Minister of Culture and Creative Industries of Cape Verde

Sociologist, painter and self-taught photographer with exhibitions in several countries and featured in renowned private collections. Born on the island of Santiago, in Cape Verde, Abraão Vicente studied sociology at the Nova University of Lisbon, with a thesis on the artistic field in Portugal during the 20th century. He has published the following titles: "O Trampolim" (Novel, Kankan Studio ed. 2010), "E de repente a noite" (Poetry, Kankan Studio ed. 2012), "Traços Rosa Choque (Anthology, Lua de Marfim 2012), "1980 Labirintos" (Prose poetry, Moon of Ivory 2013), "Amar 100 Medo, cartas improváveis & outras letras " (Poetry, Kankan Studio, 2014). He is represented in the short stories anthology "Dez Contos para ler Sentado" (Caminho, 2012), Djosa. Terra, Pão & Mar (Rosa de Porcelana, 2016), Cabo Verde: 100 poemas escolhidos  (Pedro Cardoso Bookstore, 2016).

University of Malta

Godfrey Baldacchino PhD (Warwick), BA (Gen.) (Malta), PGCE (Malta), MA (The Hague) is Pro-Rector for International Development and Full Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology at the University of Malta, Malta. He is also UNESCO co-Chair in Island Studies & Sustanability (a position shared between the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Canada  and the University of Malta. He is Editor Emeritus of island Studies Journal (ISSN: 1715-2593), now indexed in Web of Science. He served as Visiting Professor of Island Tourism at the Universita' di Corsica Pascal Paoli, France (2012-2015). He was Member and Chair of the Malta Board of Cooperatives (1994-2003) and core member of the Malta-European Union Steering & Action Committee (MEUSAC). In 2008-2010, he was Vice-President of the Prince Edward Island Association for newcomers to Canada . In 2014, he was elected President of the International Small Islands Studies Association (ISISA). In June 2015, he was elected Chair of the Scientific Board of RETI, the global excellence network of island universities.