MaryAnn Chikwanda
Deputy Chief People and Governance Officer
MaryAnn is a seasoned human resources and governance professional with extensive experience in people strategy, employee relations, and board leadership across Africa and Asia. As Deputy Chief People and Governance Officer for Project Yananai, she supports the Chief People and Governance Officer in strengthening organisational culture, talent management, compliance, and governance frameworks across the global team.
MaryAnn currently serves as a People Business Partner for Africa and Asia at a major international organisation, where she leads people strategy and employee relations across diverse jurisdictions. She has held the role of Employee Relations Manager at a global banking group in Zambia, managing complex employee relations matters and driving people initiatives. MaryAnn also brings significant board experience, currently serving as Board Vice Chairperson of the National Remote Sensing Centre and as a member of the Finance and Administration Committee of the Lusaka South Multi‑Facility Economic Zone. She has also served as PTA Secretary at Chengelo School.
MaryAnn holds an MBA in International Business and a BA (Hons) in Business Studies from the University of Greenwich, and is an Associate Member of the CIPD with a CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management. She is passionate about building inclusive, high‑integrity people systems and governance practices that enable mission‑driven organisations to thrive.
