Brent Wibberley
New York,USA
Summary
Accomplished in leading complex, multi-partner programs across multiple countries, I excel in strategic planning and project management. At TechnoServe Inc, I spearheaded initiatives enhancing food security and fortification, demonstrating adeptness in public-private partnerships and team development. My work has significantly contributed to strengthened economic outcomes and improved safety and nutrition across food systems in developing countries.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Director/Chief of Party
USAID Advancing Food Fortification Opportunities to Reinforce Diets (USAID AFFORD)
09.2022 - Current
- Lead USAID’s flagship global large scale food fortification project
- Mobilise project, recruit team, establish MEL plan, Workplan, Branding and Marking Plan, Data Management Plan, Accountability and Feedback Plan, Knowledge Management Plan, and Learning Agenda
- Expand the project through country Mission buy-ins and Associate Awards (operating geographies include Senegal, Haiti, Madagascar, Zambia and regionally across ECOWAS, ESA and SADC)
- Supervise Deputy Project Director, Operations Director and Intermediate Result Leads overseeing global team
- Manage three sub-contracted alliance multi-national partners and numerous local partners
- Responsible for program delivery and reporting
- Oversee global coordination, activities and research opportunities
Director Food Processing and Nutrition
TechnoServe Inc
New York, USA
01.2017 - 09.2022
- Lead TechnoServe’s global platform in food processing and nutrition
- Guide strategic approach to advancing food processing and nutrition agenda through innovations and new program design
- Provide oversight and support to project directors and COPs for multiple food processing and nutrition programs
- Support programs with technical input, ensure consistency of approach and strategic direction, support mobilization and continuous improvement
- Key contact and manager for TechnoServe’s food processing and nutrition partners and funders
- Internal knowledge exchange, capture learnings, communication across platforms, catalyze improvements in methodology and effectiveness
Director of PFS Programs
TechnoServe Inc
New York, USA
04.2014 - 12.2016
- Senior level position that oversaw TechnoServe’s alliance with Partners in Food Solutions (PFS), a consortium of multinational food companies including General Mills, Cargill, DSM, Bühler, Hershey and Ardent Mills, working with TechnoServe to provide technology and knowledge transfer to strengthen the capacity of African food processors to improve the availability of safe nutritious foods in food insecure countries across Africa
- TechnoServe’s primary point of contact for all alliance programs implemented together with PFS
- Oversaw the growth, implementation and strategic direction of multiple programs across Africa (over $37m in awards across 10 African countries)
- Lead strategic partner relations and resource mobilization with respects to program expansion
- Provided technical support to program directors and for budget and proposal development
- Co-ordinated efforts in staff development, performance management and motivation
- Represented the PFS-TechnoServe alliance internationally, including lectures, i.e. Singularity University, awards, i.e. 2015 Concordia P3 Awards in public private partnerships, amongst peer organizations, i.e. PEPFAR, GAIN nutrition forums, etc. and to interested dignitaries, i.e. co-ordinated POTUS visit to our Ethiopia project for President Obama
Chief of Party/Regional Program Director
TechnoServe Inc
, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia
10.2012 - 03.2014
- Oversaw implementation and management of USAID funded SAFE program
- Program mobilization, development of annual work plans, M&E plan and staff recruitment across five country program in East and Southern Africa
- Managed the SAFE country and regional team, including food scientists, business advisors and a regional management unit of Deputy Chief of Party, M&E Manager, Finance Manager and Program Assistant
- Managed project to budget with robust planning and monitoring, including environment and gender integration
- Coordinated with implementing partner, PFS, and donor, USAID
- Reported to USAID, PFS and TNS on program progress, financials and accruals
- Facilitated SAFE alignment, coordination and knowledge sharing with other programs and stakeholders
- Managed activities to support field program expansion
- Co-ordinated research studies to inform program opportunity
