Team
We are a diverse team of health professionals and community leaders passionate about promoting gender equality
Meet the Team
Based in Malawi and shaped by global experience, our team blends local insight with international perspective to challenge the status quo. We come from health, development, and community sectors — bringing diverse voices, shared values, and a deep commitment to doing things differently. Together, we’re building bold, grounded solutions that last.
Casey English
-
In 2017, Casey, a California native, moved to Malawi, where she served as adjunct faculty at Mzuzu University School of Nursing and Midwifery in the northern region through Seed Global Health. Here, she focused on clinical teaching and practice improvements in district hospitals countrywide.
She has also worked in Liberia, Ghana, and Uganda, ensuring quality menstrual health education and program efficiency with The Cova Project. Learning from diverse teams in these regions, she applies lessons to her work in Malawi for a more holistic approach to SRHR.
Casey excels in bridging cultural and knowledge gaps with humor and adaptability, believing laughter fosters engagement and humility strengthens bonds.
Casey holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Universidad Del Turabo, Puerto Rico, a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources from Oregon State University, and a Master in International Public Health from the University of Sydney.
Betti Nhlane
-
Betti, a proud native of Mzuzu, is the esteemed MHH (Menstrual Health and Hygiene) and menstrual cup trainer at CARVE Africa. Prepare to be captivated by her unparalleled ability to seamlessly blend humor, humility, and technical expertise, engaging everyone she encounters. For the past four years, Betti has served as our primary trainer in community-based menstrual cup programs.
In even the most remote locations, Betti has managed to bring laughter and active participation to discussions on MHH and menstrual cups, even involving 10 chiefs. She possesses an extraordinary aptitude for navigating cultural sensitivities while fearlessly challenging taboos, harmful traditions, and gender stereotypes.
Betti's open-mindedness, quick thinking, extensive experience, and respected leadership within her community make her an invaluable asset to the success of CARVE Africa.
Prisca Chakholoma
-
Prisca is dedicated to ensuring the success of our initiatives. She oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of all our programs, focusing on delivering high-quality reproductive health education and resources. Prisca coordinates with our team of nurses, community members, and youth change-makers to create impactful and evidence-based programs that align with our mission.
Her role includes managing multiple projects, fostering community relationships, and ensuring efficient use of resources. Prisca’s commitment to promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) is vital in driving our mission forward, helping to empower individuals and improve health outcomes in the communities we serve.
Shammah Chidambe
-
Shammah is a seasoned operations professional with 9 years of global experience in logistics, financial management, and safety oversight. His proven ability to enhance operational efficiency and foster team collaboration makes him an invaluable addition to CARVE.
Passionate about volunteerism and leadership development, Shammah's expertise aligns perfectly with CARVE's mission to empower young people and advance sexual and reproductive health rights. His leadership will be instrumental in driving the impact of CARVE’s programs in Malawi..
Chisomo Chikuni
-
Chisomo is CARVE Africa’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator, bringing over 10 years of results-driven experience in health-focused MEAL systems. She holds a Master of Arts in Economics and most recently worked with Women Win, where she developed MEL tools used across Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. A firm believer in evidence-based impact, Chisomo also brings heart to the team—she hosts Malawi’s only women-focused sports podcast, is a proud dog mom, and is currently learning to play the piano as an adult.
Jessica Swart
-
Jessica has over 17 years of experience in international development, with a strong focus on Malawi and other Southern African countries. Throughout her career with leading international NGOs, she has developed and implemented large-scale, multi-sectoral programs, successfully mobilizing and managing over USD $150 million in funding. Her work spans major donors, including USAID, FCDO, the EU, Global Affairs Canada, private foundations, and UN agencies.
Jessica brings deep expertise in partnership development, strategic planning, project management, gender equality, safeguarding, monitoring and evaluation, and adaptive learning. Her technical leadership has been instrumental in delivering impactful, sustainable programs across multiple sectors.
She holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University in New York and a Bachelor of Political Science and English from the University of Southern California.
USA (501c3) Board of Directors
Mark Miness
-
Mark Miness brings valuable expertise and experience to the CARVE Africa board. As a Partner at Generation Investment Management since 2020, he demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability and shared prosperity, aligning with CARVE Africa's mission.
Mark's previous roles as a director at AMP Capital, vice president in institutional sales at Cohen & Steers, and associate director at Wellington Management Company further highlight his extensive background in finance and investment. These experiences equip him with insights into financial management and strategic decision-making, which are essential for guiding CARVE Africa's financial sustainability and growth.
Mark's educational background, with a BS in Finance & Marketing from Questrom School of Business, Boston University, provides him with a solid foundation in finance and business management. This knowledge equips him to contribute effectively to discussions on fundraising strategies, financial planning, and organizational development within CARVE Africa.
