5th UNCTAD Youth Forum (Final session)

Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno of Spain, is Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD.

He has over 20 years of experience of working for multilateral and intergovernmental organizations in programme, management and strategic positions both in the field and at headquarters.

He was Deputy Secretary-General of the Communication for Development Committee at the Spanish National Commission with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (1999-2004), and for the United Nations Development Programme, at the Country Office in Ecuador and, in New York City, as part of the Human Development Report team, at the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean and at the Executive Office.

In 2014, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Ibero-American Conference in Madrid, where he coordinated key political processes and South-South cooperation projects.

In September 2021, he was named Chief of Staff and Director of the Office of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD.

Kamel Rezig has held the position of Minister of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion of Algeria, since April 2025. 

Prior to his current position, he held the same ministerial position from January 2020 to March 2023, during which he implemented a series of key reforms in the trade sector — notably in combating speculation and organizing market structures. After completing his term in 2023, he was appointed as an advisor to the President on foreign trade and export matters. 

An economist and Doctor of Economic Sciences (University of Algiers 3), Professor Kamel Rezig also served as Chief Tax Inspector and a lecturer at the University of Blida since 1997. From 1999 to 2004, he held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Economic Sciences at the same university.

Carlson Manuel is the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao, representing the Government of Curaçao in the Netherlands and internationally. Since 2021, he has advanced Curaçao’s economic diplomacy agenda by fostering partnerships that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

He led the positioning of Curaçao as a hydrogen and renewable energy hub through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Netherlands, and created the Curaçao Experience: Ambassador Edition, which brought 26 ambassadors representing their countries in The Hague, to the island to explore opportunities in trade, investment, and entrepreneurship.

A strong advocate for empowerment and inclusion, he also initiated measures that facilitate student integration and strengthen Curaçaoan communities abroad. With a background in business management, IT, and music, Minister Manuel blends creativity and strategy to position Curaçao as a bridge for innovation and entrepreneurial collaboration between the Caribbean, Europe, and the world.

Matthew Wilson is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO), and other international organizations in Geneva. Ambassador Wilson has more than 25 years of experience in trade and development.

He is the Chair of the WTO Working Group on Micro-, Small-, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), Co-Convenor of the WTO Plastics Pollution Dialogue, Coordinator of the Geneva SIDS Ecosystem and coordinator of the ACP in Geneva. Prior to this he was Chief of Special Projects and Chief of Staff at the International Trade Centre (2013–20), Senior Adviser to the WTO Director General (2011–13), and Deputy Aid for Trade Coordinator at WTO.

He has degrees in Psychology and Sociology; International relations; Development Studies; and an MBA-Essentials. He is on the Boards of the International Gender Champions; UNCTAD’s ASYCUDA; and the Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS).

Chidinma Cynthia Udeogu is a policy advocate and entrepreneurship ecosystem builder based in Abuja, Nigeria. She currently serves as the Assistant General Manager of the Nigeria Economic Zones Association (NEZA), the umbrella body for Special Economic Zones (SEZ) operators in Nigeria. In her role, she leads national-level engagements that position SEZs as tools for inclusive growth and industrialization.

Birknesh is a Production Planner at Peli Biothermal, specializing in optimizing production schedules and supply chain efficiency for high-quality temperature-controlled packaging solutions. With a strong foundation in procurement and logistics, Birknesh began her career as a Procurement Intern at UNOPS, where she gained valuable experience in sourcing strategy and supplier management within international development contexts. Birknesh holds a master’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, and a bachelor’s degree from Mekelle University in Ethiopia. Passionate about operational excellence and data-driven planning, she is dedicated to driving continuous improvement across the supply chain to enhance performance and sustainability.

Nielsimms Sangho is an accomplished professional at the forefront of the fintech, logistics, and eCommerce sectors, driving innovation and growth across Africa. With a diverse skill set and a passion for solving African challenges, he has built a remarkable career marked by entrepreneurial drive, strategic leadership, and a deep understanding of regional markets.

As Regional Manager for East Africa at Flutterwave-Africa’s leading fintech unicorn-he led the company’s expansion into several African markets, including Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. He also founded Buy2Africa (formerly InterShip), playing a pivotal role in connecting SMEs and individuals to international online stores across East Africa, South Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Nielsimms’ work has earned him international recognition as a Seedstars Africa 2015 winner and one of only 18 Alibaba eFounders selected in 2018. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he is a passionate advocate for sustainable growth, coaching as a John Maxwell Fellow, mentoring with Google for Startups, and empowering innovators across global tech hubs.

He is currently building ShipShap, an early-stage logistics technology company creating shipping infrastructure and tools for businesses in Africa and the MENA region. With his commitment to solving African problems, Nielsimms continues to shape the continent’s fintech, logistics, and eCommerce future.

Prof. Heba Kurdi is a distinguished Professor of Distributed Artificial Intelligence at King Saud University, a Fellow at MIT's School of Engineering, and a Senior Member of the IEEE. She is also the founder of Mata Logistics, a smart logistics start-up and was named among the Top 100 Saudi Pioneer Women 2025. Prof. Kurdi earned her PhD from the School of Engineering and Design at Brunel University.

Following her doctorate, she was awarded a scholarship from Aramco to conduct postdoctoral research at MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. She later joined MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering as a research fellow, where she remains actively affiliated. With over 120 publications and eight patents, Prof. Kurdi is recognized among the top 2% of highly cited scientists worldwide, as per the Stanford system. She has held numerous leadership roles, including Chairman of the Cyber Security Master Program at King Saud University, Vice Chair of the Department of Computer Sciences, Vice Dean of the College of Computer and Information Sciences, and Vice Dean of the Career and Entrepreneurship Centre at Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University.

Sanya Rajpal is an Oxford MBA graduate, lawyer, and international development consultant with a track record in systems-change across health, education, and economic inclusion. Her work with the United Nations, governments, and the private sector has focused on building innovation ecosystems that enable young people and communities to thrive through entrepreneurship and human development.

She now leads AdagioVR, a pioneering neurotechnology company operating out of the UK and India, which is redefining how mental health and high performance are achieved through VR/AI. AdagioVR integrates neuroscience, cutting-edge precious therapeutics, and immersive technology to deliver adaptive, scalable interventions that strengthen mental wellbeing, cognitive function, and leadership capacity.

Bridging her experience in policy, innovation, and technology, Sanya is passionate about how youth innovation can solve systemic challenges, from access to healthcare to the future of work. Her mission is to make transformative mental health and human potential tools accessible across socio-economic divides, combining empathy, science, and business to create lasting impact.

She regularly speaks at global platforms including the UN, World Health Summit, and WEF, on how to unlock innovation and integrate purpose.

Angela Zhong is a recent Harvard graduate, where she earned a degree in economics and environmental science public policy, along with a citation in Mandarin. Angela has been invited to speak at events including but not limited to: the World Economic Forum, World Bank Spring Meetings, SXSW, the past 3 UN Conference of Parties, the C40 Cities Summit, and many more. For her work, Angela was recognized as the G20 Indonesia 2022 Youth Sustainable and Livable Planet Champion and a Common Purpose 25 under 25. She is currently an analyst at TPG.