LORI POWELL
Executive Director
Lori joined HEART as the Executive Director in April 2022 after retiring from a long career in technology and risk management in the financial industry. She first came to HEART in 2016 on a mission trip when she immediately fell in love with the women, children, and HEART programs. She has been actively involved in women and children’s ministries and organizations for over 20 years. In 2014 she lost all her hair due to Alopecia Universalis, which enabled her to gain an even deeper understanding of the pain and suffering of feeling like an outcast.
Lori lives in Rancho Cucamonga, CA with her husband, 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. She and her husband love traveling, spending time with family, and outdoor activities. They attend The Way World Outreach Church in San Bernardino, CA.
WAMBUI NAMU
Wambui, our Kenya Board Chairwoman, is passionate about humanitarian work believing that when and where able, she must make a difference. In this regard, she holds directorship positions in two charitable organizations aimed at transforming the lives of vulnerable persons in the community. In addition, she is a Rotarian actively serving as a member of the Rotary Club of Karura. In her local church, she leads the intercessory ministry. She is married with three adult sons.
Wambui is a seasoned senior-level executive with solid credentials in managing large organizations. Currently, she is a Director at Enfield Consultants, a tax advisory and management consultancy services firm, which offers specialized tax and trade services and capacity-building programs to national, regional, and international institutions/organizations.
Before venturing into private practice in 2012, she worked at both the Ministry of Finance and the Kenya Revenue Authority as a career tax administration officer for a period spanning over 28 years. During that time, Wambui rose through the ranks to become the Commissioner of Customs Services at the Kenya Revenue Authority, a position she served for six years with distinction leading to the award of two State Honors (HSC & MBS) by the President of the Republic of Kenya.
In April 2015, the government-appointed her as a Director of Kentrade Network Agency, a State Corporation dedicated to simplifying international trade processes through the use of a common information technology portal for all government regulators and private sector players, a position she is still serving.
REV. PASTOR FRED AUMA
Associate Pastor Ridgeways Baptist Church
Spiritual Advisor
Pastor Fred Auma is a member of the HEART Board of Trustees serving as our Spiritual Advisor. He is the Associate Pastor at Ridgeways Baptist Church located in Nairobi, Kenya. He is also the Pastor in Charge of the Family Board, comprising the Men, Ladies, Senior Citizens, Marriage and Family, Singles, Counselling, and Care ministries.
Pastor Fred is passionate about reading widely and passing knowledge to transform society. He desires to help people grow in their Christian faith and achieve their full potential in life and ministry and loves the ministry of encouragement – being close to believers who are hurting and sharing the love of God. He volunteers in the community by serving on several Boards, among them the Heart Kenya Baptist Theological College, TheoVision, and Help Age Kenya.
Pastor Fred holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Theology from the Pan-African Christian University, Kenya, and a Master of Arts degree in Leadership and Organizational Management from the International Leadership University (ILU), Kenya. He is a Ph.D. Candidate at the ILU with a focus on Corporate Leadership.
Pastor Fred is married with two children.
MARGARET W. MUNENE, MBA
Margaret is a Senior Member of the HEART Kenya Board of Trustees. She has a passion for the girl child; she mentors and encourages them to remain focused on their dreams and put in the effort required to realize them. She is a keen Rotarian and a member of the Rotary Club of Karura. Margaret is married and a mother of three daughters and six grandchildren.
She is an established businesswoman and is a director of Palmhouse Dairies Ltd, CBS Githunguri Campus, and Mukore Academy. Margaret is a founder trustee of the Palmhouse Foundation, an Education Trust that finances the secondary education of deserving students and mentors them through life to also impact positively on society with a vision to enable deserving students to realize their dreams, transform their lives, their families and society.
JESSIE N. GITHANGA
MBChB, MMed (Pathology), FCPath-ECSA.
Jessie Githanga is a senior member of the HEART Kenya Board of Trustees, she is married and has 3 children.
Jessie is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Pathology, University of Nairobi, Kenya, and has an adjunct position as Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), USA. Her training background is in general pathology, haematology, and blood transfusion, and she has served as Chair of the Department of Human Pathology, University of Nairobi (2004 to 2011).
In her work at the Kenyatta National Hospital, she is part of the team that oversees children’s care with cancer. This aspect of her work has led to a compelling desire to improve the holistic care of children with cancer and their families in Kenya, given the numerous hurdles children with cancer, their parents and families, face during the cancer journey. Her experience motivated her and other like-minded individuals to establish the Kenya Childhood Cancer Trust (KeCCT), an NGO whose main aim is to improve children and adolescents’ outcomes with cancer. Prof Githanga is a member of several Technical Working Groups of the Ministry of Health, including the Childhood Cancer Technical Working Group and the Technical Advisory Group for the National Cancer Research Training Program dealing with cancer and research. She was involved in the writing up of several documents with the National Cancer Control Program, including the National Cancer Control Strategy, the Cancer Screening Guidelines, Cancer Treatment Guidelines, and was one of the team members involved in the writing up of the National Sickle Call Management Guidelines. She has raised funds for various initiatives for childhood cancer.
Prof Githanga has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences both locally and internationally. Her current research interests include various aspects of childhood cancer, sickle cell anaemia (she is currently a principal investigator in several multinational clinical trials in sickle cell disease), and biorepositories. She is a Founder Member of the College of Pathologists for East Central and Southern Africa (COPECSA), Kenya Association of Clinical Pathologists (KACP), Board member of the Kenya Childhood Cancer Trust (KeCCT), Kenya Network of Cancer Organizations (KENCO), Health Education for Africa Resource Team Trust (HEART) and Member of Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA), among others. In August 2015, CEO Global awarded her the Most Influential Women in Africa Regional Award (Kenya and East) and the Lifetime Achievement Regional Award for Education and Training.
EVELYN MWENDA, CPA
Evelyn is a member of the HEART Board of Trustee and serves as HEART’s Treasurer.
Evelyn Magaju is a seasoned finance professional with over 14 years of experience in internal and external auditing, compliance & Risk Management.
She has vast experience working for an external audit firm (Deloitte & Touché) and International Non-Governmental institutions and programs funded by major donors such as USG, CDC, BMGF, and DFID, EU, SIDA, DANIDA, among others. Evelyn is currently working as the Risk & Compliance Manager at IntraHealth International.
Evelyn is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPAK) and Holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Maseno University.
She is a Member of the Institute of Certified Accountants in Kenya (ICPAK) and the Institute of Internal Auditors- Kenya Chapter.
Evelyn serves as the Vice-treasurer of Ridgeways Baptist Church.
MARY KISOO MUTUA
Mary is a member of the HEART Board of Trustees and serves as our legal consultant. She is an experienced Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a Chartered Arbitrator (MCIArb), and a Certified Professional Mediator. She is also a member of the Law Society of Kenya and the Managing Partner at Kisoo & Associates Advocates.
She has an exemplary track record of offering a full range of corporate governance and compliance services, projects and infrastructure, conveyancing, and real estate. She’s also the go-to person in family law and estate planning matters such as wills and trusts, probate administration, adoption, divorce, child custody, among others.
Mary is married and has one child. She also serves as a Trustee and Deacon in her local church. She’s passionate about young people and is involved in mentoring them in the church and other avenues. In addition, she enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and baking.
