A discussion and networking drinks brought to you by The Royal African Society, Dalberg Group and The Africa Club at London Business School.

Tickets available here: https://bit.ly/SDGsAfricaBiz

Discussion of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is widespread, across the media, within development institutions, boardrooms and beyond. There is, in particular a growing recognition that the private sector will have an important role to play in achieving the targets underlying the SDGs, both due to the scale of funding required and the increasingly shared view that businesses and private investors have the ability and responsibility to make a difference.

But in many respects, none of this is new. What is different now? What do we really mean when we say that the SDGs create new opportunities for businesses and investors? What are the most forward leaning companies and investors doing, and what is working?

This event aims to bring together business executives, investors, social entrepreneurs and development actors to pierce the veil on the SDGs, go beyond broad-based discussions and start a dialogue about key questions that face investors and businesses with current or potential interests in Africa.

• How are the SDGs relevant to businesses and investors today and how do we expect them to change the way we need to operate in Africa going forwards?
• What new opportunities and markets can be opened up by taking an ‘SDG lens’?
• How do we need to change the way we operate to make these opportunities a reality? What are the risks? What are firms and funds doing and what is working so far?

SPEAKERS 

Welcome remarks: Boko Inyundo, Business Development, DLA Piper, and Council Member, Royal African Society

Keynote Speeches:

Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, Former United Nations Deputy Secretary-General & Chairman of Smartmatic

Nick O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer, CDC Group

Two panels of business leaders and investors include:

Dougie Brew, Director External Affairs, Communications & Sustainability for Africa, Unilever

David Croft, Global Sustainability Director, Diageo

H.E. Dr Hailemichael Aberra Afework PhD, Ethiopian Ambassador in the UK

Kate Robertson, Co-Founder One Young World & Former CEO of Havas

Yemi Babington-Ashaye, Former Head of Africa, World Economic Forum

Jean-Paul Melaga, Co-founder & CEO of Smartphorce

Aly-Khan Jamal, Partner, Dalberg

Geetha Tharmaratnam, Partner, T5 Africa Capital Partners

Karima Ola, Partner, LeapFrog Investments

Tracey Austin, Global Head, Impact Investments, Palladium

Shami Nissan, Head of Responsible Investment, Actis

Olivia Iloetonma, Investment Associate, Dalberg Capital