Joel Kibazo 2024 Speaker

Partner

JK Associates

Biography

Joel is the founding partner of JK Associates and leads the practice.
Over the last 30 years, Joel’s career has spanned the world of international journalism & broadcasting, diplomacy, management and finance with governments, international institutions, and the corporate sector. He has worked across the globe in Africa, Australia, Asia, North & South America, Caribbean, Europe.

His expertise in communications, public relations and profile raising particularly in the areas of economic development, finance and business has seen him advise governments, United Nations bodies, Presidents and Ministers, African Central Bank Governors, as well as private sector clients in banking, telecoms, law, oil, and investments.

He was a Manging Director-Africa at FTI Consulting, an international business and communications consultancy, Director of External Relations & Communications at the African Development Bank, Official Spokesperson and Director of Communications & Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

For 12 years before moving into communications, Joel was a journalist at the (London) Financial Times, covering emerging & financial markets, and the African business and financial sectors. He also worked extensively in broadcasting, reporting, and starting and presenting business, education and cultural programmes for BBC radio and television as well as other broadcasters.

He was Associate Fellow on the Africa Programme of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), Chairman of the judging panel of the CNN Africa journalist of the year panel for 10 years, a policy committee member of the Centre for the study of African economies at St Anthony’s College at the University of Oxford, and Royal Africa Society. He recently stepped down from the boards of One World Media, and Education Sub -Sahara Africa (ESSA). Joel is a Chair of the Trustees at Serious Trust and remains a Trustee at Childi.

He has spoken and lectured on communications, public relations, and sub-Sahara Africa at several universities across the globe including Harvard Business School, Stanford, Makerere, Cardiff, and City.

He has a BA in Social Sciences, MA in International Economics and Economic Development, and an MBA (International Marketing.)