Theme: Food for Thought

‘Food for thought’ is defined as anything that provides mental stimulus for thinking, intellectual nourishment, and cognitive content. The sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered or learned.

It is about learning and grasping new information that you never thought was easy to understand or important to know. About enabling you to have a greater appreciation in aspects of life you haven’t ventured into and yet now comprehend.

Trianon Convention Centre
Trianon
Trianon, Plaines Wilhems, ---
Mauritius

Astrid Dalais

Cultural Entrepreneur

With years of experience in the hospitality & creative industry, ASTRID DALAIS has an unstoppable appetite for contemporary culture and breathes unity through diversity. She envisions a prolific future for Mauritius. A future where young people can aim for a creative career, where old traditions and heritage are being treated with care and where both can live in harmony with progress and the development of our society. Embodied through the capital city of Port Louis, an urban environment which today tells the story of long forgotten dreams of being an active cultural city, came to birth the idea of the PORLWI initiative.

Dhanjay Jhurry

Researcher

DHANJAY JHURRY is the National Research Chair in Biomaterials and Drug Delivery at the Mauritius Research Council (MRC) and heads the Centre for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research (CBBR). His mainstream research is at the frontier of materials/polymer science and emerging fields such as nanotechnology and nanomedicine. He has a keen interest in the development of intelligent materials based on bio-resources such as sugar and seaweeds. Author of over 60 articles on polymers, biomaterials and nano drug delivery systems, he is the recipient of the first Best Mauritian Scientist Award in 2011 and the first Innovators Mauritius Award in 2004.

Gaetan Siew

Architect

GAETAN SIEW describes himself as a “world citizen”. He has been past President of the International Union of Architects (UIA). With his in-depth understanding of people, cities and global issues, he continues this mission as Chair of the Global Creative Leadership Initiative focusing on transforming traditional knowledge into new technology. He teaches internationally in France and China and serves as board member & resource person to the EU Commission ICOMOS, Shanghai University and industry think tanks. He was honoured with Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite by France in 2013. Board Director of Futures Cities UK since July 2013. Chairman of Construction Industry Board and of Smart Mauritius since 2015.

Hudaa Neetoo

Food Microbiologist

HUDAA NEETOO, lecturer at the University of Mauritius, is an active researcher in the area of food science and microbiology. She is especially concerned with issues of local importance affecting the safety, quality and security of the local food supply. In addition to her academic research efforts, she has also tried to forge long-term relationships with food manufacturing companies in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry and to respond to the real emerging needs of the food sector.

Linzy Bacbotte

Singer/Artist

Vocal coach LINZY BACBOTTE is the heart and soul of Mauritian music. She started very young at the age of 13 winning STAR 2000 which set her up on a career of more that 25 years of endless hits ranging from sega to reggae, soul, the zouk and also R&B . Her hits include memorable songs such as “Tangalay”, “Mo Pena Ni Larzan Ni Lor”.

Shameem Oozeerally

Linguist

Shameem Oozeerally studied at the University of Mauritius and is presently a lecturer at the French Department of the Mauritius Institute of Education. His research interests gravitate around the application of complexity theories in the conceptualisation of language, particularly with respect to the Mauritian context.

Vagish Ramborun

Agriculturist

Research Assistant and PhD student on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change at the University of Mauritius, VAGISH RAMBORUN is also the president of the NGO Sustainable Agricultural Organisation he founded with the co-operation of youngsters in similar field as him. He firmly believes that sustainable agriculture is the key that will reduce hunger, reduce impact of climate change and can become a source of livelihood for many youngsters especially those with disabilities and jobless. His research work as well as his NGO objectives both advocates for a climate-resilient food security.

Vidia Mooneegan

Technology Leader

VIDIA MOONEEGAN is considered a pioneer of the Mauritius IT-BPO industry. He is the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Ceridian, a cloud Human Capital Management software and services company. He is responsible for the Mauritius operations which employs some 800 associates. Vidia’s experience includes engaging partners globally to provide sourcing solutions. He has served as President of the outsourcing association of Mauritius and is a council member of Business Mauritius. His has worked for TNT Business Solutions, Schlumberger Oilfield Services and Arthur Andersen, UK.

Zaheer Allam

Urban Thinker

Passionate about Architecture & Urbanism, ZAHEER ALLAM has been a UN Speaker on Sustainable Energy, and authored numerous papers that sparked debates and policy making. He is the African representative of the International Society of Biourbanism, and is the Island States Chapter Chair of the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism (INTBAU), a global society patroned by His Royal Highness, Prince Charles. He now works for the State Land Development Company as the Urban Planner for Smart Cities. For his contributions to the society, he was awarded the Mauritian Excellence Award, and featured among the 10 Outstanding Young Persons of the World.