Prof Laban Peter Ayiro PhD

I have been a Chemistry teacher, Principal of several High Schools, Provincial Director of Education, Deputy Director of Staff Training (Kenya Education Management Institute), Senior Deputy Director for Policy and Planning at the Ministry Headquarters and Senior Deputy Director for Research and Curriculum Development at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.

I am a Senior Fulbright Scholar having been to the USA in 2011- 2012 researching and teaching at the University of Texas A&M.

I am also a leading consultant in Research, Organizational Leadership and Performance. I have at Moi University worked as Director, Quality Assurance and Standards and hold a wide research and publication track record of over twenty publications.

Administratively, I have acted as Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Planning and Development and also as the Ag. Vice Chancellor Moi University. Currently, I am the Vice Chancellor of Daystar University.

I have skills in the area of Leadership and Management, research methods, strategic planning and management, organizational capacity building, team building, decision making & problem solving, research and report writing, training of trainers, trainer of entrepreneurs, proposal and project writing, computer literacy and grounded skills in the application of ICT in teaching instruction (pedagogy). I am also a peer- reviewer on Quality for the Commission of University Education in Kenya.

I am a full member of the Kenya Institute of Management, The African Network of Internalization of Education, The Academy of Human Resource Development and Women Educational Researchers of Kenya. As my contribution to the community I am the current Chairman of the Kakamega County Education Board, having served the board for the last 4 years.

Uncle Shane Charles

He is a highly experienced and inspirational Aboriginal leader with a strong track record across a range of sectors including education and training, justice, and cultural heritage within both Aboriginal and mainstream organizations.

Uncle Shane is a passionate advocate for reconciliation who enjoys sharing cultural knowledge to make a difference.

Georgina Mumba

Co-Founder & Trustee EcoCare Africa Trust
Social Protection Practitioner
Data Analyst
Economist
Disability Inclusion Advocate
Mental Health Advocate
Motivational Speaker

Ms. Mumba has over 15 years work experience in the public service working in various portfolios. Currently, she works in the social protection sector with a special focus on resource mobilisation for social protection.

As a polio survivor, Ms. Mumba is passionate about disability inclusion in all aspects with a keen interest in inclusive education as she believes that education is indeed, the greatest equaliser. Ms. Mumba enjoys public speaking, writing and speaking on the critical issue of mental health in the work space and in our social spaces.

She is an alumni of the University of Melbourne in Australia, an alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship in the US and participates in socio-economic initiatives within and across the continent of Africa.

Ms. Mumba is a Co-Founder and Trustee of EcoCARE Africa Trust.

Rebecca Bor

Rebecca Bor, an undisputed and distinguished leader in her own right,  is multi-talented and a mistress of everything with vast experience in a number of key focus areas. She is an Environmentalist, Project Planner & Manager, Eco-Entrepreneur, Green, Blue, Circular Economy & Sustainability Expert, Avid Marketer, Hotelier, Farmer, Mentor, Peace Ambassador with exceptional Conflict Resolution skills, Climate Activist, Social Innovator, Gender Equality Advocate among others.

She has initiated several successful Social and Environmental Sustainability projects including:

• Adopt Nairobi River Concept while at her previous role at Tana & Athi River Development Authority (TARDA)
• Adopt A Street-School Concept on involvement of Street Connected families and Schools in Environmental Conservation
• Protection and Restoration efforts
• Food For Trees Initiative
• Seed Balls Kenya Greening Libraries project
• Regeneration of Marsabit, Nandi, Nakuru, Nairobi, Uasin Gishu and Bomet Counties using more than 1,000,000 indigenous seeds coated in charcoal dust
• Green Blue Foundation
• Restoring Dignity through Mobility project for Persons with Special needs in collaboration with Mobility Worldwide and Partners For Care
• Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Advocacy with Latewa CBO
• Co-designing and implementation of a community centered Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for Starehe Subcounty in collaboration with Prof. Alina Marm from University College London
• Tree planting and Nurturing projects with Greener Cities CBO
• River Regeneration projects with Youth and Women led organizations from Starehe Subcounty

She has also facilitated several Women Empowerment Trainings, Up-skills and Re-skills for teenage mothers, women and underserved communities on repurposing discarded clothing garments to make aesthetic copyrighted Art planters for sale. This was achieved through cross sector collaborative effort between TARDA, Latewa CBO, Yrimu Collection, Hope & Joy Mukuru CBO and Eseriani Place CBO. Her current role at Nairobi Rivers Commission is designed to act as a springboard for her previous accomplishments while at TARDA owing to her dedication, resilience and steadfastness.

