PNYX Ltd. - Africa Security Symposium 2022

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Overview

ASEC2022 Welcome

Agenda

Speakers

1-2-1 Matchmaking Tables

Sponsors

Venue & Accommodation

ASEC2021 Post-Event Report

Pricing

Book-Now

Contact

Conference Chair

Amb. (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim
Former IGAD Executive Secretary and Former Permanent Secretary, Office of the President
ASEC2022 Conference Chair

Ambassador Mahboub Maalim is a career civil servant spanning 4 decades, with a BSc and MSc in Civil Engineering. He has extensive experience covering general areas such as Programming, Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation, Arid Lands Development, Institutional Building, Mediation Support/Conflict Management, together with vast Political and Diplomatic experience. Amb. Maalim began his career as a field engineer for 10 years, before working his way up to the Director level, managing complex systems over the following decade. He then served as Permanent Secretary to the Office of the President of Kenya for 2 years, and as Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Water and Irrigation for a further 3 years. Mahboub was the Executive Secretary to IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) for 11 years before retirement where he now serves as the Chair of various Government Parastatals.

Keynote Speakers

Amb. William Azumah Awinador-Kanyirige
Senior Adviser - Governance & Peacebuilding; Office of the Commissioner,Department of Political Affairs, Peace & Security
African Union Commission (AUC)

Ambassador William Awinador-Kanyirige is the Senior Adviser, Governance & Peacebuilding in the Office of the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security. He was Ghana’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Permanent Representative to the AU and UNECA (July 2017/May2018); High Commissioner of Ghana to Nigeria; and concurrently accredited to the Republic of Cameroon and ECOWAS (September 2014 to June 2017). He also served in various capacities at both the Foreign Ministry (notably as Chief of Protocol, Director Africa & AU, Chef de Cabinet on two occasions to two different Ministers) and posted to a number of diplomatic missions abroad, including, a secondment to ECOWAS Commission, Abuja, as Chief of Staff (2002-2008). He was a Member of the Executive Board of the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), 2009 - 2014; and the Bureau of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development in 2011/12 as a Vice Chairman. He is currently a Fellow of the Society for Peace Studies and Practitioners, Nigeria; Executive Council Member, Council on Foreign Relations, Ghana; and serves on various boards.

Michael Bradshaw
President
Jadin Tech, LLC

Mr. Michael Bradshaw, General Manager of Jadin Tech LLC, an SBA 8(a) certified firm is a subsidiary of Akhiok-Kaguyak, Inc. (AKI), an Alaska Native Village Corporation headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska is a Senior Operations and Business Development Executive with 34+ years of corporate management experience. Mr. Bradshaw built a full-spectrum, standards-based Government Contracting capability for AKI and its subsidiaries; the Sugpiat Family of Companies deliver global leading-edge technologies supporting Cybersecurity, Supply Chain Risk Management, Infrastructure and Logistics, Munitions, Construction, Security Assistance, and Aviation Services. Adhering to mature business and contracting practices, AKI and its subsidiaries offer lean, responsive solutions to a growing international customer base. Mr. Bradshaw, a former Marine Corps veteran, previously served as a Business Leader on the State of Nevada Aerospace and Defense Sector Council and on the State of Nevada Information Technology Sector Council. Mr. Bradshaw is a native of Las Vegas, Nevada and holds a B.A. in International Studies/Russian, Magna Cum Laude, from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.
Sugpiat – “Real people” providing Real Solutions to Industry.

