Meet the team
Our team are central to Tiyeni’s people-powered approach to ending food poverty and to improving water security. Get to know the team members that make Tiyeni’s work so impactful.
Management
Management is made up of a team of highly-skilled individuals who are experts in their fields. In addition to their individual responsibilities, they also provide support and guidance to other team members.
Project Officers
Project Officers are at the heart of Tiyeni’s work. They build relationships with smallholder farmer communities across Malawi to achieve Tiyeni’s mission to end food poverty and to improve water security. Project Officers work with farmers across our hotspots to deliver training and technical support in Deep Bed Farming, plan field activities with community involvement, and support the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager with collecting and logging data. If you would like to get in contact with any of our Project Officers, please email [email protected].
Administration & assistants
UK Board of Trustees
Colin Andrews — Chair
Colin started his career in land agency and became a chartered surveyor in 1973, with Estate Management from the rural practice of G Herbert Banks. He worked on farms in the wheat and sheep belt of West Australia and then on a cattle ranch in New South Wales before taking the post of Associate Director of Richard Ellis, Melbourne in charge of the management department. He returned to UK as a partner of well known Estate Managers in Hampshire, Austin & Wyatt before setting up as an independent consultant. Colin became a Trustee of Tiyeni in 2013 and Chair in 2018. He visits Tiyeni’s base in Mzuzu regularly to promote the soil care system and to observe Tiyeni’s methods in operation.
Colin started his career in land agency and became a chartered surveyor in 1973, with Estate Management from the rural practice of G Herbert Banks. He worked on farms in the wheat and sheep belt of West Australia and then on a cattle ranch in New South Wales before taking the post of Associate Director of Richard Ellis, Melbourne in charge of the management department. He returned to UK as a partner of well known Estate Managers in Hampshire, Austin & Wyatt before setting up as an independent consultant. Colin became a Trustee of Tiyeni in 2013 and Chair in 2018. He visits Tiyeni’s base in Mzuzu regularly to promote the soil care system and to observe Tiyeni’s methods in operation.
Andrew Burrows — Secretary
Andrew is a chartered surveyor by profession with a keen interest in agriculture and charitable work overseas. He became a Tiyeni Trustee in December 2013, and has held the role of Secretary since April 2017.
Andrew is a chartered surveyor by profession with a keen interest in agriculture and charitable work overseas. He became a Tiyeni Trustee in December 2013, and has held the role of Secretary since April 2017.
Alan Laverock — Treasurer
Alan brings his 45+ years’ experience as a chartered accountant to Tiyeni as our Treasurer. His connection to Malawi began in 2009, when he took an early retirement to concentrate on overseas development in the country’s northern region. Since then, he has been to Malawi over 30 times, and continues to make regular visits twice a year. Between 2020-2025, Alan served as the Finance Officer for the Scotland Malawi Partnership, where he first met Tiyeni. Alan also serves on the Board of four other charities that undertake development work in Malawi: Bananabox, Mamie Martin Fund, Food for Thought, and Livingstonia Hospital Partnership. In his free time, Alan enjoys watching football, reading, attempting crossword puzzles, and cooking.
Alan brings his 45+ years’ experience as a chartered accountant to Tiyeni as our Treasurer. His connection to Malawi began in 2009, when he took an early retirement to concentrate on overseas development in the country’s northern region. Since then, he has been to Malawi over 30 times, and continues to make regular visits twice a year. Between 2020-2025, Alan served as the Finance Officer for the Scotland Malawi Partnership, where he first met Tiyeni. Alan also serves on the Board of four other charities that undertake development work in Malawi: Bananabox, Mamie Martin Fund, Food for Thought, and Livingstonia Hospital Partnership. In his free time, Alan enjoys watching football, reading, attempting crossword puzzles, and cooking.
Ian Kerr
During Ian’s 30-year career in industry he led the Honeywell UK R&D team delivering large innovate projects within the aerospace industry, most recently the UCAIR and ECLAIR projects. Ian is now focussed on his business and NGO interests in Tanzania and Malawi.
During Ian’s 30-year career in industry he led the Honeywell UK R&D team delivering large innovate projects within the aerospace industry, most recently the UCAIR and ECLAIR projects. Ian is now focussed on his business and NGO interests in Tanzania and Malawi.
Ulele Andrews
Ulele is an HR professional and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She is experienced in public administration, having worked in the UK Civil Service for 14 years. Ulele grew up in Mzuzu, Malawi with parents who were passionate about agriculture, education, and development.
Ulele is an HR professional and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She is experienced in public administration, having worked in the UK Civil Service for 14 years. Ulele grew up in Mzuzu, Malawi with parents who were passionate about agriculture, education, and development.
Mel Bradley, MBE
Mel is currently working with small groups of farmers in the South West of England who are seeking to regenerate their soils and farm more in harmony with nature. She has worked in the NGO sector for 15 years, running a small charity building schools in Afghanistan and delivering one of the largest WWI commemorations in the UK, Shrouds of the Somme. Mel lived in Malawi for nine months in the 1990s, and as a soil advocate for Kiss the Ground she is keen to see regenerative farming being taken up across the country.
