Our People

Leaders Invested in the Economic Development of Africa

The Brenthurst Foundation brings together experts, policy specialists, and senior government officials. With their diverse, often contrarian and always incisive analyses, our team, advisors, and associates offer fresh insights into African development.

Heads of state

Our team


Our advisory board

Olusegun Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President of Nigeria; Chairman and Advisory Board Member Emeritus, The Brenthurst Foundation

Nigeria Nigeria
Alberto Trejos

Alberto Trejos

Former Minister of Trade; Professor INCAE, Costa Rica

Costa Rica Costa Rica
Alfonso de Prat Gay

Alfonso de Prat Gay

Former Minister of the Economy, Argentina

Argentina Argentina
André Azoulay

André Azoulay

Counsellor to H.M. King Mohammed VI, Morocco

Morocco Morocco
Anna Diamantopoulou

Anna Diamantopoulou

Greek Politician and Public Figure

Greece Greece
Barry Desker

Barry Desker

Member of the Presidential Council on Minority Rights, Singapore

Singapore Singapore
Dr Karin von Hippel

Dr Karin von Hippel

Director-General of the Royal United Services Institute

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Former President of Liberia and Nobel Laureate

Liberia Liberia
Erastus Mwencha

Erastus Mwencha

Deputy Chair: Commission of the African Union, Kenya

Kenya Kenya
Ernest Bai Koroma

Ernest Bai Koroma

Former President of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone
Hailemariam Desalegn

Hailemariam Desalegn

Former Prime Minister of Ethopia

Ethiopia Ethiopia
Ian Khama

Ian Khama

Former President of Botswana

Botswana Botswana
Jonathan Oppenheimer

Jonathan Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer Generations

South Africa South Africa
Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno

Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno

Former Ambassador of Colombia to the United States

Colombia Colombia
Kgalema Motlanthe

Kgalema Motlanthe

Former President, South Africa

South Africa South Africa
Martín Torrijos

Martín Torrijos

Former President of Panama

Panama Panama
Moeketsi Majoro

Moeketsi Majoro

Former Prime Minister, Lesotho

Lesotho Lesotho
Nick Carter

Nick Carter

Former Chief of the Defence Staff, United Kingdom

United Kingdom United Kingdom
Richard Myers

Richard Myers

Former Chairman: Joint Chiefs of Staff, USA

United States of America United States of America
Rory Stewart

Rory Stewart

Former Secretary of State for International Development of the United Kingdom and Yale University Fellow

United Kingdom United Kingdom
Torben Brylle

Torben Brylle

Former Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to South Africa

Denmark Denmark

Our associates

Aziz Amin

Aziz Amin

Governance, Peace & Conflict and Policy Analysis

Afghanistan Afghanistan
David Kilcullen

David Kilcullen

Counter Insurgency; Urban Development Expert, Australia/US

Australia Australia
Dickie Davis

Dickie Davis

Special Advisor, The Brenthurst Foundation

United Kingdom United Kingdom
Frank Rusagara

Frank Rusagara

Former Military Historian, Rwanda Defence Force

Rwanda Rwanda
Gordon Yekelo

Gordon Yekelo

Former General Officer Training Command, SANDF

South Africa South Africa
Henry Sands

Henry Sands

Strategic Communications Advisor

United Kingdom United Kingdom
John McKay

John McKay

Analysis International & Deakin University, Australia

Australia Australia
Juan Carlos Echeverry

Juan Carlos Echeverry

Former Minister of Finance and Public Credit; CEO Eco Petrol, Colombia

Colombia Colombia
Knox Chitiyo

Knox Chitiyo

Africa Fellow, Chatham House, Zimbabwe/UK

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
Lawrence Swantner

Lawrence Swantner

Aviation Expert, US

United States of America United States of America
Luis Membreno

Luis Membreno

Economic Analyst, El Salvador

El Salvador El Salvador
Lyal White

Lyal White

Research Associate

South Africa South Africa
Mark Pearson

Mark Pearson

Economist, South Africa

South Africa South Africa
Mohamed Harun

Mohamed Harun

Adviser to Minister of Tourism, Mozambique

Mozambique Mozambique
Patrick Esnouf

Patrick Esnouf

Mining Expert, South Africa

South Africa South Africa
Richard Gibb

Richard Gibb

Former Vice Chancellor, Abu Dhabi University

United Kingdom United Kingdom
Rod Hagger

Rod Hagger

Former CEO, Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company, Malawi

Malawi Malawi
Susan Schulman

Susan Schulman

Freelance Photographer, US/UK

United States of America United States of America
Theresa Whelan

Theresa Whelan

Africa Defence and Security Issues Expert, US

United States of America United States of America
Thomas Nziratimana

Thomas Nziratimana

Co-founder and General Manager, TransAfrika Resources, DR Congo

Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Thomas Vester Nielsen

Thomas Vester Nielsen

Senior Portfolio Manager, Lloyd George Management, Denmark

Denmark Denmark