Set up by representatives of the business, legal and media communities in Mauritius in 2016, Platform Africa is a high level forum and news portal which seeks to showcase what Mauritius can do as a platform for Africa on the one hand, and what Africa can do for the world on the other.
Platform Africa focuses on providing first hand news and views from those who are already doing business in Africa in the areas of finance and the economy, sustainability, leadership, innovation, health, lifestyle, culture and entertainment. Towards this end, Platform Africa acts as a media partner for high level events regarding Mauritius and Africa and targets an audience of business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, government representatives and international institutions across the continent.
Our team is passionate about shaping an African narrative that is meant for an African audience, telling stories that showcase the progressive and resourceful nature of its people, and bringing to the fore sharp and incisive opinions from the continent’s leaders that resonate with its youth. We believe that it is high time for Africa’s story to be told by those who call Africa home and fully comprehend the traditions, beliefs and values that are an integral part of the continent’s rich history and will forge a stronger Africa based on the solidarity and cultural identity of its resourceful and vibrant people.
CO-FOUNDERS
Samantha Seewoosurrun (samantha@platformafrica.com) is the Women in Africa Ambassador for Mauritius and also represents the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in Mauritius. She is Chair of the PR and Communication Committee of Global Finance Mauritius. She was recognised for Leadership Excellence at the Africa’s Women Leaders Awards in 2017.
Guillaume Gouges is an Editor in Chief at Business Publications Ltd, a member of La Sentinelle Group. He has been working as a journalist for 14 years and has contributed to local and foreign publications (Le Figaro, Telerama, Fodor’s Travel). Guillaume is also an author.
Fred Sisson is the Chairman and CEO of Synnove Energy and an appointed member of the US Presidential Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa. He has a 20-year career focus on the deployment of renewable energies and, more recently, on the social and economic impacts of renewables in emerging markets. He holds an MBA from FW Olin Graduate School of Business, Babson College.
Graham Sheward is Managing Director at The Sancus Group and has over 30 years of financial services experience gained initially in the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man. Graham was previously Managing Director at SGG Group and Country Director, International Banking, Barclays Bank (Mauritius) Limited, where he was responsible for Global Corporates, Intermediaries and HNW Private Clients, amongst others.
James Benoit, CFA, is an international banker and investor for 27 years in North America, Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East and Europe. He led and developed businesses for multinational bank HSBC for 18 years, and founded and led the award winning corporate and private bank, AfrAsia Bank Ltd. He currently leads FCMB UK Bank Ltd in London, which is a subsidiary of the 7th largest bank in Nigeria.
Mark O’Sullivan is Founder and CEO of International Payments Tech, an African Fintech 100 company. He was formerly an operating Board Member of Currencies Direct, a global fintech payment company and is a regular media commentator on the potential of African fintech.
Arvind Nilmadhub is the Founder and Executive Director of Afribrains Ltd, an economic consulting firm. He is also a Member of the International Consulting Economists’ Association of UK. Arvind has formerly worked for the Board of Investment, and has also been a consultant to the World Bank.
Sylvain Deslandes is CEO of AGILEUM, a leading ICT Company in the Indian Ocean region. He has been managing and developing new businesses in the areas of Consulting, Technology and Outsourcing for more than 25 years in Mauritius as well as in African and European regions.
Priscilla Balgobin-Bhoyrul is the Head of Balgobin Chambers and a Director of the Board of the Mauritius Commercial Bank, London School of Economics and Political Science Trust, Old Mutual Reinsurance (Mauritius) Ltd and Old Mutual Holdings (Mauritius) Ltd and a member of the Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal, Mauritius.
EDITORIAL AND MARKETING TEAM
Shruti Menon Seeboo is Editor of PlatformAfrica.com (Shruti.Menon@PlatformAfrica.com). Her media experience spans roles as a reporter, sub-editor, Special Correspondent and freelance writer.
Nishika Bajaj is Deputy Editor of PlatformAfrica.com (Nishika@platformafrica.com) and has over 10 years’ experience across the financial services and communications space, starting as Associate Vice President at HSBC India before going on to join the business editorial team at Hindustan Times. Since moving to Mauritius, she has served as editor of the financial news website AfricaMoney and the Marketing Content Editor/Journalist at fund manager GroFin before joining Platform Africa as Deputy Editor.
Vishal Bheeroo is Senior Special Correspondent at PlatformAfrica.com (Vishal.Bheeroo@PlatformAfrica.com). His media experience spans roles as a reporter, Special Correspondent, freelance writer, book reviewer and financial services communications consultant.
Dareena Tsalikis is Marketing Manager at PlatformAfrica.com (marketing@platformafrica.com). Her experience between France, England and her native Mauritius includes brand and communication strategy as well as marketing for B2B and B2C services.
PARTNERS
The Mauritius Africa FinTech Hub is a fast-growing ecosystem where entrepreneurs, corporations, governments, tech experts, investors, financial service providers, universities and research institutions can collaborate to build cutting-edge solutions for the emerging African market. MAFH exists to pave the way for international FinTech companies and financial service providers to access the African market. Similarly MAFH facilitates African FinTech ventures to do business across borders.
Africa Communications Week is the premier gathering for communications professionals and thought leaders looking to impact the current narrative on Africa. ACW hosts a series of conferences, workshops and webinars around the world to encourage Africa focused communications professionals connect, engage and and impact Africa’s economic transformation through strategic communication.
Women In Africa has become the first platform dedicated to the economic development and support of leading and high potential African women. Officially launched in 2017, the global initiative Women In Africa (WIA) supports, accompanies and contributes to the promotion of this new generation of African women to the service of an inclusive and innovative Africa.
Global Finance Mauritius (GFM) is the apex body representative and broad-based financial services association in Mauritius. It brings together leading players in the realm of Global Business which comprises of banks, management companies, accounting firms, law firms and institutional investors, the Stock Exchange of Mauritius and all other licensees of the FSC, aiming at developing Mauritius as an International Financial Centre of substance.
The South African Chamber of Commerce in Mauritius provides formal representation of commercial relations between Mauritius and South Africa, one of the Island’s most significant trading partners. The aim of the Chamber is to encourage and help develop bi-lateral trade between the two countries and to help create a workspace where entrepreneurs and investors can thrive and prosper. Since its inception in 2013, the Chamber has grown to more than 450 corporate and individual members both in Mauritius and South Africa, and across a variety of industry sectors including Financial Management Services, Banking, Travel, Retail, Property and Professional Services. The Chamber provides its members with appropriate information and news, knowledge bank resources, events and networking opportunities. Through the support of its Patrons, Event Sponsors and Affinity Partners, the Chamber hosts regular business presentations and social events. Members also benefit from special discounts offered by Affinity Partners and a Corporate rate with its Patron, South African Airways.
