Our TEAM

Grace Mwambira is a passionate youth leader from Malawi and the Founder and Executive Director of Girls Evolve, a youth-led organization empowering girls and women. With a background in materials engineering, she promotes STEM education for girls, women’s economic empowerment, leadership development and climate justice. Grace is a DOT alumna of the DOT Climate Virtual Program, and brings extensive experience in youth advocacy, program design, and working with rural, marginalized communities. She is deeply committed to social justice, youth empowerment and digital inclusion.

John Shayo is a social entrepreneur and youth leader from Tanzania working at the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and youth empowerment. He is the founder of a venture designing innovative solutions in waste management and sustainable agriculture, grounded in community-led and climate-smart approaches.  

John is a 2025 Mandela Washington Fellow and a 2024 Youth Climate Award winner under Sustainable Consumption and Production. He brings experience working with young people, farmers, and community groups across Tanzania, and is committed to ensuring youth perspectives meaningfully inform development programs, policy discussions, and inclusive economic growth.

Félicité Kouadio, from Côte d’Ivoire, is engaged in advancing inclusive development through youth leadership, digital inclusion, and women’s economic empowerment. Félicité was a Youth Leader in the Going Beyond project implemented by Digital Opportunity Trust in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, and is committed to elevating African youth voices in international spaces.

Elizaberth Mwaba is a Zambian Medical Physics professional and Digital Business Facilitator passionate about digital inclusion, youth leadership, and community development. She currently serves as Africa Regional Coordinator for Youth on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (Youth4TPNW), working at the intersection of science, policy, and youth leadership with a focus on health systems, digital inclusion, and global peace. 

As a DOT Youth Alumna from the Going Beyond project implemented in partnership with Avencion, she gained practical skills in digital entrepreneurship, leadership, and community impact, strengthening her ability to support youth-led solutions and inclusive economic participation. As a digital business facilitator, she has equipped over 100 young people with entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital transformation skills, advancing sustainable livelihoods and inclusive development across Africa.

Phionah Kirabo is a youth development and business coach from Rwanda. She works in Partnerships and Business Development at KickStart International, where she supports youth and communities in agripreneurship, digital skills, and personal development. Phionah is a DOT Youth Alumni and mentor passionate about empowering young people, promoting inclusive leadership, and driving social impact within her community. She has participated in leadership programs including the Transformative Leadership Training by the Mastercard Foundation (2024) and DOT Rwanda Social innovator.

Sarah is a dedicated Researcher and Project Manager with a postgraduate background in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies. She is the Co-Founder of the Youth for Peace Initiative, where she focuses on fostering community growth and peacebuilding through strategic youth mentorship and capacity-building. Her expertise spans coordinating international research projects, managing digital communications, and developing strong visual identities. Sarah is passionate about creating lasting social impact and leverages her strengths in creative writing and data analysis to empower the next generation of leaders. Her goal is to bridge the gap between policy and practice in order to build more resilient and inclusive communities.

Wissam Al Ahmadieh is a Communications and Computer Networks Engineering graduate, youth leader, and digital education facilitator from Lebanon. He currently works as a Math and Physics Instructor and as a Teacher Facilitator with Digital Opportunity Trust Lebanon, where he supports educators and young people in building digital skills, adopting innovative and student-centered learning approaches, and designing community-based solutions. Wissam has experience in software and web development, having worked on multiple React-based applications and technology-driven projects. He is also actively engaged in youth-led climate action as a DOT Climate Ambassador, Green Transition Coach, and Climate X Youth Pioneer and Trainer, working to connect digital skills with sustainability and community impact.

As a member of the Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board (GYLAB), Wissam is committed to amplifying youth voices, contributing regional perspectives, and supporting the co-design of inclusive and impactful programs that empower young people across communities.

Eunice holds a BA in Sociology. She is a community leader at DOT Kenya based in Nairobi where she coordinates a training program that seeks to promote monetization of content creation. She has a passion for working with technology as well as impacting change in her peers and the community at large. She is a consultant in online jobs, a mentor as well and is passionate about youths financial stability. She sees herself changing the lives of thousands of people and impacting the Kenyan societies through DOT.

Dawit is a seasoned training professional with a passion for driving youth-focused projects, particularly in Entrepreneurship and Employability. As a former DOT member, he served as a community facilitator on the EBG project, gaining valuable insights into community engagement. Currently, as a Training Officer at Africa Jobs Network, he coordinates Dereja’s services across various regions, enhancing skills and opportunities for individuals in diverse communities. With proficiency in facilitation, leadership, and creativity, his expertise includes delivering impactful trainings in Employability, startup strategies, customer service, facilitation skills and essential life skills.

Dounya Bassil has worked in the social development and humanitarian sector for more than 15 years. In that time, she has designed, managed, and evaluated education, child protection, psychosocial health, and other projects targeting Lebanese communities as well as Palestinian and Syrian refugees.

To pursue her passion for supporting people and groups to develop their potential, Dounya pursued a certification in Executive and Life coaching at the Center for Executive Coaching and became an Accredited Certified Training Program member. She also holds a degree in political science and a degree in social animation, in addition to a master’s degree in social development from Saint Joseph University.

Violette serves as the Vice President Sub-Saharan Africa and Country Director for Rwanda, demonstrating remarkable leadership since DOT Rwanda’s inception in 2010. Prior to DOT Rwanda, she spent seven years at the Embassy of Rwanda in Washington DC, beginning as a policy analyst and rising to become a diplomat in the position of First Secretary. Upon completion of her mission, she was posted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kigali, in charge of Asia and Oceania.

Violette is involved in numerous youth and women’s economic empowerment and technology-fueled development initiatives. She is a mentor through the Imbuto Foundation, a member of the Africa Leadership Network and a recipient of the Change Agent ABIE Award from the Anita Borg Institute. In 2016, Violette was named one of Amazon’s Watch Magazine’s Top 25 Distinguished Women in Business Excellence in Africa for her work to economically empower young girls and women.

