Dr. Adam Moolna is Lecturer in Environment and Sustainability at Keele University in England, where he is director of the Environmental Science, Environment and Sustainability, Ecology and Conservation, and Natural Sciences degree programmes. His current scholarship is around broad environmental sustainability, with a particular interest in Blue Economy related areas. As a UK-born Mauritian, Adam has a lifelong passion for Mauritius and the natural environment of the wider region. From teenage volunteering on Aldabra atoll in Seychelles, he went on to take a BSc Natural Sciences at Durham University, an MSc Conservation at University College London, and a PhD in Plant Sciences at Manchester University. After post-doctoral research at Oxford University and Manchester University, he managed the Island Conservation Society in Seychelles. Returning to the UK, Adam worked for an environmental consultancy and then the Wildlife Trusts before joining Keele. Research papers available at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adam-Moolna/research and press articles for The Conversation at https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-moolna-668247/articles.

The RMCE was set up by the Government of Mauritius, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) to promote reform in Africa through peer learning and peer support. He is also the Chief Operating Officer of the Development Enterprise Network, a not for profit think and do tank focused on implementation of reforms in Africa. He served as the Financial Secretary in Mauritius from 2006 to 2013, where he formulated and implemented a wide-ranging reform program. He was the first African Chair of the Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD) in 2012. At the International Monetary Fund, he was an Assistant Director from 2013 to 2019 and headed the Development Issues Unit (responsible for developing IMF policy towards Developing countries) and was in charge of one of the West African Divisions at the IMF and mission chief for Senegal. 

He was CEO of the COMESA Clearing House (1997-1999) and led efforts to restructure the institution. He has also worked as a Lead Economist in the Office of the Chief Economist for the Europe and Central Asia Region in the World Bank (2003-06); led evaluations in the Independent Evaluation Office of the IMF (2001-03); been a senior economist in the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department (1999-2001) and spent three years at the EU Directorate for Development from 1992 to 1995. He has written on resilience to natural disasters, regional integration, privatization, migration, fiscal decentralization, and capacity development. This includes three books he led and edited at the IMF on Middle Income Countries in Africa, the political economy of reform in Senegal and the informal sector in Africa.

Allegra is the Program Manager for the Sustaining Peace Project at AC4, Earth Institute, Columbia University, bringing her passion for bridging differences across identity groups. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Organizational Psychology at Columbia University Teachers College where her research focuses on the intersection of social justice and conflict resolution. She holds a M.A. in Global Thought from Columbia University, and a M.A. in Immigration Management from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Spain. Previously, she worked for community organizations in New York City and in the Dominican Republic.

Amandine holds an MSc in Carbon Management (University of Edinburgh), an MPhil in Transitional Justice (University of Cape Town) and a BA in International Relations (University College Maastricht). She has 10 years of experience in project management at the international level (South Africa, Zimbabwe, DRC, EU, Mauritius, Indian Ocean Islands) in subjects related to social and environmental responsibility for the private and public sectors. She incorporates in her approach, the balance between the needs of economic development, social protection and environmental protection.

Amit Bakhirta is an entrepreneur and a financier. He is the Founder / CEO of Anneau Ltd (“Anneau”) which is a financial services firm focused on Investment Management, Portfolio Management and Advisory in Mauritius and Africa. The Firm is licensed by the Financial Services Commission (“FSC”) in the Republic of Mauritius. Amit has garnered more than 15 years’ experience in Investment Management, Corporate Finance, Banking and Investment Banking in Africa including Mauritius. Amit has invested in more than 200 Public companies (including the largest companies by market capitalisation in Africa) and 25 Sovereign & Corporate Debt instruments in Africa over the past decade. He further cherishes his 8 years’ experience in the Hospitality, Textiles and Retail (FMCG) industries in Mauritius, India and the UK. 

With his corporate finance, Investment Banking and Multi Assets Investment background, he has been actively involved in the founding, management and distribution of Pan African (including Mauritian), Global, Emerging Markets and Frontier Markets Multi Assets investment Solutions and has headed IPRO’s operations in Africa from 2011 to 2016. He has served as a Managing Director of IPRO Botswana and an Executive Director of the Ponelopele Africa Fund. Amit was previously with the IPRO group (member of Ciel Finance-CIEL GROUP/AMETHIS FINANCE) and AfrasiaBank (Member of IBL/National Bank of Canada/Intrasia Capital) in Mauritius.  Amit is a holder of an MBA, Finance from UWIC, UK and is a seasoned speaker on CNBC-Africa and at select African Investment and Capital Markets conferences. He has also contributed numerous articles on Finance, economics and investments.

Ambassador Anil Sooklal is the Ambassador-at-Large: Asia and BRICS at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, and South Africa’s BRICS Sherpa, IBSA Sherpa and Focal Point for IORA.  He received two doctorates from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Ambassador Sooklal served as Deputy Director-General in DIRCO until 31 January 2022 and was South Africa’s G20 Sherpa and FOCAC.  He also served as South Africa’s Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg, from 2006 to 2012 and well as in Geneva and New Delhi. Before joining DIRCO in 1995, he followed an academic career, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and UNISA.

Anjena Seewooruthun is a business consultant and qualified change management specialist with over 15 years of experience in international development consulting and transformation projects. With a strong track record in both project and change management, she has led major reform initiatives across the Indian Ocean, Africa, and Southeast Asia for public institutions and private sector clients. She supports organisations in achieving successful outcomes by driving project adoption and usage. Anjena co-creates tailored change strategies that align with institutional goals and stakeholder realities. Her work spans digital and organisational transformation efforts supported by global partners such as the World Bank and EU Africa RISE.

Docteur ès lettres de la Sorbonne, Anouchka Sooriamoorthy est enseignante de philosophie à Dubaï. Particulièrement intéressée par les concepts de mondialisation et d’identité, concepts sur lesquels elle a effectué sa thèse de doctorat, elle s’évertue, dans son métier, dans ses articles, dans ses interventions en entreprise ainsi que pour le grand public, à décortiquer les stéréotypes et à briser les clichés. Elle œuvre pour une vision pratique de la philosophie, vision qu’elle exprime dans son journal en ligne sur Instagram : @danslechaosmonde.

Bhoomika Jaggeshar is a dedicated and driven individual, currently enrolled in a Ph.D. Programme at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. With a strong passion for research centered around Environmental Law, Bhoomika aims to contribute to the understanding and protection of the environment through her academic pursuits. Before her Ph.D. studies, Bhoomika was a research assistant at the University of Mauritius, gaining valuable experience and knowledge in her field, and currently holds a position at the Ministry of Finance in Mauritius contributing to policy implementation. In addition to her professional endeavours, Bhoomika is an active member of the Rotaract Club of Helvetia. Through this involvement, she actively participates in various community service projects and strives to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Dr. Bippin Makoond is a visionary technologist and "farmer of creativity" dedicated to nurturing young minds for an unpredictable future. Holding a PhD in Computer Science, he leverages a unique blend of computer game design, AI, and neuroscience expertise to craft transformative experiences that inspire Creativity and innovation. His distinguished career spans roles as Global Chief Technology Officer for the Strategic Large Deal Team at Infosys LTD—driving sales of large deals worth $17B—Global Head of R&D and Head of the Quantum Computing Labs for EMEA at Cognizant Worldwide, where he pioneered strategic AI-driven products for industries including pharma, life-sciences, banking, and telecom globally. Additionally, he serves as an Industrial Advisor to the University of Oxford and as a visiting scholar at Kingston University London, effectively bridging the gap between academia and industry.

