Meet the Panelists

Frida Owinga is a leadership and enterprise development professional with over 20 years’ experience in driving inclusion and building business ecosystems in Africa and the United States. She currently serves as the regional director for Africa at WEConnect International, a non-profit that empowers female business owners through strategic business connections. Frida is also the founder of PassionProfit and SME Founders Association, where she honed her skills as a coach, working with leaders and entrepreneurs to unlock their potential, strengthen teams, and drive sustainable, inclusive growth.

Aaron Adu is the managing director of the Global Shea Alliance, a global industry association focusing on sustainability, policy, and quality standards. He leads the organisational development, strategy, membership expansion, partnerships, and project management of the Alliance. Aaron has over 20 years’ experience in banking, agribusiness, and industry association development. His areas of expertise include small business capacity enhancement, market linkages, farmer group development, and policy advocacy. Aaron holds a master’s degree in finance from Coventry University. 

 
Dr Nugun Jellason is a senior lecturer at Teesside University International Business School. He works on contemporary environmental issues affecting smallholder agriculture, food security, sustainability, climate change, and socio-ecological resilience building. Dr Jellason has extensive knowledge in rural livelihood diversification, rural co-operative formation, approaches to market system development for the poor, agricultural produce value-chain management, private sector and government engagement, smallholder financial inclusion and fundraising, environmental impact assessment, and gender mainstreaming in development project planning. He has served at a mid-management level in several organisations.

Vanessa Adams is the founder and chief executive officer of boutique consultancy, Level4 International. She has an MBA from INSEAD and 25 years’ experience driving economic impact at the last mile and improving supply chains in over 40 countries. She works with small and medium-sized enterprises, multinationals, governments, development partners, and industry associations. Vanessa has spent 20 years working in 30 African countries with institutions, businesses, women and youth entrepreneurs, and farmers, to increase productivity, meet buyer specifications, access finance, and compete in international markets