Mike Foster, currently serving as Economic Counsellor at the British High Commission in Pretoria, brings a wealth of experience in financial markets and international development. Mike holds an MSc in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science, complemented by a BA in English Language and Literature from Oxford University.

His career includes pivotal roles such as Non-Executive Director at the Overseas Development Institute in Nairobi from 2015 to 2018, where he provided strategic guidance appointed by the UK Government. Prior to this, Mike served as a Fellow at the Government of Zanzibar's President’s Office, focusing on macroeconomic analysis and policy advice. His consultancy work for the Commonwealth Secretariat in 2012, involved researching international trade policy. In the financial sector, Mike held significant positions including Director at Barclays Capital in London from 2009 to 2011, overseeing European ETF trading and contributing to global equity technology strategy. He also served as Vice President at Morgan Stanley from 2007 to 2009, managing risk across European sectors.

At UBS Investment Bank, Mike's tenure from 2001 to 2007 led to his appointment as a Director, leading Equity Delta-1 trading and expanding the firm's presence in Index Synthetics and Exchange Traded Funds.

Leanne Jones has been working at the intersection of international development and innovation at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (and its predecessor, DFID) for almost 15 years. Having completed a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Economics at the Australian National University, Leanne relocated to London where she spent 10 years designing and managing innovative climate policies and programmes in the UK Government and for international consultancies. Leanne completed a Masters in Innovation and Sustainability for International Development at Sussex University in 2014. Leanne has worked for the FCDO in Tanzania and Nigeria and is now based in South Africa leading the FCDO’s work on science, technology, research and innovation partnerships for mutual prosperity.

Jason has a wealth of experience in insolvency enquiries, arbitrations and mediations as well as extensive experience in litigation in the High Court, Commercial Court, Magistrates’ Courts and various other tribunals.

In addition, Jason sat as a Board Member and Chairman of various local and multi-national companies and extensive experience in all fields of litigation. He is further well versed in the particulars relating to the handling of company, transport and maritime law and handles many complex immigration matters for South Africans to the UK.

Jason is member of both INSOL and SARIPA.

Adrian Stanford is the Chief Technology Officer at ESET Southern Africa. With 13 years of dedicated service at ESET, Adrian brings a wealth of knowledge in product and systems development, threat intelligence, and technology management, while driving his passion for understanding both the technical and commercial facets of cybersecurity. He advocates for a proactive approach to security, emphasizing the importance of staying ahead of emerging threats through continuous innovation and research.
Adrian is a strong advocate of fostering a culture of security awareness, believing that education and collaboration are key to building resilient defence’s. He regularly shares his expertise at industry events, contributing to the broader discourse on the future of cybersecurity and the critical role of AI in safeguarding digital assets.