Lt. Gen. Jonah Mwangi
Vice Chancellor - National Defence University
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF); Ministry of Defence

Lieutenant General Jonah M Mwangi is the Vice-Chancellor, National Defence University-Kenya from 23 July 2021. He has held various appointments that span command, staff and instructional duties including Assistant Chief of the Defence Forces responsible for Operations, Plans, Doctrine and Training at the Kenya Defence Forces Headquarters, Chief of Operations at the Headquarters Kenya Army, Commander Artillery Brigade, Senior Instructor Kenya Military Academy and a Brigade Major at the Headquarters Artillery Brigade, Unit Adjutant, Battery Commander and a Commanding Officer. He has served as a Military Assistant initially to the Army Commander and subsequently a Military Assistant to the Minister for National Security, Staff Officer Grade 1 Doctrine and Training at the Headquarters, Kenya Army, and Chief of Staff at Kenya’s Eastern Command. He has attended diverse local and overseas courses related to leadership, command and management. In peacekeeping, he served as an Operations Staff Officer in the UN Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG), Force Headquarters in Namibia and Force Training Officer in the UN Mission in Chad and Central Africa Republic (MINURCAT).

Amb. Dr. Zainab Ali Kotoko
Executive Secretary
CISSA - AUC's Committee of Intelligence & Security Services of Africa

Ilana Fischer
Regional Marketing Manager for Africa
Cognyte

Ilana Fischer is regional marketing manager for Africa, at Cognyte, a global leader in investigative analytics software that empowers governments and enterprises with Actionable Intelligence for a Safer World. Ilana Fischer has 20 years of experience in the Israeli Ministry of Defense, specializing in research and threat investigation. She has extensive experience in creating methodological, thorough and critical analytic processes, from data collection into generating actionable insights.

Hon. Jacob Oboth
Minister of State for Defence
Uganda Ministry of Defence & Veteran Affairs

Workshop Hosts

Matthew Johnson
Industry Liaison & Communications Director
USAID - U.S. Agency for International Development

Matthew Johnson is the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Industry Liaison and Communications Director for the Office of Acquisition and Assistance. In this role, he helps to connect and engage with organizations around doing business with USAID. He has led a number of initiatives in support of these efforts, including the creation of the Agency’s live-feed Business Forecast, the development of the first-ever Acquisition and Assistance Strategy, and the New Partnerships Initiative. He has been with USAID since 2008. Prior to joining USAID, he served as the Director of Presidential Personal Correspondence and the Deputy Director of Presidential Writers at the White House.

Matthew is hosting the pre-event USAID Funding Workshop (virtually).

Speakers

Augustus Kamitu (Panel Chair)
Sales Director - Fixed Data Africa
SES

Augustus is an astute technical and solution sales professional with over 15 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry. His role at SES encompasses all sales activities, customer relations and business development across Africa region working closely with Governments, Mobile Network Operators, Telcos, Carriers and ISPs. Prior to joining SES, Augustus worked with Avanti Communications Group PLC (London, UK 2018-Nov 2019, as a Regional Sales Manager, East Africa), Thuraya Telecommunications Company (UAE, 2014-2018, as a Sales Manager Africa) and Safaricom PLC (Kenya, 2007-2014, as Enterprise Sales Manager). Augustus has built a reputation for augmenting compelling and successful business partnerships, developing winning business strategies, incubating new business models and building out channel programs across Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya, among other professional certifications such as Cisco Sales Expert, ArcGIS and Introduction to GPS, and is most fulfilled when helping people and organizations grow and achieve their goals.

Gedion Kimilu
Head of Regional Bureau
INTERPOL Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa

Mr. Kimilu serves as the Head of INTERPOL's Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa and the Chief Executive Officer of East Africa Police chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) He is responsible for coordinating policing and security of the following countries: Burundi, Comoros, DRC, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Seychelles, Republic of Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and Rwanda. He has managed and coordinated major operations against transnational organized crimes since October 2016. Formerly he served as the Deputy Director Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Commandant of the DCI Training School, Deputy Director in charge of Investigations (2012-2015), and Deputy Director In charge Operations. He also served as a Police advisor to the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government (2015-2016). He holds the rank of Senior Assistant Inspector General (S/AIG) in the Kenya National Police Service, Mr. Kimilu joined the Police in 1989 as a direct cadet Inspector. He holds two Masters Degrees: Masters of Arts in Criminology from the University of Nairobi and Masters of Arts in Peace studies and International Relation from Catholic University of East Africa.

