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GFDW® Business Seminars provides a dynamic platform for Knowledge Transfer and Education for business and self development. Seminars are designed to delve into key subjects around developing a successful business, marketing & trade, brand innovation and technology, the business of fashion, Ethical fashion and sustainable business development, business finance and start-up knowledge, and covers relative fashion industry insights and guidance.
The Seminars offer a rare and valuable opportunity for an open dialogue led by dynamic Industry Experts of various backgrounds with extensive knowledge and skills in their fields of practice.
For anyone looking to start or grow a business, or need professional knowledge about how and what to do going into the fashion industry, register below to attend.
DEVELOPING PEOPLE THROUGH SHARING KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND GUIDANCE.
We are passionate about Africa and our nation’s development at GFDW. Each year, we continue our journey for Self-development and Business growth for Economic inclusion.
Our Seminar panellists are passionate advocates of Africa who shares in our vision and understanding of our need to share knowledge, skills, support and guidance for development in Africa, and advancement through social change to empower self, business and trade through the activation of successful dialogues within our nations. Their collective cross intellect on Ghana, Africa and international knowledge provides an all round quality global experience worth sharing, and acquired knowledge in their fields of expertise comes with true value.
Join the GFDW Seminars and discover knowledge for progress. Register below to attend.
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*PLEASE BOOK YOUR SEAT TO ATTEND 2016 SEMINARS – TO PAY AT EVENT. BOOKING FEES APPLIES.
VENUE: LABADI BEACH LUXURY HOTEL
DATE: 21 – 22 . OCT . 2016
TIME: 11.00AM – 4.30PM
(Standard) BOOKING FEE APPLIES.
(Ghanaian) *STUDENTS FEE APPLIES (Must Show Proof of Ghanaian Student/University ID / Proof of Document). To attend Seminars, please complete below Form.
SEMINARS | REG | PANELISTS | SCHEDULE | ARCHIVES
SEMINAR SCHEDULE |:
VENUE: LABADI BEACH LUXURY HOTEL
DATE: 21 – 22 . OCT . 2016
TIME: 11.00AM – 4.30PM
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MEET THE PANELISTS |:
JACQUI BAKER
Lead Panelist & Moderator (GFDW2016)
Meet Jacqueline Baker – trained Journalist and TV Presenter with a passion for fashion and Africa. Jacqui joins the Business Seminars this year in leading the panel of guest speakers and audience engagement. Her work has led her to interviewing business leaders and international celebrities from all walks of life. From interviewing Kelly Rowland about the secrets to her success to discussing the implications of the UK Government Budget for small businesses – she leaves no stone unturned when she’s head to head an interview. Her passion for her mother continent – Africa, brought her to GFDW in 2013, sharing her skills and support for Africa’s development.
Having set up and run her own production company at a young age, Jacqueline began her career producing online content for Start Your Business Magazine, going on to launch – Start Your Business TV on the Sky Platform. Dynamic and responsive, her work captured the minds of entrepreneurs and small business owners, which naturally set the path to start producing corporate films, and set up her own production company, focused on creating corporate films for global fashion and beauty brands such as Elizabeth Arden and London Fashion Week.
Jacqueline has since worked with a range of TV channels including ABN TV in London for Ghana Fashion & Design Week, Vox Africa and the Colour Network, as well as presenting and interviewing some of Nigerian’s renowned movie stars including Ramsey Nouah & Mercy Johnson, and collaborating with international brands such as Ghana Fashion & Fashion Week.
JULIET IBRAHIM
Actress, Film Producer, Musician, and Entrepreneur
Meet multiple-award winning Actress, musician, producer and entrepreneur Juliet Ibrahim, a force to be reckoned with, Juliet will share an insight into becoming a successful entrepreneur as a creative individual, and maintaining the will to achieving your dreams successfully.
Famously known as an actress across the continent and beyond, Juliet’s role in society is crucial, standing as both an admirer to her global fans, and a role model to women, especially the young, she does this with a sense of humour, humility and love. Juliet rose to fame following her role in one of Ghana’a most popular movie – Crime to Christ in 2007, leading to her gaining more roles and rising to fame both in Ghana and Nigerian Film industry.
Juliet has since gone on to producing her own very first movie ‘The Number One Fan’ in 2013 gaining raving reviews in Ghana and Nigeria. Followed by her star-studded 2nd movie ‘Shattered Romance’ which parades Nigerian and Ghanaian actors, launched amidst fanfare in Accra, Ghana in 2014 Lagos in 2015.
Juliet ventured in to TV producing with a new Reality series; ‘Every Woman Has A Story’ where she debuted her directorial skills. Her fresh face beauty alongside her amiable nature has endeared her to her numerous ever-growing fan base and Juliet Ibrahim has gradually climbed the success ladder in the acting arena and has over 100 movie features to her credit.
Due to her being raised in different countries, Juliet Ibrahim is multi-lingual and speaks French, Spanish as well as English. Besides acting Juliet is a business-oriented person who proudly owns a boutique; House Of Glamour and a production house; Jewelz Productions. Adding to these, Juliet recently launched her beauty Eyelash product – Shades by Juliet Ibrahim in Ghana and Nigeria with growing stockists in other African countries.
Juliet Ibrahim’s launch into the celebrity world started with a modeling career as a runway and editorial model in Ghana and Ivory Coast, as well as featured in countless commercials. She is the Brand Ambassador of LG Ghana and the African Ambassador of Cintron.
She’s also a singer and has 3 singles ‘Celebrate’ where she featured ‘Jupita’ and ‘Over Now’ with General Pype, a music video ‘Traffic Jam’ and the single and music video of ‘Sholala’ featuring Amon to her credit.
Juliet is also a compere and stunned the world recently when she co-hosted the world famous CAF Awards in January 2016 where she dazzled as she spoke English and French exhibiting the extent of the reach of football across the globe.
