Prof. Tang Xiaoyang is the chair in the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University. His research interests include political philosophy, China’s engagement in the developing countries and global modernization process. He is the author of Coevolutionary Pragmatism: Approaches and Impacts of China-Africa Economic Cooperation (Cambridge University Press 2020) and has published extensively on Belt and Road Initiative. He completed his Ph.D. in the philosophy department at the New School for Social Research in New York. He earned his M.A in philosophy from Freiburg University in Germany and his B.A in business management from Fudan University in Shanghai. He also worked as a consultant for the World Bank, UNDP, USAID and various research institutes and consulting companies. Before he came to Tsinghua, he worked at International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington DC.

Ms. Beene Ndulo is a Senior Counsel in the Legal Department at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Prior to joining AIIB, she was a Principal Legal Counsel in the Legal Services Department (Finance Division) at the African Development Bank and worked in private practice as a senior debt capital markets lawyer at UK-headquartered international law firms in London, Tokyo and Dubai. Ms. Ndulo began her career at Goldman Sachs International in London. She holds an LL.M. degree from Cornell Law School and an LL.B. degree from University College London.

Liang Xu, an Associate Professor at the Peking University School of International Studies and serves as Secretary-General of the Center for African Studies. Liang’s research and teaching interests include social history of Africa, Chinese diaspora in Africa, and China-Africa relations. Liang obtained a Ph.D. in African history from Harvard University (2010-2017). Liang received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations in 2005 from Peking University, where he also completed his first doctorate in International Relations in 2010. Liang has published articles, book chapters, and reviews in African Affairs, Journal of African History, The China Quarterly, The Oxford Handbook of Africa and Economics, Economic History of Developing Regions (South Africa), West Asia and Africa (Chinese), and Annual Review of African Studies in China (Chinese). Liang currently serves as an executive board member of the Chinese-in-Africa/Africans-in-China Research Network, the largest global network of scholars in China-Africa studies. He is also a board member of the Chinese Society of African Historical Studies and a board member of the Overseas Chinese History Society of China.

Vincent IBONYE, a Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA-MFA). Previously a Policy and Research Aide with the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Lagos, Nigeria, his combined-years experience includes policy and market-based research, public policy and project management. He has co-led and moderated projects funded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Ford Foundation, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, among others, with focus on returnee emigration, large-scale development infrastructure, poverty-driven violent extremism, and megaproject financing.

A Ph.D candidate at Tsinghua University, China, Vincent’s primary research interests include the geopolitics of old and rising powers, Africa-China relations, cost-benefit discourses on resource governance, and addressing discordant development. An alumna of Jilin University, China; he holds a MA in International Relations and a BS (Honors) in Political Science.

Pezulu Levy, a Senior Compliance Officer at the Zambia Financial Intelligence Unit and serves as a Committee Member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Committee. With over a decade of experience in regulatory compliance, he specializes in competition policy and combating illicit financial flows. His research interests include domestic resource mobilization, anti-financial crime strategies, and China-Africa policy transfer.

Pezulu holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lusaka (2017), as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Geography (2011) and a Diploma in Project Planning and Management (2010), both from the University of Zambia.

Miranda McClellan earned her B.S. and M.Eng. in Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While on the board for MIT’s Black Students’ Union, Miranda presented recommendations for making campus more inclusive. After graduation, Miranda completed a Fulbright research grant in Spain to apply machine learning to 5G networks, funded by the US Department of State. Miranda worked as a cybersecurity data scientist at Microsoft where she built machine learning models to detect malware and owned the data analysis for cryptographic chip functionality for billions of Windows devices.

While working, Miranda was also a fellow at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Internet Society, Center for AI & Data Policy, and National Science Policy Network focusing on technology policy issues like cybersecurity, privacy, consumer protection, and AI-fairness. She has published technical and policy papers as well as blogs about how security events and AI development impact people’s everyday lives.