Catherine is an independent consultant who focuses on research in environmental sustainability. She holds a PhD in Environmental and Geographical Sciences from the University of Cape Town, where she researched climate impacts on fishing and farming communities of the southern Cape in South Africa. She specialises in natural resource management and climate variability in terrestrial-marine ecosystems, with an interest in social-ecological systems and resilience in developing countries. Her technical areas of expertise include climate change, fisheries and agriculture. Catherine has over seven years of experience in managing and coordinating research teams across different environments and cultural settings in southern Africa and Southeast Asia. She spent the past year directing sustainability initiatives in environmental and climate change opportunities with a focus on Mauritius. This portfolio included managing the Market Evolution for Small-scale Fisheries in Africa (MESA) project for SoCha Ltd, a Mauritian resource partner to ABALOBI (a key partner to the MESA project).

Chandani Appadoo have been working in the field of marine biology for the past 30 years. She currently works as Associate Professor at the Department of Biosciences and Ocean Studies, University of Mauritius. Chandani special interest are in mangroves, marine litter, fisheries sciences, biodiversity, marine ecology and fields related to marine and coastal ecosystems.

Department of Biosciences and Ocean Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, 80837, Le Réduit, Mauritius

chandani@uom.ac.mu

Dr Clara Diaz is a pioneering marine biologist dedicated to the study of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) in the Chagos Archipelago. Her research dives deep into the distribution and diversity of these lesser-known, yet crucial, ecosystems that reside between 30-150 meters. By investigating species composition and environmental drivers, Clara aims to understand the role MCEs play in supporting shallow-water reefs and their importance in marine biodiversity. Her work shines a spotlight on the critical need to study and protect these hidden underwater treasures amidst growing environmental threats.

PhD (Law) (Melb) MTax (Hons) (Syd) PGradDipBus (Dist) (Curtin) BBus (Dist) (Curtin) FCPA FTMA FAAL CA CTA-Life AFAIM MAICD Dale is currently Professor of Taxation Law in the Curtin Law School as well as being the Chair of the Academic Board at Curtin University. Dale is the author and co-author of numerous books, refereed articles and national and international conference papers and sits on the editorial board of several peer-reviewed journals as well as being the Editor-in-Chief of several refereed journals. He is a Fellow of CPA Australia and the Australian Academy of Law as well as being a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Tax Adviser and Honorary Life Member of the Tax Institute. He is also a Life Member of the Australasian Tax Teachers Association and the Australasian Law Academics Association. Dale is a member of the Tertiary Education and Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) Register of Experts.

Emeritus Professor Dennis Hardy has lived in Seychelles for the past ten years, where he was for some of this time Vice-Chancellor of the national university. Prior to this, most of his academic career was with Middlesex University in London, followed by spells in Dubai and Australia. His first degrees were in Geography at Exeter University and he subsequently qualified as a professional town planner at University College London; his PhD was obtained at the London School of Economics. Alongside senior management posts, he has retained an active research profile, with a number of well- reviewed books to his name. Currently, he is a part-time research professor with the James R. Mancham Peace and Diplomacy Research Institute at the University of Seychelles, where he specializes in geopolitics. He is also Editor of the Seychelles Research Journal.

Professor Dhanjay Jhurry was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mauritius (UoM) in March 2017. He is championing the vision of a research-engaged and entrepreneurial university to foster innovation. He held previously (2012 to 2017) the post of National Research Chair in Biomaterials and Drug Delivery under the Mauritius Research Council, while heading the Centre for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research (CBBR), a centre attached to the University of Mauritius which he founded. Prof Jhurry studied at Bordeaux University (France) and received his PhD in Polymer Chemistry in 1992. After spending three years as Research Chemist at Flamel Technologies Company in Lyon, France working on biomedical polymers, he joined the Dept. of Chemistry at the University of Mauritius as Lecturer and was appointed Professor in 2005. 

Prof Jhurry worked on sucrose-based polymers for his PhD. His mainstream research in polymer science, biomaterials and tissue engineering, nanotechnology/nanomedicine and drug delivery has led to over 75 papers in scholarly journals, with an h-index of 21. He has received various national and international awards and recognition including the first Best Mauritian Scientist Award in 2011, the ‘Grand Officer of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean’ and the ‘Commander of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean’ insignia by the Rep. of Mauritius in 2019 and 2012 respectively as well as the ‘Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques’ insignia by the Rep. of France in 2007. Prof Jhurry is an elected member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) since July 2017 and a member of the Scientific Council of the Francophone Association of Universities (AUF) since September 2019. He was appointed Chair of the ACU SDG Network in January 2020.

Dr Brinda Ramasawmy did her undergraduate, BSc (Hons) Agriculture (First Class), at the University of Mauritius. Laureate of the Faculty of Agriculture in 1996, she obtained a British Council scholarship to pursue an MSc in Agricultural Management (With Distinction) at the University of Reading, UK. She joined the University of Mauritius as the first female Farm Manager of the University Farm for 4 years, and then opted for the post of full-time academic staff in the field of Agricultural Economics and Management. She obtained a PhD in Applied Management Sciences (With Merit) at Montpellier Sup Agro, France under a French Scholarship. She was the Head of Department (Agricultural Production and Systems) at the Faculty of Agriculture from January 2019 to January 2021. Her research areas include agrifood value chain analysis and development and agrientrepreneurship. She has a keen research interest in the development of sustainable food systems under the overarching issue of food and nutrition security and in line with the UN SDGs (Responsible Production and Consumption and the Zero Hunger target). She also fosters a multidisciplinary approach in her research projects, and is an ardent believer of translational research as the way forward for universities to address real-life challenges.

Dr Myriam Blin is a Gender Economist with more than 15 years’ experience in Academia. She is the Head of the Charles Telfair Centre and Head of Faculty of Accounting, Finance and Law at Curtin Mauritius. She started her academic career in the UK, first at the University of Manchester and then the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. She moved to Mauritius in 2008 and soon after joined the management team of Middlesex Mauritius as Head of Academic Provision and later interim campus director until 2013. After a few years working for a federal university in the UAE, Myriam returned to Mauritius in 2017 as the Head of the Business School at Aberystwyth Mauritius. Myriam has also been acting as a TEC funded senior advisor to the Open University of Mauritius. Myriam holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Manchester and has researched and taught in the areas of international economics, gender economics, political economy of development, education and research methodology. She started her academic career in the UK, first at the University of Manchester and then the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. She moved to Mauritius in 2008 and soon after joined the management team of Middlesex Mauritius as Head of Academic Provision and later interim campus director until 2013. After a few years working for a federal university in the UAE, Myriam returned to Mauritius in 2017 as the Head of the Business School at Aberystwyth Mauritius. Myriam has also been acting as a TEC funded senior advisor to the Open University of Mauritius. Myriam holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Manchester and has researched and taught in the areas of international economics, gender economics, political economy of development, education and research methodology.

