EAGLES brings together experienced leaders from across governance, business, finance, risk, law, innovation and institutional leadership. Their perspectives reflect the complexity of the decisions facing boards and senior leaders today, and the value of having different experiences in the room.
Paul Johnston is a corporate governance expert and advisor to boards and executive teams, with more than 15 years’ experience across listed companies, high-growth enterprises and mission-driven organisations.
His work sits at the intersection of governance, risk, innovation and emerging technologies, with a particular focus on how boards and institutions can navigate complexity and make better long-term decisions. Paul is also a recognised international speaker on the future of corporate governance, sustainability and institutional resilience.
Joel Popoola is a board member, advisor and founder with more than 27 years’ experience across business development, corporate diplomacy, banking and finance in Africa and the UK.
He brings extensive experience in building institutional relationships, navigating different markets and connecting business, government and professional networks. Joel is Chair of the Institute of Directors Africa Group and has worked across a range of African and UK business environments.
Barry van Zyl is a creative-sector professional and executive educator with more than 30 years’ experience spanning performance, business development, strategic planning, innovation and high-performance teams.
An MBA graduate of Henley Business School and former member of Johnny Clegg’s band, Barry brings together experience from the creative industries, executive education and business. He designs and delivers leadership programmes focused on creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and performance.
Rania Bejjani is a former Chief Audit & Risk Executive and an international advisor on leadership, governance, risk management and organisational resilience.
With nearly three decades of cross-sector experience, she has led global audit, risk and governance functions across complex organisations and advised boards and senior executives through regulatory, organisational and technological change. Her current work focuses on strengthening governance, risk and internal audit functions in an increasingly technology-driven environment.
Elizabeth Kangwagye is an international attorney and corporate governance specialist with more than 20 years’ experience advising private, non-profit and international organisations.
She has worked with boards and executive teams on governance, risk management, strategic oversight and institutional accountability across national, regional and global settings. Her work also spans cross-border regulatory environments, helping institutions strengthen governance structures and navigate complex organisational challenges.