The only event worldwide that brings together refugees, entrepreneurs, education experts, private sector, governments, academia and NGOs to improve higher education, promote sustainable economic empowerment and strengthen leadership amongst young people in fragile states.
Podcasts
Check out the exclusive 7-part mini-series of the African Tech Roundup podcast, recorded during IGNITE.
Event details28 November 201808:30-18:00Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam1019BR Amsterdam
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Speakers of IGNITE 2018
Femi Oke (host)
Femi Oke is an award winning international journalist, broadcaster, professional facilitator and the co-founder of the diverse moderators...
SpeakerFemi Oke (host)
Femi Oke is an award winning international journalist, broadcaster, professional facilitator and the co-founder of the diverse moderators bureau “Moderate The Panel.” Since the 1980s Femi has worked for BBC television and radio, Sky TV, all the U.K. terrestrial television networks, CNN, U.S. public radio, and is currently a senior presenter with Al Jazeera English.
Alexander Betts
Alexander Betts is Professor of Forced Migration and International Affairs and William Golding Senior Fellow in Politics at...
SpeakerAlexander Betts
Alexander Betts is Professor of Forced Migration and International Affairs and William Golding Senior Fellow in Politics at Brasenose College, at the University of Oxford. He served as Director of the Refugee Studies Centre between 2014 and 2017. His research focuses mainly on refugee assistance, with a focus on Africa. In addition to is ten other books, he is co-author, with Paul Collier, of Refuge: Transforming a Broken Refugee System (Penguin Allen Lane and Oxford University Press, 2017), which was named by the Economist as one of the ‘Best Books of 2017’. He is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, was named by Foreign Policy magazine in the top 100 global thinkers of 2016, and his TED talks have been viewed by over 3 million people. He has previously worked for UNHCR and currently serves as a Councillor on the World Refugee Council.
Sigrid Kaag
Sigrid Kaag is Dutch minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (Trade & Aid) since October last year....
SpeakerSigrid Kaag
Sigrid Kaag is Dutch minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (Trade & Aid) since October last year. She became minister after an almost 25 year long career at the UN. Mrs Kaag went to university in Utrecht, Cairo, Exeter and Oxford. After finishing her studies -which resulted in a M.Phil. in International Relations and a M.A. in Middle East Studies- she worked for Shell International in London and at the UN section of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her next step in 1994 took her to UNWRA, as programme manager based in Jerusalem. She continued her professional life in various UN positions on different locations. Such as senior advisor in Khartoum and Nairobi, chief of staff with UNICEF, Assistant Secretary-General for UNDP in New York.
Femke Halsema
Femke Halsema is the current Mayor of Amsterdam. Educated as a criminologist, she held several positions in public...
SpeakerFemke Halsema
Femke Halsema is the current Mayor of Amsterdam. Educated as a criminologist, she held several positions in public administration, among which chairperson in the Dutch House of Representatives and political leader of GroenLinks. She left national politics after twelve years in 2011, aspiring to contribute to solving social problems on a more practical level. Since her departure from political life she has worked as a director in businesses, the semi-public sector and the cultural sector.
Kilian Kleinschmidt
Kilian Kleinschmidt is a humanitarian and refugee expert with over 25 years of experience in a wide range...
SpeakerKilian Kleinschmidt
Kilian Kleinschmidt is a humanitarian and refugee expert with over 25 years of experience in a wide range of countries, emergencies and refugee camps as United Nations official, Aid worker and Diplomat. He is the Founder and CEO of Innovation and Planning Agency (IPA), which connects marginalised parts of the globe with technological resources needed to catalyse change. Kilian managed the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan from 2013-14 on behalf of UNHCR.
Dania Ismail
Dania Ismail is the co-founder of Jusoor, an NGO created to harness the potential of Syria’s youth through...
SpeakerDania Ismail
Dania Ismail is the co-founder of Jusoor, an NGO created to harness the potential of Syria’s youth through education, career development, entrepreneurship and community engagement. She is the Founder and Director of the Jusoor Entrepreneurship Program. Dania is currently the Director of Strategy at Telfaz11, one of the most influential and creative digital media companies in the region. Previously, she also served as Strategy and Business Development Manager for MBC Group, the largest Broadcast/Media company in the Middle East.
Patricia Atkinson
Patricia Atkinson is Chief Program Officer at IKEA Foundation, overseeing the Foundation’s grantmaking, which supports the creation of...
SpeakerPatricia Atkinson
Patricia Atkinson is Chief Program Officer at IKEA Foundation, overseeing the Foundation’s grantmaking, which supports the creation of sustainable livelihoods and the fight against climate change. Previously she worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on global health programming, supporting the development of product development partnerships, and health systems and financing solutions for the delivery of new health interventions. Previous to entering the development sector, she worked in a variety of roles in the IT and communications sector. Patricia has a BA and MBA from Stanford University.