Elena Nikolova is an Associate Professor at Zayed University in the UAE and has an extensive background in policy work for international organizations such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. She has worked across Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa. Prior to her current position, she served as an Assistant Professor in Economics at University College London and worked as an economist at the EBRD in London. She earned her PhD from Princeton University in 2011 and her undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College in the US. Her research spans gender economics, labor, social and economic development, entrepreneurship, political economy, economic history, and the politics and economics of development and transition.

F.B. Vincent Florens is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biosciences and Ocean Studies, University of Mauritius. His main research interest is in the conservation of biodiversity in tropical terrestrial systems with particular emphasis on the impact of invasive alien species on the biodiversity of tropical forests. Vincent also have an interest in restoration ecology, taxonomy of Mascarene flowering plants and land molluscs, and collaborate on palaeoecology and molecular ecology research projects.

Fiona Grant is a lecturer of Psychology at the University of Mauritius. She graduated with a Maitrise in Organizational Psychology from Université René Descartes - Paris 5 in France. She went on to complete a Master of Arts in Social Psychology and Program Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University. Finally, she received a PhD in Psychology and Health from the same institution in California, USA. Her research is at the intersection of self and social identity, and examines how individuals derive a sense of self from the social groups they belong to (e.g.: nationality, profession, ethnicity…) and how these group memberships shape how we see ourselves and others. She also studies social identity processes in health contexts, specifically the role of group membership in health promotion and exercise behavior. Finally, she conducts research on social identity complexity and how people cope with multiple identities during times of uncertainty.

Professor Francois Retief is Professor of Environmental Management at North-West University (NWU), South Africa. In 2020, Francois was awarded the International Individual Award by the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) for his sustained contributions to the field of environmental assessment.

With an interdisciplinary background in small-scale fisheries, Greg has been involved in the sector for the past 12 years and has a passion for co-designing real-world solutions that address complex social-ecological fisheries challenges head on using ground-up approaches. He holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Cape Town with a specialisation in fisheries anthropology. Having led action research projects since 2010, he currently leads ABALOBI’s Strategic Projects and Support across its local and international sites. Greg was the lead for ABALOBI on the Market Evolution for Small-scale Fisheries in Africa (MESA) project that took place in Mauritius from November 2020 to April 2021.

Henri Casella is a consultant on environmental economics. His areas of expertise cover climate change, biodiversity economics and the blue economy. Recent works includes an analysis of environmental vulnerability in African SIDS, a review of trade as a tool to support adaptation to climate change in Africa, and a report on the environmental sustainability of fisheries of the African continent. He holds a Master degree from AgroParisTech and from Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan on environmental economics (France). Henri currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya.

Hudaa Neetoo is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Mauritius. She holds a Masters and PhD degree in Food Science from the University of Delaware, U.S. and her areas of expertise are microbiology and food safety. Prior to joining academia, she worked as Microbiologist and Head of Laboratories in a seafood processing industry. At the University of Mauritius, Hudaa is involved in a variety of projects addressing issues of local importance including (i) food safety, quality and security, (ii) agricultural and environmental microbiology and (iii) climate change and its impacts on food safety. Hudaa wants to forge more interdisciplinary local and international collaborations on research projects but she also wants to maintain industrial ties. Hudaa hopes that her academic career will enable her to give back to the community through outreach activities, student mentoring and graduate empowerment programs.

A trade and corporate finance advisory firm based in Mauritius. With more than 25 years of leadership experience in corporate banking in Mauritius and across the Middle East, he has worked, among others, for the Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd, Standard Bank Ltd. and HSBC Ltd. In 2019, he founded Ebonia Capital to provide financial and risk advisory services, as well as funding solutions to entities in Mauritius and across East Africa. Ibrahim has a Masters in International Trade and Finance from Lancaster University.

Jaime de Melo, professor emeritus from the University of Geneva is a CEPR fellow, a senior fellow at FERDI and an advisor at Trade Economics. From 1980 to 1993, he was in the research Department at the World Bank before joining the faculty at the University of Geneva from 1992 to 2013. Jaime has advised governments on trade policies and during WTO litigations. He has consulted for the AfDB, the European Commission, the IMF, USAID, the World Bank, and participated in several projects with the LSE. A founding member of the World Trade Institute, he has held several editorial positions and was editor-in-chief of the World Bank Economic Review, 2005-2010. Jaime holds degrees in Political Science at the Maxwell School (Bachelors from Syracuse University 1968), in international relations (M.A from Johns Hopkins SAIS, 1970), and a Phd in economics from John Hopkins University (1975). Jaime's publications are available at http://ideas.repec.org/e/pde173.html

Dr Jay Rovisham Singh Doorga, an Oxford-trained author and consultant, is currently lecturer at Université des Mascareignes. With an MSc in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford, a PhD in GIS - Modelling and Forecasting, and a BSc in Physics from the University of Mauritius, his expertise spans across critical environmental issues. Honored with prestigious awards such as the University of Oxford ECM Award and the Cambridge Outstanding Achievement Award, Dr. Doorga has over 35 peer-reviewed publications and one book with over 750 citations. His influential research in coastal ocean management, disaster risk management, climate change, and renewable energy shapes policy climates in Africa, bridging scientific energy and climate issues with policymaking. As a participant in international consultancies and national projects, he has addressed flood risk management in Mauritius, sea level rise in Seychelles, Comoros, and Mauritius, and climate mitigation and adaptation in small islands globally. Dr. Doorga also holds a patent for a wave energy prototype, and his work, featured in Forbes, the University of Oxford, and the Daily Maverick, continues to impact multilateral financial institutions, global think tanks, and policymakers, fostering sustainable change across Africa.

Né en France en 1962 et mauricien d’adoption, Jean-Luc Wilain se met au service d’une cause : faire dès aujourd’hui ce qui est nécessaire pour transmettre un monde vivable aux générations futures. Ingénieur des Mines, titulaire d’un Advanced Management Program en gestion et stratégie, il a exercé la plupart des métiers de l’entreprise dans cinq pays et a été en affaires avec une cinquantaine d’autres. Dernièrement responsable du business development et du développement durable d’un conglomérat mauricien, il a décidé de quitter ce confort pour se consacrer au conseil en entreprise, au développement de solutions innovantes et durables, et au partage à travers des publications, des conférences, et des formations. Au sein de sa société de conseil WillChange, il espère contribuer à une réflexion apolitique et globale sur l’avenir de Maurice, et en particulier sur celui des trois générations présentes aujourd’hui et qui le seront encore en 2068. Il a écrit « L’’ indépendance en 2068 – Les défis d’aujourd’hui » et a réuni un collectif de contributeurs pour proposer une feuille de route vers la souveraineté alimentaire, énergétique et économique.

