General Manager, Carbon Neutrality at Niterra Venture Company. Prior Founder of one of the first utility scale solar development companies in South America. Passionate about supporting entrepreneurs building sustainable energy solutions. Current interests in green data centers, hydrogen and carbon storage technologies.

Esther Chungu Nyathando nee Mubanga popularly known as Esther Chungu is an internationally recognized artist. She is a singer-songwriter hailing from Zambia with 3 albums under her belt. Her third album named Umwala which means ‘Crown’ was launched in April 2023 and features renowned gospel artists like Minister GUC from Nigeria. Additionally, Esther Chungu is the most streamed female Zambian artist with over 7 million streams on all platforms for her current album, Umwala. Also, Esther Chungu has a knack for talk TV which resulted in her YouTube series called ‘Blossoms’. This piqued the interest of Radio Christian Voice who graciously added it to their plethora of wholesome Christian content.

She's currently a South African Country Head for CBW Africa, a Co-founder of African Royal Chamber of Commerce, Global Ambassador for Pan-African Leadership Institute to South Africa. She is also a representative for African Traditional Leaders Forum for Africa Celebrates Festival in Addis Ababa. Princess Nikiwe MaNgxabane Bhabhanomhlehlo Bam is a distinguished leader and founder of Afrikan Young Indigenous Leaders in South Africa. She is also the founder and director of Royal People Development Services, working tirelessly to empower communities across Africa. With a passion for restoring African monarchs, culture, and heritage, Princess Nikiwe has been honored with an honorary doctorate in Leadership and Governance for her outstanding work in uniting kingdoms in Africa. She actively engages in cultural, social, and educational activism, founding initiatives such as Ibuyambo YamaMpondomise to unite her Kingdom of Mpondomise Nation and revive its cultures and traditions.

Frederick Akpoghene, visionary CEO and Founder of JéGO, is on a mission to unlock Africa’s economic potential through clean energy and e-mobility solutions. With JéGO, Frederick has introduced accessible, sustainable technologies tailored for underserved communities, including a self-driving JéGO Pod and innovative power solutions that have collectively saved customers over 1.5 billion Naira in energy and cost efficiencies. In Nigeria alone, JéGO has generated over 1 billion Naira in sales, underscoring the demand and impact of these transformative solutions. Frederick’s journey began in Lagos, coding at age 11 and quickly rising to prominence as a trusted tech leader across sectors. His early ventures laid the foundation for JéGO, a company that not only drives revenue but also champions social and environmental impact by generating clean energy across Africa. Through JéGO’s clean energy initiatives, Frederick has reduced reliance on non-renewable power sources, actively contributing to sustainable development in the region. In addition to his achievements with JéGO, Frederick’s influence extends into the entertainment industry, where his music company, Elevensonic, has garnered Grammy nominations and a BET Award. With a legacy rooted in resilience and empowerment, Frederick’s work embodies innovation and a commitment to community transformation, making him a trailblazer in Africa’s shift toward sustainable, future-ready solutions.

Lulu Haangala-Wood is a sought-after media personality and entrepreneur. With 2 decades of experience in the media industry, she has become not only one of the most visible but also one of the most experienced media personalities. Lulu’s extensive background as a Media Consultant, Moderator, Speaker, Host, TV presenter, Voice-Over Artist, Media agency partner and Brand Strategist has turned her into a household name with influential and broad expertise. In 2019, Lulu joined the digital revolution by co-founding a digital platform called Afrishop, an e-commerce platform that offered African users an easy shopping solution for goods directly from China. She co-founded The Wood Kitchen with her husband William Wood in 2020, showcasing her life and experiences as a home-cook using digital media such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. In the same year, the Wood Kitchen were recognized by META for being SME change makers in the way that they harness digital media for their business. In 2022, they were selected as African food influencers for the Every Plate Counts challenge by UNEP, WWF, FAO, and the Future Food Institute. In her roles as a Youth Ambassador for the United States of America Embassy and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador, she has given keynotes at various local and International events and interacted with the likes of Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton and then Prince Charles. Lulu’s life goal is to be an actor of change in Africa, this is evident in the projects she undertakes through her #WeKeepMovingZM Initiative.

Lelemba is a Co-founder and Partner at ATG Samata, a gender-lens venture capital firm that is focused on investing in women-led businesses and gender diverse teams in key markets in Southern and East Africa. She is a seasoned development finance expert with 18+ years of experience working in both public and private sector, across 10 markets+. This includes having been a key part of scaling a Fintech start-up from one market to five before moving from entrepreneurship into venture capital. She is an expert in gender-lens investing, innovative finance and entrepreneurship development with a key focus on advancing women.

