Meet our West Africa World Steering Group

Henry David Bayoh is a Chartered Environmentalist and Full Member of IEMA. Expert and a Master Certified Development Project Manager and certified SAFe 5 Agilist. Henry has over 12 years professional experience in environment and development project management in both NGO and public service, with a passion for environmental sustainability.

Danjuma Waniko is a Chartered Surveyor, Chartered Environmentalist & Green Star SA Accredited Professional. He has over three decades experience working as a project manager, cost consultant and sustainability consultant in the Nigerian construction industry. An enthusiastic advocate for environmental and social responsibility, Danjuma has been actively engaged in sustainability for close to twenty years, with a focus on green building. He is the Managing Consultant of Q Associates, a cost, project management & green building consultancy firm he established in 1996. Danjuma is also President of Green Building Council Nigeria

I am the co-founder of a company called "Lifestyle Venture" which I joined in January 2022 after I retired in December 2021. I spent a good portion of my working life, twenty years, in non-profits (NGO) and prior to that I was a teacher for 16 years. In the NGO world, I served for 8 years as a Financial Controller with Joint Aid management and 12 years as Grants manager for World Vision in Sierra Leone, Zambia and Malawi. I am a student member of IEMA, a member of the Institute of Directors of South Africa as well as a recipient of the CFO (SA) designation from the South Africa Institute of Business Accountants (SAIBA). I hold a masters degree in Sustainability and Environmental Management from the University of Derby, as well as an MBA from the University of Liverpool.

Ajirioghene, an IEMA associate, works at Guaranty Trust Bank as an Environmental and Social Risk Management Officer. Previously, she worked at an Environmental Consulting firm for three years as an environmental and social analyst, specialising in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Environmental Audit, Life Cycle Assessment and Waste Management Assessment for clients from various economic sectors as well as the public sector. Having completed her Masters' degree in Environmental Management, she is a certified ISO 14001 Lead Auditor and ISO 26000 Lead Implementer. Ajiri is currently trying to improve her knowledge in practical environmental and social issues and loves travelling whenever possible.

Daniel is an instructor of record at Valdosta State University, USA, responsible for teaching an undergraduate lab. He has varied experiences in environmental sciences. He obtained his BSc in Forest Resources Technology from Ghana, MSc in Environmental Management from PAULESI, UI-Nigeria and PhD in Climate change and water resources under WASCAL-UAC program in the Republic of Benin. Daniel is an industrious young man who is passionate about building his capacity with an organization where he can contribute his quota towards sustainability of environment and society. In his spare time, he loves playing volleyball.

I am a highly resourceful, self-motivated environmental consultant with a range of transferable skills acquired through experience in academia, banking, information technology and oil and gas sectors. I have developed a proactive and problem solving nature which allows me to be innovative and work independently. My aim is to work in a stimulating, evolving, team-based environment that enables personal personal development coupled with the opportunity for career advancement.

I am a Chartered Environmentalist, a Licensed Environmental Health Professional and a Safety Analyst with over 16 years of career experience in the field of Environmental Management and Compliance, Resource Management, Project Management, Environmental Impact Assessment, Public Health Management, Vector Control Management. I am currently the Head of Environment and Sanitation at Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the biggest waste management establishment in the West African Sub-region. His key mandate amongst others is to develop and supervise the implementation of policies aimed at controlling environmental pollution, enhancing proper waste management and Pest and Vector Control and Stakeholder management. My career pursuit has made me worked in the Public Service, mining industry, EPA and has lead in Environmental Auditing for SGS Laboratory Services Ghana Limited, African Mining Services, Intertek Minerals Limited, etc. Gideon holds an MSc in Environmental Health and Sanitation and a Full member of IEMA. I enjoy travelling and caring for the environment

I am a sustainability professional, with skills in Environmental Management and Sustainability. I am a Chartered Environmentalist, and ISO 14001 AND 45001 Certified Lead Auditor and a Member of the British Institute of Energy Economics. I have professional experience in mining, financial services and oil and gas. I hold a Master of Science in Sustainable Development and Environmental Management from the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Surrey and a Bachelor of Science from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. I work in environment and sustainability advisory and environmental compliance management in the Ghanaian petroleum industry.

Lucy Onoriode Okeke is a Senior public servant with over 20 years experience in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Sector. She is currently the Team Lead for Environment and Sustainability at the Lagos Regional Office of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA); the Government Regulatory Agency for all Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Operations. She has worked in various capacities with proven experience in Data Analysis, Operations Management, Administration and Business Intelligence. She was raised in the Oil- Rich Producing Region of her country and has a passion for the environment due to the environmental degradation of the region from Oil and Gas Exploration and Production activities as well as pollution from Refining of Hydrocarbons. She holds a Masters of Science in Environmental Assessment and Management from Oxford Brookes University UK and is also a Practitioner Member of the Institute of Environmental Management, UK. She is a Circular Economy and Sustainability professional from the Cambridge Judge Business School, UK. She is the Founder of Aqua Pro-life Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to changing lives of women and children in impoverished communities in Nigeria.

