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APO Group Vice-President Lynne Krawchuk, and Acting Head of Content Bonnie Robinson, selected as Judges for the Africa’s Business Heroes

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APO Group

The ABH prize competition aims to identify, support, and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are significantly impacting their communities and the African continent

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, July 18, 2023/APO Group/ — 

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, announces the selection of VP of Digital, PR and Media Relations, Lynne Krawchuk, and Acting Head of Content, Bonnie Robinson, as judges for the prestigious Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) prize (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org), the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program in Africa to support entrepreneurs.

The ABH prize competition aims to identify, support, and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are significantly impacting their communities and the African continent. The Jack Ma Foundation is committed to fostering African entrepreneurship and has brought in some of the continent’s most esteemed businesspeople and leaders to help search for Africa’s Business Heroes.

Serving as a round two judge for the ABH prize competition, Krawchuk brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the evaluation process. With her extensive experience in PR and digital marketing spanning over 20 years, Krawchuk has established herself as a seasoned professional in the PR and communications industry. At APO Group, she plays a vital role in shaping and implementing effective media relations strategies. Her selection as a judge for the ABH prize competition demonstrates her deep understanding of the African entrepreneurial landscape and her commitment to supporting and recognising outstanding African entrepreneurs.

As a round one judge, Robinson offers strong entrepreneurial experience. She is highly respected and celebrated for her knowledge and insights as a PR professional with more than two decades of experience in the PR and communications industry. With her sound background in integrated strategic communications, brand reputation, and crisis management, Robinson consistently navigates complex challenges and delivers exceptional content, strategies, and results. As a judge for the ABH prize competition, Robinson’s experience contributes to the comprehensive evaluation, mentorship, and recognition of the most deserving entrepreneurs in Africa.

Additionally, both Krawchuk and Robinson have served on numerous adjudication panels in the PR and business industries. Their involvement in evaluating and assessing a variety of award-winning initiatives and campaigns reflects their deep understanding of industry standards and best practices. Through their participation in these judging panels, they have developed a keen eye for identifying excellence and innovation in various sectors.

Commenting on her selection as a judge, Krawchuk says, “It is an honour to be selected as a judge for the ABH prize. This competition represents a powerful platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and receive support to drive their businesses forward. I am inspired by the passion and resilience of African entrepreneurs, and I look forward to contributing to their growth and success.”

Robinson echoes Krawchuk’s sentiments and adds, “It is a privilege to recognise, support, and mentor innovative African entrepreneurs from all walks of life who drive positive change in their communities. The prize competition is highly inclusive in that it provides equal opportunity for business owners across all 54 African countries who have been operating for three years, a chance to evidence their business strategies, achievements, lessons, and most of all, their distinctive human stories that drove them to become an entrepreneur.”

I am inspired by the passion and resilience of African entrepreneurs, and I look forward to contributing to their growth and success

“I take great pleasure in walking alongside these outstanding business founders who are making a significant impact on Africa, getting to know them, and providing them with guidance to help them thrive,” says Robinson.

The selection of judges for the ABH prize competition is based on rigorous criteria, including business experience, industry knowledge, and commitment to fostering African entrepreneurship. Judges play an instrumental role in mentoring the finalists, providing valuable feedback, guidance, and support. Their involvement in the growth and success of the entrepreneurs makes the ABH judging process unique and ensures a fair and thorough evaluation process.

The ABH finalists are selected based on their demonstration of visionary entrepreneurship, embodying traits such as innovation and creativity, impact on communities and societies, leadership and vision, the potential for growth and scalability, market demand, and financial sustainability.  

Effective communication skills are also crucial as finalists are required to present and articulate their business plans to the judges while responding to thought-provoking questions within a specified number of minutes. Their ability to convey their passion, expertise, and unique selling points is essential to impressing the judges and securing their support.

The ABH competition not only empowers entrepreneurs but also captivates audiences with the diversity and ingenuity of the business plans submitted. Each business plan tells a unique story of resilience, creativity, and the drive to make a positive impact in Africa. From innovative tech solutions and beauty and fashion to sustainable agricultural initiatives, the business plans showcased in the competition offer fascinating insights into the entrepreneurial landscape across the continent.

