Our people

Sarah brings two decades of experience in Scotland’s charity sector and has led impactful change throughout her career. As CEO, she works closely with the Board of Trustees to deliver The Wood Foundation’s strategy and continue to create lasting impact through collaboration and partnerships. She is deeply passionate about advancing opportunities for young people and ensuring that communities have access to the tools and resources they need to thrive. Her leadership at The Wood Foundation reflects her commitment to these causes, with a particular focus on promoting education, employability, and social inclusion.

Alistair oversees all financial and commercial activities in both the UK and East Africa for The Wood Foundation group, including all joint-venture subsidiaries. Although based in Aberdeen, Alistair travels regularly to East Africa and the majority of his work relates directly to our ‘Transforming Livelihoods through Venture Philanthropy in Africa’ portfolio. A large proportion of his time is spent on financial due diligence, long-term financial planning, and commercial and legal negotiation for new projects.

Alistair qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2000 and was Director of Finance for the largest independent accounting firm in Scotland before joining The Wood Foundation.

Angela is responsible for all management and statutory reporting for The Wood Foundation, including a number of group entities. She also works closely with the finance team in Africa on third party funder reporting.

Angela qualified as an accountant in 2002 and worked in the profession for 23 years before joining The Wood Foundation.

Olivia supports Angela Lyon, providing financial administration across our activities in the UK and Africa. She is also responsible for processing the YPI grants to our recipient charities.

Olivia previously held an administration role at The Wood Foundation.

Kelly is responsible for the organisation and administration of The Wood Foundation’s financial processes and systems, providing comprehensive support to TWF Accountant Angela Lyon.

Kelly has worked at The Wood Foundation for more than five years, playing a key role in administration and processing across the organisation.

Rosalyn supports Angela Lyon, providing financial administration across our activities in the UK and Africa.

Rosalyn previously held roles in hospitality and administration.

Maciej specialises in impact measurement and research across various sectors. He develops robust frameworks that support evidence-based decision-making and drives initiatives that align with core values. With experience in strategic planning and stakeholder engagement, Maciej ensures impactful outcomes through collaborative efforts. Passionate about ethical practices, he leverages his skills to create positive social change, delivering measurable benefits to communities. Maciej’s expertise reflects a commitment to enhancing organisational impact and fostering sustainable growth.

Carolyn is responsible for overseeing human resources and supporting the management of The Wood Foundation’s internal systems and processes. She works closely with the senior management team, providing support and reporting. Carolyn has previously held public and third sector administration and office management roles.

Lizbeth brings experience of working within The Wood Foundation and a three-decade teaching career to the role of YPI Director. Working closely with the CEO, Lizbeth is passionate about delivering the vision of YPI and building the engagement of young people, partner organisations and third sector in the flagship programme. She is responsible for strategically leading a Scotland wide team in the delivery of high quality, engaging and inclusive activities in schools. Lizbeth is passionate about advancing social mobility and opening pathways for all.

Lucia leads on partnerships related to our YPI programme. She works alongside our network of likeminded funding partners to ensure maximum benefit is being derived from the investment for the organisations and the young people involved in the programme. She is also the dedicated point of contact between YPI and third sector organisations. Alongside this partnership focus, Lucia is involved in the operational delivery and development of YPI.

Lucia’s career has focussed on connecting businesses and education in order to support experiences and engagements which create mutual benefits.

As YPI Development Lead, Nicola manages the YPI Scotland quality improvement and assurance strategy and framework to optimise the programme for all young people across Scotland. She works closely with the wider team to ensure the continuous development of YPI, including leading and delivering a programme of professional learning. With over 15 years’ experience of working with young people and five years’ management experience, Nicola’s background is in primary education. She is passionate about empowering learners to think differently, be creative, and develop skills and confidence.

Alex is responsible for the operational delivery of YPI and the coordination of the regional facilitation team across Scotland. Her role also includes providing implementation support to rural schools; providing one-to-one support sessions and developing YPI resources.

Alex previously held a variety of positions within private and third sector organisations which focused on the development of young people.

Heather covers operations for the East of Scotland region (Fife, Dundee, Perth & Kinross, Stirling, Clackmannashire) for our YPI programme. She has a background in early years education, and previously worked with educators and volunteering on a STEM learning programme.

