CWEIC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Hub Director, East and Central Africa Hub
Job Titles:
- Chairman - Cameroon, Gabon and Togo Hub
Auguste Mbappe Penda graduated with an MA in Economics from the University of Yaoundé and as a Civil Administrator from the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) Yaoundé (1986). He began his career at the Supreme State Audit before being appointed Deputy General Manager and Acting General Manager of the Cameroon Debt Recovery Corporation. In 2006, he was appointed General Manager of Cameroon National Shippers' Council by presidential decree.
Amongst other responsibilities, he serves as Statutory Treasurer of the Union of African Shippers' Councils, Honorary President of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMA) Cameroon chapter, and Honorary President of the Cameroon Maritime Law Association. For the last 13 years, he has contributed to meetings with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations as Cameroon's technical representative. He is a decorated Knight of the Cameroon National Order of Merit.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive / Helios Investment Partners
Mr Soyoye, a Nigerian national, is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Helios and has 22 years of principal investment experience. Prior to forming Helios, he was a principal at TPG Capital in London responsible for telecommunications and media investments across Europe.
Before joining TPG, Mr Soyoye was a senior member of the corporate strategy team at British Telecom and a manager of business development at Singapore Telecom International. He has played a key role in the execution of over $7 billion completed investments across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. He has also served as an Executive Consultant to Actis West Africa, an emerging market private equity fund.
Mr Soyoye serves on the Board of Directors of Interswitch and TPAY Mobile FZ-LLC. He has previously served on the Board of Directors of PSPLS, Nigeria's Privatisation Share Purchase Loan Scheme, among others; and currently serves as a Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, HTN Towers (a former Helios portfolio company). Mr Soyoye sits on the board of trustees of Save the Children UK. He was also a member of the LSE-University of Oxford Commission on State Fragility, Growth and Development, chaired by former UK Prime Minister David Cameron. Mr Soyoye received a BEng in Engineering and an MBA from the University of London (Kings & Imperial College). He is a fluent Yoruba speaker.
Benjamin serves as CWEIC's Country Director Ghana, working closely with John Apea, they are tasked with growing CWEIC's network in Ghana and West Africa.
Benjamin is an International Development Expert and Education Economist.
Benjamin is also an Executive at AB&M, Unihead and Principal with the InterStandard Group with responsibilities for defining and delivering strategic end to end policy direction for the businesses.
Benjamin actively worked as a Senior Lecturer at Westminster Kingsway College, UK and a Business Development Director (West Africa) to the JS Group, UK and Consultant with Advance HE, UK.
Benjamin also consulted for a number of institutions and works closely with the Danish Technological Institute-DTI, Institute of Financial Services-UK, University of East London, UK as well as undertaking various international researches within Education and International Development sectors.
Benjamin has over the 20 years worked in various organisations but specifically within the Education and International Development sectors. Benjamin holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education & Development from Huddersfield University, UK, a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching - (PGCE) from Christ Church Canterbury University, UK, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Birkbeck College, UK and a Master's Degree in Educational Planning, Economics and International Development from University College London, UK. Benjamin recently completed a Post Graduate Certificate in International Human Right Law and Practice with the London School of Economics (LSE)-UK.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of the Technical Secretariat
- Hub Director - Cameroon, Gabon and Togo
- Policy Expert
Cham Etienne Bama is a seasoned trade policy expert with nearly 15 years of experience in designing and implementing trade policies. His expertise spans a wide range of areas, with a specific focus on formal and informal cross-border trade, export promotion, trade data collection, trade and gender linkages, trade support infrastructure development, trade facilitation, investment facilitation, and export development.
Mr Bama has actively participated in various expert meetings at the continental level. These include significant events like the "Expert Group Meeting on Negotiating Institutions: Putting In The Right Foundation," organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the Regional Trade Forum for West and Central Africa in Dakar, also under UNECA. He has also been involved in the capacity building workshop on stakeholder engagement in African Trade Policies and the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Trade Policy Dialogue Forum in Abuja, facilitated by GIZ. Additionally, he has contributed to the regional dialogue forum on the Free Movement Protocol for Eastern, Southern, and North Africa, organised by the African Union/GIZ.
