Mr. Philip Lumadede
(PMP. MPA) (USA National)
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Philip Lumadede is a leader in non-profit strategy and management. He is currently the Head of Business Operations and a member of Senor Leadership Team at CARE USA. CARE is a leading non-profit organization focused on International Development and is based in Atlanta Georgia. Philip joined CARE in 2003. He has held previous leadership positions with Wachovia Bank, Standard Chartered Bank (K) and several non-governmental organizations, including Nature Kenya, where he was the Executive Director. As a leader in NGO management, Philip is a certified Project Manager and has key memberships with Project Management Institute (PMI) International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) and American Evaluation Association. (AEA) He earned his bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Policy Management at Egerton University and his Masters in Public Administration in Policy Analysis and Evaluation from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, at Georgia State University.
Mr. David Adolwa
(Kenyan National)
MANAGING DIRECTOR/TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Mr. Adolwa is a Regional Trade facilitation expert with more than 20 years’ experience supporting a multitude of institutions through various capacity building initiatives.
He was recently engaged at the East African Trade Hub where he was involved supporting the East African Community and its partner states in enhancing economic growth and food security by stimulating increased trade and competitiveness in both regional and global markets by a. ) Harmonizing regional trade and transit policies and procedures, b.) Supporting private sector trade associations and c.) Building capacity of regional businesses to take advantage of preferential trade opportunities. He has worked with and supported a number of governments, government agencies, the private sector and other institutions who include:
- Regional Economic Communities such as Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC), and Southern African Development Community (SADC)
- National Governments and Government agencies in: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Malawi, Zambia, Ghana and Nigeria
- Private sector organizations involved in regional and international trade including: Airlines, Banks, Cross border Traders, Exporters and Importers, Freight Forwarders, Insurance Agencies, Railways, Shipping Lines, Transporters, Warehousing and Insurance firms.
He has over 21 years’ experience in providing technical assistance to both public and private sector institutions in areas such as: change management, efficiency and productivity, environmental protection, institutional governance, policy formulation, project management, quality assurance and standards, resource utilization, strategic planning and fundraising.
Mr. Adolwa has a deep knowledge of sub-Saharan Africa having worked in East, West and Southern Africa over the course of his career. He has designed a number of unique approaches to deal with Africa’s challenges, including an East Africa-specific Coordinated Border Management (CBM) approach aimed at facilitating trade across East Africa’s borders, which have been rolled out at 16 border posts across three key transport corridors. He also developed the Border Efficiency Assessment Methodology (BEAM) to monitor the impact of CBM. He holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Nairobi and Bachelor of Science Chemistry from Moi University.
Isaac Tallam
(Kenyan National)
DIRECTOR AGRICULTURE
Isaac is a lead commodity markets and trade specialist with over 20 years’ experience. He is the Regional Grain Trade Advisor at the USAID East Africa Trade Hub Program, where he drives the regions’ private sector interventions in the grain industry by improving agricultural trade facilitation and enhancing industry competitiveness. Isaac worked for 7 years at Itochu Corporation and was successful in developing supply chain models in Africa for leading Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian Beverage and Food industries. He has also worked for Sandvik International as the Regional Sales and Marketing manager for Eastern Africa where he was responsible for key portfolio business negotiations and managing sales and supplies operations. He holds a post graduate degree in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Nairobi. Isaac is a member of the Marketing Society of Kenya and the Chartered Institute of Marketing among others.
Lamech Wesonga
(Kenyan National)
DIRECTOR INVESTMENTS
Lamech is an International Economics and Trade expert with good knowledge of regional and international economics. He has the ability to interpret and analyse policies on Customs, trade and regional integration, as well as thorough knowledge of Trade Policy analysis and advocacy. Lamech led the team that drafted several policies both at National and Regional levels such as the EAC Industrialization policy, the National policy on EAC integration and National IP Policy. He has also spearheaded the drafting of the EAC Industrialization policy National and Regional Trade Negotiator for the EAC- EU- EPA negotiations since 2011. He is skilled in writing exemption letters, through which he has helped manufacturers in Uganda get tax exemption from the Uganda Revenue Authority. Lamech graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) (Financial Services) from Makerere University-Kampala, a Masters in International Economics & Trade, Shanghai University, China and is in the final stage of acquiring a Post Graduate Diploma in Trade Policy and Trade Law (Final stage) from Trade Policy Training Centre (TRAPCA), Tanzania.
Roy Gitonga
(Kenyan National)
DIRECTOR ICT
Roy is a project software engineer with over 10 years of experience in managing software technology solutions for private and government organizations. He is a solutions-directed certified PRINCE II project manager and software engineer with a background in managing full cycle of projects, from requirements gathering to implementation. Roy possesses excellent working knowledge of JavaScript, PHP, HTML, VB, CSS, MySQL, C++, SQL Server, Oracle products and open source solutions. He has handled projects in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi. He has worked for IGAD, Equity Bank, TBN Family Media, Coptic Hospital and Tanda Designs. He has been behind the design and development of East African Community Trade Helpdesk, Regional Food Balance Sheet and Revenue Authorities Digital Data Exchange (RADDEx). Roy holds an International Diploma in Computer Studies from the Institute of Advanced Technology and a BSc. (Hons) in Computer Science from the University of Nairobi.
Ruth Kuria
(Kenyan National)
DIRECTOR OPERATIONS & COMPANY SECRETARY
Ruth is an operations expert and a seasoned technical program coordinator with extensive experience spanning over 10 years, particularly in USAID-funded projects in Africa. Her expertise is in the development of design documents, budgets, monthly reconciliations, inventory, annual reports and conference logistical support in the East African region. Ruth has worked with Kaplan and Stratton Advocates, USAID Associates in Rural Development Inc., Bearing Point Inc. and USAID East Africa Trade Hub. She has coordinated strategic planning events for AGOA, the East African Business Council, Uganda Shippers Council, Federation of East Africa Freight Forwarders Association and Tanzania Truck Owners Association among others. She was part of the team that designed tools for the assessment and benchmarking of Joint Border Committees (JBC) at 16 border posts in along three key transport corridors in the East, Central and South African region. Ruth holds a Degree in Business Administration from Moi University and a Diploma in Logistics Management from the University of Johannesburg, an Institute of Chartered Management (ICM) Diploma in Business Management, and a Diploma in International Business Communications from the East Africa School of Management.
John Mwanza
(ZAMBIAn National)
TRADE FACILITATION, TRANSPORT & MARITIME
John is an expert in International Shipping Economics, Ports, and Transport Logistics. His previous positions include that of Director of Shipping and Liaison and Director of Shipping, Ports and Freight Services, ISCOS Secretariat in Mombasa, where he was tasked with promoting and coordinating the development and growth of a viable and efficient regional coastal shipping industry. John has written and researched extensively on topics revolving around shipping and port management. He obtained his B.A. in Economics and Business Studies from the University of Zambia and MSc in International Shipping Economics, Shipping Law, and Maritime Studies from the University of Liverpool, England. He also holds a Diploma in Port Senior Management, Galilee, Israel. John is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Transport (MCIT), London, England.