Juliet’s love and compassion for people led her to set up the Juliet Ibrahim Foundation (JIF) in 2011 to start an awareness campaign about cancer of the kidney. The JIF is aimed at helping Ghanaians, Nigerians and other West African citizens to know their status and prevent kidney cancer from getting to the incurable stage. JIF is poised to help save lives and put smiles on the faces of the less fortunate living with kidney cancer but can’t afford to handle their bills.
KWESI LIVINGSTONE
Managing Director, REAP Technology,
Business Strategist & Chartered Accountant
Consultant, Non-Bank Financial Institutions & Business Start-Ups
Meet Mr. Kwesi Livingstone – Man of supreme integrity and a rare talent of Ghana, Mr.Kwesi Livingstone will share essential direction and address critical paths in structuring and financing business startups, and ways to access Micro-finance opportunities for SMEs and new Business Start-Up Entrepreneurs. Providing essential guidance to financial management for sustainable business growth.
Currently the Managing Director of REAP Technologies, Kwesi has held several distinguished leadership positions, as the former Group Chief Executive Officer of McOttley Holdings, and Acting Group Financial Controller and Group Management Accountant for UT Group where he was instrumental in financial and management strategy of both local and foreign subsidiaries.
An astute Business Strategist, a Chartered Accountant, and a Chartered Manager, Kwesi is also an Investment Banker, as well as an academic, and a member of chartered professional bodies including; The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA- UK), The Chartered Global Management Accountants ( a joint body of AICPA-USA and CIMA-UK), The Chartered Management Institute (CMI-UK), and Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana An MBA alumnus of The University of East London (UK), and BSc. Admin (Accounting Option) from University of Ghana, Kwesi has participated in many professional training programmes in the UK, South Africa and Ghana, and a holder of Ghana Stock Exchange Securities certificates.
Kwesi’s background extends to his early years at the Serious Fraud Office, and subsequently worked as Assistant Branch Manager of Profurn Africa, and a Financial Analyst for Databank Group. Relocating to UK, he studied and worked in various capacities at management levels including Finance Manager at Express Group International and Cost/Management Accountant for South Staffordshire & Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. His excellence service at the NHS appointed him to becoming the Chairman of England Mental Health (MH) Trusts Benchmarking Group (a benchmarking group of finance professionals and performance managers in mental health NHS Trusts across England for 2 years until his relocation to Ghana.
Kwesi also served on a number of committees of the Trust including the Information Governance Committee and the Equality and Diversity Committee. His returned to Ghana brought him close to working with Prof Kwame Serbeh-Yiadom to set up University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies (Bunso) of the Akyem Traditional Council. A further move to UT Holdings, he played a key role in the set up and financing of local and foreign subsidiaries of UT Holdings; implemented several strategic changes, and worked on a number of projects at UT Holdings.
An advocate of future generation development, and one who embraces sustainability through social and economic inclusion, Kwesi also lends his expertise as a part-time tutor of Level 400 Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting and Investment Fundamentals at the Institute of Continuing and Distant Education at the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra.
AKOSUA ANNOBIL
Creator & Editor-In-Chief, AB2020.
International PR Consultant
Meet Akosua Annobil – avid journalist and advocate for Africa’ s development, Akosua will share key knowledge on Brand PR and Media Communication for Business, the critical and creative thinking process behind brand development to attract venture capitalist and financial support for business growth. And how to benefit from using social media tools to support Brand PR and your Business development in Africa.
Born and raised in London (UK) to Ghanaian parents, award-winning journalist and PR professional Akosua Annobil has a passion for media that literally runs through her blood. Between the 50s and 70s, her grandfather was a trainee journalist in England; General Manager of the Ghana News Agency, and Chief Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board. Akosua has a publishing, broadcasting and communications career that spans over 15 years working for British national newspapers as a News Columnist and Entertainment Editor.
Her international broadcast work includes half a decade as a Radio Presenter at London station Choice FM (now Capital Xtra), and as a TV Producer and Host for BET in Hollywood, LA. Akosua’s creative, public relations and events management background includes work with the Mayor of London’s office; co-producing the inaugural GUBA Awards; developing media youth projects for the Prince’s Trust; and managing the first album launch of a Ghanaian artist in the UK (Samini). In July 2015, Akosua launched AB2020 – an aspirational platform for international entrepreneurs and investors seeking insights into the economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Identifying the critical need for the African to connect with each other for development, even though interest in doing business in Africa is rising rapidly among global investors, savvy businesses and the African diaspora across the world. However, due to misconceptions, lack of connections, and a limited understanding of the diverse and vast amount of opportunities (and cultures) on the continent, most are unsure of how to start and where to navigate. AB2020 creates a successful bridge for the Africa Diaspora to connect to their counterparts in Africa for business development.
With over a decade’s worth of experience and a specialist network of prime positioned associate partners, including government, private sector and grassroots stakeholders, AB2020 connects professionals seeking deals, partnerships and insights into Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa; as well as distribute a monthly news e-letter to 10,000+ investors, business owners and entrepreneurs.
NENE PARTOSAM
Co-Founder Vine Creatives, UK
Visual Communication & Brand Strategy Agency
Vine Creatives has teamed up with Media & International PR Consultants Africa Business 2020, UK (AB2020) in partnership with Ghana Fashion & Design Week in Africa to bring Branding and Visual Communication solution opportunities to the GFDW Business Innovation Seminars, to create branding solutions for Designers and Businesses at GFDW.
VINE Creatives is a visual communications and brand strategy agency. Working for and with entrepreneurs and businesses in the African diaspora, and companies with an African focus.
VINE Creatives help brands with their visual positioning to enter either the western or African market ensuring that the brand look and feel, messaging and visuals are all in line with the brands target audience.
The brand agency also assist with helping ambitious scale-ups and high growth SMEs with raising investment, from £50k to £500k. For larger clients they work alongside and support them to raise their series A investment rounds (£2M+). They work closely with business investors, and understand what they expect to see in presentations and pitches.
