Our Board Members

Our esteemed Board members are a group of dedicated individuals who provide strategic guidance and oversight to our organization. They bring a wealth of expertise and diverse backgrounds to support our mission.

Chairman of the Board.

David John Bwakali

DJ Bwakali is the Coordinator and Lead Writer of Africa Eco Voices, a communication initiative anchored in the Pan-African Action Agenda on Ecosystem Restoration for Increased Resilience. This project is being led by a partnership that brings together the Healthy and Productive Ecosystems Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme's Africa Office, AUDA-NEPAD, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Center for International Forestry Research, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the Environmental Africa Trust. Bwakali is also the Coordinating Lead Author of UNEP's Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) for Youth: A Wealth of Green Opportunities. He also runs Sasafrica, a communications consultancy. Additionally, Bwakali works with Radio France International. He was previously the Editor of Eco-Forum Journal, a renowned 50-year-old environmental magazine.

Board Member

Dr. Marc Anselme Kamga, Cameroon

Dr. Kamga is a senior lecturer at the School of Mines and Petroleum Industries at the University of Maroua in Cameroon. He holds a PhD in Environmental Management from the Institute of Life and Earth Sciences (PAULESI), Pan-African University, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He also has a master’s degree in Earth Sciences from the University of Yaounde in Cameroon, and an honors degree in Earth Sciences. Marc has over six years of experience with in-depth knowledge of project development and implementation, mineral exploration, environmental impact assessments, climate change research, risk assessment, the use of remote sensing technology, and statistical analysis.

Board Member

Halinishi Yusuf

Halinishi Yusuf is the former Managing Director of Makueni County Sand Conservation and Utilization Authority. She is currently a PhD researcher at ONE Planet DTP, Newcastle University. Halinishi is also a registered lead expert in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments. She holds a Master's degree in Development Studies, specializing in Environment and Sustainable Development from the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS); an institute of Erasmus Rotterdam University in the Netherlands. Furthermore, she has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies and Community Development from Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.

Board Member

Saddam Khalfan Ahmed, Tanzania

Saddam is a Governance expert and the Head of Programs and Policy at Youth and Environment Vision, a Tanzanian organization. With over eight years of experience, he advocates for and promotes effective youth participation in public policy and sustainable development. Saddam has served as a member of various local and international task-based and advisory groups, such as the Tanzania Tax Justice Working Group, UK DFID Tanzania Youth Advisory Panel, NORAD Education Project Advisory Committee, East African Youth Network Constitution Development Committee, the Kilimanjaro Women Initiative National Organizing Team, Tanzania Global Action Week of Education National Working Group, the Region of Eastern and Southern Africa Youth Reference Group on Development Effectiveness, and YouMatch Global Initiative on Innovative Employment Services for Youth Internship Working Group.

Board Member

Joan Tonui

Joan Tonui is a water and sanitation expert who mostly focuses on nature-based solutions for sustainable and equitable water supply. She is currently working with World Vision and is also the founder of the Green Towns Initiative (GTI), which is a community-based organization that serves as AYT's National Focal Point in Kenya's Bomet County. Joan graduated with a degree in Public Health from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. In 2020, she was selected by The North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE) as one of the Environmental Educators 30 Under 30.

Board Member

Mohammed A. Hussein

Mohammed Hussein is an urban planner & environmental law specialist with over 10 years experience working in Somalia and Kenya in the fields of urban planning, environmental policy making and compliance, urban environment management (urban waste management), environmental resource mapping and managements, institutional regulatory frameworks, Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESF), Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements, Climate Change and Global Warming among others.

Board Member

Dr. Marie Chantal Ingabire

Dr. Ingabire is a respected Rwandan mental health professional committed to improving mental health services in sub-Saharan Africa. Her academic background, including a PhD in psychology and experience in addressing the psychological impact of armed conflict, makes her a valuable asset to our organization. Dr. Ingabire's presence in our board underscores our mission to advance mental health services globally, and we appreciate her contributions in reaching those who need it most.