About

Founding members and leadership

Twelve founding members created RINET Center in 2022; eleven formed its first board of directors, chaired by Steven Barholere. Since October 2024, a regional leadership team has run RINET Africa from Goma.

Who does what

Chair and central office
Steven Barholere, Board Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer, in Ottawa.
Founding members
Twelve people, including the eleven directors of the first board, filed on March 9, 2022.
RINET Africa, Goma
Erasme Ngende, Regional Director; Aimé Bisimwa Bin Kakungu, Deputy Director.
Teams
Coordinators, staff and volunteers will be introduced here with their consent.

Current board composition: the Center’s public record in the federal registry (opens in a new tab)

The founding members

The twelve people the statuts of February 7, 2022 name as founders, with the portfolio those statuts give them. Eleven formed the first board of directors, filed on March 9, 2022.
  • Steven Barholere

    Steven Barholere

    Board Chair, President and CEO

    Expertise : Visionary leadership, entrepreneurial strategy, education and learning management, cultural competency.

  • Yvette Ashiri

    Yvette Ashiri

    Vice-Chair of the founding board

    Expertise : Not-for-profit organizations, public relations, public speaking, communications, events coordination, leadership.

  • Victor Amisi

    Victor Amisi

    Founding board member

    Portfolio : Public relations and human resources

    Expertise : Non-profit organizations, humanitarian project management, program evaluation.

  • Frédéric Buyana

    Frédéric Buyana

    Founding board member

    Portfolio : Social affairs, planning and projects

    Expertise : Social services, psychology, project and program evaluation.

  • Aurélia Matingu

    Aurélia Matingu

    Founding board member

    Portfolio : Administration, finance and fundraising

    Expertise : Administration and finance management.

  • Dr. Jonnahs Amissih

    Dr. Jonnahs Amissih

    Founding board member

    Portfolio : Black entrepreneurship

    Expertise : Spirituality, social wellness and entrepreneurship.

  • Michel Sulubika

    Michel Sulubika

    Founding board member

    Portfolio : Social affairs and culture

    Expertise : Law and innovation, project management.

  • Bertin Bahati

    Bertin Bahati

    Founding board member

    Portfolio : Social affairs and education

    Expertise : Administration, humanitarian project advocacy, education, language learning management, teaching and curriculum.

  • Blaise Biringanine

    Blaise Biringanine

    Founding board member

    Portfolio : Communications and media campaigns

    Expertise : Communication, marketing, youth entrepreneurship.

  • Aimé Bisimwa Bin Kakungu

    Aimé Bisimwa Bin Kakungu

    Founding board member

    Portfolio : Africa regional leadership

    Deputy Director of RINET Africa since October 15, 2024.

    Expertise : Non-profit organizations, humanitarian project management, program evaluation.

  • Rachel Bahati

    Rachel Bahati

    Founding member

    Portfolio : Women’s entrepreneurship

    Expertise : Administration, public speaking, female entrepreneurship.

  • Merel Nijs

    Merel Nijs

    Founding board member

    Portfolio : Social affairs, family and children

    Expertise : Education.

RINET Africa

RINET Africa leadership

Appointed on October 15, 2024, the regional leadership runs RINET Africa from Goma, in North Kivu, and reports to the central office in Ottawa.
  • Portrait coming soon

    Erasme Ngende

    Regional Director, RINET Africa

    In office since October 15, 2024

    Responsibilities

    • Leads all RINET Africa activities in line with the strategy set by the central office in Ottawa
    • Responsible for operations, finance and administration
    • Puts strategic decisions into practice and coordinates with Ottawa
  • Aimé Bisimwa Bin Kakungu

    Aimé Bisimwa Bin Kakungu

    Deputy Director, RINET Africa

    In office since October 15, 2024

    Responsibilities

    • Plans the incubation programmes and other strategic initiatives
    • Oversees field operations: local teams, training and mentoring
    • Monitoring and evaluation: indicators and progress reports

How the regional leadership reports

What the organization memo of October 15, 2024 provides for:

  • a weekly coordination meeting between the Regional Director and the Deputy Director;
  • a monthly strategic review with the central office;
  • a quarterly performance report: progress, indicators and financial analysis;
  • a yearly internal audit, overseen by the central office.

Three to five specialist coordinators (entrepreneur follow-up, workshops, partnerships, events) will be appointed by the regional leadership together with Ottawa. They will be introduced here once appointed.

Join the Center

The Center welcomes mentors and volunteers. Tell us what you would like to bring.

Ways to get involved
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