About GardenAfrica

GardenAfrica Team

GardenAfrica Staff

Our small team of staff works closely with partner organisations, with support from researchers, advisors and volunteers.

Activities involve supporting and developing pioneering projects, strategic planning, networking, fundraising and financial management. As well as raising awareness to promote bio-cultural diversity, with a view to improving the sustainable management of botanical resources for those who depend upon them for health and livelihoods.

Community initiatives and field projects are developed with partner organisations in Africa; while advocacy and fundraising takes place mostly in Europe.

Most of our team are based in London and live within walking or cycling distance of work; some are home-based.

Bill Leeson - Communications

After a brief career as an actor, Bill worked as an agent, theatre producer, club promoter, and then as a film-maker producing arts-based documentaries. In the 1990's Bill was involved in humanitarian aid, working in Bosnia, Kosovo, West Africa, East Timor and Afghanistan. During this time, he became increasingly aware of the limitations and short-term value of the emergency approach, when compared with the potential of appropriately targeted development initiatives. In 2002 Bill co-founded GardenAfrica.

Joanne Knowles Photo GardenAfrica Charity

Joanne Knowles - Events

Joanne has worked in marketing and corporate entertainment and joined Gardenafrica in 2006 to focus on media and events. Having fallen for Africa whilst travelling, and as a keen gardener, she was looking for a way to support development at grass roots level. As a beekeeper, allotment holder and mother, she is a firm believer in the benefit of good nutrition to enable healthy and productive lives. Also important to her is the way in which GardenAfrica works with local partners piloting simple, yet life changing initiatives that work, and can be easily replicated from community to community.

Georgina McAllister Photo GardenAfrica Charity

Georgina McAllister (MA) - Programmes

With a background in humanitarian aid which, like conflict, often happens to people without their consent, George developed an interest in creating more inclusive and sustainable forms of community engagement, which view the environment and its hosts as part of a long-term solution. Having worked during her youth as gardener in her native North Wales, and later completing her MA in politics at York (Post-War Reconstruction & Development) she drew upon these two passions, co-founding GardenAfrica in 2002, where she continues to design and develop programmes with civil society organisations in sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr Robert Close (PhD) - Finance

Biologist and earthworm specialist, Bob has a long interest in gardening matters both as an enthusiast and a professional. He is a strong advocate of GardenAfrica's developmental approach to aid and its 'people and plants' projects. He also brings to our team over ten year's experience of voluntary sector finances and the legal aspects of fundraising and trading initiatives.