Speakers
Governor of the Central Bank, Somalia
Mr. Abdullahi is the Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia (CBS), and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CBS.
Global Manager for Manufacturing and Trade Supplier Finance, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Femi leads a $4.5B investment team at IFC, focusing on manufacturing, decarbonization, and supply chains.
Board Member & Executive Director, Arab Gulf Program for Development-AGFUND
Experienced professional in development with a distinguished career spanning over three decades.
Visionary, Global Strategist & Systems Thinker
Shanthi Annan is a strategic visionary who develops organizations and mobilizes communities to drive lasting change.
President for Global Public Affairs and Engagement, Gunster Strategies Worldwide
Former Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to the U.S., Mexico, and the former Representative of the country to the World Bank, IMF and OAS.
Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, Côte d’Ivoire
The Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, Mr. ASSAHORE Konan Jacques was born on July 8, 1961 in Sinfra.
Minister of Finance and Planning, South Sudan
Dr. Marial Dongrin Ater is the Minister of Finance and Planning for South Sudan, appointed in July 2024.
Managing Partner, Helios Digital Ventures
Wale has an MBA from Dartmouth College, a MSc from University of Maryland, and a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Moscow University.
Minister of Finance, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance, has over thirty years of experience in economic and development management at national and international levels.
Founder and CEO, Web 3 Africa Group
Del Titus Bawuah is the Founder and CEO of the Web 3 Africa Group, a pioneering conglomerate at the forefront of transforming Africa’s digital landscape.
President, The Greater Washington DC Chamber of Commerce
Aisha Bond has lead the GWBCC since 2022, advocating for economic equity and Black entrepreneurs in the DC area. She holds a JD from Georgetown University.
President, Delphos International
Mr. Brown has served as President of Delphos International since 2021, overseeing growth and operations of global advisory business.
Vice President and Managing Director, ServiceNow Africa
Cheick Camara currently serves as the Vice President and Managing Director for ServiceNow Africa, where he drives growth and innovation across the continent.
Governor’s Commission on African Affairs, Maryland
Campbell is a recipient of the Order of the Oak Leadership Award and recognized as 1 of the 100 most influential Caribbean-Americans.
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Center for Cyber Diplomacy and Leadership
Dr. Pape Cissé is a seasoned executive and cybersecurity expert with over 20 years of experience in technology management and leadership.
Chief Operating Officer, Stellenium
Nancy Coblenz is a first-generation Egyptian-American and Chief Operating Officer of Stellenium, a global innovator in AI data centers and energy production.
Minister of Finance and Budget, Côte d’Ivoire
Appointed Minister of Economy and Finance on September 4th, 2019, Mr. Adama Coulibaly is a university lecturer.
President and CEO, National Black Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Charles H. DeBow, III is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The National Black Chamber of Commerce® (NBCC).
Psychologist
Dr. Ky Dele is a multi-award-winning psychologist and community engagement strategist with a distinguished record of driving transformative impact.
Ambassador, South Sudan
Dr. Dicken is a distinguished diplomat and author best known for advocating for South Sudan's independence through self-determination.
Minister of Finance, Somalia
Minister of Finance of Somalia, leading critical reforms in public financial management, domestic revenue mobilization, and fiscal policy.
Deputy Chair, Department of Management, GW School of Business
Ayman El Tarabishy, Ph.D., is a distinguished teaching professor and Deputy Chair, Department of Management at GW's School of Business.
Founder and CEO, NGSER
Sébastien Ellepo is a visionary entrepreneur, founder, and CEO of NGSER (New Generation of Services).
Director, Diaspora Africans in Trade and Investment
Nnamdi Kalu Ezera is Director of the Diaspora Africans in Trade and Investment (DATI), an initiative to increase African trade.
Minister of Finance, Democratic Republic of Congo
Hon. Doudou Roussel Fwamba Likunde is the current Minister of Finance of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Vice President and Minister of Finance, Botswana
Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe is a Botswana economist and politician, currently serving as Vice-President of Botswana and Minister of Finance.
Director of Research Technology Services, GW
At GW, Clark is pivotal in aligning IT operations with advancing research needs, overseeing high-performance computing systems while ensuring compliance.
Vice Provost for Academic Budgets, GW
The Vice Provost for Academic Budgets works with university leadership to promote and sustain academic and research excellence at GW.
Chairman, Orango Investment Corporation
Paulo Gomes is a distinguished investor, economist, and advisor with over 30 years of experience in sovereign and corporate advisory.
Governor, Central Bank of Barbados
A distinguished economist whose expertise spans the fields of economics, finance, and public policy.
Chairman, Global Solutions Institute
Mr. Grobmyer is a lawyer specializing in international and financial services law.
Chief Strategy Officer and Partner, Unified State Group; CEO, Nova Global Ventures
Christine Gulbranson is a distinguished technology and innovation executive with extensive experience transforming industries such as energy, AI and mobility.
