Our Board of Advisors
Meridian 17 is fortunate to be able to rely on the advice of a growing body of advisors, each experts in their field. We aim to grow our Board of Advisors to encompass globally recognised experts from our key focus areas. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in their expertise and network. Once up to full strength, Meridian 17 aims to bring its Board of Advisors together on an annual basis, to discuss the strategic requirements and research focus.
Dr. Edem Adzogenu
Dr. Edem Adzogenu is an accomplished investment facilitation and government affairs specialist who has advised African Heads of State, Fortune 500 companies, G7 countries, and African regional institutions. Under his leadership, AfroChampions has become a leading public-private partnership platform working alongside the African Union to drive continental integration. He spearheaded the “Trillion Dollar Private Sector AfCFTA Investment & Financing Framework,” officially endorsed by African Heads of State in 2020, aiming to channel up to one trillion dollars into cross-border projects in Africa by 2030.
Prof. Marleen Dekker
Marleen Dekker is Professor of Inclusive Development in Africa at Leiden University and Director of the African Studies Centre Leiden. A human geographer with a PhD in Development Economics, she studies how social norms and networks shape market access and local socio-economic development. She also facilitates interdisciplinary work with natural scientists to model African air quality and climate change.
Ms Georja Calvin-Smith
Georja is a Paris based journalist, event moderator and TV news presenter who has worked in international magazine and current affairs broadcasting for over two decades. She currently produces and anchors the daily ‘Eye on Africa’ bulletin at France 24, an international news network broadcasting in English, French and Arabic. Georja also presents the weekly ‘Across Africa’ magazine show. She regularly chairs panels on a wide range of topics, for instutions such as the African Development Bank and the OECD’s Africa Forum.
Dr. Olufunso Somorin
Dr. Olufunso Somorin is a Regional Principal Officer at the African Development Bank, leading climate change, green growth, and carbon markets initiatives in Eastern Africa. He has overseen 300+ development projects worth over USD 20 billion and authored more than 50 publications on African climate policy. Dr. Somorin holds a PhD in International Environmental Policy from Wageningen University and serves on the UN Secretary General’s Taskforce Expert Group on Net Zero Policy.
Dr. Kelly Alexander
Dr Kelly Alexander is President of Meridian 17. A social scientist, she analyzes geopolitical shifts and integrates sustainability into economic development. She lectures on Strategy & Sustainability at GIBS Business School. Kelly holds a Master’s in Development Sociology from Wits University and a PhD in Management & Organisation Studies from Tilburg University.