Chief of Party/Regional Program Manager
TechnoServe Inc
, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia
09.2010 - 10.2012
- Program management for the USAID funded African Alliance for Improved Food Processing program – a capacity developing program that worked to improve the quality, safety and availability of locally produced nutritious foods whilst supporting small holder farmer supply
- Oversaw program start-up, generation of annual work plans, performance monitoring plans and staff hires
- Partnership management between USAID, TechnoServe and PFS, as well as future partnership considerations
- Managed program staff across the five countries
- Oversaw the growth and strategic direction of the program
- Oversaw monitoring and evaluation for the program as well as report generation on deliverables to USAID and other partners
- Financial management, budget planning and financial reporting
- Operational management of the program, performance monitoring and milestone evaluations
- Liaised with USAID missions in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania to align the program with mission Feed the Future and Global Health Alliance interests, including presentations of findings and interest in funding Associate Awards
- Facilitated introduction and training workshops to processors and industry stakeholders in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia
- Developed training manuals and materials relevant to training and supporting industry sectors within the five countries (these include manuals on GMPs, shelf life, sensory evaluation and an introduction to the HACCP system)
- Conducted training on the knowledge transfer model as well as familiarisation with key staff and systems at the PFS HQ in Minneapolis, USA
- Drafted concept notes and supported proposal writing for several USAID interests that could complimented this program
Agri-business Consultant
TechnoServe Inc
Kenya
04.2010 - 08.2010
- AGRA funded study on the potential for value addition of bananas produced by small holder farmers in Kenya
- AGRA funded study on the export potential for bananas and banana products from Kenya
- Deliverables included research, development and presentation of both Word and Power Point presentations for the above two research studies
Director and Founder
Sand Dollar Expeditions Ltd.
Kenya
08.2005 - 04.2010
- Founder and Managing Director of a Kenyan registered tour and expedition company
- Managed the operations, logistics and core business initiatives of the company
- Negotiated a partnership agreement between Sand Dollar Expeditions and Green Route International, to represent their interests in East Africa
- This involved setting up the Green Route East Africa office and directing it, with over $1.8million of new business quoted and operational and logistical planning for visiting corporate groups of 40 to 200 pax
Senior Operations Manager
Homegrown (Kenya) Limited, Flamingo Holdings Group
Nairobi, Kenya
07.2004 - 07.2005
- Managed the overall operations of one of Africa’s largest horticultural export companies with over 9,000 employees, 2,000 outgrower farms, 200 product lines and offices in Kenya, South Africa, U.K
- And Holland
- Coordinated logistics and freight plans to manage air and land transport for over 50 tons of fresh produce exported daily
- Oversaw the processing of orders and supply chain management
- Managed personnel, recruitment and performance appraisals for operations staff
- Designed new global operations system linking all department and branch operating systems
- Conducted strategic and operational planning, including target setting and monitoring and evaluation
- Travelled on a regular basis to Homegrown and outgrower farms, depots and airport facilities to monitor operations systems, performance of staff, and best practise policies
- Set standard formats for operations, logistics and freight reporting, including harmonised systems for invoicing, delivery notes and archiving of records
- Developed capacity of outgrower and Homegrown farms to meet requirements for trade with Europe
- Participated in relevant procurement, environmental and social welfare projects, auditing and new product development
Trade Consultant
Trade Consultant
Nairobi, Kenya
09.2003 - 06.2004
- Projects included:
- Market research for the export of Kenyan coffee to UAE, China and South Africa
- Included market visits to Dubai and South Africa, Java House Coffee (Kenya)
- Business plan and market entry strategy for the export of African cut flowers to markets in North America, BCISIT (Canada)
