ALHAJI SALIHU IMAM

Oyo State Chairman, National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria, Chairman, Agric Development Farmers Association, Oyo State and Coordinator, Oyo State Farmers Field School.
Nigeria

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SEGUN KUTI-GEORGE
National Vice President
Nigerian Association of  Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI)
Nigeria

Mr. S.T. Kuti-George is the CEO of Goshen-Multi Nigeria Ltd., the pioneer Cultured Marble manufacturing company in Nigeria. He is a Business Leader in the MSME space in Lagos State and Nigeria; the Immediate Past Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Lagos State; and currently National Vice President of the association.

Mr. Kuti-George is a Business and Management Consultant as well as a Mentor of great repute. He was trained by Pan African University and licenced by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) as a Business Development Service Provider (BDSP).

He is a Fellow of both Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC) and Institute of Certified Business Consultants (FICBC).

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CLEMENT AKHIGBE
‍Agric & Manufacturing Division.  Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Abuja
Nigeria
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CHIEF NATHANIEL EBO NSARKO
President, Coffee Federation of Ghana
Ghana

Chief Nathaniel Ebo Nsarko is a Ghanaian and currently the Country Director of Millennium Promise Alliance and the One Million Community Health Worker Campaign where ICT and innovations are explored to advance healthcare to the door steps of the rural poor. He holds Master’s degree in Community Health and Development Communication, an MBA in Public Health Management from Robert Kennedy College, Zurich, Switzerland and a Master’s in Communication Studies (Development Communication) from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana and B.F.A and Dip. TEC degrees from University of Ghana – Legon Ghana. Chief Nat has over 15 years of practical field experience as community based health communication expert, development and social engineer coupled with various managerial positions at the national, regional, district and community levels in Ghana. He has several ambassadorial roles to his credit including Peace ambassador for Ghana 2008/ 2013, SDG 3 Ambassador from Lavazza Foundation 2017 and serves as a chief advisor for the UN Youth Ghana.

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ALLEN YANG
‍Director, Green Gold Biotechnology Engineering Co. Ltd.
Taiwan

Allen Chang is a distinguished Taiwanese agricultural researcher committed to advancing sustainable agriculture and promoting circular economy principles. With a rich professional history spanning more than a decade, he has emerged as a trailblazer in the field, pioneering groundbreaking approaches that have revolutionized agricultural practices.

Noteworthy Achievements:

Near-Infrared Technology Innovator: Allen Yang is renowned for his pioneering work in the application of near-infrared technology for agricultural product inspection. His groundbreaking research has led to enhanced quality control and greater efficiency in agricultural production.

Precision Cultivation Expert: As a leading expert, he has developed precision cultivation techniques that have not only optimized crop yields but also reduced resource wastage, making agriculture more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Herbal Medicine Analysis: Allen Yang's expertise extends to the comprehensive analysis of herbal medicines, contributing to the understanding and standardization of herbal remedies.

Chitosan Deacetylation Specialist: His research in chitosan deacetylation has significant implications for the development of eco-friendly and biodegradable agricultural materials.

Plant Water Stress Pioneer: He has made significant strides in the field of multispectral fluorescence imaging for plant water stress assessment, enabling farmers to make informed decisions about irrigation and resource allocation.

Non-Destructive Inspection Trailblazer: Allen Yang is at the forefront of non-destructive inspection technology for pesticide production, ensuring product safety and compliance with rigorous quality standards.

Passion for Sustainability:

Allen Yang's unwavering passion lies in leveraging innovation to bolster agricultural productivity while upholding environmental stewardship. His commitment to sustainable practices is not just a professional endeavor but a personal mission to safeguard our planet for future generations.

With an impressive track record of achievements and a relentless dedication to sustainable agriculture, Allen Yang continues to be a driving force in the evolution of agricultural practices, fostering a brighter, more sustainable future for agriculture worldwide.

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CORA DELA  CRUZ
President, Canada-ASEAN Business Council and Trade Alliance Canada
CANADA

Cora has been the President of Trade Alliances Canada Inc. since 2018, building innovative and global linkages in Canada and the ASEAN communities. She has over 30 years of experience working with entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized companies, and government organizations and establishing connections with a focus between Canada and the ASEAN region.