Mark covers the South-west Scotland region (Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway) for our YPI programme. Mark has a background in educational outreach programmes related to STEM.

Laura covers operations for the South-east Scotland region (Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders) for our YPI programme. Laura’s background is in education and public engagement with a focus on STEM and opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Paul covers operations for the West of Scotland region (Glasgow City, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, and Argyll and Bute) for our YPI programme. With a background in teaching, Paul has dedicated much of his career to enhancing educational experiences through technology. He has extensive experience managing digital rollouts across multiple schools, working to integrate innovative tools that support both students and educators.

Lynn covers operations for Central Scotland region (Falkirk, West Lothian, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire) for our YPI programme. Lynn has more than 20 years’ experience of working in the third sector, including 12 years with YPI.

David oversees the Africa portfolio of TWFA, based at the regional headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. This includes development of technical strategy, overall portfolio management, and regional expansion.

He has a long-standing background in private sector development, and is the principal contact in the region for all TWFA-related efforts. Previously, David worked with Deloitte Emerging Markets as well as the Finance, Banking, and Enterprise Group of Development Alternatives, inc. (DAI).

Alistair oversees all financial and commercial activities in both the UK and East Africa for The Wood Foundation group, including all joint-venture subsidiaries. Although based in Aberdeen, Alistair travels regularly to East Africa and the majority of his work relates directly to our ‘Transforming Livelihoods through Venture Philanthropy in Africa’ portfolio. A large proportion of his time is spent on financial due diligence, long-term financial planning, and commercial and legal negotiation for new projects.

Alistair qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2000 and was Director of Finance for the largest independent accounting firm in Scotland before joining The Wood Foundation.

Dennis is based in Nairobi and leads our strategy and social investment work, as well as our sugar sector investments in Kenya and the tea industry programme in Tanzania. He is responsible for our investment and sector expansion efforts in Africa. Dennis also leads our sustainability portfolio and oversees the results, monitoring, evaluation and learning function. Dennis is a trained economist with experience in international development, development finance, investment, and management consulting. He previously worked with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (formerly DFID), Deloitte, and PwC. Dennis has an MSc in Economics & Econometrics from the University of Nottingham.

Duncan is an engineer by training and has significant executive level management experience in the East African tea sector, having led Sotik’s outgrower and factory operations in Kenya, and more recently having served as MD at Tatepa in Tanzania, overseeing their avocado, tea packing, and tea factory companies. Tatepa’s tea factory (Watco) is the largest tea operation in Tanzania with over 14,000 smallholder farmers.

Sanjay has more than 25 years’ experience within the tea industry in areas including tea processing, field and factory management, estate administration, planning and infrastructure development, and smallholder development. He previously worked with McLeod Russel India Limited in senior management roles within their tea estates in India and Uganda. He has also worked with the Gisovu Tea Company, Rwanda, and most recently as Senior Plantation Manager, PT Melania, Indonesia. Based at Shagasha, Sanjay has overall responsibility for Shagasha Tea Company and Mulindi Factory Company, Rwanda.

Based in Kigali, Elizabeth oversees finance and accounting for all tea greenfield operations in the region. She has more than 20 years of experience in finance and accounting in the commercial agriculture sector through Chief Accountant and Finance Manager positions with Kakuzi Ltd., and Dominion Farms Ltd. Elizabeth is a Certified Public Accountant (ICPAK member) and has an MBA from Strathmore University.

Patrick is based in Kigali and oversees all finance and accounting for Mulindi and Shagasha Tea Factories. He is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 20 years of experience in financial management and advisory in the commercial agriculture sector. Prior to his role at EATI, Patrick was Chief Accountant at Eastern Produce Kenya Ltd. He has an MBA in strategic management from the United States International University.

Bridgette is responsible for Human Resources and Administration across the region. She has more than 20 years of experience in HR development and has had the opportunity to serve in various capacities in organisations such as Citibank N.A., Safaricom PLC, KPMG and, most recently, Kenya Airways PLC as Chief of Human Resources. She has an MSc in Human Resources Management from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and a Global Executive MBA from the United States International University. She is a full member of the Institute of Human Resources Management (FIHRM).

