NeLi Organizing Committee
South Africa
Dr. Curlewis is the Deputy Chairperson of the Legal Practice Council of South Africa and an attorney, notary public, appraiser, and senior trial lawyer with extensive involvement in high-profile court cases. He specializes in criminal and procedural law and holds advanced certificates in forensic accounting and Alternative Dispute Resolution. He serves on numerous legal councils and boards, including the South African National Legal Practice Council, and is one of the few South Africans on the panel of defence counsel at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. He is also an accomplished author, awarded legal professional, and a recognized speaker nationally and internationally. Dr. Curlewis’s academic career includes senior lectureships and examiner roles at the University of Pretoria since 1995, extraordinary lecturing and postgraduate teaching since 2006, and lecturing roles at North West University, Gawie le Roux Institute of Law, LEAD (LSSA), and other institutions. He has decades of experience educating both undergraduate and postgraduate law students across South African universities and professional bodies. |
Brazil
Mr. Machado is a Global Investor and Diplomacy Strategist at ARKA, a firm that integrates global strategy, legal foresight, and capital intelligence to help clients navigate regulatory and geopolitical challenges. He began his career in financial technology by co-founding Americas Trading Group (ATG) in 2010, a leading electronic trading firm that played a key role in modernizing and expanding market access across Brazil and Latin America. Under his leadership, ATG established ATS Brasil, which was listed on the New York Stock Exchange—an important milestone in fostering competition in Brazil’s financial markets. In 2012, Mr. Machado expanded into the education sector by acquiring Educar Holding and developing Alub, a network of schools focused on humanistic education, technological skills, and university entrance exam preparation. These initiatives have improved educational quality and opportunities, particularly for students from underprivileged backgrounds. Mr. Machado holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. His career is distinguished by innovation and a commitment to socially responsible development in both finance and education. | |
Mr. Gandelman is an experienced financial services and capital markets executive based in São Paulo, Brazil. He currently serves as Global CEO and board member of Sefer Investimentos, part of a Swiss financial conglomerate, and is Chairman of the Board at SOS Bolso. Throughout his career, Mr. Gandelman has held key leadership roles, including CEO of ATS Brasil, President of ICAP Brasil, Vice President at BGC Partners, and Superintendent at StoneX Group Inc. He also gained international experience working at Bear Stearns and Goldman Sachs in New York. Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors of Bovespa and chaired several committees within BM&FBovespa. Mr. Gandelman holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro) and an MBA in Finance. He has contributed as a columnist for Suno Research. |
India
Mr. Prashant Kumar, since enrolling as an Advocate in 1998, has practiced before India’s Supreme Court, High Courts, and specialized tribunals, focusing on complex domestic and international arbitration and investment law. Currently, he serves as President of the Bar Association of India and the Indian Law Foundation, and he is a past President of Lawasia and a Founder Member of the BRICS Legal Forum. Mr. Kumar has held significant international positions, including serving as a Director on the Board of the International Legal Assistance Consortium in Sweden and as a Member of the International Board of Advisors at the CEELI Institute in Prague. He also played a key role in establishing the Advanced Legal and Professional Studies (ALPS) Academy in Switzerland, which provides training on EU laws, AML, ESG, and AI for legal professionals worldwide. Additionally, he is the Founder and Head of Trinaya Legal, a boutique law firm based in New Delhi. Mr. Kumar launched the New Delhi International Rule of Law Convention in 2023 and chaired its 2025 edition on Economic Governance, fostering dialogue on Rule of Law challenges for the Global South. He is actively involved in developing a Dispute Resolution Institutions Network for Emerging Economies and BRICS, reinforcing his reputation as a trusted advisor and advocate who balances legal expertise with practical solutions. |
