DOT | Digital Opportunity Trust

Caroline Mohoni is a highly accomplished professional with a background in Computer Engineering and Information Technology. She is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and currently serves as the ICT Audit Manager at Mkombozi Commercial Bank PLC, bringing extensive experience from her previous roles at the e-Government Authority (e-GA) and KPMG East Africa. Alongside her professional career, she is deeply committed to addressing Tanzania's digital divide through her program, TechHorizon Tanzania, focusing on digital skills training with a women-centric approach. Caroline's contributions have earned her recognition as one of the Top 25 women in Management Africa (2024) and accolades such as the Woman Emerging Careers Award from the Next Einstein Forum, a few to mention. She is committed to youth empowerment and digital inclusion initiatives.

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.

Alain is a seasoned advocate for youth and women's empowerment, leads Better Life Adventures, providing impactful life skills training for youth. With 8 years of experience, including roles at Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT Rwanda) and the Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board, Alain has influenced diverse groups positively. His civil engineering background complements his coaching expertise, particularly in water sanitation and technology. Through his leadership in various youth organizations, Alain has impacted over 4,000 individuals, driven by his commitment to empowering others and navigating global challenges.

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.

Upile, a Malawian IT professional is passionate about advocacy, particularly in political, economic, and social systems affecting marginalized groups. She is dedicated to enhancing Malawi's tech scene and bridging the technological gap by empowering women with digital skills and mentoring STEM students. As a member of GirlUp Blantyre, she works to advance girls' rights. A Young African Leader Initiative alumnus, she focuses on civic leadership. Engaging with IT organizations, she provides innovative solutions and participates in corporate social responsibility initiatives, positively impacting her community with her time, skills and knowledge.

A seasoned Communications Officer with 6+ years of experience, Jean-Désiré Kouassi excels in crafting engaging digital content, managing projects with strategic vision, and driving impactful communication initiatives. His expertise lies in advocacy and youth empowerment, where he leverages his leadership skills to foster collaboration and empower others to make a positive difference. He is particularly energized by opportunities to bridge the digital divide and equip young leaders with the tools they need to thrive. Jean is also the founder of “Be Digit-Wise, an initiative dedicated to equipping young Ivorians with digital skills and social values.

Mable is a gender advocate dedicated to digital inclusion and social justice, particularly in girls' education & digital Human rights. She founded AmplifyHer STEM, empowering Zambian girls in STEM through mentorship and experiential learning. Recognized as a gender champion by the ITU in 2022 and a 2023 Kofi Annan Changemaker, Mable believes in the potential of all youth to change the world regardless of societal barriers. She therefore works with marginalized girls providing support and fostering skills in emotional intelligence, digital literacy, and global citizenship.

Waad Al Amro is a young energetic and highly sociable lady from Jordan. She is a visionary young leader and has been participating in DOT Jordan’s programs to upskill herself as she looks forward to joining the workforce in the near future.

She is passionate about leading change in her community and recently played a key role during DOT Jordan’s launch of Dare to Shift program. She is currently a participant of the Impact Sourcing for Apprenticeship Opportunities funded by UNICEF.

“The training programs have helped me acquire numerous skills. I’m truly grateful to the DOT family for their hard work, vast knowledge and skills and I look forward to impacting more young people especially during my term as a Global YouthLAB member”

Raya has proved to be an amazing role model to youth in her country. She brings on board extensive experience in women empowerment and youth development. She holds a Masters Degree in Business Management and has been working with young entrepreneurs for over 5 years.

“As a member of DOT’s Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board, I will incorporate youth voices and solicit insights to reach the power of change we, as youth, need to perceive in our communities and become the leaders of tomorrow!”

Angelika Sharygina is a political researcher, presenter and tech for good entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of a startup that is creating solutions to combat misinformation to power the next generation of critical thinkers, and she is completing a doctorate in information integrity at Trinity College Dublin. She is a frequent keynote speaker on topics such as fake news, digital rights, forced migration, war studies and sustainability.

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).

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.

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.

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. Most recently, 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.

Violette serves as the Regional Vice President for Africa and as the 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.

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.

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.