Mr Bama's expertise extends to his role as the key expert in the development of a Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade for the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement. Furthermore, he serves on the boards of several prominent organisations, including the Institute of Export and International Trade in the UK, Fairtrade Africa in Germany, Transport Evolution Africa in South Africa, the Pan-African Business Women Association in South Africa, the Enabling Africa Trade Forum in the UK, and the Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade in the UK.
Currently, Mr Bama is the coordinator of the Technical Secretariat responsible for implementing the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative in Cameroon. As of December 5, 2022, he has assumed the role of CWEIC Hub Director for Cameroon, Gabon, and Togo. This role complements his position as Director at the Cameroon National Shippers' Council, where he continues to make significant contributions to trade policy and promotion.
Job Titles:
- Country Director, Bangladesh
Dr Sumon Chowdhury is a prominent industrialist, entrepreneur and business leader in Bangladesh. He is known for his innovative ideas and contributions to the steel manufacturing industry. He is the chairman of RRM Group.
Dr Chowdhury is a prominent industrialist, entrepreneur and business leader in Bangladesh. He is known for his innovative ideas and contributions to the steel manufacturing industry. He is the chairman of RRM Group.
Alongside business he is active in the economic development of Bangladesh and philanthropic activities. He established the RRM Foundation and operates an orphanage in Dhaka. He holds various positions in social development activities and business organisations. He is the Secretary General of the Bangladesh Steel Manufacturing Association (BSMA), Director of Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Vice President of the Bangladesh Steel Mills Owner Association, and the General Body Member of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI).
Job Titles:
- Chairman, East and Central Africa Hub
- Group CEO of Equity Group Holdings
Dr. James Mwangi is Group CEO of Equity Group Holdings, credited with democratizing financial access, leading Equity to become an integrated financial services Group operating in 6 African countries with a client base of over 17m, and an asset base of USD 13B+. James established Equity Group Foundation to scale shared prosperity, mobilizing support of like-minded partners to commit USD 522.2M for social impact. James is an honoree of the 2021 Meaningful 100 Business designation; the 2020 Oslo Business for Peace Award; the 2007 G8 Global Vision Award citing him as "an initiator of a concept of the future that will shape the world economy"; recognized in the FT's 2009 list of ‘Top 50 thought leaders in emerging markets' and the ‘Top 20 most influential people in Africa'; is the holder of the 2012 EY World Entrepreneur of the Year award, and he was named one of the Bloomberg 50 in 2019.
Lieutenant General Davis has a distinguished record of public service having served as a senior Royal Marines Officer before being appointed as Her Majesty's Representative for Gibraltar from 2016-2020.
As Governor, he was responsible, in partnership with the Elected Head of Government, for Gibraltar's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Internal Security. He also supported the Government of Gibraltar in their negotiations for the development of Gibraltar's future legal, financial, regulatory and digital framework for the Jurisdiction's overarching political and socio-economic relationship with the UK, EU and non-EU countries after the UK's exit from the EU.
Prior to this appointment, Lieutenant General Davis served as Deputy Commander of NATO Land Forces (2014-2016) and Commander General Royal Marines (UK Amphibious Forces (2011 - 2014).
He was a made Member (1996), Officer (2005) and Commander (2012) of the British Empire; Officer of the US Legion of Merit (2011); Companion of the Bath (2014); Knight of Saint John of Jerusalem (2016).
Job Titles:
- Regional Director, Caribbean
Job Titles:
- Chairman Ghana International Advisory Council
- Risk Analyst
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko is one of the leading transactional lawyers in the country. He has a unique ability to get things done and find solutions, no matter the issue. He brings to ALA his vast, rich, and dynamic experience over the last three decades working in Europe and Africa. A solicitor and barrister trained in UK and Ghana, Mr Otchere-Darko is also the former CEO of a UK-based consulting company, which specialized in facilitating business for companies and organizations with interest in Africa.
Mr Otchere-Darko is a respected lawyer and political risk analyst in Africa and has appeared on television and radio and written several articles in several reputable journals on investment, corporate governance, good governance, and economic development in Africa and related matters. ALA benefits from his wide network of contacts in Ghana, the West African region and beyond.
Job Titles:
- Country Director for Gibraltar
- Managing Director of the Global Entrepreneurship Network
Jared Peralta serves as CWEIC's Country Director for Gibraltar, tasked with growing our network in the region.
Jared is the Managing Director of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Gibraltar, a non-profit organisation focused on developing a local entrepreneurial ecosystem, aiding policy development and leading national delegations to key events.
