Leadership & Team

Leadership for a serious Pan-African development institution.

ACD is led by builders, strategists, organizers, and development-minded leaders committed to moving Africa-led ideas from conversation into coordinated action.

Governance Development Strategy Media Leadership Diaspora Mobilization

Partner With Us Get Involved

Executive Leadership

Guiding the mission with vision, structure, and accountability.

ACD’s leadership is responsible for protecting the mission, building the coalition, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring the organization remains focused on practical African development.

President

Jay Adewole

Jay Adewole provides strategic leadership for ACD’s Pan-African development agenda, partnership direction, media platform, and institutional growth. His focus is building a serious coalition that connects African communities, diaspora leaders, funders, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and development partners around measurable action.

As President, Jay champions the core conviction behind ACD: Africa’s future must be led by Africans, while the world partners with dignity, respect, and purpose.

Focus: institutional strategy, partnership development, diaspora engagement, media visibility, and coalition growth.

Vice President

Gedeon Baleke

Gedeon Baleke supports ACD’s leadership, program direction, community engagement, and Pan-African organizing efforts. His role helps strengthen the connection between ACD’s mission and the people, partners, and communities the organization serves.

As Vice President, Gedeon helps advance the coalition’s work across development conversations, leadership engagement, and practical collaboration.

Focus: program support, Pan-African engagement, community relationships, event participation, and mission advancement.

Leadership Philosophy

We lead by building systems, not personalities.

ACD is not designed around one person, one event, or one campaign. It is being built as an institution — with programs, governance, partnerships, media assets, donor pathways, project pipelines, and community relationships that can grow over time.

Leadership at ACD means taking responsibility for the mission, protecting the dignity of the communities we serve, and ensuring that every public message is connected to real action.

Africa-led decision-making
Transparent partnership and stewardship
Practical programs that can be measured
Media that amplifies builders, not stereotypes

Governance Commitments

How we protect trust as the coalition grows.

Trust is one of ACD’s most important assets. Our leadership model is built around responsibility, clarity, and mission alignment.

Mission Integrity

We keep ACD focused on Africa-led development, practical impact, and dignified partnership.

Strategic Stewardship

We build pathways for donors, sponsors, volunteers, and partners to engage responsibly.

Public Accountability

We communicate clearly, report responsibly, and connect visibility to real work.

Functional Leadership Areas

The team structure ACD is building around the mission.

As the organization expands, ACD is strengthening leadership across the major areas required to run a serious Pan-African development institution.

Programs

Development Programs

Oversees projects, grants, community needs, partner coordination, and practical implementation.

Partnerships

Strategic Partnerships

Builds relationships with foundations, corporations, universities, governments, NGOs, and diaspora networks.

Media

Pan-African Media

Supports Pan African Half Hour, Pan African News Media, storytelling, press, and public visibility.

Operations

Governance & Operations

Supports organizational systems, reporting, compliance, donor coordination, and administration.

Advisory & Volunteer Leadership

A coalition needs more than titles. It needs contributors.

ACD welcomes serious advisors, volunteers, ambassadors, committee members, and subject-matter experts who can help build the institution with credibility and discipline.

Volunteer With ACD →

Leadership Opportunities

Ways to serve the mission.

As ACD grows, we are building a serious bench of leaders who can bring expertise, networks, and execution capacity to the mission.

Advisory Council

Experienced leaders who can support strategy, credibility, introductions, governance insight, and program guidance.

Ambassadors

Mission representatives who mobilize networks, raise awareness, support events, and help bring new partners into the coalition.

Program Volunteers

Professionals and community supporters who contribute time, skills, research, media, fundraising, and operational support.

Build With Leadership

Help strengthen the institution behind the mission.

Join ACD as a partner, advisor, volunteer, ambassador, donor, or sponsor. Serious missions require serious builders.

Partner With Us Volunteer