Jide Okeke
Regional Programme Coordinator for Africa
UNDP - UN Development Programme

Capt Mohammad Saghir Shettima
Executive Officer
Nigerian Navy; Nigeria Armed Forces

Captain Mohammad Saghir Shettima is the Executive Officer of Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria and graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna in 200 with a BSc in biological Sciences 2000. He earned a MSc in Maritime Warfare Studies from the Naval War College Pakistan in 2012. Some of his previous appointments include Naval Attaché (NIG EMB/AUHQ) from 2018-2021, Commanding Officer NNS DORINA from 2017-2018, and Executive/Commanding Officer Naval Air Station Effurun from 2016-2017. Captain Shettima has recently attended several courses which recently include a Defence Attaché Course GCSP in Ethiopia in 2019, on Maritime Safety and Security, Naval Post Graduate School in the USA in 2018, and on Safe and Secure Approaches UNAMID in Sudan in 2016. Captain Shettima is a member of the following professional bodies: Institutes of Management, Nigerian Army Resource Center, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, American Society of Safety Professionals, Institute of Logistic and Transport and the African Defense Attaché Forum. Captain Shettima's awards include the Meritorious Service Star, Forces Service Stars, Passed Senior Staff Course, Command at Sea Badge, and Aircraft Captaincy (Multi ratings). He is currently the coordinator of the realization of communique 1012 dated 23 Jul 22 involving all the Chiefs of the Naval Staff of Africa.

Phil Figgins
Project Manager - WAM Kenya
The HALO Trust

Project Manager for weapons and ammunition management initiatives with The HALO Trust in Kenya and neighbouring countries in close collaboration with The Regional Centre on Small Arms. Designs training curricula and related equipment to secure, destroy and record weapons and ammunition and aligning projects to peace building, conflict-prevention, and environmental initiatives. Previous organisations operated with include the International Monetary Fund as its Global Operations Officer, the European Union as its Liaison Officer to the UN in Croatia, the Office for Security and Cooperation in Europe as its Field Station Coordinator in Albania and the United Nations as one of its coordinators for Balkan border operations. Represented different organisations and countries at both headquarter and grass roots level. Places substantial emphasis on collaboration with colleagues and interlocutors at all levels. Has supported significant projects in Afghanistan and more recently has initiated and managed projects in Eastern Africa (10 years). Awarded the MBE for prominent work in Albania, carried out close to the Kosovo border in 1998-99. A former UK Royal Marines’ officer.

Jason Trubenbach (Panel Chair)
Director - Expeditionary Logistics
Crowley Government Services

Jason Trubenbach is the Director for Business Development Logistics at Crowley Government Services. Based in Frankfurt, Germany, Jason represents Crowley globally. Prior to joining Crowley, Jason spent more than 20 years with the U.S. Army. His most recent assignment was Deputy Chief, G4 Mobility at U.S. Army Europe, where he oversaw 350 distinct transportation accounts with an $11.4M annual budget. Prior to that, Jason was the Chief of the Strategic Mobility Division on the Army G4 Staff (Pentagon), where he oversaw the $5.2B Army Prepositioned Stocks program and co-chaired the Army Power Projection Program. Jason was commissioned an Army Transportation Corps Officer. He holds Masters degrees from the U.S. Army War College, University of Phoenix, and the American Military University, and a Bachelors degree from the Virginia Military Institute.

Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mainasara Masanawa
Former Commandant
Nigerian Army; Nigeria Armed Forces

Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mainasara Abdul Masanawa has attended several military courses and seminars both at home and abroad including Armament & Ammunition Technical Officers, Material Management & Work-study, Ordnance Executive Officers Management, Logistics Management, Senior Command & Staff, International Peace Support Operations, Internal Crisis Management and National Defence. Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Masanawa has held several regimental and extra regimental appointments among which are Armament Officer Commanding Officer 2 Base Ammunition Depot, Directing Staff at Nigerian Army College of Logistics, Deputy Commandant/Director of Studies at Nigerian Army Ordnance School, Chief of Staff at Nigerian Army Ordnance Headquarters and Director Equipment Procurement at Army Headquarters. He retired as Director of Policy at Defence Headquarters, Abuja in December 2021 and currently attends a Masters programme in Policy & Strategic Management. Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Masanawa leads the Nigerian Army delegation of four at ASEC2022.