Thomas Kankam Adjei is a climate and energy policy specialist with relevant skills and interdisciplinary experience in research and development in the areas of Energy, Climate Change, Private sector development and Public-Private Partnerships, having engaged with highest levels of government and duty bearers across different sectors in Ghana and abroad. Over the last seven years he has served on several technical committees and projects including voluntary activities relating to agriculture, trade, climate change and energy. He has the experience of working for both private sector and public sector institutions including collaborations with international development organizations. He is currently the National Project Coordinator (NPC) for the UNEP NDC Action project, focused on the implementation of Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Climate Agreement in two priority sectors of climate smart agriculture and e-mobility using clean energy options. Thomas has also published in academic journals and written open editorials in newspapers in Ghana and abroad respectively, covering topics on climate change, resilience building post-covid, the sustainable development goals and public-private partnerships. Thomas is an alumnus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he earned his undergraduate and post graduate degrees in climate science and sustainable energy management respectively. He is also a professional member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA-UK) and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA-UK) and also a steering group member of the West Africa chapter. Thomas is a diligent and hardworking professional who is committed to contributing his best towards achieving the goals of his team. He has a passion and interest for public policy and development especially in the African context and is ever ready to learn and share experiences with colleagues, mentors and peers from around the world on best practices to achieve sustainable development in Africa.

I am an established HSE practitioner and I have 10 years experience in the mining industry. I have good working knowledge of health safety and environmental as well as energy management systems. Always ready to learn more from experts and like minded people.

Kate Opoku (PIEMA) is communications and environmental activist with over 10 years of professional experience. She is the Country Leader of Let’s Do It Ghana, an environmental NGO and the Ghana branch of Let’s Do It World. As convener of the World Cleanup Day in Ghana, Kate has an enviable record of sensitising thousands of Ghanaians on plastic pollution and effective waste management to promote positive behaviour change; mobilising volunteers and community members to participate in clean-ups, undertaking brand audit and promoting circular economy. Kate is also the Deputy Communications Director at the National Disaster Management Organisation, and plays a pivotal role in promoting public awareness about disaster management. Kate holds Masters in Development Management with specialisation in Environmental Management from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, and BA in Communications Studies from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. She is a Practitioner Member of IEMA.

Vida-Rose Asakpo is an Environmental professional from Ghana with 15 years of experience in Environmental Compliance, Monitoring, Waste Management, Auditing, Tailings Management and Mine Closure & Reclamation. Vida has qualification in Natural Resource Management and Executive Masters in Business Administration from KNUST as well as NEBOSH Environmental Certificate and Diploma(Practical Assessment). Vida is married with five children.

Defoe Kekesi Isaac is a young and impact-oriented environmentalist and hospitality practitioner. He has more than ten years quantifiable experience in environmental and corporate sustainability, monitoring and evaluation, policy engagement and advocacy. He has chalked some successes on programmes including climate change, agriculture and food security. With the depth of knowledge and the ability in delivering sustainable solutions, he has served and still serves on some platforms where he represents civil societies. He serves as a COVID19 Response Mechanism Oversight Committee Member of the Global Fund. Also, he served as a co-convenor of Ghana’s Civil Society’s Organization on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 1; No Poverty). Finally, a former board member of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Nutrition and Food Security. As a young man, he is proud of nurturing the youth he comes in contact with in environmental and corporate sustainability.

I am an esteemed Health Consultant and Occupational Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality expert with over a decade of experience in the field. I have been instrumental in enhancing the occupational health and sustainability standards within the industry. As a a NEBOSH Accredited Tutor, my work emphasizes the intersection of healthcare, safety, and environmental stewardship. I am driven by a passion for innovation, education, and collaborative efforts to shape a more sustainable future. Recognized for my leadership, I have contributed to the growth and expansion of health and safety and sustainability services across various sectors. My commitment to transforming the world to sustainability aligns seamlessly with IEMA's vision, making me a valuable advocate for the organization.

Mansa is a talented professional with seven years of consultancy experience. His expertise includes environmental and social sustainability, natural resources management, geospatial information management and business development. Mansa is well-versed in global environmental and social management standards, such as IFC Performance Standards, World Bank Environmental and Social Standards, ISO 14001:2015 and multilateral environmental and sustainability agreements. He has successfully led environmental and social baseline and impact assessment studies for diverse projects including power generation and transmission, construction and demolition, and mining, etc. Mansa is proficient with GIS and remote sensing with demonstrable experience with QGIS, Google Earth Engine, ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Field Applications and spatial database management systems. Additionally, he is highly skilled in the design of Mobile Data Collection solutions, using Open Data Kit, Kobo Toolbox, Survey123, and Survey Solutions. Mansa’s outstanding leadership, organisational, analytical and interpersonal skills have contributed to the successful delivery of project outcomes. He holds a NEBOSH International Diploma in Environmental Management, a BSc in Oil and Gas Engineering, and is a Practitioner Member of IEMA.