Mazen has more than 10 years of experience in Business Development & Quality Assurance with local & international humanitarian & development NGOs. Expertise lies in Program Design, Data Analysis, Digital Transformation, and E-Learning. Throughout his career, Mazen led fundraising efforts with a variety of donors by securing grants ranging between USD$ 100,000 to USD$ 80,000,000 and supported the rollout of National and Global Data Management Platforms.

Mazen Joined DOT Lebanon in July 2018 as a Business Development & Quality Assurance Manager after serving as a Resource Acquisition Specialist with World Vision International in Lebanon. After 4 years with DOT Lebanon, Mazen transitioned to DOT Canada as a Technical Consultant and is currently in the position of Project System Specialist supporting the setup of the Global Data Management System and the Organizational Business Development efforts.

Mazen Holds a Bachelor's in International Affairs and Diplomacy, Google Project Management Professional Certificate, Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, and ISO 19011 Certification for Quality Management Systems.

Paul is the Project Manager (Innovative Finance), supporting the implementation of seed funding and grants initiatives at DOT. He brings a wealth of experience in 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).

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 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 at the University of Waterloo.

As Youth Engagement Manager, Ann is responsible for leading international and regional alumni and YouthLAB engagement efforts. In her role, she supports the development of alumni engagement strategies and coordinates global opportunities for YouthLAB member across DOT's network.

Ann brings over 9 years of experience in human resource administration, gender and program implementation for youth and women-led projects. In her previous role, Ann supported DOT Kenya to implement programs addressing youth leadership, training and development in social entrepreneurship, gender, ICT, sustainability  and women's empowerment. She is an exceptional coach and is actively engaged and committed to supporting in youth and women in sustainable economic development.

Ann graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Economics and has an Executive Certificate in Human Resource Management from the College of Human Resource Management in Kenya.

As Director of Programs and Impact, Elizabeth works with country teams to ensure the successful implementation of youth-focused innovation and entrepreneurship projects. She also contributes to DOT’s broader work in the areas of gender equality, research, and project planning and design.

Elizabeth brings 10 years of experience that includes programming, research and analysis, strategic planning, and partnership building. She began her career in social change with an NGO in Guatemala City, helping families living alongside the Guatemala City Garbage Dump gain education and skills. Prior to joining DOT, Elizabeth served as the Executive Director of Ethiopiaid Canada, where she led the organization’s efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable women and girls in Ethiopia through projects and partnerships focused on maternal health, education, and skills development. She has also worked on various international development initiatives, including a water, sanitation and hygiene project with USAID in Ethiopia, assignments with the North-South Institute, and research projects exploring women's land rights in East Africa, a systems approach to reducing child, early and forced marriage, and the role of social capital in informal financial services. Elizabeth holds a Master’s Degree in Law and Diplomacy, with a specialization in International Development and Human Security from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University (Massachusetts, USA) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and Legal Studies from Bowdoin College (Maine, USA).

As Senior Program Development Manager at DOT, Walid collaborates with country teams and stakeholders to research, design, and develop innovative programs that align with DOT's mission, vision, and objectives. He ensures these programs address both local and global needs while adhering to the highest quality standards, with a focus on fostering social change and development through technology and learning tools.

Walid brings 19 years of experience in the ICT for Development sector, with a focus on strategic planning, partnership building, and program management. He has worked extensively on the integration of technology in education, capacity building, and youth empowerment initiatives to drive meaningful impact and social change.

Before joining DOT, Walid held various leadership roles in thematically diverse development organizations, where he contributed to the design and implementation of ICT-based solutions for pressing global challenges. He is well-versed in coordinating with diverse stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and the private sector, to create and scale sustainable programs.

Walid holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, with a strong background in digital transformation, social development, IT systems and emerging technologies.

Adil Skalli is a Moroccan-Canadian professional with 10 years of experience leading multidisciplinary and multicultural teams in the pursuit of meaningful impact. As a Program Design and Implementation Manager at Digital Opportunity Trust, he leads the design and implementation of skills development programs in Africa and the Middle East. His commitment lies in empowering innovators and leaders to effect positive change in communities worldwide.

His collaborative approach has enabled him to work effectively with a diverse range of public and private stakeholders, from governmental institutions to international NGOs. His project portfolio boasts engagements with organizations such as UN agencies, the Mastercard Foundation, and Global Affairs Canada.

