Distinguished Fellows
Expertise: Geopolitics of trade, Foreign Policy, Economic Development & Business Diplomacy, Entrepreneurship systems change.
Expert Bio: Jean Narcisse Djaha is the Founding President, Chairman, and Distinguished Fellow for West Africa at the African Council on Foreign Relations, a world-renowned think tank dedicated to advancing Africa’s competitiveness on the global stage. He is passionate about geopolitics and economic diplomacy to advance trade competitiveness and entrepreneurship ecosystem systems change. Dr. Djaha is the Father of The African International Economic Order, shaping the future of Africa’s economic development relations with the rest of the world.
A prolific author, Jean is the author of Geopolitics of AfCFTA (May 2024), a book that gives the opportunity to everyday people, governments, and businesses to understand the high-level geopolitical aspects of the African Continental Free Trade Area, free trade agreements, and international trade in general. In December 2024, Dr. Djaha will publish ”AfCFTA: An African International Economic Order”, a book that has coined the term ‘’African International Economic Order’’. For Jean, this order is already here and will shape the future of Africa’s economic development relations with the rest of the world. Dr. Djaha is passionate about the liberal international order.
Dr. Djaha is an outstanding business innovator, market & state competitiveness thought leader, expert in private sector systems change, serial author, leader of disruptive leaders, and long-time champion for social innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Jean has educational backgrounds in political science, international relations, international business and trade, journalism, government, corporate strategy, applied intelligence, and political theology.
A highly acclaimed visionary, charismatic, and principled leader, Jean is a lifelong serving member of Catholic Church organizations such as Saint Vincent De Paul and Saint Egidio Community and has been serving since 1997.
Djaha was born and raised in Djebonoua, Bouake, Cote D’Ivoire.
Expertise: Global Trade, International Relations, Economic and Financial Cooperation
Expert Bio: Dr. Toby Malichi, Hon. D. Bus. D.H.L, is a Distinguished Fellow at the African Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Toby Malichi, Hon. D. Bus. D.H.L, is Founding Executive Chairman and Global Head of Development, Investment & Diplomacy, The Malichi Group.
An internationally-recognized industry veteran and “Go-To-Guy” for “All Things Trade” over four (4) decades and known for his real-world, hard-earned sage advice that inspires Purpose-driven leadership solutions. Dr. Toby Malichi’s keen negotiation, quiet solution-oriented style and unique ability to navigate the complex global marketplace, amid unprecedented geopolitical tensions in an interconnected world economy landed him at the dinner table with Heads of State, foreign business and government leaders around the globe many times, and at the White House. Several U.S. Presidents and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have tapped him to serve in international trade capacities, representing U.S. multinational small-and-medium-sized enterprises.
Dr. Toby Malichi, Hon. D. Bus., D.H.L. is Founding Executive Chairman and Global Head of Development, Investment & Diplomacy at Malichi Group Worldwide, LLC. (Malichi.com) a multinational small-and-medium-sized enterprise (MSME) global advisory and business mentoring firm based in Indianapolis, Indiana and is celebrating over 41 years in business with affiliate stakeholders in Washington, DC, Africa, Dubai, Singapore, India, and China. Dr. Malichi is also Executive Managing Director and Principal Global Advisor at Global Chamber Indianapolis and Indiana, which operates in over 195 countries, 525 Regional Metro Markets on 6 Continents. https://www.globalchamber.org/landing/indianapolis
Dr. Malichi is the 2023 Recipient of the Champions of Diversity – prestigious and coveted – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Award – presented by the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper and the Indiana Minority Business Magazine. He is a freelance global business columnist: Global Motivations: A Trusted Global Voice With Impact and Influence – for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper.
Dr. Malichi (First Black) was recently honored with the International Peace Medallion and conferred with his second Honorary Doctorate Degree by St. Paul Christian University for his peace building, global business diplomacy and philanthropy. He was an invited speaker/panelist at the United Nations General Assembly 77 Side Event on Africa: Trade and Investment on September 23rd, 2022, and The White House U.S. Africa Leadership Summit on Trade and Investment on December 15th 2022.
