Ashanti Kunene is a poetic provocateur and strategic narrative consultant helping leaders cultivate inner/outer coherence for regenerative systems change.

Devroll Legodi is an award-winning farmer specializing in herbs like coriander and parsley. She utilizes a vertical hydroponic system, shade nets and open field production for efficient and sustainable farming. She supplies in bulk quantities to meet client demands. With a finance management background, Devroll ensures precision and profitability in the farming operations. 

Dhesigen Naidoo is a leader, a scientist and activist for positive social change. He is currently the Climate Adaptation Advisor to the South African Presidential Climate Commission; and Head of the African Climate Risk and Human Security Project at the Institute for Security Studies, Africa. He is Board member and former President of the global NGO, Human Right 2 Water, and a Member of the Water Policy Group. He is a Board member of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). He is Vice Chair of the Technical Advisory Group on Water to the UAE, and on the International Advisory Panel of the Singapore Urban Sustainable Solutions initiative.

Further, he is a member of the Advisory Board member of the University of Stellenbosch School of Climate Studies. He was previously the CEO of the Water Research Commission (WRC), South Africa’s dedicated national Water and Sanitation Innovation, Research and Development Agency for 10 years. He has previously served as Deputy Director-General and in other senior positions in the South African national government and South African universities having begun his career as a Medical Scientist in a specialist children’s hospital. He was a Councillor of the South African National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI).

He counts his lovely wife and beautiful children as both his primary source of inspiration and the vanguard of his humility.

H.E. Ambassador Nosipho Nausca - Jean Jezile is currently the Ambassador in Rome (Italy) and Permanent Representative to the UN Agencies in Rome of the Republic of South Africa, Chair of the African Regional Group (ARG), Member of the FAO Programme Committee and current Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)

Henry Roman is currently the Country Representative for South Africa at IWMI. Henry previously managed the development and implementation of the National Water Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Roadmap as well as the National Waste RDI Roadmap. He initiated the National Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for Circular Economy Strategy. Henry managed the transformation of the South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (SARVA) from a static book to an online portal. He also managed the implementation of the Imvelisi Enviropreneurship Programme.

Inga Jacobs-Mata is the Senior Program Director for Water, Growth and Inclusion at International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Before joining IWMI, Inga Jacobs-Mata was the research group leader for the integrated water solutions group at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa, where she managed a transdisciplinary team of researchers working on the co-development of integrated water solutions in South Africa and throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Inga was also the Executive Manager: Business Development, Marketing and Communications at the Water Research Commission, South Africa. 

Mr Ishmael Sunga is the CEO of the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) a farmers’ organization representing the common interests of farmers in 12 countries in southern Africa. In this role, Ishmael has spearheaded the organization’s work in relation to digital solutions; climate change; the development of a new generation of farmers and farmers’ organizations; multi-stakeholder platforms; systems thinking; and the governance of value chains. His wide-ranging experience and thought leadership have seen him serving a range of organizations, including the United Nations Food Systems Summit, the World Economic Forum, African Union/NEPAD, AGRA, Montpellier Malabo Panel of Experts, Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Generation Africa and the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification.

Ismhane Elouafi is the Executive Managing Director of CGIAR. She was the Chief Scientist at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Director General at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), which was based in the United Arab Emirates. Dr. Elouafi has held several senior scientific and leadership positions, including Senior Adviser to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Branch in Ottawa (AAFC), Canada (2006–2007), National Manager of Plant Research Section (2007–2010), and Director of Research Management and Partnerships Division at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) (2010–2012). She has worked as a scientist with several international research organizations. She has been a member of various strategy expert panels and advisory groups, including the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) and HarvestPlus. She has been a member of several governance boards, including the boards of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in the United States, the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) in the United Kingdom, and the Professional Development Institute in Canada. She was also a member of the Scientific Group for the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and the CGIAR System Board.

Lauren M. Phillips is an international political economist and currently Deputy Director for the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Prior to joining FAO in 2021 she worked in a variety of policy, strategy and advisory roles at another specialized agency of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development from 2015-2021, as an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics (2008-2014), as a Research Fellow at the Overseas Development Institute (2005-08), and in a variety of private finance roles in the City of London and New York. She holds a PhD in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics and Master and Bachelor degrees from Stanford University. Lauren was also an Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna, Italy, and has published widely on finance and development.