For Designers, Vine Creatives leads their brand vision to create visuals which can include; look books, online campaign creation, strategies and consultations. Photoshoots and brand imagery creation, social media graphics and branding, logos, website/app design and build, as well as promotional materials.
For designers requiring investment Vine Creatives creates and craft investor pitch decks, presentation packs and leave behinds, private investor meets and investor pitch set up sessions to prepare them ready for their investments needs.
To date, Vine Creatives have worked with Fortune 500 brands, large brands and advertising agencies, SMEs and expert individuals. With clients including Amazon, Barclays, Cadbury’s, Jaguar, Pepsi, PayPal, Sainsburys, Sony, Visa and Loreal.
http://www.vinecreatives.com
CHARLOTTE MENSAH
Afro Hair Specialist & Entrepreneur
Founder & Artistic Director: Hair Lounge (London)
Owner, Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Haircare System
Meet Charlotte Mensah – multiple-award winning Afro Hair specialist, visionary and Artistic Director behind the Charlotte Mensah Hair Lounge and Haircare products . In touch and supportive of development in her home country Ghana, Charlotte will share and impart knowledge on critical steps to take in perfecting your craft and executing ideas through creative thinking, as well as revealing the best secrets and techniques in managing and maintaining healthy Afro hair.
As the reigning British Afro Hairdresser of the Year 2013 and 2014, Charlotte Mensah is at the forefront of creative Afro styling in the UK. Famed for her flair for embracing natural hair textures, the internationally renowned celebrity hairdresser, who owns acclaimed multi award-winning salon Hair Lounge in London’s trendy Portobello Road, is a stylist very much in demand, working not only with some of the most famous names in the world of entertainment, high finance and business, but also some of the largest beauty brands in the market place.
Charlotte Mensah’s name as a household brand was further strengthened in 2016 with the launch of her first sustainable luxury hair products under her name – Charlotte Mensah Maketti Oil Haircare System, launched in London to raving reviews across the UK magazines and media landscape, making her one of the first black or African to enter the UK market with a luxury hair product brand that is equally counted among other high end and best haircare brands.
With almost two decades of acquired skills in hair management techniques, craft and design under her belt, Charlotte has also been the key artistic director for hair affairs at GFDW since 2013 till date (2016), bringing with hair essential knowledge passed on to aspiring young Hair Stylist GFDW interns working directly with Charlotte backstage to gain creative experience and industry insight. Nurturing future generation through education and guidance is valuable to Charlotte, a passion which she further takes into lecturing at the L’oreal Academy in the UK, as well as sitting as a Judge on the panel at the L’oreal Hair competition in the UK.
http://www.charlottemensah.com
KAREN ARRINGTON
Empowerment Coach and International Philanthropist.
Founder of The Miss Black USA Pageant,
Goodwill Ambassador to The Gambia,
Meet Karen Arrington – Renowned super life empowerment coach. Karen is welcome to the panel on a special mission visit to the GFDW event, with her just crowned Miss Black USA scholarship pageant doing what she does best, leading her career and supporting the crowned pageant’s steps to success. Karen will be on the panel of expertise to share insights and knowledge on life changing skills to empower the mind, body and soul to success.
Karen Arrington is one of the most sought after Empowerment coach in the USA. As an Empowerment & Career Design Coach, Karen supports and articulate the dreams of those who encounter her unique ability to create actionable strategies that expands their horizons and professional network, lifting them up to step into a life of impact, adventure and luxury.
Karen’s work also focuses especially on ambitious young women who are actively pursuing higher education, or a challenging career path – but who want to explore even greater opportunities for travel, service, leadership, wealth & lasting fulfilment.
As she simply put – “Think of me as your personal guidance counsellor & spiritual mentor – with decades of seasoned wisdom, industry connections and a sharp eye for talent. Working with me is an investment in your most precious resource — your self-belief.”
With immeasurable personal triumphs, accolades and awards, her work continue to provide support and help for African American women to write the new rules of power, opportunity and life-changing confidence. Karen gives women the tools, inspiration and connections they need to redefine their destinies – and defy expectations.
Karen has personally mentored over 1,000 young women – helping them secure life-changing scholarships, pursue global travel opportunities, get into top medical schools, land major modeling contracts, launch multi-city speaking tours, and transform their lives and communities.
“I believe that women are our greatest untapped resource, that every girl has a magnificent talent waiting to be discovered, and that CONFIDENCE is the new Black.
http://www.karenarrington.com
http://www.missblackusa.org
Meet Nana Kwame Adusei, founder and creative director behind the upwardly mobile Ghanaian fashion and lifestyle brand Charlotte Prive. Nana Kwame will share knowledge on developing a successful African brand, and why creative and critical thinking is key to sustaining a business growth, successful brand and product design.
Nana Kwame Adusei is the visionary behind Charlotte Prive, a Ghanaian born African fashion house specialising in designing and manufacturing well tailored ready to wear female garments. Nana Kwame, inspired by the women surrounding his childhood years, his three sisters, and the way their clothes spoke for them, founded the growing fashion brand in 2012. However, it wasn’t until hosting a charity event for children’s orphanages that he really discovered design as his calling. Wanting to give back more and more to the less fortunate communities surrounding him, he realized utilizing his creative talent would give him the opportunity to not just give aid, but also inspire the next generation of creative talents.
Charlotte Prive has since grown to be a brand that empowers women through clean-cut and cool style, representing the chic, confident, and hard-working women who wear it. Nana Kwame has followed with opening two successful Charlotte Prive lifestyle destination stores in Accra, catering for his brand and lovers of the brand, extending to a franchise/distributor in South Africa. The progressive brand label is soon to launch Charlotte Prive Man to satisfy demanding interest of men lovers of the brand.
Through his carefully strategist business plan and brand development execution, Nana Kwame continue to prove the logic behind fashion as a viable business in Ghana, that, with the right creative knowledge, business understanding and willingness to innovate as a brand through design and aesthetics, Africans and Ghanaians need not to be bystanders or remain ordinary consumers, but also partakers in the multi-million global fashion industry that drives global economies socially and financially, starting right from where there are on the continent, being it west, east, south or north Africa.
