Senior Leadership Team
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Margaret M.Schuler
NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Margaret Schuler has worked in the field of relief and development for over 25 years and came to World Vision Ethiopia in July 2012 as National Director. She came to WV after 10 years with Save the Children, working in both Ethiopia as Country Director and in Washington DC as the Associate VP for HIV and Child Protection. Her previous experience with WV included 5 years with WVUS in Washington DC from 1998-2003, with a focus on East and Southern Africa. Her experience in Ethiopia began in 1996 with CARE International as a Program Coordinator in Western Hararghe. She began her development career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania and has worked extensively throughout East Africa, including work in Kenya and 3 years in Somalia during the early 1990’s.
Margaret is an American citizen and holds a BSc degree in Physiology from Washington State University and a Masters Degree in International Affairs from Ohio University.
She is married with two children.
Elenie Mergia
INTEGRATED PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Eleni has joined World Vision Ethiopia in February 1998 after four years’ experience in the Ministry of Agriculture. She joined as Agriculture Facilitator in one of the ADPs in the central part of Ethiopia – Tiya. She worked in various capacities and positions in the organization. As Assistance ADP Manager in Sodo ADP – southern Ethiopia, as ADP Manager in Ephrata ADP – northern Ethiopia, as Program Office Associate Director coordinating all Area Development Programs in the eastern part of the country, and as Livelihood Department Associate Director for the National Office. She came to Integrated Program Division in November 2012.
Eleni has BSc degree in Animal Production and Range Land Management from Hawassa University and MSc degree in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University of the United States.
She is married and a mother of four children and is Christian by faith.
Abebe Nigatu
PEOPLE AND CULTURE DIRECTOR
Abebe Nigatu has worked in various sectors in government for over 18 years as Chief Managing Officer (Addis Ababa University),Research, Development Plan and Budget Process Head for Works and Urban Development Bureau (Addis Ababa City Government), General Manager for Housing Agency (Addis Ababa City Government), Special Advisor to the Mayor of Addis Ababa City Government, Education Team Leader (Addis Ababa City Government), Teaching in universities and Colleges and Management consultancy both in government and private sectors and joined World Vision Ethiopia in March 2013 as Organizational Effectiveness Director and following the structural change he moved to Support Services Director until he took the current role as Director for People and Culture. In addition to his regular role, he has been serving WVE as a Process Improvement Lead/Focal person for the National Office.
Abebe is an Ethiopian citizen and holds a BSc Degree in Physics, BA in Accounting and Management and MBA in Business Administration.
He is married with two boys (18 and 11) and is Protestant by faith.
Chris Muuya
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Chris Muuya joined World Vision Ethiopia as Finance Director in September 2013, having served in World Vision for 20 years starting in Kenya and lately in the United States and Haiti. He worked for two years as WV Haiti Finance and Administration Director following the 2010 Haiti Earthquake and as Senior Director Finance Operations for World Vision, Inc., providing financial oversight for WV United States funded programs, globally. Prior to World Vision, Chris worked for over six years as Chief Accountant & Company Secretary, Procter & Gamble (East Africa) and for over two years in KPMG, Nairobi. He has also worked in the banking industry for more than two years.
Chris has a CPA, BSc in Mathematics from the University of Nairobi, and a Graduate Certificate in NGO Leadership and MBA both from Eastern University, PA. He also serves as adjunct professor for Financial Management at his Alma Mater.
Chris and Loyce have three adult children and worship at Mount Ararat Baptist Church.
Dereje Alemu
WASH OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Dereje Alemu has worked in the field of WASH for over 13 years and came to World Vision Ethiopia in May 2014 as WASH Operations Director. He has previously worked as WASH Coordinator for Solidarites International in Pakistan and South Sudan; as Executive Officer – Design Core Process for Water Works Design Enterprise in Ethiopia; as Senior WASH Advisor for GOAL in Ethiopia; as WASH Advisor for TEARFUND in Afghanistan and DR Congo, and WASH Officer for UNHCR in Ethiopia.
Dereje is an Ethiopian citizen and holds an MSc. Degree in Water Resources Management from UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands and a BSc Degree in Water Resources Engineering from Arbaminch Water Technology Institute in Ethiopia.
He is married with a daughter and is Christian by faith.
World Vision Ethiopia is also supported by a strong local Advisory Council.
DR. NEGUSSIE TEFFERA, CHAIR
Negussie Teffera has over 30 years of experience in the development sector. Currently he is the Country Representative Population Media Center International. Some of his affiliations includes Head of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Information Bureau in the Office of the Prime Minister with a rank of Vice Minister, and Head of National Office of Population, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, with a rank of a Minister. Dr. Negussie was the Chairman of the National Committee which drafted the National Population Policy of Ethiopia. He was also the Chairman of the Task Force which developed the first National Population Communication IEC and Advocacy Strategy for Ethiopia.
Dr. Negussie Teffera a winner of The 2011 African Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Communication Strategy for Social Development has also published several journal articles, and papers and books in Communications.
Negussie holds Ph.D in Communications, MA in Journalism studies from the University of Wales, UK, M.Ed from University College Cardiff, UK. and BA in Political Science and Government from Addis Ababa University.
PROF. FASSIL KEBEDE, VICE CHAIR
Fassil Kebede has over 21 years of experience with different Universities in different capacities including Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Dean. Fassil has published several journal articles, and papers in the areas of Soil science.
Fassil holds PHD in Earth Science and MSc. In Soil Science and Ermelogy from Ghent University, Belgium, MSc in Agricultural Chemistry and social science from Timiriazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow.
MELKAMUA BOLANCO, MEMBER
Melkamua Bolanco has over 26 years of experience in Business Administration with different organizations in different capacity. Currently she is the Administration and Finance Manager with Compassion International Ethiopia.
Melkamua is currently enrolled in MBA program with Open University of London and holds BA in Business Administration and Accounting from Addis Ababa University.
DESTA DEMESSIE, MEMBER
Desta Demessie has over 20 years of experience in project management and community development programs. Currently, he is serving Children’s Home Society and Family Services as Country Representative. Prior to that, has worked with different organizations/institutions in executive leadership postion.
Desta holds MA in Rural Social Development and Post graduate Diploma in rural Development and Extension from University of Reading, UK.
WONDAFRASH TEMESGEN, MEMBER
Wondafrash Temesgen has over 22 years of experience in Economic Development. Currently, he is serving as resource mobilization and NGO Coordinator with North Gondor Plan and Economic Development Office.
Wondafrash holds MA in Economics from Universidad De Oriente, Cuba.
YILMA GETAHUN, MEMBER