A Global Business Diplomat and Deal Maker at heart. Dr. Malichi is internationally-recognized and known for his real world sage advice, global insights, keen trade strategies, and multilateral negotiation and expert communication skills on trade-related policies and issues. He is highly sought-after globally, and held in high regard by his contemporaries – as a global small-and-medium-sized enterprise business leader, influencer, strategic advisor and thought leader, and highly-skilled business diplomat for facilitating and closing complex cross-border deal flows, impact investment, developing economic partners, and introductions at the highest-levels of business, government, and political leaders in an interconnected world.
With a heart for Africa. Dr. Toby Malichi is the newly appointed Chairman and Dean of Distinguished Fellows at the Global Africa Leadership Council. Dr. Malichi is a Coronated African Chieftain, Ashanti Tribe Central Region, Accra, Ghana.
Dr. Malichi’s magnetic personality, infectious smile, highly-skilled speaking and communication skills that inspires leadership in all cultures are attributes from God, that allows him to attract, connect, and speak with, for the first time, world business, government, and political leaders at the highest of levels when navigating the headwinds of “the new realities of trade” amid, unprecedented economic and geopolitical risks, while unlocking profitable trade channels in frontier, emerging, and developing countries.
Dr. Malichi, who never meets a stranger is highly-regarded for his purpose-driven leadership solutions, and as “A Trusted Global Voice with Influence and Impact” an inspiring speaker, and multilateral deal maker and expert facilitator, strategically advising and specializing in multinational small-and-medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), private-sector global business leaders, government officials, and investment groups around the globe is often called upon for his leadership, knowledge, expertise, experience, and expert communication and speaking skills for advocating the successful passage of over 95% of U.S. Free Trade Agreements, trade-related policy issues, and social impact projects with Purpose.
Dr. Malichi’s over 34 year tenure as a White House selected official volunteer global small business leader – appointed by the U S. Secretary of Commerce, and as an U.S. Chamber of Commerce board member and international policy committee member. He provided Congressional testimony to the House Ways Means Committee officially speaking, advocating, and lobbying for the successful passage of NAFTA on behalf of U.S. Multinational Small-and-Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). Moreover, Dr. Malichi was also officially selected and appointed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and White House Administrations as an official U.S. Delegate to the WTO, WEF (Twice U S. Delegate, 1999 & 2000), APEC, ASEAN, TABD, OEDC, CAFTA, USTR, U.S. State Department where he spoke and participated at the highest of levels engaging Heads of State, world business, government, and political leaders from around the globe.
Dr. Malichi was twice named a “Greater Washington Power Player” for 2000 & 2001 by the Greater Washington Board of Trade.
Dr. Malichi, attended and was an invited VIP guest of Tung Chee Hwa, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), People Republic of China to the October 1, 1997, Chinese Handover Ceremony held on the famous Yacht on Victoria Harbor.
Freely giving of his time, strategic advice, expertise, and global philanthropy. Dr. Malichi, is a board member, trade advisor, and immediate-past Vice Chairman (First Black) of the Indiana District Export Council, where he CoChaired, Emceed and Moderated his brainchild, the first ever Doing Business With Africa Conference. He is appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and is currently serving his 6th consecutive White House Administration, over 34 years. https://indianadec.org/membership/
Dr. Malichi is a member of the White House Business Council/Affiliate Member of Business Forward, Indiana State Advisor, US Global Leadership Coalition (Washington DC), Board Advisor, Indiana University Institute for International Business, Center for International Business Education Research (CIBER) Indiana University, Senior Advisor, Institute for Sustainable Development and is a Former Board Member for the America China Society of Indiana and Independent Colleges and Universities of Indiana.
