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Our Board

Tsitsi Masiyiwa

Board Chair

HRH Queen Sylvia

Board Member

Gbenga Oyebode

Board Member

Ndidi Nwuneli

Board Member

Swithin Munyantwali

Board Member

Jefferey C. Walker

Board Member

Lord Dr. Hastings

Board Member

English Sall

Board Member

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Tsitsi Masiyiwa

Board Chair

Tsitsi Masiyiwa is an African philanthropist and social entrepreneur. She is Executive Chair and Co-Founder of Higherlife Foundation, whose primary goal is to invest in human capital development to build thriving individuals, communities and sustainable livelihoods.

As a result of her work and experience establishing and growing Higherlife Foundation over the last twenty years, Tsitsi has become an advisor and thought partner to universities, national leaders, and social entrepreneurs on issues of education, leadership development, and youth empowerment.

In 2017, Tsitsi established Delta Philanthropies, as a vehicle for impact investing and grant making. Delta Philanthropies seeks to unlock and catalyse innovative solutions to the elimination of poverty by convening strategic partnerships and incubating new development models.

Her work has garnered global recognition, including Honorary Doctorate degrees from Morehouse University in Atlanta, Georgia; Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe; as well as the prestigious Champions for Change Award for Leadership from the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW).

Tsitsi is a founding board member and the current Board Chair of the African Philanthropy Forum; a Trustee of the Legatum Institute, the END Fund, and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Initiative; and a member of the Sesame Workshop Global Advisory Group, the International Advisory Board for Texas A&M University, the Prince’s Trust International West Africa Advisory Board, and the Kenjin-Tatsujin International Advisory Council. Tsitsi and her husband, Strive, have been signatories to the Giving Pledge since 2014.

HRH Queen Sylvia

Board Member

Her Royal Highness the Nnabagereka (Queen) Sylvia Nagginda is the wife of the King of Buganda, King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. She is a traditional and cultural leader of the people of Buganda, the largest Kingdom in Uganda occupying almost a quarter of the country with a population exceeding 7 million people, which is equivalent to 25% of the total population. Her Royal Highness is the first Nnabagereka (Queen) in the history of the Buganda Kingdom to set up a fully-fledged Office, a very crucial phenomenon that has greatly complimented the ongoing development work in the Kingdom and Uganda at large.

The Nnabagereka carries out charity work for and through the institution of the Kingdom of Buganda, international, national and local organizations and the Nnabagereka Development Foundation (NDF) which she founded in 2000. Using the Foundation HRH works for children, the youth and women through support for socio-economic development initiatives including education, health care, community empowerment and the advancement of good cultural values and practices.

A pillar of development and held in high esteem, HRH plays a major role in sensitizing and mobilizing the general population on issues of Health; Education Culture Preservation and Sustainable Livelihoods Promotion. Through the above, HRH has graciously supported and empowered marginalized groups of youth, women, children and persons with disabilities.

The Nnabagereka is a Good Will Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Uganda – working with Population Secretariat (POPSEC) and Partners in Population and Development (PPD-ARO). She is also a Torch Bearer for the Millennium Development Goals (MDG3); Ambassador for Mama Club – an initiative of mothers living with HIV/AIDS, a Champion in the Campaign to End Pediatric HIV/AIDS (CEPA) in Uganda. HRH is also a Patron of several organisations including: Hospice Africa Uganda, Child Fund Uganda, Female Sponsorship Foundation Makerere University, Special Olympics Uganda, Programme for Accessible Health Communication and Education (PACE), Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), and Buganda Tourism Board. She is also a visionary Founder Member of the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network (AQWCLN) and Co Founder and Patron of African Royals for Culture and Development (AFROCAD). HRH is a core member on the African Philanthropy Forum and a member of the Board of Advisors on the Global Thinkers Forum. In addition, HRH collaborates with the Ministry of Health, and UN Agencies such as UNFPA, UNAIDS, UNICEF, and WHO as well as other NGOs on community health related initiatives.

Gbenga Oyebode

Board Member

Gbenga Oyebode, founded Aluko & Oyebode, where he is currently the Chairman of the firm. He has developed significant experience in the project finance, corporate law, energy and natural resources, telecommunications and aviation law. He served as Chairman, Access Bank Plc (2005-2015) and the Chairman of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc (both listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange). Oyebode also serves on the Boards of MTN Nigeria Limited and Nestle Nigeria Plc. He has been a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria since 1980 and an Attorney at Law of the Supreme Court of New York State since 1983. Oyebode received his undergraduate degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and his masters from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ndidi Nwuneli

Board Member

Mrs. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli is an expert on African agriculture and nutrition, philanthropy, and social innovation. She has over 25 years of international development experience and is a recognized serial entrepreneur, author, public speaker, and consultant. Through her work in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, she has led the design and execution of high-impact initiatives focused on policy, strategy, organizational design, ecosystem solutions, and growth.

