Speaker Profile

Ronak Gopaldas is a political economist focused on the intersection of geopolitics, economics, and business in Africa. He is a Director at Signal Risk, a research fellow at Nanyang Technological University, and faculty at GIBS Business School. Previously, he led the Country Risk division at Rand Merchant Bank and advises the Institute of Security Studies’ ENACT programme on transnational organised crime. A recognised media figure, Ronak appears on CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, and CNBC Africa, and contributes opinion pieces and analyses. He has spoken at major conferences and universities worldwide, including delivering a TED Talk on Africa’s global economic role in 2016. Ronak’s ability to connect business, policy, and academia provides comprehensive insights into complex issues.

His honors include being a Visiting Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics and a Global South African Brand Ambassador. He holds degrees from the University of Cape Town and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London