Mr. Hassan Dakhlallah
Porteo Group
Chairman
Hassan Dakhlallah is an entrepreneur and infrastructure expert driving Africa’s economic transformation. He is the Founder and CEO of PORTEO Group, a major conglomerate operating in Côte d’Ivoire, Bénin, Togo, Senegal, and Gabon. Launched in 2020 as an expansion of his earlier firm, NSE.CI (founded in 2012), PORTEO has completed over 3,000 km of roads and major urban projects. With five divisions spanning infrastructure, construction, real estate, and engineering, PORTEO reflects Dakhlallah’s vision for sustainable, large-scale development across the continent.
Porteo Group
Chairman
Hassan Dakhlallah is an entrepreneur and infrastructure expert driving Africa’s economic transformation. He is the Founder and CEO of PORTEO Group, a major conglomerate operating in Côte d’Ivoire, Bénin, Togo, Senegal, and Gabon. Launched in 2020 as an expansion of his earlier firm, NSE.CI (founded in 2012), PORTEO has completed over 3,000 km of roads and major urban projects. With five divisions spanning infrastructure, construction, real estate, and engineering, PORTEO reflects Dakhlallah’s vision for sustainable, large-scale development across the continent.
Mr. Ziad Dalloul
Africell Group
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Ziad Dalloul is the Founder and Group CEO of Africell, Africa’s largest US-owned telecom company, serving over 20 million subscribers. With 30+ years of international telecom experience, he transformed Africell from a single-market operator into a multinational leader. Africell dominates markets in The Gambia and Sierra Leone and is rapidly growing in Angola and the DRC. Known for innovation and digital inclusion, Africell has earned numerous awards. Mr. Dalloul received a BS in engineering from Boston University, and an MS in engineering from Columbia University where he serves as a member of the oversight board of Columbia University’s SEAS.
Africell Group
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Ziad Dalloul is the Founder and Group CEO of Africell, Africa’s largest US-owned telecom company, serving over 20 million subscribers. With 30+ years of international telecom experience, he transformed Africell from a single-market operator into a multinational leader. Africell dominates markets in The Gambia and Sierra Leone and is rapidly growing in Angola and the DRC. Known for innovation and digital inclusion, Africell has earned numerous awards. Mr. Dalloul received a BS in engineering from Boston University, and an MS in engineering from Columbia University where he serves as a member of the oversight board of Columbia University’s SEAS.
Mr. Terence Dambe
Minchin & Kelly, DLA Piper Africa Botswana
Managing Partner
Terence is the Managing Partner of the commercial law firm Minchin & Kelly (DLA Piper Africa, Botswana), being an attorney with over 30 years’ experience covering a variety of areas in corporate and commercial law. He heads the firm’s Real Estate department, working with the commercial department on various transactions. He has vast experience in sports administration having served in various roles including as a former member of the Botswana Football Association National Executive Committee, former member of Confederation of African Football Legal Affairs and Player Statutes Committee. He is an arbitrator of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Minchin & Kelly, DLA Piper Africa Botswana
Managing Partner
Terence is the Managing Partner of the commercial law firm Minchin & Kelly (DLA Piper Africa, Botswana), being an attorney with over 30 years’ experience covering a variety of areas in corporate and commercial law. He heads the firm’s Real Estate department, working with the commercial department on various transactions. He has vast experience in sports administration having served in various roles including as a former member of the Botswana Football Association National Executive Committee, former member of Confederation of African Football Legal Affairs and Player Statutes Committee. He is an arbitrator of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Mr. Guillaume de Dardel
Mercuria
Global Head Of Refined Copper
Guillaume is the Global Head of Refined Copper at Mercuria Energy Trading and a Director at Techmet. Mercuria is one of the world’s five largest independent global energy trading groups. The group has a turnover in excess of $100 billion and is active across a wide spectrum of energy and commodity products, including crude oil, natural gas, power, carbon, dry bulk, and metals.
Mercuria has expanded its presence in metals, becoming one of the largest traders in base metals globally. It provides logistics, financing, and risk-management solutions while developing partnerships with private and public entities across the supply chain.
Mercuria
Global Head Of Refined Copper
Guillaume is the Global Head of Refined Copper at Mercuria Energy Trading and a Director at Techmet. Mercuria is one of the world’s five largest independent global energy trading groups. The group has a turnover in excess of $100 billion and is active across a wide spectrum of energy and commodity products, including crude oil, natural gas, power, carbon, dry bulk, and metals.
Mercuria has expanded its presence in metals, becoming one of the largest traders in base metals globally. It provides logistics, financing, and risk-management solutions while developing partnerships with private and public entities across the supply chain.
