Governing Board

Mrs Alison Rose is the Chief of Space and Communities Division. Alison has over 23 years’ professional experience within the national government geospatial and intelligence communities, in both the public and private sector. She joined Geoscience Australia in January 2020.

Alison is the Australian government lead on civilian Positioning, Navigation and Timing and Earth Observation programs. Prior to her appointment, Alison led Place, Space and Communities Division at Geoscience Australia that in addition to space included national mapping, marine and Antarctic science, and community safety programs.

Previously, Alison has held several senior executive positions, including as Assistant Secretary Border Intelligence Support to Operations at the Department of Home Affairs; Director of global National Government Industry Solutions with Esri; delivery of the Department of Defence’s corporate and geospatial ICT programs and projects and enterprise information management implementation; and, leadership of the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation’s foundation mapping, advanced analytics, training and tradecraft, data and collection management, and customer services.

Prior to her appointment, Alison held several senior leadership positions within the Department of Defence, Department of Home Affairs and with global geospatial technology firm, Esri. Her career has included leadership of multi-disciplinary teams to deliver impact from large-scale digital transformation programs to operational intelligence support, including to the Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force.

Alison is excited to work with the new Interim Advisory Board as the program moves towards its mandate to be owned, led and sustained in Africa by Africa.

Dr Oliver Chinganya is a distinguished leader in statistical development and economic growth across Africa. He served as Director of the African Centre for Statistics and Chief Statistician at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) until January 2025. A Fellow, Chartered Statistician, and Chartered Scientist of the Royal Statistical Society, Oliver is also the Vice President of the International Statistical Institute (ISI).

With an extensive career spanning national and international organizations, Oliver has earned a reputation for driving impactful initiatives in statistical practices and economic development. His leadership at UNECA included guiding the Geospatial Management Information Systems section, building the Data Science Campus, and co-creating the UNECA Digital Centre for Excellence.

Prior to UNECA, Oliver held senior roles at the African Development Bank, IMF, and Zambia Statistical Office. He currently chairs the Global Steering Committee for the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics, serves on the PARIS21 Board, and contributes to various advisory panels, including the Ibrahim Index of African Governance.

As a member of the Advisory Board, Oliver is committed to supporting African member countries in building sustainable capacities that enable the effective use of Earth observation information to tackle pressing challenges.

He advocates for peer learning and collaboration to foster stronger, data-driven decision-making across the continent.

Dr. Mmboneni Muofhe is the Deputy Director-General (DDG) for Socio-Economic Innovation Partnerships at the Department of Science and Innovation in South Africa.

Dr Muofhe previously held the position of Deputy Director-General for International Resources and Cooperation and Deputy Director-General for Technology Innovation in the same Department. He has years of experience in the South African Science, Technology and Innovation System and the global innovation systems in general, which includes doing scientific research, managing research, international cooperation, development and implementation of innovation funding schemes and implementation of various innovation initiatives and instruments.

Dr Muofhe led the implementation of various science, technology and innovation strategies such as the National Space Science Strategy, Bioeconomy, and Hydrogen South Africa (Energy)

Dr. Muofhe currently leads the implementation of the Circular and Digital Economy (the new sources of growth) aspects of the White Paper for Science, Technology and Innovation; the Modernisation of critical sectors of the South African Economy such as Mining, Agriculture and Manufacturing and the mainstreaming of Science, Technology and Innovation in government through innovation sensitive planning and budget coordination.

Dr. Aggrey Agumya is a distinguished leader in geospatial sciences, research, and innovation, with over 25 years of experience spanning agricultural research, Earth Observation (EO), and stakeholder engagement.

He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), where he has been pivotal in coordinating agricultural research across the continent. Prior to this, Dr. Agumya worked as a Geo Information Systems Analyst at the World Agroforestry Centre, gaining invaluable expertise in GIS and EO technologies.

Throughout his 18-year tenure at FARA, Dr. Agumya has played a central role in implementing flagship programs, including the Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Program (SSA-CP), which leveraged innovation and technology to address critical agricultural challenges.

He has developed extensive networks with international organizations such as the World Bank, European Commission, and various research institutes in agriculture, forestry, and pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Agumya’s work focuses on using Earth Observation data and geospatial technologies to enhance food security, climate resilience, and sustainable land management across Africa.

His leadership continues to drive institutional growth, facilitate international collaborations, and advocate for the adoption of science and innovation to address Africa's development priorities.

Dr. Jane M. Olwoch is a distinguished science leader specializing in climate change and vector ecology. She holds degrees from Makerere University, the Medical University of Southern Africa, the University of Pretoria (PhD), and an MBA from the Business School, Netherlands.