Until she retired from the Ontario provincial government in 2001, she held many executive positions in the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Business Practices Division. Roles included those as Provincial Registrar and Administrator of the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, the Cemeteries Act, as Project Director for the transition team of the Travel Industry Act, as Project Director for the re-development of a comprehensive commercial registration, information and tracking system to accommodate the requirements of business regulation and consumer protection under seven pieces of legislation. She also worked with BDC (Business Development Canada) as a business and management consultant for over five years. She then moved and lived in the Philippines from 2012 to 2018 to become the National Executive Director for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. She worked closely with the Trade Commissioner’s Office of the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines and promoted Canadian businesses and trade relations between Canada and the Philippines.

In Canada, Cora is the President of the Canada-ASEAN Business and Trade Association. She also served as President of the National Alliance of Philippine Business Trade and Tourism (Canada) from 2009 to 2012, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto from 2005 to 2007, President of the Canadian Association of Philippine Travel Agents from 2001 to 2005, and Regional Vice President of the National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations from 1992 to 1998.

Her awards include one of the Most Outstanding Filipino-Canadians in 1998, One of the Most Outstanding President of Philippine Associations in Canada in 1999, a finalist for the Asian of the Year Award in Business and Public Service category under the Asian Network in 1999 held in Parliament Hills, Ottawa; Woman Entrepreneur of the Year at the International Women’s Day in 2004, and One of the Most Influential Filipina Women in the World Award under the Global FWN (Filipina Women’s Network TM) in 2017.

Cora was born and raised in Tarlac City, Philippines, immigrated to Canada when she was 20, and made Canada her home for over 50 years. She and her husband have six children and eight grandchildren living in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. She has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Philippines and a Bachelor's degree in Administrative Studies from York University.

Cora is passionate about coaching women in entrepreneurship and leadership, and building and mentoring the youth.

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GARY URRUTIA
Managing Director, Cup of Excellence
‍HONDURAS

Gary Urrutia initiated in the coffee industry 11 years ago working in the dry mill and coffee procurement for Volcafe in Honduras. In 2018 he joined the Alliance for coffee Excellence as a field coordinator, being a primary liason between in country partners and exporters for the Cup of Excellence with buyers around the world. He eventually took on the role as auction manager for all the Cup of Excellence and Private Collection auctions. Serving now as managing director for the Cup of Excellence he oversees along with a dedicated team the most prestigious coffee competitions and auctions in 13 countries globally.

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COMFORT ARUOSA-OSEMWINGIE
‍NIGERIA

Comfort is the Chief Dealmaker and Founder/CEO of DealRoom Nigeria, specializing in Wealth Advisory, Business Development, and Venture Capital. With over 15 years in Nigerian Capital Markets, she excels in Investment Advisory, Fund Management, and Due Diligence, managing over $950 million in transactions.

Comfort offers strategic insights, corporate restructuring, and financial planning. She's the CEO of DealRoom Nigeria Ltd, connecting businesses with investors. Her core skills include Investment Management, SME Advisory, Financial Planning, and Fund Management.

Comfort is a seasoned strategist with expertise in investment research, financial markets, and personal finance. She's facilitated financial training for top organizations and advises on corporate finance. She's also the Founder of DealRoom Nigeria, bridging entrepreneurs and investors globally.

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DAVID LANRE MESSAN
NIGERIA

David Lanre Messan popularly known as DLM is a seasoned startup builder and investor who currently leads FirstFounders, a fast-rising tech focused venture studio registered in Lagos, Nigeria and Delaware, United States.

He is on a mission to raise 1000 African tech founders leading some of the most profitable startups across the world by 2032 and has worked with over 65 Tech startups across the world focused on the African market where he helped develop their ideation and spin-off strategies and raised over $3 million for their scale-up. Prior to this, DLM has worked with over 200 SMEs where he developed go-to-market strategies and raised over $10million dollars for them in grants and equity investments.

