H.E Atiku Abubakar

former Vice President of Nigeria

Hon Dr Okechukwu Enelamah

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment – Nigeria

Mr. Coutinho Nobre Miguel

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Banco Sol – Angola

Dr. Ricardo Daniel Veigas de Abreu

Secretary of Economic Affairs of the President of Republic of – Angola

Ms Lerato Mataboge

Deputy Director General, Trade and Investment South Africa (TISA) at the Department of Trade and Industry – South Africa

H.E. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao

African Union Ambassador to the – United States

Alexander Gazis

Acting Deputy Director for Economic Affairs and Sr. Trade and Investment Officer, Office of Economic and Regional Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs – U.S. Department of State

Mr. Kevin Cassidy

Director and Representative to the Bretton Woods and Multilateral Organizations, ILO Office for the – United States Kevin Cassidy, with over 33 years of international development experience, is currently the Director and Representative to the Bretton Woods and Multilateral Organizations for the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for the United States. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Cassidy served as the Senior Communications and Economic and Social Affairs Officer for 11 years in the ILO Office for the United Nations with additional responsible for partnerships in North America. During this time, Mr. Cassidy worked with member States to organise Heads of State/Government and Ministerial level events highlighting decent work as well as introducing policy language on key development issues into the resolutions and outcomes documents of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee and the Commissions of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Before his assignment to New York, Mr. Cassidy was the Chief Technical Adviser for the ILO’s Global Campaign on Promoting Fundamental Rights at Work. During that time he developed numerous communication initiatives in over 40 countries such as interactive radio and television programmes as well as training journalists on communicating locally on decent work, child labour, forced labour, discrimination and the freedom of association. Prior to joining the ILO, Mr. Cassidy worked for the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF-UK) in London as the Operations, Communications and Partnership Director. His work with the AKF-UK focused on rural and community-based development in Central and South Asia. Mr. Cassidy has worked in several UN offices during his career including the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) on the issue of landmines, the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Ban Ki-moon), the UN Department of Public Information and the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS), New York. Mr. Cassidy holds a Masters’ of Economic and Political Development from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Mr. Robert Skinner

Director, United Nations Information Center (UNIC) – Washington D.C. Robert Skinner is the Director of the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) in Washington, DC. His duties include managing United Nations public information activities in Washington, DC and the United States, and maintaining relations with officials from the U.S. government, members of Congress, media, civil society, the diplomatic community, business and educational institutions. Prior to joining the United Nations, Robert was the Executive Director in the New York Office of the United Nations Foundation, where he was responsible for managing relations with various UN offices, Permanent Missions to the UN, civil society organizations, and private sector actors; communications and press; and office operations. Before joining the Foundation in 2006, Robert held several positions in the United States Department of State, including as Deputy Spokesperson at the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York, and as Public Affairs Officer for the United States Embassy in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He also held posts in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire and San Salvador, El Salvador. Robert was an attorney in the Office of the Cook County Public Defender, Chicago, Illinois before starting his diplomatic career.

Mr. Paul Maseli

Director, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) – New York, United States

Hon Senator Ike Ekwerenmadu

Deputy, Senate President of –Nigeria

Hon Ambassador John Campbell

former US ambassador to Nigeria –United States

Hon Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah

former Minister for Trade & Industry, and former Amb Ghana to the USA –Ghana

H.E. Fatoumata Tambajan

Vice President of–Gambia

Hon Kwaku Ofori Asiamah

Minister of Transport –Ghana

Andrew Herscowitz

Coordinator, Power Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) –USA Andrew M. Herscowitz has been the Coordinator of the Power Africa since 2013. Prior to this appointment, he served as USAID’s Mission Director in Ecuador from 2011 to 2013, and as Deputy Mission Director in Peru from 2009 to 2011. He is a Minister Counselor in the U.S. Foreign Service. In 2008, Herscowitz served as USAID’s Supervisory Regional Legal Adviser for Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. From 2002 to 2007, he was Regional Legal Adviser for the Caribbean, providing services to Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti and Jamaica. After joining USAID in 2001, Herscowitz served as the lawyer for USAID’s Office of Development Credit. He also worked with the USAID legal team that designed the original framework for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Following graduation from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Herscowitz spent a year as a Georgetown volunteer in Nicaragua. After earning a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, he worked for the law firms of Piper & Marbury (now DLA Piper) and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison in Washington, D.C. In 2005, the Federal Bar Association recognized Herscowitz as one of the five most outstanding lawyers under the age of 35 in the U.S. Government.

