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About Me

Director Of Communications - African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) based in Accra and Washington. This is a leading economic think-tank based in Accra, Ghana serving African government in economic policy advisory services and enhancing international partnerships for African development.
Dr Sheila Ochugboju is uniquely competent at balancing the social, economic and political
imperatives, to enhance eonomic growth, leadership development and Intercultural dialogue in diverse communities across the world.
She is a biological scientist who moved into Communications through the management of International Development projects with African Communities in Europe and Africa.
Her Post-Doctoral Research as The Daphne Jackson Fellowship at St Hilda’s College – 1998 – 2000, focused on genetically modified baculoviruses for pesticide control.
From conceptual design through to implementation and evaluation, she adapts to the needs of a range of stakeholders with contending or conflicting agendas, in order to achieve consensus goals.
Her experience with institutional science committees, expert working groups and policy
implementation of science, engineering and technology issues came from her position as a senior executive at the Engineering and Technology Board. The Education and Policy Innovation (EPI) team at the Engineering and Technology Board, sought to influence the curricula and delivery of STEM education across schools, FE, HE and the Professions.

She is currently a member of the by the Wellcome Trust Arts Committee. The scheme is part of the £3.2 million Wellcome Trust Engaging Science programme. It aims to build on the success of previous initiatives (Sciart, Pulse and Science on Stage and Screen) and bring together a diverse range of individuals and organisations to develop innovative and highly creative activities. Sheila is a co-founder of the website Africa Knows, www.africaknows.com, which seeks to tell a different story about Africa using words and pictures.

Location:
Ghana, Accra
Current organization:
Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network
Past organizations:
www.africaknows.com, www.acetforafrica.org
Current role:
Director of Communications
Gender:
Female
Areas of expertise:
Virology, Biochemistry, Creative thinking, Economic Policy, Africa and international development, Communciations/Media
I am:
Business mentor, Change Agent, Christian, Consultant, Idea generator, Parent, Project manager, Scientist, Single, Social entrepreneur
Languages:
French, English, Japanese
My website links:
Global Women Inventors & Innovators Forum, Danscience, African Centre for Economic Transformation
Universities:
London University, Oxford University, ST MARTINS CENTRAL LONDON
TED conferences attended:
TEDWomen, TED2009
Member Picture Member Picture Member Picture Member Picture Member Picture

TEDCRED 100+ TED FellowAssociate

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Africa, Economic Empowerment, Science, Innovation, Creative Arts.

An idea worth spreading

www.africaknows.com. Telling a different story about Africa using words and pictures and hard data.

Talk to me about

Tidbits that flavour the senses.......images that sweeten the disposition.....ideas that stir the imagination.....stories that nourish our dreams.

People don't know that I'm good at

Listening...though I have a lot to say. Believing in the unknown....though I seek the truth in so many things. Embrace the impossible......though I steer a tight path and navigate differences fluidly

My TED Story

I would like to tell you all of course, I shall just begin and stop where I end. It started in Arusha, TEDAfrica 2007, but actually it started at Starbucks Cafe in London, Jan 2007. One afternoon, when I had an idea for invention....frustrated by my lack of capacity to realise my dream on my own, I remained stewing.....The night before, I had been to a posh dinner, terribly sophisticated people, one the Director of a Dance company I was working with - Union Dance UK; another the Director of DNA laboratory - the creative nexis of School of Art and Graphic Design at Central St Martins, London. I was thinking about an MA in "Applied Imagination" or "Design Studies" to make up for my lack of creative talent. I spoke about this to the group. On my left was the Director of the MOMA in New York, they were amused. I was directed to www.ted.com. At Starbucks I discovered this glimmering incubus for ideas, then became crushed because "who can go to TED?"...I got to Arusha...now Long Beach..

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