Hasan Skeiker
Hasan Skeiker is a Digital Marketing student and a tech-entrepreneur, who developed a first of its kind online...
SpeakerHasan Skeiker
Hasan Skeiker is a Digital Marketing student and a tech-entrepreneur, who developed a first of its kind online platform that helps displaced Syrian students find jobs in Lebanon. Volunteering for Hasan is a life passion in which he has more than 5 years of experience: he worked at the psychological social support and disaster management department at the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and was a project coordinator for the first awareness campaign in Syria about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) called JCI Syria.
Raneem Faisal
Raneem is the co-founder of TEENAH, a social manufacturing enterprise that produces high-quality custom printed bags for events,...
SpeakerRaneem Faisal
Raneem is the co-founder of TEENAH, a social manufacturing enterprise that produces high-quality custom printed bags for events, hotels, conferences, organic markets, among other clients along different industries in Europe and the MENA region, working with Syrian refugees and their host communities in Jordan. Their goal is to provide real opportunities to women and their families, while building productive capacity in rural areas of Jordan and providing sustainable jobs alongside with relevant training. Raneem is also specialist in economic empowerment projects with the Jordan River Foundation, Jordan. Raneem is a Global Shaper and a Swedish Institute Fellow.
Sıla Senlen Güvenç
Sıla Senlen Güvenç is Associate Professor at Ankara University-Department of English Language and Literature, as well as Vice-Director...
SpeakerSıla Senlen Güvenç
Sıla Senlen Güvenç is Associate Professor at Ankara University-Department of English Language and Literature, as well as Vice-Director of Ankara University TÖMER (Turkish and Foreign Language Application and Research Centre). Ankara University TÖMER has collaborated with the Ministry of Education in the ‘Integration of Syrian Children to the Turkish Education System Program’ in training and certification of over 700 Turkish educators in teaching Turkish as a foreign language, and has joined forces with SEQUA in teaching Turkish to thousands of Syrians in Ankara, İstanbul, Kilis, Mersin, Urfa and Hatay.
Mustafa Othman
Mustafa Othman is the co-founder and manager at Shaqodoon Organization, a local organisation based in Somalia/land. He has...
SpeakerMustafa Othman
Mustafa Othman is the co-founder and manager at Shaqodoon Organization, a local organisation based in Somalia/land. He has extensive technical and management experience in the youth employment, entrepreneurship, education and mobile technology for development.
Tariq Cheema
Tariq Cheema is a renowned social innovator and philanthropist. He is the founder of the World Congress of...
SpeakerTariq Cheema
Tariq Cheema is a renowned social innovator and philanthropist. He is the founder of the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists, a global network of affluent individuals, corporations, foundations, governments and academia, dedicated to advancing effective and accountable giving. His trendsetting efforts towards institutionalising Muslim Philanthropy in recent times have earned worldwide acclaim.
Yaseen Alkhalifah
Dr. Yaseen Alkhalifah is the Rector of Aleppo University in the Freed Regions/SIG. With a long history of...
SpeakerYaseen Alkhalifah
Dr. Yaseen Alkhalifah is the Rector of Aleppo University in the Freed Regions/SIG. With a long history of cooperation with UN agencies, since 1976, Dr. Alkhalifah has conducted several scientific demographic and economic studies and researches. Holding several Deanship positions, he contributed to academic surveys for social, demographic and economic purposes. Dr. Alkhalifah is keen to contribute to the reconstruction of HE institutions in Syria, especially Eastern region (Deir Ezzor, Raqa and Hasakeh).
Ink Strategy
We believe that it is crucial to see and feel the opportunities that lie ahead of us. But...
SpeakerInk Strategy
We believe that it is crucial to see and feel the opportunities that lie ahead of us. But we see that lots of people are fearful and hesitate about their futures. Therefore, it is our mission at Ink Strategy to playfully guide people to a bright future. Through visualisations, design thinking and change management tools we open your mind and inspire you to create your individual way to a bright future.
Jovani Ntabgoba
Jovani Ntabgoba is the Country Director of N-Frnds Rwanda. N-Frnds is a cloud-based SaaS platform enabling enterprises to...
SpeakerJovani Ntabgoba
Jovani Ntabgoba is the Country Director of N-Frnds Rwanda. N-Frnds is a cloud-based SaaS platform enabling enterprises to reach and digitize financial and business processes across their customer and supplier networks, throughout the global emerging markets. Based on groundbreaking technology, protected by 21 patents, our platform is easily adaptable, swiftly deployable and can be accessed from any device. Even without mobile data.
N-Frnds has digitized end-to-end, Rwanda’s Milk and Irish Potato Value Chains and is linking their various farmers with Financial institutions.
Nesrin Mawas
Nesrin Mawas is a student in Translation Studies as well as a volunteer interpreter. Her passion in life...