Currently, she is the Founder of One Earth One World, focusing on partnerships, advisory, and advocacy in climate change, Earth observation, and green hydrogen. Previously, she served as Executive Director of SASSCAL (2017–2024), leading major climate and Earth observation projects, securing €40M+ for green hydrogen in SADC, and pioneering the Green Hydrogen Atlas for Southern Africa.

As the first Head of Earth Observation at SANSA, Dr. Olwoch established the directorate, developed new EO products, and advanced international data-sharing policies, earning leadership roles in CEOS. With 24 years in academia, she has published over 52 papers, supervised numerous postgraduate students, and contributed to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report.

Jane will play a pivotal role in positioning DE Africa as a key hub for Earth Observation (EO) data, tools, and services by advising on new products, capacity-building initiatives, and stakeholder engagement strategies. She will support resource mobilization efforts, ensuring the program remains well-funded and sustainable.

Additionally, Jane will provide guidance on fit-for-purpose organizational structures and contribute to reviewing high-level strategic documents, ensuring DE Africa's long-term success and alignment with global EO advancements.
 

Professor Kamal Labbassi is a Full Professor at Chouaib Doukkali University, Morocco, leading the Geosciences & Remote Sensing research unit since 1991. He holds a Doctorate Es-Sciences (1998) from Chouaib Doukkali University and a PhD (1991) from the University of Pau, France. As a Visiting Professor at the University of Nantes, France, he actively contributes to advancing geospatial sciences.

A Council Member of the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE) and IEEE-GRSS Ambassador for the MENA region, Professor Labbassi played a key role in shaping the Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) program under the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Silk Road initiative. He is a member of the DBAR Water Resources Working Group (DBAR-Water WG) and Director of the DBAR International Centre of Excellence EO-AWARE on Water Resources at Chouaib Doukkali University. He has served as an expert and consultant for the World Bank, African Union Commission, and African Academy of Sciences and is a peer reviewer for PRIMA and GMES & Africa.

Kamal will provide valuable insights on new Earth Observation (EO) products, services, and training initiatives, leveraging expertise from DBAR and EO-AWARE. His guidance will help strengthen DE Africa’s capacity-building efforts and ensure the adoption of cutting-edge EO solutions across the continent.

Additionally, Kamal will play a key role in shaping strategic partnerships and organizational structures, enhancing DE Africa’s visibility and impact both regionally and globally. He will contribute to policy frameworks and high-level strategic reviews, ensuring alignment with DE Africa’s long-term mission and objectives.

Matthew Pennells is a digital transformation professional, specialising in location intelligence, with an extensive international career in public, private and voluntary sectors. Currently Matthew leads Global Community Engagement for Esri.

Matthew Pennells is an Information Management professional, specialising in location intelligence and digital business transformation, with an extensive career in public, private and voluntary sectors. Currently Matthew leads Global Community Engagement for Esri Inc, driving the growth of the industry overall. Previously as a Regional Manager for Esri, he led double digit business growth with successful strategies and new market approaches. He also volunteers his time to support GIS Professionals and the humanitarian sector. His work with the international humanitarian mapping charity MapAction has seen him deployed to disaster affected areas around the world. 

Matthew looks forward to supporting the work of IAB leveraging his experiences in the Africa region, large scale projects in emerging market settings plus knowledge on complex partnerships and capacity development spheres.

In particular, Matthew hopes to champion the partnership approach to ensure a sustainable future for DE Africa and it’s data services as fantastic USPs.
 

Ms Njeri Maina is a senior executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in global technology businesses across Africa, known for her strategic expertise in partnerships, market expansion, and innovation. As co-founder and director at DEN Limited, she supports the expansion of global tech companies into African markets, leveraging her deep knowledge of complex ecosystems. Njeri has held leadership roles at Planet Labs, Oracle, Microsoft, and Intel, making her a key figure in driving sustainable, large-scale technological impact across the continent.

With advisory roles including Kenya’s ICT Ministry, Njeri influences technology and social impact initiatives, while also supporting startup scaling and tech talent development. She holds a Global Executive MBA and has completed the Global Women in Boards program. Beyond her professional career, Njeri is dedicated to empowering African communities and fostering long-term social and economic development.

With 20+ years of global experience and a background in space technology, I have successfully navigated the complexities of the African business landscape and effectively supported multiple industry stakeholders across the continent.

As an IAB member, I am excited to work alongside other board members to guide DE Africa to greater success and meet its medium and long-term goals. I intend to leverage my experience to connect the ongoing programs with potential partners thereby establishing DE Africa as both a sustainable and influential corporate entity in the region