With over 16 years’ experience, Heleen heads up the alternative investment team at RisCura – a market leader in investment solutions in emerging markets such as Africa and China, with $200bn in assets under management. Under her leadership, the previous core independent valuations service offering has been successfully expanded to include a wide range of alternative investment services that cover asset classes such as private equity, infrastructure and private debt. She also oversees industry-recognised research such as Bright Africa and the RisCura- SAVCA South Africa Private Equity Performance report. Heleen is an expert on alternative investments and her knowledge and experience is often called on by industry bodies for comment on key industry papers. In addition, her thought leadership articles are often published by well-known media outlets. She is a regular speaker at prominent industry events where she provides insight into the industry and RisCura’s research. She previously worked as a corporate finance partner at PKF Inc. Heleen has a CA (SA), is a CFA charterholder and has a master’s degree in finance, focused on valuation from UCT.

- Over 25 years of international executive experience and a wide network in multiple industries across Egypt, the GCC, South Asia and Europe.

- Track record in executing high profile capital markets and M&A transactions and in leading the business development, restructuring, operations and value creation efforts of medium sized and multinational ventures.

- Previously headed Investment Banking at Beltone Financial, Strategy & Commercial at Orascom Telecom and Research at EFG-Hermes.

- Held several board seats in Telecoms, Healthcare, Pharma, Tourism and Chemicals.

- BA in Economics and an MBA in Marketing and Int’l Business from the American University in Cairo.

Yasmine El-Hini is the Country Officer for Egypt at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector development arm of the World Bank Group. Yasmine is part of the IFC Egypt Country Management Unit and responsible for driving growth and implementation of IFC’s program in Egypt. Prior to her current role, Yasmine was a Manager with the Corporate Development team at Majid Al Futtaim Holding in Dubai, one of the largest retail and entertainment conglomerates in the region. Her responsibilities included driving corporate strategy across the Group’s 8 businesses, executing strategic investments, building partnerships, and leading transformation projects. Prior to her role at Majid Al Futtaim, Yasmine spent 5 years at IFC MENA where she held roles across the investment execution and advisory teams. Prior to joining IFC, Yasmine was a management consultant with Booz & Co (currently Strategy&). Yasmine holds a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the American University in Cairo.

PCornelius is a senior associate with EAEF, where he leads the impact program. He has over 10 years of experience in the MENA region. Previously, he worked on the Syrian Crisis Response in Lebanon, served as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill and worked on election observation missions in the Middle East and the Americas. In 2011, he served as a LearnServe Entrepreneurship Fellow, where he helped developed a social enterprise to improve accessibility in Egypt. He earned an MA in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and his BA in economics and international studies from Johns Hopkins University.

Hany Assaad is Co-founder and Chief Portfolio & Risk Officer of Avanz Capital and a member of the Investment Committees of the Avanz Capital funds. He leads the sourcing, screening and negotiation of investments and risk management, including the environmental, social and governance aspects. He serves on a number of LP Advisory Committees. He is the executive director of the Avanz Growth Markets Limited, an investment firm listed on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius and investing in emerging markets private equity.

Mr. Assaad has had a long career in emerging markets investments, including two decades at International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. He was Chief Investment Officer in IFC’s Private Equity and Investment Funds. He oversaw IFC’s funds business for new investments and portfolio in the Middle East and North Africa, East Africa, South Asia, Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and Central Asia. Mr. Assaad was responsible for selecting IFC’s investment criteria and screening its deal pipeline, overseeing the due diligence teams, negotiating investment terms, and presenting investment recommendations to IFC’s Board of Directors. He managed a substantial portfolio of funds, shaping governance, strategy, and deal pipelines and was a member of several advisory committees.

Mr Assaad has extensive experience in training on private equity funds management, corporate governance and funds governance. Over the past decade, he designed, organized and led a number of training programs to investors and fund managers. Mr. Assaad is widely recognized for and has notable knowledge and commitment to sustainable and impact investing, and gender-lens investing.

Mr Assaad is an active member the Gender Smart Advisory Council and is the chair of the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association ESG Community. He is an advisor to I Squared Capital on ESG and SDG strategy and implementation. He has assisted I Squared Capital to develop a best practice and ambitious ESG and SDG strategy targeting Sustainable infrastructure Goals to specifically deliver on the SDGs through infrastructure investments.