Board of Trustees

Halima Dangote | President


Group Executive Director, Commercial Operations of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL)

Halima Aliko Dangote is the Group Executive Director, Commercial Operations of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), one of the largest and most diversified business conglomerates in Africa. She is responsible for the implementation of the Group’s shared services strategy with specific oversight for the Commercial, Strategic procurement, Administration and Branding & Communications functions. Ms. Dangote joined DIL in 2008 and has held a number of executive management roles including her most recent role as Executive Director of Dangote Flour Mills, where she led the turnaround and recent sale of the business to Olam. Previously, she served as Executive Director of NASCON, a manufacturer of salt, seasonings and related consumer products.  She started her career as a Business Analyst with KPMG Professional Services, serving private and public sector clients on topics related to business performance improvement, strategy, and policy formulation. She is also a Trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation; a Board member of Endeavour Nigeria and a member of the Women Corporate Directors (WCD). Halima holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Marketing from American Intercontinental University, London, United Kingdom and a Master’s in Business Administration from Webster Business School, United Kingdom. She has attended a number of high-profile leadership development programs including: the Program for Leadership Development (PLD) at Harvard Business School; Executive Development Program at Kellogg School of Management; Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Executives at Columbia Business School. She is married with three children.

Chelsea Clinton, DPhil, MPH | Co-Chair


Vice Chair Clinton Foundation | Vice Chair Clinton Health Access Initiative 

As vice chair of the Clinton Foundation, Chelsea Clinton works alongside the Foundation’s leadership and partners to improve lives and inspire emerging leaders across the United States and around the world. This includes the Foundation’s early child initiative Too Small to Fail, which supports families with the resources they need to promote early brain and language development; and the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU), a global program that empowers student leaders to turn their ideas into action. A longtime public health advocate, Chelsea also serves as vice chair of the Clinton Health Access Initiative and uses her platform to increase awareness around issues such as vaccine hesitancy, childhood obesity, and health equity.   In addition to her Foundation work, Chelsea teaches at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and has written several books for young readers, including the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World as well as She Persisted Around the World, She Persisted in Sports, She Persisted in Science, Start Now! You Can Make a Difference; Don’t Let Them Disappear; It’s Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going; and Welcome to the Big Kids Club. She is also the co-author of The Book of Gutsy Women and Grandma’s Gardens with Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and of Governing Global Health: Who Runs the World and Why? with Devi Sridhar. Chelsea’s podcast, In Fact with Chelsea Clinton, premiered in 2021 and is the co-founder of HiddenLight Productions.  Chelsea holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford, a Master of Public Health from Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, and both a Master of Philosophy and a Doctorate in international relations from Oxford University. She lives with her husband Marc, their children Charlotte, Aidan and Jasper in New York City.

Jendayi Frazer | Co-Chair


President and CEO, 50 Ventures, LLC

Jendayi E. Frazer is the President and CEO of 50 Ventures, LLC. A global policy leader and expert on African Affairs, she currently heads the Mo Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships Program.  She is the Managing Partner of Africa Exchange Holdings, Ltd. that owns commodity exchanges in East Africa (EAX) and Nigeria (AFEX Nigeria). Ms. Frazer was a distinguished public service professor at Carnegie Mellon University from 2009 to 2014, where she was the director of Carnegie Mellon’s Center for International Policy and Innovation (CIPI). Ms. Frazer was the leading architect of U.S.-Africa policy for nearly a decade, serving as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from August 2005 to January 2009. Previously she was Special Assistant to the President, Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council, and the first woman U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, appointed in 2004. Jendayi was also an assistant professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and Denver’s Graduate School of International Studies. Jendayi is a recipient of numerous awards and honors. She is Dame Grand Commander in the Humane Order of African Redemption.

