Mr. Kallon has devoted more than 30 years of his career to public service, working – both at the United Nations and externally – in complex emergency, transition, and development contexts in conflict and non-conflict settings across lower- and middle-income countries. At the United Nations, he most recently served as the Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, following an assignment as Resident Coordinator in Jordan. He also held senior positions with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Bangladesh, India, Iraq, Somalia, and Uganda after starting his United Nations career as a United Nations Volunteer assigned to WFP in Afghanistan.

He is currently serving as the UN Zimbabwe Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. Before joining the United Nations, Mr. Kallon worked in his home country as a socio-economist and community development coordinator for GTZMANR, a Bilateral Technical Cooperation Project, as well as an income generation project coordinator with a global non-profit, Plan International. He holds a master’s degree in development studies with a specialization in agriculture and rural development from the Institute of Social Studies in The Netherlands and a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Njala University College of the University of Sierra Leone.

Prof. Mthuli Ncube is Zimbabwe’s current Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, and a financial, economics, investment, and public policy expert with vast experience in both the private and public sectors. He joined the Zimbabwe Ministry of Finance & Economic Development in 2017. Hon. Ncube holds a PhD in Economics from Cambridge University, UK, and has published numerous books and articles. He has extensive experience in the private sector as an investment banker and fund manager.  Prof. Mthuli Ncube once served as Vice President and Chief Economist of the African Development Bank where he led the strategic thinking within the bank on economic development issues for the entire African continent. He led and guided the development of the Bank’s ten (10) year Strategy (2013-2022).

Mike Kamungeremu is an accomplished business leader in Zimbabwe, known for his rapid rise to Managing Director of Tendo Electronics (Pvt) Ltd at the age of 30. Tendo Electronics is a leading provider of integrated power and renewable energy solutions in Zimbabwe, with Kamungeremu emphasizing its 100% black Zimbabwean ownership and workforce. He holds a Bachelor of Accountancy (Honours) Degree, an MBA from the University of Zimbabwe, and is a Chartered Management Accountant with a Diploma in Financial Management. Kamungeremu's leadership extends to the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, where he served as Vice-President of the ZNCC Mashonaland Chapter before becoming Chamber President in June 2022. His journey demonstrates his dedication and ability to succeed, contributing significantly to Zimbabwe's business landscape.

Christopher was born a triplet in the city of Gweru. He is a prominent economist within the sub-Saharan African region with vast experience in macroeconomic analysis, equity analysis, as well as trade negotiations. Christopher is currently the Chief Executive of ZNCC and sits on several boards which include the Competition and Tariff Commission and Standards Association of Zimbabwe. He has also been recognized by different institutions including Junior Chamber International (JCI) for Top Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP), the Institute of Corporate Directors for Young Director of the Year, a nominee by IODZ for CEO of the Year, Megafest Award on Strategic Leadership of the Year amongst other accolades.

Tinashe is the CEO/founder of Leon Africa an investment holding company. Before this, he worked in London for Barclays Bank. He has extensive economic research experience as an Economist and banker covering numerous developing countries in Africa. He is the country Economist and contributor for Economist Intelligence Unit.

Sam is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited and Head of Old Mutual   Africa Regions (OMAR) Banking Portfolio.  Old Mutual   Zimbabwe is a diversified financial services group with operations in both Life and General Insurance in addition to its businesses in Banking, Property, and Investment Management. Sam is an experienced practitioner in financial services. Prior to his appointment as Group CEO of Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited, he was Managing Director of First Capital Bank (previously Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited). Previously, Sam held executive positions that include Chief Finance Officer, Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited and Chief Finance Officer and Company Secretary of an insurance company listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange at the time.  He also previously worked for Old Mutual Asset Managers (now OMIG) as an Operations Executive and Head of Portfolio Management. Outside the financial services sector, Sam also worked at senior executive levels for entities in the manufacturing and mining sectors.

Sam is an alumnus of the Executive Development Program at Barclays Plc, conducted in collaboration with Duke University, and more recently completed another program at Old Mutual Limited, run in partnership with the London Business School in the United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Accountancy Honours from the University of Zimbabwe and a Master of Business Leadership from the University of South Africa. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Bankers. He began his career at KPMG.

Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann is the Ambassador of the European Union to Zimbabwe, presenting his credentials to President E.D. Mnangagwa on 12 October 2022. Trained as a lawyer in Germany and France, he has a background in information management from Japan and strategic leadership. After a career in law, including roles as a judge, prosecutor, and lawyer, he transitioned to the European institutions. He started as an assistant at the European Parliament before working in the General Directorates for trade and the internal market of the European Commission.

