Africa Accelerating 2025

Paula Caldwell St-Onge, B.Sc., MBA, ICD.D is an accomplished Ambassador with over 30 years of experience working in the Canadian Government. She has significant experience in government administration, international relations, political risk, sustainable development, international trade, economic development and environmental sciences. Ms. Caldwell St-Onge began her career in Public Service in 1989 and held progressively more senior positions in the Federal Environmental Assessment Review Office, the Privy Council Office and Environment Canada. At Environment Canada she was the Director General for Environmental Assessment and Emergency Security Preparedness and Chief Enforcement Officer. In her tenure with Global Affairs Canada, Ms. Caldwell St-Onge held a range of senior positions including Canadian Ambassador to Haiti, Director General Pan-African Bureau, Minister Counsellor Trade for the Canadian Embassy in Mexico and Brazil and Head of Mission-Consul General for the South-Central USA (Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana). Her expertise includes bilaterial trade, community relations, environmental and social impacts of major projects, and governance (ESG). Paula serves on numerous boards, including Calibre Mining and is the recipient of the Head of Public Service Award for Excellence in Public Policy and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal. Ms. Caldwell St-Onge holds a B.Sc. from Queens University and an MBA from Cumbria University, UK.

Randy currently sits on the board of directors of The Musical Stage Company, the largest and leading charitable musical theatre company in Canada. Randy also sits on the board of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business and Western Mustangs Athletic Alumni. He enjoyed a career as a musician performing with the Juno nominated vocal quartet, The McAuley Boys. Randy was also a top-tier athlete in football and track and field, being named a seven-time all-Canadian in track and field while at Western University and achieving MVP honours as a football player, spending a brief stint with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

Kumaran has nearly 15 years of experience in public sector policy and program development, intergovernmental affairs, and business development having held progressively senior roles at the Ontario Ministries of the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, and Government and Consumer Services. He has a lengthy track record in civic engagement in Canada and in international cooperation in war-affected regions of the world and has commented on a broad range of issues in Canadian and international media. Kumaran has a B.A. (Hons.) from the University of Toronto Scarborough and an Executive Certificate in Strategic Public Management from the Schulich School of Business at York University.

Zach is the Managing Partner at Launch Africa Ventures – Africa’s most prominent and active early-stage VC Fund with a portfolio of 130+ tech ventures across 20+ countries. He is also the Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Startupbootcamp AfriTech – the leading multi-corporate backed venture accelerator program in Africa. Zach is a prominent Angel investor in 50+ leading tech startups in Africa including Flutterwave, KudaBank, Mono, Marketforce and several others. He was featured on the cover of Fast Company Africa (May 2018), Destiny Man (Nov 2019) and on several occasions on CNBC Africa. In January 2020, he was recognized as one of the Top 4 Most Influential Persons in Technology in Africa by Les Echos (the French equivalent of the Financial Times). Zach was formerly the head of Africa Investments for U-Start – the largest network of private Multi-Family offices in Europe. Prior to moving to South Africa, he was an investment banker on Wall Street covering mergers & acquisitions, corporate finance strategy and risk management at Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital, New York. Zach has a Master’s degree in Finance & Management from Stanford University and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology. Outside of his professional life, Zach is an acoustic guitarist, pianist and vocalist with cover albums ‘Give A Little’ (2010) and ‘Humans with Hearts’ (2018) on iTunes and Spotify. He is an avid lover of theatre and the performing arts, likes hiking and a good game of tennis and squash. He enjoys creative writing and is currently busy finishing a work of non-fiction.

Mark, Founder and CEO of IPT Africa, brings over 25 years of global payments experience, including 15 years in the African payments industry. Based in Mauritius, he leads IPT Africa in delivering innovative cross-border payment solutions with real-time pricing, liquidity for 40+ African currencies, and multi-channel payment options. His expertise in treasury, Al-driven compliance, and operational excellence has established IPT Africa as a market leader with a 99.8% payment success rate in Africa.

Dr. Yolande E. Chan joined McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management as Dean and James McGill Professor in August 2021. Prior to joining Desautels, Dean Chan served as Associate Dean of Research, PhD and MSc Programs, and the E. Marie Shantz Chair of Digital Technology at Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. A gifted educator, Dean Chan received the Commerce Teaching Excellence Award and the Commerce Professor Student Life Award given to the professor who has contributed most to the student life of the graduating class. Dean Chan has also received the Queen’s University Distinguished Service Award, the Queen’s University Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision, and a Smith School Researcher Achievement Award. She has previously served as Queen’s University’s Associate Vice-Principal (Research). Before joining academia, she worked with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). Dean Chan holds a PhD in Business Administration from Ivey Business School at Western University, an MPhil in Management Studies from Oxford University (as a Rhodes Scholar), and SM and SB degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on innovation, knowledge strategy, digital strategy, and business-IT alignment. Her work has been published in all 11 journals in the Association for Information Systems (AIS) Senior Scholars’ List of Premier Journals (Decision Support Systems, European Journal of Information Systems, Information & Management, Information and Organization, Information Systems Journal, Information Systems Research, Journal of the AIS, Journal of Information Technology, Journal of MIS, Journal of Strategic Information Systems, and MIS Quarterly). Dean Chan is a Distinguished Cum Laude member, Fellow, and LEO Award winner of the Association for Information Systems. The LEO Award recognizes outstanding scholars in the field of information systems who have made a global impact on the field.