Amy C. Novak, Ed.D.

President, Dakota Wesleyan University –South Dakota, United States

Adalberto Netto

CEO of APD Invest Paraná, Government of Parana –Brazil

Maria Goravanchi

Director, Overseas Private Investment Corporation –United States

Pablo Martín Carbajal

Deputy head for African Affairs & CEO, Proexca , Canary-Islands Government–Spain

Hon Dr. Kalu I. Kalu

three-time Finance Minister of–Nigeria Dr. Kalu I. Kalu has served as the chairman, board of governors, African Development Bank, and has been a member of the Development Committee of the World Bank. His public sector career in Nigeria commenced when he served as commissioner of finance and economic planning in Imo State, Nigeria. At the federal level, Kalu served as the minister of finance on two occasions, from 1985 to 1986 and 1993 to 1994. He also served as the minister of national planning from 1986 to 1987, and thereafter the minister of transport from 1987 to 1989. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was research fellow, and subsequently worked as country economist in the East Asia and Pacific Program Department of the World Bank

Hon. Terence Mukupe

Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development–Zimbabwe

Hon Ibrahim Awaal Mohammed

Minister for Business Development–Ghana

Hon Dr Mohamed Doumbouya

Minister of Budget, Republic of– Guinea

Hon Mr Pieter van Welzen

Honorary Consul, Consulate of Sao Tome e Principe in The– Netherlands

Mr Umana Okon Umana

MD and CEO, Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) – Nigeria

H.E.Clyde Rivers Ph.D. Hon Ambassador

Republic of Burundi & Advisor to the President of the Republic of– Burundi Dr. Rivers International platform focuses on establishing effective relationships, and ways to help people understand the value of honor and basic human rights. Dr. Rivers is known as the “World Peace Ambassador” Representative that teaches World Leaders about his “Golden Rule” movement, an Interfaith Peace-Building Initiative. Recognized by the United Nations in New York City, the North American Division, Dr. Clyde Rivers “Golden Rule Award” is now established in 120 Nations of the world, who are currently living by the Golden Rule daily. This unique award has been given to World Leaders, including the former President Of Ethiopia Mr. Girma Wolde and peace activist Ambassador Mussie Hailu. These men have embraced and promoted the “Golden Rule” Initiative globally. Over the years, Dr. Clyde Rivers has won numerous impressive awards for his personal devotion to World Peace from world leaders such as former president of Mexico Vicente Fox and Dr. Alberto Santana of Peru, just to name a few.

H.E. Adonia Ayebare

Uganda’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the– United Nations

H.E Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo

Executive Governor of Gombe State– Nigeria

H.E Barr. Nyesom Wike

CON, Executive Governor of Rivers State– Nigeria

Dr. Belachew Mekuria

Industrial Park Division Deputy Commissioner, Ethiopian Investment Commission– Ethiopia

Yoofi Grant

The Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre– Ghana

Professor John O. Ifediora

American University, and Director of the Council on African Security and Development– USA Professor John Ifediora is an economist and attorney at law with special emphasis on public policy analysis, development economics, and international human rights law. For over twenty years, he has lectured widely in these fields at various universities in the United States, Europe, and Africa; and has served as a consultant to governments in Africa, and to state governments in the United States. In recent years, he advised the Wisconsin Department of Revenue on its Tax Incidence Study, served as a special consultant to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in its economic impact study, advised Illinois State Senate on the economic impact of the state lottery on the economy of Chicago, and provided guidance on public healthcare initiatives at the federal level to various African governments. He is the Director of the Council on African Security and Development, and serves as its editor-in-chief. He is currently in the faculty of Economics at American University, Washington DC. He earned a Ph.D. in Development and Applied Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Ph.D. in Economics/Public Policy Analysis from University of Illinois at Chicago; Juris Doctor (JD), from University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School; M.A. from The University of Chicago; M.St. from Oxford; M.S. from Cambridge, and did his post-graduates studies in economics at the London School of Economics.

