Andrea is Co-Founder and Trustee of Wakadogo, working closely with and supporting our teachers to bring creative learning opportunities into the classroom that connect academic concepts to practical application and help students grow in confidence and independence.

Andrea holds a BA from McGill University where she was awarded the James Wright Award and a Master’s from the University of Guelph, with fieldwork focused on peace education in post-conflict northern Uganda. She previously worked in London at LVMH as a Project Manager for Hennessy’s CSR programme, and now lives in Spain where she serves as Chief Marketing & Communications at a leading fintech company.

Ashley has been involved with Wakadogo since 2005 and joined us as a Trustee in 2019. Ashley is the founder of a global investigations and advisory firm. Due to her work advising investors on the risks and challenges as they enter emerging markets, she has learned first-hand how important education and community engagement is for creating a successful investment environment and supporting long term growth. Ashley is a graduate of McGill University in Canada where she first was introduced to Wakadogo and its Founders.

Farah is a co-founder and Trustee of Wakadogo, with over twenty years of experience in non-profit and philanthropic partnerships. She is a Senior Partnerships Manager at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the world’s largest philanthropy focused on improving children’s lives.

Previously, she led partnerships in the Gulf region at Plan International Canada and served as CEO of The Social Investment Consultancy in the Middle East, where she managed strategic projects for UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme, and Plan International. Farah has lived and worked in the UAE, Uganda, Rwanda, Canada, and the UK, and studied History and French at the University of Warwick.

Nafees was formerly the Vice Chair of Standard Chartered Bank (MENAPT) and the Head of Global Markets. He currently serves on various boards, including the INSEAD Directors Network (where he is Chair of the Ambassadors), DCA Holdings, the International Sustainable Development Foundation (under the umbrella of UNITAR), and is an advisory board member for LY Holding Capital. He is also the founding partner of BGI (VC).

Nafees completed his postgraduate studies at London Business School, Oxford University (Said Business School), and INSEAD. He has always been a strong advocate for corporate social responsibility and was previously the Chair of Seeing is Believing for the Middle East and Africa. Additionally, he has been involved with Wakadogo since its early days as a trustee.

Nilmin is Co-Founder and Trustee of Wakadogo. She lives in the United Kingdom and supports the school’s financial management and construction projects remotely, maintaining close coordination with the team through a trust-based and results-focused approach.

Born in Kampala, Nilmin has lived in Uganda for most of her life. From 2008 to 2018 she lived in Gulu, Northern Uganda, where she contributed to the development of the school’s buildings and operations and helped establish a strong local presence in the Pece-Acoyo community.

During this time she built strong relationships with the Acholi community in Gulu and with key regulatory institutions in Kampala, including the NGO Bureau. She continues to visit Uganda regularly.

Nino is a senior executive, entrepreneur, and author with more than three decades of international leadership experience. He is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Global Recruiters Network (GRN) in Calgary, a leading executive recruitment firm serving clients across North America and Europe. His career has spanned six countries, shaping a deeply multicultural perspective across European and North American business environments. Nino holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Pisa and an MBA in International Business from the European University in Brussels and is fluent in three languages. He has been actively involved with Wakadogo since 2017 as a board member and donor, supporting long-term strategy in pursuit of accessible education, nutrition, and stability for children and families in northern Uganda. Alongside his professional and philanthropic work, Nino is the author of several books on geopolitics and the forces shaping power, leadership, and civilizations. He lives in Calgary with his wife Shirley, and together they have five children.

Shirley is a senior business leader and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of international experience in executive recruitment, sales, and marketing. She is the co-founder and Partner of Global Recruiters Network (GRN) in Calgary, where she leads the global Life Sciences search practice, working with clients across North America and Europe.

Her professional path has spanned five countries, shaping a strong multicultural perspective and a deep understanding of global talent markets. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and is fluent in three languages.

Shirley has been involved with Wakadogo as a board member and donor, driven by a long-standing commitment to children’s education and community development. At Wakadogo, she supports the organization’s mission to provide accessible education, nutrition, and stability to children and families in northern Uganda.

Zayna Aston serves as a Trustee for Wakadogo Canada and has been a supporter of Wakadogo since 2005 as a student at McGill University.

Zayna is the Director of YouTube Communications and Public Affairs for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at Google. With a career rooted in the power of storytelling, Zayna’s expertise lies in communicating complex, challenging ideas to global audiences. Her professional journey began in documentary filmmaking, an experience that shaped her commitment to social impact and public discourse.

Goretty has a Degree in Business Administration in Accounting from Makerere University Majoring, and is now pursuing Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (CPA) Level Two. She has received training in financial reporting and financial management, budgeting, budget holding, budget analysis, strategic planning and management. Goretty has a strong background in administration, finance and management with four years’ experience working in accounting, finance and administration in different organizations like the Karin Community Initiative Uganda (NGO) and the Eastern Division Soroti Municipality. She also spent one year sensitizing the community in regards to health and disaster preparedness with the Uganda Red Cross Society (NGO) in Katakwi District. She has been working for Wakadogo School since March 2021 as our Project Accountant and works with an attitude of passion and excellence towards all aspects of her work. Goretty is responsible for the preparation of monthly and yearly budgets, donor accountabilities and financial statements. She also prepares and oversees payroll, and helps develop the organization’s policies and practices.

Charles graduated from Ndejje University Kampala with a Bachelor Degree of Guidance and Counseling and a Diploma in Primary Education and He also has a certificate in HIV/AIDS counseling from The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), Uganda. He has twenty one years’ experience in education management and implementation in Uganda. He has been teaching and practicing counseling in the schools since 2001 as a way of providing psychosocial support to war affected children and career guidance to the learners. Charles has been leading Wakadogo School since June 2013. His role is to manage the teaching staff and ensure quality learning and growing our partnership with education stakeholders. Charles is a member of Rotary Club of Gulu and very committed in changing lives in the community.

Richard is the Chairman Parents’ Teachers Association (PTA) at Wakadogo School. He is a businessman who is involved in agribusiness for his daily living. The PTA Goals are being achieved by keeping the entire school community informed of current events, issues, and accomplishments. He organizes regular meetings to allow PTAs to share information with members. He involves parents so they understand the challenges the schools is facing and become part of the solution. By developing a closer relationship with parents, student achievement improves, and the school develops a positive reputation in the community.

Growing up, Catherine lived in many countries following her parents who instilled in her a passion for learning and helping people around her. At the age of 12 she volunteered at an orphanage in Haiti and saw first-hand the difference a small investment in children can make. She continued supporting youth both at home in Canada and abroad. She completed a BA in political science and international development at McGill University and holds an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics. After working abroad with the United Nations she now works for the Government of Canada in Ottawa. Catherine firmly believes that every child has the right to a quality education.

Peter Baltussen joined Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) in 2006, after holding several managerial positions at ABN Amro Bank for eighteen years and serving as CEO of Saudi Hollandi Bank in Saudi Arabia. Peter has been a banking CEO for the last 15 years and has always managed to include CSR and community initiatives on the management agenda and make it an integral part of the bank’s strategy. For example, Peter initiated of the Commercial Bank of Dubai’s Youth Athletics programme with the objective to get school children aware of the importance of a balanced and healthy life. He is actively involved in finding strategic solutions for charities in the UAE such as Beit al Khair. Peter is also a board member of a vocational training centre in Rotterdam to prepare young immigrants for jobs.