Advisory Board

George serves as our Global Finance & Operations Director where he oversees the Global Operations Department/ International Finance and Services unit. He is results-driven accounting and financial management professional with 18 years of progressive experience in controllership, finance, grants, contracts, audit, compliance, operations management, strategy and business development spanning across several commercial and non-profit multi-national organizations. Correspondingly, he has hands-on experience in leading project operational and business functions namely; financial management, compliance, risk management, procurement, human resources, grants, contracts, logistics, administration IT, and strategic communications for several large projects.

He equally has a strong track record in offering technical, advisory, administrative and strategic leadership in implementing financial controls, performance improvements, business development, team building, partnership management and governance strengthening to drive growth for both commercial and non-profit organizations. Additionally, he has extensive audit experience with the Big 4 Audit firms spanning across several sectors and industries namely; Financial, Service, Utility, Energy, Non-Profit, Manufacturing, Government and Public Sector, Consultancy, Agriculture, Construction, Telecommunications, Transport, Retail, Real Estate, Hospitality and Health.

Moreover, George has acquired vast experience in institutional donor workings and regulations as well as management of large institutional grants, contracts and cooperative agreements (European Union, World Bank, Global Fund, USAID, US CDC, CDC Foundation, US NIH, US DoD, US ARMY MHRP, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He has had career stints with organizations like Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI), Chemonics International Inc., Land O’ Lakes Inc., Henry Jackson Foundation Medical Research International Inc. (HJFMRI), Ernst & Young LLP and George Washington University.

He has also held accounting, grants and finance roles at project, in-country, regional and global levels. He holds an MBA (Finance Option) from the University of Nairobi, besides holding CPA, CFA and CPS qualifications. Additionally, he holds US Federal Taxation Specialization qualification from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champagne and is currently pursuing a PhD degree in Finance from the University of Nairobi.

Tristan, a Microsoft Certified Data Analyst, brings over ten years of experience in IT and more than four years in data management to the Smart Data Learning Advisory Board. Certified in PowerBI and Azure Data Fundamentals, Tristan is skilled in PowerBI, PowerQuery, DAX, SQL, Azure, and Excel. With a strong focus on transforming data into actionable insights, Tristan leverages a variety of advanced tools and technologies. Detail-oriented and a fast learner, Tristan is passionate about using data to drive strategic decisions and looks forward to contributing to the success and growth of Smart Data Learning.

He is deeply passionate about fostering student achievement and empowering learners through dynamic educational leadership and administrative expertise. With a relentless focus on making learning a top priority, he excels in creating shared visions, evaluating instructional practices, and utilizing data analysis to drive progress and goal-setting.

His journey in education has been diverse and enriching, having contributed significantly to the academic structures of esteemed educational organizations and institutes of higher learning across the globe. As an Advisory Board Member for Academic Affairs, he played a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape in Germany, the U.S.A, India, Benin, and the U.A.E, spearheading curriculum development, examination oversight, and coordination for internationally recognized programs such as Pearson Edexcel, IB, and Cambridge.

As a Workshop Leader for ESL and EFL, he advocates for value-based education, nurturing an inclusive and supportive learning environment. His experience in CAS coordination for the IB Diploma Program underscores his dedication to holistic student development.

Furthermore, he brings a wealth of expertise in school accreditation processes, having navigated candidacy, authorization, and comprehensive reviews with precision and diligence.

Driven by a commitment to educational excellence and student-centered learning, he continues to make meaningful contributions to the field, guided by a spirit of innovation and a dedication to nurturing the next generation of global citizens.

Gaudence Were is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and board member of the Center for Digital Rights and Innovation. Gaudence has a background in legal and advisory services and brings in a depth of expertise on legal and regulatory compliance. An alumnus of Smart Data Learning, she provides a unique blend of legal acumen and analytical prowess.

Peter Kiama Gikonyo is a distinguished professional with a Ph.D. in Supply Chain Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. His educational journey, which includes a Master's degree in Procurement and Logistics, and a Bachelor's degree in Education Science, reflects a commitment to academic excellence.

With over 16 years of experience, Peter has proven his capabilities as a strategic leader. Currently serving as the Head of Health Sector Banking at Equity Bank Group Ltd, he has played a key role in establishing and growing the health department. His expertise lies in portfolio growth, deposit mobilization, and cross-selling bank products within the medical sector. Peter's proficiency extends to personalized relationship banking, strategic planning, and fostering strong relationships with stakeholders.

Peter Kiama Gikonyo's educational background and extensive experience position him as a leader in finance, with a particular focus on supply chain management. His commitment to continuous learning and strategic vision make him an asset in driving growth and innovation within the financial sector.

Shaun McGhee is a seasoned business analyst and advisory board member of SDL. With over 20 years of experience in architecture, construction, project management and logistics, Shaun has honed his visionary mindset and problem sollving skills.

Sam is an accomplished Data Engineer with a passion for cutting-edge technology, He is into harnessing the power of big data, machine learning, and AI for data-driven decision-making and innovation. With a strong background in backend development, API design, automation, and observability, He is dedicated to designing and implementing scalable data pipelines that drive enhanced business growth.

His expertise includes a comprehensive range of technical skills, spanning programming languages such as JavaScript, Python, Golang, Java, Kotlin, and more. He is well-versed in a variety of web frameworks, databases, data engineering tools like Apache Kafka, Apache Spark/Databricks, TensorFlow, and OpenCV. Moreover, He has a deep understanding of cloud platforms like Google Cloud, AWS, and Azure.

Mr. Mohamed was the Chief Executive Officer until December 2022 and still a member of the incorporation
committee of Power Bank an Islamic Bank focused on the Energy sector, a USD 10 billion authorized capital
bank. Mr. Mohamed is also the Consultant of Kasada Group part of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and
ACCOR. Kasada is a USD 1 bn hospitality fund. Previously he was the Vice President of Business
Development for Qatar Financial Centre (QFC). He held the roles of Head of Africa bridging the gap between
Qatar and Africa in all sectors, he has been very instrumental in guiding Qatar to negotiate favorable Double
Taxation Treaties, Investment and Protection Agreement with Major African countries with Qatar.

Mr Mohamed is also a Non- Executive Director of Ponea Health BV Holland (Medtech), Vice Chairman and
Partner of Bridge Innovation (Fintech) and Board of Trustee of Flutterwave. (Fintech)

Previously he has worked with Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), Hassad Food (USD 1.5 bn) part of QIA and
QInvest (USD 1bn) in Qatar, BNP Paribas in UK, ING Bank UK and with Citigroup UK.
In his previous role with Hassad Food-Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) he oversaw assisting in business
development of new and existing business lines across different asset classes with the Sub-Saharan Africa
region. In his previous banking experience. Mr. Mohamed was involved in a variety of Islamic financing
deals, capital raising and advisory transactions across GCC and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Mr. Mohamed has been described as the “Pride of Africa and the GCC” by high-net-worth individuals in
Africa and Qatar.

Mr. Mohamed is regarded as part of the second generation of Islamic Bankers and practitioners who come
with a solid academic background in Islamic Banking and Finance industry. He has 20+ years of experience
in banking and most specifically in Conventional, Islamic finance and investment banking.
Mr. Mohamed is Alumni of Harvard Business School. He has successfully completed General Management
Program GMP31 at Harvard Business School.

Mr. Mohamed has successfully completed “Developing the Leader” EMBA program with HEC Paris in Qatar.
Mr. Mohamed is a holder of an MBA in Islamic Finance. Mr. Mohamed is a Certified Sharia’a Auditor and
Advisor (CSAA) with the Accounting and Auditing Organization of Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) in
Bahrain.