Violette holds a Master of Public Administration with a focus on International Development from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Comparative Development from Trent University.

Solomon has several years of program development and project management experience in various organizations. He served as a project manager for Christian Children’s Fund of Canada and worked for Amhara Development Association as a deputy CEO and executive director.

Solomon has a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Addis Ababa University and has extensive training related to his profession and expertise.

Hamza previously worked on several youth projects building the capacity of youth and supporting them through an ecosystem of youth innovators as part of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development and the Madrasati initiative. He brings experience in developing social enterprises and supporting the creation and expansion of youth-led initiatives. Hamza also holds a MSc in International Management and Leadership Innovation.

Beryl has more than 15 years of experience as an accountant and financial consultant. She is responsible for financial management and reporting, asset management, and financial accounting. She advises the management team and program teams on various operational decisions. She manages funds in a judicious manner while minimizing risk, and ensures adequate controls over the use of funds.

Beryl has a track record of success in establishing and managing finance and administration systems and structures, cost allocation, and financial governance structures. She is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds an Executive Master of Science in Organizational Development from the United States International University Africa.

Denish Otieno brings extensive experience in program management, monitoring, evaluation and learning across various sectors. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Population and Development Planning from the Institute of Rural Development Planning in Dodoma, Tanzania. Combining his expertise in program management, monitoring and evaluation with a passion for community development, Denish has consistently championed positive change. His dedication to leveraging innovative solutions and fostering collaboration underscores his commitment to advancing sustainable development goals and improving livelihoods within communities.

Janet Longmore is the founder and CEO of Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) and a champion for technology-driven, community-owned, and youth-led solutions in rapidly developing regions of the world.

Under Janet’s leadership, DOT has developed a global network of thousands of young people who are invested in their communities as leaders of change and social innovators. In communities across Africa, the Middle East and Canada, these young people are creating solutions to local challenges, starting businesses, and creating jobs.

A passionate believer in the power and potential of youth and technology, Janet works tirelessly to promote respect for youth as an untapped source of creativity, innovation, and talent. As a member of the steering committee for the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Internet for All initiative, she shares insights on how young people can be champions of digital inclusion, driving social and economic change in emerging economies.

In 2016, Janet was decorated with a Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General of Canada in recognition of her strong example of social innovation and leadership that brings considerable honour to Canada. In 2018 she was appointed to the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation’s Business Leaders Caucus, through which she works to develop guidelines on how to best use public resources to engage the private sector in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

While guiding DOT’s steady growth, Janet has built long-term partnerships across private and public sectors, including with Cisco Systems, IBM, The MasterCard Foundation, and agencies such as Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and USAID.

Janet is a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur and a Senior Ashoka Fellow; from 2014-2016 she was an active member on the WEF Global Agenda Council on Emerging Multinationals. Janet is a recipient of the CATA Alliance Sara Kirke Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (2011) and has been recognized as a Trailblazer and Trendsetter by the Women’s Executive Network Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada (2012).

Drawing upon more than ten years’ experience living and working in Kenya, Liberia, and Ghana, Natasha brings hands-on experience managing and implementing programs in Africa. She served as the Regional Program Manager of West Africa at Right To Play, where she oversaw a diverse range of programs addressing youth leadership, education, gender equality and child rights. In this role, Natasha supported the capacity development of country program teams in results-based management and reporting. She also has an extensive background in monitoring and evaluation, training, and community-based research. Having witnessed first-hand the energy and innovation of young people who are empowered to become agents of change in their communities, Natasha was excited to join the Program Operations team at DOT in December 2016. She holds a Masters Degree in Medical Anthropology from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia.

Nada Ghaoui is the Vice President, Marketing and Development for Digital Opportunity Trust, supporting the network in delivering on the vision where all underserved and disadvantaged young women and men realize their potential in an inclusive digital economy. 

Nada brings over 24 years of expereince across the MENA business landscape, burnishing a strong reputation in driving brand recognition, placemaking, innovation, customer experience and driving market share and revenue generation through marketing strategies, partnerships and initiatives. Drawing upon her experience in sales and marketing in the MENA region, Nada has developed considerable multinational expertise in the region’s growing luxury hospitality and retail sector. Prior to DOT, Nada served as Marketing Director for shopping malls and was an active member of the sustainability committee with Majid Al Futtaim, the largest developer and operator of shopping malls and retail destinations in the MENA region. 

Nada sits on the board of Archery Canada, as VP Marketing, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers. She is a regional and international marketing judge with the International Council of Shopping Centers and served as a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Media, Entertainment and Culture 2020-2021.

Nada holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing, from the Lebanese American University.

Formerly DOT’s Vice President, Strategic Development, Grant continues to work closely with DOT as an Executive Officer and advisor. He is an experienced management professional with extensive international experience. He is a specialist in partnership and joint venture development and has been responsible for significant private and public sector investment in developing and transitional economies.

Grant is a former executive in several IT companies, a partner in PriceWaterhouse, and he co-managed the Acacia Initiative in Africa for Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). He has served on the board of directors of Precarn Incorporated, the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Willis College and TeKnoWave Inc.

Tony brings extensive professional operations and project management experience and a commitment to innovation within DOT’s vision. Prior to joining DOT, Tony was a project manager with the Global Connectivity program at the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

In 2007, Tony completed a master’s degree in international development at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (Ottawa, Canada). Tony has also enjoyed over 10 years in the telecommunications sector, having worked in senior product management, technical marketing, and executive advisory roles.