Since 2002, Ambassador von Kirchmann has focused on the EU's external relations, holding various positions that have exposed him to regions worldwide. He served at the EU Delegation in Iraq and the Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development, where he was Deputy Head of the Information and Communication Department, Head of the Legal and Financial Department for Asia, and Head of the Department for Development Policy in Central Asia, the Middle East, the Gulf, and the Pacific. Prior to his current role, he was responsible for development policy in Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean. Ambassador von Kirchmann is also a teacher at several universities. He is married and has four children.

Hon Dr. Anxious Jongwe Masuka is the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development. He holds a BSc in Agriculture (Hons) and a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) from the University of Zimbabwe. Dr. Masuka has over 32 years of agricultural experience, including roles as a researcher at the Forestry Commission, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, and an agricultural researcher at the Tobacco Research Board. He is a prolific science writer with over 130 publications and has authored, co-authored, and edited 29 books and handbooks on agriculture, forestry, and policy.

He was a Founding Fellow of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences and has held leadership positions in various scientific associations. Dr. Masuka has received several management awards and was selected as one of the 50 most influential Zimbabweans (non-politicians) by the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe. He is known for his strategic leadership in agribusiness and is a successful farmer and entrepreneur. Dr. Masuka's achievements led to his appointment as Minister and have earned him awards such as Best Performing Minister. He is recognized for his transformative and practical approach to agriculture in Zimbabwe.

Kebour Ghenna assumed the role of Executive Director of the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) in 2011, overseeing the representation of business and trade associations across Africa. With a strong background in the technology industry since the early 1990s, Ghenna is a prominent figure in Ethiopia's business landscape. He has held leadership positions in the Addis Ababa and Ethiopia Chambers of Commerce, the Ethiopian Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS, and served as Vice President of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society. Ghenna has also been a board member of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Abyssinia Bank, and the National Fertilizer Company. He has provided expertise and consultancy services to the UNECA, UNDP, the WBI, IDRC, and various national and international organizations.

An accomplished business leader, Ghenna has successfully navigated Africa's economic landscape. He has lectured at Addis Ababa University and played a pivotal role in establishing the School of Information Sciences. Ghenna is also the founder of Capital, a weekly newspaper in Ethiopia established in 1996.

Wellington joined Liquid Intelligent Technologies in February 2009. He oversees and sits on several boards of the Group Companies in Southern Africa. He is directly responsible for the leadership, strategic, and operations management of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zimbabwe. He has served on several Boards and currently sits on the board of directors of CEC Liquid Zambia, Liquid Botswana, and ZOL Zimbabwe. He has been heavily involved in the planning, setup, and building of the Liquid Intelligent Technologies network and business in Zimbabwe.

Wellington, who holds a B.Sc. degree and an MBA, has worked in telecommunications, consumer electronics, and industrial electronics industries in both the UK and Africa since the early 1980s. He has worked in these respective industries at both technical and senior executive levels. He has also worked in senior executive positions in both the public and private sectors. He is a keen golfer and loves watching football – he’s an ardent Manchester United supporter and loves to travel all over the world.

Ayodele Odusola is the Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Zimbabwe having executed the same role in South Africa. Prior, he was Chief Economist and Head of the Strategy and Analysis Team for UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA). He provides strategic leadership on development strategy, policy analysis, and knowledge products on Africa.  Further, he coordinates the preparation of regional flagship reports for RBA, including the Africa Human Development Report, the African Economic Outlook, Africa MDG/SDGs reports, and the book Income Inequality Trends in sub-

Saharan Africa: Divergence, Determinants, and Consequences (which he co-edited) as well as strategic policy notes and occasional policy papers. Dr. Odusola provides intellectual leadership to SDG acceleration frameworks in sub-Saharan Africa, managing the network of Senior Economists in UNDP Africa Country Offices and providing strategic advice on policy matters to the RBA Director. He provides technical leadership on Roundtables to mobilize partnerships and finance for the implementation of national development plans and visions across African countries. He is deeply involved in advising African countries on development planning and visioning, structural economic transformation, and the future of Africa’s development.

Academically, Dr. Odusola has lectured at several universities in Africa and has published over 50 articles in national and international journals, editing and authoring books as well as technical reports. In 2001, he was the African Visiting Scholar to the International Monetary Fund and has lectured at several universities. Dr. Odusola is a Nigerian national and holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Sevious is a Fellow Chartered Accountant Zimbabwe with over 20 years of multinational experience in cross-functional management, financial management, audit, insurance, banking, retail, and distribution. Mr. Mushosho has worked at the executive level in various companies in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Mauritius, including Sub Sahara Capital Group, Distribution Group Africa, AfriAsia Holdings Limited, and Innscor Africa, among others. He has been on the Edgars Stores Limited Board since July 2022 as a Non-Executive Director, from May 2023 he was appointed as the Group Chief Operating Officer and effective 1 November 2023 he was promoted to Group Chief Executive Officer.

