From left to right: R1 Sean Collins McCarthy with 1.) HIV/AIDS victims (AINA Children's Home, Meru, Kenya), 2.) Interviewee & beneficiary of rescue centre, Olmalaika Home, (Maasai Mara); 3.) Senior Team & Medical Volunteers (Gynocare Women's Hospital & Beyond Fistula): Larissa Pashe, Caroline Mabeya (Co-Founder) and Marisa Von Fritschen (Eldoret, Kenya); 4.) Ambassador, Educating The Children, Chief Daniel Ole Soit (Maasai Mara); 5.) medical specialists from Desert Flower Centre, Walfriede Hosptial, Dr. Uwe von Fritschen, Dr. Roland Scherer & Dr. Cornelia Strunz (Berlin); 6.) WHO & FIGO Certified Medical Training Doctor, Dr. Hillary Mabeya, (Eldoret, Kenya). R2: Sean Collins McCarthy with 7.) Maasai Elder during cultural immersion experience in Maasai Mara; 8.) National Geographic Explorer At-Large & Time Magazine Person of the Year (2018), Shahidul Alam, at the Royal Geographical Society (London), 9.) Representative of BAFTA in preparation for film screening event & gala, 10.) World Future Council Member, Dr. Auma Obama, in Karen, Nairobi following her exclusive interview relating to a number of documentaries in our media portfolio; 11.) Maasai Elder & NGO Ambassador, Karmushu Kiama and Maasai Warrior & Safari Guide, Daniel Santare (Lewa Wildlife Conservancy); 12.)  Elisabeth Creek Chair, Harper Adams University, former Asst. Dean, Purdue University (IPIA) and USAID & Bill & Melinda Gates Principal Investigator (PICS), Dr. James Lowenberg De Boer, at Harper Adams University (Shropshire, UK).  R3: Sean Collins McCarthy with 13.) Associate, Harvard University (Hutchins Center) & Visiting Research Fellow, University of Oxford & Editor, Uncut/Voices Press, Dr. Tobe Levin Freifrau von Gleichen, and founder, Forward for Women, e.V., Dr. Mariame Racine Sow (Frankfurt, Germany); 14.) Maasai ambassador during cultural immersion experience (Maasai Mara), 15.) Board Member of SAM Elimu Program (aka: Dr. Peter Linneman Foundation), Faith Riunga (Nanyuki, Mt. Kenya); 16.) Production Assistant & Translator, Viola Celmente, Maasai Chief, Daniel Ole Soit, Maasai Fashion Model, Diana Seleyian Ketere, and Lucky Ole Soit (Maasai Mara), 17.) Board Member, Doctors without Borders (MSF, Switzerland) & Fistula Foundation and Head of  FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative, Gillian Slinger (London) following her exclusive interview relating to a number of documentaries in our media portfolio; 18.) Government Chief, Humanitarian Expert & NGO Ambassador, Moses Kasoi. R4: 19.) Maasai Elder & NGO Ambassador, Karmushu Kiam, (Lewa Wildlife Conservancy); 20.) Co-founders of Bring Hope (Kenya) and former ADRA humanitarian relief managers & coordinators; 21.) Paramilitary police (Kenya) & partnering NGO leaders on a fact-finding mission in Kibera, the largest urban slum in Africa; 22.) former British Army Major General (Ret.), Tim Cross, CBE, (Aldershot, UK) following his exclusive interview relating to a number of documentaries in our media portfolio; 23.) our camera crew in Kibera for media for development project; and 24.) child victims of HIV/AIDS (AINA Children's Home, Meru, Kenya).

JESS COLLINS MCCARTHY, B.S., M.S.

Jess, a graduate of Purdue University, specializes in International Food & Resource Economics & Sustainable Development, and has worked as an economist, analyst & statistician on applied-based research projects, pro-poor policies & sustainable development initiatives across Africa incl. assisting the USAID Collaborative Research Support Program.

Her career spans the public, private & philanthropic sectors, and consequently, she has gained vast experience across statistical analysis, data gathering/mining, comparative research, econometrics and other qualitative & quantitative research.  Jess has a special passion for bridging the socioeconomic gap through sustainable development, humanitarian affairs and social impact & innovation initiatives.

Jess earned her Bachelor of Science in International Food & Resource Economics from the University of Florida (UF) and her Master of Science specializing in International Development & Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (Thesis Option), where she also received a competitive research assistantship and worked on research projects funded by USAID in collaboration with Dr. James Lowenberg-DeBoer, which served as the basis for a partnership between Purdue University, Purdue Research Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to reduce hunger & poverty in sub-Saharan Africa through social innovation and sustainable development, and the forerunner for the Feed the Future Initiative, USAID’s Global Hunger & Food Security Initiative.