Lynn Schneider is a Senior Program Officer for Women’s Empowerment in Agricultural Development at the Gates Foundation. She brings over 17 years of experience in international agricultural development and gender equality, including 14 years as a Foreign Service Officer at USAID. During her tenure at USAID, she contributed to the Feed the Future initiative while serving in South Africa, Malawi, Haiti, Nepal, and Washington, D.C., and held the role of Deputy Director of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Hub. At the Gates Foundation, Lynn leads strategic investments that advance gender-transformative, climate-resilient food systems across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Master’s degrees in International Affairs and Natural Resources and Sustainable Development. 

Malik is Evaluation Senior Lead at OCP Nutricrops and Policy Manager & Delivery Lead at the UM6P-J-PAL Agricultural Lab for Africa (UJALA). He develops partnerships, manages research pipelines, and leads evidence-to-policy communication and dissemination.

Prior to joining J-PAL in 2024, he held leadership and project management roles at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS), and Search for Common Ground (SfCG). He holds a master’s degree in African Geopolitics and Geoeconomics from HEC Paris and a Bachelor of Laws from Durham University. 

Medrina Linda Mloza Banda is a dynamic and results-oriented agricultural expert, currently serving as the Principal Secretary for Technical Services at the Ministry of Agriculture in Malawi. In her current role, she is responsible for identifying and implementing agricultural policies and strategies for various directorates. She excels in managing partnerships, capacity building, and providing technical support across programs and projects. Her leadership extends to mentoring teams of professionals, managing project budgets and resources, and ensuring that agricultural supply chains remain sustainable and traceable. She has authored research papers on climatology, soil properties and conservation agriculture, providing valuable insights to the global agricultural community in optimizing agricultural productivity, as well as enhancing environmental and soil health.

Commissioner Mfundo Nomvungu holds an Honours degree in Social Work from the University of Cape Town. They also possess a Master of Philosophy degree in Laws from the University of the Western Cape, with expertise in International Family Law, Constitutional Rights Interpretation, the Extension of Social Protections, Rule of Law & Good Governance, and Corporate Finance & Governance. Their thesis focused on the Role of Chapter 9 Institutions in South Africa. Driven by a passion for social justice and human rights, Mfundo has dedicated their career to empowering marginalized communities, especially women and children affected by violence and poverty. Between 2021 and 2023, Commissioner Mfundo served as a board member of the Justice Desk, where they played a pivotal role in advocating for justice and human rights.

Michael O’Sullivan is a Senior Economist and Head of the World Bank's Africa Gender Innovation Lab, an action-oriented research lab that aims to identify what works to promote gender equality in Africa and use these insights to shape policy. The Lab’s evidence has informed $12.8 billion in development investments across 53 countries and has shaped multiple policy reforms.  Over the past fifteen years, Michael has led research on the barriers to women’s economic empowerment—including on agriculture, property rights, and women’s access to markets—and tested innovative solutions to address them. Prior to joining the World Bank, he worked on USAID-funded development projects and served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Burkina Faso. Michael holds a master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Mikateko Joyce Maluleke is an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and a member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates. She was appointed as Director-General of the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on 01 August 2020. Her qualifications are BA, LLB (Wits University), 1992-1996; LLM Tax (University of Pretoria), 2011. Her post-graduate and vocational training includes Constitutional Analysis and Litigation, Labour law, Human Rights, Equality and Non-discrimination (focusing on race, gender, disability, social context awareness and diversity management), Administrative Justice, Development Law, Insolvency Law and Practice, Mining Laws, Legislative Drafting, Strategic Planning, Scenario Planning, Programme and Operations Management, Project Management, Leadership and Management Development, Women’s Leadership Development, Governance and Gender Mainstreaming. She has extensive knowledge and understanding of national and international legal frameworks on the empowerment and protection of women. She is a gender activist who has operated in the field of gender justice for three decades.

Mmatlou Mabitsela is a transformative leader at the forefront of Africa's green revolution. She is a strategic architect who designs and implements resilient, equitable, and profitable agricultural systems.

Operating from her base in Limpopo, South Africa, Mmatlou seamlessly blends her hands-on experience as a pig farmer with high-level strategic insight, positioning her as a unique voice in the discourse on climate change, gender equity, and sustainable economic development.

Her work is a powerful testament to the idea that the most effective climate action is that which also empowers people and generates prosperity.

