The Komera Team
Rosemary Musiimire
Executive Director
Rose is a dedicated educator and advocate for gender equality with over 15 years of experience working in both the Education and Community Development sectors, particularly on donor-funded projects focusing on inclusive education, gender equity, and economic empowerment. She approaches her work with humility and empathy because of her life journey. She joined Komera in 2015 as a junior staff responsible for mentorship, and monitoring and evaluation and has since then continued to grow in her roles and responsibilities. In 2023, Rosemary was promoted to the role of Executive Director of Komera.
Rosemary is a graduate of Makerere University in Uganda with a focus on Education, Literature and English Language. She also completed a post-graduate program with a focus in Human Resource Management.
Rosemary believes that for the inequalities experienced by women and girls to end, we all need to act!
Connect: Rosemary@komera.org
Ashley Lackovich
Managing Director
Ashley is excited to join Komera as Managing Director. She has worked with women and girls globally, with a passion for partnering with adolescent girls to support their education, health, rights, and wellbeing. Ashley has led impactful initiatives, including directing Mercy Corps’ MENA Girl Center during the Syria Crisis and developing guidance on child marriage prevention and response for the UN Refugee Agency. Her work spans Ethiopia, Kenya, the DR Congo and throughout the Middle East.
Ashley holds a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University, with a graduate degree from Skidmore College and undergraduate degree from the College of Wooster. She has taught and published, grounding her passion for researching and advocating for community-based approaches that empower adolescent girls. She firmly believes that education, paired with holistic support, can transform the lives of girls and their community. Ashley is thrilled to join an organization that shares this deep-seated belief.
Contact: Ashley@komera.org
Jacquelyn Spade
Associate Director of Development
Through her work, she has seen firsthand the profound impact that investing in women and girls has on families and communities, especially as a pathway out of poverty. She is excited to continue supporting the deep development work Komera is doing.
Jacquelyn is a graduate of NYU - Wagner with a master’s degree in Urban Planning with a specialization in International Development Planning. She holds a B.S. in Sustainable Community Development from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. While at NYU Wagner, she co-chaired the International Policy and Planning Association (IPPA), where she organized and moderated multiple panels with industry leaders. She has a passion for working with communities and local stakeholders to support equitable and sustainable development for all.
Contact: Jac@komera.org
Vestine Uwamahoro
Programs Manager
Vestine joined the Komera team after graduating from the Komera Post-Secondary Transition Program. As a former Komera scholar, Vestine was a bright student who excelled in the nine-month intensive program upon graduation. Vestine started as an intern at the Komera office, and was hired on hired on full time in 2015. She helps the Komera staff with daily operations of programs and has become an essential part of the team.
Contact: Vestine@komera.org
Ruth Kamatali
Social Worker Manager
Ruth joins Komera after spending six years as a trauma and healing counselor for the Anglican Church of Rwanda, Kigali Diocese. She holds her Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources and Business Administration from the School of Finance and Banking. Ruth has spent much of her career working with adolescent girls and is passionate about education and empowerment.
Veneranda Barungi
Community Development & Training Manager
Veneranda joins Komera after a decade of fighting for gender equality as the Social Empowerment Officer at Women for Women International. She holds a degree in Social Work and Social Administration from the National University of Rwanda. Veneranda is dedicated to fighting gender-based violence and gender mainstreaming, and is passionate about health and wellness.
Sylvia Murekatete
HR & Finance Manager
Sylvia holds a bachelor’s degree in Management from Kigali Independent University (ULK). Sylvia worked as an Internal Auditor of the District within six years and joined Komera after three year as District Start Up Development Officer. Sylvia was drawn to Komera because of her passion for empowering and developing of young women.
Jackson Bizimungu
Business Development Manager
Jackson graduated in 2012 with his bachelor’s degree of Business Administration with a major in Finance from the School of Finance and Banking. He has 10 years of experience working with Private and International Non-for-profit organizations such as Teach A Man To Fish, Health Poverty Action and SNV Rwanda. He has spent many years supporting projects aiming at community empowerment and livelihood enhancement. His professional skills are in project planning, management, implementation, facilitation, coaching, and M&E. He is passionate about working with organizations that work to ensure every individual enjoys the fullness of basic rights and a better life.
Contact: Jackson@komera.org
Justine Mbabazi
Assistant Accountant
Justine is a former Komera Scholar who joined our staff in 2016. While in the Komera Post Secondary Transition Program, Justine saw a need in her community for a nursery school, and worked with the government to address the problem by opening a school. She was hired on as their first teacher! After her success as a school teacher, Justine transitioned to a job as an accountant, which was her major in school, for a local milk factory. With much experience in business, Justine was hired to assist the Komera staff with finance and accounting.
