We’ve been on a mission over the last two years to ensure that we are living our values of being a truly African-led organization. The final step of this goal has been to ensure that our Board of Directors is led by women leaders from across the African continent. Having now met this goal, we’re incredibly proud and grateful to introduce our new board members to the Global Grassroots community: Phylisiah Mnene-Mcheni, Anne Nkutu, Sheila Koburungi, and Sophie Kange. They each bring deep wisdom, knowledge, expertise, and commitment to the board and we’re certain their leadership will help us expand our impact and reach. Please join us in welcoming them!
Phylisiah Mnene-Mcheni,
Tanzania
Founder and CEO of IRIS Executive & Advisory Services Africa
Phylisiah has 15-years of experience and expertise in human resources, change management, and training and executive recruitment. Her company, with offices in Tanzania and Kenya, provides various advisory services to NGO’s, private companies, and government agencies.
Phylisiah volunteers her time to many nonprofit organizations that offer services to start-ups and young women and she has received numerous awards including being nominated in 2021 as one of the Top 100 Executives in Tanzania.
Anne Nkutu, Uganda
Gender and Development Consultant, Nordic Consulting Group Uganda
Anne is a multi-disciplinary social scientist with 20 years’ experience advocating for gender equality and women's empowerment, monitoring and evaluation efforts, human rights and governance issues, and program management.
She has utilized her expertise in the areas of girls’ education, sexual and reproductive health, gender based violence, and women’s leadership to contribute to organizations and companies such as Aga Khan Foundation Uganda and Nordic Consulting Group, among others.
Sheila Koburungi, Uganda
Senior Development Consultant, BDO East Africa
Sheila has over 14 years of experience in financial management, accounting, audits, development finance and microcredit initiatives. She has strong technical and business qualifications with an impressive track record in strategic planning and budgeting, financial reporting, internal controls development, administration management, and governance.
She has been involved in project management with the Economic Empowerment Project for Disabled Women in Uganda, UN Women Business Mapping, and acts as a child protection and cancer prevention advocate.
Sophie Kange, Uganda
Executive Director, DENIVA
Sophie is an international development expert with over 15 years of development practice supporting interventions that promote human rights, governance, gender equality, and institutional/organizational strengthening in Africa and beyond.
She holds an M.A. in Conflict Resolution and Management and is a certified Organization Development (OD) expert and trainer. Sophie is currently the Executive Director of Development Network for Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA) in Uganda, Vice Chairperson of the Board of the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO, and co-chair of the Legitimacy, Transparency and Accountability working group under AGNA/CIVICUS.
We’re excited to share more in the year ahead as their leadership continues to guide our mission and vision. Thank you for being with us on this journey!