• Nomination proposed by: Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly of Nigeria
• Nomination seconded by: Hon. Madina Ndangiza, MP (Rwanda), Chairperson of CWP Africa Region

Biography:

Hon. Dr Zainab Gimba holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Science Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. She obtained a PhD in Public Admin and Policy Analysis from the University of Abuja, Nigeria. She started her public service career in 2002 as a Lecturer at the University of Maiduguri.

Between 2011 to 2018, Hon. Dr Zainab Gimba served as Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Youth Empowerment at the Universal Basic Education Board and Water Resources in Borno State, Nigeria. She has obtained several professional courses and received numerous awards.

She was first elected in 2019 to represent Bama/Ngala/Kala Balge Federal Constituency of Borno State, in the Nigeria National Assembly and was re-elected in 2023. She is the Chair of the House Committee on Steel Development.

Hon. Dr Zainab Gimba has served previously as the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Africa Region, as Vice-Chairperson of the CWP International network and is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) International.

• Nomination proposed by: Hon. Valarie Woods, Speaker of the House of Representatives, National Assembly of Belize 
• Nomination seconded by: Hon. Charliena White, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Montserrat

Biography:

Hon. Arthur Holder, SC, MP is Member of Parliament in Barbados and was appointed as the Speaker of the House of Assembly on 5 June 2018 and an Opposition Senator from 2009 to 2010.

He is an Attorney-at-Law, and was called to the Bar on the 13 October 2000 becoming a Senior Counsel (SC) in June 2023. He is the Lead Attorney-at-Law of the firm Holder & Co., specialising in Criminal, Property, Civil and Family Law.

Previously, Hon. Arthur Holder worked at the Child Care Board, and the National Council of Substance Abuse.
He founded the Urban Adult College, a private educational institute for adult school leavers thereby empowering them through further education.

He is a member of:

• the Board of Directors of ParlAmericas
• Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA)
• the Standing Committee of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC)
• the CPA Executive Committee and Vice-Chairperson of the CPA.

Hon. Arthur Holder has presented several parliamentary papers.

• Nomination proposed by: Hon. Misheck Nyambose, MP (Zambia)
• Nomination seconded by: Hon. Davison Mung`andu, MP (Zambia)

Biography:

A Zambian Parliamentarian with a parliamentary career spanning sixteen years, Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP currently represents Lukulu Constituency, chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services and serves on the Committee on Cabinet Affairs.

He also currently serves as Branch Representative for the CPA Zambia Branch. He has been a member of the CPA for as long as he has been a Parliamentarian and previously served as Central Africa Sub Regional
Representative from 2021 to 2022. He, therefore, brings a wealth of experience as a Parliamentarian and Member of the CPA family and embodies what the CPA stands for, which includes:

• respect for the rule of law
• individual rights and freedoms and
• the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy.

Prior to his political career, Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila served as a medical doctor and administrator in Zambia’s public and private sectors for over a decade.