Dr. Carola Weil was appointed Dean of McGill University’s School of Continuing Studies in Montreal, Canada, and Associate Professor (CAS) on July 1, 2018. She previously served as founding Dean of the School of Professional & Extended Studies at American University in Washington DC and as Sr. Associate Dean for Planning & Strategic Initiatives at the University of Southern California (USC)’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism (2007-2012). A political scientist and policy analyst by training (M.A./Ph.D. in Political Science & Master’s of Policy Management, University of Maryland; B.A. in History from Bryn Mawr College), with a focus on international relations, human security and migration, conflict transformation and public diplomacy, Carola Weil’s career has straddled public policy, non-profit and philanthropic sectors in addition to higher education. Carola Weil was one of several co-founders of Women In International Security (WIIS), an international educational and professional network dedicated to the advancement of women in foreign affairs and defence policy careers, and served as WIIS’ Executive Director in the 1990s. Dr. Weil consults on global strategy, organizational development and conflict transformation, as well as on topics related to diversity and inclusion, technology enhanced and life-long education, and the future of work and lifelong learning. Her doctoral thesis and research focused on Competing International Norms of Protection in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies, with case studies on the Rwandan Genocide and civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She has conducted peace building work in Pakistan, and supported peace building efforts in Afghanistan, Darfur, Colombia and the African Great Lakes region with a special emphasis on gender and journalism. She serves on multiple non-profit boards and committees, and is a member of professional associations across a variety of disciplines. A dual citizen of Germany and the US, she is multi-lingual and has lived, worked or travelled on most continents. When not working or travelling, she is an avid appreciator of music, especially jazz, fine arts, books, food, gardening, and nature.

Ms. Dusaidi is a Program Manager at the Mastercard Foundation. Dedicated to the development of her homeland, Rwanda, and the African continent, Dusaidi has been involved in several high impacting programs ranging from group financing for financial inclusion to E-Commerce for women. At Mastercard Foundation, she plays a major role in developing strategic partnerships to promote youth employment in the tourism sector. Ms. Dusaidi holds a MBA in International Business from Maastricht School of Management and a bachelor in Public Administration and Governance from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. Dianne joined AB Rwanda’s Board of Directors on September 2020.

Susan Namulindwa is a seasoned professional with a remarkable 25-year track record in strategy, project management, communication, and gender expertise. Renowned as a serial entrepreneur, she has consistently demonstrated her capabilities in navigating the complexities of socio-economic and political ecosystems. As a social innovator and thought leader, Susan has played a pivotal role in fostering strong connections between North America and the global south. Her commitment to creating bridges has significantly contributed to enhancing relationships on an international scale. At the core of Susan’s endeavors is a profound mission to empower the next generation of values-based leaders and entrepreneurs. Her passion for making a positive impact led her to establish key initiatives, including Africa Trade Desk, Maama Watali, and Girls’ Run Period. These projects are strategically designed to bring about positive change, specifically targeting the youth and women on a global scale. Susan Namulindwa’s visionary leadership and dedication to empowering others make her a driving force in the realms of business, social innovation, and gender equality. Through her various ventures, she continues to inspire and create meaningful opportunities for the advancement of future leaders and entrepreneurs worldwide.

Wendy Harris CA has a diverse work experience spanning various industries and roles. Wendy started their career in 1994 at Deloitte, where they worked as a Senior in Regulatory Consulting and Multinational Audit. In 1997, they joined the Ontario Securities Commission as an Accountant in Corporate Finance. Wendy then moved on to become the CFO and Director of Operations at Downwarddog Yoga Centre from 2006 to 2007. In 2008, Wendy joined the Lannick Group of Companies as the Manager of Operations. From 2009 to 2011, they served as the CFO at CESO (Canadian Executive Service Organisation). Currently, Wendy holds the position of President & CEO at Catalyste+. Wendy Harris CA has a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Science/Psychology from Queen's University. Wendy also has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting from the University of Windsor.

Steve Tipman is the Executive Director of TFO Canada and leads the organization in fulfilling its mission of improving lives through international trade. Leading the successful execution of TFO Canada’s strategic and business plans, Steve is responsible for overall administration, strategic management, and reporting to the Board of Directors. With over 25 years of experience in both the private and non-profit sectors, Steve has spent much of his career working in the areas of international trade and development. He spent eight years working at Livingston International, a trade services company focused on customs brokerage and compliance. He also served as a Vice President with CARE Canada and President and CEO of Volunteer Canada. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of International Development Professionals. Steve holds an International Masters in Business Administration from the University of Ottawa and is fluently bilingual in both French and English.