Nana Kwame’s fashion brand, Charlotte Prive joins some of today’s fastest growing contemporary fashion brand labels hailing from Ghana and across the mother continent of Africa.
SEMINAR ARCHIVES |: VIDEOS |: CONTRIBUTORS
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ARCHIVES: GFDW 2015 SEMINARS
FOCUS: Business Building, Brand Communication and Self Development
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THIS OFFER HAS NOW ENDED*
Your opportunity to be selected for Branding Consultation with Art Directors at VINE Creatives (UK). And a fantastic chance to receive full international BRANDING & PR MAKEOVER – to Sign Up at GFDW 2015 SEMINARS! (See Below & Schedule on how to SIGN UP*) *Supported by VINE CREATIVES (UK) & AB2020 Business Media(UK)
FREE** FULL BRAND MAKEOVER FOR YOUR BUSINESS [Offer Opportunity Available to Seminars Attendees Only] Our Media Partner AB2020 and VINE Creatives have come together to offer a suite of very special services to Seminars attendees this year!
The Unique offer only made available to attendees at the Seminars, will focus on essential Branding, PR and Marketing support for a selection of 25 individuals who are quick to sign up to receive;
FREE branding consultation with Nene Parsotam, one of the Art Directors at VINE Creatives based in London. By signing up on the day, you will have the opportunity to tell the team your concerns about your brand, whether its a new and upcoming one, or an established one in need of a refresh.
Following which you will be offered professional feedback, tips and suggestions to take your brand forward. Consultations will be 30 minutes on whichever medium you prefer be it Skype, Email or WhatsApp! •
As an added bonus one lucky Creative Entrepreneur attending the 2-Day GFDW 2015 Business & Education Seminars will have the chance to be given FULL BRAND MAKEOVER for their Business growth, worth over £1000 (Pounds) with three months support from VINE Creatives, to get your business branding and designs looking professionally great, and in front of the right people! •
As an extra bonus, AB2020 Media – for Business and Entrepreneurs development will also support the selected Entrepreneur with an engaging focused spot on their Network page. The creative Entrepreneur will be featured on their business media website, as well as their Business Focus Newsletter, distributed to financiers, executives, professionals, and media representatives across the UK, US and Sub-Saharan Africa •
The selected lucky Creative Entrepreneur – will also have the opportunity to be featured by GFDW! In order to have a chance to be selected for this valuable FREE* BRANDING support for your business, simply SIGN UP at the GFDW 2015 BUSINESS & EDUCATION SEMINARS, and briefly tell the team what your vision is for your brand, what inspires you and why we should invest in your project.
This offer is a great opportunity to get your brand looking right, professionally focused and placed in front of the right people for your business to take off and grow!
Offer is only available to Seminars Attendees, and during GFDW Business & Education Seminars only. Register to attend Seminars and Sign Up! REGISTER FOR SEMMINARS BELOW >
About Vine Creatives
Nene Parsotam is one the Art Directors VINE Creatives, a London based but Africa focused specialist creative design house. Nene is a senior digital designer and art director with over 11 years of experience working within the Advertising, Digital Design and Branding industries. Having worked in and for some of the top advertising agencies in London, Dubai and America, she has an excellent understanding of branding, brand values, digital campaigns, idea conception and generation. As well as art direction for branding, photography and visual user interface design over a very board range of sectors; from tech to fashion to business to business. Her clientele include Samsung, Channel 4, Visa, Pepsi, Warner Bros, Jaguar, Accenture, Macmillan and L’Oreal to name a few.
About AB2020
Created by award-winning journalist and PR professional Akosua Annobil, AB2020 is an aspirational platform for savvy UK entrepreneurs, investors and businesses seeking insights into the economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa. Launched on the weekend Barack Obama hosted the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kenya, AB2020 aims to highlight, motivate and empower those taking productive action on the continent, both globally and locally. AB2020’s newsletters are distributed to influential financiers, executives, professionals and media representatives in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa, via their database, social media networks and partner organisations
SIGNING UP for FREE** FULL BRAND MAKEOVER for your Business, will start after PR & Media DIY Masterclass”
Your opportunity to be selected for Branding Consultation with Art Directors at VINE Creatives (UK). And a fantastic chance to receive full international BRANDING & PR MAKEOVER – to Sign Up at GFDW 2015 SEMINARS! (See Below & Schedule on how to SIGN UP*)
*Supported by VINE CREATIVES (UK) & AB2020 Business Media (UK)
**Note: THIS 2015 BRAND MAKEOVER OFFER HAS NOW ENDED.
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HILLARY SARAH ANDOH -:-
Panelist Head & Lead Moderator
Meet Hillary Sarah Andoh – Dynamic compere and lead panel moderator at Ghana Fashion & Design Week (GFDW). Joining GFDW in 2012, Hillary brings with her unique skills and intellect that adds to the platform’s vision for industry and people development. Hillary leads the industry panel of expertise at this year’s BUSINESS and EDUCATION SEMINARS with her usual dynamic, witty and graceful deliverance that always leaves attendees engaged with excitement, re-charged and empowered!
Hillary Sarah Andoh is a change agent, an activist and a facilitator. Her passion for service to her community is cemented by her love for Africa, specifically in the creative space (i.e., fashion, art, music, literature), education, women’s empowerment, etiquette and economic development.
Hillary is also a speaker, compere, panel moderator and a writer. Over the past decade, she has devoted her time and efforts to assisting with the structuring and maturation of the Ghanaian fashion industry. She also spearheads, teaches and facilitates discussions on branding, public relations and the business of fashion. Through her proprietary motivational workshops, Hillary has utilized her creativity and communication skills to promulgate successfully the need for education and literacy, particularly among the youth. She is a believer in effective collaboration and synergistic partnerships that yield measurable results and impact the nation as a whole.