Elizabeth is responsible for sustainability and impact initiatives, including monitoring, evaluation, learning, safeguarding, social development, and climate change. She plays a key role in the assessment and design of new initiatives. She has more than 15 years’ experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning, as well as programme management in organisations including Forum Syd, Catholic Relief Services and TradeMark East Africa (TMEA). Elizabeth holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Nairobi and a Masters in International and Community Development from Deakin University.

Austin has more than 30 years’ experience within in the tea industry, with expertise in smallholder set up and providing technical advice and support on good agricultural practices, nursery management, monitoring and evaluation, tea planting, environmental management, management of development project, and strategic planning. As Operations Director, he is responsible for providing strategic oversight and technical support on all aspects of TWFA’s greenfield tea development operations in Rugabano, Rwanda. Prior to joining TWFA, Austin served as the Director for Lujeri Estates in Malawi where he was in charge of all smallholder farmer activities and successfully grew the Lujeri business from 1,000 to 13,000 SHFs on 3,000 Has. In addition to managing smallholder and Fairtrade programs, he also served as a Director of the Tea Association of Malawi.

Mathew is responsible for providing strategic oversight and technical support on all aspects of TWFA’s greenfield tea development operation in Njombe.  He has more than 35 years’ experience in commercial tea field and factory operations and has built significant expertise in smallholder engagement through holding senior management roles at KTDA. Mathew has a Bachelor’s degree from Kenyatta University and two Masters Degree in project management and strategic project management from the University of Nairobi and University of Salford Business School.

Philip has more than 25 years’ senior leadership experience within the tea industry particularly in the management of large tea plantations covering both field and  factory operations within East Africa. He has served in various capacities in Kenya ,Tanzania and Rwanda. Prior to joining TWFA, Philip worked with Lipton Teas and Infusions (formerly Ekaterra/Unilever) as the Head of Ekaterra’s Central Tea Group Business Unit in Kenya, as well as the Executive Director for Limuru Tea Company running field and factory operations. He was immediate former Managing Director of Lipton Teas and Infusions Rwanda (formerly-Unilever Tea Rwanda) where he spearheaded the first pioneering green field to be done by Lipton.  As Operations Director, he is responsible for providing oversight on all aspects of our greenfield development operations in Rwanda – Nyaruguru.

Filbert has overall responsibility for providing technical backstopping to the Njombe Outgrowers Services Company (NOSC) senior management team. He is an agricultural economist with more than 25 years’ experience in the management of the full agricultural tea value chain, general project management, agricultural research, training, and extension services. Filbert previously work as the Operations Director for a TWFA greenfield developments in Rwanda and prior to that served as the General Manager for Njombe Outgrowers Services Company (NOSC). His overall leadership experience spans across various organisations that include Tanzania Smallholders Tea Development Agency (TSHTDA), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives Department of Socio Economic and Farming Systems and Mufindi Tea Company (MTC) Tanzania. Filbert holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural General and a Masters degree in Agricultural Economics from Sokoine University of Agriculture, as well as a Masters degree in project management from University of Salford Business School, UK.

Raissa is based in Nyaruguru District, Rwanda and is responsible for the day to day management of SCON(S) operations. Her role includes overseeing the implementation of all field activities and handling of operational, finance, and administrative matters. She has seven years’ experience within the tea sector, providing effective tea extension services and sustainable farmer training to smallholder farmers in Nyaruguru. She facilitated numerous Farmer Field Schools at Shagasha Tea Company before joining SCON(N) as a Tea Agronomist in 2016. Raissa has an Agricultural Science degree from the Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, majoring in Crop Production.

Olive is based in Nyaruguru District, Rwanda, and is responsible for the Smallholder expansion programme in the Nshili Kivu tea catchment where 1250ha of new tea will be planted by smallholder farmers before 2030. Prior to joining UTCL, she worked with Rugabano Outgrower Services Company (ROS) as Zonal Manager (Agronomist) for approximately 7 years. She has more than 11 years of experience in agriculture management having also served as Cooperative Support Officer at COPARWAMU and as In Charge of Agriculture in COPAPEF (Coopérative pour la promotion de l’agriculture, la protection de l’environnement et forêt in Rwanda). Olive has a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Rural Development from the University of Rwanda.

