Dietmar Schantin is a digital media strategist and implementer who has helped to transform and digitise the editorial and commercial operations of media brands around the world: from the Telegraph Media Group, Handelsblatt Germany, Ringier Switzerland, the Hindustan Times, New Zealand Herald, to the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones. He is also a trusted voice on business strategy, audience and market insight, technology and organisational strategies. He founded IFMS Media LTD in 2012 and co-founded the AI Collective in 2023 after serving as Executive Director of WAN-IFRA, the global association of news publishers. At WAN-IFRA, Dietmar was as a board member responsible for the organisation’s world-wide consultancy, training and events programme geared to aid the media organisation’s integration and development of digital platforms. Based in the UK and Austria, Dietmar is a familiar face on jury panels of international digital media awards, writes regularly for industry publications and speaks at international media conferences about digital growth strategies and for the media industry.

Links to articles about him:

https://www.ifms-ltd.com/newsrooms-in-the-digital-age-are-traditional-news-sections-obsolete/

https://www.ifms-ltd.com/successful-digital-transformation-requires-commitment-decision-making-responsibility/

https://www.ifms-ltd.com/in-digital-news-operations-editors-drive-success-across-the-organisation/

https://www.ifms-ltd.com/content-strategy-sweet-spot-hits-4-key-pillars/

More articles can be found here: https://www.ifms-ltd.com/insights/

His Excellency Amb. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah is the Ambassador of The Republic of the Gambia to the Swiss confederation & Permanent Representative to the UN Office at Geneva, World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organizations at Geneva, Switzerland. He served as the past Chairman of the Africa Group of Ambassadors at Geneva (April 2021- Sept. 2021) and currently is the Vice President (Africa) for the UN Human Rights Council (2022 and 2023); Vice Chairman for UNCTAD’s Commission on Science and Technology Development and a member of the Advisory Board of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Bureau (TDB) (June 2021-July 2023). Amb. Prof. Kah served as one of two Ambassadors designated as Friends of the Chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) General Assembly and serves as one of the Vice Chairs of the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He is a founding Board member of The International Digital Health and AI Research Collaborative (I-DAIR), Geneva, Switzerland; Council Member: DCAF-Geneva Center For Security sector Governance Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland.

Amb. Prof. Kah served as the first Gambian-born third Vice Chancellor (President/Rector) of The University of The Gambia (UTG) from 2009-2015. Prior to becoming UTG’s Vice Chancellor in 2009, he spent 4 years in Nigeria as the Founding Dean of the School of IT and Computing at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) where he doubled for a year as Interim Dean of the School of Business & Entrepreneurship and served as Interim CIO of the University.  After his tenure at AUN, he was appointed to serve as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees for eight years. He was requested to step down and return to the University to provide academic and administrative leadership for the transformation of the University as Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost and Professor of IT & Computing (2017-2020).  Amb. Prof. Kah also served as Vice Rector for Technology & Innovation; Professor and Founding Dean of the School of IT & Engineering at ADA University in Baku, Azerbaijan (2015-2017). During his tenure, he provided leadership and spear headed resource mobilization that established a funded centre of excellence at the University- the ADA Centre for Data Analytics and Research to builds capacity, competencies on Data Science, Big Data, AI, Machine Learning and other emerging technologies and a hub of collaboration and partnership with key industry players and reputable Universities.

Mamadou Biteye is currently the Executive Secretary for The African Capacity Building Foundation. He has a wealth of expertise in the development sector in Africa. An agricultural economist by training, he has over twenty-five years’ experience in strategic leadership, program development and implementation, public policy analysis, advocacy, campaigning and community participatory development. He has held various leadership positions over the years at companies such as Vice President at VISA and Managing Director at the Rockefeller Foundation.

Ziaad Suleman is the Chief Commercial Officer and an Exco Member of EOH. Prior to this role, Ziaad was a Director and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for IBM  Southern Africa, a business he served and grew over his 13-year stay. In his current role as CCO, Ziaad is responsible for the overall Go To Market proposition which  includes sales, consulting, commercial constructs, investments, solutioning and marketing. Over and above EOH, Ziaad represents South Africa as the SA Chair of 4IR on BRICS, Chair of the  ICT 4IR Public Private Growth Initiative (PPGI), ICT Lead on the Digital Work Accelerator (DWA)  Presidential Programme, Independent Non – Executive Chairperson of Qode, Non – Executive  Director of Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa and Executive Member of D1GIT NPO.