Hon Jordan Garcia

Honorary Consul of the Republic of Guinea Conakry for the State of – California

H.E.M. Ali Bunow Korane

Governor of Garissa, Republic of– Kenya

Hon. Muhammad Amin Adam

Deputy Minister For Energy, Incharge of Petroleum – Ghana

Hon. Sebastian C. Kopulande , MP

CEO of Zambian International Trade & Investment Centre – Zambia

Ambassador Christopher Okeke

Nigerian Ambassador to – Brazil Dr. Christopher Nonyelum Okeke is Nigeria’s ambassador to Brazil. Dr. Okeke was Founding Partner at Ajumogobia & Okeke. In this position he was responsible for general corporate, commercial, oil and gas law and the project financing and privatization group. He also managed banking and financial matters at Ajumogobia & Okeke. Dr. Okeke has served as Honorary Legal Adviser to the British High Commissioner in Nigeria since 1988. He was a non-executive director of Nigerian Starch Mills Limited, Asset & Resource Management Holding Company (ARM) Limited and Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, amongst other public and private companies. Dr. Okeke has also served as a director of Cadbury Nigeria Plc. since July 19, 2003. He is a board member of the Nigerian Bar Association (since 1980), the International Bar Association, American Bar Association and the American Society of International Law.

Cheryl L. Anderson

Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, Africa Bureau, USAID – United States

H.E Donald Duke

former Governor of Cross River State–Nigeria

H.E. Dr. Abdoul Aziz MBAYE

Minister, Personal Advisor (Strategy) to the President of – Senegal

H.E. Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha

The Executive Governor of – Imo State

Hon. (Barr.) Emmanuel Jime

Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority – Nigeria Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Emmanuel Jime was born on the 20th of June, 1962. He obtained a law degree (LL.B Hons) in 1983 from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos from 1983 – 1984, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984, as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He began his career as a legal practitioner at LUWA Chambers and thereafter started his own Law firm in Makurdi, Benue State where he served as Legal Counsel to Makurdi Local Government. Hon. Emmanuel Jime contested and won a seat in the Benue State House of Assembly in 1992 and was subsequently sworn-in and elected the Speaker of that Assembly. In 2007 Hon. Jime contested and won the House of Representatives seat at the National Assembly to represent the Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency and was returned in again in 2011, the term expired on 29th May, 2015. In April, 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Emmanuel Jime as the Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority with a mandate to restructure and reform the Country’s Free Zones licensing and Regulatory Agency. A Position which he currently holds.

H.E Ambassador Dr. Neil Parsan

former Ambassador of Mexico and the Organization of – American States His Excellency Dr. Neil Parsan assumed the position of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America, non-resident Ambassador to the United Mexican States, and Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the Organization of American States (OAS) in February, 2011. He also held the Cabinet position of Executive Secretary for Integral Development at the Organization of American States (OAS) as confirmed by 34 countries through the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) in September, 2015. Dr. Parsan earned his Undergraduate Medical Degree at the University of the West Indies, Faculty of Medical Sciences, where he graduated with Distinction. After spending eight (8) years as a Lecturer/Tutor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (UWI), he pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA), where he graduated as Top Student with Distinction. He also holds a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) Degree, a CACM from Harvard University School of Public Health, and a World Trade Professional Degree from ITM Worldwide in Sweden. Dr. Parsan was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate for Education, Culture, and Humanitarian work from the Americana University, registered with Cambridge University (UK) and the Congress of Mexico. Ambassador Parsan is presently Special Advisor to The World Bank Group, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Parsan Cross, a Global Strategic Advisory firm located in Washington DC. Dr. Parsan is Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anesthetic Care (The G4 Alliance) based in Chicago; Chairman of the Global Gas Council; Chairman of the International Gas Union (IGU) Global Ambassadors Network and a Director of the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) and the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business (GSB) Alumni Board. He is a Director on the Board of Ben’s Chili Bowl, a historic landmark restaurant chain in Washington DC. He previously served as Chair of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) and Chair of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of HealthNet Limited. Dr. Parsan has also been given the following recognition: Conferred the title of Colonel Honorable Neil Parsan by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, U.S.A.; Award for Leadership by the City of Philadelphia and the Africa and Caribbean Business Council; Proclamation of Ambassador Dr. Neil Parsan Day in the Cities of Boston, Hartford, Doral, and Miami; Statesman Award from Memorial of Congressman Payne; and the key to the City of Broward County, Florida. His Excellency is an Honorary Member of the International Committee on HIV/AIDS on Capitol Hill, the Women’s Foreign Policy Group, the American Association of People with Disabilities, and the Americas Society. Ambassador Parsan is also on the Board of Advisors of the National Student Leadership Foundation of the USA. He was a Director at several Companies and has consulted on several special projects locally and internationally.