She helps where she can in roles that align with her strengths and skill-set. Hillary holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies with an Economics concentration from American University, Washington, D.C and is a certified speaker of the Washington School of Protocol. She also serves as the chair of the Washington D.C. Chapter of the American Women of International Development non-profit organization.
MASANA CHIKEKA
Sector Manager: Design
Department of Arts and Culture (DAC South Africa)
Meet Masana Chikeka – Ms Chikeka is a Sector Manager for Design at the Department of Arts and Culture in South Africa.
She manages various design disciplines. She joins the Seminar panel at GFDW this year to highlight the vast opportunities that innovation in design and fashion has to offer for the development of the creative industry in Africa, its contibution to job creation, and how creative entrepreneurs can structure their businesses to benefit from the fashion and creative industry through proper training and development.
Masana has worked as a fashion designer and stylist, consulting for a number of entities in the design field. She was also a fashion design lecturer at a number of tertiary institutions in South Africa: the Walter Sisulu University and then at Allenby Campus – now Damelin College. She also worked as a Visual Merchandiser for Edcon. She has varied experience in project and programme management in the social and developmental fields that integrates design and crafts.
Masana sits on the advisory Councils of the following:
- Advisory council of the Tshwane University of Technology – Fashion and Textile Department.
- Advisory council of the School of Design at the Walter Sisulu University of Technology
- Advisory council of the Services SETA – Project Management Chamber
- Provisional external expert in European Tender projects in the fields of Intercultural dialogue and Cultural Cooperation and Development
She is also a member of the Design Task Team set up by the SABS – Design Institute to promote the design sector in SA. She was a board member of the Cape Town World Design Capital 2014 venture. Ms Chikeka has published and presented a numnber of papers in the field of Culture and Identity.
She was also a volunteer at a women’s advocacy group for a number of years, counselling abused women, children and working with HIV/AIDS women. Ms Chikeka is well travelled internationally, particularly in the African continent.
Ms Chikeka’s academic qualifications are: Masters in Management in the field of Public and Development Management – from the University of the Witwatersrand; BTech – Fashion Design; Certificate in Brand Management and Portfolio Planning; Certificate in Project Management and also in Change Management. Masana has participated in an International Programme on Strategic Design interventions for Developing Economies in Ahmadabad, India.
GUEST SPEAKER 2015
MASANA CHIKEKA
Topic: “Fashion Entrepreneurship”
Brief:
1+ The adoption of successful business strategies for fashion entrepreneurship.
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CHARLOTTE MENSAH
Afro Hair Specialist
Founder & Artistic Director: Hair Lounge (London)
As the reigning British Afro Hairdresser of the Year 2013 and 2014, Charlotte Mensah is at the forefront of creative Afro styling in the UK. Famed for her flair for embracing natural hair textures, the internationally renowned celebrity hairdresser, who owns acclaimed multi award-winning salon Hair Lounge in London’s trendy Portobello Road, is a stylist very much in demand, working not only with some of the most famous names in the world of entertainment, high finance and business, but also some of the largest beauty brands in the market place.
GUEST SPEAKER 2015
CHARLOTTE MENSAH
Topic: “Hair Education & Creative Entrepreneurship
Brief:
1+ Tips on how to turn your creative passion into a successful business.
2+ Becoming a Successful Creative Director as a Hair Sylist
3+ Techniques in Managing Natural Afro Hair.
YVONNE NTIAMOAH
Head of Fashion & Design Department
Radford University College, Ghana.
Meet Yvonne Ntiamoah – Mrs Yvonne Ntiamoah, who is now a research fellow of the highly acclaimed Royal College of Art in the United Kingdom, leads the Fashion Department. Yvonne is on the panel this year to highlight the importance of having the right fashion education and the rewarding career paths and choices that comes with perfecting your creative skills through proper education.
Her years of Fashion Industry experience enable her to be at the forefront of practical exposure given to enhance students learning as the Head of Department at Radford University College in Ghana. An alumna of Surrey Institute of Art and Design, Yvonne has worked for Red or Dead and Vivienne Westwood at the early stages of her career development, as well establishing her own label Konadu. As a winner of “Professional Ghanaian Award” for Designer of the year, Yvonne worked with the UN, coordinating and organising the UN Fashion for food program (Catwalk the World) bringing together local and internationally renowned designers such Ozwald Boateng.
As a design director/consultant of la Mack London Ltd and Konadu, Yvonne has worked on several projects, creating the vision, planning and execution of the vision. As well as working with manufacturers and suppliers based across the world from Accra – Ghana, Beijing – China, Dubai – UAE to London – UK. As the Head of Fashion and Design at Radford University College, Yvonne aims to help mould the fashion industry in Ghana through young creative minds. Implementing events such as “The Graduates Fashion Show” to help establish commercial markets for Ghanaian designers all over the world.
GUEST SPEAKER
11.30AM: YVONNE NTIAMOAH
Topic: “A Career in Fashion” Brief:
1+ Education – The conventional path and unconventional path as it is in Ghana.
2+ Internships – The power of industry experience before and completing your Degree.
3+ First Career Choices – What happens when things don’t go your way, or opportunities don’t arise?
4+ How to maximise on unplanned career paths and steer it back to your vision.
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ANITA ERSKINE
Founder, Brand Woman Africa.
Meet Anita Erskine – Speaker on communications, Female empowerment and Gender Equality. Anita is on the panel of expertise this year to share the secrets in harnessing the power of your dreams and making it work for you!
Anita was born in Jerusalem but grew up in Ghana, where she lived until moving to Canada to pursue her post secondary education studying Broadcast Journalism and languages. Since returning to Ghana in 2006, she has become a powerful force in Africa’s media landscape, working towards achieving social change by inspiring and empowering women in Africa. With almost 20 years of experience as a producer, presenter, public speaker and corporate communications specialist, Anita Erskine has worked in Africa and abroad across multiple platforms, aided by her ability to speak both French and English. Presently, Anita is the host of The One Show on Viasat1, co-host for Starr FM’s flagship Starr Drive and recently finished filming Discovery +233, a new talk show, which will be airing on Ghana TV in 2015.