- Market entry strategy for the introduction of Canadian advanced fresh produce packaging technologies to Kenya, FreshXtend Technologies Corporation (Canada)
- Business plan and partnership agreement for the export of handmade furniture from Kenya to South Africa, Vista Homes (S.A.) Ltd and Samadari (Kenya) Ltd
Regional Manager of Direct Sales
Flora Holland
Harare, Zimbabwe
10.2000 - 04.2002
- Managed the direct sales line of regional flower exports to markets in Europe
- Coordinated the logistics and distribution of product from growers in the region to markets in Europe
- Developed strategic and operational goals for the region, outlining country specific targets and creating monitoring and reporting systems for evaluation
- Negotiated working alliances with agents, distributors, grower groups and freight agents and liaised with company directors and the regional portfolio manager
Systems Project Consultant
Commerce Bank
London, UK
01.2000 - 06.2000
- System development to support investigation of failed trades
Systems Project Consultant
Deutsche Bank
London, UK
12.1998 - 12.1999
- Implemented a monitoring and reporting system to evaluate the impact of the EMU Euro conversion on Deutsche Banks’ data systems
Systems Project Consultant
Merrill Lynch
London, UK
06.1998 - 11.1998
- Supported project to manage change process for Euro conversion and liaised with bank custodians on new operating procedures
Project Manager
Newrose, Newton Estates
Zimbabwe
08.1996 - 12.1997
- Managed 35-Ha horticultural project, including roses, flowers and vegetables for export
Assistant Manager
Sellwood Farm
Bindura, Zimbabwe
01.1996 - 05.1996
- Assisted in the management of maize, citrus and livestock production
Education
Master of Science (M.Sc) - Food, Society and International Food Governance
University of Catalonia
Barcelona, Spain09.2012
Results Based Management, logframe design, program design & management techniques
04.2011
Certificate - USAID Rules and Regulations
Inside NGO
10.2010
ISO9001/2000 - Certified Management Training
Homegrown (Kenya) Limited
Kenya01.2004
Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) - International Trade
British Columbia Institute for Studies in International Trade
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada09.2003
Bachelor of Science (BSc) - Soil Science and Hydrology
University of Natal
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa01.1995
Skills
- Project management
- Strategic planning
- Public-private partnership development
- Complex, multi-partner, multi-country programming
- Agreement negotiation
- Food security, nutrition, and food fortification
- Value chain development
- International trade
- Technical and business knowledge in food processing
- Team development
Languages
- English, advanced
- Swahili, basic
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 10/28/73
- Nationality: United States Resident, Zimbabwean, South African
Degrees
- MSc
- BSc
- CITP
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Project Director/Chief of Party
USAID Advancing Food Fortification Opportunities to Reinforce Diets (USAID AFFORD)
09.2022 - Current
Director Food Processing and Nutrition
TechnoServe Inc
01.2017 - 09.2022
Director of PFS Programs
TechnoServe Inc
04.2014 - 12.2016
Chief of Party/Regional Program Director
TechnoServe Inc
10.2012 - 03.2014
Chief of Party/Regional Program Manager
TechnoServe Inc
09.2010 - 10.2012
Agri-business Consultant
TechnoServe Inc
04.2010 - 08.2010
Director and Founder
Sand Dollar Expeditions Ltd.
08.2005 - 04.2010
Senior Operations Manager
Homegrown (Kenya) Limited, Flamingo Holdings Group
07.2004 - 07.2005
Trade Consultant
Trade Consultant
09.2003 - 06.2004
Regional Manager of Direct Sales
Flora Holland
10.2000 - 04.2002
Systems Project Consultant
Commerce Bank
01.2000 - 06.2000
Systems Project Consultant
Deutsche Bank
12.1998 - 12.1999
Systems Project Consultant
Merrill Lynch
06.1998 - 11.1998
Project Manager
Newrose, Newton Estates
08.1996 - 12.1997
Assistant Manager
Sellwood Farm
01.1996 - 05.1996
Master of Science (M.Sc) - Food, Society and International Food Governance
University of Catalonia
Results Based Management, logframe design, program design & management techniques
Certificate - USAID Rules and Regulations
Inside NGO
ISO9001/2000 - Certified Management Training
Homegrown (Kenya) Limited
Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) - International Trade
British Columbia Institute for Studies in International Trade
Bachelor of Science (BSc) - Soil Science and Hydrology
University of Natal
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