A former symphony flautist, Jess received a music scholarship to UF before changing her major after volunteering to serve as a humanitarian worker in Haiti as part of a mission trip. Jess' humanitarian experience in Haiti and her research & coordination efforts overseeing fact-finding missions in Africa have inspired the inception & integration of Goodwill Tours & Ecotourism Adventures as part of Horizon Initiatives in an effort to empower marginalised communities, support ecological conservation; directly facilitate socioeconomic development; foster intercultural appreciation and assist in heritage preservation & human rights awareness.

As a Senior Research Fellow for LINS Institute of Excellence and Co-Founder, Discovery Global (Centers of Global Learning & Studies), she oversees all aspects of strategic direction, pro-poor policy and socioeconomic research. As the Director of International Development for the MLD Pro Bono Team, Jess oversees the design, development & delivery of the SARI Program.  In 2022, Jess was appointed as the Chair of Horizon Initiatives (Honorary), a group of social impact & innovation initiatives driven by COL Alliance and LINS Institute (COL-LINS Network).

DR. JAMES LOWENBERG-DEBOER

James is currently the Elizabeth Creak Chair of Agri-Tech Economics at Harper Adams University and Past-President of the International Society for Precision Agriculture, former Associate Dean (IPIA) and Director of the Purdue International Programs. 

He has over 30 years of worldwide experience in agricultural research, teaching, outreach and leadership.  He has published 85 articles in refereed journals, two books and chapters in seven other books.  His research focuses on the economics of agricultural technology.  He is a pioneer in the use of spatial regression in analysis of crop sensor data with published work in this area from the U.S., Argentina and South Africa. From 2004-2015 he was the Associate Dean and Director of the Purdue International Programs in Agriculture (IPIA). From 2007-2015 he led the Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he was responsible for logistics, supply-chain, marketing, etc.

In 2012 he was made a Chevalier of the National Order by the government of Burkina Faso for his work improving food security in the country in PICS. From 2000-2006 he was director of the Purdue Site-Specific management center.  From 1997 to 2007 he was West Africa facilitator for the USAID Bean/Cowpea Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP) working to build multidisciplinary teams and supervising CRSP social science research and outreach in that region. From 1992 to 1994 he was campus coordinator for the Agricultural Research and Training Support (ARTS) project in Burkina Faso. From 1988 to 1992 he served as economist and team leader of a USAID-funded institution building project in Niger. His work has taken him to Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Peoples Rep. of China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Holland, Hungary, India, Italy, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Georgia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe. He brings to his research, teaching, outreach and leadership a perspective gained through private sector experience as a farmer and journalist.

His 30 years of worldwide experience across agricultural business, research, teaching, outreach and leadership has facilitated numerous applied-based research and social innovation advancements.  He was instrumental in securing funding from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, etc. for social innovation, agricultural and agri-tech initiatives across Africa that have generated significant social-economic dividends for small-holder farm families & marginalised communities.

MAJ. GEN. (RET.) TIM CROSS, CBE

Tim retired from the British Army in 2006.  During his military career he has seen operational service in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, the Balkans (SFOR and KFOR) and Iraq.  He has worked extensively with other government departments, the US military, the United Nations and numerous non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Tim retired from the British Army after 36 years Service.  He commanded the largest division of the Field Army, led the mixed Military/Industry Implementation Team of the Defence wide End-to-End Logistic Review and was a Board Member of the multi-billion pound Defence Logistic Organisation.

An experienced EOD/IED operator, with a Masters Degree in Guided Weapons, he served in Paris on the MILAN anti-tank programme. His operational experience includes deployments as an ATO in Northern Ireland, the Gulf in 1990/91 and 2003, and the Balkans in 1995, 1997 and 1999. He was appointed CBE in the Kosovo operational awards list in 2000, and deployed to Washington, Kuwait and Baghdad as the International Deputy in the US led Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Affairs, later re-titled the Coalition Provisional Authority in 2002/03.

Having worked closely with Industry in his time as the Director General of the Defence Supply Chain, he served as a trustee of the Leadership Trust Foundation which works with a number of industries.  In addition, he has served as a Director of an International Aid Organisation and he also sat on the ethics board of a major UK technology company.   He is a Visiting Professor at the Universities of Nottingham, Reading and Cranfield, and has published a number of articles and book chapters.  He is also a former Adviser to the House of Commons Defence Committee.

