Esteemed Statesman
Rt Hon. Geoffrey Hoon
Mr. Geoffrey Hoon is a distinguished British Labour Party politician, renowned for his extensive public service as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashfield from 1992 to 2010. During his tenure, he held key government positions, including Secretary of State for Defence, Secretary of State for Transport, Leader of the House of Commons, and Government Chief Whip. Prior to this, he was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Derbyshire from 1984 to 1994, which enhanced his expertise in international governance and policy-making.
Mr. Hoon’s educational journey began at Nottingham High School and continued at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he studied law and qualified as a barrister. He lectured in the Faculty of Law at the University of Leeds from 1976 to 1982 and was a visiting Law Professor at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, from 1979 to 1980.
After leaving Parliament, Mr. Hoon continued to leverage his extensive knowledge in advisory roles within both public and private sectors, particularly in law, defense, and transportation.
Mr. Hoon’s appointment to the Board of the Institute of Economics and Finance represents a significant enhancement to the institute’s leadership. His extensive experience in governance, defense, and international relations offers valuable insights and strategic direction, supporting the institute’s mission to advance economic and financial education and policy.
Environmental Scientist & Policy Expert
Dr. Hakima El Haite
Dr. Hakima El Haite is an esteemed environmental scientist and policy expert, recognized for her significant contributions to sustainable development and climate diplomacy. She is the current President of Liberal International, a worldwide federation of liberal political parties. Since December 2018, she has been the first non-European to hold this position, where she advocates for liberal policies on a global stage.
Dr. El Haite has held prominent positions such as Morocco’s Minister of Environment, Vice President of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21), and Climate Change Envoy for Morocco.
Her extensive experience and contributions to environmental governance and policy have been recognized with several awards and honors, including the Freedom Prize and the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour of the French Republic.
Dr. El Haite holds a degree in Biology and Microbiology from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, a postgraduate degree in Ecotoxicology from Moulay Ismail University, and dual PhDs in Environmental Studies and Environmental Engineering from the University of Meknes and École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Étienne, respectively.
Dr. El Haite’s extensive expertise in environmental science, policy-making, and international relations brings invaluable insights to the Board.
International Scientist & Energy Expert
Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin
Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin is a distinguished scientist and academic with extensive experience in the energy sector and international organizations. He has served as Director General of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, Secretary General and Director of Research at OPEC, Director of the Division for Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Science and Technology in Cairo.
His academic career spans research and teaching positions at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Kuwait University, University of California, Harvard University, and CERN. He holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, an M.Sc., and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering, all from the University of California, Berkeley. His contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the 2023 IAEE award, the 2022 Spirit of Salam Award, and the 2017 Elise and Walter A. Haas International Award.
Currently, he is a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and serves on the board of the Kearney Energy Transition Institute. He co-chairs the Management of Catastrophic Risks Permanent Monitoring Panel for the World Federation of Scientists.
Dr. Shihab-Eldin brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the Board of the Institute of Economics and Finance, enhancing its mission and vision.
Legal & National Security Expert
Mr. Guy B. Roberts
Mr. Guy B. Roberts is a highly respected expert in international security, arms control, and non-proliferation, with a distinguished career spanning several decades. He served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs under the U.S. Department of Defense, where he played a pivotal role in shaping policies and strategies related to weapons of mass destruction.
Prior to this, Mr. Roberts held senior positions at NATO, including serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary General for WMD Policy. His extensive background also includes service as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, where he gained deep expertise in military strategy and defense.
Mr. Roberts holds a J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law, an LLM in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University Law Center, and an MA in International Relations from the University of Southern California. He is also an alumnus of the U.S. Naval War College, where he earned an MA in Strategy and Security.
Mr. Roberts’ distinguished career has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the NATO Meritorious Service Medal and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service.
With his vast experience in defense and international security, Mr. Roberts brings invaluable insights to the Board of the institute, significantly enhancing its mission to advance global economic and financial policy development.
International Affairs Advisor
Mr. Curtis J. Raynold
Mr. Curtis J. Raynold is an esteemed international affairs consultant specializing in international development and global security. Before his retirement from the United Nations in 2016, he held pivotal positions, including Secretary of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters and key roles within the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs in New York.