Linus Gitahi is a Kenyan businessman and executive. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Boards of Home Afrika, Diamond Trust Bank Group, AIB Capital Ltd, Oxygene Communications Limited, and Tropical Brands (Africa) Limited. He is a member of the boards of Simba Corp, Brand Kenya Board, Property Development & Management Ltd, International Press Institute, African Media Initiative, and Allianz Insurance Co. of Kenya Ltd. He is also the founder of the Baraka Foundation. He previously served as the Managing Director of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nation Media Group.

Founder of Casablanca Media Partners, Mostapha Mellouk has over 25-years of experience in the management of TV channels like  2M,  Al-Jazeera Children’s Channel in the Qatar Foundation, and Medi1Sat. He is an international speaker on the topic of the Media and a member of several associations and active committees in the audiovisual field in Morocco and abroad. He regularly works with national and international organizations on topics related to media, broadcasting, news and content. He was appointed as board member of AllAfrica Global Media in 2023.

Steve Gitagama is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Nation Media Group. He is also the Group Finance Director and has been a Board member since March 2008. He is also on the board of 9 other companies. Mr. Gitagama is an executive director, a director of the Group’s Subsidiary Companies and is a member of the Strategy and Investments Committee. He previously worked as a Finance Director with East African Breweries Limited and as Group Finance Director at Monitor Publications Ltd.

Patrick Quarcoo is a Ghanaian Kenya-based serial entrepreneur. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Radio Africa Group, which is an umbrella of Kenya’s leading media channels on print, digital, TV and radio. This includes KISS 100, Classic 105, Smooth FM, Radio Jambo, East FM, Gukena FM, the Star newspaper and KISS TV. Quarcoo also co-owns two radio stations in Uganda, Capital Radio and Beat FM. He started his career as a journalist when he was young and had dreams of owning his company. Quacco was awarded an international recognition award at Ghana –UK based achievement awards.

Mamadou is the Founder and CEO of Ubuntu Group focused on Advisory and Investment activities across industries and aimed at supporting firms in Africa to achieve scalable and sustainable growth on the continent. He is also the founder and Chairman of Africa 2.0, a not-for-profit organization gathering a community of young Leaders from Africa and the Diaspora. He has worked in infrastructure, mining, banking, agriculture and technology projects exceeding a combined value of US$ 25 billion, thus creating opportunities and hope for many people in Africa. In 2014, Mamadou was ranked as one of the top 10 most Powerful men in Africa by Forbes Magazine.

Ellington Kamba is an experienced market researcher and business unit manager, with emerging markets experience. He is a global consumer insights expert with high professional standards and extensive experience in consulting, research management and team building. He is currently a research Analyst at the United States Agency for Global Media. He has held various leadership positions over the years such as Managing Director at Research International and Senior Research Consultant at the Centre for Global Research.

Dr. Tendai Mhizha is currently leading the transformation of AllAfrica Global Media as their Senior Advisor and Summit Director. As a global management Consultant, she is a board-level leader as well as a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in Pan-African strategy, general management, marketing, branding, market research, media communications and leadership. She leads a 30-year-old Pan-African market research agency, Research Bureau International, and is the founder and Chief Inspirer of Integra Africa, offering unique TRRibe programs (Talent Retention and Return- through Internal Brand Engagement). Tendai Is also a senior lecturer  on the adjunct faculty of the Gordon Institute of Business science, GIBS, University of Pretoria in South Africa and she is an avid public speaker.

Ambassador Redwan is currently the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Throughout his career, he has held various positions of responsibility. He started his professional journey as a Biology teacher at senior secondary schools in Jinka, SNNPR. He later served as the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Eritrea and  Ireland. Ambassador Redwan is also known for his involvement in political activities. He is the Founder and Deputy President of the Council of African Political Parties. Additionally, he has served as the Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister of Government Communication Affairs with the Rank of Minister, and Advisor on Public Mobilization and Participation to the Premier and Head of EPRDF Secretariat. He has held positions such as Head of Addis Ababa EPRDF Office, Advisor to the Mayor of Addis Ababa City Administration with the rank of Deputy Mayor on Public Relations, and Parliamentarian in the House of People’s Representatives during multiple national elections. Furthermore, Ambassador Redwan has contributed to various organizations and institutions in Ethiopia. He has served as the Board Chairperson of Arbaminch University, a board member of Addis Ababa University and Wolkite University, and the Board Chair of Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.