Benjamin Stein | Vice Chair


Founder and Managing Member, The Spruce House Partnership

Ben Stein is a Founder and Managing Member of The Spruce House Partnership, a New York-based investment partnership founded in 2005. Spruce House has investments in public and private companies globally and seeks to invest alongside management teams that are focused on growing the value of their companies over the long term. Mr. Stein serves on the board of Colliers International, one of the largest commercial real estate services companies in the world. Ben received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008. Ben has traveled extensively throughout East and Southern Africa and in the past has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the African Wildlife Foundation.

Elizabeth Tanya Masiyiwa | Secretary


Philanthropist 

Elizabeth Tanya Masiyiwa is a prominent leader in philanthropy and social entrepreneurship. She believes in and is passionate about the transformative power of education in communities. She is a thought leader in designing educational programmes and leveraging technology to bring systemic change. Elizabeth is also a champion for gender equality and a mentor for women of African descent. As the President and CEO of Delta Philanthropies and Higherlife Foundation, Elizabeth oversees the philanthropic efforts of the Masiyiwa family. Her passion for education has led her to develop innovative solutions that have transformed the lives of millions of students, providing them with access to quality education and learning resources. In 2016, she founded Akello, an African company that uses technology to provide learning and teaching resources to students and classrooms across the continent. To date, over 1,6 million students have accessed the platform. In 2020, Elizabeth established the Simba Preparatory School, an early childhood center in Domboshava, Zimbabwe, to showcase a better model for early childhood education in rural areas. Over 200 students have attended the school since its inception. Elizabeth is a non-executive director on the boards of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and EcoCash Holdings Zimbabwe, two of the largest listed companies on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. She also serves on the boards of several charities and foundations, including Harvard University’s Leadership Council for the Centre of Africa Studies. In 2023, Elizabeth was appointed Commissioner of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science in Banking and International Finance, a master’s degree in Social Entrepreneurship, and an Executive MBA from Cambridge University.

Meredith Marshall | Treasurer


Co-Founder and Managing Partner, BRP Companies

Mr. Marshall is a co-founder and Managing Partner of BRP Companies, a vertically integrated owner, operator, developer and manager of transit-oriented, mixed-use, multifamily properties in the NY Tri-State area. With over 50 employees and a track record of $1.7 billion of completed real estate projects, the firm has an additional $1.3 billion in transactions currently under development. Mr. Marshall is responsible for executing BRP’s investment strategy including deal origination, acquisition, finance and development. He has also led the firm’s strategic partnership initiatives such as the firm’s decade long partnership with Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group and BRP’s active relationships with all of the New York City Agencies. Prior to co-founding BRP, Mr. Marshall was a Managing Director at Musa Capital Advisors, an emerging markets private equity and financial advisory firm based in New York City. Musa Capital managed a Separate Account for Kingdom Holding Africa, HRH’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal’s investment vehicle for Sub-Saharan Africa. At Musa Capital, Mr. Marshall was instrumental in executing cross-border transactions including the $37 million development of a mixed-use office complex and mall in Harare, Zimbabwe. Mr. Marshall also led successful investments in the Telecommunications and Financial Services sectors. Prior to Musa Capital Advisors, Mr. Marshall was a Senior Associate at Wasserstein Perella & Co., an investment banking firm based in New York City. While at Wasserstein, Mr. Marshall was an integral member of the firm’s Telecommunications and Media, Mergers and Acquisitions practice, where he assisted in transactions exceeding $15 billion. Mr. Marshall is a Founding Member of the Council of Urban Professionals, and is a Member of the Executive Board of the New York State Affordable Housing Association. Mr. Marshall also proudly serves on the Boards of Enterprise NYC Advisory Board and Citizens Housing and Planning Council since 2018, and is a Trustee of Xavier University of Louisiana. Mr. Marshall holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and International Business from Columbia Business School.

