In this compelling conversation recorded live at The Age of Africa Annual Symposium, we challenge one-dimensional “crisis” narratives and explore how Canada can adopt a balanced, future-oriented approach to its engagement with Africa. Our panel examines how historical, cultural, and political perceptions influence economic risk assessments and foreign policy strategies. By reframing the dialogue around trade, entrepreneurship, and multidimensional partnerships, we uncover new pathways to harness Africa’s evolving influence on the global stage.

Moderator:
Dr. Jill Humphries – CFR Higher Education Ambassador, Council on Foreign Relations, Los Angeles

Panelists:
Melvin Foote – President, Constituency for Africa, Washington, D.C.
Helen Tewolde – Director, Access Strategy and Partnerships Office, University of Toronto; Founder, Mela Glow, Toronto

Join us as we delve into actionable insights on empowering the African diaspora, leveraging creative industries for cultural diplomacy, and building multilevel alliances that drive policy, business, and social impact.

Stay intentional. Stay accountable. And most importantly, let’s get to work.

This illuminating how Canada and Africa can align climate goals with industrial development. Our speakers examine the mining sector’s crucial role in supplying minerals for clean technologies while maintaining sustainable extraction practices. Together, they chart a path that balances Net Zero ambitions with economic growth, positioning mining as a partner in the low-carbon transition.

Moderator:
Prof. Lesley Warren
Claudette McKay-Lassonde Chair in Mineral & Energy Engineering • Director, Lassonde Institute of Mining, University of Toronto

Panelists:
Clyde Graham
Director, Keystone Solutions Leadership Team, 4R Solutions, Ottawa

Farah Esmail
Corporate Lawyer • Managing Partner, Boyden East Africa, Nairobi

David Boroto
CEO, Engineers Without Borders Canada • Infrastructure Advisory Consultant, Mott MacDonald, Toronto

Join us for a forward-thinking conversation on how collaboration, innovation, and responsible practices can drive sustainable growth on both continents.

In this incisive fireside session, recorded live at the 2025 Age of Africa Annual Symposium, moderator Michael B. Sewardda guides a compelling conversation on how public policy and capital flows can be aligned to catalyze the next phase of investment between Canada and the African continent.

The discussion opens with keynote remarks from Christine Kamugisha, followed by a thought-provoking exchange with a panel of experts who critically examine the evolving landscape for investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers across both regions.

Featuring

• Christine Kamugisha – Lawyer, Partner, Dazzle Angel Fund, Johannesburg (Opening Remarks)

• Michael B. Sewardda – Founding Chair, BPEA (Business Policy & Economic Affairs) & Corporate Counsel, Toronto (Moderator), Washington, D.C.

• Fenohasina Rakotondrazaka Maret, Ph.D. – Founder, ASEED Consulting; Senior Advisor, Africatalyst, Washington, D.C.

• David Harley – Co-Founder & CEO, Thirdway Capital, Toronto

In this panel discussion recorded at the Munk School of Global Affairs, we explore how Development Finance Institutions are stepping up to support underfunded markets across Africa, driving private investment, pioneering new industries, and bolstering long-term economic resilience amid shrinking traditional capital flows.

Panelists:

Join us as our experts discuss innovations in DFI strategies and the critical question: How can these institutions adapt to ensure their interventions continue to promote sustainable growth across the continent?

Africa is not the future,it is the now. In this powerful episode of The Age of Africa Podcast, we explore how Africa’s youthful demographics, natural resources, and technological innovation are reshaping the global order.

Recorded live at The Age of Africa Annual Symposium, this episode is moderated by Kofi Hope, CEO & Co-Founder of Monumental, Urbanist in Residence, School of Cities, University of Toronto, and Senior Fellow, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, Toronto.

He is joined by:

• Jake Okechukwu Effoduh, Assistant Professor, Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto

• Chris Roberts, Fellow, Canadian Global Affairs Institute; Instructor, Political Science, University of Calgary; President, African Access Consulting

Together, they examine how Canada and Africa can build stronger diplomatic and economic ties within a shifting global landscape.

🎶 Featuring: Palco by Gilberto Gil
📍 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

In partnership with Air Canada, this episode explores how direct flights between Canada and Africa are reshaping trade, cultural exchange, and diplomatic ties. We examine the impact of mobility on global perceptions and what it means for the future of Canada–Africa relations.

Moderator: Marsha John-Greenwood – Vice-President, People & Culture, Toronto International Film Festival

Guests :

• Norman Haughton – Director, In-Flight Digital Entertainment, WiFi, Media Sales & Analytics, Air Canada, Toronto

As Africa emerges as a key actor in a rapidly evolving global context, shaped by the imperatives of climate resilience, sustainable energy, and geopolitical realignments, this panel will critically examine Canada’s strategic posture. The discussion will explore the complexities of deepening economic and diplomatic ties with Africa, highlighting the nuanced challenges and strategic opportunities for Canada, including the role of inter-provincial coordination in fostering long-term, mutually beneficial growth.

