fbpx

What We Do   |   Our Team

A diverse, curious
and nimble

locally-driven and
globally-connected team

Diversity by the Numbers

VillageReach is committed to improving racial, cultural and experiential diversity within our team. An inclusive environment enables and promotes employee contributions that are critical to achieving our mission.

180+ Employees

13 Countries

70% Africa-based

48% Female Staff

Global Team of Experts

VillageReach employs 180+ staff who work across disciplines and technical areas—including public health, technology, supply chain, finance, private sector engagement, and—to create systemic change.

Vice President, Global Operations

Ann Holmes

Vice President, Global Operations

Ann is responsible for finance, legal, and operations activities, ensuring development and implementation of forward-looking systems and practices. For many years, she has helped complex organizations successfully navigate change through strategic problem-solving, operational effectiveness, and collaboration. As Chief Operations Officer of the Washington State Bar Association, her oversight of business functions, planning, and analysis was instrumental in enhancing programs even in difficult financial times. Ann most enjoys learning from and helping others recognize their talents and expand their capacity. She has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Smith College and a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Director, Global Programs

Carla Blauvelt

Director, Global Programs

As Director, Global Programs, Carla Blauvelt, based out of Malawi, supports the Vice President in the oversight of program quality and development of standards for program management across VillageReach programs and leads the multi-country Transitioning Well Initiative. In her previous role, Ms. Blauvelt was the Country Director for VillageReach in Malawi and managed a multidisciplinary team of over 70 employees. Prior to VillageReach, Carla was the Country Representative for The Carter Center in South Sudan. She also served as Research Coordinator for Maternal and Newborn Programs at Johns Hopkins University, developed Quality Assurance Standard Operating Procedures for Partners in Health in Peru, and helped coordinate a clinical vaccine trial for Rotavirus in Kenya.

Vice President, Partnerships & Impact

Claudia Shilumani

Vice President, Partnerships & Impact

As Vice President, Partnerships & Impact, Claudia leads the Communications, Advocacy, Resource Mobilization and Research, Evidence & Learning teams for the organization. Working in close collaboration with the Global Programs teams and country office leadership, she refines and implements strategies to ensure that VillageReach is improving how products and services are delivered to the most under-reached communities. Claudia has 25 years of working experience in public health in roles such as a Technical Expert, Manager and in Senior and Executive Leadership. Claudia has worked for the Governments of South Africa and Sierra Leone; Local, Regional and International NGOs; the United Nations; Catholic Relief Services; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria and recently Centre for Communication Impact.

Country Director, Malawi

Dr. Alinafe Kasiya

Country Director, Malawi

Dr. Alinafe Kasiya is the Country Director for VillageReach Malawi and also the Program Lead for CCPF. Alinafe has over 15 years’ experience in health promotion, social and behavior change communication (SBCC) and international development in Malawi and within Sub Saharan Africa. Previously Alinafe has successfully managed projects in the areas of maternal and child health, malaria, nutrition, family planning, HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, gender and governance. Alinafe holds a PhD in Development Studies, specializing in governance and development, from SOAS, University of London.

Vice President, Global Programs

Dr. Bannet Ndyanabangi

Vice President, Global Programs

Dr. Ndyanabangi is a medical doctor and global health leader with over 30 years of experience in the public health sector. He has held senior positions with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Management Sciences for Health, and the East, Central and Southern African (ECSA) Health Community. Dr. Ndyanabangi has a diversity of experience strengthening health systems across Africa and beyond. As Vice President, Global Programs, Dr. Ndyanabangi will lead VillageReach’s Africa offices and our global technical assistance to extend the organization’s reach, expand its innovative programs that bring products to people, and widen pathways to primary health care for the most under-reached.

Country Director, Mozambique

Dr. Rotafina Donco

Country Director, Mozambique

As Mozambique Country Director, Rotafina is responsible for the overall management of VillageReach operations in Mozambique, including serving as the organization’s primary representative to government. Rotafina has vast knowledge and experience in the development sector, and more recently within the humanitarian sector. In her previous role, as Oxfam’s Country Director in Mozambique, she led a successful humanitarian response for Cyclones Idai and Kenneth. Prior to coming to VillageReach, she was also Operations Manager for CDE Southern Africa, managing a portfolio of projects in nine Southern African countries. Rotafina holds a PhD in Business Administration (International Markets), an MSc in Finance and Banking in Emerging Markets, and a BCOM in Commerce and Business Administration.

