Team profiles

Robin Birley

is Envirotrade’s founder, an English entrepreneur and environmentalist who founded Envirotrade in 2002 to bring African small scale farmers into the international carbon market. Robin also founded Birleys, a successful chain of sandwich bars in the London area and is involved in various related ventures. Robin has strong family ties with the hospitality industry and conservation.

Charles J Hall (MBA)

is chief executive of the Envirotrade Group, focusing on strategy, finance and management issues related to the company’s current operations and plans for expansion. CJ holds a BSc (Finance) from the University of Pennsylvania and a MBA from Columbia University in New York. He was a commissioned officer in the United States Navy and a US Foreign Service officer. During the period of his service as a US diplomat, he was posted to Nairobi and participated in the US State Department negotiating team on Angola/Namibia.

Subsequent to his government service, CJ was an emerging markets corporate finance banker with JP Morgan & Company, when he founded a food manufacturing business in the UK. He served as a director and chief executive of that business, floating it on the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market in 2004. In 2007 CJ retired from his board and management positions with his company, and was an independent consultant until joining the Envirotrade Group.

Antonio Serra (MPhil Sussex University)

is Envirotrade Country Manager in Mozambique. Antonio is a forester with wide experience in both government (State Director of Forestry) and civil society (WWF Mozambique). He is a published authority on Mozambique’s forests and natural resources and represents the company in academic and public forums across Africa. Antonio has worked in both research and management of natural resources. Antonio is directly involved in driving Envirotrade’s operations in the forest communities in and around protected areas in Mozambique and his experience in government in Mozambique is invaluable in ensuring that Envirotrade works closely with government departments and is aligned with national programmes and objectives.

Alastair MacCrimmon (Dip Forestry)

is Project Manager for the Sofala Community Carbon Project and is an experienced forester who has worked in various African countries in commercial and social forestry. Alastair has a wide ranging knowledge of forestry matters and a keen interest in horticulture. He brings skills in germination and cultivation of trees on a large scale to the Envirotrade team, along with extensive general management experience.

Aristides Muhate (Bsc Forestry)

is Envirotrade Carbon Inventory Manager for Mozambique. He has extensive experience in the Forestry service and is well conversant with community forestry and Mozambique Forest Law. He has extensive computer skills and is a skilled data base manager.

Lee Mangochi (Dip Business Admin)

is Envirotrade Finance and Administration Manager in Mozambique. Lee has experience in fulfilling similar jobs in large multinational companies working in Mozambique and is experienced in dealing with Mozambique laws and other requirements.

Mark Heaton (MBA)

is Envirotrade Representative in South Africa. Mark completed a B.Com degree in Economics and Accountancy from the University of Cape Town and holds an MBA from Bond University, Australia. He is involved in the marketing of carbon credits and the planning and development of new projects.