Global Executive Leadership Team
Our team consists of highly qualified and motivated professionals, who are all experts in their field. With many years of experience in their specialised industry, they have the expertise and dedication to drive forward our mission and vision to deliver high impact around the globe.
Dr. Zijing Cao
Chief Executive Officer
Zi brings over a decade of senior leadership experience spanning healthcare, biomedical research, and commercial strategy to Project Yananai. He combines a scientist's rigour with a ...Read more
MaryAnn Chikwanda
Chief People and Governance Officer
MaryAnn Chikwanda is an accomplished People and Governance executive with extensive experience in people strategy, employee relations, and board leadership ...Read more
Maria Flygare
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Global General Counsel
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Maria Flygare is an experienced international lawyer and Global General Counsel for Project Yananai.
She is responsible for... Read more
Yvonne Habulembe
Chief Advancement Officer
Yvonne is an accomplished development professional with over 26 years of experience in the international development sector, specialising in partnership formation, grants ...Read more
Ash Patel
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Chief Mission Operations & Infrastructure Officer
Ash is a board-level technology executive with over 20 years of experience leading enterprise-scale digital, data, and cloud transformations .... Read more
Vivian Okolie
Chief Financial Officer
Vivian steers Project Yananai programme’s capital strategy, funding structure, and enterprise-wide risk framework. A Chartered Global Management Accountant and Fellow Chartered Accountant, Vivian brings ... Read more
Samar Atia
Chief UK Operations & Partnerships Officer
Samar brings more than 17 years of senior leadership experience across international development, non-profit management, fundraising, and cross-sector partnership ....Read more
Alexander Gasmena
Deputy Chief People and Governance Officer
Alexander is an accomplished enterprise transformation and human resources leader with over 20 years of experience translating strategy into ...Read more
Māui Smallman
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Deputy Chief Operations Officer
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Māui is a global operations leader with a distinguished track record of driving performance, scaling operations, and delivering resilience across 70+ ...Read more
Sevda Gasimova
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Sevda is an accomplished international relations and partnership development professional with extensive experience spanning the United Nations system, humanitarian organisations, and the private sector.... Read more
Eugenia Adobea Addo
Director of Communications
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A communications leader with over eight years of experience spanning strategy, content, digital platforms, Eugenia has experience in stakeholder engagement within mission-driven public ..Read more
Dr Prashant Gangwar
Head of Education Services
Dr. Prashant Gangwar is a dedicated and accomplished academic leader with over a decade of experience, now channeling his extensive expertise into the practical realm of ... Read more
Niq Sibanda
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Head of Regional Partnerships - Africa
Niq Sibanda started off his career in education and worked with university students under the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. He became the National Director... Read more
Monica Schroeder
Head of Technology and Risk Management
Monica Schroeder is an accomplished professional with 17 years of experience in all-source analysis and risk assessment. Currently based in Cambridge, UK, where she specializes in... Read more
Ari Zastawna
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Global Head of Talent Acquisition
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Ari is a seasoned talent acquisition leader with extensive experience across financial services, executive search, and recruitment consulting. As Head of Talent Acquisition ...Read more
Chiamaka Nwangwu
Head of Compliance
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Chiamaka is a dedicated and results‑driven governance and compliance professional with over eight years of experience in managing governance frameworks, regulatory compliance Read more..
Judith Chepkemoi
Deputy Chief Advancement Officer
Judith is a senior fundraising, resource mobilisation, and strategic partnerships professional with over 15 years of progressive experience across the United Nations, government, Read more..
Nasser Durgauhee
Director of Fundraising
Nasser has more than two decades of business development, fundraising, and strategic leadership experience across the charitable, SME, and corporate sectors. He leads the organisation's global Read more..
Tonino Greco
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Deputy Chief Infrastructure Officer
Tonino is a seasoned technology and operations executive with over 20 years of experience leading enterprise‑scale cloud transformation, AI implementation, and infrastructure ..... Read more
Oliver Vembo
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Head of Relief Operations
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Oliver is a distinguished humanitarian leader with over 15 years of experience in emergency response, program management, and community resilience. As the Head of... Read more..
Nyasha Mwendera
Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) & Staff Development
Nyasha brings to Project Yananai over a decade of specialised expertise in monitoring, evaluation, geospatial analysis, and public health surveillance, gained through... Read more..
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