Dr.Cilliers is the founder and former Executive Director of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). He currently serves as chair of the ISS Board of Trustees and head of the African Futures and Innovation Programme at the ISS. His recent book “The future of Africa: Challenges and Opportunities”(April 2021) takes a rigorous look at continent as a whole and is available as open access on Springer.

Dr. Onyekwena is the Executive Director of CSEA. He holds a Ph.D in Economics from University of Portsmouth, UK, a Master of Science degree in Economics from University of Kent, UK, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also holds a certificate in Executive Education, Financial Inclusion from John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. His research interests include Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Trade, Global Economic Governance, Climate Change, and Financial Inclusion. Within these areas, he has authored various peer-reviewed publications and led several research projects. Dr. Onyekwena is a member of the steering committee of the West African Think Tank Network (WATTNet), a member of the African Policy Circle (APC), Global Economic Governance Africa (GEGAfrica) and Governance of Africa’s Resources Programme (GARN) both in South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). He had worked as a part-time lecturer at Economics Department of University of Portsmouth.

Professor Landry Signé is a world-renowned professor and leading practitioner who has won more than sixty prestigious awards and distinctions from four continents for his academic, policy, business, and leadership accomplishments, receiving the fastest reported tenure and promotion as well to the highest rank of full professor in the history of United States universities, for a scholar who started at an entry-level position in his discipline. He is a senior fellow in the Global Economy and Development Program and the Africa Growth Initiative at the Brookings Institution, a full professor and founding co-director of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Globalization 4.0 Initiative at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, a distinguished fellow at Stanford University’s Center for African Studies, chairman of the Global Network for Africa’s Prosperity, senior adviser to top global leaders (presidential, ministerial, and C-suite levels), and author of numerous books, including Unlocking Africa's Business Potential: Trends, Opportunities, Risks, and Strategies. Professor Landry Signé’s achievements have been recognized internationally with dozens of distinctions for his accomplishments as an extraordinary professor, prolific author and cutting-edge scholar, influential public intellectual, exemplary and dedicated academic leader, innovative entrepreneur, and sought-after strategic thinker, problem-solver, board member, and keynote speaker. He was selected as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader for “finding innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues,” an Andrew Carnegie Fellow for being one of the “most creative thinkers,” a Desmond Tutu Fellow for driving “the transformation of Africa,” a Woodrow Wilson Public Policy Fellow for “preeminent scholarship uniting the world of ideas to the world of policy,” and one of JCI’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons in the World for “extraordinary achievements and dedication exemplifying the best attributes and leadership in academia,” and has won numerous academic awards, including the American Political Science Association Campus Teaching Award, the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Academic Research and Creative Activity.

Mr. Victor Djemba is the United Nations Industrial Development (UNIDO) Chief, Regional Division for Africa. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Djemba served as the UNIDO Representative in Senegal with coverage of Cabo-Verde, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Mauritania from 2013-2018. From 2007 to 2013, he was based in Vienna, coordinating country-level operations regarding inter alia the implementation of the United Nations Secretary-General High-Level Panel recommendations on UN System-wide Coherence and "Delivering as One" initiative as well as UNIDO’s contribution in the consultation processes for the formulation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals. Mr. Djemba joined UNIDO in 1996 as an Associate Expert and worked in Madagascar and Côte d'Ivoire for seven consecutive years. Before joining UNIDO, he worked in the private sector in France.