Kenneth Stewart :

Group Chair, AFS Board of Directors

Ken has a career path which is varied and global. He has worked extensively in Europe, North America, in Malaysia and throughout Africa. His management consultancy contracts have embraced many sectors including Construction, Aviation, Energy, Fund Raising, Charities, Aviation and Tour Operating. His expertise and specialist fields of knowledge include Market Analysis, Business Analysis, Corporate Risk and Corporate Strategy and Planning. Key positions held by Ken include: Chair of International Development Working Group at United Nations Association, Edinburgh, Director of Funding and Project management at MNAS International Ltd and is an active supporter of the United Nations Association and the promotion of their beneficial and important role within Civic Society. His well-established international contacts and networks range from the Private Sector spectrum to Governmental, Civil Service and NGO organisations and help provide AFS with both the benefit and depth of his global experience and his strong international relationships.

Beltus Etchu Ojong BA, MSc, FRSA, Accredited Assessor (EFQM):

Group President/CEO

Beltus holds a BA in Business Accounting with Distinction, and an MSc in International Finance Management. Beltus is the Chief Executive Officer of Next Step Initiative. He is also the co-founder, Fellow, and Director of the Centre for African Policy Development and Research Scotland and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He has a wide and extensive experience in social entrepreneurship and enterprise through his pioneering work of successfully establishing and developing the Next Step Initiative’s Workspace and Business Hub, which is the leading African and Ethnic Minority Social Enterprise in Scotland. His entrepreneurial expertise and grasp of commercial opportunities in Africa has earned him appreciative recognition and respect within the private sector. He has over 12 years international business experience with special focus on trade with Africa. During this period, Beltus has led and facilitated high-level discussions with various African Missions/Consulates/Embassies in the UK and his input and direction has enabled numerous interested companies/investors to successfully engage and now trade with Africa commercial markets. Beltus is an advisor to leading UK corporations in the Financial Services, Technology, Capacity Building and Energy Sectors.

Festus Ogunmola (aka Olatunde) ACA, MBA, MBCI, PhD:

Group Co-President/CEO

Festus has a vast experience in Finance, Banking and Business Continuity Management. He is a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years’ experience in the Financial Industry both internationally and the United Kingdom. He is also a certified member of the Business Continuity Institute in the United Kingdom and very thorough in risk management. He was head-hunted to work as financial consultant for Her Majesty, The Queen Mother of England in the Queen Nursing Institute and Queen Nursing Fund and won a commendation for recommending best financial and operational strategies which improved the position of the organisation. He has to his credit some commendations and awards for customer service delivery and contributions to the progress of Barclays, Barclaycard and Royal Bank of Scotland. Festus implemented Sarbanes Oxley and controls and ensure its compliance in Europe, Middle East and Africa for FMC Technologies, Cummins Inc. (an American multinational company), Sprit Inc (an Aeroplane manufacturing Company in Glasgow Prestwick). He served as Special Adviser and consultant on revenue and budget for the Chief Executive Officer, Perth and Kinross Council and later as, Senior Consultant, Lloyds Bank of Scotland. He is the President of Scottish Council of African Churches, and also the CEO of Greatway Foundation, a voluntary organisation registered by the Scottish Government to work on youth empowerment and poverty alleviation. Festus holds a PhD in Finance from California State University and MBA from the University of Manchester Business School. He is a member of Harvard School of Divinity Summer Leadership Program. Apart from being a prominent leader, Festus is also a Pastor with prophetic anointing.

Bob Cunningham BSc, CFCIPD:

Independent Director

Bob has significant experience in HR and general management gained at Director level in a variety of organisations covering Public Utilities, multi-national Health care manufacturing, Food Production and Higher Education. He has practical experience of introducing and improving HR Policy Frameworks, Pay, Performance Management, Employee Relations practice and Communications systems as well as Job Evaluation and Recruitment /Retention strategies. Having gained a solid grounding in the Electricity Supply Industry, Bob gained invaluable experience working within HR in Ethicon Limited, manufacturers of surgical sutures, and within the wider Johnson and Johnson organisation. A career and geographic move to a Board level position with Baxter’s of Speyside gave a highly focussed insight to a successful family owned and managed business. Higher Education beckoned, and Bob joined Glasgow Caledonian University and was able to bring to the University Sector the experience gained in a diverse business career. Bob has now established Bob Cunningham Associates Limited, an independent HR Consultancy designed to deliver cost–effective solutions to a range of HR issues now facing employers, using the top level experience gained in a succession of successful organisations. A former Scottish International rugby player, Bob is now able to bring his contacts and business experience to the Board of African Forum Scotland as CEO of ACE Graduate Recruitment.

Steve Cardownie:

Group Private and Public Sector Relationship Director

Steve was a Civil Service Trade Union Official for 25 years and a City of Edinburgh Councillor for 29 years. During this time he attained the office of Deputy Leader of Council for 2 terms and th executive office of Deputy Lord Provost for 2 terms.  Steve became the Tourism Czar for Edinburgh and headed up the world’s largest Event - the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe. He was also a former Director of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Edinburgh Festival Theatre Trust and of Edinburgh Leisure.  His vast experience in contractual negotiations and liaison with Governments and with Edinburgh’s prestigious global twin cities and his Human Relations experience as an Employment Tribunal Member over the past 35 years, offers considerable acumen and international depth to the AFS Group.

Mike Zuokumor:

Regional Director representing Africa West

Mike has recently retired as Deputy Inspector General of the Police and Security Services in Nigeria. He is a qualified lawyer and a distinguished graduate of National War College. His reputation for accountability, uncompromising ethical behaviour and transparency has earned him praise and recognition throughout Africa and beyond. His anti-corruption stance stands him in good stead in current Nigerian government circles where his connections are impressive and impeccable. Mike is a standard bearer and exemplar throughout Sub Saharan Africa for the strong ethical positioning of the AFS Group.

Marshal Gore:

Regional Director representing Africa South

Marshall is the AFS SADC Chairman. He sits on the board of several successful international companies as director and owner/shareholder. He has excellent leadership qualities and a successful reputation of managing investments and initiating corporate social responsibility. He is a senior consultant to the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and an advisor to several African governments on, Diaspora engagement, Sports tourism and Investment promotion. Marshal is a former Director of the Association of African Owned Enterprises (AAOE) UK which gave birth to several successful African owned businesses in the UK and has strong diaspora connections. He is a holder of Bachelor of Science (Bsc) Degree in Social Science, DMS, Dip in HE Nursing & Social Studies and is currently undertaking an MBA at Greenwich School of Management.

Dr Bevon Morrison:

CEO AFS West Indies and Latin America.

Dr Rosemary Gituma:

CEO AFS East Africa

Rosemary is a certified Accountant and has over 20 years of extensive Management experience (C-Suite) in Strategic Management Financial Management and Business Administration in large manufacturing in public and private sectors of which Seventeen (17) are in Cement Business –Production and Sales. Currently CEO-AFS East Africa. Since 2000 held various capacities with EAPCC Ltd as Finance Manager, Ag Head of Financial Management, Board Director-EAPCC Uganda Ltd, Internal Audit Manager and Trustee &Trust Secretary- EAPCC Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme. Previously she worked with Numerical Machining Complex (Finance & Administration Manager), Nairobi Bottlers (Treasury & Operations Accountant), Care Kenya (Financial & Accountant Consultant) and Kenya Airways (Management Trainee/Budget Accountant). Rosemary started her career as an audit trainee with Deloitte.