SPEAKERS

Andres Schipani is the east and central Africa correspondent of the Financial Times based in Nairobi. Until earlier this year, he was Brazil correspondent, and before moving to São Paulo, he was the newspaper's Andes and Caribbean correspondent. Before that, he worked in the FT's New York bureau as a market and emerging markets reporter. A native of Buenos Aires, he is a graduate of the universities of Oxford and Columbia, where he was also a fellow in business, economics, and financial journalism.

Benedict Okey Oramah assumed the position of President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on 21 September 2015. Dr. Oramah joined Afreximbank as Chief Analyst in 1994 and was promoted to the position of Senior Director, Planning and Business Development in 2007. Prior to joining Afreximbank, he was an Assistant Research Manager at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank from 1992. He holds an M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in agricultural economics, obtained in 1987 and 1991 respectively, from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He received a B.Sc. degree, also in agricultural economics, from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1983. Oramah has published a book, “Foundations of Structured Trade Finance”, and has written more than 35 articles on a wide range of African economic, trade and trade finance issues. He is a regular speaker in trade and trade finance conferences around the world. Dr. Oramah serves as Chairperson of the Africa Chapter of the International Factors Group (IFG) and is on the Board of the IFG and the Editorial Boards of Trade and Forfaiting Review and the Journal of African Trade. He is also a member of the Consultative Board on the World Cocoa Economy of the International Cocoa Organization.

Carlos Lopes is an economist and sociologist from Guinea Bissau. He is currently High Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson for AU-EU Relations Post 2020. He was appointed as United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Political Director for Secretary-General Koffi Anan. Between 2012 and 2016, he served as Executive Secretary for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). He is also Honorary Professor at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town, Visiting Professor at Sciences Po, Paris, Fellow at Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, and an Associate Fellow at Chatham House, London.

Economist, with a Master´s degree in Economics from UFRJ and MBA in Finance from Coppead, Cláudia is an executive with 26 – year career at the National Bank for Economic and Social Development - BNDES. Has experience in several areas throughout her career. She was BNDES´s Director between June of 2016 and March of 2019, responsible for the Industry and Services, Business Origination, and Export Areas.

Denis Mukwege is a Congolese (D.R.C.) gynecologist. In 2018 he received the Nobel Peace Prize with Nadia Murad. Doctor Mukwege has been working for over 20 years with survivors of sexual violence and women with severe gynecological problems at the Panzi Hospital which he founded in 1999 and where was created a holistic care model called “One Stop Center”, which integrates psychological and medical care, legal assistance and socio-economic support to survivors of sexual violence. Now, this model is implemented in different countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. His action and dedication have been recognized worldwide with various awards such as The United Nations Human Rights Prize (2008), the Olof Palme Prize (2009) and “Officier de la Légion d’Honneur” from the French government (2013). He has also received honorary degrees from different Universities in Europe and America such as a doctorate from the faculty of medicine in Umeå, Sweden (2010), a doctorate of law from the Manitoba University in Canada (2014), a doctorate of science from the Harvard University (2015) and a Doctorate from the University of Angers, in France (2018). Denis Mukwege is married to Madam Madeleine Mapendo Kaboyi; together they have five children.

Dr. Frannie Léautier is an African finance and development expert, with long-standing global experience leading and transforming organisations in the private, public and not-for-profit spheres. Prior to joining TDB, she served as Senior Vice President at the African Development Bank, Vice President at the World Bank Group, and Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation. In addition to having founded two companies, Dr. Léautier is a Board Member, Trustee, Special Advisor, Founder and Member of a number of prestigious international organisations, including the World Economic Forum (WEF), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), OCP Group, African Risk Capacity (ARC), African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), Institute for Security Studies (IIS), King Baudouin Foundation USA (KBFUS), Nelson Mandela Institute for Science and Technology (NM-AIST), and others. Likewise, she is a well-recognised author and academic, having published numerous books, articles and papers in international development and having taught Masters-level courses at Sciences Po, MIT, Harvard, Duke, and the University of Tokyo. In addition to her Civil Engineering Degree from Dar es Salaam University and a Transportation Masters from MIT, Dr. Léautier holds a PhD in Infrastructure Systems from MIT, and honorary degrees from North Central College and Lancaster University.

Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki of the Republic of Niger is the Chief Executive Officer of the Secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). A former Prime Minister of Niger, from 1997 to 2000, Dr. Mayaki has a Masters Degree from the National School of Public Administration (Enap), Quebec, Canada and a PhD in Administrative Sciences from University of Paris I, France. He worked as a Professor of Public Administration in Niger and Venezuela. Between 1996 and 1997 he was successively appointed Minister in charge of the African Integration and Cooperation and Minister of Foreign Affairs. In August 2000, he set up the Analysis Centre for Public Policy. From 2000 to 2004, Dr Mayaki was a guest Professor at the University of Paris XI, where he lectured on international relations and organizations; he also led research at the Research Centre on Europe and the Contemporary World within that University. In 2004, he served as Executive Director of the Platform in support of Rural Development in West and Central Africa, the Rural Hub, based in Dakar, Senegal, from where he was appointed NEPAD Chief Executive Officer in January 2009.

Jennifer Blanke is Non-Executive Director at African Risk Capacity Insurance Company Ltd., and sits on the boards of various not-for-profit and development-focused entities. She was previously Vice President Agriculture, Human and Social Development at the African Development Bank Group, responsible for overseeing the Bank’s strategy, lending and other activities in this area. Prior to that she was Chief Economist at the World Economic Forum, overseeing economic research activities and projects from 2012-2017. Other roles held at the World Economic Forum included Lead Economist and Head of the Global Competitiveness and Benchmarking team, and Senior Programme Manager responsible for developing the business, management, and technology sections of the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Before joining the World Economic Forum, Dr Blanke worked for a number of years as a management consultant for Eurogroup (Mazars Group) in Paris, France, where she specialized in banking and financial market organization. She has written and lectured extensively on issues related to national competitiveness and economic development. Dr Blanke holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, New York, and an MA and PhD in International Economics from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. In addition, she was until 2019 a member of the Canadian Government’s Council of Economic Growth.

Founder and current President of Brazil Africa Institute, he holds a Ph.D. in Education from the Federal University of Ceará and Postdoctoral studies from the University of Brasilia (UNB), with the object of research on the integration of the African continent. He is a visiting professor of important Brazilian and African Universities and he is a Senior International Associate of African, Latin American and Caribbean Studies Center - CALACs of Jindal Global University (India). Prof. João Bosco is the author of books and publications related to the relations between the various international actors, focusing on South-South Cooperation. He acts as an international consultant of Brazilian and foreign organizations and as a columnist and commentator of important media in Brazil.

Since October 2015, Mr. Jorge Chediek has been the Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, leading United Nations system-wide promotion and coordination of South-South cooperation for development. In March 2016, Mr. Chediek was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General as his Envoy on South-South Cooperation. Prior to this, Mr. Chediek served as the UN Resident Coordinator/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Brazil (2010-2015). Preceding his United Nations career, which began in 1990, Mr. Chediek worked at the Department of Legislative Analysis of the Argentinean Congress and as an independent consultant assisting in the design of financial investment systems in Argentina. Born in 1960, he holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service (honors) from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Science (“Licenciado”) in Political Science from Catholic University in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

José Graziano da Silva has worked on food security, rural development, and agriculture issues for over 30 years, most notably as the architect of Brazil’s Zero Hunger (Fome Zero) programme and now as the Director-General of FAO. Graziano da Silva led the team that designed the Zero Hunger programme, and, in 2003, was charged by then-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to implement the programme as Special Minister of Food Security and the Fight against Hunger. He headed the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean from 2006 to 2011. Elected Director-General of FAO, he took up office on 1 January 2012. After his first term from 1 January 2012 to 31 July 2015, Graziano da Silva was re-elected for a second 4 year-term (1 August 2015 to 31 July 2019) with the votes of 177 countries during FAO's 39th Conference. At the helm of FAO, Graziano da Silva has sharpened the Organization’s strategic focus; and is strengthening its field presence. He is also working to instill a best value-for-money culture. At the international level, he is working to build consensus on food security-related issues. He has also encouraged closer cooperation with development partners, supports South-South cooperation, and has increased collaboration with civil society and private sector entities, including farmer organizations and cooperatives for smallholder producers. Graziano da Silva holds a Bachelor's Degree in Agronomy and a Master's Degree in Rural Economics and Sociology from the University of São Paulo (USP), and a Ph.D. in Economic Sciences from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). He also has post-Doctorate Degrees in Latin American Studies (University College of London) and Environmental Studies (University of California, Santa Cruz). A Brazilian and Italian by nationality, he is married to Paola Ligasacchi and has two children and four grandchildren.