Ralph Legg
Project Manager - HALO Ethiopia
The HALO Trust

Ralph Legg has worked in the international mine action sector for The HALO Trust for the past 8 years in both an operational and management capacity. During this time, he has been deployed to HALO programmes in Somaliland, Georgia, Nagorno Karabakh, Mozambique, Ivory Coast and Angola. He currently serves as the Programme Manager for HALO in Ethiopia where he is working to establish the first comprehensive humanitarian mine action programme in the country’s Somali Region as part of HALO’s regional approach to The Horn of Africa.

Col. Scott Noon
Assistant Chief of Staff, G4
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (SETAF-AF) G4 Logistics

COL Scott Noon is a U.S. Army Officer with 28 years of experience in military operations and training; with multiple combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. He specializes in all aspects of logistics planning/execution and contract management. COL Noon has experience in a variety of U.S. Army organizations and served in several joint force headquarters. COL Noon was fortunate to serve in units such as the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, and U.S Special Operations Command. Currently, he serves as the Director of Logistics (G4), for the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa where he is responsible for supporting all U.S. Army operations on the African continent and ensuring units have what they need to operate and succeed. COL Noon has three Master’s Degrees in Management and Leadership, Military Arts and Sciences, and Strategy/Campaign Planning. COL Noon is excited to learn about the ever evolving security and governance challenges as Africa emerges from the COVID pandemic.

Koos Joubert (Panel Chair)
Technical Adviser
DCD Protected Mobility

Presently Koos is the Technical Adviser to DCD Protected Mobility on Route Clearance Applications and Mine Protected Vehicles. He joined Armscor (Defence Acquisition Agency) in 1971 and studied Mechanical Engineering and served for 42 years at Armscor where he was involved in the design, development and testing of mine protected vehicles and managed the Landward Defence Programmes on behalf of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Koos is also a retired Citizen Force Officer and served operationally in the Namibia/Angola Border War. Koos did several post graduate courses which included; Systems Engineering, Logistic Engineering, Programme Management (University of Pretoria), Fluid of Mechanics, Strain Gauge Course (University of Stellenbosch0, Explosives Course (SANDF), Armour Development Course (Shriven ham -UK) and participated in the Executive National Security Programme: ENSP 04/01 Jan – June 2001.

Ekra Hyacinthe Djezou
Deputy Director of Intelligence Service,National Police of Côte d’Ivoire
Cote d'Ivoire Ministry of Homeland Security

As Police Commissioner, Mr. Djezou is currently Deputy Director of the Intelligence Service of the National Police of Côte d’Ivoire where he is in charge of the Investigations Department. Mr. Djezou specialises in terrorism matters namely in radicalisation which he also teaches at Abidjan Police Academy. Additionally, he has attended several training events related to terrorism in Europe, North America, as well as in Africa, training a many of local authorities through nationwide seminars.

