Fadhili Maghiya: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

With a background in Social Sciences, Human Rights and International Development, Fadhili has been with SSAP since 2013 where he joined to lead the newly formed organisation. He has since led SSAP to deliver work in Wales, UK and in a number of countries across Africa.

Outside the development sector Fadhili is the founder and curator of Watch-Africa; the first Wales African Film Festivals. Keen fottballer, runner and enjoys a healthy debate!

Lara Mwansa Griffiths: Administrations Officer

I am Zambian/Welsh and a psychotherapist by trade and I have lived all around the world in places like Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana and even Kyrgyzstan. I love to get involved in my local community and I am on the NPT BME Association Board, aswell as the Port Talbot regional lead for BLM Wales. I've spent the last 20 years volunteering for organisations like PACT, Rotary, CRUSE Bereavement and Terrance Higgins Trust. My hobbies include sailing, cooking and spending time with my family. I also have a black belt in Jujitsu.

Angelique Umuhoza: Human Resource and Finance Officer 

My background is in International Business, Finance, Social Media/Website & Human Resources Management. Angelique have been with SSAP since 2010 as SSAP Member and currently supporting SSAP in Finance and Human Resources . Outside SSAP Work Angelique is Human Resources Advisor for NHS organisation and have a huge interest in International development projects in Africa and do get involve whenever possible.When not working, I enjoy socialising , swimming & Travelling.

Carol Adams: Africa Portfolio Lead

Carol has a background in Social and Economic Development and sustainable agri-food systems and is an Honorary Principal Lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University. She is the Managing Director off Food Adventure Social Enterprise Ltd  and leads on a  learning exchange between Wales and Cameroon focusing on sustainable food processing. Carol is an avid knitter, enjoys making fruit and vegetable preserves and is of Bahamian, American and Cameroonian heritage.

Wahura Kabutha: Communications Officer

Wahura is a PhD  researcher at Cardiff university specialising in consumer behaviour and digital marketing. She has experience in an array of industries such as entertainment, charities and sales. She is passionate about empowering minority communities. Wahura manages the  communication channels for SSAP and maximises the visibility of campaigns and projects. Her hobbies include travelling, meditating and creating content.

Isimbi Sebageni: Diaspora and Inclusion Officer

Isimbi is passionate about women and reproductive health on the African continent. She has conducted qualitative primary research studies on the determinants, influences and perceptions of family planning use among women in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Uganda. Isimbi’s diverse experience working with minoritised communities or groups birthed a heart for inclusion and problem-solving. When it comes to her academic career, she has a background in B.A (Hons) Social Sciences from Glasgow Caledonian University and a Masters in Gender Studies from SOAS University of London. Encouraged by her past nomadic patterns of living in 6 African countries, Isimbi fostered an interest in work that promotes Africa’s future. During her spare time she enjoys visiting coffee farms, cooking, watching documentaries and how can we forget her random knitting hobby.

Chinua Ebereonwu: SSAP Youth Project Coordinator

Chinua Ebereonwu is a lover of the arts, especially literature and is passionate about the voices that contribute to these realms. He has an avid interest in how the youth and newer generations perceive and engage with culture. When he's not working on projects to uplift the youth of the Welsh-African diaspora he can be found reading, writing or playing the drums. 

Robert Oros: Kumbukumbu Project Officer

Robert, he/they, is a curator and artist based in Cardiff. Specialising in contemporary art. Robert is especially interested in the current shifts in decolonisation and globalisation.

He is acting as the director of Cardiff Umbrella where he facilitates emerging artists and supports a diverse programme of art events and exhibitions. Some of the projects he has helped deliver include: exhibitions such as BBC100 in Wales; publications such as spacecraft presents Young Creatives Wales; and festivals such as Non Place Collective's Refugee Week 2023. 

Robert has been programming and curating for Amgueddfa Cymru, Cardiff University, University of South Wales, SHIFT, Fringe Arts Bath and g39. 

In his spare time, Robert likes the be by the sea or in the mountains. He enjoys coffee, longboarding, collecting books and zines, spending time with friends and watching films.

Hannah Ringane: Kumbukumbu Project Officer

Hannah (she/her) is passionate about anti-racism and the arts. She graduated from Cardiff University with a BSc in Human Geography and is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and equity in various fields.

