+ about terry

Terry has a connection and deep respect for the people of Ethiopia. He was on the Board of Partners In The Horn of Africa, an NGO that did numerous water, education, and other projects in Ethiopia, for over five years. Terry worked directly with staff in both Canada and Ethiopia and brought a solid business perspective to the Board.

Terry also brings the advantage of understanding working in Ethiopia from a donor’s perspective. He led EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd (EBA) aid work in Ethiopia and he was able to visit some of the projects there in 2010. Through Terry’s leadership, EBA and their 700 employees became Partners with the people of Ethiopia over a 10 year period. During that time, 12 EBA employees travelled to Ethiopia to visit the projects supported by the firm and the employees. EBA’s work in Ethiopia changed the employees’ perspective and brought the company together as a team with a deeper understanding of global responsibility and caring. Terry feels that it was the single most important activity that aligned the firm with its core values.

Terry’s favorite song with a message … Tim McGraw’s “Live Life Like You Were Dying”…words to live by!

+ about Gina

Gina has been involved in charitable organizations for many years, including the Yukon Child Development Centre, A Safe Place Women’s Shelter, and most recently as volunteer CFO of a Canadian organization doing development work in Ethiopia. The latter entailed numerous trips to Ethiopia, which have provided invaluable experience not only of life, needs, and challenges in the country, but also in terms of accounting and accountability issues that arise in organizations working out-of-country.

Gina worked in public practice as a Chartered Accountant in the Yukon, Canada for a number of years before moving to Edmonton and pursuing her PhD in Business. Her thesis was on accountability and governance in First Nations in Canada. She taught in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta for thirteen years, ending her teaching career with a final stint in the Faculty of Business.

+ about David

David is the inspiration behind, and the co-founder, of Partners in Education Ethiopia. He has been associated with NGOs all of his adult life. He was a founding Director and Treasurer for twelve years of another organization doing development work in Ethiopia. He has spent between one and four weeks in Ethiopia for each of the past ten consecutive years, establishing many contacts with local government and community associations in the country. He is passionate about Ethiopia and about improving the quality of life for Ethiopians.

David was a criminal lawyer in the Yukon, Canada for eleven years, after which he turned to business, becoming a shareholder, President and CEO of a tire and automotive business in Edmonton. Under his leadership, the organization grew to be the seventh largest tire business in North America. The company was sold and three years later, in 2008, David founded his own company, Integra Tire and Auto Centers Ltd. and became its President and CEO.

+ about Natalka

Natalka began her entrepreneurial business career in 1979 as Founder and President of Athena Interiors Inc, later rebranded as Canadian Cubicle Curtain Corporation. This sub-contracting Window Covering business flourished on a commercial, industrial and institutional basis with numerous different projects across Canada.

Natalka was born in Northern Alberta to a farming family, attended N.A.I.T (Business Administration) followed by a B.Sc.(P.HEc) from the University of Alberta She also holds the U of A Extension Certificate in Project Management.

Natalka has held numerous volunteer board positions in the past.

We are happy that she can integrate her varied broad sweeping set of past experiences into the development of a school empire with limited resources, allowing youngsters a glimmer of opportunities.

+ about Norma

Norma has over 20 years of fundraising experience, and is known for her unique ability to understand donor needs and create value-based solutions. As a professional fundraiser and consultant with a passion for storytelling and connecting individuals and organizations to support and further common goals, Norma has had been a part of many noteworthy capital campaigns for a variety of organizations in health, education and social services.

Norma has led and advised many teams of fundraisers, volunteers and boards throughout Alberta. She enjoys mentoring young professionals in fundraising and helping nonprofit organizations to develop long-term sustainable revenue for their charitable missions.

+ about Grant

Grant is a CMA who brings many years of experience in both business and non-profit organizations in Alberta. He is presently CFO of Alta-Fab Structures Ltd, and has a particular interest in Special Needs children.

+ about yehalem

Yehalem has 18 years of experience working with development organizations. From 2006 until 2013, he served as Country Representative for Partners in the Horn of Africa, a Canadian charitable organization engaged in community development work in Ethiopia. In this role, Yehalem was integrally involved in organizing and overseeing projects and operations in Ethiopia.

During these years of engagement in rural areas of Ethiopia Yehalem has earned enormous respect among the people, particularly government officials and contractors. These relationships, as well as information regarding the needs and possibilities in various areas of Ethiopia, provide Partners in Education with an excellent resource for selecting projects and for ensuring their successful completion.

Yehalem holds a Bachelor’s degree in history from Addis Ababa University, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Victoria, Canada. His Master's thesis focused on tools for selecting projects, monitoring project progress, and measuring results in small-scale development programs. During his graduate studies in Canada, Yehalem also worked as Policy Analyst with the BC Medical Services Commission, and as HIV/AIDS Evaluation Consultant with the BC Ministry of Health.