Fabian Loewenberg
Deputy Head of Mission
EUCAP Somalia

Dr. Fabian Loewenberg was appointed as Deputy Head of Mission of the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) on 17 July 2020. Before joining EUCAP Somalia, Dr. Loewenberg served from 2016 to 2020 as Head of Rule of Law Component at the European Union Advisory Mission in Ukraine. In this role he led a large team of police and legal experts supporting Ukrainian reform endeavours within the criminal justice system with a specific focus on legislative reform and the fight against organized crime and corruption. Prior to this Dr. Loewenberg worked for the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo to support the transition of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo towards other EU-instruments and Kosovo ownership. From 2011 to 2015, Dr. Loewenberg served the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan, Kabul, as the Head of Rule of Law Component and, prior to that role, held in the same mission the positions as Deputy Head of Rule of Law Component, Justice Expert and Mentor to the Attorney General’s Office (Anti-Corruption). Dr. Loewenberg is a fully qualified German lawyer with the qualification for public prosecution and judgeship. Holding a PhD degree in Law from the Humboldt-University of Berlin, Germany, he has in-depth experience as a criminal defence lawyer and has been working as a specialist attorney in German administrative and constitutional law as well as European public law from 2002 to 2012. Dr. Fabian Loewenberg is seconded via the German Center for International Peace Operations, a leading German governmental agency providing experts worldwide in the area of peacekeeping on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office.

Brig. Gen. Getachew Shiferaw Fayisa
Director
EASF Secretariat

Brig Gen Getachew Shiferaw Fayisa is the Director, Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Secretariat. His appointment took effect from 10th May, 2020 and will run for a period of three (3) years, until 9th May 2023. He is a national of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, which is one of the 10 Member States of the EASF. Prior to his current appointment, Brig Gen Fayisa was serving as the CEO of the Veteran Foundation and Coordinator for Military Personnel at Regional State back in his home country. He holds a Master’s of Arts degree in Leadership and Change from the University of Greenwich, and a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Command and Staff duties, alongside several other leadership certifications predominantly in the domain of peace and security. Brig Gen Fayisa has held several leadership positions including having been a Team Leader in the IGAD Mission in South Sudan, Division Deputy Commander at Corps level, Deputy Commandant at EDSC Staff College, Liaison Officer at the United Nations Interim Mission in Abyei as well as Head of Administration, Finance, and Human Resources at EDF HQ among others. He speaks English, Oromo, and Amharic languages.

Hon. Simon Mulongo
Team Leader - AU Strategy on the Sahel ,Department of CMD/PAPS
African Union Commission (AUC)

Simon Mulongo is a Ugandan national, currently serving as the Team Leader of the AU Strategy on the Sahel, in the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security. Before this reassignment, he was the Deputy Special Representative and Deputy Head of AMISOM, where he worked for four years. Simon is a student of peace and conflict and has worked at national, regional and international levels, mainly on security and policy assignments. He participated in development of the African Union Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and became the first Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF). He was actively involved in the DR Congo, Burundi and Sudan peace processes and served as an elected member to the Uganda National Assembly – both as the Delegate to the Constituent Assembly and the 9th Parliament. Simon is a Graduate of the National Defence College of Kenya and holds post graduate qualifications in finance, conflict and strategy.

Col. Timothy J. MacDonald (virtually)
Operations Director (CJ-3)
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA)

Colonel Timothy J. MacDonald assumed duties as the CJTF-HOA Director of Operations on 20 June 2021. A native of Sidney, NY and a graduate of the State University of New York at Cortland, COL MacDonald was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through ROTC in 1994. His Key assignments include Company Fire Support Officer, 1-503rd IN BN, 2nd ID, Camp Casey, Korea; Platoon Leader Echo Battery, 7th Field Artillery, Fort Drum, NY; G-3 Air 25th Infantry Division Headquarters, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; National Support Element Deputy G3 25th ID, Hungary; Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of Staff of Stability Forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina; Executive Officer Military Transition Team, Operation Iraqi Freedom; S3 for 6th Recruiting Brigade in Las Vegas, Nevada; Executive Officer to the United States Forces Iraq Chief of Staff in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Protection Directorate Operations Officer at United States Army South in San Antonio, Texas; 4th Infantry Division Provost Marshal and Chief of Protection; commander, 502D MP Battalion (CID); Assistant Executive Officer to the Headquarters, Department of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G3-5/7 and United States Army Europe G34 Chief of Protection and Provost Marshal. He most recently served as the Commander of the 18th Military Police Brigade in Vilseck, Germany.