In parallel Jared also works for the Bassadone Automotive Group (BAG), a leading vehicle supplier for the UN, GO's and NGOs in developing countries with the primary focus of converting vehicles for humanitarian aid purposes.
Prior to the above, Jared founded a business dealing with the manufacture and supply of specialist recycling units designed specifically for nature reserves. As a keen business enthusiast with a drive for helping small businesses, Jared also became a volunteer consultant for struggling businesses in the UK and in Gibraltar.
Jared is a graduate of Business Management from Cardiff University, is a Prince2 Practitioner and amongst several personal development courses, has attended the Washington Leaders Programme during his time in the U.S.
Job Titles:
- Pacific Director of the Commonwealth Enterprise & Investment Council
- Special Advisor - Australia
Jeremy Mitchell is the Australia - Pacific Director of the Commonwealth Enterprise & Investment Council. He has worked as an Adviser to Government in Australia and the United Kingdom. Jeremy worked as an adviser in the Howard Government in Australia and the Blair Government in Britain. He was the Head of Public Affairs for the Australian High Commission in London. Over the past 14 years, Jeremy has been a senior executive in several multinational corporations. He brings a unique understanding of business and Government and the highest levels. Jeremy was an Australian representative at the first Commonwealth Youth Parliament held in Manchester in 1997. Jeremy is a Councilor on the Queensland Futures Institute (QFI) a peak business & government think tank, Leaders Council and serves as Vice-President of the QFI's Corporate Affairs Committee.
Job Titles:
- Ghana Head of Mission for the Commonwealth Enterprise
John Apea is the Ghana Head of Mission for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Naval Children 's Fund Charity
Lieutenant General Davis is also Vice President of the Naval Children's Fund Charity; Chair of the Entain Foundation; Trustee of the White Ensign Association Charity; Ambassador for the Bowra Foundation Charity and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers in London.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Board
- Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise
Lord Marland is the Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.
Lord Marland was the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy and Chairman of the UK Trade & Investment Business Ambassador Network between 2011 and January 2014.
Lord Marland was made a Minister for the Department of Energy and Climate Change in 2010 and subsequently became Minister for Intellectual Property at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in 2012.
In recognition of his longstanding contributions to the advancement of commercial and bilateral relations with Malta, he was honoured with the Maltese Order of Merit in 2015.
He was one of the founding directors of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Plc, a multinational insurance business, where he led the acquisitions of: Janspeed Ltd (automotive engineering and manufacturing), Hunter Boot Ltd, Insurance Capital Partners, Jubilee Insurance Ltd, WH Ireland Ltd (stockbroker), BSpoke Insurance Group Ltd, and Wisden Cricketer Ltd.
He continues his active involvement in the business world, and currently serves as the Chairman of both EcoWorld Management Ltd and Bspoke Insurance Group Ltd, and is Co-Owner of Cricketer Magazine. Additionally, he is a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the Kuwait Investment Authority.
Lord Marland frequently provides commentary on British Politics. Throughout his 17 years as a Conservative Peer, he has gained first-hand insight into the knowledge and expertise of House of Lords members. To shed light on this extensive and diverse experience, he initiated the Peer Review Podcast, featuring interviews with a curated selection of Peers.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chair
- Deputy Chair of the Board
- Member of the Board
Lord Swire served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for East Devon from June 2001 to December 2019.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was Head of the Commonwealth throughout her reign. During this time the Commonwealth grew from just eight nations to 56 member countries. Her Majesty the Queen played a unique role as a symbol for unity and strength at the heart of the Commonwealth.
Job Titles:
- Group Director
- Chairman, Sri Lanka & Maldives
- Group Director / Capital Maharaja Organisation
Niro Cooke is a Group Director on the Main Board of The Capital Maharaja Organisation (Pvt.) Limited, Sri Lanka's largest privately owned conglomerate.
He has been involved in developing infrastructure and energy projects in Sri Lanka since 2007. Having been educated in the United Kingdom throughout, and graduating from Regent's Business School, London with a BA (Hons) in International Business, Niro brings an international perspective to business in Sri Lanka.
Niro is actively involved in developing large scale government infrastructure and energy projects, and is very passionate about sustainable development. His vision is to transform the Sri Lankan economy into a competitive and sustainably industrialized nation that adds value to the supply chain regionally and globally.