Temi Adeniji | Trustee


Managing Director, Warner Music South Africa | SVP, International Special Projects & Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy, Warner Music

Temi Adeniji holds a combined role of Managing Director of Warner Music South Africa and SVP, International Special Projects & Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy. She oversees WMG’s business on the continent out of Johannesburg and is in charge of expanding the company’s footprint across the different subregions. Additionally, she works with other senior leaders to develop the overall strategy of WMG’s international business, including corporate development and M&A. Prior to her current role, Temi reported directly to Warner Music Group’s CEO of International Recorded Music, with a broad range of responsibilities inclusive of managing the portfolio of 40 international affiliates of the Warner Music Group. She led WMG’s growth via recorded music acquisitions and has played a central role in developing the Company’s moves to build and buy innovative music-adjacent businesses in order to diversify its revenue mix. Temi has also spearheaded efforts to ramp up WMG’s activities in key emerging markets (India, Sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East North Africa) with tailored approaches (investments, partnerships, etc.) to fit each market as well as the company’s broader commercial objectives. Temi serves as WMG representative on the board of Africori, the largest music distribution platform in Sub-Saharan Africa, in which WMG is a lead investor. Recently, Temi was appointed to serve as Vice President of the Board of the Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund, which is endowed with $100M to further the advancement of underrepresented (principally black) populations around the globe. In this role, she draws experience from the seven years spent on the Board of Youth Represent, a nonprofit which provides legal representation for young people (primarily from minority communities) affected by the criminal justice system. Temi holds a BA degree from Princeton University, a JD from Columbia University and an LLM from University College London.

Margaret Chinwe Anadu | Trustee


Global Head of Sustainability and Impact and Partner, Goldman Sachs

Margaret is head of the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group (UIG), a domestic, multi-asset class investing and lending business that provides equity and debt to real estate projects and social enterprises to benefit underserved communities, within the Merchant Banking Division (MBD). Established in 2001, UIG has committed nearly $8 billion to community and economic development investments, serving as a catalyst in the revitalization of distressed urban neighborhoods. Margaret serves on the Goldman Sachs Bank USA Management Committee, MBD Real Estate Investment Committee and is chair of the Urban Investment Group Capital Committee. She is also a lead investor for Launch With GS, Goldman Sachs’ $500 million commitment to narrow the gender investing gap. Previously, Margaret worked in Equity Derivatives in the Securities Division. She joined Goldman Sachs as an analyst in 2003 and was named managing director in 2013 and partner in 2018. Margaret serves on the boards of several community and economic development nonprofit organizations, including the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, Center for an Urban Future, Core Innovation Capital, Low Income Investment Fund and Food Bank Of New York City. Margaret earned a BA in Computer Science from Harvard College in 2003.

Jim Bildner | Trustee


CEO, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation 

Jim Bildner is the CEO of the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation. Jim is also an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and a Senior Research Fellow at the Hauser Institute for Civil Society and the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University. Jim is a trustee of The Kresge Foundation and Chair of its Investment Committee. He serves on the boards of Public Citizen Foundation, Education SuperHighway, OpenBiome, The GroundTruth Project, Service Year Alliance, Education Pioneers, Healthy Americas Foundation, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Dallas Symphony Association, Perez Art Museum Miami, Museum for African Art, and on the Board of Advisors of the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College.  He is a Trustee Emeritus at Case Western Reserve University, an Overseer Emeritus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a member of the Board of Overseers of WBUR (Boston Public Radio) and a trustee emeritus of the Lizard Island Research Foundation in Australia.  He is a member of the Young Presidents/World Presidents Organization. In his board service, Jim serves on the Investment Committees of boards with aggregate endowments in excess of $4B as well as a member of numerous finance, investment and/or audit committees of these boards. Jim’s government service included an appointment by the US Secretary of Health and Human Services to the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Jamie Cooper | Trustee