Adil’s expertise spans human-centred design, sustainability, youth workforce development, and social entrepreneurship, among other areas. He also boasts a solid technical background, with skills in project management, design thinking, strategic communications, and community mobilization

He is an alumna of Carleton University.

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.

As Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Weris supports with collection of qualitative and quantitative data, and the implementation of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks across DOT’s network. 

Prior to joining DOT, Weris worked at UNDP Rwanda and East Java - Indonesia where she supported the establishment of M&E frameworks and facilitated M&E capacity building for implementing partners of youth entrepreneurship programs. She also played a key role in the organization and evaluation of youth skills development and training programs in both Rwanda and Indonesia.

In her spare time, Weris holds workshops on career building for Canadian high school students and is an active member of the East African Community in Ottawa. Weris is an alumna of the University of Ottawa. 

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. 

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.

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. Moreover, Teresa is the co-founder of Sister Across Oceans, which supports community development efforts in Bangladesh. Teresa holds a BA in Public Policy and International Development Studies and an MA in Environmental Studies.

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 Finance Officer at DOT, Dani plays a crucial role in supporting the finance team's operations in Ottawa. Equipped with an Ontario Advanced Diploma in Business Administration - Accounting from Algonquin College in Ottawa, Dani brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the financial realm.

Her professional journey includes serving as a public servant in the federal government, where she honed her skills and understanding of financial systems. Dani is fully trilingual, proficient in English, Mandarin, and Korean, and has applied her language prowess as a translator for the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa. 

Dani's ambitions extend beyond her current role, as she is diligently working towards obtaining her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. 

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.

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 has a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension from Egerton University. She also has a Master of Arts in Communication for Development and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nairobi.

Violette serves as the Regional Vice President for Africa and as the 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 countries.

Violette is a member of the Africa Leadership Network (ALN) and recipient of the Anita Borg Institute Change Agent Award from the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. 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. She is a mentor through the First Lady of Rwanda’s Imbuto Foundation and The MasterCard Foundation Young Africa Works, and is involved in numerous youth and women economic empowerment and technology-fueled development initiatives.

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

Esther Wanjiru Gathigi is passionate about empowering young and aspiring entrepreneurs to develop the skills and insights they need to transition their startups into high-potential business ventures.

Prior to joining DOT, Esther was the Executive Director for WECREATE Kenya, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State that establishes entrepreneurial community centers in safe and centralized locations for women to gain access to the essential resources required for starting or growing businesses. Esther has also worked in business development at NIC Bank. She has extensive experience in relationship management, project and operations management, and strategy mapping and implementation.

As a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, Esther collaborates with young business leaders in Kenya and abroad to impact the lives of others through projects in education, environment, and entrepreneurship. She also offers her expertise as a mentor with the African Entrepreneurship Awards, focusing on entrepreneurial capacity development. Esther believes in enhancing skills and knowledge of young entrepreneurs to transform the entrepreneurship landscape in Kenya, and to highlight success stories across the continent.

Safarani Seushi is a seasoned international development professional hailing from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. With extensive experience in both rural and urban communities, Safarani specializes in implementing impactful projects focused on Financial Inclusion for Women, Agriculture and Value Chain Development, and Digital and Economic Inclusion for young women and men.

In her role as the Country Lead for Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) Tanzania, Safarani stands at the forefront of empowering the youth in Tanzania. Leveraging digital innovation, she is dedicated to advancing livelihoods and creating positive impacts within communities.

Her commitment to youth and women's economic empowerment shines through in her work, driven by a passion for fostering meaningful change. Actively engaged in mobilizing ecosystems, she strives for a profound and sustainable impact. Explore this space to delve into Safarani's strategic vision and leadership, contributing significantly to DOT's mission in international development.

Safarani holds a Masters Degree in Development Practice from Trinity College Dublin and a Bachelor's Degree in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

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.

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.

Julia is DOT's Country Director for DOT UK; she leads partnership-building and fundraising work in support of DOT's global vision and country programs. Julia has spent her career addressing the needs of young people through youth enterprise projects with major UK-based international youth organizations, and as International Director of The Prince’s Youth Business Trust and International Award Association. Julia has experience establishing and building the capacity of charities, and has more recently raised funds for charities addressing the needs of marginalized young people in the UK. Julia has spent time working in eight countries of Africa, India, Hungary and Russia.

