Yvonne is an accomplished development professional with over 26 years of experience in the international development sector, specialising in partnership formation, grants and contracts management, compliance, procurement, fundraising, governance, and capacity building. 

As Chief Advancement Officer for Project Yananai, she leads the global Advancement function – integrating fundraising, strategic partnerships, and communications – to secure the resources needed to scale the organisation's integrated Theory of Change across India, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Yvonne brings a rare combination of operational expertise and strategic leadership, with a proven track record of managing high-value donor-funded programmes totalling over $2 billion across Africa, funded by USAID, CDC, UN agencies, EU, FCDO, the Global Fund, and major foundations including Gates and Shell. Notable achievements include leading the start-up and compliance strategy for a $120 million USAID-funded project, contributing to the design of a $600 million health programme, and serving as a senior advisor and consultant to USAID/Southern Africa, supporting procurement for a $1 billion health portfolio. She has also served as Senior Manager Contracts and Grants at Pact, managing approximately $500 million worth of grants and contracts, and as Head of Compliance, Contracts and Grants at BroadReach, overseeing $126 million in awards.

Yvonne is recognised for building systems that ensure audit readiness, donor confidence, and long‑term partner sustainability. She has conducted risk and capacity assessments for non‑U.S. NGOs, helping local partners achieve direct recipient status through capacity building. She holds an MBA from the University of Roehampton and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Andrews University, and has obtained USAID's Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC‑C) – Levels I and II. 

As a key member of the Chief Officers Group, Yvonne is committed to translating complex humanitarian operations into compelling investment propositions and building the sustainable funding partnerships that will enable Project Yananai to deliver lasting community transformation.