Sheila Matete-Owiti
Founder & CEO
BSc Biomedical Science (Hons); MSc InfoSys (Dist); MSc. Public Health
Sheila started her early education in Kenya and in the UK. In 1995, Sheila was awarded the Presidential and Honors Scholarships from the USA to pursue her undergraduate studies. Upon graduation, she worked as a genetics researcher in California and Illinois in the area of cancer drug development. In 2002, Sheila moved to Australia to pursue a Masters in Health Information Systems. Sheila worked as a researcher at the University of Wollongong for 4 years. Her areas of expertise are in social research, policy and program evaluation and community development. In 2006, Sheila was awarded the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship to pursue a MSc Public Health degree from Maastricht Universiteit, Netherlands. She has returned to Australia and is working as a Policy Analyst at the NSW Department of Health.
Community development has been a key component of Sheila’s career. Sheila was on the Board of SCARF, an organisation that assists in the settlement of refugees in Wollongong. She has also volunteered as a Wollongong University Student Leadership Facilitator and an English tutor at Walsh University in the USA.
It is through Sheila’s desire to demonstrate Christian love to address the injustice faced by the poor in Kenya that Piye Inc was born. Sheila holds the business management, funding and program development portfolios. She also serves as the secretariat.
Dr Francis G. Oriwa Matete
Founder & Vice President
MBChB, M.R.C.Psych (UK)
Francis holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Degree of the University of Nairobi, postgraduate qualification in Psychiatry and membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists of the UK. For several years he worked as Provincial Psychiatrist in Kenya and Assistant Director of Medical Services. In that capacity he planned and operationalised the provision of mental health services for a population of approximately five million people living in Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley Provinces.
Since 1984 Francis has initiated various community development activities including:
a) The Rangala Community Development Project which involved treatment and rehabilitation of mentally ill women, alongside teaching on income generation.
b) The Kajulu Dairy Cow Multiplication Project
c) HIV/AIDS training/seminars for health professionals and community groups, colleges and universities
e) Your Future In Your Hands Group: This was a group of disadvantaged youth in Kisumu. The project involved discussions on preventive approaches to pertinent health issues including alcohol and drug abuse, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. Francis used cognitive behaviour approaches to treat those with depression.
These experiences provided him with a unique opportunity to witness first hand the disconnect that existed between officially held views and the stark reality of poverty and ill health. Thus, a yearning to bridge that gap was born.
Francis has expertise in the dynamics around culture, poverty and disease morbidity, psychopharmacology, alcohol and drug dependence disorders, community psychiatry, primary health care and community capacity development. In 2001 he relocated to New Zealand where he works as a Consultant Psychiatrist. Francis serves as the Piye Community Liaison.
Naomi Atieno Matete
Founder & President (New Zealand)
Certificate of Accounting
Naomi graduated from Reeswood College, Nairobi and worked with various firms in Nairobi an administrator and office manager. She later joined the University of Nairobi where she worked before resigning to proceed with her family to the UK. Upon her return to Kenya, she became heavily involved in business where she owned and managed a pharmacy and hair salon. She has also supporting her husband in various community activities such as The Rangala Community Development Project and The Kajulu Dairy Cow Multiplication Project. Since the family relocated to New Zealand in 2001, she has taken pride in being a home-maker and raising their five children. Naomi is currently studying Accounting and Management with the intention of later applying these skills in community development activities. Her greatest area of interest is in informal micro-financial institutions and the application of such concepts in helping the female rural poor. Naomi serves as the Piye Community Liaison.
Ian Garfitt
Treasurer (New Zealand)
Ian Garfitt is a registered mental health nurse in Thames, New Zealand. He has worked as a registered nurse for over ten years. Ian was born in Wakefield, England, is married to Marion, and has two sons Henry and Joseph. He gained a BA(Hons) degree from Oxford Brookes University in 1998 and a postgraduate diploma from Sheffield University, England in 2005. He has previously served in the British, Royal Air Force (1987-1991) and has served as a civilian for the Royal Navy. His interests are in international politics, health and education.
Sam White
Secretary (New Zealand)
Sam was born in the UK and emigrated to New Zealand with her family as a child. She now resides in Thames with her husband and three children. Sam holds a Bachelor of Alcohol & Drug degree and works as an alcohol and drug clinician within Waikato District Health Board in New Zealand. She is currently pursuing postgraduate study with a focus on addiction at the University of Auckland. In the mid 90’s, Sam visited several African countries and was struck by the beauty and charm of the African spirit. It is this charm, and, the desire to make a contribution towards the lives of those in need that motivates her towards making a contribution to Piye.