Chair and President, Big Win Philanthropy

Jamie Cooper is the founding Chair and President of Big Win Philanthropy, an operating foundation that partners with driven and committed African leaders to deliver on their transformational visions for children and young people. Ms Cooper has more than 25 years’ experience in roles supporting and bringing leaders together from the public, private and philanthropy sectors to pursue innovative policy and programming around a broad array of economic and social issues. Prior to launching Big Win Philanthropy, she co-founded theChildren’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Jamie serves on several boards, including the: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development Board; The Africa Center Board; Advisory Board of the Ministerial Leadership Program at Harvard; Board of Advisors to the Dean at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH); Board of Advisors to the Dean at the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government; Board of International Friends of Elton John Aids Foundation; and Greenwood Place Advisory Board. She is a High-Level Council Member of The Aspen Institute High-Level Council on Leadership & Management for Development. She also serves as a mentor at Mentore Consulting LLP. Ms Cooper received a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College and a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Fatima Aliko Dangote | Trustee

Group Executive Director at Dangote Industries (DIL).

In this role, she is responsible for driving commercial operations across the various Dangote Business units and oversees the development and delivery of the Holding Company’s commercial brand and communications, strategic procurement, and general administration. Prior, Fatima was the Executive Director, Commercial of NASCON Allied Industries Plc, the leading player in Salt refining and marketing across Nigeria. She was responsible for developing and implementing NASCON’s commercial sales and marketing strategy with additional oversight of logistics, transportation, and branding. On the Board of NASCON, she provided guidance in ensuring strategic alignment with the wider Dangote Business Group, continued business growth, and corporate governance compliance. Prior to that, Fatima was a Technical Specialist in the Strategy Unit and an Executive Assistant to the Group Executive Director, Business Development and Portfolio Management at DIL. She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association. She was an Associate at Banwo & Ighodalo. She also ran her own independent confectionary business and real estate company. Passionate about philanthropy, Fatima is deeply involved in the Aliko Dangote Foundation. She holds a law degree from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom and has attended leadership executive programs at Columbia University, Wharton School, and Cambridge University.

Dr. Michaela de Pury | Trustee


Co-Founder and Partner, de Pury & de Pury

Dr. Michaela de Pury was until recently Senior Director at Phillips de Pury & Company and before Senior Partner. She joined the firm in 2001. She has been instrumental in securing major consignments and private transactions surrounding key works in all sales categories of Contemporary Art, Design and Photography. Her consignments include the Hoener Collection of German Expressionist Art in 2001, the FER Collection in 2004, the Princess Gloria Thurn and Taxis Collection in 2006 and the largest-ever single-owner collection of contemporary Russian art in February 2007. Prior to joining Phillips de Pury, she was the CEO of Neumeister Auctions in New York; the leading Munich auction company that was started by her father Rudolf Neumeister. After having obtained her PHD from the University of Hamburg and having written her Doctoral thesis on Medieval and Renaissance Art, she was trained at Christie’s in their London department of Old Master Paintings, at Sotheby’s in their New York department of Modern and Impressionist Art and at Taijan in Paris. Michaela is married to Simon de Pury, former Chairman of Phillips de Pury. She is an auctioneer and avid collector. Today Michaela is Co-Founder and Partner of de Pury & de Pury, a company specialising in private treaty sales and advising major private collections.

Corinne Evens | Trustee


President, Evens Group

Corinne Evens, a mathematician by training, began her career in 1996 by establishing a real estate business in Paris dealing with property acquisition, renovation and resale. Today, she leads the Evens Group, which runs a real estate portfolio worldwide. The aim of the Evens Group business development is to help to achieve the philanthropic mission of the Evens Group. Her father was a key figure in the Antwerp diamond industry. As a young woman, she accompanied him to meetings and to business trips, in Africa among others. She has kept tight ties to Africa, which remained a source of inspiration for her, as it is noticeable in her jewelry design and interior design works under the Goralska label. The inspiration of the “Maison Goralska” aims at women, citizens of the world, turned towards the future, taking responsibility for their choices and their lives with talent. In line with its commitments, the Goralska brand donates a portion of its profits to organizations that are working towards progress and the well being of mankind. Corinne Evens is the President of the Evens Foundation (a public benefit foundation based in Antwerpen, Belgium, with offices in Paris and Warsaw). The Evens Foundation initiates, develops and supports projects that encourage people and nations to live together harmoniously in a diverse Europe. She is the founder and President of the European Association of the Museum of Polish Jews. She also serves as a Board Member of Positive Planet, a Board Member of Universal Education Foundation (UEF) and Board seats in other various corporate and philanthropic organizations including Bethlehem Industrial Park. She is a fulfilled mother of two children, Jonathan and Deborah.

