ICC Executive Board

Omolara Ololade Akanji is a former director of the Central Bank of Nigeria, with a distinguished career spanning 35 years. She held various positions within the Central Bank, including Acting Director of Research and Director of Trade and Exchange. She is currently an Independent Director on the Board of Sterling Bank Plc and Interswitch. Ms Akanji is an accomplished author, with over 40 professional papers published in both domestic and foreign journals. She is actively involved in consulting and training on finance and trade finance matters. Additionally, she is a Vice-Chair of ICC Nigeria’s  Banking Commission and serves as an independent director for Nigeria Spinners Company. Ms Akanji holds multiple degrees and certifications from esteemed institutions, including the University of Ibadan, the Harvard School of Government, and the IMF Institute.

Lama Al Sulaiman is a Shareholder and Board Member of Rolaco Holdings, KSA and LUX, and an Executive Board member of the International Chamber of Commerce. She is the Vice Chair of Kingdom Holdings Investments in KSA, a Board member of Red Sea International, AlKhabeer Capital, and Coutts Bank advisory board, UK. Previously, she was a board member of Club Med, France, and Foras Investment, Saudi Arabia.

In 2021, she joined the Saudi Tennis Federation as a board member and served on the Saudi General Entertainment Authority board from 2016 to 2021. Over the past decade, she has been active in various non-profit organizations in KSA, leading the Saudi delegation at ILO, participating in L20 and B20 events globally, and co-chairing the Employment and Education Task Force. She was also involved in the development of Jabal Al Laith.

Lama is an advisory board member of Effat University and was part of the fundraising campaign board at King’s College London. She served as Vice Chair and Board Member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and was a board member of the Khadijah Bint Khuwailed Lobbying center for women. She holds a PhD in health and nutrition from King’s College London and was awarded the Alumni of the Year 2024

Anousheh Ansari is the CEO of XPRIZE, where she leads global innovation competitions addressing some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. A tech entrepreneur and space pioneer, Ms Ansari co-founded and led Prodea Systems, an IoT company recognised among Inc. Magazine’s 500 fastest-growing firms. In 2006, she became the first woman private space explorer, the first astronaut of Iranian descent, and the first Muslim woman in space. Under her leadership, XPRIZE has awarded over US$81 million and launched US$361 million in active competitions. Ms Ansari also serves in various global advisory roles, including with the World Economic Forum, GESDA and UNESCO, and is an advocate for women entrepreneurs through initiatives like The Billion Dollar Fund for Women.

Managing Partner, Bingmann Pflüger International GmbH; Chair, ICC Germany; former Chair and Member of the Board of Directors, German Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA); Board member, Commerzbank and the German Development Bank KFW; Executive Committee member, German Employers’ Association (BDA); Honorary chair, German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce; Executive Committee member, DIHK; Founder, Digital Business University of Applied Sciences (DUB); shareholder, Pressevertrieb München Holding; Advisory Board member, Commerzbank; Advisory Board member, Austrian Logistics Association (WKÖ); Partner, GLB German Latin Business GmbH; Partner, iconomy GmbH.

Lead partner of Tax Transformation & Innovation and Member of KPMG Innovation & Enterprise Solutions Committee in Brazil (ICC Brazil)

CEO, Herbert Smith Freehills

President, ICC Argentina

Founder and Owner of the Saham Group (ICC Morocco)

Moulay Hafid Elalamy was appointed Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment, and Digital and Green Economy in 2013. In 2014, he launched an Industrial Acceleration Plan (PAI) aimed at developing efficient industrial ecosystems to boost the Kingdom’s industrial exports and create new job opportunities in Morocco. Over eight years, Mr Elalamy supported more than 3,400 investment projects, including major initiatives by Renault, Stellantis, Safran, and Boeing. The PAI led to the creation of over 560,000 jobs, making Morocco the leading automobile producer in Africa. In 2018, he was appointed President of Morocco’s Bid Committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Under his leadership, Morocco’s technical dossier was approved by FIFA and qualified for the vote by 207 football federation presidents.