Ndidi Nwuneli is the Managing Partner of Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Ltd., which works across West Africa shaping agricultural policy, creating catalytic ventures, and implementing ecosystem solutions. She is also the co-founder of AACE Foods, which sources from over 10,000 farmers and produces a range of packaged spices, seasonings, and cereals for local and international markets. Ndidi is the founder of LEAP Africa which inspires, empowers, and equips a new cadre of principled, disciplined and dynamic young leaders in Africa. She is also the founder and chair of Nourishing Africa, a digital knowledge and data business focused on enabling agribusiness entrepreneurs to scale.

Ndidi started her career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, working in their Chicago, New York and Johannesburg Offices. She holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She was a Senior Fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business & Government at the Harvard Kennedy School and an Aspen Institute New Voices Fellow.

Ndidi was recognized as a Young Global Leader and Schwab Social Innovator by the World Economic Forum and received a National Honor from the Nigerian Government. Ndidi serves on the boards of the Rockefeller Foundation, AGRA, Nigerian Breweries Plc. (Heineken), Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. India, Fairfax Africa Holdings Canada, BusinessDay Newspapers, Royal DSM Sustainability Board, Netherlands, and the African Philanthropy Forum.

Ndidi is the author of “Social Innovation in Africa: A Practical Guide for Scaling Impact,” published by Routledge. Her new book titled “Food Entrepreneurs in Africa: Scaling Resilient Agriculture Businesses” will be published by Routledge in 2021. She is a TED Global speaker and her work has been featured on CNN, BBC, and a range of international and local media outlets.

Swithin Munyantwali

Board Member

Swithin Munyantwali is the Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of the International Law Institute African Centre for Legal Excellence (ILI-ACLE), an affiliate of the International Law Institute, in Washington, DC. Since its establishment two decades ago, Mr. Munyantwali has led the operations of the Centre serving a broad constituency of sub-Saharan African governments, private and non-governmental organizations through technical assistance and training. The ILI-ACLE is Africa’s premier legal infrastructure development institution.

Munyantwali is the Head of Appleton Luff’s East African Office. Appleton Luff is an international boutique law firm separately incorporated in Europe, Asia, the United States, and Africa. He is admitted to practice in the US state of Pennsylvania. A dual national of Uganda and United Kingdom (born in Scotland, Edinburgh), Munyantwali combines local knowledge with an international legal and business perspective and advises international companies on matters related to their East African activities; representative clients include Carnegie Mellon University (establishment of operations in Rwanda); SGS (establishment of operations in Uganda, and representation in contract disputes with regulator).

Munyantwali serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Barclays Bank in Uganda. He previously served as the Chairman of the Bank’s Human Resources and Compensation Committee, and as the Chair of the Board Audit Committee. In addition, Munyantwali serves on the Board of the International Law Institute in Washington, DC, and chairs or serves on a number of international advisory boards. Following an invitation of the Under-Secretary General of UN Habitat, Munyantwali served on a Special Committee counseling the agency on pro-poor housing investment initiatives in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. At the request of the Secretary General of Interpol, Munyantwali served on its Informal Board of Experts Bioterrorism Prevention Program. Munyantwali serves as the Chairman, Staff Appeals Tribunal at the East African Development Bank. Most recently Munyantwali was appointed to the International Advisory Board/Visiting Committee, at the Center for International Affairs, at Case Western Reserve University.

Jeffrey C. Walker

Board Member

Jeff Walker is Chairman of New Profit, a social change investment fund and is Vice Chair in the United Nations Envoy’s Office focused on front line health. He also currently serves on the Boards of The University of Virginia, Berklee College of Music, Grammys Music Education Coalition, On Being (Krista Tippett’s Enterprise), Just Capital, AMP for Health and University of Virginia’s Undergraduate Business School, where he was President for ten years. He is a partner in Bridge Builders investment fund for contemplation and mind training. Jeff was Chairman of The Council of Foundations at University of Virginia (UVA), serves on the Harvard Business School Dean’s Board of Advisors and was on the Visiting Committee and is on the Advisory Boards of MIT Media Lab, Center for Contemplative Sciences at UVA (which he chairs) and the Harvard School of Public Health. He has been on numerous other for-profit and non-profit boards.