Country Director, DRC

Freddy Nkosi

Country Director, DRC

Freddy Nkosi is the Country Director for VillageReach in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He plays a critical role in managing the relationship between VillageReach, the government of DRC, non-governmental agencies (NGOs) and donor partners. He also provides leadership and oversight for all program strategies and implementations in the country. Freddy has over 15 years of working in the development sector in areas such as health, governance, economic development, education and human rights.  In a previous role with African Monitor, Freddy worked in South Africa and coordinated large-scale programs in over 10 African countries. He is a nurse and has a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Director, People

Hilary Hanbidge

Director, People

Hilary joined VillageReach to support the human resources team, bringing almost a decade of experience in progressively responsible HR leadership roles in both the US and Canada. Most recently, Hilary worked as the Director of Human Resources at University Presbyterian Church. Hilary’s professional HR background includes proficiencies in employee relations, compensation, benefits, staffing, organizational design, training and staff development, performance management, payroll and human resources information systems. Hilary has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Latin American Studies from the University of British Columbia and an M.A. in International Business, from Cologne University of Applied Sciences.

Director, Development

Jennifer Crouch

Director, Development

Jennifer Crouch is responsible for securing unrestricted philanthropic support for VillageReach. She has fifteen years of experience working in non-profit fund development, with a particular interest in creative capital structures. Prior to VillageReach, Jennifer led a stakeholder engagement team at Global Partnerships, a non-profit impact investor. She has also held positions as Development Director at Seattle Tilth, a sustainability organization and as Assistant Director of Development at The Overlake School. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts from James Madison University, a Master of Arts from the University of Washington, and a certificate in sustainable business from Presidio Graduate School.

Director & Group Lead, Private Sector Engagement

Joseph Roussel

Director & Group Lead, Private Sector Engagement

Joseph is responsible for developing and applying high-impact private sector partnerships, capacities, and best practices to VillageReach’s work. Joseph comes to VillageReach with deep private and public sector expertise in areas of supply chain, product development, strategy, organizational design, information systems and large-scale transformation. Joseph was previously a Partner at PRTM Management Consulting and a Principal in PwC’s Strategy & Operations Practice. He is a co-author of the book Strategic Supply Chain Management: The 5 Disciplines for Top Performance. Joseph received a Master of Arts from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy with a focus on International Business, International Economics and Technology Management, and a BA in Political Science and French from Louisiana State University.

Director, Global Technical Team

Tapiwa Mukwashi

Director, Global Technical Team

Tapiwa Mukwashi is a global health supply-chain expert with more than 15 years of private sector and international development experience across sub-Saharan Africa. As Director, Global Technical Team, Tapiwa ensures that VillageReach has the high-quality technical assistance needed to support its country teams, global partnerships, and program portfolio. Tapiwa played a central role in guiding the organization’s supply chain programs, in conducting supply-chain cost bench marking, supporting integration of different health-product supply chains in Mozambique, and supporting PPE procurement and delivery for CHWs through the COVID-19 Action Fund. Tapiwa is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (FCILT). He earned an MSc in Shipping and Transport from Netherlands Maritime University.

Chief Financial Officer

Tendai Munyoro

Chief Financial Officer

CEO & President

Emily Bancroft

CEO & President

Emily Bancroft is a global leader in systems change, dedicated to transforming health care delivery. She sets the vision for how VillageReach works with governments to solve health care delivery challenges to ensure quality primary health care for the most under-reached. Emily is recognized for her expertise in supply chain, health workforce development and digital health technologies. Emily has been instrumental in VillageReach’s growth since 2010, first serving as Director of the organization’s Health Systems Group before she became Vice President in 2015, and President in 2017. She is also a Clinical Instructor at the University of Washington School of Public Health. Emily holds an MPH from the University of Washington’s School of Public Health and a BA from Princeton University.

Global Vision. Local Experience.

VillageReach’s experts live and work across the globe, building on what we know works to introduce and improve people-centered health care. But our story begins in sub-Saharan Africa, where we have offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Mozambique.

20 Years of Health Care Delivered: Thank You to Our Supporters

In this special video, our staff show their gratitude for our partners and donors. Their incredible support over the last twenty years has allowed us to increase access to quality health care for 58 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.

Support Our Mission

Your tax deductible contribution helps to increase health care availability to reach the most under-reached.

Stay Informed

By providing your email address you agree to receive periodic email news from VillageReach.