Benny Dembitzer is an international development economist, author and educator with more than 50 years of experience across over 35 countries. He studied economics at Cambridge under Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and later taught at Cambridge and University College London. Drawing on decades of work at the front line of development, Benny has become a powerful independent voice on global hunger, international aid and the economic systems that prevent communities from determining their own futures. His books challenge conventional development thinking and ask the question institutions too often avoid: after trillions spent on aid, why are so many people still unable to feed themselves?

Genevieve is the founder of Elev-Eight, a UK social enterprise providing free incubation and acceleration for Indigenous and tribal communities building culture-led enterprises. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across international development and the nonprofit sector, she helps communities strengthen their strategy, digital skills, storytelling and access to markets. Elev-Eight works with, not for, communities to turn local knowledge, heritage and ideas into sustainable income and locally led opportunities that communities retain ownership of.