Consortium for Sustainable Agrivoltaics

Chris Hegadorn is Adjunct Professor of Global Food Politics at Sciences Po University in Paris where he teaches graduate courses on global food systems and the links between agriculture, climate and health. A retired U.S. diplomat, Mr Hegadorn spent nearly three decades in international development and multilateralism, serving tours in Asia, Africa, the Near East and the UN, including nearly four years as Executive Secretary of the UN’s Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in Rome. He is a father of three and presently lives in Paris with his partner. 

Dr. Debisi Araba is a public policy, innovation and strategy specialist focused on the future of food, the environment, and entrepreneurship. He is currently a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London. He also serves on the Malabo Montpellier Panel of experts – an eminent group of global experts – working together to enhance African and European government support of national and regional agricultural development and food security priorities in Africa. Previously, he led the Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) as Managing Director, and was also the Africa Region Director at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), a member of CGIAR, the consortium on international agriculture research. He has also served as the Senior Technical Adviser on Environmental Policy for the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Nigeria. 

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Biney-Amissah is the Managing Partner of TBrA X Ventures, an investment and advisory firm that is part of The Boardroom Africa (TBrA) Group. She was most recently a Partner at E3 Capital (formerly Energy Access Ventures), investing in decarbonized, decentralized, and digitalized smart energy and infrastructure technology in Sub-Saharan Africa, where she led a pioneering investment round in a catalytic off-grid utility in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nuru, amongst other deals in agritech, and commercial and industrial solar. 

Karel Callens is an international agrifood systems and sustainability expert with more than 30 years of experience working across agriculture, nutrition, environment, and development policy, with a strong focus on Africa. He has held senior leadership roles, including at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), where he led global initiatives on agrifood systems transformation, One Health, and science–policy-society integration. Karel is known for his systems-based, yet pragmatic approach to complex challenges, bridging policy, science, and practice to support resilient, inclusive agrifood systems. His work is driven by a commitment to long-term sustainability, equity, and human and planetary health.

Magnus Magnusson is a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience in project finance, business development, and ESG. He has a strong background in structuring financial solutions and developing large and medium-sized private and public infrastructure projects, particularly in green energy, including work in emerging markets. His career includes positions at Nordic finance institutions, the UN Capital Development Fund, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He also has extensive experience with the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, engaging with the World Bank and regional development banks, and the Nordic Council of Ministers, where he advised Nordic and Baltic finance ministers and managed relations with the Nordic Investment Bank, Nordic Project Fund, and Nordic Development Fund. He recently served as Director of the UNESCO Central Asia Office and since July 2023 he is the CEO and founder of Capital4D. 

Aïssa NDIAYE is a notaire in Paris and advises private banks and international clients on property and land projects, as well as matters relating to the organisation of their assets. Aïssa is also a delegate to the Conseil Supérieur du Notariat of France for the Africa department. She works on legal and social issues in collaboration with governments and representatives of African states. Finally, Aissa is a Board member of the French-African Foundation Committee, which, under the patronage of the President of the French Republic, is tasked with identifying talented individuals who will play an important role in Franco-African political and economic relations (Young Leaders Programme). 

Andrew Roche is managing director at FINEXIM Emerging Market Solutions, a Paris-based consultancy firm specializing in sovereign debt management and restructuring. He has worked in development finance and accompanied government authorities, mostly in west and central Africa, on public finance management as well as the mobilization of new multilateral, bilateral and private financing for over 20 years. Given the inadequate energy grid in low-income countries, Andrew supports agrivoltaics as a powerful way to combine renewable energy development, rural electrification as well as sustainable farming. 

Noah is the Head of Policy at ALLFED, leading our policy division and overseeing ALLFED's policy engagements and strategy globally. With ALLFED since 2020, he has previously served as both a pro bono consultant, Research Economist, and Strategic Advisor to the Board. Noah brings experience in advising policymakers in the UK, US, and EU on environmental policy and regulation. Noah is a globally recognized resilience expert who consults for UNEP and other high-profile initiatives, advising on technical climate adaptation finance projects. He previously spent over 2 years at the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment, leading their physical climate risk programme.