Alex has spent over 35 years in banking including trade finance, asset management, corporate finance, treasury and capital markets. For the last 25 years his focus has been on emerging markets in Africa, the Gulf, Russia, CIS & CEE. He was chairman of risk management group with substantial operations in Russia, CIS and Africa.

Alex has also chaired a bio-diesel feedstocks trading company, is a Court Assistant to the Worshipful Company of International Bankers, an occasional lecturer on emerging markets (SOAS, LBS, Cass) and author of various publications.

Professor Anant Paradkar holds an Interdisciplinary Chair in Pharmaceutical Engineering Science and is Director of the Centre for Pharmaceutical Engineering Science. He completed his PhD in Pharmaceutics and joined Bradford following a 20 year academic career in India. Professor Paradkar is a leading expert in the eco-extraction and formulation of novel biological compounds into useful products for agriculture, industry and healthcare.

Ari Virtanen ( FIN) has a strong executive and management level background with senior level international experience and cross sector business exposure in mining, construction, ports & intermodal terminals, marine, offshore, forest & agricultural equipment, railways, telecommunications, water and environmental and energy technologies.

He has lived over 16 years on four continents, in six countries. A board professional in listed and private companies. Certified Turnaround Management Consultant ( a TMA Associate), member of INSOL ( International Insolvency Association) and an IEEE associate in Finland

With a good strategic vision and experience in MNE- and SME-size enterprises, Ari can build and implement complex businesses on international level. Fluent communication with five languages.

Dr Benjamin Warr is an internationally respected ecological economist, sustainability strategist and policy advisor, soil scientist land regeneration expert. His work for over 20 years at INSEAD, IIASA and in Africa focuses on the biophysical dimensions of economic activity to inform the development of sustainable business, society and environment. He is co-author of "The Economic Growth Engine: How energy and work drive material prosperity", with Professor Robert Ayres.

Robert Ayres is the leading thought leader in Industrial Metabolisms and Industrial Ecology, Environmental Policy and Technology Evaluation, Economic Growth and Environmental Regulation, Environmental Economics, and Eco-restructuring. He is the was the first Novartis (formerly Sandoz) Chair of Management and the Environment. He is an Adjunct Professor of Mineral Economics at Pennsylvania State University and a Visiting Professor at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. He is author of several hundred peer-reviewed publications and many books that remain highly influential globally.

Brian holds a BSc in Soil Science and is currently undertaking an MSc in Soil Science at Stellenbosch University. He has played an important role in the development of Zambia's first independent soil testing laboratory for small farmers and in developing spectroscopic methods for soils analysis. Brian is an expert in crop management and fertilization, soil and water conservation.

Chandradeep is a production and quality expert, having spent over 20 years in the Manufacturing, Quality Management and SPC (Statistical Process Control). Chandradeep has designed and established efficient systems and stringent quality methods into the process of identifying Superior Pongamia™ trees, cloning of Superior Pongamia™ on a commercial scale, setting up production nurseries, energy farm / plantation implementation and maintenance, and shipping / logistics of PHYLA elite pongamia saplings globally.

Charlie has over 25 years’ experience in the fresh produce industry managing farmland, vegetable packing plants and supply chain. Charlie has operated at every level of agri business focussing on high value root crops and capturing downstream value with the development of washing/packing facilities and coolchain distribution supplying food service, wholesale and all major supermarkets in the UK and EU. An experienced whole farm business manager Charlie has led evaluation, land acquisition and business centralisation driving efficiencies through the integration of up to date technologies. Qualified in Agriculture and Farm Management from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. With experience in China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Nigeria.

Denise is a renowned entrepreneur of international statue with experience in running and building rapidly expanding businesses in Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. Denise oversees training and curriculum development to ensure products meet international standard and certification

Gara Villalba is associate professor of the Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). Her bachelor’s degree is from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1998), and her PhD from the University of Barcelona (2003), both in chemical engineering.

She dedicates her research to the study and optimization of resource metabolism, a broad multidisciplinary area where she applies her chemical engineering skills to industrial ecology methods such as Material Flow Analysis and Life Cycle Analysis. The applications of this systems-focused research are diverse and multidisciplinary, such as: assessing the sustainability of new technologies that make use of non-renewable and scarce metals; quantifying the material, energy and water consumption at urban scale to establish baseline GHG emission accounting protocols; and waste-to-energy optimization and evaluation for improved municipal solid waste management.