Jane is a dynamic executive with extensive experience in international development, corporate social responsibility, inclusive business and strategic partnerships in emerging markets. She has worked in over 40 emerging economies in her career and has been based in Turkey since 2005. Jane has held multiple management and executive positions in DOT since 2004, including development and oversight of DOT’s innovative corporate partnerships programs, business development, tri-sectoral collaboration initiatives and the MENA region. She is a former Canadian diplomat and holds an M.A. in International Relations.

Marianne is DOT’s Regional Vice President, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), leading regional business development and forming new partnerships to support expansion. She is also DOT Lebanon’s Country Director, and has led its operations since 2010.

Before joining DOT Lebanon, Marianne managed operations at World Vision International and established World Vision Lebanon’s refugee program. With her extensive experience in NGO management, she has an impressive network within Lebanese and international civil society, and she is an expert in issues concerning refugee communities in Lebanon.

Marianne has a Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering from the American University of Beirut, a master’s in food science from McGill University in Canada, and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Joseph University/Paris Dauphine.

Violette serves as the Vice President Sub-Saharan Africa and Country Director for Rwanda, demonstrating remarkable leadership since DOT Rwanda’s inception in 2010. Prior to DOT Rwanda, she spent seven years at the Embassy of Rwanda in Washington DC, beginning as a policy analyst and rising to become a diplomat in the position of First Secretary. Upon completion of her mission, she was posted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kigali, in charge of Asia and Oceania.

Violette is involved in numerous youth and women’s economic empowerment and technology-fueled development initiatives. She is a mentor through the Imbuto Foundation, a member of the Africa Leadership Network and a recipient of the Change Agent ABIE Award from the Anita Borg Institute. In 2016, Violette was named one of Amazon’s Watch Magazine’s Top 25 Distinguished Women in Business Excellence in Africa for her work to economically empower young girls and women.

Violette holds a Master of Public Administration with a focus on International Development from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Comparative Development from Trent University.

Heather has been working with DOT since 2008, originally as DOT‘s Executive Assistant and currently as the Senior Manager of Corporate Operations. Heather has helped manage the growth of the organization, and now takes on HR responsibilities for the DOT Ottawa team. Heather is passionate about international development and gender equality, and is inspired by the commitment to social innovation she sees in the DOT network.

As Business Development Manager, Emma supports the Partnership Development Hub to build and maintain relationships with donors, partners and stakeholders across DOT’s network. In her role, she also supports DOT’s presence at global events and fundraising and partnership engagement.  Before joining DOT, Emma worked as a Communications Coordinator with IMRSV Data Labs, contributing to business development initiatives through liaising with key decision-makers in the public and private sectors. 

Emma graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts with Specialization in Communications, and Queen’s University with a Graduate Diploma in Business.

Sakwa Masai is a seasoned private sector and development partnerships specialist with over 13 years of experience operating at the intersection of business, non-profits, and community-driven impact. He brings deep expertise in private sector engagement, strategic partnerships, stakeholder management, programme delivery, and resource mobilization, with a proven record of advancing sustainable, high-impact initiatives.

His career spans multiple sectors, including education, youth and entrepreneurship, humanitarian response, women’s rights, SME development, conservation, sports, and digital inclusion. Sakwa has partnered with leading institutions such as the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA), Invest in Africa, B Lab Africa, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Kenya), Oxfam Kenya, and Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT-UK), contributing to models that effectively align private capital, innovation, and social outcomes.

Sakwa is an alumnus of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI – Cohort 36) and an active Rotarian. He currently serves on the Board of the Rotary Club of Ngong Road Nairobi as Director for Performance and Monitoring, supporting strategic oversight and organizational effectiveness. He holds a B.A. in Community Development from Moi University.

Ndimbumi is a senior marketing and communications professional with over 13 years of experience spanning television, digital marketing, and development communications. She joined Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) in 2017 and has supported national, regional, and global visibility efforts, strengthening brand positioning, donor-aligned campaigns, and youth-led storytelling

Working across DOT’s global portfolio, Ndimbumi supports the design and execution of multi-country campaigns, develops communication frameworks and templates, and leads marketing strategies that enable consistent, high-quality engagement. Her work focuses on translating program impact into clear narratives that resonate with youth audiences, partners, and donors, while strengthening internal capacity through tools, guidance, and mentorship.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Tumaini University, has completed professional training through Stanford University, and is a Tony Elumelu Foundation Mentor and certified Marketing Lead with the Tanzania Marketing Science Association.

As Marketing Officer at DOT, Abby brings vast creative skills, including graphic design, social media management, and video production, to elevate the organization’s outreach and engagement. She leads the design of marketing campaigns, using her expertise to create visually appealing content that resonates with the target audience. 

Before joining DOT, Abby worked as an E-learning Course Developer at Global Affairs Canada. She played a pivotal role in enhancing e-learning content to meet accessibility standards, facilitating the effective training of Canadian diplomats and foreign service personnel.

Additionally, Abby completed a six-month University placement as a Communications Officer for Community Women’s Enterprise Network in Kampala, Uganda. During her placement, she was responsible for communicating the stories and successes of young women entrepreneurs within the network, shedding light on their achievements and the positive impact they were making in their communities. 

Abby holds a Bachelor’s degree of Environmental Studies, majoring in International Development and minoring in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of Waterloo.

Recognizing the transformative potential of MSMEs in community economies, Davies, through his role working with various entrepreneurship support organizations, has supported diverse entrepreneurs in marginalized communities in both Tanzania and Kenya by providing essential resources, knowledge, funding, and market access programs. In March 2024, Davies joined DOT through IMAB, where he supported the board’s mission to bridge the gap between young entrepreneurs, funders, and funding networks, creating a dynamic ecosystem for sustainable growth.

As part of DOT’s global team, his role ensures that each donation directly fosters growth, sustainability, innovation, and job creation—driving long-term economic impact while addressing pressing social and environmental challenges. With six years of experience working closely with micro and small businesses, he has gained deep insights into the complexities of their growth challenges. His involvement in various entrepreneurship support organizations has equipped him with extensive knowledge, enabling a profound understanding of the root causes behind these challenges.