His diverse experiences and alignment with the organization's mission and values position him well to contribute meaningfully to CARVE Africa's success.
Lilia Tverdun
-
Lilia Tverdun brings over 20 years of extensive experience in development cooperation to her role as a board member at CARVE Africa. Currently, she serves as Chief of Party at MTENGO (Malawi Market Transitions to Enable New Growth Opportunities) based in Lilongwe, Malawi. Her role focuses on promoting climate-smart agriculture solutions and farmer first approach to decrease food insecurity in the region.
Her thematic expertise lies in rural economic development, with a focus on land privatization, land rights, and the integration of socioeconomic and gender variables into agribusiness development. Additionally, she excels in local governance, capacity building of civil society and state institutions, and fostering interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder approaches to policy dialogue and national reform.
With an academic background in business administration, business development and management, economics, and local governance, Lilia's expertise is enriched by her diverse international experience, including work in Moldova, Russia, Montenegro, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Bangladesh. Her multifaceted skill set and drive for gender equality in the workforce coupled with her proven track record make her a valuable asset to CARVE Africa's board.
Casey English
-
Casey English is the visionary founder and Executive Director of CARVE, driven by her profound love for Malawi and knowing firsthand what the power of quality information can do specifically in enhancing health outcomes.
Throughout her nursing career, Casey volunteered in various countries, including Haiti, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Peru, and India to fuel her desire to learn outside her comfort zone while being able to provide a skill. These experiences fueled her desire to deepen her understanding of global health, leading her to pursue a Master's in International Public Health from the University of Sydney, Australia.
Casey's commitment to making a difference in the field of global health brought her to Malawi, where she served with Seed Global Health and the Peace Corps. She spent two years with the University of Mzuzu teaching nursing students both clinically and didactically, contributing significantly to capacity building in the healthcare sector.
Today, Casey considers herself fortunate to call Malawi home, where she continues to lead CARVE's efforts in promoting SRHR and empowering communities to achieve gender equity and improved health outcomes. Her leadership, passion, and dedication are driving forces behind CARVE's mission to create positive and sustainable change in Malawi and beyond.
Claire Graham
-
Claire is an experienced international development worker with MSc degree in International Development and 19 years of work experience. Claire has worked as the Director of Programmes and Operations within Banja La Mtsogolo for a little over a year, overseeing their projects, operations, research and marketing operations. Previously, Claire’s experience focused on senior level SRHR program management and health system strengthening at regional, global and country levels such as in India and Madagascar.
Claire is an advocate and expert of women’s health in general and their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in particular.
Kara Tureski
-
Kara Tureski is a globally recognized leader in social and behavior change (SBC), with more than 25 years of experience designing and leading transformative health and development programs across over 25 countries. She brings deep expertise in behaviorally informed, evidence-based programming, health systems strengthening, and capacity development.
As Principal and Managing Director of Adaptive Consulting, LLC, Kara advises global organizations on strategic SBC design, scale-up, sustainability, and new business development.
Prior to founding Adaptive, she spent a decade leading FHI 360’s SBC portfolio, where she secured and managed complex, multimillion-dollar donor-funded initiatives—including serving as Project Director for USAID’s global Inspire SBC flagship.
Kara is a trusted advisor to governments, funders, and implementing partners, and a recognized thought leader in advancing systemic, locally driven approaches. Her cross-sectoral work spans family planning and reproductive health; maternal and child health; water, sanitation, and hygiene; HIV; pandemic preparedness; malaria; and gender equity. A frequent contributor to global SBC guidance, peer-reviewed literature, and thought leadership, she is deeply committed to fostering equitable, community-rooted change.
Kara holds an MPH in Global Health from the George Washington University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Richmond. She lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her family and their very energetic goldendoodle
Alex Tindale
-
Alex Tindale brings legal expertise and a unique blend of international development and tech sector experience to the CARVE Africa board. Building on her Bachelors in Law and Masters in International Law, she has worked in women’s rights across continents (Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe) and through both the UN and NGO systems. She has had a particular focus on ending gender based violence and sexual and reproductive health rights. Now working in the private sector as a senior data protection lawyer, Alex brings additional tech and data expertise. Eager to extend her impact through CARVE Africa, Alex aims to serve the furtherance of menstrual health and hygiene and sexual and reproductive health rights in Malawi through contributions to legal, regulatory and governance issues with CARVE Africa.
Emily Cercone
-
Emily Cercone is a seasoned international public health leader with over a decade of deep connection to Malawi. Her commitment to the country began in 2014 when she worked within the Ministry of Health’s Department of Planning and Policy Development, an experience that cemented her long-term desire to contribute to the health and wellbeing of Malawians.
