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Esther Dassanou manages the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA), an initiative of the African Development Bank, to reduce the 42 billion USD access to finance gap for Women Empowered Businesses in Africa.  Prior to joining AfDB, Ms. Dassanou led the International Finance Corporation¡¯s work on advancing women¡¯s inclusion in the insurance sector as head of the Women¡¯s Insurance program.  Previously, she had managed the Secretariat of the Global Banking Alliance for Women, a consortium of financial institutions dedicated to promoting the growth of women-owned enterprises.

Dorte Verner is a Lead Economist in the Africa Region in the Agriculture and Food Global Practice (Ag GP) of the World Bank where she leads the food security agenda and is the global lead for FCV.  Previously, Ms. Verner served as Principal Economist at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) where she led the global evaluation of IDB¡¯s climate related interventions for a decade.  She had previously been the Climate Coordinator in the World Bank¡¯s MENA Region, and led the Latin America and the Caribbean region¡¯s work on the Socioeconomic Implications of Climate Change.

Frank R. Samolis is co-chair of Squire Patton Boggs¡¯ International Trade Practice.  He advises clients on international trade matters, including trade law, trade policy and legislation, and international trade negotiations.  Mr. Samolis is also chair of Squire Patton Boggs¡¯ India Practice Group and leader of the firm¡¯s Colombia Desk, Latin America Task Force.  Appointed by the US Trade Representative and Secretary of Commerce to an Industry Trade Advisory Committee in 1992, Frank had consulted regularly as a private sector advisor with senior US government officials on policy issues and solutions.

Okaru-Bisant has over 15 years of high-level advisory and work experience in economic development, business, trade, water and gender sectors.  She is the CEO, General Counsel, and Founder of Afrocosmo Development Impact, LLC, a company with a mission to achieve impactful, inclusive and long-term sustainable development through the delivery of quality advisory, due diligence, research, training services to SMEs and governments in Africa.  Ms. Okaru-Bisant is also an adjunct professor at the Catholic University of America and previously taught for several years at the Elliott School of International Affairs of the George Washington University.