A dedicated advocate for mental health and community resilience, the Founder and Executive Director of Nivishe Foundation can bring a wealth of experience to the Impact Makers Advisory Board. Specializing in trauma-informed resilience programs, she has global recognition, having participated in prestigious fellowships like VVEngage and YALI. With a diverse background in board leadership within organizations such as SIASA PLACE and RHIZE, she actively shapes policies to enhance mental health services for marginalized communities. Recognized as the African Youth of the Year and an ambassador with One Young World & Theirworld, she also mentors young women in organizations like Kamilimu and Akirachix. She has previously built partnerships on the intersectionality of economic empowerment and mental health.

From a remote area with limited role models, Miliam overcame early marriage, returning to school to earn a Bachelor's degree in Education. As the Founder and Executive Director of Young Women Rise (YOWORI), her focus is on promoting women and girls' rights in education, economic empowerment, reproductive health, and ending gender-based violence. With a knack for taking on challenging roles, she served as a Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism Committee member for Malawi from 2016 to 2019, an experience which will be crucial for IMAB. Her leadership and resource mobilization skills are evident in successfully securing $95,000 from Women First International and $10,000 from the African Women Development Fund for women's small-scale enterprises.

A seasoned Strategy and Innovation Consultant in Digital Financial Services, she specializes in developing and implementing strategies, operating models, and business valuations to foster innovation and collaboration for inclusive financial systems. Currently championing for real-time payment systems to enhance financial inclusion at the Mojaloop Foundation, she previously co-founded East Africa's first LinkedIn Lead-Generation agency to support SMEs and MSMEs in scaling their business opportunities. She now works with the Mojaloop Foundation to equip MSMEs in Africa with insights into securing innovative financing.

As a Program Officer for Women First International Fund, Winnie has the desire to see communities thrive, fueled by women's active participation at all levels of society. Through her role, Winnie provides all-round support to a portfolio of high-impact grantee partners in East Africa to help them achieve their respective mandates. Winnie has management experience focusing on advocacy and communication, economic empowerment, women’s rights, public policy, and social justice. She has worked in civil society in various capacities and has led programs focusing on sexual and reproductive health and rights, parliamentary transparency, political participation of women, and social behavior change. Winnie has also consulted for Akina Mama Wa Afrika, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa, and Research World International.

A trained lawyer with expertise as a gender mainstreaming trainer, she has over eight years of experience leading women and youth-led leadership programs, including the Female Future Programme in Tanzania. She is also a DOT alumna from the Dare to Change Programme in 2020. Currently, she spearheads the Graça Machel Women Creating Wealth-Intergenerational Programme in Tanzania, emphasizing her commitment to empowering women and fostering economic opportunities.

A seasoned communications professional with over 5 years of experience, she excels in delivering strategic media and communication solutions to government, non-profit organizations, and international bodies. Currently, she is focused on supporting Africa's leading social entrepreneurs through her role as the Fellowships and Partnerships Manager at Ashoka. In this capacity, she identifies and supports social entrepreneurs in Africa to grow sustainably. Ashoka is dedicated to utilizing systems change and holistic approaches to address social issues. The organization identifies key intervention points for systemic transformation, maximizing support for the entrepreneurs. This approach will enable Sarah to bring effective support mechanisms and capacity-building strategies to empower DOT's seed funding beneficiaries for sustainable community change.

Recognizing the transformative potential of MSMEs in community economies, Davies, in his role at SOMO Africa, supports diverse entrepreneurs in marginalized communities by providing essential resources, knowledge, funding, and market access. He ensures that each donation directly fosters growth, sustainability, innovation, and job creation. 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 the growth challenges encountered by these businesses.

With over 9 years of experience in youth and women's empowerment, enterprise development, and rural development, the founder of Fanikisha Ndoto Youth Initiative is a dedicated youth, development, and programs specialist. His commitment extends to agribusiness, climate-smart agriculture, and MSME development, providing pathways for young individuals in a region facing high unemployment rates. As a County Coordinator with the National Government Affirmative Action Fund, he managed substantial project funds, impacting over 200,000 women, persons with disabilities, and youths.