Maja Hoffmann | Trustee 


Founder, LUMA Foundation

Maja Hoffmann is a contemporary art collector, and a supporter and producer of international art, film, publishing and environmental projects. She is the Founder of the LUMA Foundation (2004) whose aim is to launch and produce cultural and art projects worldwide. It also supports a number of art-based international initiatives and institutional projects, such as Kunsthalle Zurich and Kunsthalle Basel, the Fotomuseum Winterthur, the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the Venice Biennale and Artangel and the Serpentine Gallery in London. It is also involved in planning one of the major cultural sites in Europe, the Parc des Ateliers in Arles. She is President of the Kunsthalle Zurich Foundation, and Vice-President of the Council of the Emanuel Hoffmann-Stiftung in Basel. She is a Trustee of the Tate, a Board Member of the New Museum of Contemporary Art and the Bard College Center for Curatorial Studies at Annandale-on-Hudson in New York State.

Meredith James | Trustee


Visual Artist

Meredith James received a BA from Harvard University in 2004 and an MFA from Yale University in 2009. James has exhibited throughout the United States and internationally. She recently completed public art commissions for Manif d’Art in Quebec City, Canada and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway in Boston. She had solo exhibitions at Jack Hanley Gallery (NYC), LaMontagne Gallery (Boston, MA) and Marc Jancou Contemporary (NYC). The artist has participated in numerous group exhibitions including at CPM Gallery (Baltimore, MD), The Drawing Center (NYC) Museum of Contemporary Art (Detroit, MI), SculptureCenter (Queens, NY), The Queens Museum (Queens, NY), and Socrates Sculpture Park (Queens, NY). James has received numerous accolades and fellowships, notably from The Sharpe-Walentes Studio Program, The Jerome Foundation, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Lighthouse Works, Abrons Art Center and Socrates Sculpture Park.

Jayaveera (JV) Kodali | Trustee


Co-Founder, Alta Park Capital

Alta Park Capital invests in public and late-stage private companies in the technology, media and telecom sectors. The Firm’s investment process is based on bottom-up fundamental research of themes and trends across the global TMT universe. The investment process seeks to identify opportunities facing the greatest disruption and structural change, with a particular focus on emerging technologies and companies. The Firm, headquartered in San Francisco, CA, was founded in 2013. Prior to co-founding Alta Park in 2013,  Jayaveera (JV) Kodali was most recently a partner at Kamet Peak Capital (2011 – 2012) where he was responsible for a sector-focused managed account in Technology, Media and Telecom (TMT). From 2010 to 2011, JV was Director of Research at STG Capital. JV worked as a Managing Director of North Sound Capital (2003 – 2009), where he was the TMT sector head. Prior to joining North Sound, JV worked at Acharne Capital and Digital Century Capital (2000 – 2003); at both firms he was responsible for the research of publicly traded technology companies. JV began his career at Morgan Stanley (1998 – 2000) where he worked as an equity research analyst in Technology.   JV has invested across the globe for over 20 years in the public markets. As a private equity investor has invested in Alibaba, Docusign, Flutterwave, NuBank and many other successful technology companies.  JV holds a B.A. in Biology from Wittenberg University in 1992, and an MBA with a concentration in finance from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management in 1997.