+ about temesgan

Temesgen completed his undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Language and Literature from Debere Markos University in 2013. He started working as a primary school teacher in Sodo district of the Guraghé Zone in the South Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region. During the five years of his tenure in the school he served as department head and chair or member of several school committees and clubs. He was then transferred to the Amhara Region where he worked as a primary school principal in Shebel Berenta district of East Gojjam Zone.

He hopes to complete his post graduate program at the Kotebe Metropolitan University for a master’s degree in Language and Literature in the near future.

Temesgen joined Partners (FGCF) as a Junior Education Office in October of 2019.

+ about Bahiru

Bahiru Mehiret Hailu became Partners’ Finance Officer in November 2021. He holds a Bachelor Degree (BA) in Accounting and Finance from Bahir Dar University. For 10 years prior to joining Partners, he worked in various international non-profit organizations in the capacity of Accountant, regional finance and administration officer and coordinator. Based in Bahir Dar, Bahiru will be performing a broad range of accounting duties, as well as using his wealth of experience in the areas of project budget proposals and monitoring.

+ about maddie

Maddie is responsible for managing the Partners in Education website, as well as digital marketing and communications activities for the organization. She helps to ensure the work taking place on the ground in Ethiopia is communicated to donors and stakeholders in Canada through digital channels.

Maddie has many years experience working in digital project management, content marketing and social media management in Ireland, the UK and Canada. She has a BA in English Literature and Culture, and an MA in International Communications, and is particularly interested in the areas of intercultural communications, environmental sustainability, and international development.

+ about teddy

Teddy is an well published epidemiologist and public health researcher, currently a professor in the Department of Gerontology at Simon Fraser University.

In addition to his experience in population-level research, Teddy has hands-on experience in field research in Guyana. His unique research skillset is very useful in designing and evaluating measurement outcomes, providing robust means of project assessment, and identifying potential areas of improvement.

+ about zenegnaw

Zenegnaw's joined Partners in Education Ethiopia in May 2021 and currently serves as our IT Management Expert. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from ALKAN Health Science Business and Technology College. Prior to joining Partners, Zenegnaw accumulated over 5 years of work experience, including 3 years as a Clerk on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Project and as a Registrar Officer at GAMBY Medical and Business College.

Zenegnaw plays a central role in supporting our School Health Program by developing data collection tools for the Door-to-Door survey program, conducting data analysis, and providing technical assistance to community health workers and Health Extension Workers. Additionally, in our Education Program, he creates data collection and assessment tools for both teachers and students. His expertise in computer hardware and software maintenance is also invaluable, as he has helped furnish the school lab by installing networks and computers and provides day-to-day technical support to staff when needed.

+ about getnet

Getnet is a professor at the Department of Sociology, Addis Ababa University and Honorary Professor at Jimma University, Ethiopia. He has been working on the interface of sociology/anthropology and health for over two decades with particular focus on sexuality, HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health and rights, podoconiosis and other NTDs, enhancing gene*environment interactions, among other things. He has numerous publications and has received numerous prestigious academic grants and fellowships.

For more than two decades, Getnet has been intensively engaged in community or consultancy services for various government organizations, multilateral and bilateral organizations, local and international NGOs based in Ethiopia, and foreign universities and organizations. In addition to contributing to the production of knowledge on uncharted territories, many of his academic and consultancy research projects contributed to improved policy and practice.

Cognizant of the difference education has made in his life, Getnet has been working tirelessly and passionately with like minded individuals and organizations to enable children from low income families to have access to good quality education close to home by identifying and addressing the multiple in and out of school barriers children face. It was this commitment to giving back to the community that has enabled Partners to work with Getnet for several years and to benefit from his rich experience and expertise at no cost.

+ about meseret

Meseret holds an MA in Gender and Development Studies from Bahir Dar University and a BSc in Applied Biology from Addis Ababa University. With nearly a decade of experience, she has developed expertise in gender mainstreaming, rural development, and community-based initiatives, including WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) in schools and communities. Meseret has worked with various organizations such as the education office as a biology teacher, Oxfam GB in Livelihood projects, CVM (an Italian international organization) in WASH programme , Her roles have centered on teaching ,gender facilitation, women’s economic empowerment, and behavior change in WASH programs, in both Benishangul and Amhara regions. Since joining PiEE in November 2022 as a Behavioral Change Coordinator for the WASH in Schools project.

+ about Eyuel

Eyuel Amare is a dedicated health professional with over six years of experience in both governmental and international NGOs. He earned his BSc and MSc from the University of Gondar, graduating at the top of his class. Eyuel has successfully led initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes in both developmental and emergency situations. Since 2022, he has held the position of Behavioral Change and Communication Coordinator and Team Leader at Partners in Education Ethiopia, where he is recognized for his strong communication abilities and leadership in WASH initiatives within schools

+ about Bruck

Bruck joined the Partners team in late 2023, assuming the role of Assistant to the Executive Director. In this capacity, he supports the Partners Team overseeing a broad range of responsibilities, including social media management, data analysis, and technical support, ensuring seamless day-to-day operations.

Bruck holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Unity University, providing him with a strong analytical foundation and a strategic approach to problem-solving.