H.E. Wamkele Mene is the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, elected by the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States & Government of the African Union. Previously, he served as Chief Director: Africa Economic Relations at the South African Department of Trade & Industry, acting as Chief Trade Negotiator for South Africa in the AfCFTA and Tripartite FTA negotiations. H.E. Mene also held the position of Director: International Trade Law & Investment Law at the Department of Trade & Industry, providing legal counsel on international trade and investment law.

He represented South Africa at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) from 2010 to 2015 and was elected Chairman of the WTO’s Committee on International Trade in Financial Services. Prior to his government roles, H.E. Mene worked for Wall Street-based law firms in London and Hong Kong. H.E. Mene is an internationally recognized expert in international trade law, international investment law, and international business law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Law) from Rhodes University, a Master of Arts in International Studies & Diplomacy from the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and an LL.M. in Banking Law & Financial Regulation from the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE). In 2020, he was recognized as one of the top 100 most influential people of African descent in support of the United Nations International Decade of African Descent (2015-2024).

Hon. Richard Moyo is currently serving his country, Matabeleland North Province, as the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution. He is also an elected Member of Parliament, representing Umguza Constituency. He has been overseeing the development and administration of the Matabeleland North Province since 2018 and he has been involved in Zimbabwean politics for quite some time.

John Mushayavanhu is a prominent Zimbabwean banker and businessman recently appointed as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), succeeding Dr. John Panonetsa Mangudya. His career spans over four decades, with senior positions at Standard Chartered Bank and FBC Bank, where he rose to Managing Director and later Chief Executive of FBC Holdings. Mushayavanhu holds a Diploma in Management from Henley Management College (UK), an MBA from Brunel University (UK), and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Binary University (Malaysia).

His appointment as RBZ Governor in December 2023 reflects his wealth of experience and leadership in the financial sector, aligning with the government's strategic succession plan for effective financial governance in Zimbabwe.

Professor Ashok Chakravarti is a seasoned economist with over four decades of experience in providing policy advice to countries, particularly in Africa. Currently, he serves as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion in Zimbabwe. Throughout his career, Prof. Chakravarti has held significant roles such as the Adviser/Coach for the Ease of Doing Business Program in Zimbabwe, Senior Advisor for USAID's Strategic Research and Analysis Program, and Economic Adviser for the United Nations Development Program in Malawi. He has also contributed to academia as a Senior Visiting Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe. An accomplished author, Prof. Chakravarti has published over 15 books and journals since 1971, including notable works such as "Economic Performance and the Visible Hand: Theory and Evidence" and "Aid, Institutions and Development: New Approaches to Growth, Governance and Poverty." His expertise and insights are highly valued in economic policy discussions, particularly regarding Zimbabwe. Prof. Chakravarti is also recognized for his impactful commentary on economic issues affecting the region, making him a respected voice in the field.

Douglas is an accomplished business leader and Group Chief Executive Officer of FMHL. He holds a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Mathematics (University of Zimbabwe), is a qualified Actuary with more than 22 years’ experience. He is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries of the United Kingdom 1999 (FIFA) and is also a Fellow of the Actuarial Society of South Africa (FASSA). Douglas started his actuarial career with Old Mutual in 1990 and worked in both the Harare and Cape Town offices until 1999 when he joined First Mutual Life. He rose through the ranks to become Managing Director of First Mutual Life in 2003 and Chief Executive of First Mutual Limited in 2004. Douglas was instrumental in setting up First Mutual Reinsurance Company (FMRE Property & Casualty), TristarInsurance Company, and African Actuarial Consultants from a Division of First Mutual Life Assurance Society. His career has seen him at the helm of Altfin Holdings and First Mutual Limited. In addition, Douglas is involved in community transformation initiatives focusing on education. He works closely with national development organizations and is the past chairman of the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTATS). He serves on several boards and is a past chairman of the Actuarial Society of Zimbabwe.

Phillip Phiri is a seasoned business strategist and administrator in both the private and public sectors. He has over 25 years of experience in Organizational leadership with 20 of these years acquired in the private sector including International Multinational brands. He is currently the Executive Director of the National Competitiveness Commission. Previously, he was the Operations Director of ZimTrade having come from a senior position for the milling division of a listed entity. He is a member of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches resource mobilization committee. He is currently a Doctor of Strategic Management Candidate at the Chinhoyi University of Technology. He holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management, and a Diploma in Executive Business leadership among other trade and commerce certifications. Phillip is a visionary and strategic-thinking leader and has a passion for innovative and developmental initiatives.