Ambassador Dr. Lydia Gonzalez -D’Ross

Oklahoma Governor’s Women of Status Commission

Dr. Munir Ahmad Ch

President, Aspire World Investments LLC – United Arab Emirates

Chris Kirubi

Director, Centum Investment – Kenya

Walid Loukil

Owner, Loukil Group – Tunisia Mr. Walid Loukil is Deputy Managing Director of Loukil Group, one of the largest diversified industrial groups in Tunisia. The Group has 5 pillars including Industry (Oil, Telecommunications, Environment, etc.); Agro-Industry & Construction; Automotive; Technologies and Trade & Services. The Group has 35 subsidiaries and employs more than 4500 employees. Since 1997, Mr. Loukil has evolved from Central Director to his current position of Group Deputy Managing Director. He has been actively involved, over the past years, in the diversification of the Group into many industries as well as for developing exports to many countries in North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Mr. Loukil is a Certified Chartered Accountant from ISG ( Institut Supérieur de Gestion ) Business School, Tunisia.

Andrew Darfoor CMA, MBA,

Group CEO, Alexander Forbes Group Holdings – South Africa

Xoliswa Daku

Founder & CEO, Daku Group of Companies – South Africa

Thione Niang

Cofounder, Akon Lighting Africa, and President of Give1 Projects – Senegal

Mr. Antonio Segunda Amões

Chairman of Group ASAS – Angola

Raj Kumar

Founding President, Devex – United States

Meir Moalem

CEO & Managing Director, Sky and Space Global – United Kingdom

Meloui Mustapha

CEO Advisor, Maroc Telecom – Morocco

Dr. Tariq A. Nizami

Founder & CEO of Clubs Network Worldwide–UAE

Mr. Alfred Liu

President, AEPA International Inc.–China USA

Asma Alaoui

CEO, Africa Key Partners – Morocco

Dr. Richmond Annan

President, iRichie Group Inc – Texas, United States

Dr. Vernon Darko

President, EQUIPXP, LC – Texas, United States Dr. Vernon Darko, president of EQUIPXP, LC, was named the 2011 SBA Houston District & Region VI Small Business Exporter of the Year. EQUIPXP, LC is a USA Capital equipment export and trade finance companies. EQUIPXP sells construction, commercial transportation including watercrafts, and heavy lifting industrial equipment to the oil & gas and construction industries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Dr. Darko served four consecutive years on the EX-IM Bank Sub-Saharan African Advisory Committee, established by Congress to provide expert guidance in developing polices to strengthen Bank support of U.S. export to Africa. He has served on the Greater Houston Partnership’s World Trade and Africa Committees, currently serves on the Exporta Global Trade Review (GTR) Americas Editorial Board. Dr. Darko also serves on the Bilateral Chamber Africa Insight Committee. He was awarded the President’s “E” Award for Excellence in Exports, an award that recognizes persons, firms or organizations which contribute significantly in the effort to increase U.S. exports. Dr.Darko was also awarded the Houston “Minority Exporter of the Year” award from the Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum and the “Alumnus of the Year” award from Lee University UPSILON XI. (Cleveland, TN.). Dr. Darko is the author of the book “Think, Act, Breathe Global and Grow Your Business,” and recently released Quick Guide Workbook to “Think, Act, Breathe Global and Grow Your Business.” The book was written in response to the personal challenges and experiences Dr. Darko faced in doing business with foreign markets. The book outlines techniques to help businesses conduct cross-border commerce and addresses the benefits, incentives, and rewards of doing business internationally. Dr. Darko’s most recent project, “How to Finance the Sale”. Specialties: Trade Finance, Equipment Export, Export Seminars, Export Training.

