Trump, Trade, and Africa

Event Details

Join us this Thursday, from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM for key insights on U.S. policy shifts and their impact on U.S - Uganda trade. Experts from Nestpoint Associates will explore new opportunities for investment and bilateral trade.

Agenda

February 20, 2025

Main Schedule

15:00 - 15:05

Welcome Remarks

15:05 - 15:15

Opening Remarks

Meg H. Jaquay

15:15 - 16:00

Panel Discussion

John Thomas

Dr. Valencia de la Vega

Michael P. Murphy

16:00 - 16:30

Q&A Session

Meg H. Jaquay

Speakers

Meg H. Jaquay

President at American Chamber of Commerce of Uganda

John Thomas

Co-Founder & Managing Director of Nestpoint Associates

Dr. Valencia de la Vega

Partner and Supply Chain Expert at Nestpoint Associates

Michael P. Murphy

Chief Strategy Officer at Fairfield Management, Senior Advisor to Africa at Nestpoint Associates

Meg Hilbert Jaquay wears many hats. She is the MD of Jakana Foods Ltd, an all-natural food processing and packaging solutions company based in Kawempe Uganda specializing in dried fruit, juice, sauces, and jams. Since 2022, she has also served as the President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Uganda, and As the Chairperson of the AGOA Exporters Association of Uganda, she has become an expert in the requirements to export from Africa to the USA. Her mission is to use her 35+ years of project management experience to grow businesses. She began her career in 1985 in Silicon Valley working in Artificial Intelligence. As a process engineer, her experiences make her a unique, efficiency expert. She was born in New York and has been living in Kampala for over 10 years.

John Thomas is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Nestpoint Associates, specializing in
international lobbying and trade policy. His profound expertise in political media strategy and crisis communications has steered high-stakes campaigns for Republican candidates from County Supervisor to U.S. Senator, which in turn has built him key relationships across state legislatures to Washington, D.C., including the Trump Administration. Recognized as “Billy the Kid of Political Battles” by the Los Angeles Times, John's innovative campaign strategies have garnered him a Rising Star award from Campaign and Elections Magazine. Previously, John provided political analysis on his weekly segment “This Week in Trump World” on KFI AM 640’s Bill Handel Show and has been a frequent commentator on networks like CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. His insights have also been featured in top publications such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. John holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine School of Public Policy, where he serves on the Board of Visitors and regularly guest lectures. His civic engagement includes serving on the board of CalWatchdog, California's leading investigative-reporting watchdog group, and past service as a trustee of the House Ear Institute. His commitment extends to his alma mater, where he has been an active participant in alumni activities and leadership.

Valencia de la Vega, a partner at Nestpoint Associates, has demonstrated profound expertise in manufacturing leadership and supply chain management, leading the establishment of R&D test labs across Asia and the United States tailored to meet the intricate demands of industry giants like Intel, Apple, and Dell. As both an R&D test engineer manager and a Lean Six Sigma expert, Valencia has significantly enhanced operational efficiencies and profitability by integrating Lean Six Sigma initiatives into high-volume manufacturing environments. Her academic credentials are robust, holding a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology, and a graduate of Oxford's Nanotechnology program. These academic achievements have endowed her with a deep understanding of cutting-edge technology and complex project management. In addition to her professional and academic prowess, Valencia has a commendable military background, serving in Afghanistan with a U.S. Army logistical battalion. Her strategic role in supplying joint military forces during critical operations earned her the Bronze Star Medal for her outstanding service in combat operations.

Michael P. Murphy, known as “Murph,” is a distinguished real estate developer, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor with a career spanning the Armed Forces, financial services, construction, and risk management. As CEO of Global Building Solutions (GBS), he transformed it into a global leader in design and construction, securing major contracts, including a $560 million project for the 2024 Qatar FIFA World Cup.
A service-disabled U.S. Army veteran, Murphy has served on the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Promotion Board and holds the Eisenhower Commission of the Republican National Committee. He is a key advisor for Africa and the Middle East (AME), facilitating high-level engagements between AME stakeholders and U.S. government officials.
His humanitarian diplomacy includes roles as Inaugural Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Lesotho and Permanent Representative to the African Union, where he has negotiated multiple bilateral treaties. Fluent in English and French, he resides in South Carolina, Washington, Maseru, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa, continuing to drive impact through business, diplomacy, and humanitarian efforts.