Ayo is an experienced business executive and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience. He started his career at Ernst and Young LLP in Boston Massachusetts and later in Toronto where he was technology analyst. He left to pursue entrepreneurship, co-founding Chronos Consulting, a venture development firm that brought together the resources required to start ventures that serve emerging markets customers. At Chronos, he helped start Topup Genie, a digital vendor of mobile credits and Full Value Farms, a 12500-acre joint venture with the Kwara State government. He left Chronos to pursue his graduate studies and then joined Accenture’s Lagos office for brief period. After this, he joined OpenLink Financial, a Commodity Trading and Risk Management firm in New York as a business analyst. He was head of Agribusiness and Metal Trading before he left the firm after a 7-year career, half of which were in the firm’s London office. Ayo later founded Metalex Commodities Inc, a global commodity trading firm, now with offices in Houston, London, Abuja and Dubai, with clients all over the world. He is also co-founder and President of Curo Holdings Inc, a Houston based Holding Company that holds a number of franchise small business assets. He is an investor in over 15 companies through his work at Curo Capital. He mentors startup founders and offers entrepreneurship seminars at various venues across the globe. He is a first class graduate of Business Administration from Bryant University and Master of Science in Information Systems from New York University Stern School of Business and the Courant Institute for Mathematical Sciences. He is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma honors society. He has supported several charities including his local church, homeless shelters as well as many children services charities.

Joy is responsible for VTIL country operations, including team-building, licensing, statutory reporting and strategy execution. Starting 23 years ago, Joy had his early career roles in UK, USA and Spain followed by various technical and controlling officer roles in Zambia and in Rwanda. He rose through project management, where he oversaw alternative fuel adoption, to General Management for mining, trading and logistics companies. Joy has also served as Country Expert on a few projects at UNIDO and UN Environment working closely with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA). Prior to joining ZCCM Investment Holdings plc to head one of their mining subsidiaries, conducting a firmwide restructuring exercise and introducing a new sales strategy that led to a turnaround from loss-making to profit inside the first quarter of joining, Joy had been in charge of a multi-million-dollar waste-to-energy project at Dangote Cement Zambia Ltd, headhunted from GP Environmental Consultants, which he had co-founded and whose clients included ZCCM-IH, HITACHI, ZEMA, Gemfields, and others, for Business Planning, EMS audit, ISO certification and internal auditor training. He holds a Master of Science degree in Energy & Environmental Engineering, a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Process Engineering, both from Sheffield University, UK., and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Financial Modelling & Analysis, from UCT, South Africa.

Nkusuwila Nachalwe-Mbao is a private practice lawyer with over 20 years of experience and the founder and Managing Partner of Nkusuwila Nachalwe Advocates. She holds a Master of Laws in Environmental and Energy Law (Distinction) from the University of Birmingham, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Zambia, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting. A Chartered Governance Professional and member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, she also serves on key committees of the Law Association of Zambia and as a Panel Conciliator for the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes under the World Bank Group. Her passion for environmental protection stems from her early work with IUCN-The World Conservation Union and extensive contributions to environmental law reform in Zambia. She has led legislative reviews, consulted on environmental impact assessments, and published research highlighting the legal inadequacies surrounding air pollution and mining operations. A dynamic speaker, Nkusuwila actively raises awareness on Environmental Law, Climate Change, and Renewable Energy both locally and internationally.

Dr. Sinyinza's journey embodies true global citizenship. Born in Chingola, Zambia, she spent her formative years in Botswana before returning to Zambia to attend Mpelembe Secondary School. Her academic pursuits led her to South Africa for A-levels, followed by a move to the United States for higher education. At Ferris State University, Dr. Sinyinza earned her undergraduate degree in Applied Biology. After gaining experience as a microbiologist in Washington state, she went on to obtain her medical degree at Michigan State University in Lansing. Her career in emergency medicine in Chicago IL, was marked by excellence, earning her the prestigious Christian B. Marcello M.D. award for compassionate care, strength of character, and joyous spirit. Leveraging her diverse background, Dr. Sinyinza has transitioned into entrepreneurship with a focus on African development. She co-founded the African Wonder Experience which intersects travel, music, and fosters a platform for African economic development. She also established Fenso's Affirmations, an organization promoting self-love. As a travel expert with Unlock African Travel, she showcases Africa's rich cultural and natural heritage. Dr. Sinyinza's unique combination of medical expertise and entrepreneurial vision continues to drive her impactful contributions to the African economy, bridging local initiatives with global perspectives.

