Ashish J. Thakkar

• Founder and Managing Director, Mara Group, United Arab Emirates

Founder and Director, Mara Group, responsible for transforming the company into a global firm. Refugee from the Rwanda genocide. Speaker in various platforms focused on Africa. Member of various advisory panels to several heads of state in the sub-Saharan African region. Will be an astronaut in Virgin Galactic's first flight to space, representing East Africa and Africa's second astronaut. Founder, Mara Foundation, the Group's non-profit social enterprise focused on youth entrepreneurship.