Zienzi Dillon, Global Advisor, The DOOR of Our Return Foundation; African Union Development Agency NEPAD Goodwill Ambassador to the USA

Zienzi Dillon has over 30 years solid banking experience in Africa including international exposure through work attachments at the World Bank Washington, DC, Federal Reserve Bank New York, Bank of England and Standard Bank London. She recently retired from Barclays Africa where she was Head of Public Sector/ Director Corporate and Investment Banking (30 November 2017).

As Head of Public Sector for Barclays Africa, she was responsible for developing and implementing the Africa Public Sector strategy for corporate and investment banking including developing innovative financing solutions for National/Local Governments and State-Owned Companies. Currently, Dillon serves as an Audit Committee member for the South Africa (SA)’s Department of Mineral Resources and previously she was Audit Committee chairperson for the SA Department of Public Enterprises’ (for nine years). Audit Committee Chairperson at the Public Service Commission, Chairperson of the Gauteng Provincial Government Cluster Two Audit Committee. She is the CEO for Carmel Global Capital and is also the President of Marketplace Calling International (MCI) launched in 2008.

Carolyn M. Fennell is responsible for external and internal media and public relations at Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport. In her role as primary spokesperson, she oversees all domestic and international media relations including crisis communications for both airports. At the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, she has held various roles in customer service and community engagement and currently is also responsible for the airport’s public art collection.
Prior to joining the Aviation Authority, she has held positions as production assistant to Peter Jennings for ABC News in London and a publicist for Walt Disney World. Among her numerous awards are Public Relations Professional of the year by the Florida Public Relations Association, Orlando Business Journal Business Woman of the Year and Airports Council of North America’s Ted Bushelman Legacy Award for Creativity and Excellence.
Ms. Fennell served on the Jacksonville Branch Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and was twice appointed Chair of the Board in 2013 and 2016. She previously served on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, now Visit Orlando. In the airport industry, she served on the Airports Council International –North America Marketing and Communications Steering Committee and previously twice Chairman of that committee.
Ms. Fennell, long active in the Central Florida community. In 2015 the Florida Commission on the Status of Women awarded Ms. Fennell for Outstanding Contributions and Services to the Community. In September of 2010, she was inducted into the Central Florida Hospitality Hall of Fame by the University Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality. She currently serves as Chairperson of the MCO Art Committee at Orlando Internal Airport; and on the Boards of the Valencia College Foundation, Central Florida Hotel Lodging Association, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Valencia Community College Foundation. In addition, Ms. Fennell was previously named by Orlando Magazine as one of the 15 women defining power in Central Florida.
As a featured speaker, she has addressed national conferences, universities, student organizations, international and civic groups.
With her broad international experience, Ms. Fennell has lived in the United Kingdom, Asia, and the South Pacific. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Journalism from
Florida A & M University and studied at Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. And the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji

Lillian Barnard joined Microsoft in May 2017 as Public Sector Director for South Africa, a role she held for almost two years.

She is a seasoned professional with proven capabilities and a strong understanding of the South African market. Through the various executive positions that Barnard has held, both locally and abroad, she has gained extensive knowledge in sales, operations, business controls, strategy, business transformation and leadership. She has been pivotal in re-igniting the South African chapter of Women@Microsoft and spurring a culture that encourages gender equality in the workplace.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Barnard served as Chief Sales Officer for Vodacom’s Enterprise Business for two years. She also headed Lillian B.Consulting Services where she was an advisor and coach to business leaders. During her 15-year career at IBM, she held a number of key leadership positions, including working for 7-years at the IBM European Headquarters in France and Switzerland.

Mizinga Melu is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Absa Bank PLC Zambia. Former Chief Executive, Barclays Africa Operations, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Zambia. As the Chief Executive Officer of Barclays Africa Management, she was responsible for overseeing the development of stakeholder relationships with governments, regulators, the Boards, and customers in the subsidiaries on the African Continent, outside of South Africa. All Barclays Africa Group managing directors, outside of South Africa, reported directly to her. She took office effective 1 October 2014.[3] Prior to that, she was the managing director and CEO of the National Bank of Commerce, Tanzania. Mizinga served as the managing director and CEO of Standard Chartered Bank of Zambia.

Entrepreneur, Economist and Chairperson, Cassava Smartech Group, listed on Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and Former Program Director at The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and Economist.

Sheree served as the Programme Director of the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation. She was responsible for formulating community intervention strategies and managing the implementation of over 200 projects by 15 international partners of the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation across the continent. She gained experience in public affairs and communication, managing functions in eight countries across Central Africa. She was also chairperson of the Women’s Leadership Council for the 39-country Coca-Coca Central, East and West Africa Business Unit.

She has previously held senior positions at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, among them chief economist and head of balance of payments.

UCLG Africa is the umbrella organization and the united voice and representative of local governments and cities in Africa. Further, Mbassi is the convener of the Africities is the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa’s flagship pan-A

Mbassi has held his current position since 2007 coordinating actions in decentralization, support to Local Governments services supply and infrastruture management. He was also CEO of the first Urban Project co-funded by the World Bank in Cameroon. He was Special Adviser to the President of the Planning and Cooperation Agency (Agence Coopération et Aménagement), a Paris-based French public company aimed at supporting developing countries in urbanization and territorial development.