Dr. Malichi is an ordained Auxiliary Chaplain for the Marion County Sheriff’s Department (Indianapolis), and a Marketplace Minister for Transform the World Global Ministries headquartered in Singapore. He is listed in Who’s Who Worldwide – Global Business Leaders. Dr. Malichi is the proud Recipient of two (2) Sagamore of the Wabash (highest honor bestowed by the Governor of Indiana), a Kentucky Colonel, and is also an inaugural member of the Society of Sagamores, and Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute a Think Tank based in Indianapolis, IN.
In constant demand for his global business expertise, encouragement, and experience. Dr. Malichi served as National Advisor, U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Advisory Council (NAC); Elected and served 6 years, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (including service as Charter Member on its Small Business Council), served on the Chambers International Policy Committee for 13 years; served on the Board and elected first Black to the Executive Committee, Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), an affiliate of the National Endowment of Democracy; Board and Executive Committee Member, Indiana Chamber of Commerce and first Black Vice Chairman and Chairman, Indiana Small Business Council; Indiana Delegate, two (2) White House Conferences on Small Business (Elected, 1986; Appointed, 1995 by late U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugar who was the Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee).
A graduate with honors from Vincennes University, and bestowed with an Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Business; Inducted in the Indiana University Indianapolis (IU) Athletics Hall of Fame, First Men’s Basketball Team, Metros; First recipient of the Divine Nine Exemplar Award for Business, Indiana University Alumni Association, (Executive Board 1992-95), and Neal-Marshall Alumni Club and has a plaque in his honor in the Hall Library of the Neal-Marshall Building at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Dr. Malichi also graduated with distinction from the prestigious General Motors Corporation, School of Management and Marketing. He was the youngest Division Manager in the history of General Motors Corporation at age 23, Frigidaire Division, and first black for the Indianapolis Zone. Subsequently being one of the youngest District Managers heavily recruited by General Motors Corporation/Chevrolet Motor Division (First Black), Indianapolis Zone where he earned the coveted and prestigious GM Corporate Leadership Ring for exceptional performance ranking him in the top 2% nationally.
Dr. Toby Malichi is a coveted White Jacket 50 year+ honoree (Alpha Chapter ‘71), and in 1976 received his Life Members’ Pin of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Since he was eight years old in the third grade. Dr. Malichi has dreamed of earning the Noble Laureate, Business for Peace. A dream he is pursuing daily.
As Dr. Toby Malichi always says, We doze but never close, Have a successful day and think globally!
Expertise: Coming soon
Expert Bio: Prof. Joseph Nnanna is an Inaugural Distinguished Fellow at the African Council on Foreign Relations. Prof. Joseph Nnanna serves as the Chief Economist of the Development Bank of Nigeria PLC. In this capacity he leads the Research, Monitoring and Evaluation and Sustainability arm of the Bank.
A seasoned professional with numerous years of experience in the U.S. mortgage, banking, manufacturing, and telecommunication industry serving in managerial roles before joining academia.
Prior to joining DBN, Prof. Nnanna was a tenured Professor of Business and Economics in Oklahoma State. His scholarly works have been published in numerous academic journals such as Economic Analysis and Policy, Journal of Public Affairs, International Journal of Public Administration, Politics and Policy, Foreign Trade Review, The CBN Bullion, The International Trade Journal, Macroeconomics and Finance in Emerging Market Economies, The Journal of Chinese Economics and Foreign Trade Studies to name a few. Furthermore, he publishes an op-ed piece every quarter in Business Day newspaper. He is also an editorial board member for the society for corporate governance of Nigeria and a member of the AfCFTA National Action Committee for Nigeria. In 2020, Prof. Nnanna contributed a book chapter in the European Investment Banks publication entitled “Banking in Africa: Financing transformation amid uncertainty with fellow economists in the (EIB) and in 2021, published a book entitled “Banking in Nigeria: Financing During Turbulent times”.
He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and MBA degrees in Accounting, a Master’s degree in Economics and a Doctorate degree in Corporate Governance and Economics from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Florida Metropolitan University, The University of Oklahoma and Argosy University respectively. He is a member of the Nigerian Economic Society and the American Economic Association.