CEO, AppsTech and Chair of Afrilabs

CEO, Dott.Gallina s.r.l.; CEO, Gallina USA l.l.c.; Member of the Board, G.A. Plastics s.a.; President, Gallina India Priv.Ltd; President, Gallina Eurasia Polikarbonat Sistemleri Sanay Ve Tic.Ltd Sti; CEO, Gallina Deutschland Gmbh; Member of the Board, Dott.Gallina Poland sp.zo.o; Member of the Board, Proimpianti s.r.l.; President, Chamber of Commerce of Torino; President, Unione Industriale Torino, the Employers’ Association of Torino; Member of the General Council, Confindustria, the Italian Employers’ Association; Vice President, Confindustria Piemonte , the Regional federation of the Employers’ Associations; Past President of Small and medium-sized enterprises group, Unione Industriale Torino, the Employers’ Association of Turin; Member of the Nord-West of Italy Advisory board, Unicredit Bank

With extensive expertise in international relations, trade, and economics, Arancha González Laya has held several prominent positions throughout her career. She served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain from 2020 to 2021, and as the Assistant-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC) from 2013 to 2019. Ms González has also worked at the European Commission, advising the European Commissioner for Trade, and at the World Trade Organization, serving as Chief of Staff to the Director-General and his representative at the G-20. She is currently the Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po in France and serves on several boards and councils.

Member of the board and Chief Operations Officer at Komercni banka

Chair, ICC Qatar; Head of the Competition Protection and Anti-Monopoly Committee, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Qatar); Chairman, Al Dar Exchange Company; First Vice Chairman, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce; Vice Chairman, Doha Insurance Company; Active Board Member of several Arab-Foreign Joint Chambers of Commerce and the Union of Arab Chambers; Executive Committee member, the Union of Arab Chambers; former Chair, the Federation of Gulf Chambers of Commerce (FGCCC);

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah is the President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, where he leads strategic initiatives to enhance Dubai’s business environment, attract foreign investment, support global business expansion, and promote the digital economy. Prior to this role, he held several key leadership positions within Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, including CEO of Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection, overseeing areas such as consumer rights, business protection, and intellectual property. He also served in senior roles at the Department of Economic Development and the Dubai Land Department.

Cameron McKenzie is the President of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce. With a track record in investment banking, strategic consulting, and corporate financial advisory services, he founded McKenzie & Associates LLC, an investment bank and advisory firm. He has worked on numerous confidential mergers and acquisitions, capital raises, and financial transactions across Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America. Mr McKenzie holds multiple certifications and licenses and has been recognised by industry associations for his achievements.

Leading Business figure and Director, Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Patricia Nzolantima is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and board member dedicated to empowering African women and girls. She has founded various companies, including Bizzoly Holdings and Bizzoly Transport & Logistics, with a focus on empowering women and promoting financial inclusion. Ms Nzolantima has extensive experience in entrepreneurship, marketing, branding, mentoring, and coaching. She has been recognised for her contributions and has received awards such as the YPO Global Impact Award and was featured in the Forbes Forty Under 40 Africa Economic Leaders.

Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul is a Thai business leader and former Minister of Tourism and Sports, known for her contributions to both public policy and corporate governance. As Thailand’s tourism minister from 2014 to 2017, Ms Wattanavrangkul championed sustainable tourism and cultural heritage. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors at Kasikornbank and Toshiba Thailand, and plays an active role in advancing education, innovation and international cooperation through various institutional boards. Ms Wattanavrangkul’s career reflects a strong commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in Thailand.

Zhang Hui is Vice Chairman, Executive Director and President of the Bank of China, roles he assumed between December 2024 and January 2025. He also serves as Vice Chairman of BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited. Mr Zhang joined the Bank of China in 2024 after serving as Executive Vice President of China Development Bank from 2021 to 2024. Prior to that, he spent many years at Bank of Communications, where he held various senior roles including as Chief Risk Officer, general manager of several risk management departments, and president of regional branches including in Guizhou and Shanghai.

Chair, Esquel Group