"Turning Natural Resources into Shared National Wealth"

featuring Rosalind Kainyah, President, De Beers Inc, USA

February 18th from 4:15-5:15 in Geneen Auditorium

Join us for an intimate conversation with Rosalind Kainyah, President of De Beers USA. During her keynote address, she will share many of the principles DeBeers has learned over the past 120 years on how, through their core business, companies can contribute to the sustainable development of communities in Africa.  As an African, Ms. Kainyah has a strong personal passion to see African countries develop to their full potential.

Her presentation will be followed by a substantial Q&A session, so come ready with questions you’re dying to have answered!
 
If you want to do preparation beforehand, we suggest these “pre-readings”:

Luxury: Considered (De Beers press release, 12/3/08)

Next Generation Diamond Mine Unveiled (De Beers press release, 11/4/08)

De Beers Polishes Its Image (Wall Street Journal, 7/7/08)

Keeping the Sparkle at Home (The Economist, 3/19/08)

Diamonds Are Forever in Botswana (New York Times, 8/8/08)

Aid is Good, Business is Better (International Herald Tribune, 8/29/08)

Help De Beers understand what pressing questions are on the minds of Fuqua students and Triangle students and professionals! Submit questions now, and Rosalind will do her best to weave answers into her presentation. Of course, you can also ask them during the open Q&A session following the address.

About Rosalind:

Rosalind was appointed to her current position in August 2006 to represent the interests of the De Beers family of companies in the United States.  She joined the De Beers Group in 2002 as Corporate and Commercial Legal Counsel at the Diamond Trading Company (DTC), the Group’s subsidiary responsible for the sale and distribution of rough diamonds, currently 45% of world total production.  In July 2004 she was appointed Executive Director, Corporate Communications at DTC.

Prior to De Beers, Rosalind spent six years, from 1993 to 1999, as an international environmental lawyer. She was engaged by international and national organisations and institutions to advise governments on  environmental policy and legislation.  These organisations and institutions included the UN Environment Programme (Nairobi, Kenya), the UN Development Programme, the European Commission, the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency (Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands), the Land & Agricultural Policy Centre (Johannesburg, South Africa), Imperial College of Science & Technology (London, UK) and Oxford University (Oxford, UK).    During that period she also worked as an environmental lawyer for Anglo American Corporation of South Africa.  From 1999 till 2002, she was a corporate lawyer at Linklaters, one of the ‘magic circle’ (top five) law firms in the United Kingdom.

Of particular importance to Rosalind’s current role is consideration of the respective economic growth objectives of the countries in which De Beers operates; the need to ensure that the natural resources of these countries are turned into shared national wealth; and the continuing international fight against HIV/AIDS - all of which reach to the heart of the company’s business.  As part of this role, she focuses on engagement with representatives of the US Congress and the administration; multilateral agencies; civil society; the media; and other influencers in the US, on the role of business in Africa’s broader socio-economic development, using insights and lessons from De Beers’ experience.  Rosalind’s experience in business, international law, public affairs and corporate communications gives her a rare appreciation of both the economic and social impact of companies doing business in Africa in the 21st Century.  Beyond this she brings to her new role a passion to see African countries develop to their full potential. 

Rosalind was educated in Ghana, West Africa and in England.  She has a degree in English from the University of Ghana; Bachelor of Laws and Masters in Law degrees from the University of London; and is a member of the Bar of England and Wales.  She is a member of G50, a self-help African business group based in London, consisting of African professionals focused on the repatriation of financial and intellectual capital to the Continent. She also serves as a trustee on the board of The Africa America Institute and on the board of Jewelers for Children.

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