Amadou Mahtar Ba is Co-Founder & Executive Chair of AllAfrica, the largest distributor of African news and information worldwide. He sits on several boards and has participated in prestigious working groups including the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment and the World Economic Forum Network of Global Agenda Councils. He is the recipient of many distinguished awards & recognitions including New African Magazine’s “100 most influential Africans”. Forbes listed him among the “top 10 most powerful men in Africa” and Reputation Poll International included him on its “100 Most Reputable Africans”.

Dr Vera Songwe is a Cameroonian economist and banking executive who has a long history working in leadership positions for the World Bank and International Finance Corporation. She is also the first woman to head the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa at the level of Under Secretary-General. She is currently the chairwoman of the liquidity and sustainability facility. She also serves as a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Africa Growth Initiative.

Nduka Obaigbena is the Duke of Owa Kingdom and is the founding Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the THISDAY Media Group and Arise News Channel. He is a regular attendee and sessions moderator for the World Economic Forum and has served as a member of the Nominating Committee of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. He is Chairman of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) as well as Chairman of the Nigerian Press Organisation – comprising the NPAN, the National Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors where he is a fellow.

Getachew is currently the President of the Interim Regional Government of Tigray, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, having been appointed on 23 March 2023 by the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Before assuming this role, he served as a trusted advisor to the former president of the Tigray Region, Debretsion Gebremichael. Alongside his administrative responsibilities, Getachew is an executive committee member and the spokesperson for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

On 2 November 2022, Getachew played a crucial role as the Tigray representative during the signing of a significant agreement that resulted in a permanent cessation of hostilities with the Ethiopian central government, contributing to peace and stability in the region. This achievement further solidified his leadership position, culminating in his appointment as the head of the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray.

Previously, Getachew held the position of Minister of Government Communications Affairs in Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s federal government of Ethiopia until 2016.

Serah Makka is the Executive Director and has over 20 years’ experience in the global development and public sectors working in Nigeria, Afghanistan, and the United States. She currently leads ONE’s advocacy work across Africa guided by a passion to contribute to building an impactful Continent.

Current campaigns she is leading on includes, incorporating Africa’s perspective in the global financial architecture reforms, increasing financing for Africa’s plan on food sovereignty by identifying financing opportunities in the global north and advocacy and deepening attention on sectors for job creation in Africa by attracting investments from development finance institutions to also catalysing growth in the sectors.  Her vast experience also includes managing a US$10 million grant Fund to develop low-income products and services (microinsurance, microloans, microsavings, micropensions) to deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria while working as Policy and Innovation Fund Manager at Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access. She also worked as the Policy and Partnerships Manager at Indigenous African philanthropy in Nigeria, where she reformed several Federal Government policies including the National Youth Service Corps.

In honor of her work in the global development and foreign policy space she has been recognised in the ‘Global Top 35 Under 35 in International Affairs’ and is an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow. Serah holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Studies from the University of North Florida and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Antonio M.A. Pedro is a mineral exploration geologist with more than 40 years of broad experience of and exposure to development issues and management at national, sub-regional, and continental levels. He joined the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in 2001, where he was (2016-2021) the Director of ECA’s Sub-regional Office for Central Africa (SRO-CA), based in Yaounde, Cameroon, until his appointment as Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme Support) of ECA in October 2021. For 7 years (2009-2016), he occupied the position of Director of the UNECA Sub-regional Office for Eastern Africa (SRO-EA), in Kigali, Rwanda. Prior to joining ECA, he was the Director General of the Southern and Eastern African Mineral Centre (SEAMIC), in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Managing Director of several companies in Mozambique.  Since 1 September 2022, he is the Acting Executive Secretary of ECA.

In his capacity as Director of ECA’s SRO-CA, he played a leading role in the design of the flagship initiative “Made in Central Africa” and formulation of the Douala Consensus (adopted on 26 September 2017) on economic diversification (through resource-driven and trade induced industrialisation), which has become the main framework informing the formulation and implementation of economic diversification and industrial development strategies in Central Africa, a pathway to reducing the exposure of local economies to external shocks arising out of their excessive dependence on the export of commodities.

As the trailblazing CEO/CTO of DeepMedia, Rijul Gupta is a Forbes-recognized thought leader in DeepFake technology. With over seven years in AI, he has provided transformative solutions to giants like Nike and Nordstrom. A Yale graduate, Thiel Fellow finalist, patented inventor, and Forbes Next 1000 honoree, his work deftly combines innovative AI practices with a strong ethical backbone.

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