
Rinaldo Depagne
Mr Depagne is Africa Deputy Director at International Crisis Group, where he coordinates and oversees the research and publications on West Africa, Central Africa and the Sahel. He was previously the organisation’s Senior Analyst for Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso and West Africa Project Director, covering Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea.
Before joining Crisis Group in 2008, Mr Depagne worked as a journalist, specialising for the past 30 years in Africa and, in particular, West Africa. He has worked for various French newspapers and international radio stations and TV channels, including the BBC, Deutsche Welle and Canal +. He spent 15 years in West Africa, living in Benin, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal and travelling in most of the Ecowas countries.

Estelle Levin-Nally
Estelle is a recognised leader in the nexus of human rights, nature and minerals. She combines her commercial acumen, innovative thinking and experience in public affairs and transformational change to guide governments, industry and multistakeholder initiatives to create just, sustainable and valuable minerals value chains. Estelle provides strategy, policy, research, due diligence, assurance, and stakeholder engagement advisory to help Levin Sources’ clients design, implement and evaluate strategic initiatives to improve business performance and sustainability outcomes. Estelle serves as a Commissioner for the Global Investor Commission for Mining 2030, chairs the Investing in African Mining’s Sustainability Committee, and is an active member of the Women in Mining UK’s Policy Committee.

Roger Staley
Mr Staley has 40 years of practical and management experience in mineral exploration and the mining of a wide range of commodities and mineralisation styles. He began his career as a geologist with major companies in Australia and has since held global, regional and country leadership positions with mining and mining service companies. His extensive experience includes projects in Australia, Zambia, Congo-Brazzaville and South-East Asia in which he led – or was part of – exploration teams engaged in the discovery, definition and evaluation of world-class mineral projects. Mr Staley has also been accountable for business development and the sales of services and technical solutions to mineral resource companies in all geographies.

Lawrence Devlin

John Moller
Mr Moller has established his credentials over a 35-year period which includes 20 years in the Australian Army and 15 years working for a range of commercial enterprises, primarily in the oil and gas and mining sectors. Complementing his experience, Mr Moller holds a Master’s in Emergency Management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Operations Management and a Bachelor of Science in Security.

Dr Alex Vines
Dr Vines is Research Director for Regions and Risk, and Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House, having led the programme since 2002. Previously, he has held roles at Chatham House as director for regional studies and international security, and director for area studies and international law. He chaired the UN Panel of Experts on Côte d’Ivoire from 2005 to 2007, and was a member of the UN Panel of Experts on Liberia from 2001 to 2003. Dr Vines was also a member of the Commonwealth Observer Group to Nigeria in 2023 (Mozambique in 2019 and Ghana in 2016) and a UN election officer in Mozambique (1994) and Angola (1992). He worked at Human Rights Watch as a senior researcher on its Africa, Arms and Business and Human Rights programmes, and has served as a consultant including for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); JICA, DFID, USAID, the EU and for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Dr Vines is also an assistant professor at Coventry University, and sits on the editorial and advisory Boards for the South African Journal of International Affairs, Africa Review (journal of the African Studies. Alex holds a PhD from Coventry University.

Marcena Hunter
Marcena has been at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime since 2013. While Marcena’s work has covered a wide scope of material and geographic spread, her current portfolio of work focuses on extractives-related crime, in particular gold-related crime, illicit financial flows and development impacts and responses to organized crime. She has conducted and managed research projects on the gold mining sector across West Africa, regularly publishing on regional mining dynamics and supply chains. Work includes the development of a toolkit on how to assess illicit financial flows linked to artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Marcena’s past work includes analysing migration flows, access to justice, gender issues, and security sector and criminal justice reform.