Presently her research is focused on the energy-food-water nexus in urban metabolism studies, reconciling bottom-up emission factor-based inventories with top-down atmospheric model emissions. She is an affiliate researcher at the School of Engineering, UC Merced, where she carried out her Marie Curie fellowship URBANCO2Flux from 2015 until 2017. She teaches in the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees of the department of chemical, biological, and environmental engineering at the UAB.

As a member of the Ila Tribal Council in Zambia and in collaboration with Tribal Chiefs, created a Trust tasked with tribal empowerment and livelihood programs to safeguard the community in tribal-corporate relations. The Trust enables strategies to foster conditions through which sustained and self-determined social and economic development is achieved to protect the cultural history and sovereignty of the tribe. Furthermore, spearheaded activities related to agribusiness and rural development and identifying alternative livelihoods through community participatory approaches.

25 years’ experience and a proven track record of creating commercially viable projects with operational experience in the United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Switzerland. A keen eye to identify and seize opportunities leading from concept to sustainability, e.g. introduction and leader of business team in Texas of cable tension membrane structures utilizing HDPE from South Africa to US market. This virgin product gained full market acceptance over period of 18 years. Transformed US based company from concept through start-up to $ 2.5 million in annual sales within three years. Provided the marketing leadership that grew the US parent company through the amalgamation of three like companies into one called Trico-USA Inc. Conceived, developed and implemented the sales and marketing plan of Trico-USA Inc. took the product national through a strategic Distributor/Dealer program

In addition, has grown several businesses through effective business planning, financial profit and loss oversight, creative sales techniques and innovative marketing. In particular, successfully spearheaded private company that helped win and support bids for international conventions in Geneva held in Zimbabwe. Managed the logistics and protocol of heads of state and delegates representing up to 135 countries with events ranging from 100-7,000 people.

Hadyn is an experienced agribusiness consultant hailing from New Zealand with 20 years of hands on farm management, applied science and investment experience. A Master of Science from Otago University, Haydn’s special interests are integrating innovation that impacts the economic performance and sustainability of farm businesses, especially in the areas of animal breeding/genetics and production system technology. Experienced in all areas of ag investing Hadyn has worked on projects across the Globe and is currently integrating UK AgTech initiatives into large scale cattle farming in Paraguay.

Harry Vernon brings 15 years’ experience in international business development, financial services and strategic consulting for the resources, energy, sustainability and infrastructure sectors. He has acquired specialist expertise in developing cross-border strategic partnerships across industries including agribusiness, materials procurement and technology with an emphasis on emerging markets.

Harry has extensive experience working with private companies, publicly listed corporations and governmental organisations engaging in a broad range of activities encompassing acquisition, joint venture and niche funding, international trade and development projects, physical risk management, strategic offtake partnerships, trade finance and supply chain analysis.

Currently holding advisory positions for several companies focusing on strategic development and funding, Harry is a passionate advocate and driver of global green development, ESG and impact investing.

Ikabongo is an environmental and research scientist with strong background in environmental pollution remediation, agricultural greenhouse gas emissions measurement and mitigation, and sustainable agriculture. Ikabongo led the establishment of a field demonstration site for restoration of lead (Pb) and Zinc polluted soils in Kabwe, Zambia using different local and exotic plants under the Kabwe Mine Pollution Amelioration Initiative (KAMPAI) project. Ikabongo holds a PhD in Soil Science and Environmental Resources from Hokkaido University, Japan. He also teaches sustainable land and environmental management part-time at the University of Zambia.

Kawewe has been at the forefront of developing appropriate protocols and procedures for the regeneration of degraded landscapes and polluted mine facilities using Elite Pongamia Agroforestry. Kawewe was instrumental in establishing the Worlds first successful copper mine facility restoration using Pongamia, in Chingola , Zambia and in establishing Zambia's first independent soil testing an advisory service for small farmers, also in Zambia.

Kondwani holds an MSc in Natural Resources Management and considerable experience in environmental consulting for major mining exploration companies in Zambia. He brings expertise in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Resettlement Action Plans, Fauna and Flora Assessment, Ecological Biodiversity Assessment and Geographical Information Systems.

Latha has 30 years’ experience in diverse sectors such as advertising, business journalism and renewable energy. Latha has several company formations and product innovations to her credit, launching India's first CIO Awards Methodology to select best use of technology, custom publishing division, designing an online content publishing tool before the advent of open source tools in the early 2000 among others. Latha successfully deployed the self-help group (SHG) model of a social enterprise to attract one of India's leading and reputed corporate companies to invest in the start-up. “The future belongs to those who dare to dream, ask questions, and answer questions.”