As a former DOT Youth, Jessica is a certified coach, startup consultant, and youth development expert with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, coaching, and skills development across Africa and the Middle East. She has a proven track record of designing and implementing coaching programs that equip young innovators with the skills, confidence, and resources needed to drive meaningful change in their communities. As the Youth Coach Coordinator at DOT, Jessica is committed to building strong peer networks, coaching young leaders, and fostering an environment where youth can thrive both personally and professionally.

Denish Otieno brings extensive experience in program management, monitoring, evaluation and learning across various sectors. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Population and Development Planning from the Institute of Rural Development Planning in Dodoma, Tanzania. Combining his expertise in program management, monitoring and evaluation with a passion for community development, Denish has consistently championed positive change. His dedication to leveraging innovative solutions and fostering collaboration underscores his commitment to advancing sustainable development goals and improving livelihoods within communities.

Adil Skalli has over a decade of experience leading the design, management, and implementation of impactful, multi-country programs. His work centers on youth empowerment, skills development, and innovation-driven strategies to scale community impact. Spanning sectors such as digital literacy, social entrepreneurship, and workforce development, Adil’s work is rooted in participatory design and systems thinking. He brings deep expertise in design thinking and participatory methodologies, which he applies to enhance innovation, program relevance, and long-term impact.

Adil has led and contributed to a wide range of international initiatives focused on digital inclusion, youth engagement, and sustainable development. His approach emphasizes local ownership, sustainability, and impact at scale. With a strong foundation in project management, strategic communications, and community mobilization, he is committed to building programs that are both locally grounded and globally scalable. He holds a degree from Carleton University.

Paul brings a wealth of experience in youth engagement, entrepreneurship, innovation, and impactful initiatives. He holds a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the University of Edinburgh Business School, he is a recipient of the UK government’s prestigious scholarship award for future leaders (Chevening 2022/23) and an alumnus of the US Department of State of Mandela Washington Fellowship, Leadership in Business 2022. 

Paul previously held various positions in strategy and operations and he co-founded Fundi App, an award-winning on-demand handyman startup. Until recently, he served as the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Advisor at DOT UK, co-founding DOT’s Impact Makers and Advisory Board (IMAB).

Drawing on over ten years of experience leading youth and community development initiatives across Africa, Henok brings hands-on expertise in project management, program design, and strategic management. He currently serves as Project Manager for the Going Beyond Project, where he contributes to the regional programs advancing youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and the Ivory Coast.

Previously, Henok progressed from Youth Leader Intern to Regional Team Leader in Ethiopia, overseeing multi-sectoral initiatives in youth employability, enterprise development, WASH, and agribusiness across diverse contexts. In these roles, he strengthened partner capacity in results-based management, reporting, and evidence-based decision-making.

Henok holds Masters of Anthropology and Development Studies (MSc) from KU Leuven, Belgium, and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Mekelle University, Ethiopia. Grounded in both academic training and field experience, he remains deeply committed to empowering young people as drivers of sustainable change in their communities.

Beatrice Mwangobola as the Partnership lead for Malawi brings extensive knowledge in project management, grants management, Capacity building and Innovation and digitization which she has gained over the years. Beatrice Holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science, an advanced diploma in Computer engineering, a diploma in computer studies, a certificate in project management and a certificate in Innovation. She is passionate about changing the lives of the less marginalized youth and women through capacity building and mentorship. She has currently impacted over 13000 youth, women and the elderly through the Digital Malawi Project.

Nasilele is a seasoned expert with over 12 years in open data, project management, and strategic partnerships, with experience across local to global levels. As Head of Global Partnerships at the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT), she led efforts to build alliances supporting open data communities in 94 countries across Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Previously, she worked as a GIS Analyst at the Zambia Statistics Agency, pioneering GIS integration for research and evaluation in both public and private sectors. Nasilele has also consulted with FAO and other UN agencies, integrating key areas such as health, climate change, and disaster response to enhance impact. Passionate about partnerships, she is driven by a commitment to empowering communities and achieving sustainable change through collaboration.

As Partnership lead for Tanzania, Edson brings expertise in building and strengthening collaborations that drive youth-led impact. Since joining DOT in 2021 as a Youth Leader, he has advanced through roles as Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (MERL) and UX/Frontend Developer for organizational systems before moving into partnership leadership. With a strong foundation in data-driven decision-making, project design, and organizational capacity building, he has contributed to diverse initiatives across regions and contexts.

Leveraging his strengths in stakeholder engagement, strategic partnerships, and innovative technologies, Edson ensures sustainable outcomes and lasting change. Passionate about empowering youth organizations, he cultivates connections that align resources, ideas, and opportunities to create meaningful impact.

Ann is a passionate advocate for youth leadership and development, with nearly 14 years of experience empowering young people to lead change. She began her career with DOT Kenya as a Youth Leader and has since advanced through various roles in Administration, Human Resources, Gender, and Programs before joining DOT Global.

At the global level, Ann has led the Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board and the DOT Youth Alumni Network portfolios, strengthening regional collaboration and strategic engagement with young leaders across Africa and the Middle East. She currently heads the Reaching Youth project, which supports emerging organizations across Africa to strengthen their capacity, drive innovation, and expand youth agency and economic empowerment for sustainable community impact.

Ann holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nairobi and an Executive Certificate in Human Resource Management from the College of Human Resource Management. She is also a Certified Coach and actively mentors young entrepreneurs and professionals, fostering the next generation of ethical and effective leaders.

Maxwell holds a Bachelor’s in Integrated Community Development Studies from the University for Development Studies, an MSc and Ph.D. in Development Studies from KNUST, an MPhil in Project Management and Development Communication from the University of the Free State (South Africa), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Learning and Innovation in Adult Education from the University of South Africa.