Mr Albert Yuma Mulimbi

Chairman at Fédération des Entreprises du Congo (FEC) and Congolese state-owned mining company GECAMINES – Congo DRC

Mr. Essohouna MEBA

President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Togo, and Federation of West Africa Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI) – Lomé, Togo

Stephanie Race

Founder and Chief Executive, Crop Performance Ltd– UK/USA

Mona Tarpley

Principal Counsel, Private Equity, IFC – International Finance Corporation– United States

Mr. Andrew F. Gelfuso

Vice President at Trade Center Management Associates (TCMA), a Drew Company– United States

Dr. Mima S. Nedelcovych

President & CEO, Initiative for Global Development – United States

Olivier Kamanzi

President & CEO, Africa Global Chamber of Commerce – United States Oliv ier Kamanzi is I nternational Financial Sector Development Consultant, Capital markets expert, and Philanthropist. Currently, he is President & CEO of Africa Global Chamber of Commerce headquartered in Chicago. He is Founder and CEO of Globrock Financial Group Inc., a global management Consulting and investment advisory firm established in 2010 with its headquarters in Chicago. Globrock Financial Group has its subsidiaries both in US and Africa. He is former Deputy CEO of Capital Market Authority of Rwanda, former Senior Investment Specialist of Citigroup and Executive employee at JPMorgan Chase. He is Founder and Chairman of The Olivier Kamanzi Foundation – a public charitable organization. Also, he is board member of various for profit and not for profit organizations including Saint Sabina Academy. Mr. Kamanzi assisted in establishment the Rwandan capital markets industry – a national project completed successfully with the creation of the Rwanda Capital Market Authority and Rwanda Stock Exchange – the first in kind. He initiated different policies and program including East Africa (Kenya, Rw anda, Tanzania, Burundi, and Uganda) Regional Financial Market I nfrastructure Development (Capital Market, Payment, Pension, and I nsurance), Regional Capital Markets harmonization and integration policies, Rw anda Privatization and Tax Policies through Capital Markets. He w as Member of Financial Task Force that supervised the East Africa Financial Market Infrastructure development and implementation of the Payment System in East Africa. Mr. Kamanzi is current Doctorate Candidate in Psychology Organizational Leadership and Entrepreneurship and holds MBA in Finance from Ashford University, the Forbes School of Business in Iow a and a bachelor degree in Business Administration from University of Fribourg in Sw itzerland. He fluently speaks 5 languages including English, French, Russian, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, and basics in Germany.

Almas Jiwani

President, Emeritus United Nations Women Canada – Canada A global voice for gender equality and women’s economic empowerment “People often ask me why we choose to focus specifically on women. My answer is simple – we focus on women and girls because evidence accrued over decades of international development work has proven that the status and role of women is the best clue to a nation’s growth potential, and is a key factor in determining a society’s standard of living.”
UNWNCC President Almas Jiwani, HSBC Canada, November 2012 Almas Jiwani, President of UN Women Canada National Committee and CEO of Frontier Canada Inc, is a fiercely vocal champion for gender equality. She is internationally renowned for her efforts to encourage women’s social, economic, and political empowerment. She spearheads initiatives where corporate growth intersects with humanitarian development. A model of perseverance and determination, Ms. Jiwani’s efforts to strengthen women’s economic capacity as entrepreneurs and producers have earned her accolades. She plays a crucial role in building networks among charitable institutions and socially responsible businesses. Ms. Jiwani is a powerful and influential speaker and she continues to travel across the globe to deliver keynote addresses, speeches, and presentations on improving the status of women. She addressed over 400 parliamentarians from 42 countries on the benefits of economically empowering women and the roles and responsibilities of parliamentarians at the International Assembly in the Dominican Republic and Quebec City. More recently, she addressed the Pan Africa Media Conference, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, World Bank, Women in Leadership Forum in Abu Dhabi, African Development Bank conference, and the World Forum alongside Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and holistic health/New Age guru Deepak Chopra. She is CEO of Frontier Canada, a communications and marketing company based in Toronto, Ontario. In 2013, Ms. Jiwani was appointed as a member of Magna Carta Canada honorary committee alongside with former Country Prime Ministers and high level political dignitaries. She was also appointed as good will Ambassador of the World NGO. In 2012, Ms. Jiwani made history as a state visitor in Pakistan when she addressed one million women on gender inequality. In June 2012, she was appointed as a Global Ambassador of Peace by the Universal Peace Federation. She is a member of the Global Advisory Board of Women in Leadership – NASEBA Corporation in the Middle East and Dean, Faculty of Law at Istanbul University in Turkey, Pamoja Kenya Mentorship Alliance, Enerdynamic and Global Warming Prevention Technologies.

