Dr. Gillian Marcelle, leads Resilience Capital Ventures LLC, a boutique capital advisory practice specializing in blended finance.

She has a proven track record in attracting investment and focuses on telecoms, fintech, renewable energy and regenerative agriculture. Her specialty is the design and implementation of blended finance strategies that often involve partnerships, ecosystem strengthening and designing architectures for transformational change.

Dr Marcelle includes among her clients and partners: MPC Capital AG, Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), AfriBio and the Clinton Foundation. She serves on the Advisory Board of Marketspace USA, and has guided numerous ventures in the role of Senior Advisor. Prior to this assignment, she was the Executive Director the UVI RTPark and previously held staff roles development finance with the International Finance Corporation, equity capital markets at JP Morgan Chase and M&A with British Telecom. Her earlier Board roles include serving as non-Executive Director with South African fintech Tafari Capital and on the UN ICT Task Force. Her academic career includes teaching and research as a tenured Associate Professor at Wits Business School in Johannesburg, South Africa and teaching at the University of East London and City University in London, England. She is a published research scholar and maintains active academic networks; in the US, with MIT and Penn State; in Europe with SPRU, University of Sussex; across the African continent and in the Caribbean.

Her educational background includes earning degrees in Economics from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Kiel Institute of World Economics, Germany; an MBA with a specialization in high technology management from the George Washington University and a doctorate in innovation policy from the Science and Technology Policy Research Unit, SPRU, University of Sussex.Dr Marcelle developed the Triple B Framework to improve flows and allocation of capital in its multiple forms; this provides a platform for engaging in the finance and investment world, where her contributions and perspectives on diversity, inclusion, accountability and alignment with the SDGs are becoming influential. Her international public service includes appointments with the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, Global Future Council on SynBio.

Pierre Marcolini – A life in chocolate

Born in Charleroi in 1964, Pierre Marcolini discovered his vocation at the age of 14 and decided to become a chocolatier, pastry and ice-cream maker. After graduating from CERIA and training with Pierre Hermé at Fauchon in Paris, he quickly distinguished himself by winning several prestigious awards, including the International Grand Prix Mandarine Napoléon in 1991 and the title of World Pastry Champion in Lyon in 1995 – the only Belgian to have achieved this distinction to date.

In 1995, he opened his first workshop near Brussels, followed by boutiques in Avenue Louise (1996) and the Grand Sablon (1997), which soon became the brand’s flagship. His creativity and rigor led him to develop new concepts such as the “Malline” presentation box, Carré² Chocolat, and the seasonal collections “Chocolate Seasons.”

A pioneer in mastering the entire process of chocolate-making, from bean to bar, Pierre Marcolini placed independence and excellence at the heart of his craft. This vision translated into responsible plantations, sustainable cocoa sourcing, and a constant attention to biodiversity. By working directly with growers and valuing the origin, variety, and story of each cocoa bean, he has created chocolates that reflect both terroir and people.

This ethical commitment took shape with the launch of the Grands Crus collection in 2009, reinforcing his philosophy of traceability and respect for planters. Each creation highlights not only cocoa’s aromatic richness but also the savoir-faire of local communities, with whom Marcolini builds lasting relationships founded on fairness and responsibility.

The House of Pierre Marcolini has since expanded worldwide, with boutiques in Tokyo, Paris, London, Dubai, Shanghai, Seoul, and many other capitals. In 2020, he was unanimously elected Best Pastry Chef in the World by the World Pastry Stars, a crowning achievement in a career devoted to innovation, sustainability, and passion.

In addition to his boutiques, Pierre Marcolini has published several reference books, including « Eclats », « Dix petits doigts plein de chocolat », « Best of Pierre Marcolini », and « Chocolat – Carnets de Voyages ».

Today, the brand is present in over 10 countries with 60 boutiques worldwide, embodying Belgian excellence on an international scale. As President of the Brussels Expertise Label (BEL) and referent member of the Culinary College of Belgium, Pierre Marcolini continues to share his vision of “Chocolat d’Auteur”, one that celebrates biodiversity, respects local growers, and embraces the bean-to-bar philosophy.

Appointed Deputy Director for Mobilization, Partnerships and Communication of AFD, Adama Mariko joined Finance in Common as Secretary General of the global movement, in mid-2021.

Previously, Adama, as member of AFD’s Management Board was in charge of Financial Strategy, Performance and capital planning. After a first experience in investment banking, Adama joined AFD Group in 2009 to serve the general interest and international cooperation. He has worked on field operations in West Africa, and in the Indian Ocean where he served as deputy director in AFD branch in La Réunion. He also served at the Paris headquarter in both the Finance and Risk departments. Adama graduated in Finance from Paris-Dauphine and holds a Master in Public Administration from Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA).

Dr. Anabel Marín is a Research Fellow and Leader of the Business, Markets & State Cluster at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and a researcher at CONICET in Argentina (currently on leave). She holds a PhD in Science and Technology Policy from the University of Sussex, a Master’s in Development from the University of General Sarmiento, and a degree in Economics from Córdoba University.