SpeakerNesrin Mawas
Nesrin Mawas is a student in Translation Studies as well as a volunteer interpreter. Her passion in life is reading and learning new languages. Since she only believes in education as a basis for building up communities, she worked in Syria as an English teacher for displaced girls, along with teaching handicraft and crocheting skills for two years. In Turkey she also taught Turkish for Syrian women. Nowadays she works at the psycho-social support center as an interpreter and a case manager where they provide full services for refugees including physical and mental health, education and vital services. Currently, they have a holistic project that is serving one of the most neglected communities here in Lebanon.
Morris Dougba
Morris Dougba is the General Manager of Green Gold Liberia, an alternative energy company in Liberia. He earned...
SpeakerMorris Dougba
Morris Dougba is the General Manager of Green Gold Liberia, an alternative energy company in Liberia. He earned his Bachelor Degree in Accounting from the University of Liberia. Mr Dougba has spent over 30 years managing his late father’s cocoa farm and is a dedicated Liberia businessman, Conservationist and Social Entrepreneur. Mr Dougba proudly states “I have acquired great knowledge and expertise of the Liberian business environment. My experience with the grassroots people has shown me the adverse conditions they endure daily and the effects that they have on the rainforest, especially in the field of charcoal production.”
Peter Knoope
Peter Knoope headed the International Centre for Counter Terrorism (ICCT) – The Hague, which he also initiated. The...
SpeakerPeter Knoope
Peter Knoope headed the International Centre for Counter Terrorism (ICCT) – The Hague, which he also initiated. The centre focuses on the nexus between human rights and counter terrorism. Until 2009, he was Deputy Director of the Policy and Strategy Department of the Dutch National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism (NCTb) established in 2005, following the terrorist attacks in Madrid of 11 March 2004 and the killing of Theo van Gogh in the Netherlands. Peter is a career diplomat who has inter alia been posted as Head of Mission to Afghanistan. Prior to this posting, he headed the Humanitarian Aid section at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was responsible for the Dutch response to foreign crisis situations. He has also worked in development cooperation and research programmes in Tanzania, Cameroon and Senegal.
Joachim Rücker
Joachim Rücker is an economist, independent consultant and former Ambassador of Germany. Until 2017, he was also the...
SpeakerJoachim Rücker
Joachim Rücker is an economist, independent consultant and former Ambassador of Germany. Until 2017, he was also the Special Representative of the Federal Government for the Middle East Stability Partnership. Previous positions include Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, President of the UN Human Rights Council, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo and Inspector-General of the German Foreign Office. For almost a decade, Joachim Rücker served as Mayor of the industrial city of Sindelfingen.
Agatha Abi-Aad
Agatha is the National Education Officer with UNHCR Lebanon. She joined the UN agency in 2006 in response...
SpeakerAgatha Abi-Aad
Agatha is the National Education Officer with UNHCR Lebanon. She joined the UN agency in 2006 in response to the Internal Displaced crises, facilitating the capacity building programme towards the Ministry of Social Affairs. Since 2008 she coordinates UNHCR education programmes with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and ensures access to education and retention through community based activities. More specifically, Agatha is currently co-chairing the Higher Education in Emergencies coordination efforts, overseeing UNHCR tertiary education programmes, facilitating alternative pathways to third country scholarships and promoting innovative ways to expand opportunities such as Connected Learning programmes. Agatha has a degree in Sociology- Anthropology from the Saint Joseph University.
Ben White
Ben is the founder of Venture Capital for Africa (VC4A), an online platform and networking organization connecting the...
SpeakerBen White
Ben is the founder of Venture Capital for Africa (VC4A), an online platform and networking organization connecting the fast growing African startup community. He has been venturing in the African technology and media space since 2003, launching AfricaNews.com as one of the first pan-African news websites. He has done ethnographic research on the emergence of software cultures in Kampala, Uganda, initiated the ICT Entrepreneurship program at Hivos, and later taught classes in digital entrepreneurship at the University of Amsterdam. An angel investor and partner at Sanaga Ventures, Ben is also the cofounder of AfriLabs, a pan-African network of innovation hubs, and is on the board of ActivSpaces, a Cameroon based incubator. Ben is a cofounder of the African Business Angel Network (ABAN) and in 2007 he founded Venture Capital for Africa (VC4A).
Michel Botzung
As Manager of Fragile and Conflict Affected Situations of Africa, Michel helps IFC growing its business in these...
SpeakerMichel Botzung
As Manager of Fragile and Conflict Affected Situations of Africa, Michel helps IFC growing its business in these challenging markets. Throughout his career at IFC, he has focused on developing tailored (and often innovative) advisory proposals to help IFC’s clients deepen their relationships with the local economy, improve their governance, and increase their compliance with IFC’s Business Standards.
Brandon Oelofse
Brandon Oelofse, senior trainer and course coordinator at RNTC. Brandon has worked in advertising and television for 15...
