Linford Andrews is Adviser and Head of the Electoral Support Section in the political team of the Governance and Peace Directorate at the Commonwealth Secretariat. He has more than 25 years’ experience in diplomacy, and as an international civil servant, influencing and facilitating the delivery of complex international projects and programmes. He has previously served in various capacities at the Commonwealth Secretariat, most recently as Political Adviser and Acting Head, Africa in the political team. He has also served as Deputy Conference Secretary for the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Rwanda, and previously as Deputy Head of the Office of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Interim Head of the Office of the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, and as an Adviser for the Commonwealth Electoral Network (CEN). He has also supported the development of Commonwealth strategic and operational approaches to the development, promotion and implementation of conflict prevention and resolution strategies, and has also delivered critical support to Commonwealth Observer Missions in various political environments across member countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Pacific. Linford is a former South African diplomat, having joined the South African Foreign Service during the political transition at the end of the apartheid years in 1993, and has served on diplomatic postings in Jakarta (1996 – 2000) and New Delhi (2002 – 2003).

Jon Samuel is an experienced non-profit Chair, Co-Chair, and trustee with a 30-year track record in sustainability, social performance, and socio-economic development across the consulting, mining, and metals sectors. He has worked globally across five continents, holding senior roles at Anglo American and De Beers (2007–2024), where he helped lead the transformation of their former Johannesburg HQ into Education Town, home of MII.

He is Chair of the Africa College Foundation and the Anglo American Foundation, a trustee of the Woodsmith Foundation, Director at the Development Partner Institute, and Senior Associate at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

LinkedIn: Jon Samuel | Email: [email protected]

Wayne Levings is a seasoned global executive with board-level experience across multiple industries and regions. He advises C-suite leaders on growth strategy and has led large multinational enterprises. He is CEO of the Americas and Global Chief Client Officer at Kantar, a top global marketing data and consulting firm serving over half the Fortune 500, including 96 of the top 100 advertisers.

Wayne previously held CEO roles at Kantar APAC, North America, and Kantar Retail, and sits on the Kantar Executive Committee. He was formerly a board member at Glendinning Management Consulting and began his career at Procter & Gamble in marketing and sales roles across South Africa and the UK.

Focussed on increasing enjoyment of socioeconomic rights and development through education and legislation, Dr. Danesh is particularly passionate about optimising impact by sustainably mainstreaming young marginalised and minority populations through universal access to and participation in education and employment sectors. A serial civic entrepreneur, an advocate of the United Nations Global Compact Principles and a member of The 30% Club, she has worked with a third of the world’s countries, primarily post-crisis and conflict, through creating a culture of growth.

She seeks and welcomes opportunities to promote philanthropy with high net worth individuals but remains most passionate about elevating shared consciousness through practical approaches to complex processes. Dr. Danesh holds a PhD in law and has contributed to a range of publications, including in human rights, policy and education.

Described as one of the greatest people South Africa has ever produced, Dr. Blecher’s pioneering work on exponential education and employment through six sustainable institutions is profiled in more than 50 publications. Tom Peters names Blecher as one of the top five most influential entrepreneurs in the world over the last 30 years. An actuary and management consultant, he is passionate about the impact of Consciousness-Based Education–an award-winning innovative system–that optimises success among post-crisis students. With growing concerns around access to the universal rights to education and work in post-Apartheid South Africa, he has successfully raised and managed more than GBP 20 million and reached more than 600,000 short-term students and 20,000 graduates, making social mobility a natural outcome for impoverished townships and their young residents.

Dr. Blecher is hailed by visionary extraordinaire, Sir Richard Branson, his co-founder of the Branson School of Entrepreneurship. He is a Young Global Leader of the World, Global Leader of Tomorrow Award recipient, Chairperson of the South African National Government Council on Entrepreneurship, Education and Job Creation, faculty member at the Singularity University, and leads the Maharishi Invincibility Institute, The Imvula Empowerment Trust, and The Community and Individual Development Association.