Jeevesh Augnoo is Head of the Law Department and Senior Lecturer at Rushmore Business School, where he teaches a range of modules in Law, Management and Employability Skills. He holds an LLB from City, University of London, a certificate of attendance on the BPTC from City Law School and an MBA from Leeds Beckett University. He has acquired work experience with international and local law firms and companies in different legal departments. He teaches different modules on various programmes including ACCA, ACA and BCS and has also been an associate lecturer with Northumbria University, University of Law, Leeds Beckett University and Coventry University. He has been involved in youth empowerment and community development through his work as executive member of several organisations including the Port Louis Hub of the Global Shapers Community and Rotary Club of Mahébourg and is an alumnus of member of the Young African Leadership Initiative. He is the co-founder of Mind Matters Mauritius, a not-for-profit organisation focused on mental health education and awareness as is also a self-published author.

Josheena is a doctoral candidate in the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER) at Stanford University. She researches marine governance in small island states currently facing the impacts of climate change, with a focus on the Western Indian Ocean, and particularly her home country, the Republic of Mauritius. Her doctoral work is situated at the nexus of political ecology and marine policy and focuses on adaptive management of marine protected areas (MPAs), community inclusion, and the valorization of natural and cultural heritage in ocean governance. 

She intends to use her community-based research on MPAs to further explore the complexities of local environmental stewardship efforts and environmental identity in a post-colonial context. Josheena has most recently worked on assessing the social impacts of COVID-19 and the 2020 Wakashio oil spill disaster on coastal communities in Mauritius. She was also the lead researcher for fisher communities under the Market Evolution for Small-scale Fisheries in Africa (MESA) project. Prior to coming to Stanford, she worked as a program manager for a marine conservation NGO in Mauritius, where she spearheaded several environmental awareness campaigns, including a marine Eco-Guide certification program for tourist operators around a marine park, and was actively involved in the first national closure of octopus fisheries, a pioneering initiative led by multiple stakeholder groups. She is motivated to pursue her current research because of her personal connections in her communities of study.

K V Soon is a seasoned technology entrepreneur and visionary leader with over three decades of experience driving digital innovation and transformation across diverse industries. He has founded and scaled multiple companies and invested in promising tech startups. K V Soon's influence extends beyond the corporate world. He has contributed to national-level initiatives, including Malaysia’s innovative dengue prevention programme and Singapore's Government-to-Government (G2G) initiatives, applying technology to enhance public health and governance. Additionally, he has advised global institutions such as the World Bank and recently USAID, shaping digital strategies in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Notable positions include serving as Programme Director for digitalFIJI and Director of the Mauritius National ID Card Scheme. As a Founder and Director of The Praxellence Center, K V Soon continues to lead and advise organizations both in Malaysia and internationally. K V Soon remains dedicated to leveraging technology for social good, building inclusive and sustainable societies through impactful digital solutions.

Kaleab Kebede Haile is a development economist who works as a Principal Researcher at Includovate. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Economics and Governance from Maastricht University and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Haramaya University. His fields of research interest and expertise include impact evaluation, gender analysis, climate resilience, lab and field experiments, adoption of agricultural technologies and innovations, food and nutrition security, human capital development, and poverty and inequality dynamics.

Krishnee is a senior lecturer in the department of Law, at the Faculty of Law and Management, of the University of Mauritius. There she teaches Environmental Law, Information, Communication and Technology Law, the Mauritian Legal System, and Jurisprudence and the Theory of Law. Her research interests mainly centre around Environmental and Climate Change Law and Policy. Krishnee is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Western Australia, where her doctoral thesis comprises a critical analysis of the legal and financial enforceability of the loss and damage principle. She has published various journal articles, book chapters and conference papers on topics including ocean governance, sexual harassment at work, environmental and climate change law and policy, and tourism adaptation and mitigation. She is the co-founder and director of Mind Matters Mauritius, as well as the founder of Climate Justice Compact. Krishnee is a gender, youth, disability and climate activist.

L. Amedee Darga is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (U.K). He is the Chairman of the Mauritius Africa Business Club and is also the Managing Partner of StraConsult Africa Business Development Services. He has been from October 2005 to December 2014, the chairperson of Enterprise Mauritius. He is a Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineers in Mauritius as well as a Fellow of the Mauritius Institute of Directors. He also served as a member of the High-Level Project Monitoring Unit under the Prime Minister's Office until December 2014. Amedee Darga has been a resource person to UNECA for the preparation of the Africa Governance Report project. 

He has been the Lead Consultant for the preparation of Country AGR II, III and IV over a period of seven years for Mauritius and Seychelles. He is over the last six years the Principal Investigator for Afrobarometer surveys in Mauritius. Amedee Darga has been party to a number of international trade negotiations at WTO, COMESA and SADC as well as in bilateral negotiations between Mauritius, India, Pakistan and Turkey. He is a former member of parliament in Mauritius, elected for the first time at the age of 26 and a former Minister. He also served as a Mayor of the second most important town of Mauritius. He is a trustee of the Southern and Eastern African Trade and Information Network (Seatini), a member of the African Association of Political Science since 1977 and a former executive member of the organization. 

He was a member of the task force of the OAU for the drafting of the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty. He served from 2005 to 2011 as a Member of the Bureau of the Committee on Human Development and Civil Society of the U.N Economic Commission for Africa. As a researcher he has widely researched and published on democracy, governance and economic development issues. His latest publication is a chapter in the book "Advocates for Change – How to overcome Africa's Challenges" edited by Moeletsi Mbeki. "

Pro Vice Chancellor and President, Curtin Singapore. Doctor of Business Administration (Curtin) Graduate Diploma in Business (Human Resource Development) (Curtin) Bachelor of Science (UWA) Professor Linley Lord is the Pro Vice-Chancellor and President of Curtin Singapore with overall responsibility for the academic quality and integrity of the campus programs. She currently chairs the Education Services Interest Group for the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce. Prior to her appointment in Singapore Linley was Chair of Curtin University’s Academic Board and a member of the University Council. She was also the Co-Lead for Curtin’s Athena SWAN Project aimed at increasing the number of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine, and was the Director of the Maureen Bickley Centre for Women in Leadership (MBC) in the Faculty of Business and Law. She was the inaugural Academic Director for the Curtin Leadership Centre, leading the development of co-curricular student leadership programs. Her research interests focus on gender and leadership, women in STEM and academic women’s careers. Linley has presented her research at major international conferences in North America, Europe, the UK and Australia and regularly consults to industry particularly in relation to new models for leadership, women on boards and women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Loan Thi Hong Le is the Managing Director of International Economics (Vietnam office) and is responsible for trade strategy and advisory work in the East Asia region at International Economics. She has been working on a range of projects exploring the nexus between trade and digitalisation in Southeast Asia and Africa. She was a team member on the ASEAN Digital Trade Connectivity Study. She supported the work of IEC in preparing a scoping study for the establishment of an EAC single regional digital market comprising, among others, the promotion of cybersecurity and data privacy for the development of the single data market component. She supported the development of an e-Payments blueprint for the facilitation of digital trade across Africa. In Indonesia, she worked on SMEs’ access to new markets through e-commerce. 