Lina is a cross-disciplinary ecological economist. Her work focused on understanding the relationships between energy services and human needs in emerging and developed economies. Her PhD from University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment is entitled, “Following the Golden Thread, exploring the energy dependency of economies and human well-being”. She is a member of the Sustainable Consumption Research and Action Initiative (SCORAI), the European Society or Ecological Economics (ESEE), the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP) and the Priestly International Centre for Climate (PICC).

Lizzie is Senior Research Fellow at the Better Start Bradford Innovation Hub and leads on community engagement initiatives across Better Start and Born in Bradford.

Lizzie has a background working with diverse populations in an international context and in the UK with interest in health literacy and accessibility, non-communicable diseases, participatory methods, healthy behaviours. Her PhD research involved developing a behaviour change intervention to improve nutrition in people with diabetes in Nepal. Lizzie is passionate about improving health and wellbeing and addressing health inequalities and she has conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Leeds and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh prior to joining the Born in Bradford team.

Mark Tibbett is a Professor at University of Reading. He is working as a Professor of Soil Ecology. Responsibilities: To lead research in plant-soil-microbe interactions, soil microbiology, soil science and plant nutrition Joint Editor-in-Chief of Soil Research Editor of Mining In Ecologically Sensitive Landscapes Associate Editor for the Australian Journal of Botany and Restoration Ecology Council member of British Society of Soil Science Founder and co-chair of the international Mine Closure conference series Formerly: Chair of Soil Ecology, Cranfield University Director of Centre for Land Rehabilitation, The University of Western Australia Team Leader, CSIRO Land and Water.

A Hult International Business School graduate, as well as an ESCP Europe Business School and the University of Oxford Masters Graduate in Energy Management and Philosophy participated in India prestigious IDEX Fellowship scheme. Delivering strategies knowledge transfer and empowering 130,000 small holder farmers on behalf of Vrutti, a leading Global NGO. As a writer and journalist Mateusz has written reports focussing on agriculture and energy sectors in Africa and attended agri-investing conferences worldwide.

Mibanga has over 12 years experience in retail and corporate banking. As client and account manager for institutions, multinationals at first Barclays Bank and then ABSA, Mibanga understands the dynamics of the market and the needs of the banking community when operating across Africa, with regards efficient management of funds transfers for investments and day-to-day operations.

Dr Prasad is one of the World’s leading experts in dryland agricultural production systems, oilseed crops and plant-breeding. His work leading programs for the World Bank, European Commission, and as Director of Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers across the tropics. Dr Prasad designs systems that are resilient to drought, to lack of farmer expertise and resources and to volatile markets.

Led the team that standardised grafting, nursery and plantation technologies and standardized large-scale nursery and plantation protocols for Elite Pongamia.

Apart from identifying the potential of Pongamia pinnata for dryland agriculture, I achieved the standardization of selection process for elite genotypes of Pongamia, sound and successful Pongamia vegetative propagation & nursery technology, production of genetically elite clones and establishment of genetically elite clonal plantations on impoverished drylands to enhance the quality and production of drylands. I trained several persons in the above mentioned areas of Pongamia management and production.

Nabanji is a leading entrepreneur with a background and extensive experience in Corporate, Financial Development. Business and Finance Management in Africa and Europe. She brings specialized experience in Corporate Affairs, Mining and Energy Finance and an extensive network of business partners across the SADC region. Nabanji holds a Degree in Finance and Accounting from DeMontfort University.

Paulo Moussalli bring 30 years’ experience in project managing and trading in Latin America’s Agribusiness sectors with a special focus on Promotional Marketing, Futures and Derivatives.
Paolo has developed Brazilian aquaculture throughout the World. Promoting aquaculture products for major European fish importers and distributors as well as major supermarket chains for SEAP etc.
Paolo is the Specialiset Advisor for sport commodities trading operations to Sao Paulo State Agricultural Department, Mercosul Chamber of Commerce, Banco Paulista and Socopa Corretora with a focus on trading operations related to sugar, soybean complex, corn and cocoa. He also acted as Financial Operations Director for Câmara de Comércio e Industria Brasil-Irã.

Dr. Pedro Camargo is a transportation researcher focusing on the development of forecasting models and software, particularly on the development of Open-Source solutions for Transportation modelling and GIS. Pedro has worked as a consultant in Brazil, USA and Australia, having worked for private clients and agencies of all sizes, including federal governments, universities, research institutes and the World Bank.