Hoda Atia Moustafa

Africa Regional Head, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency – Senegal

Matthew Gamser

CEO, SME Finance Forum, International Finance Corporation – United States

Chris Knight

Global Commercial Director for fDi Intelligence, Financial Times Group – London, UK Chris Knight is the Global Commercial Director for fDi Intelligence. Chris has been working in the field of foreign direct investment and advising governments for over 10 years. Chris is an expert in the benchmarking of locations, analysing and interpreting FDI trends worldwide and how best to market and promote your location. Chris has worked with over 80 economic development organisations worldwide in all aspects of foreign direct investment including: lead generation, event organisation and management, best practice, investment promotion and location benchmarking propositions. Chris has extensive experience working in global markets including Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Middle East. Previously Chris worked as a senior analyst for OCO Global in Belfast where he worked with many different projects including economic development strategy and lead generation, with many of the largest investment promotional agencies throughout the world. Over the past few years, Chris has started to run training workshops on best practice in FDI. These have been in Poland, Brazil, Johannesburg and UK.

Harry G. Broadman

CEO and Managing Partner, Proa Global Partners LLC and Faculty Member, Johns Hopkins University – USA

Bisila Bokoko

Award Winning Bilingual Speaker, TV Personality, and Advisor to World Leaders – USA/Spain

Gary Whitehill

Chief Futurist, African Union – Ghana

Dr. Samir Benmakhlouf

Founder & CEO, London Academy Casablanca – United Arab Emirates

Art Smith

Chairman, National Council for Public-Private Partnerships, and Senior Adviser in UNECE International Center for PPP – Washington DC, USA

Ted M. Alemayhu

Candidate for US Congress 2018, and Founder & Executive Chairman, US Doctors for Africa (USDFA) – Los Angeles, USA Founder & Executive Chairman of US Doctors for Africa (USDFA). Member of the Business Advisory Council – U.S. National Congressional Committee. Strategic Investment Adviser to the Kingdom of Swaziland. Founder of the African First Ladies Health Summit, Key Adviser and contributor to the formations of the African Union (AU) Foundation. A recipient of the United Nations’s 2008 Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award. A recipient of the 2008 Columbia University’s The Harriet Tubman Freedom & Life Achievement Award. The 2008-NASDAQ Honoree, A recipient of the 2004 African Community – USA Award.

Dylan Piatti

Senior Chief of Staff, Consumer & Industrial Products Industry – Deloitte Africa – South Africa

Dr. Markus Thill

President, President Region Africa (RBAF/P), Robert Bosch (Pty) Ltd – South Africa

