Representing the South – Duke's Business in Africa Conference 2016
Building off their successful 2015 MBA Business in Africa Conference: Fostering Innovation Ecosystems in Africa, Fuqua’s Business in Africa Club (BIA) has announced that their 3rd Annual Business in Africa Conference will be the weekend of April 2nd, 2016 at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. When asked about this year’s theme of Reinvigorating Innovation and Leadership in Africa, BIA co-president Idris Dosunmu said “as a club, we feel that Africa is at a crossroads. It is our hope that this conference will help spur dialogue about innovation and leadership, and provide some insight into the thoughts of the business leaders on the continent.” Dosunmu also added, “We have a unique opportunity as the top-ranked Business School in the region to serve as a hub for MBA Students and professionals interested in economic and business opportunities in Africa, and we hope that this year’s conference will help us continue to grow towards that goal.”
This year’s conference will feature Dr. Mthuli Ncube and Shuaib Siddiqui as keynote speakers. Dr. Ncube has extensive professional, academic, and leadership experience on the continent. Through his current role as Professor of Public Policy at Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, and his past roles as Chief Economist and VP at African Development Bank Group, board member of South African Financial Services Board, and Chairman of the Board of African Economic Research Consortium, author of numerous publications, and as a regular commentator for the BBC, Financial Times, and Wall Street Journal, Dr. Ncube has become a leading voice on the continent. Mr. Siddiqui brings a rich background in investing on the continent from his role as Director of Portfolio at Acumen, where he oversees their global investing process, management of the global investment committee, new investment origination, and their portfolio management.
Dr. Ncube and Mr. Siddiqui will provide a powerful supplement to the diverse assortment of panelists covering four areas during the conference: Venture Capital and Private Equity, Innovations in Mobile Technology Platforms, Agriculture and Alternative Energy, and Women in Business in Africa.
With such a strong line-up, the 2016 conference has all the makings to accomplish BIA’s goals and provide the Duke and North Carolina communities with something new to talk about besides their success on the basketball court.
Guests can register for the event here. Any questions pertaining to the conference can be sent to Idris Dosunmu.
Guest post by David Lavander, a 1st year cabinet member at Fuqua’s Business in Africa Club