Sean Clancy is a seasoned sales executive with an impressive track record that spans over 18 years in various Sales and Business Development roles. Originally hailing from Canada, Sean has made a significant impact in the software and finance sectors, and is now contributing to the growth of businesses in Cape Town, South Africa, through his firm, SalesRockIT. At SalesRockIT, Sean collaborates with a diverse range of start-ups and small firms, offering valuable assistance with their sales development, strategy, and training. His mission is centered around empowering management and sales teams with the tools they need to optimize their sales performance and unlock their full potential. Sean's broad expertise includes selling complex solutions across various platforms like SDK, web-based systems, and cloud solutions. His wealth of experience enables him to effectively navigate the complexities of different industries, including insurance, finance, banking, economics, and mobile/software technologies. Combined with his extensive network of contacts primarily in the financial markets, Sean Clancy stands out as a leading figure in sales training and business development, making him a sought-after resource for businesses looking to enhance their operational strategies.

Jacques NdoutouMvé is the CEO of 121 Canada Inc, a Toronto based advisory firm, that focuses on advancing solutions to enable investments and impactful solutions in Africa. He is the co-owner of an African-based private equity fund, that has the ambition of promoting trade and investment in Africa, with a focus on local value-creation in Africa’s dynamic market. He also serves as Vice-President-Africa for Apollo Health & Beauty Inc, a multi-award-winning organization, and proud to be one of the largest private label and retailer branded personal care manufacturers in North America. With a focus here on producing high value oleochemicals in Africa. As experience chemical engineer, Jacques is a Non-Executive Vice-President at Process Research Ortech (PRO), a Toronto based technology and engineering company serving in the mining, metallurgy, and recycling industry. At PRO he develops and implements sustainable economic approach for mining operations and other socio-economic activities, offering services to governments with appropriate technologies promoting climate-smart mining practices (ESG, SDGs), smart villages and local value and wealth creation. Jacques is a serial entrepreneur, a strategic leader and outside thinker, who has initiated and in projects in Africa worth over 500 million USD, in energy, infrastructure, mining, and healthcare. Jacques NdoutouMvé also received an honorary role to serve as the Vice-President of the Canada-Africa Chamber of a non-for-profit organization, working with Global Affairs and the Canadian government to promote Canadian know-how and companies. As Vice-President of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business since 2019 he focuses on developing relationships with leaders between Canada and Africa. He has been a leading delegate to all major Chamber events that include Heads of State, Prime Ministers, leading CEOs, Cabinet Members, investors, and entrepreneurs, while delivering follow-up business-to-business engagements for the private sector through his firm. Jacques is the co-founder and Chairman of the Sub-Saharan Africa Healthcare Initiative (SSAHI), a US based 501 C3 organization that focuses on establishing and developing a comprehensive state of the art clinical and anatomic pathology laboratory in Africa. Jacques is an active member of the German Engineering Association (VDI), the Professional Engineers of Ontario, and Project Management Institute (PMI).

Adedayo is the founding Executive Director of ALOD. He has researched and presented several papers on economic development, conflict, good governance and democracy at national and international conferences. He regularly carries his evangelism of a free society to university students throughout English-speaking Africa via book fairs and seminars, as well as LLI Liberty Camps. In addition to earning degrees in theatre arts, public relations, and development studies, Adedayo has completed programs at Cato University, Acton University and the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Adedayo has published the African edition of books by Johan Norberg, Frederic Bastiat, Tom G. Palmer, Ken Schoolland, and George Ayittey, among others. He has also published articles in both national and international media. He serves on the board of Istanbul Network For Liberty (UK) and the Chairman of the Foundation for Economic Initiative and Development (Nigeria).

Dr. Nii Addy is Associate Professor (CAS: Professional) in McGill University’s School of Continuing Studies (SCS) and Associate Director (Africa Outreach) in the office of the Deputy Provost, Student Life and Learning (DPSLL). In these roles, he develops, manages, and assesses cross-sector partnerships, training and applied research supporting transitions of McGill Mastercard Foundation (MCF) Scholars and other students from academic studies to entrepreneurship and employment for impact in Africa. Dr. Addy has taught at the Max Bell School of Public Policy and in the African Studies Program, and was previously an Associate Member of the School of Continuing Studies (SCS) and the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (FAES). He was also previously Assistant Professor (Research) at the McGill Center for the Convergence of Health and Economics (MCCHE) in the Desautels Faculty of Management, and the Institute for the Study of International Development (ISID). Dr. Addy’s interdisciplinary work focuses on institutional change in multi-stakeholder partnerships across societal sectors (businesses, public agencies, and civil society organizations) and industrial sectors (education, agriculture, nutrition, health, etc.). He combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, with the goal of informing how diverse stakeholders can work together effectively. He applies research in developing knowledge sharing tools, and in training leaders from various sectors as they engage in partnership processes for sustainable development, in Anglophone and Francophone contexts. His current projects include partnerships promoting entrepreneurship for improvements in agri-food, nutrition and health in North America and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). He has been a researcher and consultant on projects for a number of organizations, including the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Hewlett Foundation, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., and ICF International. He obtained his Ph.D. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education, where he specialized in Organization Studies and International Comparative Education. He has a BA in Economics from Swarthmore College, and a Master in Public Affairs (MPA) from Princeton University.