Eastrise Group, a strategy and insights firm connecting business and capital across Europe and Africa, today announced the launch of the Eastrise Advisory Board.
The Board unites seasoned entrepreneurs and experts in artificial intelligence, sustainability, impact investment, development finance, communications, and policy reform to strengthen cross-regional business between Africa and Europe.
The launch comes at a pivotal moment for global business. Africa will be home to the world’s largest working-age population by 2040, with the potential to reach a $29 trillion economy by 2050 (UNECA, 2021). Meanwhile, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is emerging as one of the fastest-growing regions globally, with Poland recently surpassing $1 trillion in GDP. Yet despite these trajectories, global capital flows remain constrained by outdated perceptions of risk and limited cross-regional connectivity.
Eastrise exists to close this gap. The Advisory Board will ensure that the firm’s clients, ranging from investors to corporates and philanthropic organisations, gain access to the insights, networks, and credibility needed to succeed across both regions.
“Emerging markets are often dismissed as risky when, in fact, they are hubs of innovation and growth,” said Gosia Brzezińska, Founder and CEO of Eastrise Group. “Our Advisory Board strengthens the value we bring to clients, helping them navigate complex markets, design strategies rooted in local realities, and open doors to trusted partnerships that unlock growth.”
Unlike conventional governance bodies, the Advisory Board is designed as a circle of advisors. Members will serve as strategic sounding boards, ensuring Eastrise delivers rigorous, equitable, and practical outcomes for clients. Their perspectives will elevate visibility for African-led opportunities, while ensuring that Eastrise’s work draws on the lessons of CEE’s transformation experience.
The Advisory Board comprises the following distinguished members:
- Noah Black, CEO, Co-Founder, Threshold
- Sylwia Dalecka, Founder, Polish Business Hub Davos
- Shikoh Gitau, CEO, Qhala
- Matthew Hodgkinson, Co-Founder and Portfolio Manager, Confluence Impact Fund
- Tom Lytton-Dickie, Founder & CEO, Meaningful Business
- David McNair, Executive Director, ONE
- Michał Nowak, CEO, Okaeri Consulting
- Antony Wahome, Economic Development Advisor
David McNair, Executive Director at the ONE Campaign, added: ”In a world beset by instability and insecurity, the only sustainable path to prosperity is through partnerships built on mutual interest. Africa offers fast-growing markets, critical minerals for the green transition, and world-class innovation in areas like mobile finance and renewable energy. Europe brings technology, capital, and global influence. Together, they can build the kind of prosperity and security that are so badly needed in today’s world.”
Dr. Shikoh Gitau, CEO of Qhala, commented: “Africa is already building the future, from financial services to health AI, to climate-smart agriculture. The real barrier is not capacity but visibility: ensuring African-led solutions are recognised and scaled globally. That’s where cross-regional bridges become powerful.”
Michał Nowak, CEO of Oakeri Consulting, reflected on the shared lessons between regions: ”Central and Eastern Europe’s story is one of resilience from navigating transition, building institutions, to finding new paths to growth. Those experiences can resonate with Africa’s own journeys, just as Africa’s innovation can offer fresh insight for Europe. It’s about exchange, building corridors where both regions learn and benefit.”
As the Advisory Board commences its work, Eastrise invites partners from across business, philanthropy, and policy sectors to collaborate in creating inclusive investment corridors between Africa and Europe. By combining trusted insights, bold ideas, and cross-regional capital, Eastrise seeks to redefine risk and unlock opportunities for the next generation of global growth.
