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Niamani has respected reputation for her skill in connecting people and ideas. She was Executive Director of African Grantmakers Affinity Group (AGAG), and prior to that worked with the Africa-American Institute (AAI). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Princeton University and a Master’s degree in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. A thought leader, she has a diverse international network of like-minded creative and visionary colleagues in the arts and philanthropy, with a focus on the African diaspora community. She holds a Bachelor degree in Anthropology from Princeton University and a Master’s degree in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. A thought leader, she has a diverse international network of like-minded creative and visionary colleagues in the arts and philanthropy, with a focus on Africa diaspora community.

Cathy is a Director at Trialogue, one of the few consultancies in South Africa that focuses exclusively on corporate responsibility issues. She has subsequently overseen research on Corporate Social Investment in South Africa and worked with many large corporates on their CSI strategies, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Prior to this, Cathy worked as Research and Development Manager for Tshikululu Social Investments and prior to that she managed a team of research analysts at New Philanthropy Capital in the UK. She is a Board member of the Hinkwenu Community Trust. Cathy has a Business Science degree from the University of Cape Town, a Master of Philosophy in Management from Cambridge University and an MBA from INSEAD.

Kathleen is a Professor of History and Director of Philanthropy and Civil Society at The Graduate Center and previously held a Visiting Research Fellowship at the Rockefeller Foundation while serving as the Assistant Secretary of the Metropolitan Life Foundation. She is the author of several award-winning books, and has edited volumes and articles on local, national, and international philanthropy, as well as lecturing on these topics worldwide. Professor McCarthy has previously been President of the Association for Researchon Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA); a board member of Independent Sector, and the advisory boards of the National Center on Non-profit Law at New York University and the Rockefeller Archive Center; Treasurer and board member of the International Society for Third-Sector Research and the Editorial Board of VOLUNTAS. She was also a member of the informal planning group of, and delegate to, the first White House Conference on Philanthropy.

Akwasi is a Senior Fellow at Humanity United and was the founding Executive Director of Trust Africa. Over the last four decades, Akwasi’s career has centered on human rights and philanthropy in Africa. His previous roles include Head of the Health and Equity programme of the Canadian International Development Research Centre in West and Central Africa, Head of the Ford Foundation in Senegal and Nigeria, and Director of the Ford Foundation’s Special Initiative for Africa. Akwasi was educated in Ghana and the United States and received a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Connecticut. He has taught at universities in Ghana, Tanzania, and the United States. He sits on the boards of several non-profit organisations which include Resource Alliance, Fund for Global Human Rights, Global Greengrants Fund, Open Society Institute for West Africa, and International Beliefs and Values Institute.

Imraan is a Professor of Economics, Pro Vice-Chancellor: Climate, Sustainability and Inequality, and Director of the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) at the University of the Witwatersrand. He hasled the initiative to establish the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies – a multi-disciplinary, cross-country initiative to promote research and policy change to promote greater equality in the global South. He is recognised for his research expertise in economic development. Imraan is a member of the Competition Tribunal in South Africa, a commissioner of the National Minimum Wage Commission, and a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa Standing Committee on Science for the Reduction of Poverty and Inequality. He has been appointed to various South African government panels in advisory roles, with the most recent being appointed to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, by President Cyril Ramaphosa. His research interests include inequality, climate justice, competition policy, employment, the informal economy, gender and economic policy, and industrial development.

Ingrid has served as the founding Director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Ashoka University, the first academic centre in South Asia to focus on these themes. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata, Ingrid has held executive positions at Child Rights and You, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, CHILDLINE India Foundation, and Hivos India. She has served on the advisory boards of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Development Cooperation Forum, the World Economic Forum, the Young Lives project at Oxford University, Alliance magazine, Hasirudala, Danamojo and the Prajnya Trust and on the boards of WINGS, the INGO Accountability Charter, The Rules, Public Interest Registry and Majlis Law. A passionate advocate for human rights, social justice and civil society, she received the Distinguished Award Alumna for services to business and society from her alma mater, IIM Calcutta.

Sarah is a Pan Africa feminist with over fifteen years of experience in
leadership and management at senior levels in the not-for-profit sector
in Africa and Europe, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and
networks. She was the Director of Programmes at the African Women’s
Development Fund (AWDF) where she oversaw and operationalised the growth
of the organisation to become one of the largest women’s funds. Sarag
has written extensively on human rights, women’s rights, social justice
and development, and has provided consultancy services to a number of
agencies such as the Ford Foundation, DANIDA, Concern Worldwide, Action
Aid International and the Judicial Services Commission of Uganda. Sarah
holds a BA in Business and Management from the University of East London
and an MSc in NGO Management from the London School of Economics and
Political Science.

Gerry is an independent consultant, using his vast experience in international development to help other organisations with projects, strategies and trends. Gerry was the Chief Executive of the European Foundation Centre – an association of over several hundred public-benefit foundations and corporate funders – for over fifteen years, and he has worked all over the world for various foundations. Gerry has a long career in philanthropy, with wide-ranging interests, and volunteers his time on various boards in an advisory role. He holds a BA in Social Anthropology and African History from London University, an MA (Econ) and a Ph.D. from the University of Manchester. He is the chair of the Global Fund for Community Foundation in Johannesburg, as well as an Advisory Board member of the Open Society Foundations and sits on the Strategic Advisory Committee of the European Philanthropy Association, among others.

Annette is a Professor of Social Policy and Comparative Politics at Münster University, and was affiliated with the programme on Non-profit-Organizations at Yale University and with the John Hopkins Project. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the German Survey on Volunteering (Freiwilligensurvey), which is funded by the Federal Government. She is the author of numerous books and articles. Most recently, she became president-elect of the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR).

Mamo is a Programme Officer at Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, responsible for grantmaking in the Enhancing Community Philanthropy programme area. Prior to joining Mott, she was the Business Development Manager at the Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa where she managed a portfolio of corporate social involvement programmes for several businesses. She began her career as the national finance officer at the Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa. She holds a degree in cost and management accounting from the Vaal University of Technology. She also completed several certificate programmes, including a development communications programme at the School of Journalism at the University of Witwatersrand and the emerging leader’s programme at Common Purpose.