M François Dominique Delafosse
NGSER LLC
Senior VICE PRESIDENT
SVP en charge du Business développement.
NGSER LLC
Senior VICE PRESIDENT
SVP en charge du Business développement.
Hon. Ramful Dhananjay
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade
Minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade
Minister
Sr. Manuel Dias
Banco Nacional de Angola
Governador
Literary abilities:
Master in Economics from the University of Bordeaux I, France.
Professional career:
At the National Bank of Angola, he has held the posts of Director of the Statistics Department, Deputy Director of the Studies and Statistics Department and Head of the Studies Division of the studied and Statistics Department.
Banco Nacional de Angola
Governador
Literary abilities:
Master in Economics from the University of Bordeaux I, France.
Professional career:
At the National Bank of Angola, he has held the posts of Director of the Statistics Department, Deputy Director of the Studies and Statistics Department and Head of the Studies Division of the studied and Statistics Department.
H.E. Russell M. Dlamini
Eswatini Government
Rt.Hon. Prime Minister
His Excellency Mr. Russell Mmiso Dlamini was appointed Prime Minister of Eswatini by His Majesty King Mswati III on 3 November 2023, becoming the nation's youngest to hold the role. Born in 1973, he holds degrees in agricultural education, development administration, and sustainable development. He previously led the National Disaster Management Agency, steering major national responses to drought, COVID-19, and Cyclone Eloise. He also served with World Vision in Eswatini and Rwanda. A visionary leader with a strong development track record, Prime Minister Dlamini is committed to advancing national resilience and sustainable growth.
Eswatini Government
Rt.Hon. Prime Minister
His Excellency Mr. Russell Mmiso Dlamini was appointed Prime Minister of Eswatini by His Majesty King Mswati III on 3 November 2023, becoming the nation's youngest to hold the role. Born in 1973, he holds degrees in agricultural education, development administration, and sustainable development. He previously led the National Disaster Management Agency, steering major national responses to drought, COVID-19, and Cyclone Eloise. He also served with World Vision in Eswatini and Rwanda. A visionary leader with a strong development track record, Prime Minister Dlamini is committed to advancing national resilience and sustainable growth.
Mr. Alain Ebobissé
Africa50
CEO
Mr. Alain Ebobissé is the CEO of Africa50, a pan-African infrastructure investment platform supported by 33 African countries, the African Development Bank, and two African central banks. He previously led IFC InfraVentures at the World Bank Group, where he developed and managed infrastructure investments globally. Earlier, he served as Chief Investment Officer in IFC’s Global Infrastructure and Natural Resources Department. Before joining the World Bank Group in 1998, he held finance roles in France, including Deputy Head of Project and Structured Finance at Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations. He holds an MBA from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Africa50
CEO
Mr. Alain Ebobissé is the CEO of Africa50, a pan-African infrastructure investment platform supported by 33 African countries, the African Development Bank, and two African central banks. He previously led IFC InfraVentures at the World Bank Group, where he developed and managed infrastructure investments globally. Earlier, he served as Chief Investment Officer in IFC’s Global Infrastructure and Natural Resources Department. Before joining the World Bank Group in 1998, he held finance roles in France, including Deputy Head of Project and Structured Finance at Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations. He holds an MBA from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Ms. Ehime Eigbe
Sweetkiwi Holdings
Founder and CEO
Ehime founded Sweetkiwi, a health-focused artisan creamery in Nigeria committed to strengthening the local dairy value chain. After a personal health scare, she studied nutrition, overhauled her diet, and created Sweetkiwi as a delicious, functional food brand. She has secured collaborations with LVMH, Pepsi, Guinness, Baileys and others. In 2019, she launched Sweetkiwi’s whipped Greek yogurt in the United States; the product now sits on shelves in Whole Foods, Walmart, Kroger and more than 2,000 additional stores. Her goal is to build Africa’s leading, most equitable dairy company.
Sweetkiwi Holdings
Founder and CEO
Ehime founded Sweetkiwi, a health-focused artisan creamery in Nigeria committed to strengthening the local dairy value chain. After a personal health scare, she studied nutrition, overhauled her diet, and created Sweetkiwi as a delicious, functional food brand. She has secured collaborations with LVMH, Pepsi, Guinness, Baileys and others. In 2019, she launched Sweetkiwi’s whipped Greek yogurt in the United States; the product now sits on shelves in Whole Foods, Walmart, Kroger and more than 2,000 additional stores. Her goal is to build Africa’s leading, most equitable dairy company.