Vincent is based in Nyaruguru District, Rwanda where he manages all operational, finance and administrative matters for the SCON farmer services companies. He has more than 10 years of experience in tea extension and smallholders’ cooperative management in the tea sector having previously worked for a large tea smallholders’ cooperative in Rwanda, Mulindi Factory Company, and the Rwanda Local Government. Vincent has a degree in Agribusiness and Rural Development from University of Rwanda, and a Master of Development Studies from Kigali Independent University.

Overall, in-charge of end-to-end operations and management of Services Company Outgrowers Nyaruguru (South) through ensuring agronomic extension, production logistics and block management services are carried out in an efficient manner. Seasoned professional plantation Manager with more than 11 years’ experience in field operations and people management. He has had good exposure in planning and budget execution, farm production, pest and diseases control, agriculture extension services, green field, project management, Landscape restoration program, cost management with efficiencies and people management. Prior to joining SCON Tharcisse served in different organizations, namely Lipton Teas and infusion Rwanda Ltd. (formerly Unilever Tea Rwanda Ltd). ASSOPTHE Cooperative in partnership with SORWATHE Ltd. (A Tea Growers Cooperative) and at Rulindo District as Agricultural officer. Tharcisse has bachelor’s degree in Crop Production and Horticulture from National University of Rwanda.

Callixte is based in Rugabano Sector, Karongi District, Rwanda and is responsible for the day-to-day management of ROS operations. His role includes overseeing the implementation of all field activities and handling of all operational, finance, and administrative matters. He has more than 10 years’ experience providing extension services, seven of which have been within the tea sector in Karongi. He previously worked for Karongi Tea Cooperative Growers (KATECOGRO) before joining ROS as a Tea Agronomist in 2017. Callixte has a Bachelor’s degree in Agroforestry from the University of Rwanda.

Based in Njombe, Tanzania, Haidari is responsible for the day-to-day management of NOSC operations which includes overseeing the implementation of all field activities and handling of all operational, finance, and administrative matters. He has more than 15 years’ experience providing extension services to smallholder farmers, 11 of which have been within the tea sector in Tanzania.

Haidari joined NOSC in 2016 as a Logistics Officer and was later promoted to Operations Manager in 2021. He previously worked for International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) focusing on smallholder farmers and food crops research for development and the Tea Board of Tanzania (TBT). Haidari has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Sokoine University of Agriculture and Masters of International Trade from University of Dar es Salaam.

Benjamin is based in Mulindi District, Rwanda and is responsible for all operational, financial and administrative management at The Wood Foundation Africa’s Mulindi factory. He has more than 25 years of experience in tea manufacture and factory management having previously worked in senior roles with Eastern Produce in Kenya. Benjamin has a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Eastern Africa at Baraton. He is currently pursuing an MBA.

Based in the Mulindi district in Rwanda, Joseph is responsible for the management of all field services for farmers at Mulindi Factory Company. He has more than 15 years’ experience in plantation and factory operations, the majority of which were with Mcleod Russel Uganda Estates where he served as the Field Manager and Deputy Manager Factory for its Central Office, Mwenge, Kiko, Bugambe and Kisaru tea estates. His areas of expertise in the management of tea field operations include tea development, extensive and intensive extension services to outgrowers, mechanical tea harvesting, forestry operations, tea processing, labour planning, budgeting, and estate administration. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Rural Innovation (BARI) from Makerere University, a National Diploma in Crop Production and Management from Bukalasa Agricultural College and a Certificate in Agricultural Engineering from Busitema National College of Agricultural Mechanization.

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Halima plays a key role in providing regional office management and administration support for TWFA’s operations in East Africa, as well as offering support in the set-up of any new investment vehicles as may be required. She has more than 15 years’ experience in management and administration and previously worked with Africare Tanzania. Halima has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Tumaini University and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Eastern and Southern Africa Management Institute (ESAMI).

Jennifer provides financial and administrative support to the TWFA Rwanda’s office, assisting in its day to day operations. She is the contact for in-country logistical support and assists in contracting and mobilisation processes for staff and consultants.