SpeakerBrandon Oelofse
Brandon Oelofse, senior trainer and course coordinator at RNTC. Brandon has worked in advertising and television for 15 years with a focus on getting audiences to adopt new behavior. He runs a Non-profit company in South Africa that uses media as a persuasive tool in adapting behavior in poverty node areas.
Mercedes Gutierrez
Mercedes Gutierrez is Head of Communities Engagement at IKEA (Ingka Group), Born in Burgos (Spain) and now based...
SpeakerMercedes Gutierrez
Mercedes Gutierrez is Head of Communities Engagement at IKEA (Ingka Group), Born in Burgos (Spain) and now based in Malmoe (Sweden), she is leading the fair and inclusive growth agenda of the world’s largest home furnishing retailer operating 367 IKEA stores in 30 markets, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Former head of sustainability at IKEA Spain. Fifteen years’ experiences working on CSR, sustainability, social entrepreneurs and social innovation as innovation drivers to transform business, mainly for the energy and retail sectors. Campaigner and change maker on the next revolution for businesses as partners in solutions to tackle inequality and poverty as we are doing to address the issue of climate change. She holds a degree in chemistry and a mater in CSR, social audit and ESG accountability from Barcelona University.
Alain Nkurikiye
Founder and CEO of Wajenzi, a crowdfunding platform promoting Dutch and Diaspora investment in SMEs in Africa. He...
SpeakerAlain Nkurikiye
Founder and CEO of Wajenzi, a crowdfunding platform promoting Dutch and Diaspora investment in SMEs in Africa. He believes that African Repats have the potential to reduce poverty and enhance economic development in Africa due to their high entrepreneurship spirit, the remittances they send back home that can fund SMEs and the skills/knowledge they can transfer. Alain has more than 15 years experience in investment in financial institutions and SME development in Africa and Europe. He is currently a consultant at IOM (United Nations International Organization for Migration) and GIZ (German Development Agency). He is also a member of EMEN (European Migrant Entrepreneurship Network) where he focuses on enabling migrant entrepreneurs to get access to finance. He is an Advisor of DIYLaw (a legal tech company based in Nigeria) and Youth works Africa (a Fintech company based in Vienna).
Entesar M. Asaker
Syrian Entrepreneur in Jordan, a co-founder of MaFaZ for Medical Equipment & Devices. which is a partner Of...
SpeakerEntesar M. Asaker
Syrian Entrepreneur in Jordan, a co-founder of MaFaZ for Medical Equipment & Devices. which is a partner Of OttoBock KoGa & SE, the worldwide leader company in manufacturing Prosthetics & Orthotics. Together they established many projects for governmental & private organizations in Jordan. In addition, one of their missions is to transfer technology, therefore each year they held training workshops to increase the level of the people who are working in prosthetics fitting. Entesar is now looking to develop a physiotherapy gym to help people and especially women to solve their physical problems and get more healthy life. As for social work, she is interested in raising up the awareness of women about their body and how to protect themselves from physical injuries. Furthermore, recently she has already started helping youth to implement their ideas in projects.
Amanda Aoun
Amanda is a psychologist who developed experience in working with marginalized societies in Lebanon. She obtained a Master...
SpeakerAmanda Aoun
Amanda is a psychologist who developed experience in working with marginalized societies in Lebanon. She obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Applications of Psychology from Kingston University, London, England in 2016. Amanda was a social worker with the Lebanese Red Cross for five years, before she was employed as a Project Field Officer for a fifteen-month project. In 2017, Amanda became the Psychosocial Support (PSS) Programme Coordinator for ARCPA in the “Community Empowerment and Protection” project that is funded by UNICEF. She developed her skills and widened her experience in training on PSS topics while monitoring and working with partner NGOs operating in Palestinian camps in Lebanon, targeting PRL, PRS and Syrian populations in Lebanon. Additionally, she has extensive experience in consulting and delivering PSS trainings to other organizations, such as Islamic Relief and SPARK Lebanon.
Tapio Vahtola
Lead, Shared Value Partnerships, UNHCR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), Switzerland. Tapio leads UNHCR’s...
SpeakerTapio Vahtola
Lead, Shared Value Partnerships, UNHCR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), Switzerland. Tapio leads UNHCR’s work on shared value and operational partnerships with the private sector. Working for UNHCR since 2007, Tapio has contributed to the rapid growth of the organization’s engagement with the private sector, in particular with companies and foundations. Besides private sector partnerships work, he has also held operational positions at UNHCR, both at the headquarters and in the field. Prior to joining UNHCR, Tapio worked for the European Commission’s External and Foreign Service in Africa and in the United States and in PA firm in Brussels, focusing on EU legislation in the areas of Employment and Social Affairs.Tapio holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Turku, Finland (Political History) as well as an MA in European Political and Administrative Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium.
Marcel Smits
Marcel is the Director of the Europe Office, Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) in The Hague. Prior...