Tim also served as a board member of the Center for International Humanitarian Cooperation - an international affairs & humanitarian relief organisation working in partnership with various UN bodies, the Royal College of Surgeons (Ireland) and Fordham University (Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs) - alongside his longstanding friend and colleague, Larry Hollingworth, CBE.

Amongst a broad portfolio, Tim is a Local Lay Minister in the Church of England and served as the President of Theos, a Christian think tank launched in 2006 and supported by the then Archbishop of Canterbury.  An itinerant preacher & international speaker, he is engaged across UK/International business, academia and the charity/humanitarian world.

MICHAEL PASK

Michael has 30 years of experience across the Sports, Media, Leisure & Tourism industries as a former Senior Vice President of IMG and WME, and he currently serves as a member of the British Army Brand and Reputation Committee and previously served on the Qiddiya International Advisory Board (Qiddiya InvestmentCompany) as well as an Independent Non-Exec Director of the England Golf board.

Michael has over 25 years experience working for WME and IMG, the world’s largest Sports, Entertainment and Media business as a Senior Vice President, overseeing event planning, organisation and implementation.  In addition, he has experience in the acquisition of companies as well as the integration of them post acquisition. He turned around the International Academy business (IMG, NBTA, Chris Evert Academy, David Leadbetter, etc.) from a loss making enterprise to a highly successful global operation.

In creating the Golf Advisory Business at IMG, he delivered knowledge and skills to a global list of clients including HSBC, French and Italian Ryder Cup bids (both successful) as well as a host of other digital, corporate and development clients. Sitting on the board and driving business development he also helped grow European Golf Design (a joint venture between the European Tour group and IMG), to be the most successful Golf Course Design business in EMEA with over 50 courses many linked into professional clients.  As Head of the Sports Leisure Tourism Group at IMG, he was responsible for the development of opportunities in Stadiums as well as tourism, event strategies and the creation & growth of the Golf Course Operations business.  

Sales, Business Development and Relationship Building have been a key part of all his experience, and he was instrumental in spearheading the transformation of the IMG Golf Division’s sales efforts, creative offering and digital strategy.

Alongside spearheading his team in these endeavours at IMG, he has also managed successfully the careers of a number of significant Olympic Athletes including Sir Steve Redgrave, Michael Johnson, Ian Thorpe and Katherine Grainger.

Michael has a First Class degree in Geology from St Andrews and successfully completed a year long cycling expedition along the Andes and a follow up lecture tour including three presentations at the Royal Geographic Society during a two year break from IMG.  In addition to his advisory business activities, he currently sits on the Sport Relief Steering Committee; The GEO Advisory Council and also Make-A-Wish Corporate Alliance Committee.  Michael is also a senior associate (Sport, Media & Entertainment) at Oxford House Research, an interdisciplinary think tank.

TIM COOKE, MA, M.TECH, DPHIL

Tim has worked in senior levels in media, software, and IT services companies throughout his working life, and consequently, has been active as a leading investor in early stage technology companies.  Tim holds a portfolio of Non-Executive Chairmanships and Directorships and is currently Non Executive Director of Caxton FX (a money transfer service provider), and Chairman of Six to Start Ltd (a trans-media gaming and health & fitness mobile apps developer) and Clarinet Ltd (investor and turnaround management company focused on software). 

Previously, Tim served as Non Executive Director of Harmonic, a defence consulting company, and a Venture Partner to NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.

He was an early employee with Logica, where he held numerous senior management positions in the UK and overseas. He was later Managing Director of Oxford Molecular Group plc and floated this software based drug design and genomics company. He has also floated Intelligent Environments plc, the London stock market’s first internet company.  Additionally, he was a founder/director of Anson Medical Plc, the medical device company.

In addition, Tim serves as Chairman of Thomson Screening, which was spun-out from City, University of London in 2013 and since then its software has been used to manage over 2 million screenings by the NHS and other providers of Healthy Child Programmes as well as schools, businesses, care homes and NGOs.

Tim is passionate about social-minded social enterprise and micro-financing models as a means to assist empower marginalized communities in development and least developed countries.  He has experience conducting fact-finding missions and goodwill humanitarian tours to a number of rural and urban informal settlements including Kibera, Nairobi, the largest urban slum community in Africa. Consequently, he is Chairman of Escape Poverty, which raises and deploys funds for micro-credit and micro-finance projects in Kenya and Tanzania with the aim to help marginalised people build a better life and escape deprivation.

Tim is also a friend of Five Talents UK, a Christian charity that provides micro-finance & business training for those in need in developing countries.  Tim has a Chemistry MA and DPhil from Oxford University and an MTech from Brunel University.

