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 and is closely involved in our outreach to corporate clients in the UK and US.

Philip Powell (MA Strategic Studies)

is Envirotrade’s co-founder and Operations Director. He led the project development in Mozambique and scoping studies in Senegal, Ghana, Sudan, DRC, Zambia, Angola and Chad. Philip has worked in civil society (as a Senator in the first democratic parliament in South Africa) and served in the armed services and government in Africa. Philip is principally involved in the development of human capital in participating communities and establishing new projects.

Philip has a keen personal interest in the rebuilding of post-conflict societies and the reconstruction and development of communities living in and around protected areas building on his own life experiences in South Africa’s civil war. He is responsible for establishing support networks and involving stakeholders in these areas in the transformational work of Envirotrade.

Charles J Hall (MBA)

is chief executive of the Envirotrade Group, focusing on strategy, finance and management issues related to the company's plans for expansion in Africa. 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 as chief executive.

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 objective.

Alastair MacCrimmon (Dip Forestry)

is Project Manager for the Zambezi Delta 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.

Momade Nemane (Bsc Forest Engineering)

is a Project Manager for Envirotrade in the Quirimbas National Park. Momade is an eco-system manager who was Chief Conservator of the Maputo Special Elephant Reserve in Mozambique and has a degree in Forest Engineering. Momade has special experience in animal/human conflict and is working to bring solutions to the problems of co-existence between people and animals in one of Africa’s newest and most exciting national parks.

Aristides Muhate (Bsc Forestry)

is a forester and manager working in the Zambezi project. 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 the senior project administrator responsible for overseeing the financial and other administration of Envirotrade 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.

Anabela Fernandes (BSc Forest Management)

is an agroforester and works in the Quirimbas National Park in the Envirotrade Project. She brings expertise in the integration of food security strategies into forest conservation.

Gary Goss

is a Forestry and Non-timber Forest Products consultant that works in the Nhambita project and advises in the other projects. Gary has extensive experience in Forestry, agriculture and community resources. He is involved in the human capital development in the community.

Mark Heaton (MBA)

is the South Africa country manager that is working closely with associated organisations and the marketing of Envirotrade products. 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 also involved in the planning and development of new projects.

Muino Taquidir (Msc Forestry)

is a consultant to Envirotrade in Quirimbas , Mozambique. Muino is an experienced forester and published academic (Mozambique Forest Research Institute) who combines practical experience in eco-system management with a research background.

Lucy Goodman (MSc Applied Ecology and Conservation)

is Envirotrade technical expert in the carbon sequestration field and works in the UK to provide scientific and technical support to the projects on the ground. Lucy is published in her field and has worked in various projects in Africa.

Anthea Powell (Dip Administration)

is based in the UK and works with the administration of the company and human resources.

Philip William

is an Envirotrade Administrator who is directly involved in the management of project human relations in Mozambique. He works closely with stakeholders and project staff to ensure the efficacy of our team.