Blair Miller | Trustee 


Founder, NextWork

Blair Miller has spent her career using business to address pressing social challenges with a focus on talent, access, and inclusion.  Currently, she is a venture investor focused on the human side of the future of work.   Throughout her career, Blair has held key positions at leading impact firms including Two Sigma Impact, Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital, Acumen and the family office of businessman Ray Chambers. She has also advised leading organizations such as Andela, McKinsey’s Generation Initiative, Reservoir Capital, Rockefeller Foundation, as well as the Governor of Maryland.  Blair is committed to reimagining higher education and serves as a Leader in Residence at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership.  Blair was also a Senior Fellow at Yale’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs for six years where she taught a course called “Aligning Profit and Purpose”.  Blair is a board member of Shining Hope for Communities, a grassroots movement that catalyzes large-scale transformation in urban slums in Kenya.   She is a long-serving trustee of The Africa Center, a multidisciplinary institution that serves as a gateway to contemporary Africa. Blair holds an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and BA in English Literature from the University of Virginia. Her most recent op-eds address reframing the career track, building purpose resilient companies and restructuring professional pathways for the future of work.

Lupita Nyong’o | Trustee 


Actress

Lupita Nyong’o is a Kenyan actress, producer and New York Times Bestselling author. She made her feature debut in Steve McQueen’s Academy Award® winning film “12 Years a Slave.” For her portrayal as Patsey, Nyong’o received the Academy Award® as well as multiple accolades including the Screen Actors Guild Award, the Critics’ Choice Award, the Independent Spirit Award, and the NAACP Award. Nyong’o played Nakia in Marvel’s Oscar-nominated film, “Black Panther,” which has broken numerous box office records. Ryan Coogler directed the film which co-starred Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, and Danai Gurira. The cast won the SAG Award for Best Ensemble and her performance earned Nyong’o a nomination for an NAACP award. Upcoming, she will star in the female-driven spy thriller “355” which Universal purchased out of Cannes. Additionally, she will co-produce and feature in “Born a Crime,” the biopic based on Trevor Noah’s New York Times best-selling book of the same name. Nyong’o and Danai Gurira’s upcoming adaptation of the novel “Americanah” has received a straight-to-series order at HBO Max, a limited 10-episode series. Nyongo’s debut children’s book “Sulwe” is a New York Times #1 Best Seller. Nyong’o graduated from the Yale School of Drama’s acting program and she resides in Brooklyn.

Gbenga Oyebode | Trustee


Chairman, Aluko & Oyebode 

Gbenga Oyebode is the Chairman of Aluko & Oyebode, (Barristers & Solicitors) one of the largest integrated law firms in Nigeria, with offices in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt. Gbenga was an Associate with White & Case, New York between 1982 and 1983. Gbenga was educated at the University of Ife (LL. B Honours), and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (LL.M) graduating in 1979 and 1982, respectively. He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (admitted June 1980) and an attorney-at-law of the Supreme Court of New York State (admitted November 1983). He was conferred Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa), by the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (2016) and Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria (2017). He is the Chancellor of Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria. Gbenga sits on the Africa Advisory Committee of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), is the Chairman of Teach for Nigeria, Director Teach for All, New York, Member of the Global Advisory Council of the Africa Leadership Academy, Johannesburg, Director Jazz at the Lincoln Centre, New York and Director African Philanthropy Forum. Member Board of Trustees Carnegie Hall, New York. Member, Board of Trustees Ford Foundation, New York. Gbenga was conferred with one of Nigeria’s highest honours, the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) in the year 2000. He was also conferred with the Belgian Royal Honour of ‘Knight of the Order of Leopold’ in2007.

Dana Reed | Trustee


Impact Investor

Dana Reed is an Impact Investor. She was the CEO of PanAfrican Investment Co., a private investment company that made impact investments in SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa. Dana continues to advise and invest in SMEs on the continent. Prior to joining PIC, Dana was a Managing Director at Semper Capital, a structured credit asset management company with $1.5 billion AUM. Her responsibilities included marketing, product development, and strategic growth of the firm. Before Semper, she was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. Dana began her career as a Fellow at the Export-Import Bank of the United States. She received a BBA in International Business from Howard University and a MBA from Howard University. She is a Trustee of Harlem Tech Fund, BrightPoint Health and Randall’s Island Park Alliance. Dana was appointed by New York Governor Paterson to serve as a Director of the Harlem Community Development Corp. and continues to serve in that capacity today. Dana is on the Advisory Board of Uncharted Play, a renewable energy company based in Harlem that provides energy solutions on the continent. She is an active member of the African Leadership Network, International Women’s Forum, and the Vice President of the Metropolitan Chapter of Jack & Jill. She has received numerous awards for her work both on the continent and in the U.S. Dana lives in Harlem with her 11-year-old twin boys who enjoy traveling to the continent with her.