Nicholas Nyamali

Group Managing Director and CEO, Investment One Financial Services – Nigeria

Sylvestre Didier Mavouenzela

President, Chambre de Commerce, d’industrie, d’agriculture et des métiers de Pointe-Noire (CCIAM) – Republic of the Congo Sylvestre Didier Mavouenzela, président de la Chambre de commerce, d’industrie, d’agriculture et des métiers de Pointe-Noire (CCIAM) Titulaire d’un DESS en finance et contrôle de gestion des organisations (option entreprises) obtenu à l’université d’Orléans, Sylvestre Didier MAVOUENZELA a débuté sa carrière professionnelle comme directeur général (1987-1990) dans une entreprise agroalimentaire. De 1990 à 2004, il est adjoint au même poste à la société Miambanzila. La période coïncide avec l’admission de cette entreprise à l’assemblée générale de la chambre consulaire de Pointe-Noire, à l’issue des élections de 1996. Sylvestre Didier Mavouenzela endossera le rôle de trésorier (1997- 1998), de vice-président représentant la section BTP (1998 -1999) et de président de 1999 à ce jour. En 2004, il crée la société Nord-Sud Expertise, présente dans le bâtiment et les travaux publics. Depuis 2014, il pilote la mise sur pied de Holding verte Congo, une entreprise de production d’eau minérale dont il assure la direction. L’homme est président, depuis sa création en 2003, de l’Association Pointe-Noire industrielle (APNI), œuvrant pour l’émergence des PME/PMI viables au Congo. En mars 2015, il s’est vu confier les rênes de l’Association AfricaFranceCongo pour une croissance partagée, première entité africaine de la Fondation AfricaFrance pour une croissance partagée.

Trevor Ward

Principal, W Hospitality Group and Chairman of Hotel Partners Africa – United Kingdom

Prof. Dr. GD Singh

Founder & President, Asian African Chamber of Commerce & Industry – India

Brigette Hyacinth

Best-Selling Author and Leadership Expert – Trinidad and Tobago

Dr. Sidi Jammeh

Chairman Emeritus of the World Bank-IMF African Society and President of African Development Associates – USA

Brooke Partridge

CEO, Vital Wave – United States

Vore Gana Seck

Deputy Major, and Senior Advisor On Sustainable Development at Senegal Economic Social Development and Environmental Council.

Mr. Kofi Adomakoh

Director Project Finance, African Export-Import Bank – Egypt

Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong

Executive Chairman, Jospong Group of Companies – Ghana

Luís José Ndapuka Máquina

CEO, MACON – Angola

Michelle Cross Fenty Esq.

Co-Founder, Managing Director and General Counsel of Parsan Cross LLC Michelle Cross Fenty Esq., is an International Attorney and Development Banker who has dedicated a significant portion of her life to providing innovative financing solutions for developing countries. Ms Fenty is currently the Co-Founder, Manag-ing Director and General Counsel of Parsan Cross LLC, an international develop-ment advisory firm which focuses on finding development and financing solutions for projects in fiscally constrained developing countries around the world and serv-ing private companies to mobilize the maximum and best quality financing, includ-ing blending the strategic use of development financing and philanthropic funds, for large scale development projects. Ms Fenty has held various executive corporate positions: she is the former head of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) in Trinidad and Tobago overseeing a portfolio worth three-quarters of a billion US dollars. Ms Fenty served as OF Counsel in the firm, Perkins Coie LLP, in Washington DC with responsibilities that included the negotiation, drafting and finalization of various types of global com-mercial cross-border transactions, as well as, the provision of strategic legal and business advice and counseling to outside clients as well as serving on the firm’s diversity committee. Prior to Perkins Coie, Ms. Fenty served as the Managing Director and Associate General Counsel for Bearing Point Inc. (formerly KPMG Consulting Inc.), for the Consumer Industrial Transactional (“CIT”) business group, the largest commercial Group within BearingPoint, responsible for generating $600 million of the firm’s overall $2 billion revenue. Ms. Fenty also counseled senior executives on business strategy and offered and presented innovative solutions to resolve business and legal issues.
Ms Fenty’s passion and commitment to the betterment of children and women and her devotion to promoting the importance of global citizenship has led her to serve as the Honorary Patron for the Meridian’s International Children’s Festival for sev-eral yers and board member for several local charities including Fight for Children and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. In addition, Ms Fenty served as the President of the Advisory Council for the Capital Breast Care Center (CBCC) for five years. Ms. Fenty holds a Masters of Law in International & Comparative Law (LL.M.) from the Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC. and is admitted to the Washington DC, New York and Connecticut Bars.Born and raised in London, England, Ms Fenty lives in the District neighborhood of Crestwood with her 3 tennis playing children.

Chidinma Ukonne

Attorney, Women Advocate and Seasoned Global Leader

Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe, PhD

Founder & Chairman, FASMICRO Group – United States

Henry Bonsu

Broadcaster and Conference Host – London, United Kingdom

Bofta Yimam

  Emmy Award-Winning Journalist & Media Personality