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Steering Committee

Steering Committee

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Our Mission

Programme Director

Nkem Khumbah, Director, AAS STI

The Steering Committee provides strategic direction and governance to the AAS Executive Education Programme, ensuring its quality, relevance, and impact across the continent.

Key Responsibilities

Provide overall programmatic oversight to the structure, quality and relevance for an Executive Education program on the Frontiers of Africa Policy Leadership.

Review and select courses proposed by FAAS and affiliated experts

Meet twice a year (once virtually to review and approve courses and once in person at an AAS convening on: The Frontiers of Africa Policy Leadership in an increasingly Science and Technology-led world).

Serve as advocates and ambassadors of the program within and outside Africa leadership institutions and partners

Assist the AAS Executive Education Secretariat to seek contractual arrangements with African Ministries, Parliaments, Regional development Institutions (RECs, NEPAD and AU Institutions) and Industrial Corporations to offer Executive Education training to their leadership and management.

Members

Distinguished leaders and experts driving Africa’s transformation through science, technology, and innovation.

FO
Chair

Prof. Friday Okonofua

Secretary General, African Academy of Sciences

NigeriaMedical Science

Prof. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Former Executive Director of FIGO and Honorary Adviser on Health to the President of Nigeria.

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AG
Co-Chair

Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim

Former President of Mauritius

MauritiusChemical Science

Served as the 6th and first female President of Mauritius (2015-2018). Former Prof. of Organic Chemistry and Managing Director of CIDP Research and Innovation.

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HW
Member

Dr. Haja Wurie

Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sierra Leone

Sierra LeoneMedical Sciences

Distinguished academic and visionary leader serving as Sierra Leone's Minister of Technical and Higher Education, championing capacity-building and evidence-informed systems.

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SA
Member

Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak

Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation, Kenya

KenyaAgricultural Sciences

Principal Secretary (Minister) for Science, Research and Innovation, Kenya. Former Director for Africa at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

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CL
Member

Prof. Carlos Lopes

Honorary Prof., Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance

Cape VerdeHumanities & Social Sciences

Former UN Undersecretary General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. Honorary Prof. at University of Cape Town.

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SG
Member

Prof. Sylvester Gates

Clark Leadership Chair in Science

USAPhysical Science

Recipient of the US Presidential Medal of Science. Former member of the White House Council of Advisors on Science and Technology under President Obama. Pioneer in supersymmetry and supergravity.

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NK
Programme Director

Prof. Nkem Khumbah

Director, STI Policy, Governance and Partnerships, AAS

CameroonMathematics & STI Policy

Director for STI Policy at the African Academy of Sciences and Convener of the AAS Executive Education program. Senior Fellow with the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils.

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TR
Member

Prof. Timothy Rebbeck

Vincent L. Gregory, Jr. Prof. of Cancer Prevention, Harvard

USACancer Prevention & Global Health

Director of the Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention at Harvard and the Center for Global Health at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Leads the international MADCaP network.

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JD
Member

Mr. Jaymie Durnan

Co-founder & Chair, Andrew Marshall Foundation

USADefense & Strategic Advisory

Consultant to the Director of MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Member of the New York State Bar with extensive experience in defense, strategic advisory, and corporate leadership.

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