Anita is also the founder and creative director of Brand Woman Africa, which is designed to empower women and girls by showcasing via the media, advancements in women’s issues and bringing attention to women accomplishing amazing things in Africa and beyond.
Anita is an extremely passionate and focused advocate for broad social change that empowers people and leads to global equality.
This passion for social change is reflected in everything she does. She created Brand Woman Africa to encompass a variety of initiatives that collectively project the advancement of African women, her upcoming TV show Discovery +233 has a special emphasis on educating and empowering young women and she is often involved in speaking engagements related to encouraging women worldwide to develop their full potential. Public speaking is one of Anita’s most powerful tools for sharing her experience in the areas of branding, communications and personal empowerment for success.
As well as a way of inspiring others and enabling individuals and organizations to engage in dialogue that leads to positive change.
GUEST SPEAKER 2015
ANITA ERSKINE
Topic: ‘How to Go for Your Dreams’ Brief:
1+ Passion and Aspirations
2+ Learn how to harness the power of your dreams and turn them into reality.
KWESI LIVINGSTONE
Managing Director, REAP Technology Business Strategist & Chartered Accountant
Meet Mr. Kwesi Livingstone – Man of supreme integrity and a rare talent of Ghana, Mr.Kwesi Livingstone joins the panel of expertise at GFDW 2015 seminars as a bsuiness and financial strategist to share and highlight access to Microfinance opportunities for SMEs and new Business Start-Up Entrepreneurs. Providing essential guidance to financial management for business growth.
Currently the Managing Director of REAP Technologies, Kwesi has held several distinguished leadership positions, as the former Group Chief Executive Officer of McOttley Holdings, and Acting Group Financial Controller and Group Management Accountant for UT Group where he was instrumental in financial and management strategy of both local and foreign subsidiaries.
An astute Business Strategist, a Chartered Accountant, and a Chartered Manager, Kwesi is also an Investment Banker, as well as an academic, and a member of chartered professional bodies including; The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA- UK), The Chartered Global Management Accountants ( a joint body of AICPA-USA and CIMA-UK), The Chartered Management Institute (CMI-UK), and Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana An MBA alumnus of The University of East London (UK), and BSc. Admin (Accounting Option) from University of Ghana, Kwesi has participated in many professional training programmes in the UK, South Africa and Ghana, and a holder of Ghana Stock Exchange Securities certificates. Kwesi’s background extends to his early years at the Serious Fraud Office, and subsequently worked as Assistant Branch Manager of Profurn Africa, and a Financial Analyst for Databank Group. Relocating to UK, he studied and worked in various capacities at management levels including Finance Manager at Express Group International and Cost/Management Accountant for South Staffordshire & Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. His excellence service at the NHS appointed him to becoming the Chairman of England Mental Health (MH) Trusts Benchmarking Group (a benchmarking group of finance professionals and performance managers in mental health NHS Trusts across England for 2 years until his relocation to Ghana. Kwesi also served on a number of committees of the Trust including the Information Governance Committee and the Equality and Diversity Committee. His returned to Ghana brought him close to working with Prof Kwame Serbeh-Yiadom to set up University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies (Bunso) of the Akyem Traditional Council. A further move to UT Holdings, he played a key role in the set up and financing of local and foreign subsidiaries of UT Holdings; implemented several strategic changes, and worked on a number of projects at UT Holdings. An advocate of future generation development, and one who embraces sustainability through social and economic inclusion, Kwesi also lends his expertise as a part-time tutor of Level 400 Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting and Investment Fundamentals at the Institute of Continuing and Distant Education at the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra.
GUEST SPEAKER 2015
KWESI LIVINGSTONE
Topic: “The Role of Micro-financing in the Development of SMEs in Ghana”
Brief:
1+ Guidance on how to access good credit to grow your businesses.
2+ Useful tips on business accounting, record keeping and financial management to grow your business.
3+ Education on financial intermediation available for SMEs including fashion designers.
4+ Selection of Institution: Knowledge to equip you in identifying and distinguish between a good micro-finance institution and a risky/fake/ponzy schemes
5+ Knowledge of Bank of Ghana’s categorisation of financial institutions.
IVY ANSAH
CEO & Owner, Luxoca
Meet Ivy Ataa Dapaah‐Siakwan Ansah – Qualified chartered accountant and a practicing banker and Entrepreneur. Ivy joins the Panel of expertise this year to guide and share essential knowledge on fashion retail access opportunities, highligthing the importance of quality control, processes and preparations of collections and products for the retail market.
Ivy is not just passionate about fashion but rather the business of fashion. She is an Assistant Vice President at Barclays Bank Ghana Limited. And the CEO at Luxoca.com, Ghana’s premier online fashion destination to shop current and cutting edge pieces from talented designers across Africa.
She set up Luxoca.com with the sole aim of creating one of the necessary pillars for developing and propelling the fashion industry in Africa, i.e. Marketers and Buyers. With her financial background and her work through the newly launched online presence of Luxoca.com, Ivy continuously uses her interactions with designers to educate and inform on the need for designers to make the efforts to put in place the proper structures necessary for the advancement of this industry.
Ivy is a product of Wesley Girls High School, Ghana, finished top of her class at Cardiff University, Wales and holds a Masters of Finance with distinction from St. Andrews University, Scotland. Ivy has practical experience in early start‐ups having recently launched Luxoca, providing a hub for information for new and emerging designers, and facilitators starting out in the industry.
GUEST SPEAKER 2015
IVY DAPAAH-SIAKWAN ANSAH
Topic: “Accessing the Fashion Retail Market for your Brand”
Brief:
1+ Who are Buyers and Retailers and why should designers care about them?
2+ Meeting the Buyer/Stockist : What to do when getting ready for a local or international stockist or buyer.