Miranda also is the co-founder of Black Arts Dallas-Fort Worth, a nonprofit focused on educating and creating a community of collectors, appreciators, and artists for the Black community in her hometown of Dallas, Texas. Miranda is also passionate about technical education: She has developed curriculum and taught classes on cybersecurity, privacy, and coding for MIT, Correlation One, Microsoft TEALS Program, and CyberWeek.org. In the future, Miranda hopes to better understand American and Chinese AI education and digital literacy programs to ensure everyone can exist and connect safely online.

Miranda is currently a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Next year, Miranda will study intensive Mandarin at IUP Tsinghua funded by a fellowship from the Blakemore Foundation.

Wambui Kiarie, a Kenyan student at Yenching Academy of Peking University, currently pursuing a master's in China Studies. She earned her bachelor's degree in International Relations, with a minor in Criminal Justice, from the United States International University-Africa in 2019. Motivated by a desire to explore China’s influence in Africa, she further pursued a master's degree in International Relations at Beijing Foreign Studies University in 2023. Passionate about community development and sustainable development goals, Wambui founded a charity in 2019 dedicated to combating poverty and enhancing education in her community in Nairobi. She is also the former President of the Kenyans Studying in China Association 2024 (KESCA). Her academic and professional interests include China-Africa diplomatic relations, international development, education and policy writing and analysis. Currently, she is a policy associate at the British Chamber of Commerce in China.

Jenny Andrea Avom, a first-year undergraduate student at Tsinghua University. Originally from Cameroon, she has been living in Beijing for nearly 11 years. Currently, Jenny is studying Economics and has a strong interest in geopolitics. At Tsinghua, she serves as the Media Coordinator for both the Tsinghua University African Students Association (THUASA) and the Global Communication Office of the University.

Mr. Titus Majiwa Omenda, an Electrical Engineer and Energy Policy Expert with over eight years of experience in power systems, project management, and leadership within the public utility sector. A passionate advocate for sustainable development in Africa, he has contributed significantly to Kenya’s energy and telecommunications sectors. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Energy and Power at Tsinghua University, his research focuses on the public acceptance of nuclear energy in Kenya. Mr. Omenda holds a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering and certifications in Energy Policy, Project Management, and International Leadership. He is dedicated to advancing Africa's sustainable development across key sectors.

Fredrick Kashumba, a dedicated Tanzanian student of International Masters of Engineering Management (iMEM) at Tsinghua University with a background in Aeronautical engineering. With a strong foundation in aviation systems and a passion for strategic project leadership, Fredrick combines technical proficiency with a global mindset. His fascination with aircraft design and engineering excellence is matched by a commitment to community building and cultural diplomacy.

As Secretary-General of the Tsinghua University African Students Association (THUASA), he has led a number of initiatives aimed at promoting African excellence, enhancing cultural exchange, and creating meaningful platforms for dialogue among global youth. His leadership has contributed to a stronger presence of African voices within international academic spaces, fostering collaboration and mutual respect.

As a moderator, he brings clarity, empathy, and insightful direction to discussions, creating spaces that celebrate African identity and spark forward-thinking collaboration. Rooted in his African heritage and driven by a global vision, Fredrick aspires to contribute meaningfully to the aviation industry and empower the next generation of African engineers and leaders.

Lawrence Yongo is a Master's degree student in Materials Science and Engineering at Tsinghua University. He serves as the president of the Tsinghua University African Students Association (THUASA), where he works to bridge global perspectives on the socio-economic transformation of Africa and the world. Lawrence is an Associate Member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). He is also a process engineer at Nile Petroleum Corporation (NILEPET), the national oil and gas corporation of South Sudan.

Gretta Simbi is a senior student at the School of Civil and Structural Engineering at Tsinghua University in Beijing. She serves as the vice president of the Tsinghua University African Students Association (THUASA). She possesses a deep sense of social responsibility and approaches her field with both vision and purpose. Driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact beyond traditional engineering, Gretta is actively developing the leadership skills necessary to address the complex challenges facing communities.