SpeakerMarcel Smits
Marcel is the Director of the Europe Office, Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) in The Hague. Prior to this he was the Policy Specialist on Private Sector and Conflict at Oxfam in The Netherlands. Over the last twenty years he has worked for international nongovernmental organizations operating in fragile states and conflict affected areas in South Asia, Africa, Balkans and the Caucasus. Marcel served as the Director of the Forum on Early Warning and Early Response, the Institute for International Mediation and Conflict Resolution and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting-NL as well as the Country Director for the Nonviolent Violent Peaceforce in Sri Lanka during the civil war.
Samuel G. Akyianu
Sam is a Senior Operations Officer with the IFC of the World Bank Group. Sam currently leads IFC’s...
SpeakerSamuel G. Akyianu
Sam is a Senior Operations Officer with the IFC of the World Bank Group. Sam currently leads IFC’s Advisory work for SME Ventures Funds/Private Equity (PE) globally, building capacity for fund managers and their teams, SME Portfolios and the Regulatory Environment. Sam has over 25 years of extensive experience in advisory and investment projects across the Agribusiness Supply Chains, Corporate Finance, Pension Funds Investment management, Treasury management, Private Education & Health, Health Insurance Policy, Technical Assistance & Grants management, SME risk capital financing and Portfolio operations. Before joining the IFC, Sam worked with Ernst & Young/Ghana, Deloitte, TechnoServe Inc. and Chemonics/TIPCEE in Corporate Financial Advisory, Accounting/auditing, Treasury and Investment Finance and SME Value Chain Director Roles. Sam has an MBA (Finance) and a bachelor’s in chemical engineering. He is a professional member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting (CIMA) UK.
Jake Cusack
Co-Managing Partner at CrossBoundary, an innovative investment advisory firm that seeks to unlock private capital to drive sustainable...
SpeakerJake Cusack
Co-Managing Partner at CrossBoundary, an innovative investment advisory firm that seeks to unlock private capital to drive sustainable growth in underserved markets. They have over 50 investment professionals and offices in Nairobi, Johannesburg, Lagos, Bamako, Dubai, DC, and NYC. In 2015 the firm launched CrossBoundary Energy, an affiliated investment vehicle for distributed solar energy generation. Prior to CrossBoundary, Jake served as a Marine Corps officer in Iraq, and worked for Abraaj Capital, an emerging market private equity firm. He has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Stanford Social Innovation Review, The New Republic, and Inc. Magazine. Jake has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.
Jussi Ojala
Executive Representative, Finn Church Aid. He has lived in fragile and conflict affected states in Africa, notably Eritrea...
SpeakerJussi Ojala
Executive Representative, Finn Church Aid. He has lived in fragile and conflict affected states in Africa, notably Eritrea and the Sudan, worked extensively on peace mediation and fragility for the UN and EU and consulted the International Dialogue for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding during the Ebola response in West-Africa. His current task with FCA Investments relate to enabling investments to sustainable SME’s in fragile and conflict affected states.
Leen Almasri
Leen ALMASRI, entrepreneur in architecture and tourism, founder of ATI, innovative tourist agency. Leen has more than ten...
SpeakerLeen Almasri
Leen ALMASRI, entrepreneur in architecture and tourism, founder of ATI, innovative tourist agency.
Leen has more than ten years of experience in architecture and urban planning between Syria and France, she completed her studies with master in management at Grenoble Ecole de Management.
Early 2017 Leen started her own start up, with aim to create links between cultures, through innovative architecture guided tours in Paris.
Jan Vos
Jan Vos is a Dutch entrepreneur and politician. As a member of the Dutch Parliament (2012-2017), his duties...
SpeakerJan Vos
Jan Vos is a Dutch entrepreneur and politician. As a member of the Dutch Parliament (2012-2017), his duties included the Economic Affairs, Trade, Climate, and Energy portfolios. Over 90% of the 227 motions and amendments he floated during his tenure have been passed by parliament.
Included in his achievements was the creation of a €750mln Equity and Loans Emerging Market Investment Fund financing entrepreneurs with little access to finance in countries such as Congo, Mali, Sudan, Ghana, Nigeria, Vietnam, Burma, and Cambodia.
Vos was also responsible for oversight on the negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Agreement (TTIP) with the United States, and he approved the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada.
Yvo Hunink
Yvo Hunink works as an innovation advisor in the CIO-Office at the city of The Hague, where he...
SpeakerYvo Hunink
Yvo Hunink works as an innovation advisor in the CIO-Office at the city of The Hague, where he works on the project of forming a vision on a digital city. He believes that with the right inclusion of relevant stakeholders and an optimistic approach, technology can be a driver of good. He got a degree in sustainable energy technology at the TU Delft, where he also co-founded Energy Bazaar, a project looking to reduce energy poverty in the Global South by facilitating decentralised energy market infrastructure based on blockchain technology. His perspectives look at multi-dimensional integrated solutions that tackle big complex problems, making the world more peaceful, happy and fun.
