Peace through enterprise: can business be a force for peace?
Can entrepreneurship be a driving force for peace? In this interactive session, young entrepreneurs who have managed to successfully develop their businesses in challenging environments exchange thoughts on how innovation and enterprise can support hope and stability.
Through thought-provoking statements, the audience will vote, debate, and challenge assumptions about the link between business and peacebuilding.
Speakers
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Sara GhanemCo-founderSara Ghanem
Co-founder
DOODA SolutionsI'm the Co-founder and Projects Manager at DOODA Solutions, where my work focuses on providing farmers in Lebanon and beyond with sustainable, eco-friendly soil amendments made from recycled organic waste using the power of earthworms. My background is rooted in management, entrepreneurship, and public policy. In addition to co-founding DOODA, I previously worked with the Lebanese Ministry of Finance on key reform initiatives, including public procurement, gender-responsive budgeting, and tax reform. This experience led me to serve on regional youth advisory committees focused on advancing Arab youth development, where I spearheaded initiatives to enhance financial literacy across the region. In 2024, I was honored to be named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 MENA list for my work with DOODA Solutions and my broader contributions to social impact. I’m passionate about promoting sustainable practices and circular economy solutions in agriculture, and I’m a strong advocate for women in leadership—particularly in traditionally male-dominated fields like agriculture.
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Jurriaan MiddelhoffAmbassador for Youth, Education & Work at the Dutch MFAJurriaan Middelhoff
Counsellor
Ambassador for Youth, Education & Work at the Dutch MFA
Jurriaan Middelhoff (1984) is Ambassador-at-Large Youth, Education and Work for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Jurriaan started his career in 2008 in The Hague at the Clingendael Institute of International Relations, and the Netherlands Ministry of Finance, working on the national and EU budget. He joined the Dutch Foreign Service in 2011, where he worked on financial and economic policy in the EU. He switched to the Sustainable Economic Development Department, where he worked on Private Sector Development, Public‐Private Partnerships and the negotiations for the SDGs. On behalf of the Ministry, Jurriaan was account manager for several international partnerships of the government of the Netherlands with enterprises, such as Heineken, Unilever and Philips. In 2015, Jurriaan was posted to Malaysia as Head of the Economic and Trade department at the Netherlands Embassy, and as Director of the Malaysian‐Dutch Business Council. Here, amongst other things, he was active in promoting a more sustainable Palm Oil sector. In 2017, he became Deputy-Ambassador and Counsellor for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Panamá. In this position he was founder and board member of the Holland House Panamá. From 2020 to 2022, Jurriaan was the Regional Envoy for Stability in the Western Balkans, on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Based out of Skopje, and covering the six Western Balkan countries, Jurriaan headed a network of experts that focus on external influences, conflict prevention and ethnic tensions, Organized Crime, Migration, and Cyber Security. In 2022, Jurriaan was nominated Ambassador-at-Large for Youth, Education and Work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development. In this position, his main focus is Africa and the Middle East.
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Coumba DiakitéFounder and ManagerCoumba Diakité
Founder and Manager
BY’RECYCCoumba Diakité is a passionate social entrepreneur and environmental advocate from Mali, dedicated to creating sustainable solutions through waste recycling and women’s empowerment. She is the founder and manager of BY’RECYCL, a social enterprise that transforms plastic and tire waste into eco-friendly products while training women in green jobs. With a strong commitment to community development, Coumba also leads initiatives that support youth, fight gender-based violence, and promote climate action across Mali.
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Michael AkinseteCo-founderMichael Akinsete
Co-founder
EcotutuMichael Akinsete is a purpose-driven entrepreneur and innovator focused on sustainable food systems. As co-founder and CMO of Ecotutu, a cleantech company that designs affordable solar-powered cold storage solutions, preventing food loss and empowering 5,000+ smallholder farmers, Michael is driving the rapid adoption of cold chain solutions in the Nigerian Food Systems through financial inclusion, knowledge and capacity building and policy. With a decade of experience, he has launched four tech-driven ventures, leveraging lean methodologies to reduce post-harvest losses. He founded Green Nation Heroes, educating 300 students on sustainability, and co-edited Young Climate Heroes, reaching 7,000+ youths. Recognized as "The Food Systems Guy," his impact has earned accolades from Orange Corners, UNLEASH, he was recently named the Nigerian Agropreneur of the Year 2025 by the Dutch Embassy.