3+ Pricing your Products & Profit: How to prepare your product pricing to attract buyers?
| PANELISTS | SCHEDULE | REG | ARCHIVES
AKOSUA ANNOBIL
Founder & Editor-In-Chief, AB2020.
International PR Consultant
Meet Akosua Annobil – avid journalist and advocate for Africa’ s development, Akosua joins the panel of industry expertise this year to share essential knowledge on PR and Media Communication for Business, also highlighting social media dos and don’ts in a world where media technology is key driver for your business growth.
Born and raised in London (UK) to Ghanaian parents, award-winning journalist and PR professional Akosua Annobil has a passion for media that literally runs through her blood. Between the 50s and 70s, her grandfather was a trainee journalist in England; General Manager of the Ghana News Agency, and Chief Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board. Akosua has a publishing, broadcasting and communications career that spans over 15 years working for British national newspapers as a News Columnist and Entertainment Editor.
Her international broadcast work includes half a decade as a Radio Presenter at London station Choice FM (now Capital Xtra), and as a TV Producer and Host for BET in Hollywood, LA. Akosua’s creative, public relations and events management background includes work with the Mayor of London’s office; co-producing the inaugural GUBA Awards; developing media youth projects for the Prince’s Trust; and managing the first album launch of a Ghanaian artist in the UK (Samini). In July 2015, Akosua launched AB2020 – an aspirational platform for international entrepreneurs and investors seeking insights into the economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa.
GUEST SPEAKER 2015
AKOSUA ANNOBIL
Topic 1: “PR & Media DIY Masterclass”
Brief:
1+ The importance of PR in a digital world.
2+ How to discover and establish your brand values.
3+ Social media, blogs and websites – do you really need them all?
4+ Essentails basics on How to present and manage your online profile.
Topic 2: “PR & Media DIY Masterclass“
Brief:
1+ How to start a PR campaign for your brand – with no budget.
2+ How to generate and sustain a fan base.
3+ Know-How Tips for building relationships with international media.
4+ Understanding the power of professional communication techniques.
AFUA ANIMA BINEY Fashion Designer Entrepreneur.
Brand: Tutuwaa
Meet Afua Biney – Creative Designer behind the emerging brand Tutuwaa. Afua is on the Seminars to share her experiences as one of the talented upcoming graduate designers in Ghana. Afua will share her expectations and achievement so far, and what prospective students should expect in following a fashion degree education to achieve their specific aim.
Afua Biney graduated from Radford University College in 2014 with a Honours Degree in Fashion Design. Creative, focused and determined, her final year collection earned her the Silver Star of Excellence Award – a special award in recognition of her talent, as the best emerging young designer by Sliver Star Auto Ltd – sole dealers of Mercedes-Benz in Ghana.
After her Graduation, Afua was selected by ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative to participate in her first international Fashion events in Milan and Netherland. Afua took her place as the first best graduate to be selected for development under GFDW New Talent Spot™(NTS) initiative space in 2014, where she has been developing her knowledge of the global industry, and shaping her new business and career as a creative entrepreneur, with her new and exciting brand TUTUWAA in the making to be launched at Ghana Fashion & Design week this OCT 2015 under the NTS initiative space.
GUEST SPEAKER 2015
AFUA BINEY (RUC GRADUATE DESIGNER)
Topic: “Fashion Degree Experiences and Expectations”
Brief:
1+ What it takes to walk the Fashion Degree Education path.
2+ My experiences then and now beyond fashion education.
ARCHIVES: GFDW 2013 SEMINARS
FOCUS: A Business Dialogue on Fashion, Innovation, Technology and Media.
| PANELISTS | SCHEDULE | REG | ARCHIVES | 2015SEMINARS | 2013SEMINARS | 2012SEMINARS
GUEST SPEAKER 2013
ZANDILE BLAY
PRINCIPAL OF BLAY DIGITAL MEDIA FASHION
JOURNALISM PROFESSOR SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY (USA).
Zandile Blay-Amihere is a style and culture journalist and entrepreneur, Fashion Journalism Professor at Syracuse University, USA, and has recently taken on the position of Editor-in-Chief of Hello! Nigeria. She is the Principal of Blay Digital Media in New York and founder of Africa Daily Groupe – Blay-Amihere is a fashion columnist for the Internet’s largest newspaper, Huffington Post and is Africa Editor for noted fashion blog, Fashionista.com.
GUEST SPEAKER 2013
DR. WILLIAM DERBAN
DIRECTOR, FINANCIAL INCLUSION, CSR & PMO.
William is the Director for Financial Inclusion, CSR & PMO. He is responsible for the Bank’s micro-finance, payment services and their innovative agency banking services. His objective is to provide basic banking services to the informal and largely unbanked market, providing services that improve lives. William has worked on significant financial services projects in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
GUEST SPEAKER 2013
DR. RICHARD BOATENG, Ph.D.
FOUNDER PEARL RICHARD FOUNDATION
VIVA AFRICA MULTIMEDIA (Ghana).
Richard has experience in working as a hybrid manager – the managerial/policy link between technology and the end-user in information technology projects in Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Togo, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, and USA. His research experience covers electronic governance, cyber crime, electronic business, technology curriculum development, ICT and development, green IT and ICT and health care at the national, industrial, organizational and community level.
GUEST SPEAKER 2013
YVONNE NTIAMOAH HEAD OF FASHION & DESIGN DEPARTMENT
RADFORD UNIVERISTY COLLEGE (GHANA)
Yvonne Ntiamoah is the Head of Fashion and Design Department of Radford University in Accra, Ghana. An alumna of Surrey Institute of Art and Design, Yvonne has worked for Red or Dead and Vivienne Westwood at the early stages of her career development, as well establishing her own label Konadu.
