Jacqueline Musiitwa, Executive Director, Transitional Trade

Jacqueline Musiitwa, Esq, is the founder and executive director of Transitional Trade, a non-profit whose mission it is to promote social trade, investment and entrepreneurship in post-conflict countries and transitional communities. Additionally, she started and runs, Hoja Law Group, a New York based boutique law firm which represents start ups, non-profits and small businesses in corporate and intellectual property transactions both in the United States and Africa. Jacqueline began her career at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, where she focused on corporate and outsourcing matters. She is an Adjunct Professor of International Law at Central Michigan University and Sociopolitics and Economics of Africa at Drexel. Her areas of research focus on the politics and socioeconomics of post-conflict countries, Sino-Africa relations, social entrepreneurship and South-South relations. She earned her BA in Political Science and International Studies from Davidson College and her JD from the University of Melbourne, where she was a member of the Melbourne Journal of International Law.

Ambassador John Simon, US Ambassador to the African Union

Ambassador John A. Simon was nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate in July 2008 to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the African Union. He was sworn in as Ambassador September 9 and arrived in Addis Ababa on September 15 to assume his post.  From April 2006 until September 2008 Ambassador Simon served as Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).  Ambassador Simon led the agency’s initiatives in areas such as housing, combating corruption, outreach to the philanthropic investment community, and support for private sector growth in post-conflict countries, such as Liberia. Prior to his OPIC appointment, Mr. Simon served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Relief, Stabilization, and Development for the National Security Council (NSC) at the White House, the first to hold this post. From 2003 to 2005, he served as Director of Development Issues at the NSC.

Florival Luis Mucave, CEO, Ponta Mamoli Resorts

Florival Luis Mucave is the Founder and Chairman of Segametsi Holdings SA, which owns and operates the Ponta Mamoli Resort in Southern Mozambique, Volt Mozambique Limited, a power company operating in Mozambique and Angola, Mozambican Minerals Ltd, an iron ore and coal company operating in Mozambique and Delagoa Bay Construcoes, a construction company operating in Mozambique. Mr. Mucave is the former Head of Business Development and Strategy for DeBeers Group, where he enjoyed an 11 year career.  Prior to joining DeBeers, Mr. Mucave worked for the World Trade Organisation and for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Florival Mucave received an L.L.B from the University of Geneva in Switzerland and an L.L.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in London, United Kingdom. Mr. Mucave is currently non-executive director of De Beers Angola, De Beers DRC, African Bank Corporation Mozambique and Mozal Steel Mozambique.

Vijaya Ramachandran, Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development

Lisa Pickrum is chief operating officer of The RLJ Companies, a diversified holding company with portfolio companies in a variety of industries. With significant experience in structuring and negotiating private equity deals, Ms. Pickrum led a team that developed RLJ Kendeja Resort, a 78-room villa style, five star hotel in Liberia. Ms. Pickrum played a key role in the creation of RLJ Equity Partners, LLC, a private equity fund formed in association with The Carlyle Group, a global private equity firm. Prior to joining The RLJ Companies, Ms. Pickrum was a Principal at Katalyst Venture Partners, a private equity firm that invested in start-up technology companies in the media and communications industries. Ms. Pickrum earned her bachelor's degree from Vassar College and her law degree from Stanford Law School. She earned her master’s degree in finance and entrepreneurial management from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Eric Kacou, Managing Director, OTF Group

Eric Kacou is a Managing Director at the OTF Group, Inc. Leader of the Africa and Country Competitiveness practices, Mr. Kacou also oversees the strategy and marketing of the firm. Born and raised in Cote d’Ivoire, he is an expert in post-conflict economic reconstruction, competitiveness and enterprise solutions to poverty. Mr. Kacou has advised leaders of over a dozen African and Caribbean nations, corporations and development institutions.  Specifically, Mr. Kacou leads the Rwanda National Innovation and Competitiveness (RNIC) program, an initiative by His Excellency President Paul Kagame to upgrade the competitiveness of Rwanda’s economy. This Program, which is the first of its kind in Africa, is credited with helping Rwanda revitalize its economy. In addition, Mr. Kacou oversees the Pioneers of Prosperity Africa award program. This is an annual, multi-million dollar, initiative between the Social Equity Venture Fund (SEVEN), OTF Group and selected institutions to recognize dynamic companies in emerging markets that can be an inspiration for future business leaders. Mr. Kacou earned his MBA at the Wharton School, and a B.A. in Finance at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) in Montreal, Canada.