Ronnie is founder and Chairman of Thelo Group (Thelo), an independent investment company with interests in the aviation and the transportation infrastructure sector.

Ronnie is also:

• a member in the board of the African Export-Import Bank (AFRIEXIMBANK). Headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, the bank was established by African Governments, African private and institutional investors as well as non-African financial institutions and private investors for purposes if financing, promoting and expanding intra-African and extra-African trade. AFRIEXIMBANK has the status of an international multilateral organisation.
• a member of the Honorary International Investor Council (HIIC) for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The HIIC is a body of leading international business-persons that advises the President and members if the Federal Government on how it might take action to encourage further investment in the country.
• a member of the Pan-African Private Sector Trade Policy Committee (PAFTRAC) which along with African Ministers of Trade and Industry is responsible for developing Africa's Trade Policy issues and position at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
• Chairman of the National Empowerment Fund (NEF): a multi billion Rand Development Finance Agency established by the government of the Republic of South Africa to promote and drive Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and transformation of the South African economy.
• Deputy Chairman of Comair Limited, a company listed on the JSE Securities Exchange with investments in the Aviation and Travel sectors and operates airlines such as British Airways and Kulula.

Preceding his role at Thelo, Ronnie founded Andisa Capital, in partnership with one of Africa's largest banks, Andisa is an independent and diversified financial services group with interests in private equity, stock-broking, capital markets, corporate finance and treasury solutions, for which he was the founding Chief Executive.

Ronnie is former President of the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry and holds a LLB from Edinburgh University.

Clem Sunter was born in Suffolk, England on 8 August 1944 and was educated at Winchester College. Clem Sunter went to Oxford where he read Politics, Philosophy and Economics before joining Charter Consolidated as a management trainee in 1966.

In 1971, Clem Sunter moved to Lusaka in Zambia to work for Anglo American Corporation Central Africa. Clem Sunter was transferred in 1973 to the Head Office of Anglo American Corporation of South Africa in Johannesburg. Clem was Chairman of the Gold and Uranium Division from 1990 to 1996. Clem Sunter is probably best known for his "High Road/Low Road" scenarios from South Africa in the Mid 1980's. Clem Sunter is now Chairman of Corporate Affairs and Chairman of the Anglo American Chairman's Fund.

In early 2001 "The Mind of a Fox" co-authored with Chantel Ilbury, was released. The book anticipated a major terrorist attack on a western city before the September 11th tragedy in New York. The book has sold over 40000 copies.

In 2007, Clem Sunter's new book, "Socrates and the Fox: A strategic dialogue", co-authored with Chantel Ilbury, was released. By its very nature Socratic dialogue transforms the strategic conversation from the normal, dreary type of superficial analysis that companies go through nowadays to a full-blooded, back-to-basics debate. Clem and Chantell have developed a unique and independently crafted methodology which integrates scenario planning into the mainstream process of strategic planning and decision-making. Their version of the Socratic method has come about through rigorous application, re-evaluation and fine-tuning in the course of facilitating countless sessions with a diverse portfolio of companies throughout the world – from giant multinationals to family-run businesses.

Chris Hart joined Investment Solutions as head of market and economic research in August 2007and has since been appointed chief strategist within the investment team. He was previously a senior financial market economist with Absa Capital.

Hart's main research focus is analysing financial markets domestically and abroad with the aim of advising the investment team on enhancing portfolio returns and identifying portfolio risk.

As chief strategist, Hart is also responsible for client liaison and engagement with the broader Alexander Forbes group. He has presented papers at numerous conferences in SA and abroad and is also a company spokesman on economic issues and financial markets.

Hart studied at the University of the Witwatersrand and is a volunteer with St John Ambulance, of which he is the South African commander.

Dirk Kotze spent close to ten years in Greater China, during which time he consulted several blue-chip mining companies on their China-related activities. His involvement with The Beijing Axis started in 2004, focusing initially on general China-Africa business facilitation, but later moving towards an emphasis on commodity-related consulting projects within China. From around 2006 he served in several management roles, including that of China country manager for The Beijing Axis.

Dirk holds a BCom Law degree from Stellenbosch University and in 2009 obtained an MBA from Peking University. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and has a special interest in studying adaptive web-based learning solutions for Chinese script.

Duncan Bonnett is a partner and director of Whitehouse & Associates. With 14 years of experience in conducting research, both in the academic and commercial environments, his research spans a wide spectrum of fields, including political economy, strategic studies, integration theory and practice, international trade agreements and research into business opportunities across Africa and the Middle East. Duncan is frequently asked to perform continent-wide analyses and rankings of African countries for specific industries for a variety of South African and international clients. He frequently contributes to a variety of media publications and think tanks on issues affecting trade and development in South Africa in particular, and Africa in general.

Duncan has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Diploma in Business Organisation, Marketing and Management from the Institute of Marketing Management.

Paul Runge is Managing Director of Africa Project Access, a consultancy that specializes in provision of early alert of projects in southern Africa.

He also monitors the major funding agencies operating in Africa, such as the World Bank and African Development Bank.

Paul Runge has direct experience in Africa, having visited 32 African countries from 1982-present. He lived in Gabon for 2 years, and worked intermittently for 3 years in the Cape Verde islands. He has frequent interaction with South African government and government-related organisations, notably the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Finance, as well as professional bodies and export councils.