Monica Musonda is a dual-qualified English Solicitor and Zambian Advocate with over 25 years of experience in corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, capital markets, private equity, and compliance. She served as General Counsel and Director of Corporate Affairs for Aliko Dangote at Dangote Group from 2008-2012, leading the company's $400 million investment in Zambia. Monica has also held roles at International Finance Corporation, Edward Nathan, and Clifford Chance, and maintains an extensive network across Africa, especially in Zambia. Her business interests span food manufacturing (Java Foods), fintech (BetBio), mining services, and facilities management (IFS Zambia). She also manages two advisory firms, Camelot Advisory and Acacia Resources Management. Monica currently serves as a non-executive director on boards including Airtel Networks, Zambian Breweries (Chair), Mixta Africa, Zambeef, Pembani Remgro, and Taifa Marimba. She advises Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa under the African Development Bank. Her awards include African Agribusiness Entrepreneur of the Year (2017) and Leading Agribusiness Entrepreneur (2021). A Young Global Leader and Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow, Monica is a renowned speaker on women empowerment, entrepreneurship, and African food systems. Her TedX Euston talk has garnered thousands of views, and she has won numerous awards for her work as an executive and entrepreneur. She holds an LL.B from the University of Zambia, an LL.M from the University of London, and has completed leadership programs at Harvard, Oxford, and IMD. Monica has served on the boards of Bank of Zambia, Kwacha Pension Fund, Financial Sector Deepening Zambia, Zambia Sugar, Sanlam Insurance Zambia, and Arcelor Mittal South Africa. Her current board positions include Airtel Networks Plc – Independent Non-Executive Chairperson, Zambian Breweries Plc – Independent Non-Executive Chairperson, Mixta Africa Plc – Independent NED/Chair REMCO, Zambeef Plc – Independent NED/Chair REMCO, Pembani Remgro – Member of Investment Committee, Taifa Marimba – Independent NED. Monica is also a member of the International Bar Association.

Simunza Muyangana is the Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at BongoHive, a Lusaka-based technology and innovation hub. In this role, Simunza and his team develop and deliver programs to help individuals or groups explore and launch their own businesses. They also offer innovation consulting services to businesses looking to develop new ideas or make significant improvements to their current products or services. Prior to joining BongoHive, Simunza worked in the advertising and telecom industries in South Africa and Zambia. He also worked as a consultant across various African countries. He is a fellow of the Swedish Institute of Management and serves on the boards of several startups. Simunza is also a co-founder of the Zambia Business Angel Network and an angel investor. In addition to this he also serves on the following boards - Zambia’s National Advisory for Impact Investment, Flutterwave Zambia, the Zambia Business Angel Network, Copper Rose Zambia and the Southern Africa Innovation Collective.

Jonah Masozi Banda is the Chief Technology Officer at AgriPredict and a data scientist for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). As a visionary leader in agritech, Jonah has leveraged AI and data science to revolutionize precision agriculture, particularly for smallholder farmers. With extensive experience in geospatial analysis, satellite data, and weather prediction models, he has developed innovative solutions to help farmers optimize their yields, mitigate risks, and adapt to environmental challenges. Under his leadership, AgriPredict has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of farmers, using AI to democratize access to real-time, tailored agricultural advice. Jonah’s work extends to collaborations with global organizations, including pioneering efforts to integrate AI-driven insights for agricultural insurance products. He is passionate about utilizing technology to empower rural communities and believes in the transformative potential of augmented intelligence in agriculture. His contributions have not only shaped AgriPredict’s success but also advanced data-driven agriculture at a global scale.