Pedro is currently based in Australia and maintains a number of Open-Source plugins for QGIS on top of AequilibraE, his brain-child transportation modelling software, which currently has users in over 50 countries.

Pedro’s research has been funded by several state transportation agencies in the United States and Australia, as well as by the Brazilian Institute of Applied Economics (IPEA) and the World Bank. He has a Ph.D. in Transportation Sciences from the University of California Irvine and a M.S. in Transportation Engineering & B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Experienced Technology Lead with a demonstrated history of working in the telecommunications, investment banking and aquaculture industries. Skilled in Equities Trading Systems, Mobile Financial Systems, Aquaculture, Agriculture and Software Development. Well rounded and strong information technology professional graduated from INSEAD.

Rabih El Fadel has a unique understanding of sustainability, with over 25 years of experience in Low energy designs, Low-carbon emission initiatives, including energy buildings passive design, efficient systems, renewable energy, building management systems calculation methodology. Rabih’s 32 years’ experience encompasses formulated sustainability framework & development plans for masterplans, buildings project design and development, technical implementation and management Environmental Design, sustainability framework (Energy, Water, Waste, Internal environmental quality, renewable energy, solar passive design) for projects in Europe, Middle East, USA and Africa. Specialising in Low Energy and Sustainable Project Design & Development Rabih has vast experience on projects across a number of continents displaying ethical equality, sensitivity, and adaptability.

Dr Rosamund Thomas is the Director of Centre for Business and Public Sector Ethics, Cambridge. She is a specialist in Environmental Ethics, Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Anti-Corruption. She has studied, lectured, and researched at Harvard University, USA; the London School of Economics and Political Science; and Cambridge University. She holds four separate higher degrees, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Suffolk, UK, in 2016. Dr Thomas has advised leading companies and universities on these subjects and written and edited numerous books and articles.

Sanjay holds PGDBA from ICFAI-Hyderabad (2002) and brings 17 years’ corporate finance experience with ICICI Bank India & UK, and Axis Bank, India. He is passionate about the environment and has been working towards creating a greener and healthier environment and believes in sustainable solutions. Fund raising is a passion and has been associated with various developers and Investors in India and abroad in various sectors. He is a member of the India European Business Forum & CII. Has managed more than $ 2 Bn of lending book during his stint in banking. Sanjay is CEO of a boutique fundraising firm currently engages with more than $1 Bn of Private Equity & Debt raising mandates. Sanjay is also a Director of a mobility firms and is also associated with companies in the charging stations, solar IPP and Urban mobility sectors.

Entrepreneur in the innovative fields of ecological assessment/accounting, eco-engineering, and strategic advising through the functionalities economics and shared value chains, for corporate and public organizations. Former Research associate at INSEAD (Business-school, France) from 1997 to 2001, as a Senior Lecturer Associate, at the University of Versailles (UVSQ – France) from 2001 to 2006 and as Professor at the energy engineering school ESME-Sudria (2001-2018) and the Biotech engineering school SUPBIOTECH (2009-2018) those schools both belonging to the first private graduate education group in France: IONIS Education Group. Collaboration for research with the Institute de Recherche pour le Development (IRD) 2003 to 2015. International activities: France and Europe, West Africa (Togo, Mauritania), Taiwan, India, Peru, South Pacific. Associate (2017), advisor for strategy and professor (till 2012) at the Institute de Formation pour le Development Durable (IFORDD) in Lomé (Togo) for capacity enforcement in West Africa through African cases studies.

Trevan holds a PhD in Soil Science from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. His work focuses on the development of advanced algorithms using machine learning and deep neural nets for digital soil mapping, ecosystem modelling and numerical soil classification. My professional experience includes lecturing in South Africa and Zambia, working in the development phase of establishing the Ntaka Soil Health System in Zambia, and collaboration with the Czech Academy of Science to advance their soil mapping agenda.

Vijay Goel is the founding Member of India European Business Forum. Vijay bring expertise in advising on matters relating to corporate law, laws relating to joint ventures and foreign collaborations.

Vijay bring a wealth of experience having previous held of currently holding positions such as Chairperson of the London Chambers of Commerce, Asian Business Association and of the UK unit of ASSOCHAM, Executive Board Member of ‘The Asian Guild’, UK; Senior partner for the London office of Singhania & Co; Charter Member & Former Board Member of ‘T I E’ (The Indus Entrepreneur), UK; Economic Consultant to Malta Enterprise; and the Board member of NRI Foundation. Vijay was the former Advisor on Emerging Markets to Rt. Honourable Nick Clegg MP (former UK Deputy Prime Minister).