As Gender and Safeguarding Manager, Meaghan works closely with her counterparts across the DOT network to strengthen DOT’s growing focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Meaghan is responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of project gender equality strategies and implementation plans, strengthening capacity in gender equality across the DOT network, and supporting the mainstreaming of gender into proposals, programs, operations, and budgets. Meaghan also serves as the safeguarding focal point at DOT HQ.

Prior to joining DOT, Meaghan worked as a gender technical expert and Associate Manager, Strategy and Learning, with the Mastercard Foundation, playing a key role in mainstreaming gender equity across the organization and its programming. Meaghan’s background in gender equality and women’s economic empowerment is grounded in her experience supporting grassroots efforts among women’s rights organizations working to support survivors of gender-based violence, and improve the resilience of their refugee and migrant communities at the Myanmar-Thailand border. She is passionate about community-driven and youth-led solutions that highlight and strengthen the transformative leadership of women.

Meaghan has a Master of Arts in political sociology and International Development from University of Guelph, Bachelor of Political Science and History from Carleton University, and a post-graduate diploma in International Development Program Management from Humber Business School.

Ruth Makwakwa is a Malawian development practitioner with over 15 years of experience, driving the design and implementation of Gender Equity and Safeguarding strategies across multi-country, youth-led, women-led, and youth-serving programs in Sub-Saharan Africa. She specializes in gender equity, child and youth safeguarding, SEAH prevention, and trauma-informed, survivor-centred approaches. Ruth brings extensive expertise in policy development, safeguarding governance, capacity strengthening, and monitoring and evaluation of gender and safeguarding outcomes, translating global standards into practical, context-responsive systems. She is recognized for fostering inclusive organizational cultures, building high-performing teams, and advancing sustainable, community-driven impact through strong partnerships and local knowledge.

Ruth holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Governance from the Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance at Africa University in Zimbabwe, a Bachelor of Science in Demography and Rural Development from the University of Malawi, and postgraduate certificates in Early Childhood Development, PSEAH, Advocacy and Policy Influencing.

Ulala Kondowe has 10 years’ experience in project design and implementation, feminist leadership development, strategic advocacy, and capacity building in the Gender Justice thematic area. Having worked extensively in the non-profit sector, Ulala offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise in Gender Mainstreaming and Safeguarding coupled with passion and commitment to enhance inclusivity and promote gender equality.

Ulala is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Project Management and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Malawi, as well as a certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation.

Walid guides the strategic design and evolution of DOT’s global program portfolio, ensuring coherence, relevance, and adaptive quality across diverse contexts. With over 20 years of experience in ICT for Development, he brings a systems-level perspective that connects technology, learning, and equity in service of youth agency and community-driven change.

Widely sought as a strategic advisor across the DOT network, Walid focuses on aligning program pathways with emerging global trends—ensuring DOT’s interventions remain resilient and relevant in an increasingly AI-shaped world. He champions localization, strengthening local capacities and stewarding innovations that are community-owned, accountable, and equitable. Through his work, Walid translates organizational vision into impactful, inclusive outcomes that respect the autonomy and expertise of the partners and countries DOT serves.

Walid holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Balamand.

Petronila has more than 12 years of educational publishing, procurement, and project management experience. She excels at producing competitive content and managing vibrant and energetic teams.

In her role with DOT Kenya, Petronila coordinates the development and implementation of employee training and professional development programs. She advances learning at DOT Kenya through research, partnerships, and advocacy initiatives.

Petronila holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension from Egerton University, along with three postgraduate degrees from the University of Nairobi: a Master of Arts in Communication for Development, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Arts in Gender and Development Studies.

Ruth develops impactful programs that resonate with DOT’s mission, vision, and objectives. She is passionate about empowering youth and young women from marginalized communities to use technology for social change. Her efforts foster growth in both their businesses and society. Ruth brings 8 years of experience designing and developing women-led digital skills programs, bridging the digital gap.

Ali is a DOT alumnus with over eight years of experience being at the forefront of many issues that promote pro-poor values, gender equality, good governance and social justice in Africa and in Canada.

While working as a digital champion and community leader with DOT Uganda, Ali became aware of how little his peers were involved in making the decisions that directly impacted their lives. Working with fellow young leaders and community members, he started to form an idea for the future. The outcome was the Youth Equality Centre (YEC), a social enterprise founded by Ali, Jackline Cherotich, and other DOT Uganda youth leaders in late 2013. YEC empowers young people in the country with self esteem, communication, technology, entrepreneurship, and life skills. 

Prior to joining DOT HQ Staff in Canada, Ali had served as the Communications and Events Planner at the Black Coalition for AIDs prevention – BLACK Cap in Toronto, Canada. Ali has also previously served with non-profit organizations including the Uganda Youth Network (UYONET), as its Gender point-person and Program Assistant for the Youth Advocacy and Engagement program, as President for the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) Young Leaders Alumni Association, a founding member for the Young Leaders Think Tank for Policy Alternatives now dubbed Youth 4 Policy  an initiative of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Uganda to enhance youth participation in governance and policy formulation. 

Similarly, Ali has served on different Boards of organizations such as Vijan Corps, appointed to chair the Board of Directors for  the African Youth and Adolescents Network on population and Development (AfriYAN) in Uganda supported by UNFPA and most recently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Centre for Black Development Options Canada – CBDOC. Ali is also an alumnus with Mandela institute for Development Studies -MINDS in South Africa, a Women Deliver Young Leader, and he is among the 2017 120 Under Forty Winners under the Bill and Melinda Gates institute for Population and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United states of America. 

Ali holds a Bachelor’s degree in Community Based Rehabilitation from Kyambogo University and he awaits an award of a Master’s of Arts degree in Local Governance and Human Rights from Uganda Martyrs University.

