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Mehdi Nassih

Founder and CEO, Bawaba, Morocco

Mehdi Nassih is an Entrepreneur and Consultant, with a strong interest in Data Analytics and Technology.

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Mehdi holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Management Science from Al Akhawayn University and a Masters Degree in Business Analytics and Big Data from IE Business School. After his Bachelor, he joined Procter & Gamble as an Account Manager, before taking on role of Area Sales Manager in the Customer Business Development team. Mehdi holds awards on Leadership, Civic Engagement and Entrepreneurship from world-renowned institutions such as the Clinton Global Initiative, Google, the Hult Prize, the World Islamic Economic Form, One Young World, among others.

He is a laureate of the US Department of State “MEPI Student Leaders Program” (’09) at Roger Williams University, a “Technology Entrepreneurship” program graduate from Stanford University (’11), and a Fellow at the “Hesselbein Global Academy for Leadership and Civic Engagement” (’12) at the University of Pittsburgh. In late 2016, Mehdi founded “Bawaba”, a TravelTech (Travel Technology) startup that customizes travel experiences based on interest and passions.

He is currently based between Spain and Morocco where he aspires to grow his venture. Mehdi is a member of the Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic Forum, since 2013. He previously served as the Curator/President of the Rabat Hub in Morocco and is currently the co-Chair of the Global Advisory Council on Events and Funding of this community.

Malao Ndiaye

Monitoring Specialist, Ministry of Energy, Senegal

Malao Ndiaye is a young professional engineer economist who is also certified in  Monitoring and Evaluation Management. Ndiaye used to work as Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in Executive Secretariat of the National Food Security Council, and also as Regional Supervisor of Kedougou for the implementation of Food Insecurity Profile, using the HEA method.

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He wrote the mission report on the food and nutrition security situation in the 2015 for the government in Kolda (South Senegal). Malao have a wide experience in field research and of supporting community in area of health, nutrition and networking. He wrote a number of reports for the government. Malao is fluent in French; English and Wolof.

Vicky Ngari-Wilson

Social Innovation Consultant, Good Ambition CIC, Kenya

Committed to engaging millennials and the next generation in the sustainable development goals, Vicky has used her former international beauty queen titles and creative industry disciplines to drive social Innovation professionally and now as a Consultant.

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Excelling in creative strategy, she wants to drive influential figures in popular culture as positive change agents as a way to encourage the masses in social and environmental consciousness in their consumer behavior and career goals. Vicky founded Good Ambition, a collective of social enterprises and youth organizations, delivering social entrepreneurship and innovation training alongside employment and leadership skills for young people. Her activities have led to deep exploration into the future workforce and is at the early stages of creating a digital solution that re-invents the CV. She was invited to Unleash Innovation Lab in Denmark 2017 where she refined the solution: SkilledIt App aims to highlight skills and support the recruitment processes for young people . As a journalist and Ambassador, she regularly contributes articles to youth news networks and participates in speaking engagements particularly to empower girls and youth developments in Africa. Some press https://pioneers.virginmedia.com/t5/Advice/I-became-a-tech-start-up-with-no-tech-skills/ba-p/11945

Chimaobi Nna

Senior Research Officer, Energy Commision of Nigeria, Nigeria

Chimaobi Nna is a Senior Research Officer at the Energy Commission of Nigeria. His recently concluded project was to provide Technical assistance to the National committee on the design and launch of energy policies, labels and minimum energy performance standards for end use appliances.

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He worked as a Team Lead in the National Energy Efficiency Project sponsored by UNDP and GEF (2011-2015), as a Trainer for the HOMER Software in Nigeria sponsored by ECREEE (2013) and ISO 50001 and Energy Management projects for GIZ (2015-2017). Chimaobi has nine scholarly publications and has an award for Outstanding Contribution to Power in Nigeria (2016-2017). He holds a BSc and MSc in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from the prestigious University of Lagos.

Eric Ntumba

Head of Corporate, Private, and Diaspora Banking, Equity Bank Congo, Congo

Eric Ntumba Bukasa is a seasoned Corporate and Investment Banker from the DRC currently Head of Corporate, Private and Diaspora Banking with Equity Bank Congo (Business segments he has pioneered and spearheaded within the bank maintaining 3 digits growth rates over the last 3 years).

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Eric previously held the position of Relationship Manager with Citigroup DRC and of Corporate Manager with the Commercial Bank of Congo. Prior to his banking experience, he spent 2 years in the French Public Sector with exposure to both Central and Local Government levels. Eric has a special interest in Public Policy, Regional Integration and Politics. Eric has extensive student leadership experience (DRC, SA, and France) having served as a board member of North West University (SA) and ENA (France). As the President of North-West University’s Student Representative Council he took part in the negotiations for the merger and incorporation process piloted by the South African Ministry of Education which aimed at bridging the gap between previously underprivileged “black universities” and their “white” counterparts. He has received for his contribution two prestigious awards from North-West University: The Alumni Awards (2013) and the University Council Awards (2004) for exceptional leadership and services rendered to North West University. Eric holds a Master degree in Public Administration and a Diploma from ENA both Summa Cum Laude and a BSc IT honors degree (Cum Laude) from North-West University (SA).