Brig-Gen Viscount Zwelithini Ngcobo
Force Chief of Staff
MONUSCO - UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Brigadier General Ngcobo has a long-distinguished career with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) over the period of thirty years (32 years). He graduated in Zambia, Kamwala Command and Staff College in 2012 and he is currently the Chief of Staff at Joint Operational Headquarters in SANDF, South Africa. He previously served as Senior Staff Officer Operations, Director Peace Support Operations in RSA. He was seconded to African Union for 5 years under Peace and Security Department, at Peace Support Operation Division from 2014 to 2019. General Ngcobo participated in the development of CONOPS for AMISOM during his tour of duty (2014- 2019), he was also the African Union Focal Point for SAPMIL, which was SADC mission in Lesotho. He has directed numerous exercises for African Union Rapid Intervention Force (UTULIVU Africa I-IV), which were meant to maintain Combat ready status for the Rapid Intervention Force. The General was a member of core planning team for Amani Africa II which was meant to Operationalize African Standby Force. Furthermore, he participated as a mentor for North Africa Reginal Community (NARC) to operationalize the region as part of the African Standby Force (ASF). For several times he has been deployed under United Nation Mission as contingent Commander in different levels. He is currently MONUSCO Force Chief of Staff.

Monica Moro (Panel Chair)
International Sales & Marketing Director
RCS S.p.A.

Monica Moro, International Sales Director at RCS, one of the company's leaders in the international lawful interception and cyber intelligence markets. In almost 20 years of activity in the LEA domain, she has been working with European, African, Middle East and Far East Countries in country-specific projects and European founded specific developments with focus on the data collection, data analysis, strategic and tactical investigation. RCS' portfolio is focusing on cyber intelligence (passive and active forensic intelligence, multi-source decision intelligence, social media and virtual humint) and national cyber security.

Africa Apollo
Deputy Commissioner
Rwanda National Police

Africa S Apollo is a Rwandan Senior Police officer working as a senior analyst and investigator in financial crimes, terrorism and organized criminal groups. Mr. Apollo’s experience ranges from working as a street police patrol officer in Kigali, serving as a UN Peacekeeper in various countries, to international law enforcement cooperation through information sharing, preparation and conducting joint/combined law enforcement operations. The above international experience reached its peak while serving as a criminal intelligence officer in financial crimes and anti-corruption at the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL’s General Secretariat. He has a Master’s Degree in Security Studies from the University of Rwanda, a diploma in Strategic Security Studies from Galilee International Management Institute in Israel, and a Post graduate diploma in International law. He is also a graduate of Rwanda Defense Force Staff and Command College.

Ackim Sanuka (virtual)
Head of Cybersecurity
Malawi National Intelligence Service (NIS)

Ackim Sanuka joined the National Intelligence Service in 2009 currently holding the Head of Cyber Security position responsible for identifying system vulnerabilities and mitigating potential cyber security threats. He is an accomplished Certified Ethical Hacker, Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator, and Cisco Certified Network Associate respectively. Ackim is a powerful force in the workplace and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to training others to use cyber security software and tools. He graduated from the University of Greenwich in 2017 with a Bachelor’s (Hons) Degree in Business Information Technology. He resides in Lilongwe, Malawi with his wife Marion and their three children. When he isn’t spending time with his family, you will find him watching soccer at the stadiums.

Confidence Staveley
Executive Director
CyberSafe Foundation

Confidence Staveley is a Cybersecurity Professional, Cybersecurity Awareness Advocate, World Economic Forum Global Shaper alumni, Author and Entrepreneur with over a decade’s worth of experience in technology. Confidence has achieved numerous professional certifications and industry recognitions. She is a Cybersecurity Woman of the Year 2021 Award winner, IFSEC Global Top Influencer in Security & Fire 2021, Top 50 women in Cybersecurity Africa 2020, Young CISO of the Year Award 2021 Winner, etc, an acknowledgment of her professionalism and expertise globally. She was also recently named a 2021 African Obama Leader. She is the Founder and Executive Director of CyberSafe Foundation, a leading non-Governmental organization dedicated to improving inclusive and safe digital access in Africa.

