The TASAI Board of Directors

Dr. Takemore CHAGOMOKA is a seasoned and passionate agriculturist with a well-blended scientific research and private sector experience across sub-Saharan Africa. Takemore joined the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in mid 2024 as the Head of Technology Transfer Unit based in Nairobi, Kenya. Before joining ICIPE, he was Regional Manager for Seed Co West & Central Africa Ltd based in Accra, Ghana and a research scientist with the World Vegetable Center in Bamako, Mali. Takemore served as Sectoral Advisory Board Member for the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), Member of the Management Committee of the Biotechnology Centre, University of Ghana, and Member of the Business Development and Ethics Sub-Committee of the National Seed Trade Association of Ghana. He is the current Chairman of the African Seed Trade Association Special Interest Group on Vegetables. Takemore holds a PhD from Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg in Germany. Originally from Zimbabwe, Takemore is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Cynthia Mathys is the Senior Program & Portfolio Manager at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, where she manages a large portfolio of competitive granting programs for Cornell faculty and students, as well as their external partners. She recently served as the Senior Project & Portfolio Manager for the Food Systems and Global Change group in the Department of Global Development. Prior to joining Cornell, she was a Senior Project Manager at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), based in Nepal, managing the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) portfolio in Nepal and India. She holds an M.P.S. in International Agriculture and Rural Development from Cornell University and a B.S. in Environmental Policy & Behavior from the University of Michigan.

Peter Matlon has worked in international development for more than 35 years as a teacher, researcher, research manager and donor. He lived and worked in West and East Africa, and in Asia, for 25 years with several organizations including two international agricultural research centers, the United Nations Development Program, and The Rockefeller Foundation. In 2007 he retired as Managing Director with Rockefeller, based in Nairobi, Kenya, where he directed all Foundation programs throughout Africa. During his career, he also served on a number of global advisory panels including the United Nations Millennium Program Hunger Task Force and the InterAcademy Council Panel on African Agriculture. He is currently an Adjunct Professor in Cornell University’s Applied Economics and Management Department, former Board Chair of the CGIAR agricultural research center AfricaRice, and serves on the boards and advisory committees of several other US and African institutions. Matlon earned a PhD in agricultural economics from Cornell University in 1977, a Masters in Public Affairs from Princeton University in 1971, and a Bachelors of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 1967. He and his wife, Joyce Cacho, live in Washington DC.

David Ombalo Otieno is Principal Agricultural Officer and Head of Regulatory Affairs in the Policy Unit, Agribusiness and Marketing Division of the State Department of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in Kenya. David holds a B.Sc. degree in Agricultural Economics from Egerton University, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Policy Analysis and Management at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. David has been instrumental in coordinating, guiding and participating in several agricultural policy reforms initiated by the Ministry and for the agriculture sector. David has also represented Kenya in government efforts to harmonize the legal and regulatory framework of Kenya’s seed sector with the COMESA and EAC guidelines.

Pamela Tan is the Deputy Director of Admissions at Cornell University. Her higher education experience includes serving as: the Director of Admissions of Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; a member on the Committee for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with the Council of International Schools; a director at The College Board; and co-chair of the Association of Black Admissions and Financial Aid Officers of the Ivy League and Sister Schools.

An advocate for the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and human rights, Shon Abegaz serves as Head of Development for Contra Nocendi International. Prior to her current position she was the Managing Director and Chair of the Executive Committee for the international Swiss-based Forum Just Governance for Human Security in Caux, Switzerland. The Forum attracted individuals from over 60 countries to engage in dialogue centered on human security topics including food security, environmental sustainability and good governance. Shon was the creator and initiator of HumansecurityX, a parallel certificate training program which offered a deeper exploration, facilitated by experts, of global human security concerns. She was also the creator and initiator of the E-book: Crossing Paths- A Guide to The Pillars of Human Security and the 2030 Global Goals. Shon is also a consultant and is an active member of several international civic and professional organizations. She was featured as ‘Living Book’ as part of the Human Library held at the United Nations-Geneva for Geneva Peace Week 2017. Her discussion centered on pursing the 2030 Global Goals as a bridge-builder and global citizen. Shontaye will receive the Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All Award from Women’s Economic Forum (WEF2019) in New Delhi, India for her peacebuilding and advocating efforts.

Maxwell Gomera is a Director of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Branch at UN Environment and a 2018 Fellow of Aspen New Voices. He is an expert on public investments in agriculture and nature. Maxwell Gomera is a a resource economist with extensive experience in bio-diversity conservation, commercialization of natural products and community based natural resources management. Maxwell has worked with governments and communities on integrating policy and field levels, resource economics, community tourism development and natural products development. Maxwell has served on many international boards and working groups, including being co-chair of the International Working Group on Mining and Metals that produced a mining and
metals supplement to the Global Reporting Initiative – and currently is on the Board of the Community Conservation Fund for Africa (CCFA). Maxwell Gomera has a Master of Science in Natural Resources Management from the University of Western Australia. Twitter: @GomeraM