Time: December 1 (Friday), 2023
Duration: 15:00 – 17:20 (GMT+8)
Language: English and Chinese (with simultaneous translation)
Format: Zoom – Live and on the record
Organized by CKGSB, with the participation of UNESCO and support of Development Reimagined
Today, women-led companies and women stepping up to leadership roles are on the rise. The participation of women in various industries could shape a new paradigm of more inclusive and resilient development for both businesses and societies. Meanwhile, many issues that are holding women back, or hindering the progress of international development cooperation, require more visibility. The lack of job opportunities and upward pipelines within organizations featured in the current trend of slow economic recovery means additional challenges to their efforts in breaking the glass ceiling.
Focusing on Africa, a continent of the future, this online edition of the Women in Leadership Forum—organized by Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) with the participation of UNESCO and in close collaboration with Development Reimagined—addresses the unique challenges faced in the African continent from various perspectives. The forum focuses on female entrepreneurship and leadership in technology companies, as well as women leaders applying Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM).
This special edition of the now flagship Women in Leadership Forum aims to empower women and promote sustainable growth in Africa. The forum aims to bring together women in leadership positions from both the technology and policy sectors to share insights regarding the challenges and gender equality gaps present in their respective fields, as well as to collaboratively brainstorm on a compelling vision for driving change.
Ms. Judith Mwai, African Diplomacy in China Lead, Development Reimagined
Dr. Xiang Bing, Founding Dean and Professor of China Business and Globalization, CKGSB
Mr. Mohamed Elfarnawany, Director, Priority Africa Coordination Division, PAX, UNESCO
Ms. Maria Gustava, Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique
New Vision for China-Africa Cooperation: Empowering Women Towards a Shared Future
Moderated by
Dr. Zhang Xiaomeng, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior, Associate Dean for Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity, CKGSB
Making Innovative Technologies Work for Women
Moderated by
Ms. Judith Mwai, African Diplomacy in China Lead, Development Reimagined
Name: Isabel Mayza Jesus da Graca Domingos
Nationality: Sao Tome and Principe
Training: Modern Languages and Literatures
Function exercised as:
Member of the National Assembly
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs
Member of the Parliamentary Women’s Network
Advice to the Office of the Prime Minister
Mayor of Me-Zochi
Teacher of Portuguese Language
Mrs. Maria Gustava, Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique to the People’s Republic of China, with concurrent accreditation to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. She is a career diplomat with the category of Ambassador, who joined the Ministry of Foreign and Cooperation in 1989. Since then, she has assumed various positions in the Ministry and abroad, namely: Head of Department for Multilateral Economic Relations, Deputy Head of the Mission in South Africa, Deputy Director General for International Organizations and Conferences, Deputy Director General for Studies Planning and Information and Director General for Asia and Oceania. Before her appointment to China, she was the Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique in Indonesia with multiple accreditations to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Timor Leste.
Ambassador Gustava, holds a Master’s degree in Foreign Affairs and Trade, from Monash University, Australia, in 1997. She obtained Honors Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, from the Higher Institute for International Relations, in Mozambique, in 1991. She speaks fluently Portuguese, English and Changana and understands French and Spanish.
Anne Lafortune was appointed as Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles on 17th June 2021 after a long career in Government service mainly in Education and Tourism. Prior to her appointment as Ambassador, she was the Principal Secretary for Tourism in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism.
She was born in Sabah Borneo, Malaysia where her parents were working at the time. She lives on the main island of Mahé and has two children, a son and a daughter.
Anne Lafortune started her career in education. She was formally the Director of the Seychelles Polytechnic and later took the position of Director General for Technical and Further Education of the Ministry of Education. She became the Principal Secretary for Health and Social Development in 2007. She has also occupied the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Institute of Management and the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Officers’ Ethics Commission.
In 2013 she was appointed as the Principal Secretary for Tourism in the then Ministry
of Tourism and Culture, a position that she maintained until her recent appointment
as Ambassador. She has participated actively in a number of tourism related conferences, meetings and workshops both regionally and internationally including the Global Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy and the International Island
Tourism Conference (ITTCS). She was the focal point for two major international tourism organisations namely United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) where she represented her country. She was also a member of the SADC Senior officials committee responsible for tourism
and the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Tourism Association.
