BBC Forum: A Relationship of Equals?
Speakers
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Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF
Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, Ph.D., is Deputy Executive Director, Programmes, at UNICEF where she oversees UNICEF's programming, policy, strategy, and research. Dr. Rao Gupta's previous appointments include senior advisor at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and president of the International Center for Research on Women. Her distinguished work has been recognized with numerous awards, including Harvard University's 2006 Anne Roe Award and the 2007 Washington Business Journal's "Women Who Mean Business" Award.
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Willy Foote is founder and CEO of Root Capital, a nonprofit that offers farmers around the world a path to prosperity by investing in the agricultural businesses that serve as engines of impact in their communities. Since its founding in 1999, Root Capital has provided more than $1.7 billion in loans to 770 agricultural businesses in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Together, these businesses have bought and marketed crops for 2.4 million smallholder farmers, reaching over 10 million people in rural communities. Willy is a Skoll Entrepreneur and an Ashoka Global Fellow. He served for nearly a decade on the Executive Committee of the Aspen Network for Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) and serves on the Strategic Advisory Council of the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan. Willy holds an MS in development economics from the London School of Economics and a BA from Yale University.
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Director, AVINA Americas, AVINA Americas
Chair, Social Progress Imperative.
Director, AVINA Foundation
Director and former Chair and President, INCAE Business School
Director, Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress
Doctor in Business Administration, Harvard University
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Diplomatic Correspondent and Presenter, BBC
Bridget Kendall is BBC Diplomatic Correspondent, covering major international developments, with a particular interest in Russia. She is also host of The Forum, the flagship ideas programme for the BBC World Service.