In Memoriam


Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe 


Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank

Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe was the Group Managing Director & CEO of Access Bank Plc, one of the foremost banks in Nigeria and Sub-Sahara Africa, ranked among the top 500 global banks currently serving over 44million individual and corporate account holders through over 600 branches and more than 3,000 ATMs in major centers across Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa and the United Kingdom. Herbert Wigwe collaborated with Access Bank and UNICEF to offer support to vulnerable children, orphans, and internationally displaced persons in the northern part of Nigeria. To raise awareness for this purpose, the bank organizes the annual high-profile Access Bank/UNICEF Charity Shield Polo tournament. In 2017, Mr. Wigwe was named co-chair of Nigerian Business Coalition against AIDS, a private sector initiative to help eradicate HIV/AIDS and support people living with the condition. He sponsored the ‘Thought-Leadership Series’ known as The Access Conference and supported public policy formation and anti-corruption efforts. Prior to Access, Mr. Wigwe worked for Coopers & Lybrand, Capital Bank, and GTBank. He attended Federal Government College, University of Nigeria Nsukka, North Wales University (now Bangor), University of London, and Harvard Business School Executive Management Program. He was also the Chairman of Access Bank (UK) Limited, and a Director of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company Plc (NMRC). He was married to Chizoba Wigwe (née Nwuba). The couple and their eldest son, Chizi, passed away on February 9, 2024. They are survived by their children Tochi, Hannah, and David.

Trustees Emeritus


Richard D. Segal


Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Seavest Investment Group

Richard D. Segal is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seavest Investment Group where he is also CEO of Rethink Capital Partners and Managing Partner of Rethink Education. He has served on the boards of many public and private companies which include Hudson General Inc., Air Express Int., and Penn Traffic, Schoolnet, Civitas, Wireless Generation and Smarterer. Currently, Mr. Segal sits on the boards of various education technology companies including Advanced Prison Data Systems, Cinematic Health Education, Knowledge 2 Practice, Noodle Companies, Voxy, BEGiN-Homer Learning and Vivvi. Mr. Segal is deeply committed to creating better communities through his philanthropic engagements, which are primarily focused on health, education, and providing opportunities for low income children and the arts. He is a Trustee of the Whitney Museum of Art in New York City, where he serves as Treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee. He also sits on the Board of New York Academy of Art, serving as Treasurer. Additionally, Mr. Segal serves on the Board of Trustees of New York Presbyterian Hospital and he is a board member of the Africa Center in New York. Mr. Segal is the President of the A. L. Mailman Family Foundation. Mr. Segal received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Wesleyan University.

Siya Madikane


Philanthropist

Siya Madikane is a philanthropist dedicated to helping disadvantaged children particularly in the fields of education and health. He was born in Soweto, South Africa, and lived in an orphanage there until the age of 10 when his life changed through adoption. He split his time between Johannesburg and NYC, first attending Bishop Bavin School in Johannesburg and then matriculating at Trinity Pawling, when he relocated permanently to New York City. Mr. Madikane attended Pepperdine University and received his B.S. in History in 2007. Upon graduation he worked for IMG’s Consulting group in New York, then transitioned to the IMG Events and Sponsorship group in London and India until 2015 when he turned his focus to philanthropy. Mr. Madikane is on the Board of Directors for The Character Connection Initiative, which uses character education to empower adolescents in strengthening their confidence, competence, and compassion through character education and mindfulness. He is an avid soccer fan (Liverpool FC) and golfer.

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