Robert Fadel
Executive Director of the Refugee Action (ReACT) Hub at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In January 2018...
SpeakerRobert Fadel
Executive Director of the Refugee Action (ReACT) Hub at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In January 2018 ReACT launched its initial certificate in Computer and Data Science Program (CDSP) which delivers blended MIT educational opportunities to talented refugees where they live. Since then ReACT has announced partnerships with two MITx MicroMasters programs, and is preparing to admit a second group of CDSP students. Before returning to MIT, as Vice-President of One Laptop per Child, Robert led OLPC’s ground-breaking project in the Occupied Palestinian Territories seeking to ensure continuity of education, broaden online access, and augment learning and teaching. In his role at OLPC, Robert also worked with the private sector and scores of countries in South America and Africa to bring connected laptops filled with innovative learning content to children. After OLPC, Robert served as Assistant Director of MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), where he led the management of a tripling of its research volume, cultivated philanthropic donations, and assisted in conceptualizing and launching MIT’s first hybrid biological/mechanical MakerLab.
Ali Sarıışık
Prof. Dr. Sarıışık has been serving as Vice Rector at Harran University in charge of projects, constructions and...
SpeakerAli Sarıışık
Prof. Dr. Sarıışık has been serving as Vice Rector at Harran University in charge of projects, constructions and university hospitals since 2015. He has 6 books, 60 scientific projects and 10 patents. He leaded the opening of nearly 80 new departments and programs on vocational education. Prof.Dr. Sarıışık pioneered several projects which are carried out in collaboration with Harran University and GAP (Southeastern Anatolian Project) within the co-financing method. Dr.Sariisik leaded the Turkey’s first Virtual Reality Project at Harran University. He also established UNIGAP (Collaboration of Universities in the Southeast).
Fadi Bishara
Fadi founded Blackbox in 2010 with a commitment to serving entrepreneurs and expanding entrepreneurial opportunity in every corner...
SpeakerFadi Bishara
Fadi founded Blackbox in 2010 with a commitment to serving entrepreneurs and expanding entrepreneurial opportunity in every corner of the globe. Prior to founding Blackbox, he was the Founder & CEO of techVenture, Inc., a talent search and recruitment firm building core teams for venture-backed high growth startups in Silicon Valley. During his last five years in this role, techVenture was retained by 41 startups in the San Francisco Bay Area. 33 of these startups — such as Splunk, Bebo, Zynga, LalaMedia, and Tapulous — have successfully exited, while the majority of the remaining companies are profitable and continue to grow.
Fadi is originally from Hama, Syria, and immigrated to the United States in 1986.
Abdulladif Roble
Abdulladif Roble is an entrepreneur, software engineer and an advocate for change in Africa through technology. He has...
SpeakerAbdulladif Roble
Abdulladif Roble is an entrepreneur, software engineer and an advocate for change in Africa through technology. He has worked with a number of tech based start-ups that are revolutionizing the way Africa do business. His start-up SAMS recently launched an IVR system for local farmers in Somaliland/ Somalia to be connected to the marketplace by providing them with accurate market prices and helping them get in contact with agricultural experts.
Mohamed Al Aswad
Deputy Team Leader, Expertise France, Geneva As Deputy Team Leader, Mohamed Al Aswad supports LIBYA Economic Integration, Diversification...
SpeakerMohamed Al Aswad
Deputy Team Leader, Expertise France, Geneva
As Deputy Team Leader, Mohamed Al Aswad supports LIBYA Economic Integration, Diversification and Sustainable Development Program. He previously served as a Libyan Ambassador at UNESCO and an Advisor on Science, Technology & Innovation Policy at the Libyan Authority for Research, Science & Innovation. Areas of his work include: specialization in science, technology and innovation policy, entrepreneurship and SMEs, private sector development.
Natascha Korvinus
Sr. Investment Associate, Triple Jump Natascha is a Sr. Investment Associate at the Fund Investments department in Triple...
SpeakerNatascha Korvinus
Sr. Investment Associate, Triple Jump
Natascha is a Sr. Investment Associate at the Fund Investments department in Triple Jump, a Dutch based impact focused investment manager. For several years, Natascha is involved in Fund Investments for the Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), a EUR 327m Dutch government mandate that Triple Jump manages, that aims to improve access to finance for SMEs in selected countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. DGGF further has a specific focus on investing in fragile states, as well as supporting female and youth entrepreneurship.
Prior to joining Triple Jump, Natascha worked at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Netherlands and Costa Rica where she was involved in human rights programs for migrants. Natascha has a Master of Social Science degree from Utrecht University.
François Lenfant
Dr. François Lenfant is a lecturer at the Center for International Conflict Analysis and Management (CICAM) within the...