ARCHIVES: GFDW 2012 SEMINARS
FOCUS: Ethical Fashion, Digital Media
and Business of Fashion
| PANELISTS | SCHEDULE | REG | ARCHIVES | 2015SEMINARS | 2013SEMINARS | 2012SEMINARS
GUEST SPEAKER 2012
BETHANN HARDISON
FOUNDER, BLACK GIRLS COALITION
FASHION ACTIVIST
Bethann Hardison is among a handful of black models who graced the international runways in the 70s. In the 1970s, she was an international runway model and assistant to some of the most important designers of the decade. Bethann founded her own agency in 1984, and became responsible for scouting, launching and managing some of the most famous models of our time, many of them black – Naomi Campbell, Veronica Webb and Tyson Beckford to name a few. In the 1987, Bethann became an activist outright, founding the Black Girls Coalition with her close friend Iman, whom she honoured as her maid of honour when she married famous artist David Bowie. Famous for her vitality and her straight-shooting spirit, as she is for her beauty and business know-how, Bethann Hardison is a force to be reckoned with. Shedding light to the lack of diversity on the runways in recent years in her new documentary project, Invisible Beauty, Bethann Hardison additionally served as a contributing editor to the now infamous Vogue Italia, “black” issue.
GUEST SPEAKER 2012
ZANDILE BLAY
PRINCIPAL OF BLAY DIGITAL MEDIA FASHION
JOURNALISM PROFESSOR SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY (USA)
Zandile Blay-Amihere is a style and culture journalist and entrepreneur, Fashion Journalism Professor at Syracuse University, USA, and has recently taken on the position of Editor-in-Chief of Hello! Nigeria. She is the Principal of Blay Digital Media in New York and founder of Africa Daily Groupe – Blay-Amihere is a fashion columnist for the Internet’s largest newspaper, Huffington Post and is Africa Editor for noted fashion blog, Fashionista.com.
GUEST SPEAKER 2012
OMAR DUBOIS
FOUNDER, GRAND PIANO EMBASSY
Omar Dubois is the founder of Grand Piano Embassy in New York and London, an independent creative and brand communications outfit specializing in creative conceptualization, music curating/programming, experiential marketing and content strategy. His signature works boasts clients and collaborators including, Givenchy, Adidas, Martell, Epic Records, Diesel, G-Star, GOOD Music | Pusha-T, Capitol Records, Grooveshark, Sony Pictures Classics, Smirnoff and LVMH.
GUEST SPEAKER 2012
NANA AKUA BREW-HAMMOND
JOURNALIST, WRITER & AUTHOR OF THE POPULAR NOVEL – POWDER NECKLACE
GUEST SPEAKER 2012
DR. RICHARD BOATENG, Ph.D.
FOUNDER PEARL RICHARD FOUNDATION & VIVA AFRICA MULTIMEDIA (GH)gr
Richard has experience in working as a hybrid manager – the managerial/policy link between technology and the end-user in information technology projects in Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Togo, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, and USA.
In collaboration with other researchers, he has raised more than US$200,000 in competitive research grants since 2005. His research experience covers electronic governance, cyber crime, electronic business, technology curriculum development, ICT and development, green IT and ICT and health care at the national, industrial, organizational and community level. Since 2006, Richard has published 24 journal articles, 2 books, 6 book chapters, 26 conference papers, 6 conference proceedings, 11 technology magazine articles, and 2 journal editorials.
Journal outlets include Internet Research, Journal of Information Technology Impact, Journal of Electronic Commerce in Organizations, and Third World Quarterly. Richard is the associate editor of the Information Technologies & International Development Journal (http://itidjournal.org) and the International editor, PC Tech Magazine (www.pctechmagazine.com).
Dr. Richard coordinates and leads programmes such as; Africa Digital Week… VIVA Africa Multimedia International Editor, PC Tech Magazine… Ewuraba… http://www.awuraba.com, and also a Lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School.
GUEST SPEAKER 2012
JACQUELINE SHAW
FOUNDER, AFRICA FASHION GUIDE
Jacqueline Shaw is the Founding Director of social enterprise and sourcing agency Africa Fashion Guide in the UK, and Author of the coffee table book Fashion Africa. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in Fashion from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design, and a Masters Degree in Ethical Fashion. She has worked with the Ethical Fashion Forum in the UK, representing African businesses at their Source Expo events, and has written for the West Africa Trade Hub.
Jacqueline works to promote African fashion and textile industry to the greater global textile industry through her Africa Fashion Guide platform, and thus to create links with African fashion businesses to the UK and EU fashion retail and consumer markets.
GFDW 2012 Guest Speakers from Left – Zandile Blay, Bethann Hardison, Omar Dubois, Hillary Sarah Andoh( (Lead Panelist Moderator), and speaker Nana Akua Brew-Hammond
GHANA FASHION & DESIGN WEEK 
GFDW is all about fashion&style&here they are just a brand that’s leaving no stone un-turned just to reach out to all in this fashion & style industry.Networking getting much better&d industry growing more dynamically. more UPs to you GFDW crews & originator(s).
Thank you for your support Ann Archer. We hope to make a difference.
Well done on your first edition last year. I especially enjoyed the Seminar and look forward to this year’s anticipated event.
Thank you Makeba Boateng. We look forward to seeing you there.
I missed last years seminer but ddnt miss the runway shows. this year, I won’t miss both! see you there
Thank you we hope you will enjoy this year’s equally. Thank you.
This year should too great…am really thankful to the organizers.
@1kanto
Thank you Henry. We are glad you feel positive about GFDW. Together we can all make a change for development.
Thank you.
i love this fashion &design week hope i will be there to learn more
i am happy that this year u am going to take part on the program God bless the organizes i love u all from c.e.o / elmar klothing .
This is going to be too exciting and inspiring!!! I cannot wait!
will i need the ticket to be at the seminar???
i would really love to be part of this experience,please send me notifications
Thank you. We will notify you closer to time.
We advise that you check our websites and this page often for updated news.
Thank you.
How can i join?
please are u accepting interns this year
Hello Franklin.
Yes, email to internship@ghanafashiondesignweek.com
with your interest and your CV.
Hw can i join and locate u
Thank you Wendy,
Please book your seat using the form above on this page.