menyu

Team

Board of Directors

Our Board brings together visionary, dedicated leaders from across the world and with diverse expertise to guide us to greater levels of success. It consists of nine directors plus the Chief Executive Officer as an ex officio member, all of which are appointed by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Amb. Ombeni Sefue
Chairperson

Amb. Sefue joined the Institute’s Board in November 2021. He also serves on the boards of Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation as chairperson and vice chairperson, respectively. 

He is a member of the National Planning Commission, and was also a member of the Panel of Eminent Persons of the African Peer Review Mechanism (2017-2022) and Vice Chairperson of The Criminal Justice Review Commission (2023).

He retired from the Tanzanian public service in early 2016, having worked for the government for over 38 years during which, among other things, he served as Chief Secretary of the United Republic of Tanzania (2011-2016) after a successful career as a diplomat, including being Tanzania’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2010-2011); Ambassador to the United States of America (2007-2010); High Commissioner to Canada with concurrent accreditation to Cuba (2005-2007); and Counsellor in the Embassy of Tanzania in Stockholm, Sweden (1987-1992). He was also Personal Assistant and Speechwriter to Presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi (1993-1995) and Benjamin William Mkapa (1995-2005).

Amb. Sefue holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from the Institute of Social Studies (The Netherlands). His recent publications include The Mkapa Years: Collected Speeches (2014). 

He is a recipient of one of the Tanzania’s highest awards, The Order of The United Republic of Tanzania, First Class.

Amb. Begum Taj
Vice Chairperson
Amb. Maj Gen. (Rtd.) Gaudence Milanzi
Director
Dr. Hamisi Mwinyimvua
Director
Amb. Laura Torvinen
Director
Prof. Samuel Wangwe
Director
Dr. Brian Cawley
Director
Ms. Susan Mlawi
Director
Mr. Kadari Singo
Ex Officio Member

Staff

UONGOZI Institute is managed by a lean, highly-skilled secretariat responsible for developing and coordinating the implementation of programmes and operations. In-house expertise is also drawn from the internationally recognised training institute HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management Ltd. To further provide the highest quality of leadership services and products, the Institute engages a network of local and international experts on a consultancy basis.

Former Board Directors

Jifunze Zaidi

Who we are

Resource Centre

Kazi Zetu

Machapisho

Sasisho

Amb. Begum Taj
Vice Chairperson

Amb. Taj joined the Institute’s Board on 1 October 2024.

She is a retired diplomat who served for almost four decades in various postings across the globe. Her posts include serving as Ambassador to France (2010-16) with cross accreditation to Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. During this time, she was also Permanent Representative of Tanzania to UNESCO and Representative of Tanzania to the World Tourism Organisation. Other posts include Ambassador and Director of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (2007–10); Minister Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of Tanzania to the UN in New York (2005–06).

She received a degree from the University of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) and a masters from the Institute of Social Studies (Netherlands).

Amb. Maj Gen. (Rtd.) Gaudence Milanzi
Director

Amb. Maj Gen. (Rtd.) Milanzi joined the Institute’s Board on 1 October 2024.

He is a retired Tanzanian diplomat, civil servant, and army officer who has held several roles across Africa. His positions include High Commissioner to South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, and the SADC Secretariat (2019‒23); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (2016‒18); Commandant of the National Defence College (2014‒15); and Military Assistant to Chief of Defence Forces (External Affairs) (2011‒14).

He holds a degree and a postgraduate diploma from the University of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) and a masters from the Bangladesh University of Professionals in addition to undertaking various specialist courses during his military career.

Dr. Hamisi Mwinyimvua
Director

Dr. Mwinyimvua’s appointment was made in May 2021.

He is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam. His former posts include serving as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy (Tanzania) and the Prime Minister’s Office; Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance; and Economic Advisor to President Kikwete.

He was educated at the University of Dar es Salaam and Lund University (Sweden) where he obtained a PhD.

Amb. Laura Torvinen
Director

Amb. Torvinen joined the Institute’s Board on 1 October 2024.

She is a retired Finnish diplomat, economist and academic who held several roles across the globe. Her posts include Ambassador (Democracy and the Rule of Law) based in Helsinki (2020–22); Ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique, Republic of Madagascar and the Kingdom of Eswatini (2016–20); and Director of the Unit for Development Financing Institutions (2013–16).

She was educated at the Helsinki School of Economics (Finland) where she obtained a BSc and masters. She received a MPhil from the University of Susses (UK) and a PhD from the University of Maastricht (Netherlands).

Prof. Samuel Wangwe
Director

Prof. Wange became an Institute board director in May 2021.

He is Principal Research Associate with The Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) and Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA) after serving as Executive Director of both Tanzanian institutions.

Previous appointments include Professor of Economics at the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania); Senior Research Fellow at the UN University Institute for New Technologies (Netherlands); Policy Adviser in public service management in the President’s Office (Tanzania); and Chair of Daima Associates (Tanzania).

Dr. Brian Cawley
Director

Dr. Cawley joined the Institute’s Board on 1 October 2024.

He is an expert in leadership development from Ireland. He also works across public administration and policy together with reform and change management; plus strategy and governance. Most recently, he was the senior expert on EU-funded project to review the organisational design of the Irish Public Service to learn from the lessons of recent crises, including Covid-19, Brexit and the Ukraine conflict (2023‒24).

Previous appointments include Director and Assistant Director General of the Institute of Public Administration (2003‒15) in Ireland.

He received a degree from the University of Dublin (Ireland) together with a masters and a PhD from the University of Leicester (UK).

Ms. Susan Mlawi
Director

Ms. Mlawi was appointed an Institute board director in May 2021.

She is a former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Culture, Art and Sports (Tanzania). Her previous roles working as a senior civil servant in various ministries and the President’s Office, include serving as a Deputy Permanent Secretary; Cabinet Undersecretary; Acting Cabinet Under Secretary; and Legal Advisor.

Ms. Mlawi’s alma mater is the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania).

Mr. Kadari Singo
Ex Officio Member

Mr. Singo was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Institute in April 2021. His previous roles at the Institute include Acting CEO; Head of Executive Education; Capacity Development Specialist; and Programme Director.

Prior to joining the Institute, his previous appointments included Strategic Business Development Director at the Tanzania Investment Group (California) and various learning and training positions at United Nations Children’s Fund (New York).

Mr. Singo has a strong background in learning and leadership development; change management; and project planning. He has supported a number of senior leadership teams across Africa in relation to personal leadership and emotional intelligence; change management; strategic leadership; design thinking; and effective business process management.

He was educated at the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), University of Phoenix (USA) and Aalto University Executive Education (Finland). In addition, he has completed professional training with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (USA), the London School of Business Studies (UK) and the HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management (Finland).