Dr Sandy Ochojna (Chair) was born in the Scottish Borders in 1947 and has two degrees (MA in Economics and PhD in social history) from Edinburgh University. His career has revolved around social research, marketing and consultancy, working at the highest levels for some of the largest public transport and market research organisations in the UK. He chairs the monthly Steering Group call with the heads of the three Micaia entities.

Prof. Dan Brockington (Vice Chair) is an ICREA Research Professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He is a conservation social scientist with many years of experience working largely in East Africa, but also India, Australia and New Zealand. His books include Fortress Conservation, Nature Unbound, Celebrity and the Environment, Capitalism and Conservation, The Anthropology of Conservation NGOs and The Green Economy in the South as well as over 150 academic papers. He is one half of the conservation comedy duo Kartel Shockington and is working on a children’s trilogy called The Grimcat Conspiracies.

Chris Bowes is a lawyer and a partner in global law firm CMS where he specialises in planning and development work. Chris works for clients in both the public and private sectors. Chris’ work is focussed on regeneration and infrastructure projects in the UK. Chris has a particular interest in governance, environmental impact assessment and sustainable development. Chris visited Mozambique in 2016 to see the work of MICAIA first hand. Chris is also a trustee of the Great Academies Education Trust a multi-academy trust responsible for four schools across the boroughs of Tameside and Rochdale east of Manchester.

Prof. Phil Woodhouse worked as an agricultural scientist at the Mozambican Ministry of Agriculture’s agronomy research institute (INIA) from 1977 to 1986, focusing on soil fertility and farming systems development. After returning to the UK, he worked as an academic for more than three decades researching the governance of land and water under conditions of technological, economic and social change in sub-Saharan Africa. He is an emeritus professor of environment and development at the University of Manchester.

Laura Gilbert is a CIMA qualified accountant, currently working as Head of Financial Planning & Analysis at the London School of Economics. Her early career was spent in the Banking sector but in 2008 she changed direction, studying for an MSc in Charity Finance and NGO Management at Cass Business School, before contracting at ActionAid International and Save the Children International. She joined MICAIA as UK Treasurer in 2010 and was lucky enough to visit Mozambique in 2013 to see their work on the ground in Manica

Colin Murphy is a Chartered Accountant (ICAS) with more than 30 years experience as an accounting professional. Colin was born in Scotland and has an MA (Hons) in Economics and Accounting from the University of Edinburgh. Colin’s experience ranges for accounting practice (small and large firms) to senior finance roles within major international organisations. His skill set and range of experience includes business analysis, financial modelling for new products, sales bidding, procurement, investment appraisals, and financial control. Colin retired from full time employment in May 2021. Colin was able to visit Mozambique in 2010 and was inspired by the work conducted there by MICAIA.