Many of the business plans submitted demonstrate the remarkable depth of talent and the transformative ideas that are emerging from Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

As part of the initiative, the ABH competition offers an impressive prize fund of US$1.5 million, with each of the top three winners receiving a share. However, the value of the prize goes beyond financial gain. It represents an extraordinary platform where all participants, including the winners and the finalists, benefit from the expertise and insights garnered by the ABH community of business leaders.

The ABH competition has become a significant platform for African entrepreneurs, providing them with the resources, mentorship, and exposure needed to thrive in the business landscape.

APO Group reaffirms its commitment to supporting and promoting African entrepreneurship while showcasing the immense potential and talent that exists on the continent to the rest of the world. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

Energy

Venezuela Energy Week Confirms 19 August Date for Houston Industry Showcase

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Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August, convening U.S. energy leaders ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The organizers of Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) have confirmed that the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August 2026 at The Post Oak Hotel. Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the event will bring together U.S. energy companies, investors and policymakers to explore commercial opportunities ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas in February.

The showcase will feature Minister of Hydrocarbons Paula Henao as a keynote speaker, providing an update on Venezuela’s energy priorities, investment agenda and opportunities for international partnership. Her participation underscores the country’s commitment to strengthening engagement with global industry as it seeks to expand production and unlock new upstream investment.

Bringing together exploration and production companies, independent operators, oilfield service providers, engineering firms, technology companies and financial institutions, the Houston Industry Showcase will examine opportunities across exploration, production optimization, infrastructure rehabilitation and field development.

As Venezuela works to increase oil and gas production, demand is expected to grow for the technical expertise of U.S. service providers in drilling, well intervention, completion services, production optimization, artificial lift, digital oilfield technologies and infrastructure rehabilitation. Houston-based industry leaders – including SLB, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford and a broad network of EPC contractors, equipment manufacturers and specialized service companies – are well positioned to support the modernization of mature fields, improve operational efficiency and deliver the technologies and services needed for future upstream projects.

The Houston event follows a successful Industry Showcase in London, which brought together international investors, operators and energy service companies to explore Venezuela’s evolving investment landscape. Building on that momentum, the Houston edition will deepen engagement with the U.S. energy industry and strengthen commercial dialogue ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027.

Venezuela Energy Week – the country’s largest energy investment platform to date – has been confirmed for 22–25 February 2027 in Caracas. Organized by Energy Capital & Power, the event will bring together government leaders, investors and industry stakeholders from across the global energy value chain.

To register for the Houston Industry Showcase on August 19, visit https://apo-opa.co/4g0TncR. To learn more about delegate, sponsorship and partnership opportunities for the showcase or to secure your place at Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas, contact info@venezuelaenergyweek.com.

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery
Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/4hkvteE).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) Secures New Patent for Smart Stabilization System from Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

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IsDBI

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org) is pleased to announce that the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has granted a new patent for its innovative Smart Stabilization System.

 

The patent was granted on 10 July 2026 under Singapore Patent No. 10202250873B for the invention titled “A Computer Network Stabilization System and Method.” The patent application was filed on 1 September 2022 and was formally granted following a comprehensive review process.

This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility. Leveraging sophisticated algorithms and advanced simulation models, the system is designed to anticipate supply and demand imbalances and implement programmable stabilization measures before they escalate into market disruptions.

Unlike traditional stabilization mechanisms that rely on capital reserves, buffer funds, or external interventions, the Smart Stabilization System introduces a next-generation framework for achieving autonomous market stabilization through proactive and programmed stabilization mechanisms. By incorporating distributed ledger technology and cryptographic trust mechanisms, the platform enhances transparency, trust, and operational resilience for digital asset and commodity markets.

The successful patent grant reflects IsDBI’s growing contribution to technological innovation and its commitment to developing knowledge-based solutions that address contemporary economic and development challenges.

Since filing the patent application back in 2022, the Institute has continued to advance the Smart Stabilization System through ongoing development and testing, aimed to expand its practical applications and support future capitalization opportunities. These advancements have positioned the system as a potentially transformative solution for enhancing stability and resilience in increasingly digital and interconnected economies.

Commenting on this occasion, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDBI, said, “The grant of this patent by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore further strengthens the Institute’s position as a leader in developing innovative knowledge-based solutions that leverage modern technologies to address complex development challenges. This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

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Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

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The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 

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