Recruited as a young professional in 1985, Mr. Raynold’s extensive career with the UN began with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna and continued with assignments in the Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in various countries including Namibia, South Africa, Liberia, the Central African Republic, and Kosovo.
Prior to his tenure at the UN, Mr. Raynold served in the Ministry of Finance and the Diplomatic Service of the Government of Saint Lucia. Academically, he holds a Master’s degree in Government from Harvard University, a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Law, and a postgraduate diploma in International Relations from The University of the West Indies.
Mr. Raynold’s extensive expertise in governance, disarmament, and international relations enriches the Board of the Institute of Economics and Finance, providing strategic direction in advancing economic and financial education and policy initiatives.
Sustainable Business Executive
HRH Princess Sanyogita Atrey
Her Royal Highness Princess Sanyogita Atrey is a distinguished leader with a remarkable career in various sectors. Currently, she is the Managing Director of Sg18 Realty in India and is actively involved with multiple companies, demonstrating her versatile expertise in energy, real estate, and healthcare. She is also a member of the African Women’s Forum Honorary Committee.
Princess Atrey is a prominent advocate for environmental initiatives and sustainable practices. Her leadership and forward-thinking approach have significantly contributed to promoting green energy solutions and environmental sustainability.
Princess Atrey’s leadership extends to several enterprises, where her strategic vision and commitment to innovation have driven significant progress. Her involvement in the business landscape underscores her dedication to advancing sustainable and impactful initiatives.
With her strong commitment to social responsibility, Princess Atrey has been actively involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors. Her dedication to social causes and her vision for a sustainable future have earned her recognition and respect in various fields.
Princess Atrey’s leadership and dedication to promoting sustainable practices and social responsibility make her a valuable addition to the Board.
Board Chair
Prof. Anis Bajrektarevic
Professor Bajrektarevic is a renowned legal and political expert with extensive international experience. He is a professor of international law and global politics.
Starting his career as president of the Young Lawyers Association of BiH Bar in the late 1980s, Professor Bajrektarevic transitioned to a diplomatic role in the early 1990s as an MFA official and career diplomat. In the mid-1990s, he was a Research Fellow at the Dr. Bruno Kreisky Foundation and served as a Legal and Political Advisor at the Vienna-based Political Academy, Dr. Karl Renner.
He was a Professor and Chairman for International Law and Global Political Studies at the IMC University of Austria during the 2000s and 2010s. He has provided expertise to various academic institutions, think tanks, and intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Council of Europe, and the American Bar.
Professor Bajrektarevic represents the UN in Vienna, Brussels, and Geneva as the Head of Mission of the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES). He is an elected arbiter and mediator serving on numerous national and international arbitral tribunals, notably those pertaining to the Law of the Sea in Europe and Asia.
IEF President
Prof. Elvis Cornerstone
Elvis Cornerstone is a Professor of Financial Economics with over 20 years’ experience in his specialised field. He is the President of the Institute and doubles up as President of Accra Business School.
Before his current role with the Institute of Economics and Finance, he was a full-time Professor at Swiss UMEF University, Geneva, Switzerland. During his term of office, he was also the Africa Regional Director and later, acted as the Director of Academic Affairs for the University’s campus in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Professor Cornerstone lectured previously on a full-time basis at Bangor University in the United Kingdom; the same university he obtained both his Master’s and PhD qualifications. He has taught various undergraduate and postgraduate courses across Europe, Asia and Africa.
Prior to academia, Professor Cornerstone was a professional in development financing on the local and international fronts. He worked with various financial institutions including the African Development Bank in Tunisia. He has assessed and managed loan portfolio projects across various sectors and industries for quite a number of countries including Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Seychelles.
Professor Cornerstone consults for international organisations, diplomatic missions, governments, and private sector institutions.
International Diplomat
Amb. Dr. Francess Virginia Anderson
Amb. Dr. Francess Virginia Anderson is a diplomat, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and a politician with a record of twenty-four years as a career woman.