Loan contributed to the comparative analysis of different topics covered in free trade agreements, including reviewing digital trade commitments in the CTPPP, RCEP, and recent agreements signed by East Asian partners. Finally, she recently concluded a handbook on cybersecurity markets in ASEAN for the UK Government. Before joining the company, she worked at Baker & McKenzie. Loan holds a MA in International Trade Policy & Law and a BSc in International Business & Economics from the Foreign Trade University of Hanoi, in addition to an LLB from Hanoi Law University.

CEO, Aetheis Marc Israel is an Entrepreneur, Thought Leader, Author and Public Speaker, with more than 30 years of success across Technology industries. After 17 years at Microsoft, serving as CTO for Sub-Saharan Africa, and leveraging extensive experience in technical leadership, Marc founded Aetheis, a company aim at providing executive consultancy in the field of cognitive services, blockchain and digital transformation. Marc attained his degree in Robotics and Engineering from École Superieure D’Ingénieurs en Électrotechnique et Électronique in Paris. He has completed INSEAD and Wharton Executive Education (with distinction) programs. Marc is the recipient of many National Public Speaking Award and the author of over 20 books published in French and English on various technical and leadership topics.

Naseem Aumeerally completed her B.A. (Hons) in English and French and a Masters in Comparative Literature at the University of Kent and a PhD in English and Cultural Studies at the University of Melbourne. She is currently Senior Lecturer in English Studies at the University of Mauritius. Her research interests are nulticulturalism,  minority Muslim cultures in the Indian Ocean, Muslim popular culture and Creole publics. She is a Research Affiliate with the ''Ground-Truthing for Sustainable Peace Project' of the Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict and Complexity at Columbia University’s Earth Institute and is currently working on projects about the changing subjectivities of Muslim women in South Africa and Mauritius. Her studies include: “Minority Rights and anti-discrimination policy in Mauritius-The case of ‘Malaise Creole’”, International Journal of Cultural Policy,  2015,“Reimagining Muslim Women Through the Prism of Minor Diasporic and National Literatures,” , Interventions , 2017,  and “Intersectional Religious Agency: Mauritian Muslim Women and the Negotiation of Porous Interfaces,” co-authored with Jess Auerbach and Myriam Blin, which appeared in the Journal of Southern African Studies in 2020.

Nitin is Lecturer in Theoretical Physics at the University of Mauritius. Before that, he worked for 6 years in the Education sector in Mauritius, looking at higher education policy (as part of his Service to Mauritius), teacher education in mathematics at primary and secondary levels (as maths education lecturer at the Mauritius Institute of Education), and educational assessment in mathematics and the sciences (as R&D Officer at the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate). He was also a maths lecturer at the Ecole Centrale de Nantes in Mauritius. Nitin studied mathematics, physics, neuroscience and education in Melbourne, Paris, Munich, Lausanne, Cape Town and London. He has a PhD in mathematical physics (specialising in string theory) and a Master’s degree in education (specialising in assessment). His research interests are varied and cut across disciplines, with a focus on theoretical physics and education. Nitin is also interested in science outreach. He is currently the Education & Science specialist on the Mauritian International Astronomical Union National Outreach Committee, where he provides support in promoting awareness of astronomy across the island. In 2015, he co-founded the Café Scientifique Maurice initiative which hosted more than two dozen scientists as speakers from 10 countries. Nitin also worked with the British Council to help launch the international science communication competition FameLab in Mauritius in 2017.

Dr Shafiiq Gopee heads the Office for Learning and Teaching at the Charles Telfair Campus/Curtin Mauritius since January 2017. Before holding this position, he has spent more than a decade teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and conducted corporate training for organisations within the top 100 companies in Mauritius. He is recipient of two Teaching Excellence Awards from Curtin University and is a recurrent visiting lecturer at the Toulouse Business School. He holds a BSc Information Systems from the University of South Africa, an MSc Information Systems and Human Resources Management from Middlesex University, London and a PhD Media and Information from Curtin University, Australia. He is also an alumnus of Stanford Life Studio programme. Dr Odylle Charoux is currently the Director of Innovation and Change Management at Curtin Mauritius, Charles Telfair Campus and a member of the ‘Charles Telfair Company’ Board of Directors. After completing a BSc (Biology & Psychology), a BEd and a MSc (Science and Technology Education) in South-Africa, she spent twenty years working as teacher, lecturer and educational adviser in this country. She then returned to Mauritius where she worked as Director of Academic Affairs at the Charles Telfair Institute, (CTI). In May 2019 she received an Honorary Doctor of the University award from Curtin University for her significant contribution towards the successful establishment of the institute and its evolution into the Curtin Mauritius Campus. Dr. Vikash Rowtho is currently the Head of Research at The Charles Telfair Campus where he has worked in various academic and administration roles for over twenty years. He started as lecturer in 1997 before heading the Faculty of IT Design and Communication from 2000 to 2016 prior to joining the office of Innovation, Learning Teaching and Research. He completed his undergraduate, masters and engineering degrees in Computer Science at the Riga Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers. He also has a Diploma of Sustainability and a PhD in Education. His publications include book chapters and journal articles mainly in the field of education.

Dr. Olivier Pasnin is a Senior Research Coordinator at Reef Conservation and the project coordinator for the project “Nature-based solutions for protecting the coastal zone “. He has over ten years of experience in the field of marine conservation. He dedicates his time in finding scientific approaches for developing holistic conservation plans and he recently developed an interest in integrating genetic information into conservation planning.

Paul Baker is the Founder and Chairman of International Economics Consulting Group, with offices in Ho Chi Minh, London, and Mauritius. Paul has over 25 years of experience as an economic adviser to Governments from G7 and G90 countries. He has held lead economist roles on assignments for EU’s DG Trade and DG INTPA, Germany’s Federal Ministry for International Cooperation and Development, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, UK’s Department for International Trade, UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and Trade Ministries across the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Central, South and East Asia, and Pacific. Paul regularly works with the World Bank, World Economic Forum, WTO, Asian Development Bank and UN agencies. For his significant contribution and extensive experience in his professional field, Paul has been named a Global Leader in Trade & Customs by Who’s Who Legal for the last seven consecutive years and was nominated in Who’s who Thought Leaders Africa 2023. 