Eric is a Mandela Washington Fellowship and AfricaFrance Young Leaders Alumni. He is an Ambassador of Good Will of the State of Arkansas (US) and a Citizen of honor of Fayetteville (US).

Can Ögütcü

Outreach Countries Officer, International Energy Charter Secretariat, France

Can Ögütcü has been working in the energy sector for more than 5 years both as a banker and analyst in the private sector and as an international organization staffer. At the International Energy Charter Secretariat, based in Brussels, he is currently in charge of relations with observer and non-member countries, particularly for investment climate issues.

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He supports non-member accession to the 54-member State Energy Charter Treaty. Can has actively participated in the G-20 Energy Sustainability Working Group Meetings in 2015 dealing with the access to affordable energy and the need for investments in the energy sector despite commercially and legally challenging environments. Previously he was working in the banking sector in the Emerging Markets Mergers and Acquisitions team of Rothschild & Cie in Paris, working on large scale energy projects in the MENA and the CIS regions. He is a law graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, UK. Can writes extensively on new energy transitions, investment and access to clean, affordable energy. Can speaks fluently French, English, Spanish and Turkish.

Funlola Otukoya

Investor Lead, CDP, United States

Funlola Otukoya is an Investor Lead at CDP, an organization focused on ESG integration into the financial markets as it relates to climate change, water scarcity, and soft-commodity deforestation.

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In that role, he works with endowments, private foundations, and impact investors, among others on motivating companies to disclose and manage their environmental impact and assisting investors who use that data for smarter investment decision making. He also works on Matchmaker, a sustainable infrastructure financing platform for states and cities. Funlola's background involves interning with Derivatives at Morgan Stanley and Investment Banking at Citi in the Power & Utilities/Alternative Energy verticals. Funlola sits on the Advisory Board for Entrepreneurship at Cornell University, a NationSwell Council member, and Co-chair and Co-founder of the Debra Saunders-White Foundation in Durham, North Carolina, a junior board member of the Women's Prison Association and board member of the RFK Young Leaders. He has been selected as an Emerging Leader recipient from the Yale School of Management.

Anas Oulmidi

Surgeon, University Hospital Center, Morocco

Anas Oulmidi presides the glimmer of hope association, which cares about improving health for those who cannot, and is general secretary of the center of addicotology of Marrakech, who works to help the people in difficulties with different drugs.

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He is also the national coordinator of physician across continent, which is an international NGO which brings health projects for the African continent and encourages the south-south exchange of experiences. In parallel, he is vice-president of the Moroccan intern association who has a scientific vocation and is a member of the office of TIZI, an initiative that aims to promote public debate. He completed his internship at the Harvard University emerging leader program in 2016.

Seyi Oyenuga

Executive Director, ATMANCorp Nigeria, Nigeria

Seyi Oyenuga is an industrial entrepreneur with over 12 years experience working in America and Nigeria.  He serves as Executive Director and Head of Agriculture Division of ATMANCorp, a vertically integrated agriculture and food processing company based in Nigeria.

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The company leverages innovative technology and processes to enhance productivity through a mainly youth workforce and smallholder farmer network. Seyi’s efforts have led to the introduction of precision agriculture methods through remote monitoring and drone remote sensing to increase efficiency.  Previously, he founded an infrastructure contracting company based in Washington, DC. He actively participates as a mentor with Grooming Leaders For Agriculture (GLA), an agricultural incubator empowering the youth to reach their highest career goals through education, hands-on training, mentoring, leadership and entrepreneurship.  Seyi is a graduate of the University of Chicago with a degree in economics.

Zach Pagovski

Program Officer, Strategic Partnerships, German Marshall Fund of the United States, United States

Zhikica (Zach) Pagovski is a development and partnerships officer at the External Relations Department of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

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In this role, he is in charge of fundraising for portfolio of GMF programs, working with governments, embassies, intergovernmental institutions, corporations, and foundations. Pagovski was a research fellow at Young Professional in Foreign Policy in Washington DC and the NATO Association of Canada, writing and contributing on issues related to security and defense, public diplomacy, and foreign policy. He also worked as a consultant for sustainable development at Challenge Future (a start-up think tank based in Slovenia) from 2010-2011. Pagovski’s former professional experience also includes work at the United Nations and the Government of Macedonia. Pagovski holds M.A. in International Affairs (focusing on Diplomacy and International Security) from American University's School of International Service in Washington DC. He obtained his B.A. from the American University in Bulgaria with Summa Cum Laude, double-majoring in European Studies (Honors) and Political Science & International Relations (Honors) and being awarded with the Presidential Medal for the most outstanding and well-rounded senior in his class.

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