Previously, Jeff was Executive-in-Residence at Harvard Business School, focusing on social enterprise and collaboration, and a Lecturer at the Kennedy School. At Harvard, he helped to develop a course in exponential fundraising for nonprofit. He served as the Chairman of Millennium Promise, with the United Nations and Columbia University, an incubator to eliminate extreme poverty, and was the Chairman of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (Monticello), where he still serves as an Emeritus Trustee. Jeff Co-Founded and was Chairman of Npower, an organization that provides shared technology services to nonprofits.

Jeff co-authored the book, “The Generosity Network”, about new approaches to gather resources to address causes each of us are passionate about.  He also received the John C. Whitehead Award for Social Enterprise from the Harvard Business School Club of New York City.  He is currently teaching and researching the issue of systems entrepreneurship and systems change.

For twenty five years Jeff was CEO and Co-Founder of CCMP Capital, the $12 billion successor to JPMorgan Partners, JPMorgan Chase & Co’s global private equity, Vice Chairman of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Chairman of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. He has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.S. from the University of Virginia, is a Certified Management Accountant and a Certified Public Accountant.

Lord Dr Hastings

Board Member

Michael began his career as a teacher moving into government service in 1986 supporting policy initiatives to bring employment and development to Britain’s inner cities working directly with No.10. In that period onward, he became a Commissioner with the Commission for Racial Equality (serving 9 years); a Member of the Social Security Advisory Committee (4 years) and the first minority on the Metropolitan Police Committee (3 years) and subsequently Advisor to Sir John Stevens, then Met Police Commissioner. Michael founded Crime Concern in 1988, merged it with the Rainer Foundation in 2008 to created CATCH22, the leading crime prevention agency. He received a CBE in 2003 for services to crime reduction and community safety.

In 1990 he started working for TVAM on education programming and then GMTV as its Chief Political Correspondent. In 1994 Michael moved to the BBC as a presenter on the weekly BBC 2 Around Westminster programme before joining its Corporate Affairs division. In 1996 he became the BBC’s Head of Public Affairs and then its first head of Corporate Social Responsibility in 2003 before becoming KPMG international’s Global Head of Citizenship in 2006. He retired from KPMG in June 2019. For 9 years Michael also sat on the BT Board for Responsible and Sustainable Business until 2016 and a Board Member of the Global Reporting Initiative ( GRI ).

Michael was conferred with a Life Peerage in 2005 and sits as a Crossbench Independent Peer in the House of Lords. He served on a Select Committee in his first two years and as a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. In 2005 he also received the UNICEF Award for his ‘outstanding work on effecting positive solutions for Africa’s Children’ further to leading the BBC’s corporate response to the Blair Commission for Africa Report.

He worked with Chatham House as an advisor to the Future of the UK in Foreign Affairs enquiry working closely with Dr Robin Niblett CMG. Between 2007-19 Michael has attended the World Economic Forum in Davos annually and led the enquiry into the Future of Civil Society for the WEF and worked on the Role of Business in Society network. He has also sat on impactful enquiries on Migration, Talent and Diversity.

Michael is a Trustee of the Vodafone Group Foundation and a member of its Global Development Committee; Vice President of UNICEF UK and Ambassador for TEAR FUND. He also worked closely with Millennium Promise serving on the International Board and Chairing MPUK with a focus on Ghana. He is a Patron of the WE Foundation and a Governor of the M-Pesa Academy in Nairobi.

In 2014, Michael was conferred with a Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of Kent, Canterbury in recognition for his leadership at KPMG, the BBC and for his work in international development and corporate responsibility. In 2017 Michael was installed as the Chancellor of Regent’s University London.

English Sall

Board Member

English Sall is a data enthusiast and researcher at heart. English holds a Masters degree and is currently pursuing her PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology (IOP) at North Carolina State University. English specializes in Humanitarian Work Psychology and is interested in how IOP can be applied to cross-cultural leadership and work-force development within informal economies. English is also a board member of the Sall Family Foundation and is pursuing the role of a next gen philanthropist. Additionally, she is on the boards of CARE USA, The EndFund, Jacaranda, and Aspen Management Partnership for Health. English is also a member of Maverick Collective.

English is co-founder of the organization Impact Thread which uses IOP to address workforce and organizational development through a social good lens. Before co-founding Impact Thread, English was co-director for Aspen Institute’s Impact Careers Initiative.

English has also worked as a Data Strategist Fellow with Organize and as a member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologists-United Nations Liaison team. English is also the co-founder of Embark, a Gender Justice initiative powered by CARE. English served as Visiting Research Fellow at the Social Science Research Institute Duke University in the center for Advanced Hindsight. English is currently a principle at Community Health Acceleration Partnership as well as an Adjunct professor at UNC Gilling’s School of Global Public Health in the department of Health Behavior.