Vijay has won many awards including the law day award from the President of India in recognition for Vijay's role in promoting judicial reforms in India. Mr. K.G.Balakrishnan, Chief Justice of India honoured Vijay Goel with a Memento. Mr Goel was presented an award for his contribution in financial sector by Indian finance minister Mr. Arun Jaitly in 2015.

Vijay is an Ambassador of Barnardo's, UK's largest and oldest national children's charity a goodwill ambassador for ActionAid and a Centenary Ambassador for SOAS. Vijay was also conferred Asian Voice Asian Achievers Award for 'Professional of the Year' by Britain's minister of state for Justice Lord Tom McNally. Vijay was awarded 'Asian Leadership in Europe' by Asian Who's Who International. Vijay has coordinated a number of high-level delegations including for the Commonwealth Business Council, UK and the European Union.

John sits on Phyla’s Advisory Board, providing insights on anthro-centred economic development, regenerative agriculture and related market opportunities. He began his professional career researching farming villages in Mali in the 1970s and has been at the forefront of regenerative agriculture ever since. John previously worked as the USAID Director of Agriculture and served in numerous countries across Africa as well as in Haiti. Beyond his service to government, John has spent substantial time working in the private sector on climate smart agriculture across the tropics, serving as Managing Director at Terra Capital, which facilitates nature-based climate solutions.

Phillip sits on Phyla’s Advisory Board and provides strategic business insights across the South African/SADC markets. He is Vice President of FIO Capital Group, a private equity firm focused on entrepreneurs with investments in sustainability, technology, education, healthcare and property. Phillip holds a number of distinctions including Senator in the G20 Grand Assembly & World Business Angels Investment Forum. He is founder of the Montriche Capital family office, co-founder of the TAM Group (technology, minerals and energy) and promotes CAN-Agri, which employs innovative vertical farming technologies. Phillip is passionate about thought-leadership and the role entrepreneurship can play in developing Africa to provide agtech and fintech solutions for global challenges around food security, agriculture, finance and renewable energy.

Zeid El Fadel has over 20 years’ experience running cross border operations in West Africa with a primary ECOWAS focus spanning Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal. He is experienced in operational management having led trade and logistics operations at scale in challenging contexts. He has executed Board level business strategies that successfully implemented cost-efficiency and market development activities. Zeid brings a deep tacit knowledge to the establishment and implementation of corporate policies and legal guidelines, performance appraisals, training and professional development directives. Zeid is a problem solver providing solutions to ensure corporate sustainable growth and social responsibly.

AJ is responsible for Phyla Earth’s visual documentation and social media channels. With over two decades of experience working as a freelance documentary photographer and videographer, AJ brings a wealth of knowledge as a visual storyteller. His work has been published in numerous media outlets, including the Times, The Guardian and Al Jazeera. AJ has spent a large portion of his career documenting the work of leading humanitarian organisations around the world in areas of conflict and post conflict. His documentary filmmaking has taken him to India, Bhutan, Afghanistan and across the African continent. AJ has also worked with multinational corporations documenting their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes.

Anjou leads Strategic Communications and Global Policy at Phyla and is eager to make an impact through storytelling. She has two decades of experience in public policy/international relations working between London and Washington D.C. Anjou previously worked as a consultant with environmental/restoration organisations and a number of startups focused on sustainable solutions. She spent a large chunk of her career in the corporate sector, most recently at Thomson Reuters where she focused on issues as wide-ranging as green finance, intellectual property rights, privacy, cybersecurity, AI and fintech. Sitting on several government and private sector advisory groups, Anjou provides thought-leadership and underscores the technologies that aid growth and promote sustainable development.

Gene serves as Chief Executive, Phyla Nurseries South Africa and is the Founder and CEO of the Madimbo Agri Group and Board member of Fio Agri Group. He has dedicated his career to helping aspiring farmers and entrepreneurs succeed in the agriculture industry. Gene ventured into farming after purchasing his first 2.5 hectares of land, which he developed into a successful macadamia orchard. Today, he oversees several thousand hectares of land through multiple farming operations and has diversified his operations into consulting, plant hire, nursery tree offerings and his company Madimbo Global is involved in agriculture commodity trading. Prior to this, Gene worked in the long-term insurance industry, serving as a senior risk and investment business consultant for a large insurer. His career has been focused on making a positive societal impact.