Speakers

Speech Title :

Michael Kakande is a distinguished climate justice leader and the Founder and CEO of Resilient40, a pan-African organization advancing climate resilience and advocacy across vulnerable communities. He is widely recognized for co-leading a landmark petition seeking an advisory opinion from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights on state obligations in addressing the climate crisis, an effort regarded as a pivotal moment in African climate jurisprudence. Kakande’s leadership has earned him international acclaim, including recognition as a UNFCCC High-Level Climate Champions Impact Maker. His work bridges grassroots action and global policy, amplifying African voices in climate governance. He has been listed among Africa’s Top 100 Most Influential Africans by New African Magazine, reflecting his growing influence in shaping equitable and sustainable climate solutions across the continent.

Speech Title : Exploring Ecological Footprint Drivers in Africa: Fresh Insights from Advanced Machine Learning Techniques

Dr. Regret Sunge is a Lecturer in Economics at the University of the Free State and an NRF-rated (Y2) researcher specializing in environmental and development. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Johannesburg and has published extensively on carbon emissions, ecological footprints, agricultural productivity, and sustainability in Africa. His research integrates advanced econometric and spatial modeling techniques to inform evidence-based environmental policy. Dr. Sunge has presented at international conferences and contributed to policy-oriented research with institutions including the OECD and UN-ECA, focusing on climate change, sustainable development, and economic resilience in Africa.