Hannah's extensive experience includes founding UKII, a youth-led collective that educates young people about anti-racism, and co-editing the zine "Outspkn." She co-designed the NERC summer school in collaboration with UCL, aimed at bringing marginalised students into environmental sciences, and assisted Cardiff University in rewriting their Race Equality Charter. Hannah also curated "Unheard," a digital exhibition showcasing Black and Jewish artists. She has partnered with notable companies and organizations like Lush, Action for Children, Sinead O'Dwyer, and more.

Vanessa Fada : Good Ancestors Officer

Vanessa Fada is the Good Ancestor Producer .She handles the communication and liaisons between all parties to help push forward the vision and attainment of each strand of the Good Ancestors project 

Vanessa is also very involved with the North Wales Africa Society community projects / initiatives, North Wales regional equality networks and Climate Cymru. She continual aiming to serve grassroots groups. 

Claire O’Shea: Head of Partnership

Claire oversees the joint working of all the partners (SSAP, WCIA, Wales and Africa Health Links Network and Fair Trade Wales).  She manages the Communications Manager, Senior Development Support Manager and the Volunteering and Support Coordinator and colleagues from our partners. She is accountable to the Partnership Board. 

She is Co-Chair of the Wales Overseas Agency Group, sits on the UK Alliance with counterparts from the devolved regions and nations and represents Wales on the European Citizen Initiated Global Solidarity network

Julian Rosser: Senior Development Support Manager

Julian oversees Hub Cymru Africa’s work supporting organisations in Wales to be as effective as they can. He leads our small team of Development Support Managers who work with groups across Wales and their partners in Africa. He specialises in climate change, sustainable development and grants fundraising.

Emma Beacham: Development Support Manager

Emma is based in North Wales, and supports Wales Africa partnerships through our programme of 1:1 support, events and training, mentoring and signposting to resources. Emma takes the lead on Safeguarding and Mentoring in the team. She works part time Tuesday to Thursday.

Peter Frederick Gilbey: Communications Manager

Peter is responsible for communicating Hub Cymru Africa’s work to our audiences, stakeholders and the media. Peter previously worked in cross-party and grassroots campaigns and lobbying and has recently completed a secondment to the Welsh Government as the Economy Minister’s Press Officer.

Cathie Jackson: Volunteering and Support Coordinator

Cathie leads Hub Cymru Africa’s volunteering programme, supporting volunteers to get involved with Wales and Africa and fairtrade groups across Wales, and providing opportunities for volunteering with the Hub Cymru Africa partnership. She also looks after general administration and finance for the team. Cathie works part-time from Wednesdays to Fridays.

Lena Fritsch: Development Support Manager

Lena is originally from Germany, but has been based in Cardiff with her family since 2018. As a DSM, she provides support for Wales and Africa partnerships through 1:1 advice, mentoring, training and events. Lena leads on parts of our Gender Equality programme which includes a Community of Practice. She is enthusiastic about sustainable, locally-led development and believes in the power of concerted action through collaboration and shared learning. Lena works part-time from Monday to Thursday.

Meet our Diaspora Groups in Wales

Mutale Merrill OBE : Co-Chair

Mutale is Chief Executive for Bawso and also the Chair of the Care Council for Wales, a Welsh Assembly Government sponsored public body responsible for agreeing codes of practice for social care workers. The focus of her work is on health and social care, housing, gender, and domestic violence and she is active in efforts to remove global poverty through the “Make Poverty History” campaign.

Her current and past engagements include being a trustee for Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, being  a member of the first commission to review the Welsh Government   Voluntary Sector Scheme for Wales; a member of the Welsh Government  Homelessness Commission; a member of the Welsh Government  Working Group on Domestic Violence and Violence against Women; the Chair of the BME Housing Strategy Review Group sponsored by the Welsh Government ; a Board member of Cynnal Cymru (the Sustainable Development Forum for Wales). She is a Trustee of ABESU; a charity supporting women led self-build housing in Zambia and a Trustee of Sub Sahara Advisory Panel.

Fred Zimba : Co-Chair

A versatile and enthusiastic individual with a wide-ranging experience in legal and finance related areas. Experienced in information analysis and undertaking a range of compliance and risk management duties which are focussed on ensuring regulatory/obligations and risk management objectives are fulfilled. 

