Mr. K.C Li, Economist, is currently Chairman of Union Pay International Africa Regional Council and sits on the Boards of various international financial institutions as Independent Director.

He is holder of a B.Sc.(Econ) from the London School of Economics and LLM in International Tax Law. He started his professional career in 1974 as a Lecturer in Public Finance at the University of Mauritius.

Afterwards, he held different prominent positions in the Mauritius public sector, including Advisor to the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Stock Exchange Commission. He launched the first Unit Trust and the first Property Fund in Mauritius in 1989.

K.C. LI was Board member of the State Trading Corporation, the National Remuneration Board and the National Economic and Social Council. He also sat on the Council of the University of Mauritius and the Financial Services Consultative Council.

K.C. LI was an external lecturer for the University of Surrey School of Management (UK) and has published numerous reports and articles on cooperative banking, project management, development finance, structural adjustment and fiscal planning issues.

In 1992, Mr. Li started his own private consulting firm and served as Consultant to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the U.N. Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

In 1993, he founded the Mauritius International Trust Co. Ltd (MITCO), one of the first professional firms licensed to provide international tax and investment advisory services in Mauritius.

He was also a Member of the Parliament of Mauritius (2010-2014) and sat on the Public Accounts Committee.

In 2015, Mr K.C Li was awarded the national honour of ‘Grand Officer of the Star and Key’ (GOSK) of the Indian Ocean by the Republic of Mauritius for distinguished services in the economic, social and political fields.

In May 2018, he was granted the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award by the Banker Africa for his outstanding contribution to the financial sector in Mauritius and in Africa.

He sits on the Board of Directors of several Emerging Markets Funds and Asia Hedge Funds, including Private Equity, Infrastructure and Real Estate Funds in Africa & Asia.

He is currently a Board Director of Afreximbank (based in Cairo).

He was until March 2020, the independent non-executive Chairman of SBM Holdings Ltd (SBM Group), the 2nd largest banking group in Mauritius and a public listed company, while being also Chairman of SBM Bank (Kenya) Limited, Banque SBM Madagascar SA and SBM Bank Seychelles.

In this capacity, in 2017, he pioneered the partnership between SBM and Alipay, the leader of digital financial services and lifestyle platform of the giant e-Commerce Group Alibaba, thus making of SBM, the first banking group to offer Alipay services in Africa.

He was awarded the Magnolia Award by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government in 2014.

In September 2018, in the context of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing, the Inter-Bank Association between China and African Countries, a consortium of major African banks and China Development Bank, was launched, of which Mr KC Li is a Founder Council Member.

He is also the Chairman of the UnionPay Africa Regional Council since June 2019 and member of the Kisumu Economic and Social Council in Kenya since January 2020.

As the Marketing and Sales Director, Lee-Anne is responsible for the sales and marketing at The Singer Group, a well-known travel and hospitality company with a track record of almost 60 years in the business.

With over 20 years of experience, she focuses on business development, identifying new business opportunities and partnerships for the Group. She was recently appointed as Chairperson of FEDHASA Cape, and serves on the board of Glendale, a home for intellectually disabled adults.

Her career highlights include speaking at the International Travel Tech Conference in Tel Aviv and winning the ‘Western Cape Positive Role Model’ title in the Gender Mainstreaming Awards.

Lee-Anne has worked in various roles within the media industry, including CNBC Africa, The Property Magazine and Top Women in Business and Government.

Collins has over 30 years of hospitality experience and is a 20-year veteran with Marriott International. A graduate of the Shannon College of Hotel Management in his native Ireland, Collins started his career with Marriott International in Scotland at the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club in Edinburgh in 2001, before leading the Marriott Druids Glen Hotel and Country Club near Dublin.

Richard moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2013 where he was General Manager of Dubai’s first JW Marriott Hotel. Following a successful period at the JW Marriott Hotel Dubai, Richard then took the helm at The Ritz Carlton, Dubai where within a three-year period the property saw unprecedented success growing its business, profit, associate engagement, RevPAR index, and guest voice scores.

In 2018, Collins was appointed his first multi-property role as Area General Manager of Abu Dhabi for Marriott International, during which he also managed the successful transition of all Starwood Legacy properties to the Marriott network.

Guido has a Civil Engineer Master’s in Business Management and Transport, an AMP (Harvard Business School), an IEP (INSEAD) and is a member of various Alumni Associations (EPFL, INSEAD, HBS). As Chairman of  RDC Properties Group, he has been involved in property development and investments for thirty two years.

He has been awarded the Order of Merit by the King of Spain and the Knights of the Order of the Star of Italy by the President.