Charlotte Fafa Tay Senyo
With over decades of experience in the extractive industry, Charlotte Fafa Tay Senyo is a leader in sustainability, specializing in environmental and social impact strategies for mining projects in Ghana. Currently serving as Senior Manager for Sustainability Projects at Newmont’s Africa Business Unit, Charlotte has successfully led initiatives at the Ahafo Mine and played a key role in obtaining permits for major projects like the greenfield Ahafo North project. Her expertise extends across environmental management, corporate social responsibility, and community development.
Charlotte’s leadership has earned numerous accolades for Newmont, including Best in Environmental Management and Green Mine awards for the Ahafo Mine. The Ghana Chamber of Mines recognised Charlotte for her leadership in the mining industry by adjudging her the Best Female Mining Professional (Non-Technical) for 2022. As Chairperson of the Environment and Social Committee of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Charlotte continues to drive best practices and sustainable solutions for the mining sector.As the first female Environmental Manager in Ghana’s mining industry, Charlotte is a trailblazer, advocating for diversity and inclusion while ensuring the balance between mining security and sustainability. She holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Analysis and Management from Troy University, USA, and a B.Sc. in Botany from the University of Ghana.

Prof Richard K Amankwah
Prof Richard Kwasi Amankwah is a Professor of Minerals Engineering and Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, Ghana. With many years’ experience in lecturing, research and community service, he is currently a Principal Investigator on the National Science Foundation (NSF, USA) project on Investigating mercury biogeochemical cycling via mixed methods in complex artisanal gold mining landscapes and implications for community health and consultant on the World Bank Project on Technology assessment and access to finance for the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sub-sector in Ghana. With over 130 technical publications to his credit, Richard is actively involved in research and consultancy in the areas of gold beneficiation, microwave processing, biohydrometallurgy, medical geology, geometallurgy, and small-scale mining. Prof Richard Amankwah was a mentor of Barrack Obama’s Young African Leadership Initiative, has been adjudged a “Lifetime Gold Legend” by Forbes Monaco and one of Ghana’s 100 Most Influential People in 2023 by Business Executive Ghana.

Liam Morrissey
Liam is the CEO of MS Risk Limited, a British security and crisis response consultancy. He is a former combat arms officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and intelligence officer with the British Army. Previously he was the Head of Risk Management and Security for the international division of Tesco plc. He formed MS Risk two decades ago and the company works in support of insurers, financiers and natural resources companies on an international basis. MS Risk has worked continuously in the Sahel region for the last 18 years providing consulting, project management and crisis response services to clients. Liam is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and in 2023 he was awarded a Doctor of Science (hc) by Brunel University for his crisis negotiation doctrine.

Dr Richard Warnes
Dr Warnes is a Senior Consultant with Vedette Consulting and has a broad range of experience in the fields of international relief and human rights, counter-terrorist policing, military operations and defence research. He regularly writes and lectures on aspects of both terrorism and irregular warfare. He previously served as an NCO in a Field Intelligence Team in Bosnia and as a Detective in the Metropolitan Police Special Branch and Counter Terrorism Command, before working for RAND Europe as an analyst in the Defence and Security group. Working as a civilian contractor, he was part of a team conducting in-country evaluations of a security capacity-building programme for local forces in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2008-2014. Dr Warnes has a PhD on human factors in effective counter-terrorism and an MA in criminal justice.

Marie-Rose Aida Tamboura
Marie-Rose Aida Tamboura is the Delve Exchange Coordinator for French-
speaking Africa, a network that supports Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM)
communities. With over three decades of experience in the mining industry, Aida has
held prominent roles including General Manager of HARANGA RESOURCES and
Managing Director of Mutual Resources, Sanu Resources, and Predictive Discovery,
among others. Notably, she was the first woman to lead an exploration company
during Burkina Faso’s mining boom in 1994.
As the founding president of the Association of Women in the Mining Sector of
Burkina Faso (AFEMIB), Aida has been instrumental in advancing gender equality.
She continues to serve as coordinator of the Women in Mining of West Africa
(WIMOWA), representing 14 countries. Under her leadership, WIMOWA developed a
Gender Charter for the geo-extractive sector in the West African Economic and
Monetary Union (WAEMU).
Her contributions earned her the Chevalier of the Burkinabe Order of Merit and
recognition as one of 2022’s “100 Inspirational Women.”

