Cowan will take up the position from March 2019 when he will join fellow advisory board members for the official launch hosted at the newly established International Arbitration Centre in London.

After the announcement on March 7, Cowan said that Africa Legal, part of the Africa Professional Services Group, had sustainability at its core and his appointment underscored this passion for being part of a community that built a lasting legacy of education and self-sufficiency for the continent.

“As a team we have a long-term agenda to affect change by connecting people, providing access to online education, news and insight and to jobs that empower and enrich the lives of African professionals.

“We know that only a small proportion of young Africans reach their full potential. University, a legal or banking career or starting a business is too often beyond their reach and many endure indescribable hardship when opportunities for education disappear.”

However, Cowan said, the number of millionaires in Africa had more than doubled since 2000 and, by 2024, those with a personal wealth of over US $1 million would have increased by 45%.  

“We believe the key to unlocking Africa’s potential lies with its youth and the use of technology. By giving younger generations more opportunities to learn and the chance to be trained for future, relevant jobs we can empower this generation to empower and support the next.  Africa no longer needs to rely on the West but can mobilise its own resources, and it’s incredibly bright and ambitious people, if directed to the right need.”

He said he was humbled to be serving with a group of people who had already achieved so much around the globe.  

“The responsibility does not, however, end in the boardroom.  I will be looking to engage our very loyal Africa Legal community and clients to advise, inform and assist. It’s very difficult to change things 100% but you can change 100 things 1%. What will your 1% be in your community?”

Save the Children has a clear vision: to create a world where every child survives, learns and is protected. Africa Legal and the Africa Professional Services Group are delighted to support Save the Children in this vision.  

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children. Founded in 1919 they are in their 100th year of defending and upholding children and their right to survive and thrive. To find out more about how you can support it, click here.