SpeakerFrançois Lenfant
Dr. François Lenfant is a lecturer at the Center for International Conflict Analysis and Management (CICAM) within the Radboud University and post-doctor at the University of Amsterdam. He also consults for various organizations such as UNICEF, PACT, Civicus, International Alert and SPARK. His area of expertise is multistakeholder partnerships including NGO’s, communities and companies in fragile settings, looking specifically at the role of business in conflict transformation processes in Africa. He has published a number of articles on the topic in scientific journals and he has conducted many evaluation assignments related to the economic dimension of conflicts and the role of women in peace processes in Africa. François holds an M.A. in International Development from the American University in Washington, DC, and a PhD from the University of Amsterdam. He is fluent in French, Dutch and English.
Savitri Groag
Savitri is the CSR Lead for Accenture in BeNeLux and France. For the last seven years she has...
SpeakerSavitri Groag
Savitri is the CSR Lead for Accenture in BeNeLux and France. For the last seven years she has been driving Accenture’s ambition to positively impact the lives and labour integration of refugees. As a result, Accenture has hired quite some refugee talents with an IT background to the company. She is also the (co-) founder of the Refugee Talent Hub, an initiative driven by corporates to mentor, support and hire refugee talent.
Ayham Maksoud
Ayham is a Syrian entrepreneur and Turkish citizen. He established his business, Al Maksoud for Steel Constructions, initially...
SpeakerAyham Maksoud
Ayham is a Syrian entrepreneur and Turkish citizen. He established his business, Al Maksoud for Steel Constructions, initially in Syria. However, when the revolution happened in Syria he decided to move his business to Libya. Once re-establishing his business there, employing over 100 people and creating new networks, the revolution in Libya took place. Ayham was forced to move his business again to Turkey four years ago now. His company has been faced with the challenges of 2 wars and has restarted 3 times. Each time Ayham needed to re-register, find a workforce, establish new networks and connections and begin to make a profit once more. If anyone knows about the struggles of being an entrepreneur in fragile states, its him.
Lauren Servin
Lauren Servin is the Founder and Chief Tree Officer at Desert Date Co., a natural ingredient supplier and...
SpeakerLauren Servin
Lauren Servin is the Founder and Chief Tree Officer at Desert Date Co., a natural ingredient supplier and skincare brand based in Northern Uganda, with a focus on conservation of threatened medicinal trees that combat climate change and on creating wealth for women in the region, through the harvesting of rare medicinal ingredients. Lauren also consults organizations on agribusiness development and entrepreneurship and continues to support SPARK in South Sudan. Lauren was previously SPARK’s South Sudan Country Manager for four years where she implemented the agribusiness creation programme focused on Value Chain development. She has an MPA in International Policy from NYU and has spent over 12 years working on multiple projects with a focus on South Sudan.
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This years workshops
What Businesses Can Do to Support Refugees
What Businesses Can Do to Support Refugees
Business around the world are becoming more interested in contributing to solutions for the global refugee crisis. However, the question remains: what can businesses really do and how? Train talent? Employ refugees? Encourage entrepreneurship? Create private-public partnerships? Expect new approaches and a concrete action plan for businesses worldwide.
Speakers: Mercedes Gutierrez (IKEA), Alexander Betts (University of Oxford), Michel Botzung (IFC/CASA), Tapio Vahtola (UNHCR)
Halmachu! How to Prevent Violent Extremism
Halmachu! How to Prevent Violent Extremism
In recent years many Kurdish youth have joined violent extremist groups in the region. How can we prevent this from happening again? Two recent pilot programmes focusing on Kurdish youth have been run on the ground in Iraq. The session will provide some insight into these civil society interventions and the successes and challenges these programmes face. Most notably, what happens when donors stop funding? In this interactive session, the audience will be challenged to workshop ideas about how civil society can take on the threat of violent extremism and youth radicalisation and keep the lights on.
Speakers: Peter Knoope (Consultant, Former Director of ICCT and Diplomat), Raheil Aziz (SPARK), Brandon Oelofse (RNTC)
No Internet: Mobile Solutions for Entrepreneurship
No Internet: Mobile Solutions for Entrepreneurship
Rural entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa have long faced challenges in getting products to markets at the best possible prices. In an age with ever-developing smart technology, how do those without regular access to the internet keep up? New, (simple) mobile solutions – that negate the need for an internet connection – are now allowing entrepreneurs and farmers to dictate their own futures. The workshop focuses on cases from Somalia and Rwanda, and how (simple) mobile tech can boost entrepreneurship.
Young Syrians, displaced across the Middle East region, are the future workforce that will rebuild their country, their cities and their land. The reconstruction process requires a tailored, practical approach. Can (higher) vocational education build up Syria’s ecosystem and contribute to employment in hosting nations, where laws do not always permit Syrians to work in all fields? The workshop takes the Turkish perspective and challenges participants to find solutions to the main obstacles in bringing (higher) vocational education to youth.