Theodora Williams Anti
Ms Theodora Williams Anti is the Executive Director of the Forum for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA). She
has years of experience working as a Youth, Women, Peace and Security Practitioner. Ms Williams Anti is an active member of the UNOWAS initiated Working Group on Women, Youth Peace, and Security-Ghana Chapter (WG-WYPS-GH). She is also an ardent advocate of the AU campaign on Silencing the Guns and is a vocal activist on gender parity. As a gender activist, Ms Williams Anti has been engaged with ensuring the effective implementation of the Ghana National Action Plan – phase II (GHANAP II) while supporting efforts to ensure that gender-focused legislation and policies are instituted and implemented towards the attainment of gender parity in the country. Ms Williams Anti is also focused on the eradication and prevention of gender-based violence (GBV), working with relevant key stakeholders to ensure that issues of GBV receive the needed attention while GBV survivors are adequately rehabilitated to
enable them to live meaningful lives in society.

Dr Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni
Dr Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni is Director of the Institute for Security Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin. She leads a team of researchers from Dakar to Ndjamena working on key policy issues in the region such as violent extremism and terrorism, political instability, community conflicts, organized crime, peace operations and political processes. Before being appointed director in 2014, Lori-Anne worked as a senior researcher and analyst for the ISS, the Network on Peace Operations at the University of Montreal, Canada and the Carter Center in Côte d’Ivoire. Lori-Anne has a PhD in anthropology from the University of Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Gideon Ofosu-Peasah
Dr. Gideon Ofosu-Peasah is an analyst on the GI-TOC extractives team and the Observatory of Illicit Economies in West Africa. His work focuses on extractive industries, illicit economies, and organised crime. Before joining GI-TOC, he was an expert panel member on the political economy analysis of Ghana’s extractive sector and a steering committee member of the Media Coalition against Galamsey. He received his PhD from the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana.

Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar
Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar is P/CVE Practitioner and Executive Director for West Africa Centre for
Counter-Extremism (WACCE). His works are intended at uncovering the underpinnings of
radicalization and violent extremism as effective contribution to state and regional counter- terrorism strategy and policies. In the last 9 years, Mutaru has worked to stop 23 radicalised
individuals from travelling to join terrorist groups. His works have helped to deepen local
understanding around radicalization and violent extremism in West Africa. He has empowered more
than 8, 800 youth and community leaders as peace ambassadors in building resilience against violent
extremism in the region. Mutaru also serves as conference speaker and guest lecturer to universities and several institutions in Ghana and abroad. He is an alumnus of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, a Global Shaper of
the World Economic Forum (WEF), Scholar of the Aspen Institute (USA) and serves as mentor for
youth career and professional development. Among several other awards, Mutaru is a recipient of
the African of the Year Award (2018), the youngest recipient at the time, for his impactful works in
preventing violent extremism in Africa.

H.E. Berenice Owen-Jones
H.E. Berenice Owen-Jones is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), she has previously served overseas as Australia’s Ambassador to Morocco and has had postings in Paris.
In Canberra she served as Director, Diplomatic Academy and Director, Diplomatic Security Branch. She also was a strategic analyst at the Office of National Intelligence.
Berenice speaks French and holds a Bachelor of Economics (1984) and a Diploma of International Law (1987) from the Australian National University.

Commander Richard Walters
Richard joined the Royal Navy in 1988 as a University Cadet and attended the University of Sheffield where he studied Engineering. After graduating he followed a traditional Warfare Officer route spending 8 years at sea on a variety of ships including Mine Sweepers, Fishery Protection and Frigates to his final sea appointment as the Principal Warfare Officer on HMS EXETER a Type 42 Destroyer, operating in the Arabian Gulf. The transition to shore side roles saw his career move to public affairs and media operations where he has worked for over 15 years. With experience gained from the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, the Ministry of Defence and Naval Command Headquarters he has a broad portfolio of staff jobs to balance his wider operational experience gained in the Lebanon, Haiti and Iraq. His recent roles have seen him work on the Staff of the First Sea Lord, attend Advanced Command and Staff Course and work for Captain Naval Recruiting as the Deputy head of Marketing for the Royal Navy. Prior to commencing his role as the Defence Advisor to Ghana and Togo and Defence Attaché to Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Benin, he spent 28 months in Baghdad as the Deputy Defence Attaché.