Her research focuses on the political economy of natural resources, sustainability transitions, and green industrial policy, combining academic leadership with high-level policy engagement in Latin America, Europe, and Africa. She has led multi-country research and impact projects funded by organisations such as ESRC, the Global Consortium for Sustainability Outcomes, and the Conservation Food and Health Foundation, and has advised institutions including the World Bank, ECLAC, IDB, UNCTAD, UNESCO, and UNIDO.

Her recent publications include a contribution to the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Climate Science on sustainable development in Latin America (Marin, Möhle & Aneise, 2025), as well as articles on civic resistance, governance, and green industrial policy in the IDS Bulletin (2025), IDS Working Paper (2025), and Environmental Research Letters (2025). In 2025, she was awarded the Premio RAÍCES by the Argentine Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for her contributions to science and international cooperation.

Nelson is a consultant with more than 25 years of experience, director and co-founder of Decisiones Logisticas Group.

Through this consulting firm, he has developed more than 120 projects in supply chain analysis, including network design, redesign process in inventory, transportation, sourcing, production, planning, mathematical modeling, analytics and other tools of operations research, like decision support system for national and multinational companies in Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

Furthermore, he is an undergraduate and postgraduate professor in mathematical modeling, optimization and logistics at UNIANDES, UNISABANA, ICESI, among other universities. He is also the author of several publications in different magazines.

Luis has worked in the sustainability field since 2006 focused on the use of advanced data analytics, normalised indicators, and related monitoring tools, in order to evaluate energy performance improvement and decarbonisations processes.

He is a Certified Measurement & Verification Professional (CMVP) accredited by AEE (Association of Energy Engineers and performance Measurement and Verification Analyst by EVO (Efficiency Valuation Organization).

Since 2014, he had also collaborated with UNIDO as an International Energy Performance Indicator expert, leading data analysis and performance monitoring in Energy Management System implementation projects. In this field, he is the main author and trainer in the UNIDO program.

During the last 10 years, Luis has delivered training programs for different organisations like in different countries: Ireland, Spain, Austria, Russia, Georgia, Iran, Moldova.

Sonia is the Lead Sustainability Specialist at the International Tin Association (“ITA”) where she is supporting the world’s largest tin producers, and the global tin industry, in demonstrating commitment to sustainability and achieving positive local development, including through effective stakeholder engagement. Sonia is a legal professional specializing in global environment and climate change law. Before joining the ITA and the tin sector, she advised private and non-profit organisations on human rights and sustainability projects in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.Sonia is the Lead Sustainability Specialist at the International Tin Association (“ITA”) where she is supporting the world’s largest tin producers, and the global tin industry, in demonstrating commitment to sustainability and achieving positive local development, including through effective stakeholder engagement. Sonia is a legal professional specializing in global environment and climate change law. Before joining the ITA and the tin sector, she advised private and non-profit organisations on human rights and sustainability projects in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Cristina Martín won the Supply Chain Innovation Challenge: Private sector award for USYNCRO, a Blockchain and AI platform to impulse Digital Logistics Corridors worldwide.

Cristina is a chemical engineer with an Executive MBA from IE (Universidad Internacional de Excelencia), she is certified as a Transport and Air Freight Operator. She established ATML, a freight forwarding company, 19 years ago and currently serves as CEO of Usyncro, an award-winning multimodal solution named the best Technology Platform 2023 by Trade Finance Global.

She actively contributes to various industry groups, serving as the Digitalization group coordinator for the Spanish Freight Forwarders Association, a board member of the ALASTRIA network, and Logistics and Transport coordinator within the Blockchain Cluster of the Community of Madrid.

She holds a position in the Technology Commission of ALACAT, an association of freight forwarders in Latin America, and co-leads the Industry and Logistics Forum of the Spanish Association of Female Executives and Board Members, EJEandCON

Shantal Martin is a Soprano and Beauty Influencer. She has trained at the Manhattan School of Music where she received her Bachelors (2017) and Masters (2019) in Opera Performance. She has also graced the stage in many leading roles at this institution ranging from Musical Theatre, Opera Scenes and full Operatic productions. She has been heralded by critics as having a clear, direct, bell-like tone and effortlessly conveys the emotions of her characters, never once sacrificing her vocal prowess. Shantal has worked under the baton of many well known and revered conductors and directors such as Alan Gilbert, Roderick Cox, Tomas Muraco, Dona D Vaughn and Catherine Malfitano to name a few.

Her most prestigious award comes from a past Prime Minister of Barbados, His Right Honourable Freundel Stewart in 2013 and has received Gold and Silver medals at the NIFCA festival in Barbados awarded for excellence in singing as well as dance performances.

Shantal uses her expertise and world class training in the following ways: as a choir director, private voice teacher, as well as a movement coach for singers looking to become more comfortable on stage and one on one makeup courses teaching techniques for the perfect audition and show makeup. She’s also helped assist in directing 3 of the shows she was casted in and is often used as the dance captain due to her 15 years of dance experience. Outside of her musical endeavours she is also a creative director, social media strategist, photographer and signed model.