He is the Honorary Consul of Italy in Botswana, a Paul Harris fellow, an art collector and is actively involved in philanthropic endeavours in the region.

Cross Kgosidiile is the Managing Director of Botswana Development Corporation, a position he assumed 1 April 2020.

Mr. Kgosidiile brings to the Corporation over 20 years of experience of building high performance teams having served in a variety of leadership roles including at Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund and the national airline, Air Botswana. Prior to joining BDC, Mr. Kgosidiile served as the Acting Chief Executive Officer at Botswana Power Corporation (BPC). His known forte and expressed passion has continued to be for commercial environments. His experience in leadership capacities boasts of strengths across key commercial areas including Corporate Finance and Strategy, Information Technology and Supply Chain Management and Business transformation to name a few.

Mr. Kgosidiile’s career began in retailing as a Graduate Accounts Trainee with the Cash Bazaar Group in 1992. He thereafter moved to join the national airline, Air Botswana as Financial Accountant and was soon promoted to the position of Finance Manager. He was part of the team that turned around the Airline, resulting in Air Botswana achieving profitability for 7 successive years during his tenure.

Mr. Kgosidiile was appointed Chief Executive Officer for the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund in 2005, and successfully led the Fund for over 10 years. Under his leadership the MVA Fund achieved multiple awards in Corporate Reporting, Customer Service and Staff Engagement and was rated the Best Company to Work For over 5 consecutive years in a survey conducted by Deloitte Consulting. During his tenure, the Fund achieved impressive growth with its balance sheet growing more than three-fold in just a decade. The Fund was recognized as a benchmark organization both within the Botswana parastatal sector and in the region. Mr. Kgosidiile has also served as a Business Consultant in his career with a focus on Corporate Finance and Strategy.

Mr. Kgosidiile holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) Degree and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Botswana. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and serves as its Membership Assessor. He is also a fellow member of the Botswana Institute of Accountants.

Mr. Kgosidiile has served as Board Chairman for the Botswana Building Society, was a Board member of Botswana Railways, Stanbic Bank Botswana Limited, MVA Fund and KYS Investments Limited. He is currently Board Chairman of Mmila Fund Administrators which administers the Debswana Pension Fund, Board Member of Prime-Time Property Holdings Limited, a Council Member of ABM university College and Trustee of Botswana Medical Aid Society.

Accomplished Executive with 26 years of successful experience in providing strategic, operations and transformational leadership in challenging areas within the Hospitality and Tourism industry both locally and internationally.

Currently she is serving as the CEO of the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB). Overseeing 460 companies which makes up the entire hospitality and tourism subsector being Camps & Lodges, Hotels, Mobile Operators, Tour Operators, Airline, Air Charters and Services.

Some of the Non-Executive positions that Lily held and some she continues to hold are with the following boards and committees:

• Served as a Chairperson of RETOSA (Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa)
• Council member of Business Botswana (The Voice of Private sector in Botswana)
• Board member of Botswana Wildlife Training Institute
• Member of High-Level Consultative Council Meeting, chaired by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Botswana
• Served as a board member of Botswana Vision 2016 Council
• Member of Tourism Development Fund Committee
• Member of Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) Tourism Committee
• Former Board Member of Botswana Business Coalition on Aids(BBCA)
• Former member of the Tourism Industry Training Fund

She is passionate about leadership, diversity, equality and inclusion. Lily is also an experienced resource in policy, regulation, advocacy and communications skills that has a unique ability to motivate and inspire change.

Jacinta Kiruthi is a Trade, Tax and Customs expert, serving in various advisory roles within the East African Region as well as several Continental Platforms, both in the Public and Private sectors. She currently serves as lead AfCFTA Advisor to the East African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EACCIA), the African Business Council (AfBC), Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the International Conference on the UN Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

Within these institutions she serves as the subject matter expert in Regional Integration for the AfCFTA and the EAC Rec, Revenue Administration Reform, Rules of Origin, Women in International Trade, Tax and Customs Matters, Valuation and Cross Border Trade and Management. Very close to her heart are Africa’s Trade Facilitation tools especially the LAPPSET Corridor initiative.

As a Toastmaster, she has graced various international panels on the Role of Women In Trade and moderated numerous conferences such as The East Africa Trade and Industrialisation Conference, UN Great Lakes Private Sector Forum, Africa Women In International Trade which all brought together key players within EAC, AfCFTA, SADC, EU and the UN Great Lakes Regions. Prior to this, she was selected to facilitate the prestigious McGill University’s – Semester In Africa Programme for 40 North American students.