Moderator: Alfred Apps – CEO, Braxted Group, Toronto

Guests:

The episode assembles a distinguished panel of diplomats and policymakers to offer an inside perspective on the evolving relationship between Canada and African states. With a focus on recent diplomatic progress and untapped opportunities, the conversation explores pathways for deeper economic engagement, strategic integration, and multilateral cooperation. From the importance of a unified African voice in global forums to Canada’s role in fostering resilient partnerships, this dialogue unpacks how diplomacy can drive stability, development, and shared prosperity across continents.

Moderator: Hon. Kelechi (Kaycee) Madu, KC, ECA, Lawyer, Former Cabinet Minister & Deputy Premier of Alberta

Guests:

• Amb. Mark Entwistle, Managing Director, Privus Capital; Former Canadian Ambassador to Cuba
  

• H.E. Prosper Higiro, High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda to Canada
  

In this episode, Dr. Akolisa Ufodike, Deputy Minister in the Government of Alberta, Associate Professor at York University, and Founder of the John Ware Institute, moderates a timely and insightful conversation with Amb, Bob Rae, Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Their discussion explores the evolving contours of Canada-Africa relations within the context of global multilateralism, diplomacy, and strategic engagement.

Description:
Season 2 of The Age of Africa Podcast officially launches with a interesting discussion recorded live during The Age Of Africa Annual Symposium at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, in February 2025. Moderator Dr. Akolisa Ufodike sits down with Amb. Bob Rae to examine Canada’s evolving relationship with Africa in an era of shifting global alliances, rising African influence, and the need for deeper engagement rooted in mutual benefit. With wit, honesty, and insight, this launch episode sets the tone for a season of brilliant conversations, bold ideas, and forward-looking collaboration between the Africa, and the world.

Moderated by Kofi Achampong, Lawyer and Government Relations Advisor, and featuring Fortune Chuku, Data and Research Associate at Briter Bridges, this session offers a detailed analysis of Briter Bridges’ 2023 Africa Investment Report. The discussion examines the geographic distribution of capital flows across African regions, the rise of alternative financial instruments, and evolving trends in early, mid-, and late-stage financing. It also highlights the increasing sectoral diversification attracting investor interest, the growing presence of Canadian venture capital in African markets, and the ambitions of African firms seeking expansion into Canada. Grounded in robust data, this session offers valuable insight into where opportunity is emerging, and where it is headed, on the African continent.

Moderated by Karen Carter, Co-Founder and Director of the Black Artists Network in Dialogue (BAND), this episode features Juliet Kavishe, Vice President of the International Council of Design and Founder of Formall Design Lab in Johannesburg, in a thought-provoking discussion on the transformative potential of soft power and cultural production. Framing creative industries as both economic engines and instruments of diplomacy, the conversation focuses on the role of artistic collaboration and cultural exchange in reshaping Africa’s global narrative.

Moderated by Dr. Kerry Bowman, bioethicist, environmentalist, and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, this episode features Dr. Melanie Nyambura Katsivo, Associate Director of Programs and Partnerships at The Africa Institute, in a compelling dialogue on sustainability and climate resilience. Anchored in a high-level exploration of adaptation strategies, the discussion focuses on the importance of locally driven solutions and the transformative potential of grassroots empowerment.

Moderated by Alfred Apps, Former Senior Partner at Miller Thomson LLP in Toronto, this discussion brings together an accomplished panel including Noman Haughton, Director of In-Flight Digital Entertainment, WiFi, Media Sales and Analytics, Air Canada; David Harlley, Co-Founder and CEO of Thirdway Capital; Michael B. Sewardda, Chief of Staff and Strategy Manager for Global Government Affairs and Public Policy, at HP; and Alisha Golden, Investment Manager at Techstars.

Description: 

This episode explores the factors positioning African markets as a dynamic investment destination, with a focus on demographic growth, technological innovation, and sustainability. The discussion highlights rising consumer demand, a youthful and educated population, and the importance of climate-conscious strategies, offering Canadian investors key insights into Africa’s evolving economic landscape.

Moderated by the Honourable Kelechi (Kaycee) Madu, KC, ECA, former Cabinet Member in the Government of Alberta, this session features H.E. Anselm Ransford Sowah, High Commissioner of the Republic of Ghana to Canada; H.E. Obioma Nzewuji, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Ottawa; and Jeffery Halloran, Managing Director of Sahara Game Technology Corporation in Toronto.

Description: 

This discussion explores the significant potential for mutual economic growth and diplomatic collaboration between Canada and African nations within the context of a shifting global economic order. Framed by the urgency of realignment, the conversation examines strategic sectors for cooperation, mechanisms to enhance trade and investment, and innovative diplomatic approaches to foster sustainable engagement. With an emphasis on actionable insight, the guests offer a platform to assess how Canada and Africa can harness their respective strengths to unlock new pathways for development and build enduring partnerships anchored in shared prosperity.

Moderator: John Yearwood, Award Winning.Journalist and Global Affairs Expert
Guest: Amb. Ben Marc Diendéré, Canada's Ambassador & Permanent Observer African Union, and Permanent Envoy

Description: 

In this episode, moderator John Yearwood interviews Ambassador Ben Marc Diendéré in a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving dynamics of Canada-Africa relations, with particular focus on economic cooperation and policy alignment. The discussion examines Canada’s strategic posture, emerging challenges, and opportunities for deeper engagement across the African continent. Recorded live at The Age Of Africa Annual Symposium, February 2024, in Toronto