Speakers: Prof. Dr. Ali Sarıışık (Harran University), Prof. Dr. Sıla Şenlen Güvenç (Ankara University), Rejhan Rahman (Harran University)
Migrant Entrepreneurship Matters
Migrant Entrepreneurship Matters
Despite misconceptions, migrants are much more likely to start businesses than the native population. However, migrant entrepreneur businesses tend to be micro-enterprises that employ few people and have limited opportunities to grow. How can migrant business-owners in Europe access equal opportunities to scale up their companies, employ more people and turn more profit? Participants are encouraged to join a debate between entrepreneurs, public and private sector representatives about the post-startup support needed in terms of business development, policy changes and access to financial services.
Speakers: Leen Almasri (Syrian Entrepreneur in Paris), Savitri Groag (Accenture Foundation), Sabina Kekic (Gemeente Amsterdam)
Road to Success: Student Services
Road to Success: Student Services
Refugee students in the Middle East are now provided with scholarships and extracurricular activities, such as leadership and entrepreneurship courses. However, what is critically and urgently needed are improved student services, such as language and psychosocial support. These services are essential for the retention and successful graduation of students. This session shares lessons learned from various scholarship providers and aims to find collaborative approaches for improving student services across the region.
Unemployment in the Middle East is high, career opportunities are scarce and many youth are ready to work. How can universities, NGOs, local communities and businesses better prepare young people to bridge the gap between school and employment. What solutions can entrepreneurship provide? Perhaps internships are the way forward? What about extracurricular activities like civic leadership? What new partnerships are needed to bridge the gap? Let’s get youth into employment in the Middle East!
Speakers: Shadi Saleh (Al Fakhoora), Areej Almasri (Intern), Raneem Faisal (Entrepreneur), Mohammed Skaik (SPARK), Mansur Muhtar (Islamic Development Bank)
Unlocking Investment for SMEs in Fragile States
Unlocking Investment for SMEs in Fragile States
How to unlock investment in areas where nobody wants to invest? By building better eco-systems in order to facilitate investment in fragile states. Participants will need to be practical in finding solutions by bringing new ideas and learning from previous experiences in Africa and the Middle East. What to do and what not to do?
Speakers: Ben White (Venture Capital 4 Africa), Jacob Cusack (Cross Boundary), Samuel Gaddiel Akyianu (IFC), Jussi Ojala (FCA), Natascha Korvinus (Triple Jump)
Data for Education and Entrepreneurship
Data for Education and Entrepreneurship
Experts discuss how data and technology create opportunities for refugees, students and entrepreneurs. By building inclusive networks, resources such as information, education, and finance are made available to those formerly excluded. Instrumental in this is the role of the middle-man: an often necessary and bureaucratic entity that technological innovation can replace, thereby reducing costs and enhancing efficiency.
Speakers: Robert Fadel (MIT), Jan Vos (MoneyPhone), Francois Lenfant (CARPA), Yvo (Blockchain)
Watch & Discuss: Global Migration Film Festival
Watch & Discuss: Global Migration Film Festival
Exclusive extracts from incredible films from the IOM’s Global Migration Film Festival will be shown, depicting migration stories from across the Middle East and Africa. After each scene, discuss with the migrant protagonists, filmmakers and migration experts themselves about the key issues relating to why people leave their home countries and how education, employment and entrepreneurship can benefit both migrant/refugees and host nations.
Developing value chains in emerging markets can offer economic empowerment to many people in Sub-Saharan Africa by providing more jobs and bringing more income to local communities. It can offer the chance for new ‘niche’ products to enter the local market – this workshop takes the case of 4 distinct products from Liberia, Uganda and Rwanda. These products might not yet be familiar to local entrepreneurs or consumers, but could greatly improve profits, food security and nutrition. This workshop explores the role can entrepreneurship play in increasing local consumption of these products. And how storytelling can define the whole process.
Speakers: Morris Dougba (Green Gold Liberia), Lauren Servin (Desert Date and Co.), Marthe Paauwe (SPARK), Jovani Ntabgoba (N-frnds Rwanda)
New Stories: Syrian Entrepreneurs outside Syria
New Stories: Syrian Entrepreneurs outside Syria
How can you start a business when you can’t open a bank account? Hear real-world accounts from the entrepreneurs who are creating jobs and developing local economies against the odds in the main hosting countries – Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq. Deep dive into addressing the challenges facing business people in terms of documentation, business education and accessing financial institutions. Help develop and contribute to realistic, practical solutions for stakeholders.
Developing new spaces in which people can thrive, live and work is a robust response to the biggest challenges of the 21st century. In dysfunctional nations, local government and decentralised governance could be ‘Islands of Stability’ and can contribute significantly to stabilisation. This session discusses the Libyan context, philosophical foundation and the practical implementation of Sustainable Development Zones in fragile environments.
Speakers: Kilian Kleinschmidt (Switxboard), Joachim Rücker (Consultant), Mohamed Al Aswad (Expertise France)