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 value-chain market facilitation, and is the principal contact in the region for all TWFA-related efforts.
Based in Kigali, John serves as CEO of Mulindi and Shagasha tea factories where he is responsible for all operations and strategic development, alongside stakeholder engagement. He has more than 25 years of experience in commercial tea field and factory operations, having served as Procurement Manager, East Africa, for Unilever’s Grow Africa Projects, Operations Manager for the Central Business Unit of Unilever Tea Kenya, as well as Field and Factory Manager for several Unilever Tea Kenya operations. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Moi University.
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.
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).
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.
Jessie is a Certified Public Accountant, with a BA in Business Admin Finance and MSC in Procurement, Logistics and Supply Chain Management. She brings with her over 18 years of tea marketing and sales experience, having worked in senior positions at Unilever Tea East Africa as well as James Finlays, where she most recently served as Commercial Manager for Leaf Tea based out of Mombasa.
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.
Etienne provides operational oversight and technical backstopping of SCON (N) and SCON (S) from his base in Kigali. He has more than 20 years of experience in the tea and coffee sectors. Etienne previously worked for the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) and has served as Country Manager for Rainforest Alliance, as well as Director General of the Rwandan Coffee Board. He was also the Founder and General Manager of the Rwandan Smallholder Specialty Coffee Company (RWASHOSCCO). Etienne has a Master of Agribusiness from Texas A&M University.
Filbert is based in Rugabano District, Rwanda and oversees the Rugabano greenfield project. Filbert has almost 25 years of experience in agriculture in the public and private sectors, with a focus on agricultural research, management of the tea value chain, standards and certification, quality assurance and farmer extension. He previously worked with Mufindi Tea and Coffee Company and the Ministry of Agriculture in Tanzania, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Tanzania Smallholders Tea Development Agency (TSHTDA), and, most recently with the Njombe Outgrowers Services Company as General Manger. Filbert is a trained Agricultural Economist and holds an MSc in Agricultural Economics and Project Management from Sokoine University of Agriculture and University of Salford business school Manchester.
Mathew serves as Operations Director for operations in Tanzania from his base in Mbeya. This includes operational oversight and technical backstopping of the Njombe Outgrowers Services Company (NOSC). Mathew has more than 30 years of experience in commercial tea field and factory operations. He has significant expertise in smallholder engagement, developed during more than 20 years of management with KTDA, where he most recently served as Group Unit Factory Manager. He has an Msc in Project Management from the University of Salford Business School.
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.
Eleanor leads operations at Shagasha Tea Company located in South Western Rwanda. She has worked in the tea industry for more than 20 years. Previously Eleanor worked with the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) and Rwanda Mountain Tea. She has extensive experience in the production of high-quality teas and the implementation of ISO standards in tea factories. Eleanor holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from Moi University in Kenya and is currently undertaking an MBA at the University of Rwanda.
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.
Innocent has more than 11 years’ experience in tea sector focussing on field, estate and farmer management. He has a Degree in Agriculture from National University of Rwanda and an MSc in Rural Management from Annamalai University (India). He speaks English, French, Kinyarwanda and Kiswahili.
Based in the Mulindi district in Rwanda, Gerald is responsible for the management of all field services for farmers at Mulindi Factory Company. He has longstanding experience in the tea sector with more than 20 years of experience in field and factory operations. Prior to joining The Wood Foundation Africa, Gerald worked with the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) where he served as the Senior Field Services Manager.
Shukrani is an accredited Farmer Field Schools Trainer and Facilitator and plays a central role in our farmer training activities in Tanzania and Rwanda. Shukrani holds a Masters degree in Agriculture Extension Services specialising in agribusiness training and is experienced in Rainforest Alliance certification, commercial extension, hybrid farming and food safety. Prior to joining TWFA in 2018, Shukrani worked with the USAID, AGRA, EU and TRIT.
Titus is based in Transmara, Kenya and is responsible for managing and coordinating all farmer and agricultural training activities in the sugar sector programme. This includes managing quality and quantity targets, consultants, evaluation and reporting activities, and budgeting. He also develops training and manages delivery colleagues, alongside risk management and reporting.
Patrick is a Chartered Certified Accountant and a member of Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR). He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and brings with him over 10 years of experience to financial reporting, corporate finance, audit, business planning and taxation. Prior to joining, He was the Financial Controller at Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) for 4 years. He coordinates accounting, finance, and reporting of Rwandan Tea Factories.
Halima coordinates the finance, administrative and logistics functions for TWFA based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Her role includes supporting the set-up of new investment vehicles in Tanzania and aiding in compliance with statutory requirements.
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 mobilization processes for staff and consultants.