Josephine Mutamba
Teen Mother Advancement Program Coordinator
Josephine holds an advanced diploma in General Nursing, and joins Komera after 11 years of work in the nursing profession. Josephine leads the Teen Mother Advancement Program at Komera to support pregnant youth and teen mothers through health, education and economic development. In her prior role, Josephine was in charge of Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRH) at Mukarange Health Center in the Kayonza District.
Olivia Isimbi
Information, Communication, and Technology Officer
Olivia is a Komera scholar who recently joined the team after completing college in Information systems and Technology at Davis college, Akilah campus and she’s now working as Komera information technology officer. After graduation, Olivia did professional internship in a Tech company called OpenIT where she was hired after six months as information technology technician, but her dreams were one day to work for the organization that believes, empowers and transform girls lives which would help her to giveback by being part of that vision and she so excited to join Komera.
Scovia Kamatenesi
Alumni Project Officer
As a Komera scholar graduate, Scovia joins the Komera team after completing her bachelor’s degree in 2017 in Agricultural Economics and Rural Development from the University of Rwanda. Scovia was Komera’s very first University graduate! She brings much to the program with her first-hand experience as a scholar, and her passion to advise and mentor her younger Komera sisters to help them achieve their goals. Scovia supports the Komera team in all aspects, and also manages the Komera University Scholar and Alumni Program.
Consolee Nibagwire
Youth Empowerment Program Officer
Biography to come.
Mamy Uwineza
Administrative Assistant
Mamy holds a bachelor’s degree in Economic Science and Management with Honors in Accounting Department (A0). She is a former Komera scholar currently working with Komera as an Administrative Assistant. During her higher education schooling, she served as the Gender Minister at the University of Lay of Adventist of Kigali. She is an active social change agent in her community and believes strongly in working hard to be the change you wish to see in the world!
Solange Mushimiyimana Tailor Training Program Instructor
Biography to come.
Komera Board
RWANDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Monica Keza Kamwine Board Chair-person | Country Director, Delagua
Shyaka Edward Board Chair Vice-person | Operations Director, Partners in Health Rwanda
Honoline Niyigena General Secretary | Executive Assistant, Qatar Airways
Alice Nyirimana Treasurer | District Operations Manager, Partners In Health Rwanda
Rwanda board of director committees
Judith Katabarwa Audit Committee
Dativah Mukamusonera Audit Committee, Founder and Executive Director of Girls Tech Ventures
Slyvia Uhirwa Audit Committee
Jenne D’arc Kanakunze Conflict Resolution Committee
Francis Kamanzi Conflict Resolution Committee, Lecturer, College of Education, University of Rwanda
Barbra Mutesi Conflict Resolution Committee
Solange Ayanone Business Advisory Committee, Managing Director, Afri-Media
Alice Buhinja Business Advisory Committee
Micheal Tusiime Business Advisory Committee
Janvier Mukatwirigiyimana Student Representative, Komera Scholar Graduate
Marie Gorette Uwiduhaye Student Representative, Komera Scholar Graduate
U.S. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kristen Gengaro Board Co-Chair | Executive Director, The Partnership Schools
Ali Samadi Board Co-Chair | Managing Director, Equity Derivatives at Nomura Securities
Margaret Butler Komera Founder | Coordinator at AMPLIFY
Larkin Callaghan Head of Global Advocacy and Community Engagement, Gilead Sciences
John Hagarty COO, Morgan Stanley Investment Management
Consolee Nishimwe Motivational speaker, Author, Women’s rights activist
Cristina Patel Lawyer, Writer
Victoria Reese Managing Partner, Heidrick and Struggles
David Wright Managing Partner, Scott Peak Capital
u.s. Junior Board of Directors
Ben Albritton - ESG Project Manager, Malk Partners
Victoria Gomez - Regional Manager, Lululemon
Julyssa Jones - Content Strategist, Epsilon
Katharine Journeay - Senior Program Coordinator, Jhpiego
Reese Kennedy - Financial Analyst, Trestle Partners
Alyssa Leahy - Associate, Risk Solutions Group, Nomura
Kristina Mevs-Apgar - Culture Change Director, National Domestic Workers Alliance
Armin Mortazav - Vice President, Equity Derivatives, Nomura
Rebecca Philips - Sales Manager, Solutions Partner Program, HubSpot
Katherine Pluck - Principal, Financial Services Practice, Heidrick & Struggles
Giana Ricci - Librarian for the Fine Arts, New York University
Adrian Rogowski - Vice President of Product, CompStak
Lakin Roland - Director, Banff
Maddie Shapiro - Account Executive, Neon