BOARD OF ADVISORS
PETER THORRINGTON
Board Chair
Retired as President of UTi Worldwide Inc, a global supply chain and logistics company, which went public on NASDAQ in 2000. Previously, president of BAX International, president of WTC Inc and founder of Rand Freight Lt. Post retirement he served 11 years in board leadership at Opportunity International, a Christian microfinance organization. He is also past chair of the Westmont College Board of Trustees.
KATHY DRAKE
Kathy is retired from a career as portfolio manager at the investment firm of Dodge & Cox and now spends her time volunteering at faith-based organizations. These include a Board at The Fuller Foundation and New Door Ventures; Opportunity International Ambassadors Council; Steering Committee, JPOW (the Justice Poverty Oppression and Women Initiative);, Generous Giving. In addition, Kathy is involved with the Barnabas Group (consulting for faith-based non-profit organizations).
JEFF MEYER
Jeff Meyer is President and CEO of Baillie Lumber Co. Jeff graduated from Wheaton College and Harvard Law School, and practiced law at Kirkland and Ellis in Chicago. Since 1990, Jeff has worked in various capacities at Baillie Lumber. Jeff has served on boards including Wheaton College, Opportunity International, Cabrini-Green Legal Aid Clinic, the Nichols School, National Hardwood Lumber Association, Hardwood Manufacturers Association and his local church.
HERVE SARTEAU
Investment Committee Chair
Herve is a former Founding Senior Partner of CarVal Investors, a private equity firm where he ran a global portfolio and held multiple roles, including on its investment committee. Prior to his time at CarVal, he managed M&A and strategy projects for both Cargill and HP Europe. He is a board member of several start-ups (Mymeds and Zivix), and for many years served on the global and US boards of Opportunity International, as well as its affiliate banks in Ghana and Mozambique. He was raised in France and holds both a MSEE and an MBA from INSEAD.
SAM MWALE
Samuel Mwamburi Mwale is an economist, policy advisor, and business leader whose career spans public and private sectors. He has served in top public service leadership positions in the Kenyan government as well as executive and non-executive positions in the financial services sector including non-executive board director in commercial and investment banks, and insurance sector, boards of several international and local charities, and in Kenya’s apex business organization – Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) where he is a trustee and honorary US representative. His lifelong passion and vision is to invest towards a transformed, prosperous, and thriving Africa through job and wealth creation by business and sound public policy.
DAVE TOLMIE
Dave Tolmie is a Founding Partner with Edgewater Funds, a private equity firm with $2.7 billion in committed capital. Prior to Edgewater, he was CEO of YesMail and previously a consultant with McKinsey & Company. He serves on several Edgewater company boards, the Illinois Venture Capital Association, is a founding board member 1871, was a longtime board member of Opportunity International, and is active in civic and business leadership positions. He is Chairman of The Faraja Fund Foundation, which supports the Faraja Primary School for children with physical disabilities in Tanzania. Dave received his MBA from Harvard Business School plus several entrepreneurial leadership awards.