Joel Mekonnen is the great-grandson of Emperor Haile-Selassie I. The newly minted lawyer from Washington DC’s Howard University, Joel has had a busy year, including his marriage which was highlighted, among others, in the New York Times and Vogue magazine.

Bereket Simon, a veteran politician, was former Communications Minister of Ethiopia and Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. He has been a significant force in Ethiopian politics specifically after the ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front took power back in 1991.

President Tran Dai Quang of Vietnam is on a state visit to Ethiopia this week. He has been in the country since Thursday, promoting a strong relationship between both.

David Desta is the assistant director of Operations and Business Analytics with Kuriftu Resort. The Cornell University graduate in Hotel Administration reflects with The Reporter’s Samuel Getachew on the highlights of working in the local hospitality industry, on his vision on how local destinations can best be promoted locally and offers his take on how the new leadership of the Ethiopian Tourism Organization (ETO) can harness their potential.

Getaneh Shambel (ACCA) is the owner of a new online shopping platform that is accessible within the capital. The popular website has made online shopping convenient to hundreds of shoppers.

Georgia White is the Research and Policy Associate with AIDS-Free World. An experienced social justice advocate, she has a rich experience in areas such as justice, domestic violence and child welfare reforms, most recently having a role in the establishment of Australia’s Royal Commission on family violence.

Anurita Bains is the Regional Adviser for HIV/AIDS, UNICEF Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa. The office oversees programming in 21 African nations, including those in Ethiopia.

Melaku Fenta is the former director general of the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority (ERCA) whose high-powered career abruptly ended five years ago in relation to a high-profile corruption case.

Demese Chanyalew (PhD) is an economist who specializes in the agricultural sector. With his 40 years of vast experience in the profession, Demese was able to demonstrate his scholarly works at numerous stages.

Bengt-van Loosdrecht is the ambassador of the Netherlands to Ethiopia and the African Union.