Advisory Council

Council Member

Mahendra Shunmoogam is the Republic of South Africa’s National Department of Trade, Industry, Competition’s Director of International Trade Policy.  In this role Mahendra works on issues related to various multilateral organisations including the World Trade Organisation (WTO), UN system, BRICS group, the Commonwealth, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Group of 20. Mahendra also serves as SA’s Lead negotiator for the Working Group on Impact of implementation of response measures at UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which focuses on climate actions and the impacts on industrialisation and development, especially on Global South Countries. At COP29, in Baku, Mahendra was nominated and accepted to be the Group of 77 and China’s (G77+China) lead negotiator for the Impact of implementation of response measures working group – which entails coordinating the position of a 134 countries.  Mahendra’s work also includes responding to the unilateral actions that have negative cross border impacts onto South Africa in-particular and the global south in-general. His other professional activities include reform of the multilateral governance systems and policies that impacts trade, sustainable industrialisation and socio-economic development. Mahendra’s qualifications include a executive education Diploma from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in Economic Growth, a Master’s Degree from Germany’s  Hertie School of Governance in Economic Policy, a Bachelor of Arts, Honours (International Relations) from the University of Pretoria, and a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Governance and Political Science) from the University of Cape Town. Mahendra has received academic merit scholarships from the Kistefos Fellowship at Harvard University, University of Cape Town, Bard University, Oppenheimer Memorial Trust and the Fletcher School at Tufts University. 

Council Member

Dr. Rabia Ferroukhi is an international economic development expert dedicated to sustainable energy and progressive socio-economic development. Before joining International Network of Energy Transition Think Tanks (INETTT) as the Director, she worked as the Director of the Knowledge, Policy and Finance Centre at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), where she oversaw the Agency’s work, including on: authoritative renewable energy data and information; analysis of best practice in renewable energy policy and finance; quantitative and qualitative analysis of the socio-economics of energy transitions, including jobs, gender, just transition and related development, industrial and labour policy implications. She also provided advice and technical support to countries, tailoring policy design and recommendations to their specific socio-economic conditions. Dr. Ferroukhi has over 25 years of experience in the fields of energy and development. She has worked in both public and private sectors, including with governments in the Middle East and North Africa, energy companies in the Mediterranean region and the GCC, and international institutions. Dr. Ferroukhi holds a master’s degree in applied economics and a Ph.D. in economics from the American University in Washington DC. She is fluent in English, Arabic, French, German and Czech.

Council Member

Faten is an advisor to the AFPH. She previously served as a Panel Member of the African High Level Panel on the Reforms of the Multilateral System, Senior Advisor on Climate Diplomacy and Geopolitics at the African Climate Foundation, Senior Advisor to the African Union High Representative on future relations with the European Union supporting African countries and the African Union in negotiations with the European Union. She has experience working for multiple think tanks as well as multilateral agencies.