Dr. Girum Hailu Maheteme (Panel Chair)
Regional Coordinator for COVID-19 Response
IGAD Health & Social Development Division

Dr. Girum Hailu holds a Medical Doctorate Degree from Jimma University, in Ethiopia and a Master's in Public Health from Free University of Brussels (ULB), in Belgium. Dr. Girum Hailu Maheteme has been serving as the managing Director of Future International Consulting (FIC) in Ethiopia, for more than sixteen years, where he oversees various research programs, consulting and training services in areas of Health, Population and Nutrition (HPN). In addition to providing consulting services to organizations such as JICA, Pathfinder International, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNFPA, World Bank, DFID, he has organized and participated in various national and international conferences, seminars and trainings related to improving health care and prevention of tropical diseases and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Dr. Girum Hailu Maheteme is currently serving as a senior Advisor for IGAD health and social development program: working as IGAD Coordinator for regional Cancer Initiative, IGAD National Coordinator for COVID-19 Response from Ethiopia, with full passion and dedication, with full commitment in all fronts of Regional Medicines Regulation and the Fight against Cancer in the IGAD region.

Camlus Omogo
Director
IGAD Conflict Early Warning & Response Mechanism (CEWARN)

Mr. Camlus Ouma Omogo is the Director of IGAD’s Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (IGAD-CEWARN). Mr. Omogo has over 20 years of experience in the field of peace and security. He holds Master’s Degree in International Peace Studies (Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame, USA) through Fulbright Scholarship.

David Ghaddafi
Senior Security Operative
African Development Bank (AFDB)

David Ghaddafi is a Senior Security Operative at the African Development Bank Eastern Region, he is a Security risk practitioner with extensive professional experience in security risk management process, Security operations, security of vital installations, physical security and tactical security training. He brings over 10 years’ experience gained through working with Kenya Defense Forces where between 2014-2016 was deployed in Somalia under African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to help eradicate terrorism security threat emanating from Al-Shabaab terrorist, United Nations Development Program and now African Development Bank. My academic background includes MA in International relations (Kenyatta University) and Bachelor of Security Science and Management (Kenyatta University). I also hold other additional security professional courses including International Security Management Course (Erasmus University Rotterdam-Netherlands), Security Sector Reform Course (International Peace Support Training Centre) and Child Soldiers and Security Forces (United Nations Institute for Training and Research).

Dr. Ebele Omeke Michael
Regional Humanitarian Advisor
UNFPA - UN Population Fund

Michael Ebele is a public health practitioner who began his carrier as a medical doctor 22 years ago and currently works as Regional Humanitarian Advisor for UNFPA in the East and Southern Africa Regional Office based in Nairobi. Prior to joining UNFPA nine years ago, he worked in Uganda as a general practitioner in a rural hospital in a conflict prone region where he managed common infectious diseases, gunshot injuries, disease outbreaks and neglected tropical diseases. Michael then went on to rise until he served as a district health manager before joining UNFPA. Michael’s career with UNFPA began as a sexual and reproductive health in emergencies specialist and he has worked in South Sudan, Sudan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda before joining the Regional Office in 2020. During his tour of duty, he has worked in emergencies occasioned by conflict, climate change, natural disasters and disease outbreaks including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Molahlegi Molope (Panel Chair)
Divisional Head for Telecommunications & Sensing Systems
ARMSCOR

Molahlegi Molope has BSc in Electrical Engineering (USA), Master of Business Leadership (MBL), Honours in Management of Technology (MOT) and just submitted his dissertation for Master in Engineering. In his role as Divisional Head of Telecommunications and Sensing Systems (TSS) division in Armscor, he is responsible for directing Research and Development plus Acquisition of systems which includes but not limited to Radars, Radar Electronic Warfare (EW), Communications EW (Comms EW), Cyber Warfare, Optronics EW and Telecommunications systems. He is passionate about border safeguarding due to its complexity and its criticality in protecting the sovereignty of a country. His approach is the use of Telecommunications and Sensing Systems as force multiplier for border safeguarding since no country has enough human resources to man its borders without the use of technology. His motto is : “Give border patrollers tools for early warning so that they can address real incidents instead of patrolling aimlessly hoping to come across an incident.”