As Senior Director of Programs, Inclusion and Impact, Elizabeth oversees DOT’s global impact portfolio and provides strategic support to DOT’s programs, including DOT’s gender and inclusion approaches, climate programming, and entrepreneurship projects. Elizabeth has over a decade of experience in global development, with specialization in leadership development, youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, and gender equality. She is also a certified leadership coach and works with leaders in DOT’s network, with a particular passion for coaching emerging women leaders. Elizabeth holds a Master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, where she specialized in International Organizations and Human Security.

Prior to joining DOT, Teresa worked on several climate change and climate justice focused initiatives, where she conducted research, coordinated projects, and managed stakeholders. At the Shareholder Association for Research and Education, she helped manage the Climate Engagement Canada program, which mobilized 30 plus institutions in the financial community to promote a just transition to a net zero economy. 

Teresa has also worked as a Legislative Policy Researcher at Environment and Climate Change Canada and as a Policy Advisor at Global Affairs Canada. Teresa holds a BA in Public Policy and International Development Studies and an MA in Environmental Studies.

As Knowledge and Learning Manager, Weris leads initiatives to capture, share, and apply organizational learning to strengthen DOT’s programs and partnerships. She brings over a decade of experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL), having developed frameworks for a range of donor-funded programs.

Weris has primarily supported the development and implementation of youth entrepreneurship and employment programming across Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, and continues to provide local capacity-building support for implementing partners. Her approach integrates gender equality and feminist, anti-colonial lenses to ensure inclusive and context-sensitive monitoring and evaluation.

Weris is passionate about creating opportunities for youth employment and closing the digital divide in the Global South. Prior to joining DOT, Weris worked with UNDP Rwanda supporting the Youth Connekt Africa Initiative’s rollout across the continent.

Matt supports DOT’s global monitoring and evaluation efforts to provide our partners and country teams with assessments of our programs’ impact. These efforts include: 1) Engaging with Country teams and various HQ departments to develop Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning best practices and assessment tools; 2) Researching and implementing social impact assessment methods, indicators and data collection strategies, including learning-driven assessment; and, 3) Coordinating and producing impact reports.

Matt brings over 10 years of experience working on youth-led research programs, which includes designing and managing mixed-method research programs for global cities research, as well as developing Monitoring and Evaluation tools and processes for projects with varied donors. Matt holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Environmental Studies, as well as Graduate Certificate for Learning Disability Specialist.

Matt joined DOT as a full-time staff member in 2023, before which he was a consultant with DOT since 2018.

Anthony Omutobe supports DOT global program strategic initiatives, technical guidance and support in the process of continuous design, management and improvement of M&E practices, processes and systems in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Ghana. I also lead in research and provide data processing and analysis support and formulate conclusions and recommendations for decision-making.

He is particularly skilled in Project Management · Machine Learning · SPSS Statistics · Database Administration · R (Programming Language) · Statistical Programming · Predictive Modeling · Research · Microsoft Exc. 

Yibrah Aregawi is a skilled Monitoring and Evaluation Officer with expertise in designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems. With a strong background in data analysis and project management, He develop frameworks and tools to track program performance and measure outcomes. He excels in analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data using various software and statistical tools. Yibrah is committed to promoting evidence-based practices and using data to drive decision-making, ensuring program effectiveness and continuous improvement.

Developer, mentor, and systems-thinker committed to blending impact with innovation. As Deputy Director of Technology at Digital Opportunity Trust, he leads digital initiatives across Africa, designing and deploying tools that empower youth, strengthen NGOs, and enable accessible, impactful digital learning. His expertise spans architecting Laravel and Vue.js platforms, implementing AI-driven education solutions, and developing crypto trading algorithms — consistently bridging bold ideas with scalable systems.

With a strong focus on youth empowerment, digital transformation, and purpose-driven technology, he brings strategic insight and technical excellence to every project, driving progress at the intersection of innovation and social good.

Farida is a seasoned IT professional with extensive experience building and managing IT systems in various industries. She has previously worked with Microsoft, developing the metaverse platform. She has built and managed a banking platform for the microfinance industry as well as developed mobile gateways and services for mobile networks and content providers. At DOT, she works with the technical team to ensure that relevant solutions are built and/or implemented for the projects.

Celine is a software developer with a degree in Information Technology. She has experience in building fintech and VAS applications delivering impactful solutions. She has also had the privilege of mentoring aspiring developers in web development bootcamps, where she shared her expertise and passion for technology. Currently, she focused on advancing her tech skills towards becoming a software architect, with a particular interest in cloud technologies. Her goal is to leverage her experience and continuous learning to contribute to innovative and scalable tech solutions.

Francis is an adept technical professional focused on programming, instructional design, and
mobile application development, aimed at bridging the digital gap for youth. His proficiency in
crafting innovative digital solutions empowers youth-led tech initiatives. His work significantly
impacts youth by merging technical innovation with their needs, leading to a smooth
integration of tech solutions.

Memory Chitanda is the Tech Communication Liaison with the Digital Opportunity Trust Tech team. She is a proud DOT Youth Alumni from the Going Beyond project, where she also offered support and mentorship to Youth Leaders in Zambia during Round 2 Training of Trainers (TOTs).

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, majoring in Economics with minors in Psychology and Sociology. Beyond her professional role, Memory is an entrepreneur, founder of a fashion brand and a social enterprise, dedicated to driving creativity and social change.

Passionate about policy advocacy, community development, and youth empowerment, Memory continues to champion initiatives that equip young people and women with the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Beryl has more than 15 years of experience as an accountant and financial consultant. She is responsible for financial management and reporting, asset management, and financial accounting. She advises the management team and program teams on various operational decisions. She manages funds in a judicious manner while minimizing risk, and ensures adequate controls over the use of funds.

