Our Associates.
Mr. Curtis Mearns, Associate (Canada)
Mr. Curtis Mearns is an Investment Banker by trade. He has been an executive in energy technology and the investment banking industries for over 25 years. He began his career as a project principle in technology based ‘start ups’, and then by the mid 1990s began helping client companies seeking access to financial markets to present their companies in a favorable way and increase the chance of obtaining finance. He has developed strong insights particularly in strategic planning and corporate restructuring as it relates to the secondary financial markets, and subsequent funding arenas. His specialization include facilitating green/ clean technologies and project finance..
Dr. Peiling Zhao, Associate
(China)
Dr. Zhao has a PhD in English and a keen cultural and business understanding of China. She has taught for several years in both Chinese and American universities. She provides translation and cross-cultural management consulting for foreign firms considering investment or market entry in China. She has a vast network of contacts in both the private and government sectors in China.
Ms. Gigi Cabato, Associate
(Malaysia)
Ms. Cabato studied International Law. She has worked for several years in the fields of International Marketing, Finance, and Business Development. She sits as a member of the Board of Directors in two Asian companies, and conducts business in the Philippines Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Mr. Rafael Bolanos, Associate
(Guatemala, Central America Region)
Mr. Bolanos is a well known business developer in Guatemala and across Central America. He is a Civil and Industrial Engineer with an MBA and Finance Concentration from INCAE (a Harvard Business School Affiliate). In the last 20 years, he has been a University Professor in Finance and Administration at MBA level. In addition, he has worked as International Consultant and Regional Finance Manager for several multinational companies. Previous positions he has held include Controller for Shell (Royal-Dutch Petroleum Company), Regional Finance Manager for Whirlpool (Home Appliances), Gillette (Mass Consumer Products) and McDonald´s (Fast Food).
L.R. Shridhar, Associate
(India)
Mr. Shridhar is a Managing Trustee of MILE Foundation, a maritime and international logistics educational foundation in India. He is also an adviser to the Welspun Group, a $3.5 Billion logistics and infrastructure company. Mr. Shridhar has had a long and successful career in global logistics. He has held several senior level management/advisory roles in companies such as Sical, Integrated Logistics, Port Logistics, Skypak and DHL.
Mr. Stefan Flores, Associate
(Philippines)
Mr. Flores is an MBA graduate, professor, and Information Technology Specialist. He has worked for several years in the fields of Marketing, Research, Business Development, and Information Technology. He handles technology and management consulting projects in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ms. Gigi Cabato, Associate
(Indonesia)
Mr. Peter Pedlar, Associate
(South Africa)
Ms. Cabato studied International Law. She has worked for several years in the fields of International Marketing, Finance, and Business Development. She sits as a member of the Board of Directors in two Asian companies, and conducts business in the Philippines Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Mr. Pedlar holds business degrees from the University of Western Cape and the Stellenbosch Graduate School of Business. He also completed advanced Executive Development Programs at Harvard and the Wits Business Schools. He has held senior level management roles both in the private sector and government, and has an extensive network of contacts throughout Africa.
Engr. Walid Jarwan, Associate
(Egypt)
Dr. John Mburu, Associate
(Kenya)
Engr. Jarwan is an engineer and entrepreneur who has successfully done business in 65 countries around the world. He is an expert in international import and export and has assisted several European companies in sales and marketing and business expansion in the Middle East and Africa.
Dr. Mburu is an MBA and PhD graduate in Change Management. He is also a qualified Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) with broad local and international experience in deal origination, evaluation, negotiation and execution through principal loan, equity and quasi equity investments and technical assistance program development, across a variety of industries in Africa. He has worked in Kenya, Hong Kong, South Africa, UAE and Canada.
Mr. Trevor Simumba, Associate
(Zambia)
Engr. Walid Jarwan, Associate
(Jordan)
Mr. Simumba has had a career spanning country, regional, and international organizations in the Eastern and Southern Africa region. Previous positions he has held include : International Trade Advisor (Sierra Leone), Private Sector Development Specialist for ZAMTIE, and Economist to the Zambian Ministry of Commerce among others. He has directed consulting engagements in more than 25 countries.
Engr. Jarwan is an engineer and entrepreneur who has successfully done business in 65 countries around the world. He is an expert in international import and export and has assisted several European companies in sales and marketing and business expansion in the Middle East and Africa.
Mr. Darren Conley, Associate
(Qatar)
Mr. Conley is a successful Qatar based entrepreneur with influential business contacts in the Middle East region. He has been involved in consulting, marketing and business development in the Gulf. His business activities include : international investment, commodity trading, technology development and real estate. His investment portfolio has yielded returns of over 100%.
Ms. Deb Gilbertson, Associate
(New Zealand)
Deb Gilbertson has worked with 2500 businesses to help them to develop innovative ventures, grow domestically and internationally. She has strong links to the New Zealand Government as a six-time judge of the Prime Minister’s Public Excellence Awards. She was recognized with the Princeton Global Network 100 Top Women Award. Deb’s specialist areas are innovation, enterprise education, entrepreneurship, commercializing technology and business strategy.
Mr. Hesham Salah, Associate
(Dubai)
Mr. Salah’s career has been a “blend” of strategic planning, international business development and marketing (iBDM), project management, and market research. This combination enhanced his qualifications across a spectrum of public and private sector disciplines. His experience and networks covers regional (EMEAA) and international economic/political environments. He established his own boutique consulting firm in June 2011, focussing on 3 main areas: iBDM, advanced training and coaching modules, and strategic planning with eye on maximum business efficiency.
Ms. Maggie Numdee, Associate
(Papua New Guinea)
Ms. Numdee is an experienced emerging markets manager and has worked in Sales and Marketing, Business Development, and Government Coordination. She is a strong advocate of micro-enterprise development, entrepreneurship, and women's rights in Papua New Guinea.
Mr. Foday Soko Sackor, Associate
(Liberia)
Edil Gamzatov, Associate
(Russia)
Mr. Sackor holds a Masters degree at Columbia University with specialization in International Finance, Energy Management, and Economic Policy. He completed advisory work as a management consultant with Accenture and as a strategic consultant for government agencies and businesses across Africa. He was appointed President of Turtlesnap Ventures, (Africa Division), an expanding global network of affiliated venture capital incubators and is also the Director of the Liberia Institute of Science Technology and Economic Development.
Mr. Gamzatov Edil has obtained two advanced degrees and is a specialist in energy and economics. He is engaged in construction and infrastructure development in Russia and has business operations in locations such as Saudi Arabia, Republic of Kyrgyzstan, and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Mr. Luis Peralta, Associate
(Dominican Republic)
Mr. Peralta is a graduate of the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo and has a Master's degree in Education. He has worked for international organizations such as the Peace Corps, American Embassy, and Instituto Cultural Dominico-Americano (ICDA). He is a cross-cultural management expert and is fluent in both Spanish and English. He facilitates business transactions in the Caribbean, Latin America, and South America.