John Siko, based in Dubai, is a director of Burnham Global, a security consultancy. He previously spent 15 years in the US Government, entirely focused on African political, economic and security issues. This included long-term postings in Africa. Siko has taught courses on African security and politics at Georgetown University and George Washington University and is the author of Inside South Africa's Foreign Policy: Diplomacy in Africa from Smuts to Mbeki (IB Tauris, 2014). Siko has a doctorate in African politics from the University of South Africa.

Jonah Victor, based in Washington DC, served as a US Government adviser on African affairs including at the National Security Council, the National Intelligence Council, and the Department of Defense. He has travelled professionally to 20 African countries and taught African security issues as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. Victor holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University.