Niro also introduced Quintessentially Group (UK) to Sri Lanka & The Maldives with the idea of promoting luxury tourism as a way of attracting investment into the region, and to cater to the discerning needs of the growing number of U/HNWIs in Sri Lanka and The Maldives. Following its success in Sri Lanka & The Maldives, Niro has gone on to establish Quintessentially in Malaysia also.
Job Titles:
- Country Director
- Country Director, Nigeria
Obinna Anyanwu has served as CWEIC's Country Director in Nigeria since 2017, leading the growth of the Network from less than 10 Strategic Partners to the active and engaged network of 20 we have today
He cut his banking teeth when he joined Fidelity Bank Plc in 1997 as a Treasury Operations Officer and rose to the position of Head Foreign Currency Dealing in 1999. In 2000 he moved on as part of the team that set up Guardian Express Bank Plc to become the pioneer Head of Foreign currency Treasury. In 2003 Obinna became the Ag. Head of Treasury of Guardian Express bank Plc coordinating the entire Treasury Group and in 2003 he assumed the position of Head Office Branch Manager of the bank. He moved to head the Affiliate Group of the bank in 2004 and upon the merger of Guardian Express bank Plc with other five banks to form Spring Bank plc he assumed the position of Head Foreign Treasury Group and Chief Dealer of the bank.
Obinna is a graduate of Economics from Abia State University and holds an Executive MBA (EMBA) degree from the prestigious Lagos Business School. He is also an Associate Chartered Economist (ACE) and a member of Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA).
He has attended professional courses at home and abroad which includes but not limited to the following: Investment Strategies and Portfolio Management at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA (2008), Cash and Trade Seminar Organized by Citibank London (2007), Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking Sub-Saharan Banking Leaders Conference in London (2007), Competing in a Global Environment at IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Barcelona, Spain (2004), Asset and Liability Management Course by Money Market Association of Nigeria (2002), Total Quality Management course by Lagos Business School (2000), Foreign Exchange Management Course (The Bourse Game) by Citibank Training Center, Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (1999) and various Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) organized courses and workshops. He is currently the Managing Director/CEO of Capital Square Limited, an Investment and Financial Advisory firm and also the Chairman of the Financial Services Group, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Nigeria International Advisory Council
- Counsel and Legal Adviser to the Eko Atlantic City
- Partner at Africa Law Practice
Olasupo Shasore is a partner at Africa Law Practice and a Senior Counsel (a member of the inner bar, appointed Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2006); often referred to as a ‘seasoned arbitrator and strategic litigator', thirty years of experience acting for sovereign, sub-national and private international parties in international commercial & investment arbitration/ litigation and other advisory capacities; shipping & maritime law, project and risk advice in mining, natural resources, energy and infrastructure; seasoned and frequently appointed arbitrator or expert on Nigerian Law.
Shasore has significant experience in commercial arbitration; lead counsel in an on-going complex State- Investor dispute, an International Investment Arbitration before ICSID Tribunal; Represented the Sovereign States and entities in leading precedents on Sovereign Immunity in Nigeria; Frequently selected expert on Nigerian law at arbitration/foreign proceedings.
Olasupo is a counsel and legal adviser to the Eko Atlantic City development project, a ten million square meter city and infrastructure development project in Nigeria; Energy advisor to energy sector investors and transactions involving significant power company M&A transactions; significant public sector experience: Attorney-General for Lagos State Nigeria, (2007-2011); He was a member of ICCA's Consultative Workshop Cooperation among African Arbitral Initiatives; London Court of International Arbitration Africa User Group; the Panel of Recognised International Market Experts (PRIME) and its Advisory Committee; the International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA); board member of Nigeria Ports Authority and Interswitch.
Pamela O'Leary has spent her career in a variety of roles at KPMG, a leading multinational professional services network. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant and has held senior positions in KPMG both in the UK and globally. She has also performed a number of senior external roles in industry relating to finance including the BBC, London Transport and National Power.
Pamela is passionate about the Commonwealth and has worked throughout the majority of her career in various forms promoting and encouraging the building of connections internationally. She has lived and worked in a number of Commonwealth countries including four years in India where she was a member of the leadership team covering India and South Asia. She was founder and former Chairman of the Mumbai chapter of British Business Group, an organisation fostering trade and understanding between India and the UK.
Her most recent role was Global COO of KPMG's Energy and Natural Resources practice and she also has a wide breadth of experience across different sectors, industries and functions.