She most recently served as a Foreign Service Health Officer with USAID, and has previously held roles with CDC, Innovations for Poverty Action, and UNICEF. Emily brings extensive technical expertise across sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV, maternal and child health, nutrition, WASH, health systems strengthening, global health security, birth and death registration, and monitoring and evaluation. She has lived and worked in Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and other countries across Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Emily is particularly passionate about menstrual health and SRHR, given Malawi’s adolescent pregnancy rate and school completion challenges. With USAID’s recent global funding cuts, she sees CARVE Africa as a critical actor in filling the gap for youth-centered, rights-based health programming.
She is excited to bring her experience and expansive global health networks to support CARVE Africa’s mission as a board member.
Malawi Board of Directors
-
Mr. Msiska, hailing from Rhumpi in the Northern Region of Malawi, brings a wealth of expertise to our board of directors. Currently serving as a Branch Manager for a prominent Malawian business, he specializes in the marketing and production of beverages, showcasing his exceptional skills in the industry.
Having previously engaged in HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infection awareness work, Mr. Msiska has collaborated with renowned partners such as USAID and Chibuku. These experiences have fostered his deep commitment to addressing crucial health issues within the community.
Mr. Msiska's character shines through his unwavering loyalty, honesty, and humility. Descending from a line of Chiefs, he is a passionate advocate for workplace equality, always striving to create an inclusive and empowering environment for all.
His diverse background and remarkable qualities make Mr. Msiska a valuable asset to our board of directors. We are privileged to have his insights and contributions as we work towards our mission of creating a positive impact through CARVE..
Owen Msiska
-
Mr. Bheda brings a unique blend of business acumen and a deep commitment to education and inclusiveness to our esteemed board of directors. His extensive experience includes serving as Chairperson for Mount View Primary School and Central High School in Blantyre, where his initial mandate was to elevate the schools to international recognition. Under his guidance, these schools not only achieved that goal but have consistently ranked among the top 5 in academic excellence nationwide.
Mr. Bheda's dedication to inclusivity extends beyond gender equality, as he has played a pivotal role in increasing female enrollment from 3% to an impressive 52% in Form 5/6. Furthermore, he has spearheaded initiatives to improve enrollment for Indigenous Malawians, successfully raising it from 3% to 48%. His advocacy for inclusivity extends to special needs education, where he established a dedicated department to promote awareness, ensure safety, and provide tailored education for children with special needs and their parents.
Energetic, passionate, and driven, Mr. Bheda is a constant force within our board, relentlessly pursuing sustainability and genuine impact through CARVE Africa. He is motivated by a desire to transcend the confines of the aid industry mechanics, pushing us beyond the status quo. For Mr. Bheda, the pillars of impact, local leadership, and quality are essential in all our endeavors.
We are honored to have Mr. Bheda as a member of our board, and we eagerly anticipate the transformative contributions he will continue to make, ensuring CARVE Africa's enduring success.
Irfan Bheda
Imogen Feilding
-
Imogen is an impassioned champion for quality education and inclusivity, dedicated to breaking down barriers and ensuring equal access to education in various countries including Malawi, Egypt, and the UK. With a postgraduate certificate in education from the UK, her expertise is particularly focused on primary school students.
During her tenure as Head Teacher and Lead Administrator at a school in Northern Malawi, Imogen played a pivotal role in ensuring that numerous vulnerable girls were able to remain in school. Her unwavering commitment to keeping girls within the educational system is unparalleled, and her efforts have had a profound impact on the lives of these young individuals.
Imogen's unrelenting drive to maintain the highest standards of quality education aligns perfectly with the values cherished by CARVE Africa. Her dedication to providing equitable opportunities for all students is at the core of our mission. Imogen's passion and unwavering pursuit of excellence make her an invaluable member of our board of directors, inspiring us to continually strive for educational empowerment and lasting impact.
Betti Nhlane
-
Betti, a native of Mzuzu, Malawi, epitomizes the spirit of community mobilization, leadership, and passionate advocacy for menstrual health. She has been a driving force behind the establishment of CARVE Africa, serving as a cultural liaison and igniting the organization's mission. Betti's influential role within her community is characterized by her remarkable sense of humor, which transcends language and cultural barriers.
For the past five years, Betti has collaborated closely with the founder, Casey English, beginning with humble women's groups in her living room and progressing to comprehensive menstrual health and hygiene training sessions. Now, as a member of the board of directors, Betti ensures that community advocacy remains at the forefront of CARVE Africa's work, addressing the most fundamental needs and aspirations of the community.
Betti's unwavering commitment to empowering individuals and championing menstrual health makes her an invaluable asset to our board. Her deep-rooted connection to the community and wealth of experience continue to shape the organization's impact and drive. We are honored to have Betti's guidance and expertise as we work towards our shared vision of menstrual health empowerment in Malawi and beyond.