Mel is currently working with small groups of farmers in the South West of England who are seeking to regenerate their soils and farm more in harmony with nature. She has worked in the NGO sector for 15 years, running a small charity building schools in Afghanistan and delivering one of the largest WWI commemorations in the UK, Shrouds of the Somme. Mel lived in Malawi for nine months in the 1990s, and as a soil advocate for Kiss the Ground she is keen to see regenerative farming being taken up across the country.
Professor Alan Dixon, PhD
Alan has been a Tiyeni Trustee over two periods since 2014. Alan has an academic background in sustainable development and social-ecological systems, and has over 25 years’ experience of managing and implementing participatory action research and development projects in sub-Saharan Africa. He has also published widely in books and journals, and his recent co-authored book Africa: Diversity and Development has become a key text in geography, international development, and African studies courses around the world. Alan currently leads the Sustainable Environments Research Group at the University of Worcester.
Alan has been a Tiyeni Trustee over two periods since 2014. Alan has an academic background in sustainable development and social-ecological systems, and has over 25 years’ experience of managing and implementing participatory action research and development projects in sub-Saharan Africa. He has also published widely in books and journals, and his recent co-authored book Africa: Diversity and Development has become a key text in geography, international development, and African studies courses around the world. Alan currently leads the Sustainable Environments Research Group at the University of Worcester.
Femi Bart-Williams
Femi joined Tiyeni as a Trustee in 2023. Born and raised in Sierra Leone, Femi brings 25 years of corporate, finance and investment, and actuarial experience to the role. He is passionate about environmental sustainability as well as empowering individuals to achieve financial freedom and stability through self-sufficiency. Femi’s focus areas as a Tiyeni Trustee include the charity’s strategy, improving efficiency, and corporate messaging.
Femi joined Tiyeni as a Trustee in 2023. Born and raised in Sierra Leone, Femi brings 25 years of corporate, finance and investment, and actuarial experience to the role. He is passionate about environmental sustainability as well as empowering individuals to achieve financial freedom and stability through self-sufficiency. Femi’s focus areas as a Tiyeni Trustee include the charity’s strategy, improving efficiency, and corporate messaging.
Rupert Douglas-Bate
Rupert joined Tiyeni’s Board as a Trustee in 2018. He is founder and Chair of Global MapAid. He has many years’ experience in delivering solutions to poverty in the developing world, and in particular Africa.
Rupert joined Tiyeni’s Board as a Trustee in 2018. He is founder and Chair of Global MapAid. He has many years’ experience in delivering solutions to poverty in the developing world, and in particular Africa.
Malawi Board of Trustees
Macshamed Mhango — Board Chairman
Macshamed is a senior member of regional Ministry of Agriculture. He has 18 years of work experience in the Ministry of Agriculture, with many years serving as Principal of Mzuzu Agricultural Development District (ADD) Residential Training Centre.
Macshamed is a senior member of regional Ministry of Agriculture. He has 18 years of work experience in the Ministry of Agriculture, with many years serving as Principal of Mzuzu Agricultural Development District (ADD) Residential Training Centre.
Mary Gondwe
Mary previously served as Tiyeni’s Project Manager. After leaving the role, she maintained her connection with Tiyeni by joining the Malawi Board of Trustees.
Mary previously served as Tiyeni’s Project Manager. After leaving the role, she maintained her connection with Tiyeni by joining the Malawi Board of Trustees.
Bill Mhango
Bill worked for the Malawian Ministry of Agriculture for 34 years, with many years at the position of District Agriculture Development Officer (DADO). He is now retired.
Bill worked for the Malawian Ministry of Agriculture for 34 years, with many years at the position of District Agriculture Development Officer (DADO). He is now retired.
Dr Albert Mvula, PhD
Albert brings multiple years’ experience of project coordination in natural resources management through social-ecological systems and combatting poverty by building resilience into food systems through crop productivity. Albert carried out his PhD work at the University of Worcester on the social-ecological sustainability of the Deep Bed Farming system, highlighting key improvements to drive adoption of the method by smallholder farmers in Malawi.
Albert brings multiple years’ experience of project coordination in natural resources management through social-ecological systems and combatting poverty by building resilience into food systems through crop productivity. Albert carried out his PhD work at the University of Worcester on the social-ecological sustainability of the Deep Bed Farming system, highlighting key improvements to drive adoption of the method by smallholder farmers in Malawi.
Dr Bernard C. G. Kamanga, PhD
Bernard is Associate Professor of Food Security and Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Livingstonia, contributing his expertise to Tiyeni’s work.
Bernard is Associate Professor of Food Security and Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Livingstonia, contributing his expertise to Tiyeni’s work.
Volunteers
We are so grateful to our volunteers and their contributions towards Tiyeni’s mission to end food poverty and to improve water security. Our current volunteers are:
Kate Owens – Communications
Craig Allardyce - Website/IT
Interested in volunteering with Tiyeni? We offer remote and in-person opportunities. Check out this page for more information, or get in contact with us at [email protected].
Kate Owens – Communications
Craig Allardyce - Website/IT
Interested in volunteering with Tiyeni? We offer remote and in-person opportunities. Check out this page for more information, or get in contact with us at [email protected].