Peter Symes

Peter has over 30 years’ experience in technical support and management of large botanical landscapes including analysis and design of plant environments, climate change adaptation, integrated water management, living collection management, plant biosecurity, plant selection and soil health. Lead author (and primary researcher) of the pioneering Landscape Succession Strategy of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria to maintain plant diversity and guide the future transition of the historic landscape through climate change. The development of this Strategy lead to the formation of the Climate Change Alliance of Botanic Gardens for which Peter played a key role in establishing
and recruiting membership (c. 500 members across 96 countries). He was project manager for the development of the world first Climate Assessment Tool that enables a risk ranking against climate scenarios for most of the world’s known trees. Peter has presented widely and published peer reviewed papers on climate change adaptation, landscape management, irrigation and water management, and plant biosecurity. He has also co-supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students with The University of Melbourne (plant selection, microclimate monitoring) and Monash University (water quality improvements). From 2013-2020, Peter was a director of the NGO Global Gardens of Peace (still life member) and with the aim of building a living landscape to support the wellbeing of vulnerable people in the Gaza Strip, he visited Israel, Gaza and the West Bank on a few occasions to provide technical expertise, develop interdisciplinary collaboration and undertake multilateral negotiations. Over the last two years, Peter has been in the role of Curator at the Cooktown Botanic Gardens in the dry tropics of far North Queensland, Australia. This position has developed further expertise in climate change, landscape and natural resource management, botanical collections, plant conservation and partnerships with NGO’s and traditional owners.

Dr Herbert Jelinek

Dr. Herbert Jelinek is a distinguished scholar and researcher in the field of medical science, with significant contributions to the understanding and prevention of chronic diseases and mental health disorders. He embarked on his academic journey by earning a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Human Genetics with a double major in Psychology from the University of New South Wales. Furthering his passion for neuroscience, he pursued a Graduate Diploma in Neuroscience from the Australian National University and earned his Ph.D. within the Faculty of Medicine from the University of Sydney, Australia, in 1996.

Early in his career, Dr. Jelinek lead a diabetes screening clinic at Charles Sturt University. Currently he is an Associate Professor in Medical Science at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. His extensive body of work includes over 400 papers, book chapters, and conference proceedings, spanning diverse areas such as mental health, cardiovascular diseases, diabetic-associated complications, and innovative image and temporal data analysis combined with data mining approaches to improve clinical decision making.

Dr. Jelinek is at the forefront of groundbreaking research in preventative healthcare, with a focus on chronic diseases and mental health. His research is distinguished by its holistic approach, considering the impact of environment, culture, and society on human health. In his pursuit of personalized healthcare solutions, Dr. Jelinek investigates various applications, including mindfulness training, biofeedback, and neurofeedback. These cutting-edge techniques are harnessed to tailor interventions that cater to individual needs, encompassing diverse age groups and life stages.

Beyond his remarkable academic achievements, Dr. Jelinek is an esteemed member of several professional organizations. He is affiliated with the IEEE Biomedical Engineering Society, the Applied Neuroscience Society of Australasia, and the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research. Dr. Jelinek’s dedication to advancing medical science and his unwavering commitment to improving the well-being of individuals worldwide have cemented his reputation as a leading authority in the field.

GARY CHAN

Gary Chan commenced a professional career in Medical Sciences & Health Sector Development over fifteen years, then co-founded and operated a private commercial service company to deliver specialist pathology services, and by 1995, reformed this company to a sole partner consultancy practice, as a concept developer for projects in China, in the field of health and healthcare, and food-based projects involving the formation and structure of joint venture and cooperative agreements.

