Board of Directors - Tanzania
George Mkanza
Chairman
George is a consultant with over 30 years of experience working in leadership roles across Africa and internationally. George has worked in education, rural development, nonprofit leadership, and corporate sustainability. His experience includes work with World Vision Tanzania, Aga Khan Foundation, Lutheran World Federation, FarmAfrica and Barrick Africa. George received his MBA from California Lutheran University after completing studies at the University of Dortmund and the University of Dar es Salaam.
Chairman
George is a consultant with over 30 years of experience working in leadership roles across Africa and internationally. George has worked in education, rural development, nonprofit leadership, and corporate sustainability. His experience includes work with World Vision Tanzania, Aga Khan Foundation, Lutheran World Federation, FarmAfrica and Barrick Africa. George received his MBA from California Lutheran University after completing studies at the University of Dortmund and the University of Dar es Salaam.
Narola Mollel
Secretary
Narola is an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania, Notary Public, and Commissioner for Oaths with over a decade of legal experience across Tanzania and the United Kingdom. Educated in the UK, she has held senior roles in leading Tanzanian law firms and now serves as Principal and Lead Counsel at Narola & Associates in Arusha. Alongside her legal practice, she is deeply engaged in nonprofit and community development work, including as Founder of Bethel House, with a focus on fundraising, education, and social impact initiatives.
Secretary
Narola is an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania, Notary Public, and Commissioner for Oaths with over a decade of legal experience across Tanzania and the United Kingdom. Educated in the UK, she has held senior roles in leading Tanzanian law firms and now serves as Principal and Lead Counsel at Narola & Associates in Arusha. Alongside her legal practice, she is deeply engaged in nonprofit and community development work, including as Founder of Bethel House, with a focus on fundraising, education, and social impact initiatives.
Erik Rowberg
Treasurer
Erik has spent over 45 years in Tanzania, working across education, health, farming, tech, and internet services. He built one of the country’s largest ISPs from scratch and led the Tanzanian ISP Association. He serves on five boards and enjoys mountain biking, trail running, and carpentry. Erik is a proud husband, father, and grandfather of five.
Treasurer
Erik has spent over 45 years in Tanzania, working across education, health, farming, tech, and internet services. He built one of the country’s largest ISPs from scratch and led the Tanzanian ISP Association. He serves on five boards and enjoys mountain biking, trail running, and carpentry. Erik is a proud husband, father, and grandfather of five.
Paul A. Kisanga (MD MMed FCSECSA FMAS DMAS) is a seasoned surgeon and hospital leader with over 25 years’ experience managing hospitals across northern Tanzania. He retired in 2019 as Director of Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre and has worked across Africa, America, and India. He co-founded Safari City Healthcare and chairs its board. He’s held top roles in medical associations, including Secretary General of TSA, President of TCMA, and Council Member of COSECSA. He’s also a Fellow of several surgical bodies, including WALS. Beyond medicine, he enjoys sports, travel, and community service through the Rotary Club of Njiro Arusha, where he’s served as Projects Chair and President Elect.
Remla Shirima, BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MBA (Int. Health) has 20+ years of healthcare experience in the UK and Tanzania. She worked as a physiotherapist in the NHS, private clinics, and voluntary sectors, and later founded a healthcare company and civil society organization in Tanzania. She collaborates with government and global partners on advocacy, resource mobilization, and workforce development. Remla serves on health-related boards and is part of the Ministry of Health’s Technical Working Group.
Devotha Mlay is an impact-driven leader with over a decade of experience spearheading positive change within the non-profit sector, particularly with national and international education-focused NGOs. She brings gifts and expertise in strategic planning, program development, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement. Devotha is particularly driven to serve organizations that advance access to quality education for children, leading to holistic child development and well-being. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and is currently finalizing her MBA.
Peter Ndalo Makanza, MD(BUCHS), MMed (Mak, Kampala)FCS (ECSA) has lived in Arusha, Tanzania for the past 14 years. He is an Orthopedic Surgeon with seven years of experience in general orthopedics, trauma and pediatric limb deformity correction. He also has experience in hospital administration, particularly in the area of quality services in health systems and training. One of the founding members of Safari City Healthcare Limited, Peter had also served on two boards, both medical related. He is married and has two children. Peter enjoys traveling, watching football and movies.