Beryl has a track record of success in establishing and managing finance and administration systems and structures, cost allocation, and financial governance structures. She is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds an Executive Master of Science in Organizational Development from the United States International University Africa.

As the Finance Manager at DOT, Stacey collaborates closely with the finance team in Ottawa and various country teams, ensuring thorough and detailed financial reporting. Additionally, she offers invaluable support to the operations team by providing insightful project and budget reports.With over 12 years of diverse financial expertise under her belt, Stacey’s background encompasses business analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and financial statement preparation. Her journey began in public accounting, where she honed her skills before transitioning into financial analysis and assuming leadership roles within corporate settings. Stacey’s dedication to fostering financial excellence shines through her commitment to developing, implementing, and maintaining rigorous financial controls and guidelines in collaboration with her teams.

Patrick Muhire, is an experienced finance and audit professional specializing in financial management, donor-funded project finance, compliance, internal controls, and financial reporting. He is a Certified Public Accountant of Rwanda and holds a Certificate in Forensic Investigation from the International Institute of Certified Forensic Investigation Professionals (IICFIP). Patrick earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Rwanda – College of Business and Economics (UR-CBE) and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Finance at the Adventist University of Central Africa (AUCA).

Patrick began his career at PwC Rwanda, where he served as Associate Auditor and Senior Auditor from 2014 to 2020, gaining strong experience in private and public sector audits, consultancy, and assurance engagements. He later worked as Financial Controller at Enabel (Belgian Development Agency) from 2020 to 2025, managing financial oversight for multiple donor-funded projects and more than 50 implementing partners. In 2025 from August to Dec 2025, he served as Interim Finance Manager at DOT Rwanda and currently works as Finance Manager for the Going Beyond Project, providing strategic financial leadership and ensuring strong financial governance and donor compliance.

Proscovia is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Tanzania with over 8 years of experience working with donor-funded programs and non-governmental organizations. Her areas of expertise include financial accounting and reporting, financial management, grants management and compliance. Proscovia brings her expertise to DOT by supporting partner organizations through capacity building in financial management, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and specific country laws and regulations.

Justine sits as Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) President and CEO after 17 years with Export Development Canada (EDC) and 7 years with Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). She is an impactful leader whose diverse experience includes delivering financial services on the front line, overseeing successful organizational transformations, evolving risk management capabilities, spearheading the development of innovative financial products, and developing and executing corporate strategies. Much of her career has been focused on lending to and supporting Canadian businesses across critical sectors, including agriculture and agri-food.

In her time at EDC, Justine was responsible for several different business functions including business development in the resources, forestry, seafood, agricultural equipment, light manufacturing and extractive sectors, the transformation of EDC’s Financing and Investment Group, and full responsibility for EDC’s $9B Insurance and Working Capital Solutions portfolio. Prior to leaving EDC, Justine was appointed to be EDC’s first Chief Sustainability Officer and was responsible for aligning EDC’s 10-year corporate strategy with evolving business principles and practices focused on the environment, human rights, and innovation.

Justine is a member of the University of Ottawa Board of Governors and currently sits on their Audit Committee. She also volunteers extensively and has served as Chair of the Digital Opportunity Trust and Chair of the Forum for Young Canadians. Justine earned an MBA from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Carleton University. She is the recipient of several awards related to her inspirational leadership and community involvement.

Michel is the Associate Vice President, Financial Resources at the University of Ottawa. Michel is a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) and has over 30 years of experience in finance, information technology, human resources and procurement. Previously, Michel served as Vice President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Office of the National Capital Commission. He also worked at the Canadian Museum of Nature, where he held the position of Vice President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer, and at the Canadian Commercial Corporation, where he held the position of Vice President, Risk and Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Michel also worked in the private sector.

Nungari is currently the Strategy, Partnerships and Special Initiatives lead for the De-risking Agricultural Finance and Climate Resilience team at the African Development Bank. She is currently working on the development of the Africa Climate Risk Insurance Facility for Adaptation (ACRIFA), a continental climate financing facility aiming to mobilize $1 billion to de-risk private sector investments for the development of climate insurance solutions. Nungari was formerly the Program Lead for AGRA’s Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture (CALA). She led its design, implementation and growth to over 200 delegates across eight countries in two years. At AGRA, Nungari also worked on corporate strategy development, and the design of various strategic initiatives including the Hub for Agriculture Policy Action (HAPA).

Nungari has a decade of experience in development strategy, policy and research having previously worked with Dalberg Global Development Advisors providing strategy, investment advice and implementation support for agriculture public sector entities across Eastern Africa. She has also worked in emergency food security initiatives with a range of international humanitarian organizations including Christian Aid and Save the Children. In 2016, she was awarded the Global Andrew E. Rice (Truman) Award for leadership and innovation by a young professional in international development by the Society for International Development (SID), Washington, DC. She has B.A (hons.) in Political Science from Brown University (USA) and an MPhil and PhD in International Development from the University of Cambridge (UK).

Mr. Albert Nsengiyumva is the Executive Secretary of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). A consummate technocrat and education policy specialist with specialty in technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Albert has extensive experience in information communication technology (ICT) research, policy development and implementation in Africa. For 18 years he served the government and people of Rwanda, where he occupied various senior positions including cabinet member as Minister of Infrastructure and the Minister of State for TVET in the Ministry of Education.

Albert has solid grasp of government functionalities and has built a strong reputation around leveraging social capital to mobilize resources that support policy development, advocacy, and implementation. He has helped expand ADEA’s network across the world, building new relationships with various partners including multilateral development institutions, regional economic bodies, and philanthropic organizations.

Marc Tassé is a globally recognized expert on ethical leadership, corporate misconduct, and crisis response. He advises executives of various departments of domestic and foreign governments, as well as CEOs, directors, and other leaders of Fortune 500 companies and global organizations, on responding strategically to sensitive regulatory, governance, and reputational challenges.