Tarig Sanousi : Co-Vice Chair

Tarig currently works for BAWSO on the organisation’s men’s project. He was previously Vice-Chair of Refugee Voices Wales as well as Sub-Sahara Advisory Panel. Of Sudanese origin, Tarig is involved in numerous local initiatives.

Richmond Asante Appah : Co-Vice Chair

Richmond is a passionate humanitarian with a special interest in gender-specific development. I have, for over 5 years been in the business of empowering African women and refugees through skill acquisition, fund-raising, and business development

Afoluke Adedapo : Treasurer

Afoluke has a background in financial services with a degree in Accountancy and in Financial Services Management and is currently working corporate finance with a multinational 500 listed company. She has been involved with SSAP since 2019 and has taken an active part in SSAP's work with the museum of Wales on their recent 2020 Picton project. In her spare time, she enjoys playing piano, participating in local dance group and reading.

Molly Sexton : Secretary

Molly is the Head of Human Resources and Workforce at Bawso, the lead organisation in Wales providing practical and emotional support to black minority ethnic (BME) and migrant victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, human trafficking, Female Genital Mutilation and forced marriage.

As a member of Bawso’s Senior Management Team, she is responsible for developing and implementing human resources policies and provide services which are strategically aligned to the business objectives of the organisation. She provides a resource of professional HR knowledge, expertise and advice to managers and staff. She holds overall responsibility for recruitment, selection, training, development, performance, and retention of over 100 staff in Bawso. She has been responsible for the department for over 15 years. As Bawso works in a highly sensitive environment and works with marginalised and vulnerable people, the HR department plays a crucial role in ensuring that staff are trained, and performance is monitored to a high standard.

Donald Mutale

Donald Mutale is a social sciences graduate and inclusion advocate with over eight years of experience in social justice roles within the third and public sectors. His work has mainly focused on advocacy, community engagement, and supporting people from diverse backgrounds, including racialised or marginalised communities, victims of exploitation, migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and people with complex needs or in vulnerable circumstances. He is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion and aspires to be a change agent. 

Dr Donald Mlewa, CPSYCHOL AFBPSS

Currently, I am working for Cardiff Local Authority as a Chartered Child and Educational Psychologist and have been with this authority for the last 15 years.  Before training as a psychologist, I worked as a teacher in secondary and primary schools. I am also interested in community and charity work, as I have had experience in the charity sector as a member of a management committee team at CEED in Bristol. I have been privileged to work for most of my career in the field of education and its related aspects. I am a passionate believer in empowering people, especially young people, who are disadvantaged members of societies. Making sure that they have access to education more specifically, supporting those in the developing world. For example, I have contributed in training and support for stakeholders in Tanzania who are engaged in educating the marginalised members of society such as those with special educational needs such as autism and severe learning difficulties. 

Elemchi Nwosu

Elemchi Nwosu is a notable change-maker in the economic development sphere who represents the next generation of female African leaders and the importance of amplifying women’s voices in the diaspora. Her expertise is highly sought after as a diaspora engagement leader lead who facilitates economic ties between African countries and the UK. She is recognised for bridging cross-cultural knowledge gaps for businesses, NGO’s and individuals seeking to enter Africa and facilitating partnerships. Elemchi has managed over 20 multi-donor projects across Africa including Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Rwanda with an average portfolio size of £8 million. She has worked closely with public sector actors, UN agencies and private sector organisations across developing countries. She has worked extensively on high-profile foreign aid programmes, witnessing first-hand the peaks and troughs of a complex and increasingly limiting model. Looking into the future, she sees diaspora engagement, community outreach and business cooperation as the driver of Africa’s economic growth. Through her work in the diaspora across Cardiff where she is currently based, this is what she advocates

Loyce Eades

Loyce Eades holds a bachelor’s degree in law and a Masters in Housing. Loyce Eades has a wealth of senior experience in housing, community development and domestic violence spanning over 20 years working in both the voluntary and public sector.

Providing leadership in service delivery for communities across Wales. Loyce currently works in policy development in the public sector. Loyce has extensive experience in governance both as Board member and as strategic lead and support for various organisations including Communities First Cluster Boards in Newport, Local community boards, BME partnership Board and Bawso.

Loyce is a strong advocate for BME communities and has been credited for developing the First BME Housing Forum in Wales to address BME Housing needs amongst many other community initiatives.