DR. PETER LINNEMAN

For nearly 45 years, Dr. Peter Linneman's unique blend of scholarly rigor and practical business insight has won him accolades from around the world, including PREA's prestigious Graaskamp Award for Real Estate Research, Wharton's Zell-Lurie Real Estate Center's Lifetime Achievement Award, Realty Stock Magazine's Special Achievement Award, being named "One of the 25 Most Influential People in Real Estate" by Realtor Magazine and inclusion in The New York Observer's "100 Most Powerful People in New York Real Estate".
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After receiving both his Masters and Doctorate in Economics under the tutelage of Nobel Prize winners Milton Friedman, Gary Becker, George Stigler, Ted Schultz and Jim Heckman, Peter had a distinguished academic career at both The University of Chicago and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. For 35 years, he was a leading member of Wharton's faculty, serving as the Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate, Finance and Public Policy, as well as the Founding Chairman of the Real Estate Department and Director of the prestigious Zell-Lurie Real Estate Center. During this time, he was co-editor of The Wharton Real Estate Review. He has published over 100 scholarly articles, eight editions of the acclaimed book Real Estate Finance and Investments: Risks and Opportunities, and the widely read Linneman Letter quarterly report. He is also the co-creator of the popular, and highly regarded, Real Estate Finance and Investment Certification course, REFAI. Most recently, he co-authored (with Dr. Michael Roizen and Albert Ratner) the best-selling book "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow."
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Peter's long and ongoing business career is highlighted by his roles as Founding Principal of Linneman Associates, LLC, a leading real estate advisory firm, and its affiliates. For more than 40 years, he has advised leading corporations and served on over 20 public and private boards, including serving as Chairman of Rockefeller Center Properties, where he led the successful restructuring and sale of Rockefeller Center in the mid-1990s.

Although retired from Wharton's faculty, Dr. Linneman continues his commitment to education through his SAM Elimu education-focused non-profit organisation providing scholarship opportunities for orphans, children and young people living in extreme poverty in rural Kenya. He has been married for nearly 50 years and remains an exercise enthusiast.

SAIFUL ISLAM, MBA

Saif has over 30 years of experience in the both the private and non-profit sectors.  He has handled operations as a senior engineer & executive business manager for multi-national corporations, at different levels of the business life cycle including overseeing business management, operations capabilities, learning management, supply chain management, budgeting, strategic planning, etc.

Recognized as an innovative, results-oriented senior manager, Saifwas selected to handle operations on behalf of GE, Arab Chemical Company and BAT, managing cross-cultural and multidisciplinary teams in South Asia, Africa, and the UK. 

After two-decades in the private sector, Saif decided to dedicate time and apply his management expertise and experience to assisting the photography, arts and social activism efforts of his brother-in-law, Shahidul Alam, a world-acclaimed photographer, writer, curator and activist.  Consequently, he served as CEO of Drik Bangladesh and Drik-Bengal Muslin based in Dhaka and London, overseeing strategy, planning, fundraising and implementation of projects, exhibitions and campaigns.  During this time, Alam's work was shown in MOMA in New York, Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, and he became the recipient of the Shilpakala Award in 2015 (highest award for cultural activities) for his contribution to the arts in Bangladesh.

While CEO of Drik Bangladesh and Drik-Bengal Muslin, he also researched and published a book on Bangladesh’s legendary fabric, muslin, and led the team which produced a groundbreaking exhibition and documentary on same.

Based in London over the past decade, Saif co-founded Majority World, a social enterprise photography & arts management agency, which aims to promote photographers from the global south and ensure fair compensation for their work.  He assembled a UK-based team positioned to leverage London's appreciation for the arts & culture and CSR & philanthropy in order to mobilise support for talented photographers based across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.  Today he serves as CEO of Majority World while Shahidul Alam serves as its Chair, and working together, Majority World has emerged as a catalyst for social innovation and justice. Through a partnership between Majority World and Drik Picture Library, Saif continues to assist Alam with his award winning agency, which provides advocacy, awareness campaigns, production of communication materials & training.

Saif earned his MBA specialising in Entrepreneurship from the University of Liverpool and his Bachelor of Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

WALTER LUTSCHINGER

Walter has over 35 years of experience advising international philanthropists and sports, fashion and media personalities. His career spans a diverse group of industries and disciplines: special events, marketing, public relations, sports & talent management, CSR & brand management, media & sponsorship, corporate hospitality, venture philanthropy and non-profit management.

In 2002, Walter Co-founder the Desert Flower Foundation (DFF) with supermodel, best-selling author, human rights activist and former UN Special Ambassador, Waris Dirie. Today, he serves as Co-founder and Managing Director of eleven (11) DFF organisations across Europe and Africa: USA, UK, France, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Sierra Leone, Djibouti, etc. Walter is responsible for all aspects of the Foundation's activities from fundraising & marketing to planning & organising campaigns against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) around the world.

