Jonathan Fell has followed developments in the tobacco and nicotine industries for 30 years. He began his career as an equity research analyst covering tobacco and other consumer industries at Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank, and from 2013 to 2022 he was a founder and portfolio manager at Ash Park, an investment manager focused on investments in the fast-moving consumer goods industry. Jon now spends his time as a consultant in the tobacco and nicotine spheres and working in the not-for-profit sector, including chairing a London livery company charity, helping to run a Scout group, and serving as a director at Article 36, a UK-based organisation working to promote public scrutiny over the development and use of weapons.

Asanda Gcoyi is a prominent advocate for the adoption of harm reduction strategies in nicotine consumption in South Africa. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA), she has championed evidence-based regulations that balance public health priorities with consumer choice. Recently, Gcoyi played a leading role in negotiations about South Africa’s efforts to amend the Tobacco Products Control Act (83) 1993 in South Africa’s National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), which is a statutory body established in terms of the NEDLAC Act (35) 1994. With over 18 years of diverse industry experience, Gcoyi is a dynamic business leader with a strong leadership and public policy advocacy background. She holds an MBA from Peking University in Beijing and a postgraduate degree in media studies. In addition to her role at VPASA, Gcoyi serves on several influential boards, including the Advertising Regulatory Board of South Africa.