Dr. Henok Gabisa is a Professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law. He teaches Transnational Criminal Tribunal and Anti-Corruption & Global Good Governance Courses. Professor Gabisa is also a Legal Counsel before the Quasi-Judicial continental body, the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR), located in the Gambia, West Africa, where he represents individual and group victims of violations of civil rights in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Gabisa pursues multiple academic researches and transnational law projects related to the United Nations and the World Bank.

Tesfaye Tesso received his BS and MS degrees from the then Alemaya University of Agriculture and PhD from Kansas State University. Whie in Ethiopia, Tesfaye served as lecturer at Alemaya University and as leader of the national sorghum and millet improvement program in the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute. Currently he is Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics at Kansas State University. In his current position, Tesfaye works with national and international agricultural research and development support group.

Dr. Tassisa Kaba is a Chemical Engineer by profession. He received his Ph.D in Chemical Sciences (Petrochemistry) from Azerbaijan State Oil Academy and M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Azerbaijan Institute of Oil and Chemistry with specialization in technology of organic synthesis and industrial ecology. Currently, Dr. Kaba is serving as a Director General of Oromia Science, Technology and Information and Communication Authority. Prior to joining Oromia Science, Technology and Information Communication Authority, Dr. Kaba served as Director General of the Technology Transfer Directorate at the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Dr. Messele Haile is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Addis Ababa University (AAU) and Founder and Managing Director of three successful Private Limited Companies namely, MH Engineering Plc, Country club Developers Plc and Birbir Mining Plc. Dr. Messele is both a practicing engineers and an accomplished professor. Over the years, he has served, with distinction, in the field of civil engineering focusing on structural, geotechnical and earthquake engineering design areas designing and implementing several hundreds of projects.

Ms. Million T. Gobena is a nationally renowned Journalist, with several years of distinguished service in radio and TV programing and broadcasting, standing tall for her passionate love for her profession. Ms. Million holds MA in Transformational Leadership and Change from Greenwich University and BA in Leadership Development from WYMLC. Having started her journalistic career in radio programing, Ms. Million earned national recognition as permanent face on primetime news cast on Ethiopian Television for more than three decades. Ms. Million currently serves on Boards of several public and private organizations such as Mekane Eyesus Church. 

Dr. Bahiru Duguma is an International Development and Diplomacy expert with 30+ years of successful career in government and international agricultural research and development organizations in Africa, Asia, and the US. Between 1980 and 1999, Duguma served with three International Agricultural Research Organizations (IITA, ILRI, and ICRAF)  as a researcher and research program manager rising to the positions of Principal Scientist and a Coordinator of a regional research program.

Dr. Haile Hirpa is an adult education expert specializing in civil rights employment laws and practices. He is a lifelong learner and teacher of adult education focusing on advance placement (AP) educational system. Dr. Hirpa graduated from Haromaya University majoring in Plant Science. He also received his first master’s degree in Agricultural Education and International Extension systems. His second master’s degree was in Soils and Water conservation. His doctorate degree was in Occupational Adult Education from Utah State University.

Dr. Tesfaye Negeri is a Senior Mineral Processing Engineer/Scientist working at the prestigious mining, mineral processing and environmental research branch of the Canadian Federal Government Department (Ministry of Natural Resources) for the last 30+ years. During these years, he initiated and led several scientific and revenue generating projects that helped Canadian mining companies save tens of millions of dollars in investment and operating costs. His consulting service for mineral production process improvement and optimization is very sought after. He served as a Manager of Mineralogy and Metallurgical Processing Program for over five years. In 2015 he initiated and proposed a multi-million project for research on production of critically sought-after technology metals of the lanthanide series that resulted in $18 million government grant. The impact was immediate; for instance, the process he developed has enabled a mining company to save C$ 46 million in capital and C$ 6.5 million in operating costs.

Dr. Ahmed Gelchu is specialist in Environmental Impact Assessment Studies and has been working in hydroelectric development sector conducting environmental impact assessment studies associated with hydroelectric development projects in Canada for more than a decade. On his spare time Dr. Gelchu served as the Chairman of OMN Board of Trustee for 5 years and member of Board of Directors for a Canadian NGO, Partners In The Horn of Africa.

Dr. Teferi Nigussie Tafa is a visiting Professor at Norwich University. He is a prominent Oromo novelist, scholar, and movie maker. In addition to publishing the first (and so far only) scholarly analysis of Oromo-language novels, he has also published several of his own novels in the Oromo and English languages, including the Award winning Jaalala Dhuga, by Macmillan Publishers in London and produced Qondalticha, a satire film. His research interests range from social identity, indigenous, nationalism, literature, and film studies.

Melese Duressa is an information technology expert worked in various positions as information system analyst/programmer. Melese obtained his first bachelor’s degree from Haromaya University majoring in Plant Science. He also received his second bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from Howard University, USA. Melese also earned his associate degree in pharmacy from Addis Ababa University School of pharmacy. He also received his first master’s degree in Applied Genetics from Addis Ababa University. He earned second master’s degree in Information Technology from University of Maryland University College, USA.

Dr. Banti began his career journey in theology at Mekane Yesus Theological Seminary in Addis Ababa. Following his graduation from the Seminary and having served in various management positions for more than 10 years, he was subsequently ordained as a pastor and elected as president (bishop) of the Western Wollaga Bethel Synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (WWBS-EECMY) in Dembi Dollo where his served for five years.

Eng. Daniel T. Kana’a is a Mechanical Engineer with distinguished history of profitability in  production development, manufacturing and high-tech companies. Eng. Daniel holds a well-recognized record of business  and infrastructure decision-making that propelled several companies he led to market-leading positions and innovations of  impact to revenue growth. Engineer Daniel launched his professional career first in 1979 as a Trainee Mechanical Engineer in a Textile Factory in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Few months later, he was appointed as  the Mechanical Department Head of  Addis Ababa Cement Factory, the position he held through February 1982.

Girma Gebresenbet is a Professor and Head of Automation and Logistics Division at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Energy and Technology. He obtained MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering with honor degree, specialized in Design and Development in 1983. His PhD is in Agricultural Engineering and obtained a special reward from the Swedish Academy of Forestry and Agriculture for the outstanding doctoral dissertation of the year in 1991. He became Associate Professor in 1996 and Professor since 2000 in Logistics and Transport. He is also one of the founders and president of Oromo Society of Science and Technology, which was founded in 2016.