has also spearheaded implementation plans and operational strategies for some start-ups and established companies.
Co-Founder & Managing Director, International Funds Investment- Cote D’Ivoire
JUNIOR TOGBA, Titulaire d’un Master en FINANCE Option Marché Financier de l’Institut Universitaire d’Abidjan.il détient plus de 8 ans d’expériences dans les domaines de la Bourse, spécialiste des marchés financiers européens principalement le FOREX, il a exercé en tant que Gérant de portefeuille sur le FOREX, puis Chef Comptable pour sa première expérience en tant qu’entrepreneur, rejoint ensuite en tant que analyste financier pour le programme « Ivoire Business Partner » au sein de Eagles Investment Capital Corporation. En Octobre 2016, avec une nouvelle vision de l’entreprenariat met en place INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENT ou il occupe le poste de Directeur Général.
Chief Executive Officer, MBL Enterprises & Trading LLC- Charlotte, NC USA
Born in Guinea and raised in Senegal, I moved to the U.S.A after a baccalaureate in Economics to pursue a degree in Finance at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I’m the founder and Chief Executive Officer of MBL Enterprises & Trading LLC, an independent commodity trading company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. We help manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers get the raw materials or products they need for their business at the most competitive price. We are also into the automotive industry with the import/export of Cars, SUVS, Vans, and Trucks.
Co-Founder & CEO, LayerCake-United States
Mannie T’Chawi is the co-founder & CEO of LayerCake; a social enterprise that promotes financial inclusivity and security in Tanzania. Mannie believes Africa’s undertapped markets and industries lack sufficient and/or allocated resources. Working in startups, Fortune companies, and NGOs, has made Mannie a big proponent of Private Public Partnerships modeled around self sustainability. In 2016, he also co-founded The Africa of Things, a network aimed at connecting talented people from across the African entrepreneurial community to find new ways to collaborate and achieve our goals.
Founder/Director, Humanity Helping Sudan Project - USA
Manyang’s earliest memories are of war, dead bodies, and of his own uncle trying to save his life. At age 3 Manyang became a refugee of the Sudanese civil war. He is one of The Lost Boys, a group of 20,000 boys who were displaced and orphaned. Manyang’s father was one of the two and a half million people killed and he was separated from his mother and sister. For 13 years he lived in refugee camps along the Sudanese and Ethiopian border, where homelessness, hunger, fear, and abuse were part of his everyday life. At age 17 Manyang was brought to America where he learned English and eventually enrolled in college. He 734coffee and started Humanity Helping Sudan to improve the lives of Sudanese refugees and attempt to battle the problems of an entire displaced population. Humanity Helping Sudan runs on the ground programs at refugee camps where they provide fishing nets, agricultural programs, and community gardens, reaching 40,000 displaced people.
CEO, Davmontes ltd-Italy
Nkembuh Natalie is publisher Evolve business magazine, Africa news correspondent Italy, and CEO of Davmontes ltd
Chief Executive, The Grind Africa- South Africa
“Entrepreneur and Millennial Reformist, Nolo Mokoena is the Co-Founder of The Grind Africa, an invitation only youth platform in partnership with Standard Bank, which aims to re-write the African youth narrative.
He previously co-founded several innovative start ups, such as Storage Wars Solutions and South Africa’s first online house music publication,
The Set Magazine.
Previously an Associate Manager at Procter & Gamble, Nolo now focuses on advocating for the youth voice, and creating youth led & focused enterprises that truly empower from the “bottom up”.
A former student leader at the University of Pretoria, he served as the
Chairperson of the Young Economists Society and Deputy Chairperson
of the Economic and Management Sciences faculty student council. Remaining true to his passion, he later served on the Student Sport Committee, pioneering a dialogue platform called the Heritage Talk Series in partnership with the Department of Student Affairs.
Nolo’s key interests lie in innovation & strategy, mediation and
dialogue, youth demography and development, and agricultural reform. An alumni of the South Africa-Washington International Program(SAWIP) in 2014, he spent his summer internship at the Michelle Obama endorsed Higher Achievement, an education focused NGO in the Washington D.C metropolitan area- focusing his efforts on the NBL’s Washington Nationals’ Youth Program. He is also a recent fellow of the ISFiT Dialogue Groups in Norway, which was hosted by the Nansen Centre for Peace & Dialogue and Trondheim University.
Aside from his entrepreneurial ventures, Nolo hopes to grow as a social innovator- making a considerable contribution providing alternative solutions in both private and public sectors of society. He is both an opinion writer on News24’s Voices platform and a TED speaker, and is considered a leading voice on African youth, shifting trends and organizational transformation.
Africa is rising; but whom is it rising for? Nolo hopes to answer this daunting yet relevant question through his life’s work- even though he’s still 26!”
Founder, YouNeek Studio- USA
Chairman, African Youth Panel - Nigeria
Olawale, Rotimi Opeyemi is an agripreneur- a recognized young leader in Africa’s agric sector and international speaker who has addressed global audience and high level meetings on important platforms such as The Commonwealth, African Union, African Development Bank among others.
He is a development and agribusiness consultant to many organizations, government bodies in Nigeria, international NGOs, financial and multilateral institutions. Olawale consulted for Making Finance Work for Africa- a multilateral institution hosted at the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Following his passion for social and economic development through agribusiness in Nigeria and Africa, Olawale has founded, co-founded and signed impactful initiatives and partnerships in Nigeria and Africa with the following goals.
Co-Founder, and Chief Technology Officer Labacorp Infinite Loop - Togo
North America
Global Attain Advancement, LLC
PO Box 18087 Austin, Texas, 78760
[email protected]
ATIGS 2018 Official Trade Partner & Global Representative
Trustrade Consulting Group, SARL
West-Africa
[email protected]
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