Previously, she served as a Senior Programme Manager in the Commissioner General’s Office of the Kenya Revenue Authority, critical in implementing the Revenue Administration Reform and Modernisation Programme (RARMP) which saw KRA become the leading Revenue Authority within the East African Community. She also enabled the rolling out of e-learning initiatives in partnership with various institutions of higher learning to enhance team knowledge as well as align KRA’s internal policies with overarching national government goals. During her tenure in the Customs Department, Jacinta successfully documented and mapped all cross border operations in Namanga, which went on to become a blue print for the One Stop Border Post initiatives, replicated across 8 other OSBPs namely (Taveta, Lungalunga, Isebania, Busia, Malaba and Moyale) – and is currently informing the EAC’s and AfCFTA’s Cross Border Trade practices.

Jacinta has an MBA (Strategic Management) and BA, Hons (Economics) from the University of Nairobi, a post graduate diploma in Tax and Customs Administration from KRA’s – Training Institute and Diplomas in both Banking and Information Systems Management, amongst other trade facilitation and leadership courses from global institutions. She is passionate about synthesizing and simplifying the African Union’s Regional Integration Agenda as well, as bringing both the African Public and Private sectors on board the amazing AfCFTA journey.

Ph.D. in Tourism. CEO at Málaga Tourism Authority. Former UNWTO International Liaison Officer. +10 years of experience teaching in spanish, central-american and european universities and business schools. DMO expert & Tourism Boards director and deeply involved with the international travel & tourism industry relations. Ms in Tourism Consulting / Ms in MICE Tourism / Ms in Mkt & Communication / Ms in Hospitality Management / GD in International Relations

As Director of Investments and Special Projects, Mohamed Belkhodja is responsible for the ongoing expansion of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s business strategies across the EMEA region. He is a true hospitality professional who brings over 15 years of hospitality and management consulting experience to the team. His role is to lead key investment strategies and increase global awareness of the Emirate. Belkhodja delivers on over three decades of expertise across several markets (Global expertise with Local focus).

Belkhodja is a seasoned Eco, Wellness, Agri and Adventure (EWAA) Tourism expert and believes that a combination of sustainable & conscious tourism along with the fractional economy will stimulate the economic & social development of the Emirate. His mandate is to enhance the existing destination product portfolio and develop new tourism attractions to elevate the destination’s tourist appeal and enhance the current infrastructure. He strives to develop a conscious ecosystem for entrepreneurs, tourists and residents with projects that blend health, sustainability, and technology.

He was part of the team that won the multi-billion dollar Wynn integrated resort on Marjan Island. He also implemented the Bureau Veritas Safe Guard Program in Ras Al Khaimah which positioned RAK as the first city in the world to be certified as safe by Bureau Veritas and the first emirate to receive the world travel and tourism council (WTTC) safe travels stamp. Last but not least, he implemented the SelectRAK Residency by investment Program in partnership with ARTON CAPITAL in order to boost Tourism & Investment.

Belkhodja holds a Master’s Degree in International Hotel Management from VATEL International Hospitality Management Business School and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Management Information Systems from the Université Pierre Mendès France – in France.

Reengineering mindsets and creating an impact on Humanity is his passion and personal mission.

His favorite quote: ‘’We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?’’ – Steve Jobs

Gobusamang Dempsey Keebine, is the current President of Business Botswana, an Apex Chamber of Commerce andIndustry in Botswana and Co-Chairperson of High Level Consultative Council (HLCC) with His Excellency the President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr Mokgweetsi EricMasisi. A position he has held over the last six (6) years. Thep artnership and co-leadership between these leaders was more evident as they traversed through unchartered waters of the biggest pandemic and economic challenges brought by COVID-19.

As the head of Chamber of Commerce in Botswana, Mr Keebine is the private sector interface with the Government of Botswana and liaison state head for the private sector, where he continues to drive as well as deliver on turnaround strategies for business in Botswana. Mr Keebine’s zeal for national development and economic growth has lent an impetus in his role as Head of delegate atAfrica Union, (Private Sector leaders AfCTFA), Addis Abba,Ethiopia; SADC / SACU meetings since 2011.

Gobusamang Keebine, has textured experience in leadingstrategic partnerships with developing partners including with the World Bank as Chair of the Trade Cross Borders Committee,a committee on the EASE of doing business. His continued impactful collaboration with developing partners motivated for Gobusamang Keebine being Private Sector Lead Representative at the 2022 Commonwealth Business Forum in Rwanda as part of the Country representation and being signatory to the Rwanda / Botswana Memorandum of Understanding opening opportunities for country to country and business to business trade.