On the local front, Mrs. Lafortune participated on a number of Government boards including Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, Seychelles Investment Board, Seychelles Licensing Authority and Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation.
Anne Lafortune did her studies at the University of Edith Cowan in Australia and Bristol University in the UK.
Irene Marina is a dynamic Product Owner at Safari Wallet, a key player in the Travel Fintech Marketplace, reshaping the landscape of finance and travel. With a focus on leveraging technology to empower women in finance and travel. A driving force behind innovative solutions in the industry. Honing her skills, showcasing expertise in product development and strategic leadership.
Hannah Ryder is the Founder & CEO of Development Reimagined. A former diplomat and economist with 20 years of experience, named one of 100 most influential Africans in 2021, she is also Senior Associate for the Africa Program of the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS), sits on the Board of the Environmental Defence Fund, and is a member of UAE’s International Advisory Council on the New Economy. Prior to her role at DR, Ms Ryder led the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s work with China to help it scale up and improve its cooperation with other developing countries, including in Africa. She has also played various advisory roles for the UN and OECD and co-authored the seminal Stern Review of the Economics of Climate Change in 2006.
Professor of Strategy and Economics and Associate Dean for Europe, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)
PhD, Princeton University
Areas of Expertise: Economics of Strategy and Organization, China Business and Economy, International Economics
Email：zgtao@ckgsb.edu.cn
Zhigang TAO is Professor of Strategy and Economics at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business. He taught at University of Hong Kong from 1998 to 2021, and at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology from 1992 to 1998. Professor Tao received his B.Sc. in management science from Fudan University in 1986, and PhD in economics from Princeton University in 1992. He has published in various economics and management journals, and his work has been widely cited.
Dr. Xiang Bing is the Founding Dean and Dean’s Distinguished Chair Professor of China Business and Globalization at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB). Under his leadership, CKGSB has evolved from a fledgling school to one of the most influential business schools in China with a global reputation since 2002.
Renowned as a foremost authority on China’s business and economy, Dr. Xiang serves as the first opening keynote speaker at the Harvard College China Forum in 2018 and 2023 and the Penn Wharton China Summit in 2023, the closing keynote speaker at the Columbia China Forum in 2024, the first closing keynote speaker at the Harvard College China Forum in 2024, and the closing keynote speaker at the SCMP China Conference on US-China Relations in New York City in 2019. Additionally, he was the First Co-Chairman for the Ditchley Foundation Annual Forum in 2018. He was also a lunch keynote speaker for the Foreign Policy Association’s Board of Trustees in 2018.
Dr. Xiang has served as an independent board member to several listed companies, including four Fortune Global 500 companies. He was a member of the Global Board of Trustees for United Way Worldwide (US) during 2011-2017.
His research interests include innovations from China, globalization of Chinese companies, China-US relations, economic disruption, social innovation, and the next-generation unicorns.
Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior, Associate Dean for Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity, Executive Academic Director for Executive Education and Director of the Research Center for Leadership, Behavioral Science & Inclusivity, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)
PhD, the R.H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland, College Park
Areas of Expertise: Corporate Governance, Creativity and Innovation, C-suite Motivation, Empowerment, Interactional Relationships, Leadership, Leader Support, Motivation
Biography
Professor Zhang Xiaomeng is Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior, Associate Dean for Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity, Executive Academic Director for Executive Education, and Director of the Research Center for Leadership, Behavioral Science & Inclusivity at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business. Prior to joining CKGSB, she was a tenured Associate Professor at the Kogod School of Business at American University in Washington DC. Her research interests are in the areas of creativity, leadership and motivation, with a desire to understand the relationships between all those areas.
Professor Zhang has published articles in multiple top academic journals including the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Science, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Personnel Psychology, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies and Human Resource Management Review.
Professor Zhang has taught Principles of Management, Organizational Behavior, Management of Organization and Human Capital, Business Policies, International Business Practices in China, and HR Management. She earned a BA with emphasis in Economics and Business Administration from Sun Yat-sen University, China and a PhD in Organizational Behavior/Human Resource Management from the R.H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland, College Park with a Paine Award for outstanding academic achievement and several teaching awards.
“Highly Cited Chinese Researchers of 2020” by Elsevier
“Highly Cited Chinese Researchers of 2019” by Elsevier