DLM is a multiple award winner and was named one of the 2020 top CEOs in Nigeria by Top 10 Magazine; a 2021 Senator of the World Business Angels Investment Forum based in Turkey, a 2022 James Currey Scholar in collaboration with African Studies Center, University of Oxford; 2022 Top 10 Magazine Startup Builder of the Year; 2022 Culturalti Business Accelerator of the year; 2022 Business Day Top 100 SME Leaders; 2022 Guardian Top 50 CEOs in Nigeria; UK based CEO Monthly Magazine ‘2022 CEO of The Year’.

As a speaker and trainer, DLM has been invited by Lagos Business School; Harvard Business School; University of Lagos; Lagos State Government; World Economic Forum; GITEX and several corporates to speak and train on myriads of topics.

DLM’s degree and certificate-based education span across Lagos State University of Technology (formerly known as Lagos State Polytechnic), Nexford University, Harvard Business School, Scalabl Global Academy, and the University of London.

DLM’s interest in geopolitics got him to demonstrate his skills in strategy development for Dr. Dianne Regisford who contested locally in the United Kingdom; a governor in Lagos, and a presidential candidate in Nigeria.

He recently skydived in the United Kingdom and Dubai to honor early-stage African founders and GITEX – the largest gathering of tech innovators and investors in the world and authored a book titled, ‘Spells and Spectacles’

He loves making music with his guitar, reading valuable business books, skydiving and biking.

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DR. TAIWO ORISASONA
Researcher, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria
‍NIGERIA

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MR. AKINTUNDE FOLORUNSO
‍NIGERIA
Nigerian Export Promotion Council Regional Coordinator, South West, Lagos

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QUENTIN AMES
Founder, Cafe Mentor
USA

Quentin Ames is not your typical coffee enthusiast; he's a true student of life. With an unwavering passion for human connection and an acute understanding of how it can transform coffee companies into remarkable success stories.

In a testament to his commitment to the coffee industry, Quentin founded Cafe Mentor late last year. This venture was born out of his desire to empower coffee companies worldwide with the knowledge and strategies they need to thrive in a competitive market. His mission is simple yet profound: to make coffee companies more successful by harnessing the power of branding and marketing.

His insights are derived not just from years of professional experience but from a genuine love for coffee and the people who enjoy it. In his keynote presentation, Quentin will delve into the strategies that can elevate coffee brands, enhance customer engagement, and drive business growth.

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JULIA GLAWZENSKA
‍SOME Strategist, Out of Pink
DENMARK

Julia Glazewska, a distinguished authority in international sales and marketing, boasts a Bachelor of Arts degree in her arsenal. Her profound commitment revolves around the dynamic world of social media, with a keen emphasis on the influential platform, Instagram. Julia's mission is dedicated to empowering coffee shop businesses to amplify their digital footprint.
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What truly sets Julia apart is her unique fusion of worldly expertise and social media mastery. Her unparalleled insight and proficiency make her an indispensable resource for enterprises striving to elevate their social media strategies. As a guest speaker at the World Coffee and Tea Expo 2023, Julia Glazewska promises to deliver a wealth of knowledge and insights that are bound to transform your perspective on the evolving landscape of online marketing for the coffee and tea industry.

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JULIAN BARICUATRO
‍Managing Director, World Coconut and Superfoods Expo
Co-founder, West Africa Specialty Coffee Association (WASCA)
CANADA

Julian possesses a wealth of expertise as a highly accomplished entrepreneur, an exceptional marketing expert, and an astute brand strategist, accumulating an impressive 20-year track record in the field. Having established numerous thriving enterprises and organized successful events such as the Canada Coconut Festival, World Superfoods Expo, and World Coffee and Tea Expo, he has become renowned for his unrivaled passion for the realm of coffee, venturing across various coffee-producing regions and esteemed cafes to indulge in the finest brews available.

Julian's distinctive flair lies in his remarkable ability to swiftly comprehend businesses and artfully fashion impactful branding and marketing solutions. Having working projects from Fortune 100 companies, he boasts an impressive repertoire of 19 global IT industry certifications.

Leveraging his profound understanding of a wide array of industries, Julian expertly guides entrepreneurs in clarifying their vision, delineating their target demographics, and tailoring strategies to effectively engage them. Grounded in practical experiences of nurturing and expanding businesses from inception, his sagacious counsel proves invaluable to budding business owners.  An award-winning entrepreneur himself, Julian also shares his knowledge as an author, public speaker, and business mentor.

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