H.E. Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, an Angolan national, is a leading African Agronomist and Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission. Prior to her election in January 2017, she was Special Adviser to two Ministers in Angola: The Angolan Minister of Environment where she also served as Ambassador responsible for Climate Change and advisor to the Minister of Agriculture in charge of Food Security and Poverty Reduction. She was also the Secretary-General of the Inter- African Coffee Organization (IACO) for 13 years.

Kampeta has 16 years of progressive professional experience as an international development practitioner in both public and private institutions within Rwanda and the East African Region. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) Plc; and, prior to joining the Bank, she was the Director-General of the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA) under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM). She previously served as the Director of Cabinet in the Prime Minister’s Office (PRIMATURE), and worked at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) for a decade where she held various senior positions including Permanent Secretary and Secretary to Treasury. Before joining the public service, she was a Professional Associate at the World Bank. Kampeta has also served on the Board of Directors of diverse institutions such as PTA Bank, the East African Development Bank (EADB), Rwanda Eurobond Committee, GT Bank, and National Capacity Building Secretariat, and Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA). She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Kivu Marina Bay Ltd and IBDAA Microfinance Institution of Rwanda She holds a master’s degree in Economic Development and Policy Analysis from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom (UK).

Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, previously known as OCP Policy Center, principal at Center for Macroeconomics and Development and non-resident fellow at Brookings Institute. Canuto was Vice President and Executive Director at the World Bank, Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Vice President at the Inter-American Development Bank. He was also Deputy Minister for international affairs at Brazil’s Ministry of Finance, as well as professor of economics at University of São Paulo (USP) and University of Campinas (UNICAMP).

Paulo Gomes has over 25 years of experience both in the public and private sectors. He has advised and worked with several heads of states and governments on key projects throughout the African continent. He has assisted a few of them to establish investment advisory bodies and served on international committees. Paulo Gomes has also served at very senior levels in multi-lateral development institutions, from the World Bank to the West African Development Bank (BOAD). He was member of the board of the Green Climate Fund in South Korea.

Graduated in Law at the University of São Paulo; President of ABRAFRUTAS - Brazilian Association of Exporters of Fruits and Derivatives; Founding partner and Director of Agrícola Famosa; President of the Sectorial Chamber of the Fruit Production Chain of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply President of the COEX - Executive Committee for Monitoring the Fruit Fly.

Roberto Rodrigues is an agronomist and farmer, coordinator of the Agribusiness Center at FGV and FAO Special Ambassador for Cooperatives. He was a professor of the Department of Rural Economy (UNESP) – Jaboticabal-SP and chaired the Brazilian Cooperatives Organization (OCB), Superior Council of Agribusiness of FIESP (COSAG), Brazilian Rural Society (SRB), the Brazilian Agribusiness Association (ABAG ) and World Alliance of Cooperatives (ACI). He has also served as Secretary of Agriculture of the State of São Paulo (1993/1994) and Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (2003-2006).

Sérgio Gusmão Suchodolski currently holds the position of President of the Development Bank of Minas Gerais (BDMG) and the Brazilian Development Association (ABDE). In addition, he is Director of the Executive Committee of the Latin American Association of Financial Institutions for Development (ALIDE). He holds a law degree from USP, a master's degree in law from Harvard Law School and international trade, economics and political science from Sciences Po - Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris. He was Director-General for Strategy and Partnerships at New Development Bank, the BRICS bank.

Vinícius Assis has been a journalist since 2004, as a Brazilian correspondent based in South Africa. Since 2018 he covers the entire African continent for different Brazilian media, such as GloboNews / TV Globo, BBC Brazil, Época Magazine, Rádio França Internacional, Jornal O Globo and #ProjetoColabora . In addition to having worked in newsrooms in Brazil, almost always on TV stations, he coordinated the independent journalism project "What's up, councilman?", Supported by the Brazilian Press Association. In 2014, he was one of the speakers at the International Congress of Investigative Journalism, in SP, when he spoke about investigations in City Councils.