Our Team

Carl has driven Business Development in a range of organisations over 25+ years, targetting EMEA and more specifically African territories and running a successful business development and marketing agency in the UK as well as leading African Leadership Magazine’s UK business development before launching African Growth. 

Carl’s experience spans both business development and marketing in terms of active delivery and in advising and providing strategy to client businesses over many years. 

Having Kenyan family and sitting on the committee of his local Kenyan diaspora community group in the UK, Carl is a passionate advocate for Africa and Africans.

Charles is a strategy and policy professional with a depth of expertise in African governance.

He is currently advising President Bio of Sierra Leone and has previously worked with presidents Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Buhari of Nigeria and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, amongst others, steering electoral success in a number of elections and campaigns as well as offering wider strategic advice on trade and other international relations.

Prior to his work across Africa, Charles was for 20 years a political consultant in the UK working for a string of global corporate brands in the health and energy sectors.

Simon specialises in research and intelligence, public affairs, communications, and business development - with an eye to political strategy.

Simon was MP for Rochdale constituency in the UK parliament 2010-2017. This political experience has given him a detailed understanding of government, and economic and social policy making processes which he has used to good effect working with political figures in Africa as well as Asia. This combined with his 35 years’ experience in business, politics and the third sector enables him to advise clients with authority as an adept communicator and strategist.

Winnie is a strategic finance professional with a strong background in leadership, accounting, grant writing and business development and has many years of hands-on experience working collaboratively with diverse and multi-functional teams in Kenya and globally.

Winnie is a natural in connecting people and coordinating events to ensure the right elements are in place having organised and led a number of trade missions and fact-finding delegations of senior politicians and business leaders across the continent. Expert in prospect research, general fundraising, organising and managing grant writing components/campaigns/proposals and concept notes, as well as developing programmes of events for a diverse array of strategic purposes.

Dr Lenka McAlinden is an experienced and successful international development consultant that has led projects and initiatives in Africa and internationally, taking in Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius and various other nations. Since completing her PhD and working for the Oxford Behaviour Change Institute she has developed strategic objectives and plans for achieving holistic, robust and sustainable change across Africa and internationally.

Lenka has a strong grasp of the geopolitical settings of countries across Africa and is adept at assessing needs, gaps and proposing inclusive solutions. Her skills developing projects with clearly defined deliverables, qualitative and quantitative monitoring, evaluation methodology and stakeholder engagement strategies make her a key member of our team and a valuable expert for any international development project requiring a lead that can get results.

Itai has expertise in trade, investment, business development and international affairs with a particular focus on strategic policy and economic diplomacy.

Specialising in Commonwealth markets with a primary focus on Sub Saharan Africa, he has a solid knowledge of the region's political, regulatory and legal landscape as well as insight on the major political players and developments and utilises this expertise to help clients grow business and uncover opportunities. 

Itai has an excellent understanding of local dynamics, based on a solid and growing network that he leverages when working on client projects.

Caroline's solid marketing expertise, administrative proficiency, and organisational skills ensure African Growth and our clients reach the right audience and build a network and community of relevant contacts.

Her role takes in market research,  developing marketing strategies and campaigns for international businesses expanding their operations in Africa as well as for African government clients seeking to drive inbound trade and investment from overseas.  Caroline builds and maintains relationships with contacts from UK/EU/international businesses, trade organisations, and government bodies. Where building a community is part of the remit alongside networking, events and trade shows Caroline supports the needs of our clients to make it happen.