He currently serves as a Board Member of UNESCAP’s Trade Intelligence Negotiation Advisor and Research Advisor at ARTNeT, the largest trade research network in the Asia-Pacific. He is also an expert in the Working Group of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Digital Flows Initiatives and an Expert in the WEF/WTO's TradeTech Working Group on AI, IOT, Blockchain, and Digital Identities for trade. He is a visiting professor at the College of Europe in the master’s programme and part-time lecturer at the University of Mauritius. He was a faculty member and visiting professor at international universities in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. He holds an MSc (Econ) in Economics from the Univesity of London (SOAS) and a Maitrise in Science in Financial Engineering from the University of Nantes.

Dr. Peter T. Coleman is Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University where he holds a joint-appointment at Teachers College and The Earth Institute. Dr. Coleman directs the Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution (MD-ICCCR), is founding director of the Institute for Psychological Science and Practice (IPSP), and is executive director of Columbia University’s Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict, and Complexity (AC4). Dr. Coleman is a renowned expert on constructive conflict resolution and sustainable peace. His current research focuses on conflict intelligence and systemic wisdom as meta-competencies for navigating conflict constructively across all levels (from families to companies to communities to nations), and includes projects on adaptive negotiation and mediation dynamics, cross-cultural adaptivity, optimality dynamics in conflict, justice and polarization, multicultural conflict, intractable conflict, and sustainable peace. In 2003, Dr. Coleman became the first recipient of the Early Career Award from the American Psychological Association (APA), Division 48: Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence, and in 2015 was awarded the Morton Deutsch Conflict Resolution Award by APA and a Marie Curie Fellowship from The European Union. In 2018, Dr. Coleman was awarded the Peace Award from Meaningful World, in celebration of their 30th anniversary and the UN’s International Day of Peace.

Dr Phathu Mukwevho is based at North-West University (NWU), South Africa. He works on environmental governance approaches and completed his PhD on air quality management approaches in South Africa.

After obtaining his Licence en droit et sciences économiques and his degree from the Institut d’études politiques in Paris, Philippe Boullé returned to Mauritius to take up the posts of Secretary General of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Economic Advisor at the Mauritius Commercial Bank. He then joined the United Nations in New York as Chief of the Financial Assistance Unit for African Least Developed Countries, then as Director a.i of the UN General Assembly Department. He was stationed in Jordan after the invasion of Kuwait by Irak, working with with IOM, UNICEF, and UNDP to coordinate the return home of 750 000 third-country nationals fleeing from Kuwait. 

He was also Director of the New York Office for Disaster Relief before moving to the United Nations Office in Geneva as Deputy Director of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs then as Director of the UN Disaster Risk Reduction office. After leaving the UN, Philippe Boullé worked in Paris with the Association Française pour la Prévention des Catastrophes Naturelles, in Washington D.C with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, and as senior consultant with The Indian Ocean Commission on risk reduction programmes.

Pricila Iranah is a Visiting Professor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. With backgrounds in ecology, sociology and environmental economics, her main areas of interest are human dimensions of conservation management, environmental economics and diverse values of nature, indigenous and local knowledge of biodiversity and conservation, systems thinking and mental models, habitat and biodiversity conservation, and adaptation and resiliency to climate change impacts.

Department of Biosciences and Ocean Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, 80837, Le Réduit, Mauritius

vin.florens@uom.ac.mu

Pro-Vice Chancellor and President, Curtin Mauritius Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Education, Bachelor of Education, Diploma of Teaching. Professor Lina Pelliccione is the inaugural Pro-Vice Chancellor of Curtin Mauritius and commenced her role in January 2019. Prior to this role Professor Pelliccione held a number of senior positions at Curtin University since she began in a full-time capacity in 2001. Professor Pelliccione was the Head of the School of Education since 2010 prior to taking up the role of Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Humanities in February, 2018. She was selected to attend a number of prestigious courses such as the Harvard Management Leadership Institute for Higher Education 2016 and the Chief Executive Women’s Leadership 2018. Her background is in education and innovation, in particular in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). She has researched and lectured in those areas that deal with the integration and effective use of ICT in teaching and learning. Her research interests include: the adoption and implementation of ICT in teaching and learning; teacher education; online learning; innovation and change.

Rabin Bhujun has a two decade-long career in the media and has earned international and local recognition for his work as a journalist and opinion leader. Late 2013, he co-founded online media portal ION News after holding the position of editor in chief at l’express dimanche for 7 years. He has also been a board member of public and private sector organisations catering for the development of journalism. Over his career, Rabin has built an extensive network and a deep understanding of the dynamics among the major actors of the Mauritian economy and society. Rabin studied Law and Political Science at Panthéon-Assas (Paris 2).

Rachel Moussié is the Deputy Director of the Social Protection Programme at WIEGO – a global research and policy network supporting organizations of informal workers. Her work focuses on the extension of social protection systems and childcare services by collaborating with women informal workers on research and policy engagements alongside national governments, international organisations, bilateral donors and foundations. Rachel holds a MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics and a BA from McGill University. Born in Mauritius, she grew up and worked across Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe, and has now returned to Mauritius.

Raj Makoond is a Program Director at Eclosia also Chairs the Financial Services Institute (FSI), the University of Technology of Mauritius (UTM) and the Business Mauritius Regional Energy Working Group (B.M.R.E.W.G). He was previously the CEO of Business Mauritius and Co-Chaired the Steering Committee on Global Financial Crisis, the Textile Emergency Support Team and the Public-Private Business Facilitation Task Force.

Raphael Merven was a Master student at the University of Montpellier and at AgroParisTech. With a mixed profile between engineering and scientific research, he principally works on environmental and territorial management in both tropical and temperate countries. His main research topics concerns socio-ecological changes, coastal management and environmental politics.

30, Faculté des Sciences de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France

mervenraphael73@gmail.com

Professor Reece Alberts is Associate Professor at North-West University (NWU), South Africa. His research is about taking forward advances in approaches for protected areas, EIA, nature conservation, environmental law, environmental governance, and environmental leadership.

Le Docteur Rémy Jullienne est chirurgien ophtalmologue. Diplômé de la faculté de médecine de Bordeaux où il décroche une bourse de mérite de l’Etat Français, il valide ensuite son Diplôme d’Etudes Spécialisées en Ophtalmologie au Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Saint-Etienne. Il poursuit une carrière Hospitalo-Universitaire et occupe le poste de Chef de Clinique à l’Université de Saint Etienne de 2015 à 2018. Plusieurs missions d’enseignement lui sont confiées ainsi que l’encadrement et la formation chirurgicale d’une vingtaine de chirurgiens. Parallèlement à sa pratique clinique et chirurgicale, il participe à plusieurs travaux de recherche au sein du laboratoire « Biologie Ingénierie et Imagerie en Ophtalmologie » et compte une dizaine de publications scientifiques. 