She serves as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Republics of Ghana and Togo and Ambassador to Burkina Faso. She previously held the position of Group Treasurer for the African Ambassadors in Ghana for three years and actively participated in the Ambassadors’ groups of ECOWAS Member States and Commonwealth Africa Member States. She is currently being reassigned as the Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Republic of Türkiye. This enhances her portfolio of international diplomatic experience.
Amb. Dr. Anderson is an ardent promoter of children’s and women’s rights and an advocate for inclusive governance. She holds a PhD in Diplomacy and International Affairs from EUCLID University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Bolton, and an ATHE UK Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management.
Amb. Dr. Anderson is a life-long learner with a CPD-Oxford Women’s Leadership Development Programme from the University of Oxford, Saïd Business School. She recently got admitted to the Paris School of Business in France for a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA).
International Policy Advisor
Ms. Edna Dos Santos-Duisenberg
Ms. Edna Dos Santos-Duisenberg is an accomplished economist with a distinguished international career at the United Nations.
She began her UNCTAD career in the Commodities Division, where she specialised in iron ore and steel-related minerals. She was instrumental in managing one of the few intergovernmental expert groups that endured for over a decade, pioneering the inclusion of the private sector in producer-consumer dialogues on commodities.
She subsequently served as Chief Cabinet for former UNCTAD Secretary-General, Rubens Ricupero, before establishing and leading the Creative Economy Programme within the Commodities Division of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Ms. Santos-Duisenberg holds a Master’s degree in International Economic and Diplomatic Relations from the International Institute of the National School of Public Administration, a second Master’s degree in International Trade and Development from Sorbonne university, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Rio de Janeiro.
Ms. Santos-Duisenberg continues to provide advisory services to governments, institutions and academia on creative economy and development issues globally.
Energy Sector Executive
Mr. Allan Fogwill
Mr. Allan Fogwill is a distinguished business leader with over 30 years of experience in the energy sector. His expertise spans evolving energy policies, energy technology transitions, market analysis, and optimization processes.
He is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada, where he leads collaborative research and development initiatives in the oil and gas sector. In this role, he works at the intersection of industry, government, and academia to drive advancements in clean technology and sustainable practices.
Most recently, Mr. Fogwill served as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI), where he provided public interest analysis of the economic and environmental impacts of energy projects.
His prior roles include positions at Union Gas and the Ontario Energy Board. He has held leadership positions as the Chair and CEO of the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance and the Canadian Gas Research Institute, among others.
Mr. Fogwill holds a Master’s degree in Natural Resources Management from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Global Security Expert & Peace Advocate
Dr. Hubertus Hoffman
Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann is a distinguished entrepreneur, author, and advocate for international peace and security. He is the Founder and President of the World Security Network Foundation, an independent global initiative focused on promoting peace and stability through diplomacy and education. His efforts in international relations have earned him recognition as a significant voice in global security discussions.
Dr. Hoffmann has a rich academic background, holding a Ph.D. in Political Science. His professional journey spans various roles, including his involvement in journalism, where he has contributed to major publications on international security issues. He is also known for his work in the energy sector, where he has held executive positions, demonstrating his versatility and leadership across different industries.
As an author, Dr. Hoffmann has published extensively on topics related to global security, peace initiatives, and diplomacy. His contributions to these fields are widely respected, and his insights continue to influence policymakers and academics worldwide.
Dr. Hoffmann’s leadership and strategic thinking, coupled with his deep understanding of global security and international relations, make him a highly valuable addition to the Board.
International Academic
Dr. Tiberio Graziani
Dr. Tiberio Graziani is the Chairman of Vision & Global Trends and the International Institute for Global Analyses.
He has held teaching positions at numerous universities, including the University of L’Aquila, the University of Perugia, the University of Teramo, the Orientale University of Naples, Kore University of Enna, the University of Genoa, Sapienza University of Rome, and on behalf of the Institute of Foreign Trade (ICE) in countries such as Argentina, China, India, Libya, and Uzbekistan.
Dr. Graziani previously served as a consultant for the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Tunisia, focusing on the development of scientific and technological parks. He is a regular speaker at international conferences such as the World Public Forum and the Moscow Conference on International Security.
He serves on the scientific committees of several academic journals, including World Affairs (India) and GeoPolitica (Romania). He is a former director of geopolitical journal Eurasia, and his articles have been published widely.