He was also instrumental in mobilsing support from like-minded organisations and individuals including Supermodel and philanthropist, Kiera Chaplin, granddaughter of the great Charlie Chaplin, who now serves as President and Mentor of Desert Flower Foundation.

In addition, he served as the official Manager of all commercial activities for Waris Dirie. Previously, he served as Managing Director of the Christiaan Barnard Foundation, where he was responsible for organising projects and campaigns across Europe, North America and Africa. In addition to his non-profit management responsibilities, he also served as the official Manager for the South African heart surgeon, Prof. Christiaan Barnard, who performed the first human heart transplantation in 1967.

Walter began his illustrious career in 1978 when he created and founded Club1 ERSTE BANK Vienna the "first bonus club for young bank clients" worldwide, with 60,000 Club1 members. As its Managing Director, he oversaw the publishing of Club 1 Magazine, producing over 200,000 copies per month while also organising more than 600 events for Club1 between 1978 to 1983, including:

• Exhibitions with Andy Warhol, Victor Vasarely, etc.;
• Concerts with Rod Stewart, Chuck Berry, The Clash, Queen, etc.;
• Lectures with Karl Lagerfeld, Prof Christiaan Barnard, Graham Green; and
• Fairs "Austrias first Youth Fair", "Niki Lauda Car Show", etc.

LAWRENCE FEE

Lawrence has over 30 years of experience within the media, broadcast and marketing industry as an owner & manager of multiple companies specialising in media production, outside broadcasting, satellite uplinking, motion graphics, design and post-production.

Currently, Lawrence is the CEO and Editor of Yard Media, a boutique  production and post-production house based in Ireland.  Lawrence is a creative & technical editor of award-winning post-production content including music videos (e.g. Prodigy), special events (e.g. MTV Music Awards), sports competitions (e.g. Special Olympics), documentary content (e.g. Behind the Sword and the Stone), etc. 

Between 1996 - 2004, Lawrence established one of Ireland's leading multi-media companies, Yard Media.  Initially, established as the first all digital post-production house in Ireland, Yard, which grew to become the first post-production house in Ireland with outside broadcasting & satellite uplink capabilities.  Under his leadership, Yard secured contracts with multinational marketing firms, international NGOs, global events, etc.  Lawrence also created a sister company, Pluto (focused on the animation, SFX and 3D market), as well as Inferno and Flame, which specialised in compositing and effects capabilities.  The Yard Group grew to employ over 60 experts and provided a range of facilities for both the broadcast and corporate industries - consultancy, production, camera crews, editing, graphics, studio and satellite uplink services.  Clients availing of the company's services included Bank of Ireland, eircom, Intel, Trintech, Enterprise Ireland, Revenue Commissioners, European Commission, Reuters and British Aerospace.  In addition, The Yard Group also became the Official Broadcast supplier for the 2003 Special Olympics World Games.  In 2004, the Yard Group experienced a major economic downturn and the diversification strategies created more competitive issues than advantages, and consequently, Lawrence and his partners decided to closed its doors.

Lawrence's entrepreneurial spirit was resilient and that same year, he decided to establish a boutique production and post-production house that would concentrate on offering high-quality services to the film and advertising industry, which he called Yard Media.  Nearly a decade on, Yard Media has had the opportunity to work with award-winning filmmakers, advertising agencies, NGOs & global brands.  In addition, Yard Media has partnered with Roofbox Media, the production arm of the COL Media Unit to handle post-production requirements for its multi-genre media portfolio.

Prior to establishing The Yard Group, Lawrence worked as Editor at Windmill Lane.  He began his career at Ireland's national broadcaster, RTE, as an Editor for current affairs, news and sports broadcasting programming alongside his friend and colleague, Patrick Collins-McCarthy (Chairman Emeritus, 1946 - 2022).

CAROLINE MABEYA (KENYA)

COUNSELOR & PSYCHOLOGIST

COL NETWORK PARTNER: BEYOND FISTULA & GYNOCARE HOSPITAL

SANDY KOOISTRA (N. AMERICA & EMEA)

OPERATIONS MANAGER & NGO COORDINATOR

COL NETWORK PARTNER: DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS (MSF)

KARMUSHU KIAMI (LEWA DOWNS, KENYA)

MAASAI ELDER, SAFARI GUIDE & NGO AMBASSADOR

COL NETWORK PARTNER: LEWA/SAM ELIMU PROGRAM