Stephen J. Swanson
MD, DTM&H, FAAP Associate Professor, Division of Global Pediatrics University of Minnesota Medical School.
Founder and Chair, Tiny Feet Big Steps Neonatology Conferences.
Founder, Institute for Child Healthcare Africa (ICHA).
Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, Tanzania.
Dr. Stephen Swanson is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics who trained in pediatric infectious diseases, tropical medicine, and public health/epidemiology. Since 2013, Dr. Swanson has lived in Tanzania, working at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC) and Selian Lutheran Hospital. He was the founder of the ALMC NICU.
MD, DTM&H, FAAP Associate Professor, Division of Global Pediatrics University of Minnesota Medical School.
Founder and Chair, Tiny Feet Big Steps Neonatology Conferences.
Founder, Institute for Child Healthcare Africa (ICHA).
Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, Tanzania.
Dr. Stephen Swanson is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics who trained in pediatric infectious diseases, tropical medicine, and public health/epidemiology. Since 2013, Dr. Swanson has lived in Tanzania, working at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC) and Selian Lutheran Hospital. He was the founder of the ALMC NICU.
Board of Directors - USA
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Jerry Hoganson
Board Chair Jerry Hoganson is a longtime healthcare administrator and former president of Wesley Manor Retirement Communities, retiring in 2022. A Minnesota native, he earned a degree in Hospital Administration from Concordia College and pursued graduate studies at St. Mary’s College of Minnesota. He has worked across clinics, hospitals, emergency medicine, and long-term care in multiple states and served three years in Madagascar. Hoganson has held leadership roles in several professional organizations, including serving as president of the Kentucky chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators and as a board member of LeadingAge Kentucky. He has also been active in local business and healthcare initiatives and was recognized as one of Louisville’s “Twenty People to Know in Aging Services” in 2019. |
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Kim Rathjen
Vice Chair Kim is a retired Lay Church Professional who has most recently served as the Minister of Service and Justice Ministries at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie, MN. It was through this work that she met Dr Steve and Jodi Swanson. Kim and her husband have visited Arusha 4 times to date to learn about and witness the work of ICHA. She has worked with nonprofit organizations her entire career and has served on the Board of Directors of Camp Onomia (President) and PROP Food Shelf. In 2017 Kim was a founding member of Onward, a non-profit providing transitional supportive housing for young adults experiencing homelessness in the SW suburbs of Minneapolis. |
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Kelly Yenawine, MBA
Board Treasurer Kelly is a retired healthcare administrator based in Jackson, Tennessee, with more than 31 years of leadership experience in the healthcare sector. Throughout his career, he served in a variety of senior roles, including Hospital Administrator, Executive Director of Imaging Services, and Executive Director of Finance and Capital. Kelly brings deep expertise in healthcare operations, financial stewardship, and organizational leadership to his role as Board Treasurer. His career reflects a strong commitment to strengthening healthcare systems and ensuring responsible management of resources. |
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Scott Guthrie, MD
Board Member Scott is a neonatologist who has been working with ICHA and teaching at the Tiny Feet, Big Steps conference since its inception in 2021. Serving as an instructor has become one of his most impactful professional commitments, contributing to growing momentum, empowering local advocates to improve neonatal outcomes, and advancing care for babies where even small improvements can yield life-saving results. |
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Ben Duininck
Board Member Ben has more than 25 years of experience in the investment management industry. Prior to joining Nuveen as a Senior Analyst on the Fixed Income team, Ben was a Senior Credit Research Analyst at Ameriprise and U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, and a hedge fund manager at Providence Capital LLC, where he was responsible for credit analysis, trading and portfolio management. Ben is an active volunteer with the CFA society of MN. He was previously a board member and chaired the Program Committee for CFAMN. Additionally, he was a board member for 6 years for DAI Intl. He earned his BA degree in Business/Econ – Finance from Wheaton College. He received the CFA ® Charter in 2013. |
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Paul Johnson Board Member Paul is a senior executive at a global consulting firm, and has devoted his career to consulting with healthcare provider organizations of all types. His client work focuses on areas like strategy, operational and performance improvement, financial initiatives, and technology implementations. Outside of work, he served on his congressperson's healthcare advisory committee, guest-lectured at several universities across the country, and has been a founding board member for a local conservancy. He resides in the Minneapolis area with his wife and children. |
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Dr. Stephen Swanson
Executive Director |
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