Founder & CEO, Bhadala
Trailblazing leader in fintech, mobility, and emerging markets. A 2024 Echoing Green Fellowship Finalist and Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.
Managing Director, Shelter Afrique Development Bank
Thierno-Habib Hann, CFA is the Chief Executive Officer of Shelter Afrique, the Pan-African institution for housing.
Senior Director, SAIC
Bernard Height is a commissioned minister, military chaplain, business leader, motivationprenuer, saxophonist, leadership coach, soldier, and family man.
Former CFO, NNPCL
A seasoned senior executive with extensive experience in the oil and gas industry.
Vice Dean, GW School of Business
George Jabbour is the Vice Dean for Executive Education/Programs, Professor of Finance, and Director of the Master in Finance Programs at GW School of Business.
Founder and Managing Partner, Solomon Group, LLC
Johnson, a self-described "lawpreneur," leads a consulting and law firm specializing in social impact and legal services for minority and women entrepreneurs.
Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development, Côte d’Ivoire
Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development, Côte d’Ivoire
Founder & CEO, Collaborative Cash Flow Optimization (C2FO)
Sandy is the founder of C2FO, the largest working capital financing platform. He is also an active venture investor and serves on several corporate boards.
Chief Executive Officer, African Food Security
Alan Kessler, is the Chief Executive Officer of African Food Security.
Advisor to the CIO, S.K. Hart Management
As a member of the Semnani family, Bauback Bobby Kia, is Advisor to the CIO for S.K. Hart Management.
Minister of Digital Transition and Digitization, Côte d’Ivoire
Ibrahim Kalil Konate is an Ivorian political figure and technocrat.
Founding Partner, TSG Advocates
Chase brings a multidisciplinary approach to advocacy on behalf of U.S. and international clients.
Professor of International Business and International Affairs, GW
Professor Leipziger teaches International Business and is a former World Bank VP who led Korea’s 1997 bailout and advised South Korea, Vietnam, and others.
President, Black Professionals in International Affairs
Alexandria J. Maloney, MPA is a global leader designing future-ready institutions to equip leaders for complex challenges through cross-sector collaboration.
President, New York Africa Chamber of Commerce/ Board of Trustee, Berkeley College, Co-host
Busie Matsiko is an award-winning global strategist, #1 bestselling author, entrepreneur and global speaker.
Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury and Economic Planning, Kenya
John Mbadi is the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for The National Treasury and Economic Planning.
Founder and CEO, Vertria
Alec, a proud Carleton University Commerce graduate, discovered his passion for entrepreneurship after exploring various career paths.
Mrs. Dagmawit Moges Bekele is the Director of the Peace Fund Secretariat at the African Union, a position she has held since March 2023.
Managing Director, Directorate of Taxes of the DR Congo
Senior Congolese government official currently serving as the Director General of the General Directorate of Taxes in the Democratic Republic of Congo
CEO - Global Impact Industries Inc., Head of Africa Business Relations
Paul Nelson is a high-impact global business strategist and cross-cultural facilitator.
Senior Director, International Business Development and Strategy, Nextracker
Craig O’Connor leads international sales at Nextracker, the world’s premiere supplier of solar trackers. Previously, he worked at EXIM Bank for 31 years.
Ph.D, Planning and Public Policy
Dr. O’Connor has been deeply involved in addressing the multifaceted challenges surrounding the crisis in affordable housing.
Founder & Chief Global Strategist, Defined Impact Group (DIG)
Abbey Ogunwale leads Defined Impact Group (DIG), a global consultancy fostering collaboration among governments, corporations, and multilateral institutions.
CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc
Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, a foremost financial institution.
Interim Dean and Professor of Marketing, Strategic Management and Public Policy, GW School of Business
Vanessa Gail Perry, MBA, PhD is Interim Dean and Professor of Marketing, Strategic Management and Public Policy at GW School of Business.
Governor, Central Bank of Liberia
Mr. Henry F. Saamoi is a distinguished commercial banker with over twenty-five years of industry experience.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Corina R. Sanders is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with two decades of diplomatic experience.
Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Côte d’Ivoire; VP, Intl. Foundation for Adaptation of African Agriculture to Climate Change
Ivorian Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy and Vice President of the International Foundation for Adaptation of African Agriculture to Climate Change
Founder & CEO, The African Tourism Union (ATU)
Visionary leader in pan-African business & development
Governor, Bank of Sierra Leone
Dr Ibrahim Stevens currently serves as the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, a position he has held since November 2023.
Minister of Industry & Small and Medium Enterprises
Born in 1962 in Kinshasa, His Excellency Eng. Louis Watum Kabamba has held numerous positions, including Operations Director at the Yatela gold mine in Mali.
CEO, Stellenium
Slava Yanson is an enterprise technologist and visionary leader in AI data centers and energy.
Founder & Executive Chairman, Grand Squared Corporation
Milion Zeleke is a strategic leader and entrepreneur with over eight years of experience in advisory, technology, and public-private partnerships.