Peter Cunningham is a visionary entrepreneur and agricultural expert, born in Zimbabwe in 1967. At a young age, he demonstrated the first business acumen by starting a poultry business while still in school, which remarkably grew from 50 chicks to 10,000 birds per week by the time he finished school. He furthered his education with a degree in Agriculture specializing in Poultry Science from the University of Edinburgh, equipping him with the knowledge to drive innovation in the industry. Upon his return, Peter married Di and together they founded Sondelani Ranching and the Hamara group, initially focused on ostrich farming. Under his leadership, the company became the largest ostrich farming operation globally, processing over 30,000 birds annually and boasting full meat and leather processing capabilities. A pivotal moment in Peter's journey was the development of the outgrowing model with small-scale farmers. This program shifted from a philanthropic approach to empowering local farmers by including them in the value chain, recognizing Africa's vast potential and wealth. This transformation sparked growth in the Hamara value chain, and later led to the partnership in Heartlands, Zambia, and the establishment of a state-of-the-art poultry operation controlling the full value chain. Key operations include the Hamara Group of Companies in Zimbabwe, which manages breeder operations, hatcheries, feed mills, out growers, abattoirs, and retail divisions. The group also maintains a property portfolio that supports these operations. Heartlands operates a full value chain in the Southern Province of Zambia, featuring state-of-the-art facilities, including an abattoir, feed mill, hatchery, and a production capacity of 5.2 million birds per year. The Hamara App Company is a leading-edge platform designed to facilitate farmer growth, production, and market access. Agricultural Vision is committed to unlocking Africa's vast agricultural potential, which is currently operating at a fraction of its capacity. The work above has paved the way for sustainable agricultural growth, empowering small-scale farmers, and transforming the industry's landscape in Africa.

Sid Mofya combines leadership in technology and investing with innovation in music and culture. He brings two decades of experience on three continents across financial services, energy, healthcare and government. As Executive Director of the Draper Venture Network, he provided strategic leadership to an ecosystem of 20 global venture capital funds with a $2 billion AUM, and their investments in 1000 portfolio companies. Sid is an advocate of building a strong capital stack for African entrepreneurs as shown with his involvements with BongoHive Technology and Innovation Hub (Board), Kalene Education Fund (Board Chair), and Restless Development (US Board). In 2021, he was appointed an Investment Expert on the EU / AU sponsored African Diaspora Investment Marketplace study to develop a platform for diaspora investments into African companies. Sid’s cultural innovation is the creation of The Flight Risk, a character band that aims to bring people together from across cultures and harness the power of technology for the greater good. Sid combines the power of capital to effect change and the influence of culture to capture hearts and minds in co-curating the Capital and Culture Conference. Sid has an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Acton School of Business, and a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sheffield. A native of Zambia, he currently lives in Silicon Valley with his wife and two daughters. Selected Media: - Featured as an African venture investor in Silicon Valey in the documentary VENTURE – An Entrepreneur’s Journey (Tubi TV) - Featured in Voice of America’s Beyond the Unicorn, alongside the founders of Flutterwave, Mall for Africa, Jandus and Stackshare. - Kauffman Fellows Journal: Sid Mofya on Building and Scaling the Draper Venture Network: an International Network of Funds

Anne Schultz is a dynamic leader revolutionizing African travel through her company, Home - UNLOCK AFRICA TRAVEL With a special emphasis on Zambia, Unlock Africa is dedicated to elevating Zambia as a premier global holiday destination. Anne's vision goes beyond traditional tourism; she is passionate about showcasing Zambia’s natural beauty and rich culture to the world. Among her ventures, she owns land along the Zambezi River in the heart of the Lower Zambezi National Park, where she is developing an eco-friendly resort, blending luxury with sustainability. By fostering global engagement, Anne and her company are not just connecting travelers to Zambia—they are building a bridge for international tourism and investment across Africa. This December, Anne will co-host the inaugural Capital and Culture Conference, where over 250 investors and travelers from around the world will have the opportunity to experience the beauty of Zambia firsthand. This exclusive event, running from December 12-20, 2024, will serve as a showcase for Zambia’s potential as a leading tourism and investment destination. In recognition of her impactful work, Anne was appointed as the Zambia USA/International Brand Ambassador for the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Welcome | Global Entrepreneurship Network (genglobal.org) . Her dedication to driving economic transformation through entrepreneurship and innovation is at the heart of her mission. Additionally, Anne serves as a Brand Ambassador for the Zambia Tourism Agency, further underscoring her commitment to elevating Zambia on the global stage. Beyond tourism, Anne excels as a Senior Global Project Manager, overseeing clinical trials for major pharmaceutical companies. She manages multi-million-dollar budgets, ensures project timelines are met, and mitigates risks to safeguard patient safety. Anne is also deeply committed to philanthropy. She actively supports the Luanshya Learning Center, which focuses on digital equity, helping Zambian youth develop essential skills for higher education, employment, and entrepreneurship. The Luanshya Learning Center was initiated by Harvard staff- Theresa Lungu. Anne holds a Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Business Administration from Lindenwood University. Through her diverse roles, Anne Schultz is driving change, creating opportunities, and shaping Zambia’s future as a thriving hub for tourism, investment, and innovation.