Col. Alexander Wilson
Commander
British Peace Support Team (Africa)

Alexander (Alex) Wilson studied English Literature at Reading University before joining the British Army in 1991. He has commanded an infantry platoon in Northern Ireland, a Reconnaissance Troop in Bosnia, an Armoured Infantry Company in Kosovo, an Armoured Squadron in Iraq and East Midlands Officer Training Corps. On the staff he has worked MND(SW) in Bosnia and as Chief of Staff of 7 Armoured Brigade in Germany and Iraq. He worked in the MOD Strategy Unit, helping to write UK National Security Strategy, UK Defence Strategic Guidance and the UK’s SDSR Green Paper of January 2009. His Afghan service has been as Military Advisor to the NATO Ambassador, Mark Sedwill, and a year as COMISAF’s Chief of Current Operations in HQ ISAF in Kabul in 2013. More recently he has been Assistant Head UN and OSCE Policy in the UK MOD, a student at the Royal College of Defence Studies, Chief Plans in the EU Military Staff and head of Strategic Analysis in the British Army HQ. He took over command of the British Peace Support Team (Africa) in August 2021. BPST(A) works all across Sub-Saharan Africa, and in an average year trains about 10,500 civilians, military and police destined for Peace Support Operations on the African continent.

Cmdre Faustina Boakyewaa Anokye
Deputy Force Commander and Acting Force Commander
MINURSO - UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara

Commodore Faustina Boakyewaa Anokye is the first and the highest-ranking female officer in the History of the Ghana Navy. She received her commission from the Ghana Military Academy and continued her training at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, UK where she served onboard HMS BRAVE then deployed in the Falkland Islands. She also served on board GNS SEBO and ACHIMOTA in Ghana and Liberia respectively. She has done all military courses that commiserate with her rank including Command and Staff courses. Commodore Anokye has held various appointments including Flag Lieutenant (ADC) to the Chief of Naval Staff, Command Supply Officer Eastern and Western Naval Commands respectively, Commanding Officer (GNSD), Assistant Director General of Plans, Research and Development of the Ghana Armed Forces General HQ and Ag Director Supply Division at Naval HQ among others. Until her current appointment as the DFC of MINURSO, Commodore Anokye was the Director of Defence Civilian Establishment of the Ghana Armed forces, over-seeing about 7,600 Staff cutting across the Army, Navy and Airforce. (The first female to hold that appointment in the history of the Ghana Armed Forces). Commodore Faustina Anokye has also served with the Economic Community of West African States Observation and Monitoring Group (ECOMOG)’s Naval Task Force in Liberia, as well as the United Nations Observer Mission in Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE) and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Hassan M. Said Samantar
Director General
Somalia Ministry of Defence

The current Director General of the Ministry of Defense of Somalia is a former career diplomat and politician who became an administrator. He served twice as a regional minister of the Galmudug State of Somalia, holding the portfolio of fishing, ports, sea resources, and anti-piracy focal point. Later he was appointed the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Environment.

Michael J. Shinners
Deputy Director
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (SETAF-AF) G-3/5/7 Security Cooperation Directorate

Michael Shinners joined the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force - Africa Security Cooperation Directorate in March 2018 after retiring from the U.S Army as a Colonel. A career Infantry Officer, Michael served in numerous tactical units, on the staff of the U.S. Pacific Command, and the Army Staff. Operational deployments included Kirkuk (2003), Monrovia (2003), Baghdad (2008-2009), and Kandahar (2013-2014). He concluded his active-duty service as the Program Director of NATO’s Four-Star Joint Force Command exercises at the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the United States Military Academy. Additionally, Michael completed the Senior Manager Course in the National Security Studies Program at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.