BRIDGE TEAM
The U.S. Africa Bridge Team is designed to reflect and maintain a diverse, expert and multi-stakeholder representation.
JOAN WADELTON
PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER | US-AFRICA BUSINESS BRIDGE
Joan Wadelton is the President and Founder of the US-Africa Business Bridge. She was previously in the Foreign Service with the US Department of State. One of her significant achievements while at State was the creation of the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) which has brought hundreds of leading African businesswomen to the United States for business training and matchmaking
AMB. SHEILA SIWELA
VP FOR AFRICA
Ambassador (ret.) Sheila Siwela has been a dynamic leader for decades – in Zambia, the United States and on the international stage.
She was Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States from 2010-2012 and has a longstanding commitment to enhancing business ties between the United States and Zambia – first in her diplomatic career, and now as a private consultant.
DENNIS WINSTEAD
Director for US business outreach
A former United States Department of State senior official and still-devoted “entrepreneurial” capitalist, Dennis Winstead is a leading transformational development project aggregator across the African continent. Dennis served as a senior national economic security official for twenty-five years, focusing on trade and investment policy in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa and building commercial advocacy strategies for U.S. companies seeking principal-level USG assistance in winning foreign contracts. Currently splitting his time between Atlanta’s global business world and on economic development projects in Washington, D.C., Dennis continues his work in capital expansion, technology adoption, talent leadership, and business sustainability in Africa. He is also an award-winning international author, leadership coach, capacity- and confidence-builder, and a growth-mindset strategist aimed at helping companies make money in the world’s most unlikely places.
GREGORY SIMPKINS
Senior Adviser
Gregory Simpkins, a longtime specialist in African policy development, is an advisor to the US-Africa Business Bridge. Before retiring from government, he served as Congressional and as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Agency for International Development, working on developing both the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Prosper Africa initiative.
He has provided detailed training to Africa Women’s Entrepreneurship Program members on AGOA, Prosper Africa and doing business in America. He also facilitated a Memorandum of Understanding between AWEP East Africa and the African Merchants Association, a major importer of products from African countries
GERTRUDE MWALIMU
Operations Manager (Africa)
Operations Manager (Africa) responsible for identifying possible Bridge candidates to be admitted to the Bridge. Researches validity and solidity of businesses for their qualification to the Bridge. Vets and makes recommendations for the adaptation into the Bridge.
Currently owns Sky Events Ltd which was established in 2010 and began operations in 2013. Sky events provides tents, tables chairs and other accessories for events which include weddings, receptions, parties, etc.
Sky Events Ltd has provided services to various government institutions as well as other private organisations. Sky events has also provided services to Embassies based in Zambia.
Worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 27 years, both at home and abroad in Japan, Russia and Germany.
TIMI OLAGUNJU
Timi Olagunju was Africa’s representative on the Advisory Board at the International Republican Institute’s Generation Democracy (IRI-GD) and 2020 Most Influential Young Nigerian in Policy Influencing (YNaija 2020).
SABRINA ABERRA
SENIOR ADVISOR
