Professional Experience:
April 2022 - Current
JOil (S) Pte. Ltd, Singapore - Head of Agronomy, Ghana
• Used up to date farm management software and high-resolution satellite images for crop monitoring and management.
• Prepared guidelines, policies, standard operating procedures, training manuals, annual reports, ESMS and other documents required for carbon and sustainability certifications.
• Liaised with and guided consultants and auditors through carbon and sustainability assessments, compliances, validation and verification to get certificates and credits.
• Prepared mandatory annual and monitoring reports to Gold Standard and ISCC.
• Ensured plant health and yield through regular monitoring and implementation of integrated pest management.
• Spear headed company plant productivity committee for good plantation management for improved productivity.
January 2015 - March 2020
Hena Farm PLC - General Manager, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Supervised and monitored company administration and finance.
• Formulated policies and procedures to streamline operations.
• Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue, and effectively targeting new markets.
• Acquired a matching grant to support company’s tropical fruit propagation center.
• Liaised with local and regional government offices and acquired land for expansion.
• Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
January 2012 - December 2014
CNFA/USAID - Environmental Specialist, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Liaised with government departments for environment-related programs, procedures, and compliance tasks.
• Reviewed, interpreted, and communicated prevailing legislation to determine applicability for regional areas.
• Served as technical consultant on environmental policies to maintain regulatory compliance.
• Guided safe handling and utilization of agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, veterinary drugs, and farm machineries).
• Made environmental reviews and prepared workable environmental monitoring and mitigation plan.
• Organized and offered training on handling of agricultural inputs, environmental management, agroforestry, climate smart agriculture and good agricultural practices.
• Prepared Ethiopian Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan (PERSUAP, 2014) as reference document for USAID projects.
January 2007 - December 2011
Sun Biofuels Ltd - Director, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Mozambique
• Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
• Managed daily operations while overseeing multiple locations (Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Mozambique) to foster increased productivity.
• Oversaw farming operations and provided corrective feedback to achieve daily and long-term goals.
• Formed strategic partnerships and relations with R&D entities across the tropics to drive business development.
• Made outstanding contribution towards building up farm management practices, company business model and staff capacity.
January 2004 - December 2006
Stellenbosch University - Postdoctoral Associate, Stellenbosch, South Africa
• Leveraged interpersonal and communication skills to mentor PhD, graduate, and undergraduate students.
• Contributed to and actively participated in research conception, design, and execution to address defined problems.
• Participated in teaching, postgraduate discussions, supervision of graduate students, thesis evaluation and peer-reviewing of scientific articles.
• Studied and identified climate ameliorating technologies that effectively controlled fruit sunburn and got popular acceptance by fruit growers.