Son travail de thèse intitulé « Worldwide Eye Banking Project » sur le thème de la greffe de cornée et du eye banking est publié dans le prestigieux journal JAMA Ophthalmology et obtient plusieurs distinctions. Membre de la Société Française d’Ophtalmologie et Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology, il participe régulièrement à des conférences internationales, dont certaines comme orateur invité principal. Depuis 2019, il exerce à l’ile Maurice tout en menant plusieurs projets dont celui de créer la première banque de cornées locale.

Ria Roy is an Economist at International Economics Consulting (Mauritius). Ria works at the intersection of the Consulting and Data Analytics teams. Her main activities include researching and analysing trade, presentation and drafting background papers, while also working with statistical tools and interactive dashboards. Ria's main contributions are focused on impact assessment studies, modern trade policy analysis and e-commerce. Ria holds an MSc in Development Economics from SOAS, University of London and a BA in Economics and Statistics from St Xavier's College, Ahmedabad in India. She has also completed two summer schools from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Cambridge. She also has formal training in R coding, SPSS and VBA.

Roukaya Kasenally is a democracy scholar and an Associate Professor in Media and Political Systems at the University of Mauritius. She also holds the position of CEO of the African Media Initiative - a Pan African organisation supporting independent media across the continent. She has wide experience working in Africa as a consultant for a number of International and Pan African institutions on media and democratic governance. She is currently the Chair of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) and a board member of the West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR). Kasenally has authored / co-authored a number of publications on media and democratic systems. Kasenally has been a Regan Fascell Democracy Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy (Washington DC) (2011 – 2012) and a Draper Hills Democracy Fellow at Stanford University (2015). She holds a PhD from the University of Sheffield and is fluent in English and French.

Prakash (Sanju) Deenapanray holds a PhD in Semiconductor Physics from ANU, an MSc In Physics from the University of Pretoria, and an MBA from LaTrobe University. Sanju has published over 200 research articles and patents in the field of thin-film silicon solar cell technologies. Currently, he is the owner and Director of ELIA – Ecological Living In Action Ltd, which provides consultancy and training in climate change governance in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. He also serves as Adjunct Professor and Chair of the Sustainability and Climate Change Programme at Université des Mascareignes. Sanju has worked with the Mauritius Research Council, UNDP, and UNEP, where he contributed to climate change initiatives for small island developing states and green growth indices. He is also a member of the Mauritius Sustainability Index Supervisory Committee.

Scott M. Weber is the President of Interpeace, the International Organization for Peacebuilding. Interpeace initiates and supports peace processes in more than 21 countries in Central America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. As President, Scott is responsible for strategy, positioning and resource mobilization to grow the organization’s impact, influence and reach. Prior to his appointment to the role of President on 1 July 2018, Scott served as Director-General of the organization from 2005-2018. Prior to joining Interpeace, Scott worked at the United Nations, in the Office of the United Nations Director-General in Geneva (UNOG) and in disaster preparedness. Scott is a Judge for the Global Teacher Prize and a member of the International Gender Champions. He was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2009. Scott is French and American and holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, Economics and Russian from Georgetown University and Certificates of Executive Education in Leadership from Harvard University’s JFK School of Government and Oxford University’s Saïd Business School.

Selvin is an economist with a background in microeconomics and econometrics. He has been a PhD candidate in Economics since October 2018 at the Centre for Competition Policy, University of East Anglia, where he obtained a scholarship. His research interests lie in the field of Industrial Organisation, Competition and Regulation, and Information Economics. Selvin’s dissertation focuses on the incentive regulation of network industries from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. In particular, he models the interaction between several regulators and the regulated industry, and studies the impact of price cap and rate of return regulation on industry performance. Selvin obtained a degree in Economics from the University of Lyon and a master’s degree from the Toulouse School of Economics. He also contributed in many ways to the Toulouse School of Economics student magazine, The TSEconomist. Prior to his PhD studies, he gained experience in competition policy enforcement in Mauritius. This was followed by an exposure to business where he used economics and statistics to analyse sales, derive incentive schemes for salesmen and designed an anti-cash shortage policy. Selvin also spent a year in tertiary education where he taught economics related courses.

Shatyam is a human rights advocate whose career focuses on harm reduction, social & mental well- being, and HIV prevention & treatment for priority populations (People who use/inject drugs, sex workers, LGBTQIA+ community, and people living with HIV). Currently at the age of 25, Shatyam is the director of the Collectif Urgence Toxida, a local NGO that provides harm reduction services to people who use drugs and sits as NGO representative on the Global Fund Country Coordinating mechanism of Mauritius. Recently, Shatyam has also been elected as board member at the local community-based organization AILES and is mandated on the Long-acting technologies community advisory board (LAT CAB) of the Treatment Action Group (TAG). As a firm believer of youth empowerment and leadership, Shatyam was selected to participate in the One Young World Annual Summit 2022 in Manchester. Additionally, Shatyam also completed his master’s degree (LLM) in corporate law with a distinction from the University of Mauritius.

Sheistah Bundhoo-Deenoo is a Lecturer in Management at Charles Telfair Education teaching modules encompassing Business and Sustainable Development, Culture and Ethics, and Management. Currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Corporate Social Responsibility, her focus is on promoting responsible business practices. She is also an advocate committed to social justice, gender equality, and sustainable development. As such, Sheistah has a history of working with non-profit organisations, particularly within the areas of gender-based violence and intersectional inequality. She possesses a track record in fundraising and proposal writing for social justice related projects, having successfully secured support for initiatives addressing pressing societal concerns. Her work and research have explored important societal issues, including domestic violence, gender equality, and the economic impact of violence in Mauritius. She has shared her findings through various publications, research projects, and conference participation. Being an advocate for social justice, she has equally contributed towards various publications towards international committees including the UNCRC and the UPR.

Stéphania is an academic and MPhil candidate at the Islands and Small States (ISS) at the University of Malta. She has a BA in English and Sociology from UNISA, an MSc in Sustainable Development (Climate Change and Risk Management) from the University of Exeter and an MA in Regional Integration from the University of Mauritius. Her research interests include climate change adaptation, socioecological resilience of rural communities, transformation, community participation and rural livelihoods. She is currently a UNFCCC CAPACITY Fellow at the UN Secretariat for Climate Change in Bonn, Germany. 

In this current position, she supports the capacity-building negotiations at the UNFCCC conferences and the work of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB), a constituted body that serves the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement and engages in a number of internal and external initiatives related to capacity-building. Stéphania is one of the leading young women and changemaker in Rodrigues Island. She has also founded two NGOs in Rodrigues, namely, SIDS Youth AIMS Hub (SYAH)-Rodrigues and Global Shapers Community Rodrigues. She is outspoken about the role and power of youth in creating solutions to global challenges and is enthusiast at pushing the agenda of climate change adaptation and development in SIDS.