Mr. Jonathan Eigege
Albright Stonebridge Group
Associate Partner
Jonathan Eigege is an Associate Partner at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group (DGA-ASG) and a trusted advisor to clients seeking to navigate risk, capture opportunities, and deepen their impact in Africa’s dynamic emerging markets.
Mr. Eigege manages firm-wide mandates focused on advancing healthcare delivery, energy security, technology access, and gender equality. Mr. Eigege has also been seconded to African governments seeking to develop progressive policies and structure multisectoral partnerships to advance economic development. Before DGA-ASG, Mr. Eigege worked with the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the D.C. Mayor’s Office on African Affairs.
Albright Stonebridge Group
Associate Partner
Jonathan Eigege is an Associate Partner at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group (DGA-ASG) and a trusted advisor to clients seeking to navigate risk, capture opportunities, and deepen their impact in Africa’s dynamic emerging markets.
Mr. Eigege manages firm-wide mandates focused on advancing healthcare delivery, energy security, technology access, and gender equality. Mr. Eigege has also been seconded to African governments seeking to develop progressive policies and structure multisectoral partnerships to advance economic development. Before DGA-ASG, Mr. Eigege worked with the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the D.C. Mayor’s Office on African Affairs.
Mrs Roukaya El Houda
CrossBoundary
Principal
Roukaya is a Principal at CrossBoundary Advisory where she focuses on Energy and Infrastructure in Africa. Prior to joining CrossBoundary, Roukaya was a Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey where she led power and clean energy development projects in the continent. She also worked at several organizations including the World Bank, the Harvard Growth Lab and the GSMA on infrastructure, energy and economic growth projects in Africa, Asia and Europe. She has a Master of Engineering in Operations Research from Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees Paris and an MPA in International Development (MPA/ID) from the Harvard Kennedy School.
CrossBoundary
Principal
Roukaya is a Principal at CrossBoundary Advisory where she focuses on Energy and Infrastructure in Africa. Prior to joining CrossBoundary, Roukaya was a Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey where she led power and clean energy development projects in the continent. She also worked at several organizations including the World Bank, the Harvard Growth Lab and the GSMA on infrastructure, energy and economic growth projects in Africa, Asia and Europe. She has a Master of Engineering in Operations Research from Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees Paris and an MPA in International Development (MPA/ID) from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Mr. Hatim Eltayeb
African Leadership Academy
CEO
Hatim oversees all elements of African Leadership Academy as Chief Executive Officer, stewarding the organization's mission to identify, develop, and connect Africa’s future leaders.
From 2016 to 2022, Hatim led the Academy’s Diploma Program as Dean of the Academy, enabling the rich community of faculty and staff in bringing our leadership learning program to life. Hatim first joined ALA in 2009 as a Teaching Fellow in the African Studies Department, which he served for three years. Hatim holds degrees from Harvard University and Teachers College at Columbia University.
African Leadership Academy
CEO
Hatim oversees all elements of African Leadership Academy as Chief Executive Officer, stewarding the organization's mission to identify, develop, and connect Africa’s future leaders.
From 2016 to 2022, Hatim led the Academy’s Diploma Program as Dean of the Academy, enabling the rich community of faculty and staff in bringing our leadership learning program to life. Hatim first joined ALA in 2009 as a Teaching Fellow in the African Studies Department, which he served for three years. Hatim holds degrees from Harvard University and Teachers College at Columbia University.
Mr Andrew Etzinger
NTCSA
General Manager: Energy Market Services and International Trader
Andrew has worked in Eskom for the past 35 years in a wide range of fields including power system planning, information technology, business planning, demand-side management, power generation, enterprise risk and sustainability and IPP programme development. Andrew is currently the General Manager for Energy Market Services and the International Trader within the NTCSA. His responsibilities include medium-long term energy planning for Eskom Holdings and the Country, the Central Purchasing Agency, the Market Operator (developing and implementing the future electricity market in SA), Cross Border Electricity Trading and development & implementation of IPP programmes.
NTCSA
General Manager: Energy Market Services and International Trader
Andrew has worked in Eskom for the past 35 years in a wide range of fields including power system planning, information technology, business planning, demand-side management, power generation, enterprise risk and sustainability and IPP programme development. Andrew is currently the General Manager for Energy Market Services and the International Trader within the NTCSA. His responsibilities include medium-long term energy planning for Eskom Holdings and the Country, the Central Purchasing Agency, the Market Operator (developing and implementing the future electricity market in SA), Cross Border Electricity Trading and development & implementation of IPP programmes.