From 2000 – 2005, he acted as a Strategic Advisor, to two healthcare companies in South East Asia, in product production and marketing, biotech investment advisory and project concepts in residential aged care and medical tourism, followed by placements in Europe for strategic advisory in health and medical technology and methodology (cloud-based information systems and collaborative observation).  Specialising in the establishment of cross-border joint ventures, partnerships and cooperation, he engaged in early-stage project concepts for cross-border collaborations in health, health education, medical tourism, and location-based needs analysis.

From 2005 onwards to date, Gary’s expertise was applied to programs and projects where health is a component for consideration, and with a particular focus in the areas poverty, displacement, equity, conflict, land degradation and politico-economic impacts, and conflict resolution, peace-building, cross-cultural and cross-border cooperation, advocacy and policy. Integrated strategic thinking has been applied to the fields of economic development, education, food security and health, for strategic engagement with stakeholders in community, community-based organisations, international NGOs, and governments.

Across all engagements, projects, concept development phases, consideration for culture as a nuanced approach in collaborations has been primary. This is underpinned by an extensive background in professional arts management practice, creating opportunities to collaborate with artists, arts representatives, arts institutions, arts educators, cultural communities, and cultural practitioners. Contacts are across Australia, and internationally East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and Middle East, Europe, Africa, South America, Pacific Islands, and New Zealand.

• UNESCO – participating in program development for culture and the arts
• United Nations Development Program – community development programs in Palestine
• UN Volunteers – projects in Nepal, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, South Africa
• EU Erasmus and Mobility – project development  for cultural collaborations

International diplomatic sector cultural sections to China, Japan, Indonesia, Chile, USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy.

LOUISE WARD

Louise was born in Hong Kong, returning to her family home in Holland at the aged of 8 where she completed her high school education. Like many teenagers, she had no idea what she wanted to do with the rest of her life but did know she wanted an adventure, so she went to Germany to get a certificate of hospitality. Working in Amsterdam for 5 years before travelling to Australia in 1988 where she met her husband; John; they married in 1989 and had a family.

Together, they purchased the property which is known as Yarra Valley Estate, which was previously set up as a deer farm with only a few working sheds. For the next 20 years they slowly built the venue and ultimately created Yarra Valley Estate. The venue has proudly been recognised as a leader in sustainability and its care of the environment has been recognised with many distinguished awards.

While building the venue over 20 years and raising 4 children, Louise still found time to support several charities she holds close to her heart. Working with Moira Kelly AO for over two decades in various humanitarian missions, she is on the board of two of Moira’s foundations – ‘Global Gardens of Peace’ (President) and ‘Moira Kelly; Creating Hope’ (Director). www.globalgardensofpeace.org www.creatinghopefoundation.org.au. Louise also supports her husband John’s own humanitarian work in the disadvantaged community of Papua New Guinea, where John had worked for many years. He formed the PNG Foundation and continues medivac flights to PNG each year. www.pngfoundation.org.au

If that wasn’t enough Louise also completed a diploma in counselling, volunteered at Lifeline for 3 years, studied Gestalt Therapy for 2 years, volunteered at the Healesville Sanctuary, graduated with a cert 4 in nursing in 2009 and completed her PDC in Permaculture in 2015.

Through her love of wildlife and interest in our natural environment, Louise encouraged the establishment of a wildlife shelter on 5 acres of the property in Dixons Creek. This has been run by Tony Wooley since 2009. The Shelter rehabilitates approximately 100 birds/animals annually and is another of the charities supported by YVE.

In 2015 Louise expressed the wish to build an Edible Forest on the property to encourage guests and the general public to enjoy a garden were all the plants were either edible or medicinal. A garden that would support the restaurant with wonderful unique produce enhancing the menus and led to the establishment of the Edible Forest YV project. As Louise states ‘It’s a dream come true’. www.edibleforest.co

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the love and support of John, the love of her life.