Founder

Warren Wilson

Born and bred on the farm, Warren brings both the land which the Green Heart of Kenya is set on and extensive local knowledge and passion about Kilifi. It is his vision which drives the project forward.

As a part of this vision he has embarked on building the FoMo factory, one of the seeds for the Green Heart of Kenya, with the aim of bringing together a community of artists and artisans and building on the growing creative culture and capital that is rapidly spreading through Kilifi.

Throughout his life he has built strong connections with local SMEs, entrepreneurs and community leaders which the Green Heart of Kenya’s network will be built on. He holds a degree in agriculture from Cirencester Agricultural Collage.

Managing Director

Lachie Gordon Athié

Lachie brings project management and entrepreneurial expertise to the Green Heart of Kenya and is committed to guiding the project into reality. With 10 years of experience bringing together large festivals in the event industry in the UK, he has the benefit of having overseen the design, construction and dismantlement of dozens of temporary towns throughout his career.  

His experience in starting, building and exiting two companies over the last decade is key to the design and development of the Green Heart of Kenya structure and team.
Lachie brings a deep passion for regenerative practices and productive natural systems and holds a BEng in mechanical engineering from Edinburgh University.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Lead

Logedi Douglas Luhangala

Logedi brings extensive experience in engaging communities in informal and formal settlements and a background in climate change and adaptation. His experience in research within communities, an educational background in finance, previous experience in the commercial sector, entrepreneurial mindset, and overall passion for social sustainability complement the team well. He also brings experience from the Gens Africa-UK Trilateral Chair where he worked as a Researcher and Stakeholder Engagement Lead in the Mathare Informal Settlement in Nairobi and The Learning Journeys to Silicon Savannah where he was the Stakeholder Engagement Lead for the Kibera Informal Settlement.

Logedi is also a communication expert with extensive experience in using different forms and platforms for communication in a co-working, co-design, co-creative, and socially collaborative environment. At the Green Heart of Kenya, he supports all dimensions of the project in stakeholder outreach, communication, and engagement to further the vision and mission of the Green Heart of Kenya.

Finance and Administration Manager

Wambui Kimani

Wambui brings an extensive 12-year experience in Finance, Operations, Supply Chain Management, and Administration. Her experience in both non-profit and for-profit organizations has given her vast experience in her role in partnering with the senior leadership team in strategic decision-making and streamlining operations. 

Wambui is also an expert in customer relations and strategic management, having worked in these roles at different stages in her career. She is a CPA, has a certificate in project management, and holds a bachelor’s Degree in Commerce and an MBA in Strategy. She enjoys reading and involving herself in projects that impact the community and environment as a whole. At Green Heart of Kenya, she spearheads the Finance and Administration departments, where she partners with senior leadership to drive strategy and implementation for both short-term and long-term projects aligned with the vision of the company. 

Construction and Site Manager

Christine Awuor

Christine brings extensive experience and knowledge in building engineering and technology, construction management, and site management with 7 years of experience in the built environment. She is in charge of construction and site management.
She has previously worked as a site forelady overseeing the construction of the Links Villas in Vipingo Ridge, Clerk of works at KCIC (Kenya Climate and Innovation Center), and Martova Ltd overseeing the construction of 8 villas at Kuruwitu, Vipingo beach.

Sales, Stakeholder Engagement, and Communication Assistant

Gladys Lauzi Mwangome

Gladys brings extensive knowledge of the Kilifi community engagement, having worked in stakeholder engagement for the local community for over two years. Her experience as a head of school in a local school, working with local women and girls, engaging stakeholders in Strategy implementation, and troubleshooting stakeholder issues and challenges are valuable to her role. She has four years of overall experience spanning four sectors, having worked at the public registration services, Brighter Monday in partnership with KYEOP, Dennis Kinaro& Co-advocates, and Bridge Schools.

Gladys holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy with a specialization in Information Technology from Maseno University. At Green Heart of Kenya, she is in charge of engaging local stakeholders and acting as a primary point of contact for customers.

Regenerative Soil Restoration Steward

Maurice Anyika Kimani

Maurice brings vast experience in permaculture and regenerative agriculture having spent the past half decade travelling the world researching regenerative ecosystems with a focus on living soils. 

After evaluating the impact and implications of soil degradation within his lifetime, he set out on a mission to revive and revitalise as much soil as he could lay his hands on. This drive has sent him to study, work & volunteer on several regenerative farm projects such as The Source Farm Ecovillage- Jamaica, Ocean Blown farm- Bermuda, Tamalu Farm- Nanyuki & Distant Relatives Eco-lodge – Kilifi,Kenya. 

He is an Alumni of Dr Elaine’s Soil Food Web school, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge on Bio-Complete compost crafting and formulation of biological soil amendments. His Soil Stewardship expertise will go a long way in supporting the forestry & rewilding efforts at The Green Heart Of Kenya.

Forestry and Rewilding lead

Matteo Contardo

Matteo brings in technical forestry knowledge coupled with an engineering approach and a background in management consulting (Accenture). A long-term Kilifi resident, Matteo runs a consulting company that supports businesses all along their forestry value chains, designing and executing small to large scale initiatives. Throughout his career, Matteo has successfully led multi-million-dollar wood processing investments (Komaza), provides technical expertise in market development (Gatsby Africa) and leads cutting-edge ecosystemic modelling (Rete Clima).

Passionate about land restoration, agroforestry and forestry engineering, Matteo joins Green Heart of Kenya to support the design and build of the “green” component of the project. Matteo holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin and an MBA from UIC Barcelona

Accounts assistant

Fredrick Awour Ajwang

Fredrick brings over three years of expertise in accounting. Having worked in various roles and industries throughout his career, he brings a wealth of knowledge to ensure the organization’s financial health and compliance. His exceptional analytical skills, attention to detail, and adeptness in leveraging technology to improve financial data accuracy and streamline processes underscore his value as an indispensable asset to the team.

Fred enjoys listening to music and participating in community events that drive positive change, aligning with one of the key pillars of our company. As an Accounts Assistant at Green Heart of Kenya, he uses a collaborative approach to contribute effectively to the overall financial management of the organization.

Marketing

Erick Ochieng Winston

Winston brings extensive experience in marketing, both on digital and traditional platforms. He has years of experience in customer service, appraisal, and communications management. He comes from a marketing and corporate communication background across various sectors, including insurance, parastatals, sports apparel, and the automotive industry. He has previously worked at the Central Bank of Kenya and Kenya Orient Insurance Ltd. among others.

At Green Heart of Kenya, he is in charge of marketing, including both offline and online activities aimed at generating, qualifying, and managing leads. His experience in social media management, media buying, and copywriting as well as creative thinking complements the team well.

Constructor

Jeff Shem Obengo

Jeff’s addition to the team adds versatility and experience in site and construction management. He has experience working with sustainable development projects and managing multiple construction projects in both controlled and uncontrolled developments. He brings more versatility in construction supervision and management. He enjoys reading, sports and community work aligning perfectly with the vision and values of the organization. 

At Green Heart of Kenya, he is in charge of building and construction management as an assistant within the department. He supervises construction at various sites and is instrumental in the development of policies and manuals useful in ensuring the highest standards in building and construction.