LIYONGO·KENDWA

Christopher has spent his career launching and operating community-focused hospitality brands following his BA and MA at Warwick University and University of London. Coupled alongside 10 years working for the likes of Accenture and Publicis Sapient, Christopher balances deep project delivery experience with community-focused hospitality drive.

Victor is Christopher’s brother-in-law, the founder of Red Banana Tours, a safari company in Tanzania providing bespoke experiences that champion Tanzania’s cultural heritage. A native Tanzanian with 10 years working for Arusha National Park and Kendwa Rocks Hotel as Head of Procurement, Victor provides a wealth of industry and local cultural knowledge.

Jerry is Victor’s brother - he has spent more than 20 years living in the north of Zanzibar, developing strong relationships with Kendwa’s village leadership and the district commissioner. Jerry is highly respected in the local community and maintains a wealth of knowledge of Zanzibar’s networks of artists, artisans and foodies.

David is an accomplished CFO with a lifetime in travel, most recently under contract by Cerberus. Former CFO of Interstate China and nearly three decades at Marriott as CFO for the Caribbean and LATAM and Asia Pacific, as well as driving financial strategy and growth at The Experience Resorts.

Bobby is a hospitality and real estate expert with more than three decades in East Africa, creating and advising on award-winning resorts and residential projects. Founder of Ubunifu, with a track record in design-led, sustainable developments and a career dedicated to shaping distinctive destinations across the region.

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Roberto is a service and operational excellence specialist with over 30 years in international hotel management and hospitality leadership. He has launched, repositioned and managed resorts and boutique hotels across Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa and the Caribbean, with expertise in operations, asset management, F&B and resort development.

Sompor brings over 8 years of hands-on construction and renovation experience across numerous hospitality ventures spanning hotel, commercial and residential - including two 30-room Coliving and Coworking spaces under her own brand Alt_Coliving & Coworking. Her blend of interior styling, project management and technical expertise enable her to tell a story through material, texture and atmosphere.

Ahmed is the Managing Director and owner of Mazrui Building Contractors Ltd.  Based in Stone Town, Zanzibar, Mazrui are a multi-generational contractor providing QS, architectural and building services. Established in 1953, Mazrui are a Class 1 contractor with Zanzibar-specific building expertise and resort construction experience.

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Julian is the lead designer of architectural firm Cottelier, based in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  With a special focus on sustainable and community-driven architectural projects, across Thailand and South-East Asia. Julian is also a lecturer and researcher in architecture at the Faculty of Architecture, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.

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Katrine is an Associate Director at Worktecht Africa, bringing over two decades of international design experience. She holds a background in Interior Design from Tokyo Gakuin Design College and a Master’s degree in Japanese Culture and Language from Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. In 2012, she relocated to Tanzania to lead the expansion of Worktecht lighting design expertise and brand presence across Africa. Her work focuses on creating sustainable, energy-efficient lighting solutions that harness natural resources and support environmentally responsible development across Africa.

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