Svetlana Barteneva is a biologist and Head of Science of the Marine Megafauna Conservation Organisation (MMCO). Despite the fact that Svetlana has a Master's degree in Management and has been successfully engaged in business for a significant part of her life, she has always been passionate about wildlife and actively participated in nature conservation activities and projects, including the ID-project of sperm whales in the Azores, the protection of green turtles in Indonesia and others. About ten years ago, Svetlana decided to finally change the field of her activity and received her second higher education in two specialties: Biology and Ichthyology. For the past three years, Svetlana has been living in Mauritius and is engaged in the study and conservation of marine megafauna (cetaceans, sharks and turtles), leading research projects of MMCO, is actively involved in educational activities among the local population, both adults and children, as well as visitors to the island in order to raise awareness and involve communities in conservation. Her focus is on the conservation of biodiversity, especially endangered species, using an ecosystem approach and the integration of marine megafauna into marine spatial planning. Svetlana is a member of The Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM).

Taahirah Zahraa Boodhoo Beeharry is Policy Researcher at International Economics, where she carries out research linked to the political economy of trade and investment policies. Prior to joining International Economics Consulting, Zahraa worked in the Political, Press and Information Section (PPI) of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles where her main duties consisted of analysing and drafting reports on the political, strategic, and socio-economic developments in Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Indian Ocean region. She also gained experience conducting research on public policy and legislation for political parties in Mauritius. Prior to this, she worked at the High Commission for the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Mauritius. Zahraa graduated with a BSc in Politics and International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Tan Kim Leng has more than 30 years of consulting and training experience. He has led many consulting engagements in the area of strategic digital planning, digital transformation, smart city, digital government, business process re-engineering, data and knowledge management and change facilitation programmes. He consulted widely for organisations both in public and the private sectors, including Singapore ministries such as Manpower, Law, Education, and Home Affairs, as well as key government agencies like the Singapore Police Force, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, workforce skill development, national technology and tax authorities. His international experience spans Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. He has been engaged by several international organisations such as the World Bank, United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) to provide technical assistance to these countries. Kim Leng is currently an advisor to a number of international projects facilitating policy and governance decisions.

Tanya is the lead Researcher and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the community-based organisation Collectif Urgence Toxida (CUT). Her research interest are in human rights, Social Exclusion, Stigma & Discrimination for Priority population including people who use drugs, LGTBQIA+ community, sex workers and people living with HIV. Tanya has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Mauritius (UOM). In 2021, Tanya worked as research assistant for the project “well-being of priority population in Mauritius” under the guidance of Dr Fiona Grant from UOM. She was able to gain a wide range of experience through the data collection process with communities on the field. In 2022, Tanya was also accepted for a fellowship on leadership in Johannesburg with the Aids and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA).

Ms Tasneem Khedarun is a Fellow of the Advance Academy UK (former Higher Education Academy UK) and Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, holding an LLB (Hons) from the University of London, an LLM (International Commercial Law) from Northumbria University at Newcastle as well as a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning from Middlesex University. She has acquired considerable professional experience as an Associate in a well-reputed law firm in Mauritius, as defined under the Law Practitioner’s Act 1984. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in Law at Rushmore Business School, having started as a lecturer in law since 2010, at various local institutions including Aberystwyth University, Open University, Pantheon Assas, and CLBS. 

She currently teaches a range of Mauritian and UK Law modules on diploma, degree, and post-graduate courses. Tasneem previously contributed extensively to research during her tenure at the Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies (under the aegis of the Supreme Court of Mauritius), during which she was an active member of the editing team of the IJLS newsletter. Tasneem is the co-founder and President of PAPIM, a cancer-awareness NGO that aims at promoting a healthy lifestyle in society to prevent cancer.

Verena Tandrayen-Ragoobur is an Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Mauritius. She is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Her research areas focus on international and development economics. She works on social protection, social policies, labour market, trade, climate change, gender and poverty. She is currently heading the Pole of Applied Socio-Economic Research and Analysis at the University of Mauritius (http://www.uom.ac.mu/research/asera/). She is also the co-chair of the WTO Chairs Programme at the University of Mauritius. She has been involved in various research projects internationally and locally.

Violaine Dulau, PhD, Executive Director, Globice & Associate Researcher, Université de La Réunion Violaine Dulau has been involved in marine mammal research for 20 years. She completed her PhD on Sperm whale ecology in the Mediterranean Sea, addressing a wide range of topics related to the species’ distribution, diving and acoustic behavior, social structure, and population genetics. Now based in Reunion, she is currently the Scientific Director of GLOBICE and a research associate at the University of La Réunion. Her main areas of interest are in the field of conservation biology and include population structures and dynamics, connectivity and island ecology. She is leading research projects mainly focusing on the resident dolphin populations around Reunion and the migratory humpback whales and sperm whales, in collaboration with researchers and other organizations of the south-western Indian Ocean. She is the Chair of Indocet, the Indian Ocean network for cetacean research and conservation. She is also a member of the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group and regional coordinator of IMMAs (Important Marine Mammal Areas) in the Western Indian Ocean.

Xavier Koenig was born in Mauritius in 1985 and grew up in the Northern part of the island. Always fond of Nature, he spent much of his teenage years sailing across our lagoons on his windsurfer, a passion which sparked an interest for composite materials and fluid mechanics. He first studied Mechanical Engineering in Australia, where he worked in the mining and ship building industries until 2010, before his concerns for environmental issues compelled him towards sustainability studies in Sweden. He has since been a consultant and project manager, as well as a nature and sports photographer. He now lives in the West of Mauritius and is undertaking a PhD on Natural Capital Accounting at the Université des Mascareignes.

Yeshna Dindoyal is a pioneering UK-trained Mauritian lawyer who seamlessly blends traditional legal practice with climate change advocacy. Growing up in Mauritius, she witnessed the impacts of environmental changes firsthand, fueling her passion for integrating climate resilience into her legal work. In addition to her legal practice, Yeshna is an academic, part-time lecturer in law, and researcher. She has proudly represented Mauritius at various international conferences on energy and climate change, including at COP and IRENA. Yeshna offers a holistic perspective, helping clients understand how environmental factors affect their legal rights and business operations. Her commitment to sustainable legal practices, coupled with her innovative dual focus on traditional legal practice and climate change advocacy, sets her apart as a transformative force in the legal landscape.

Urban Strategist, The Port Louis Development Initiative Zaheer holds a PhD in Humanities, a Master of Arts (Res) in Political Economy, an MBA, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Architectural Science from universities in Australia and the United Kingdom. Based in Mauritius, he works as an Urban Strategist for The Port Louis Development Initiative and consults for the Global Creative Leadership Initiative on a number of projects on the thematic of Smart Cities and on strategies dwelling in the increasing role of technology in Culture and the Society. Zaheer is also the African Representative of the International Society of Biourbanism (ISB), member of the Advisory Circle of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), and a member of a number of other international bodies. For his contributions to society, he was elevated, by the President of Mauritius, to the rank of Officer of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (OSK); the highest distinct order of Merit in Mauritius, and he is a recipient of a number of other awards. He is the author of numerous peer reviewed publications and author of 5 books on the subject of Future Cities.