Wycliffe Owiti
Board Member
B.Com(Hons); PGD. Mgt; M. Accounting
Wycliffe completed a Bachelor of Accounting at Banaras Hindu University in India. He moved to Sydney in 2003 to pursue a Masters in Accounting at the University of Central Queensland. Wycliffe works as an accountant and is pursuing his CPA qualifications. As the chair of the Anyuola group in Sydney, he was instrumental in organising poverty-reduction projects in Kenya. Having grown up in Kenya, Wycliffe sees Piye as an opportunity to give back to a community where children continue to die of preventable diseases. Wycliffe holds the Piye Business Management portfolio.
Pauline Muscat
Board Member
BE - Elec (Hons Class I), MIB (Dist)
Pauline has completed a Bachelor of Engineering and has accumulated fourteen years service with BlueScope Steel (formerly BHP) where she is currently employed. A growing awareness and interest in international transactions led Pauline to pursue and complete a Master of International Business in 2005. Pauline has experience in project management and execution, and has a wide range of technical skills. With an enquiring mind, and an adventurous spirit, Pauline has a willingness to learn and interact, and has also travelled extensively. Pauline is a passionate follower of Jesus, and has a heart of compassion and hope that propels her to serve her local and international community.
Tracy Scott
Board Member
BSc Education
Tracy holds a bachelor of education qualifications from the University of Western Sydney. She has over 15 years experience as a mathematics, computer and electronics teacher. In the 1990’s Tracy travelled extensively throughout Asia, East and Southern Africa. While in Cambodia, Tracy volunteered as an English tutor and set up a literacy program for children with special needs. While in Africa, Tracy witnessed poverty and poor health and her desire is to see communities supported through capacity development. She holds the school-liaison portfolio.
Mr Joel Negin
Advisor
Joel is a Lecturer in International Public Health at the University of Sydney and has an ongoing appointment at the Center for Global Health and Economic Development at the Earth Institute at Columbia University. While at the Earth Institute, Joel served as technical adviser to Kenya’s National AIDS Control Council and also as Health Systems Coordinator for the Millennium Villages Project’s - a United Nations-backed initiative to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in rural communities in ten sub-Saharan African countries. Joel has worked in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Botswana andSouth Africa on various health and development projects for UN agencies, government departments andprivate sector organisations. Joel serves as an advisor in the area of international program development.
Professor John J Glynn
Advisor
MA, MPhil, PhD, FCPA, FCCA
Professor John Glynn is Dean of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Wollongong. Professor Glynn has wide international experience in management development programs. He is an advisor to a number of companies, government agencies and departments including the National Audit Office (UK), The Australian Audit Office, the NSW Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and the OECD. Professor Glynn has particular interest and expertise in the areas of strategy formulation management of change, financial management and performance appraisal across all levels of the public and private sector.
David Guillaume
Advisor
David has worked for over thirty years in both the UK and Australia on projects in the manufacturing, insurance and finance sectors. David joined the Rotary Club of Corrimal in 2001. He served as club treasurer from 2002 - 2005 and as president in 2006 - 2007. David has been involved in Rotary District projects for many years, and spearheaded the approval process that granted the Ongeche project Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) recognition in 2007. He remains a keen and passionate supporter of Piye’s vision.
Kerrie Guillaume
Advisor
Kerrie Guillaume was born in Wollongong and joined the Rotary Club of Corrimal in 2001 and was President from 2004-2005. She has held various positions at district level including Chair of Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) for six years. Kerrie has recently completed her Master’s in Leadership and Management in Education. Kerrie is a passionate teacher. She believes that education is a springboard for one to reach their full potential, and that holistic education is a true and realistic concept.
Beryl Ajowi
Advisor
BMus (Hons.)
Beryl completed her bachelors with honours degree in Music Composition and Sonic Art at Victoria University in New Zealand. She has also worked as a composer and sound designer for several theatre and film projects. Beryl is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Music Composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, with particular interest in the preservation of Luo sensibility through musical art. She is interested in the promotion of intrinsic cultural knowledge as a means of instilling a sense of identity and pride among the Luo community in Kenya. Beryl hopes to represent an artistic perspective to the goals of Piye.
Brandy Dahrouge
Advisor
Brandy is an artist, photographer, musician, and teacher. She has been working in the area of arts and education for over 15 years in Canada, Europe, and Australia. Brandy is passionate about positively affecting the lives of others and inspiring confidence in their abilities through creative pursuits. Brandy’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Canada), Diploma in Piano Performance and Pedagogy (Canada and Hungary), and a Masters of Fine Arts. She has been the recipient of the Rotary International Scholarship to study and volunteer with development projects in Nepal and Australia, and the International University Post Graduate Award at the University of New South Wales.