Leila Aboulela is a Sudanese writer whose work has received critical recognition and a high profile for its depiction of the interior lives of Muslim women and its distinctive exploration of identity, migration and Islamic spirituality.

Her work has been translated into fifteen languages and she was long-listed three times for the Orange Prize, (now the Women’s Prize for Fiction). Leila grew up in Khartoum and moved in her mid-twenties to Aberdeen.

Noah Anderson is a freelance Programme Curator and Cultural Curator.

Charles Ouda is an actor, writer, director, singer, television host, and voice over artist. Charles has been working professionally since 2002. Charles has done his rounds on stage, performing in over 15 plays and 7 musicals around the world.

Leye Adenle is the author of the award-winning Easy Motion Tourist, and a contributor to Lagos Noir (Akashic Books, 2018) and Sunshine Noir (White Sun Books, 2016). His short story 'The Assassin' was shortlisted for the CWA Short Story Dagger 2017. Leye is from a family of writers, the most famous of whom was his grandfather, Oba Adeleye Adenle I, a former king of Oshogbo in South West Nigeria. Leye lives in London. He has appeared on BBC Radio 4's 'Open Book' and is a regular panellist at literary and crime festivals.

Helon Habila is a Nigerian author based in the USA and professor of creative writing at George Mason University in Virginia.

Expert in immigration and work permit

Cris Njoki, an entrepreneur, an icon and a boss lady, describes success as waking up and being happy. The minute you stop to grow you begin to die-says Njoki.