An award-winning lecturer at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law and at the Telfer Executive MBA program, he has delivered lectures on corporate ethics and financial scandal remediation at Harvard University, and has been frequently quoted in prestigious publications, such as The Wall Street Journal.

Kim is the Co-Founder and General Manager of Karm el Joz; a space for events and celebrations in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. She also serves as part-time Social Entrepreneurship instructor at ESA Business Schools. Prior to that she was Country Director for Alfanar Venture Philanthropy and External Relations Director at arcenciel; Lebanon’s largest independent social enterprise. arcenciel was awarded “Social Enterprise of the Year” by the Schwab Foundation, organizers of the World Economic Forum in Davos (2015). Kim has also worked as Director of Advancement at the International College (IC) and began her career at Procter and Gamble Geneva working on home-care brands and on Western Europe’s regional finance.

She serves on the Boards of various Lebanese social enterprises and of Digital Opportunity Trust Canada.

Kim was born and raised in Beirut where she is currently raising her three children. She holds a BA in Business and Political Science from the American University of Beirut and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Upile Matululu is a young technology professional with experience across the information technology and education sectors, committed to innovation, inclusion, and youth empowerment. Over the past two years, she has worked in the education sector under a UNDP-funded project focused on innovation and growth, contributing to initiatives that strengthen digital learning and expand opportunity within structured development programs. She has also worked under the BEFIT initiative to improve access to technology for children in rural communities, helping bridge the digital divide and promote equitable access to resources. In addition to her professional experience, Upile has engaged with GYLAB as a developmental and skills-building platform, further strengthening her collaborative, problem-solving, and leadership abilities. She also serves as a SADC Youth Parliamentarian, participating in regional dialogue and advocacy across Southern Africa, where she contributes to discussions on governance, development, and youth representation.

Caroline Paul Mohoni is a Tanzanian ICT Audit Manager and technology risk professional specializing in information systems auditing, IT governance, revenue assurance, and digital transformation. She currently serves as ICT Audit Manager at Mkombozi Commercial Bank PLC, leading risk-based audits across digital banking, technology infrastructure, and information security to strengthen internal controls and regulatory compliance.

She holds an MBA in Information Technology Management and a BSc in Computer Engineering and IT. Previously, she worked with KPMG East Africa and the e-Government Authority, delivering IT risk, compliance, and governance audits for financial and public institutions.

Caroline is a 2024–2026 Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board member with Digital Opportunity Trust and a YALI alumna. She is passionate about youth empowerment and advancing digital skills and leadership across Africa.

David Johnston served as Governor General of Canada from 2010 to 2017. Prior to becoming Governor General, David Johnston served as the President of the University of Waterloo, one of Canada’s most innovative universities and a leading global institution in e-learning and information technology. A graduate of Harvard, Cambridge and Queen’s Universities, his academic specializations are securities regulation, corporate law and information technology law. He has served on many provincial and federal task forces and the boards of Canada Trust, Alcatel, Seagram, EMCO, CGI and Lifestyle Furnishings. He has chaired the Board of Overseers of Harvard University, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, the Neuroscience Network Centre of Excellence, the Federal Government’s Information Highway Advisory Council and its Blue Ribbon Panel on Smart Communities, the National Broadband TaskForce and the national e-Business Roundtable. David Johnston is a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Grace Gondwe is a development professional with over eight years of experience across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, working at the intersection of youth development, policy engagement, and multi-stakeholder partnerships. She currently serves as Global Operations Manager for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, supporting partnerships and compliance across more than 65 countries. She brings systems-level thinking, policy exposure, and experience in inclusive youth ecosystems.

Alvine Doumbia is a youth leader and digital empowerment advocate based in Côte d’Ivoire. Through DOT’s Going Beyond programme, she supported youth recruitment, leadership development, and ecosystem strengthening in collaboration with Dynamiques et Excellentes d’Afrique. She currently serves as Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Officer for the “Femme Libre” project, dedicated to advancing women’s economic empowerment through entrepreneurship. She builds strategic partnerships with financial institutions and stakeholders to unlock resources for women entrepreneurs, and connects them with mentors to support their entrepreneurial journey, helping them transform ideas into sustainable, income-generating businesses.

Alii Bakari is an Investment Associate at Somo Africa, where he supports entrepreneurs from underserved communities through concessional lending, portfolio management, and post-investment advisory across Kenya and Tanzania. With four years of experience working with enterprise support organisations, he brings expertise in MSME pipeline strengthening, repayment optimisation, and youth-inclusive financing design. He holds an undergraduate degree in Finance and is currently pursuing a Master of Commerce (MCom) in Finance. His technical expertise strengthens IMAB’s access-to-finance strategy.

Clementine Tuyisenge is a DOT Rwanda alumna and Human Resources professional with over five years of experience in recruitment, data systems, and people management. As a Business Coach and Digital Champion with DOT Rwanda, she mentored youth and women entrepreneurs while delivering digital skills training. She brings strong ground-level insight into youth entrepreneurship challenges and a practical understanding of operational constraints facing MSMEs.

Arthur Muyepa is a business development and operations professional with over ten years of experience across fintech, microfinance, and digital payments. He currently serves as Country Director at pawaPay, overseeing operations and market expansion in Malawi, Lesotho, Botswana, and Namibia. His background includes mobile money integrations, partnerships with telcos and banks, and regulatory engagement across multiple markets. He brings strong experience in digital payments, market expansion, and building partnerships that support financial services access.

Sarah Mujuliz continues as a reserved member from the previous cohort of IMAB. She is currently a Communication Assistant at WHO Tanzania, with over ten years of experience in strategic communications and partnerships. Drawing on systems-change approaches and experience supporting social entrepreneurs, she contributes expertise in capacity strengthening, programme positioning, and stakeholder engagement. Her continuity supports institutional memory and strategic consistency within IMAB.