Mwaka Namukonda is a Continental Youth Agrifood Systems Ambassador, the Executive Coordinator of the first-ever youth-led consortium endorsed by the African Union—the Consortium of African Youth in Agriculture and Climate Change (CAYACC)—coordinating over 200 youth-led organizations across Africa in agriculture and climate action. She holds an Honorary Doctorate and is a PhD candidate in International Trade, blending academic insight with real-world impact. As a trade consultant and founder of the Ayurvedic skincare brand Myn&Nain Beauty, Mwaka champions youth employment and innovation in Africa’s agri-food systems—positioning young people as the continent’s Most Valued Players (MVPs) in sustainable development.

Nancy Laibuni is a Senior Research & Policy Analyst with over 20 years of experience in the agriculture sector. Nancy holds advanced skills in agricultural public policy analysis, value chain analysis, public expenditure analysis as well as food security. Nancy has managed several research projects, published and advocated various policy issues in the agricultural sector via various dissemination channels including journal publications, conference papers, print media and technical policy publications.

Nicoline de Haan is a senior researcher with more than 15 years of expertise in gender, rural livelihoods, agriculture, and natural resource management. She is presently the Director of the CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion. Previously, she served as the leader of the gender team at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Before ILRI, she led the work on gender, poverty and institutions under the CGIAR program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) examining the implications of inequity in access and control over natural resources, and finding options to ensure inclusive benefit sharing. In her previous position at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) she led the global socio-economic team on animal health, where her main responsibility was reducing the impact of animal diseases on the livelihoods of smallholders, and especially women impacted by avian influenza. She holds a PhD in rural sociology from University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.

Patricia van de Velde is the Gender Focal Point for the Food and Agriculture Practice since 2017. She has worked in the Agriculture GP for ten years (on Gender, Innovation Systems, Agriculture Public Expenditure), after two years in the Financial Systems unit.  Patricia has a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science from Trinity College Dublin, and an M.A. in International Affairs from the Korbel School, University of Denver

Phil Bowes is Inclusive Strategies Manager, South Africa Wine. He raises funds and manages agreements with banks, government agencies, and development organizations to ensure the effective implementation of development projects. He provides policy and strategic guidance to the South African wine industry and government, focusing on sustainable socio-economic transformation. Phil’s work includes offering AgriBEE advice to wineries in areas such as ownership, enterprise and supplier development, management control, skills development, and socio-economic development.

Rachael McDonnell is Deputy Director General, Research and Development, IWMI with more than 25 years’ experience in developing knowledge and innovation for adaptation to climate extremes, water and food insecurity under a changing climate in Africa and Asia.

She is the strategic lead for a global team of 220 scientists focused on innovative and scientifically rigorous solutions for critical climate, water, food and energy challenges in the Global South.

She developed strong collaborations with partners across research, governments, investors and the private sector bringing their knowledge, models and insight together in adaptation solutions.

She has extensive change management experience, executive decision-making and division leadership capabilities. She has diverse experience as a scientist, faculty member, policy adviser, and board member in multi-cultural international institutions.

Raymond Freyer is young Agripreneur and youth leader from the south of Namibia, a town called Keetmanshoop in the Kharas Region.
He is currently a part of the National Youth Council of Namibia and  serves as the Chairperson of his constituency In the Kharas region and also the chairperson of the Namibian National Farmers in the region.

He is involved in a number of youth empowering projects initiated to curb food insecurity, poverty and unemployment among youth in the community with the aim of enabling youth to work for themselves, grow their own food and create employment.

Surita Sandosham was born and raised in Singapore and brings over 20 years of senior leadership experience in global nonprofit organizations. She became the President and CEO of Heifer International in 2022, where she is driving a bold transformation focused on equity, farmer-led innovation, and sustainable food systems. Previously, she served as Executive Director of Heartland Alliance International, a Chicago-based humanitarian and human rights organization, where she championed human rights by delivering lifesaving services and advocating for survivors of conflict and those at risk of abuse.

Yonas Alem is a Research Professor at the School of Economics, University of Cape Town, and Director of Academic Programs at the Environment for Development (EfD) initiative. He is also a researcher at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MIT. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, where he previously served as an Associate Professor of Economics. His research lies at the intersection of Development Microeconomics, Behavioral and Experimental Economics, and Environmental Economics, with a focus on gender, energy transitions, technology adoption, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. Alem has published extensively in leading academic journals. His empirical work primarily employs panel data econometrics and impact evaluation methods, especially large-scale randomized controlled trials—an area in which he has also taught Ph.D.-level courses for over 15 years.