Pamela lives between the UK and Sri Lanka and is a graduate of Trinity College in Dublin.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Malta International Art Space
Phyllis Muscat is the Chair of the Malta International Art Space (MICAS), which is set to open in 2022. The Malta International Contemporary Art Space (MICAS) is intended to strengthen Malta's cultural infrastructure by providing a platform for contemporary art and internationalisation.
Phyllis Muscat was the Head of Taskforce of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which was held in Malta in 2015. As host of CHOGM 2015, the Government of Malta appointed Ms. Muscat to coordinate the administrative and logistical arrangements. She is also a member of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) Advisory Board.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Enterprise
Rosie Glazebrook is Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council. She also chairs the Copyright Licensing Agency and Publishers' Licensing Services, industry-owned bodies generating revenues for their members, and is a Member of BSI Group's Standards Policy and Strategy Committee.
Rosie completed her five-year fixed term as Civil Service Commissioner in May 2022, chairing senior appointments across UK Government departments, and was previously on the boards of the Food Standards Agency and other national health and regulatory organisations.
Rosie was a Trustee and Chair of the Development Board for Book Aid International, which works with partners in 19 countries, and her earlier career was in media, publishing and health data organisations working both in the UK and internationally. She has a chemistry degree from Oxford University.
Job Titles:
- Chairman / Chairman, Nigeria International Advisory Council
Olasupo Shasore is a partner at Africa Law Practice and a Senior Counsel (a member of the inner bar, appointed Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2006); often referred to as a ‘seasoned arbitrator and strategic litigator', thirty years of experience acting for sovereign, sub-national and private international parties in international commercial & investment arbitration/ litigation and other advisory capacities; shipping & maritime law, project and risk advice in mining, natural resources, energy and infrastructure; seasoned and frequently appointed arbitrator or expert on Nigerian Law.
Shasore has significant experience in commercial arbitration; lead counsel in an on-going complex State- Investor dispute, an International Investment Arbitration before ICSID Tribunal; Represented the Sovereign States and entities in leading precedents on Sovereign Immunity in Nigeria; Frequently selected expert on Nigerian law at arbitration/foreign proceedings.
Olasupo is a counsel and legal adviser to the Eko Atlantic City development project, a ten million square meter city and infrastructure development project in Nigeria; Energy advisor to energy sector investors and transactions involving significant power company M&A transactions; significant public sector experience: Attorney-General for Lagos State Nigeria, (2007-2011); He was a member of ICCA's Consultative Workshop Cooperation among African Arbitral Initiatives; London Court of International Arbitration Africa User Group; the Panel of Recognised International Market Experts (PRIME) and its Advisory Committee; the International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA); board member of Nigeria Ports Authority and Interswitch.
Job Titles:
- Special Advisor to Hypower Engineering International
- Strategic Advisor for South East Asia
- Strategic Advisor, Southeast Asia
Tulsi Wallooppillai serves as CWEIC's Strategic Advisor for South East Asia leading our work in Singapore, Brunei and the ASEAN region.
Tulsi Wallooppillai is a Special Advisor to Hypower Engineering International, an infrastructure consultancy company that works across Asia.
Hypower Engineering has been delivering large infrastructure projects for the last twenty years in the renewable energy, roads, waste and water sectors. During his stewardship of Hypower Engineering, Tulsi has delivered well in excess of USD 1Bn of projects. This experience has led to Tulsi being one of the leading experts on project financing and export finance in Asia.
Tulsi has championed the Commonwealth for decades and looks forward to developing closer links with a Global Britain following it's exit from the European Union.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder of HSA Capital
- Country Director, Sri Lanka
Younus serves as CWEIC's Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives having taken up the role in April 2019.
Younus is the Co-Founder of HSA Capital, a boutique Trade Finance and Investment Management advisory that assists Financial and Listed Corporations in Emerging Markets obtain DFI finance.
Prior to joining CWEIC, Younus was initially based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates where he served on the Boards of Global Business Trust LLC, a family office and Orange Links LLC, a Commodity Trading House from 2007 to 2014 before returning to Sri Lanka where he served as a Development Consultant at the Ministry of Finance.
Younus graduated with an LLB from London Metropolitan University prior to pursuing a career in business and consultancy.
Job Titles:
- Strategic Advisor, Bangladesh