Naemy Sillayo

Naemy is a senior lawyer and advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and subordinate Courts, she holds an LLB from the University of Dar-Es-Salaam and a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management from Coventry University. As the Executive Director of Realising Education for Development (READ TANZANIA). She demonstrates visionary leadership, driving the organization towards its goal of promoting literacy and education throughout Tanzania. She steers the organization with strategic direction, ensuring that every program is designed to have a tangible impact on the communities it serves.

Naemy's leadership style emphasizes innovation and collaboration; she actively seeks partnerships with other stakeholders and organizations to implement programs effectively. In line with her commitment to advancing education, Naemy champions the integration of digital learning methods into schools, advocating for the incorporation of e-learning tools and resources into school libraries. This ensures that students can access modern educational technologies, preparing them for success in the digital era. Naemy instills a love for reading among students and the wider community by continuously innovating and expanding READ TANZANIA's programs, thus impacting literacy and education in Tanzania. Before her role at READ TANZANIA.

She served as the Gender Focal Person at the Legal and Human Rights Center. In this capacity, she designed, fundraised, and managed programs aimed at ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV), child marriage, harmful traditional practices, and promoting women's legal empowerment.

Naemy actively engages in policy and law review processes, strategic litigation, advocacy, public legal literacy, community outreach, and media engagement, focusing on gender, women, and children's rights issues. She is also an active member of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) and the Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA).

Maimuna Kanyamala

Maimuna is a Tanzanian activist, entrepreneur, environmentalist, and feminist with over 30 years of experience advocating for children’s and women’s rights. She began her career on rights-based approach in 1994 at the kuleana Centre for Children’s Rights in Mwanza, focusing on educational rights and combating child exploitation. In 1999, she co-founded the Kivulini Women’s Rights Organization to mobilize communities to prevent domestic violence, and in 2001, became its first Executive Director. She supported the creation of WoteSawa and the Wadada Centre to address child domestic worker rights and sexual violence against girls, respectively.

Maimuna’s work earned recognition in 2011 when she was honored as the "Tanzania Woman of Courage" by the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania, celebrating her significant contributions to gender-based violence prevention and women’s rights advocacy. Her collaborative spirit has seen her partner with feminist groups in Canada and Ireland, building global solidarity on issues of violence against women, HIV/AIDS, and poverty.

Maimuna saved as a think tank member or the Ending Violence against Women and Girls group at the UN Women Southern Africa Regional Office.  Transforming from her leadership at Kivulini in 2012, she founded MikonoYetu to economically empower women and girls and promote environmental conservation.  Maimuna is also supporting the establishment of MsichanaTai an organization that empowers adolescent girls to reach their full potential.

Working nationally, Maimuna also leads a probiotics enterprise with Western Heads East Program, linking health and women’s economic empowerment. Her belief in the transformative power of economic empowerment and knowledge for women drives her initiatives. She is currently focused on narrating African women’s history and establishing a Women’s Museum in Mwanza. She holds an M.A. in Development Studies from Holy Ghost College, Kimmage Manor, Ireland.

Sylvester Orao

Sylvester is one of the renown Auditors in Tanzania. He is the Founding Partner of ABA Alliance, a Professional Firm offering Audit, Tax and Advisory Services formed early 2009. He is a seasoned auditor and consultant having worked for the big firms in the industry such as Price water house Coopers (1999 -2003); KPMG Tanzania (2003 – 2006); KPMG Channel Islands in United Kingdom (2006 – 2008); Ernst & Young Tanzania (2008 -2009) where he successfully rose through the ranks to Senior Manager Level before founding ABA Alliance.

Sylvester holds BA (Hons) Degree in Public Administration from University of Dar es Salaam (1999). He is also an Associate Certified Public Accountant in Public Practice (ACPA-PP 1678) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (2021). He holds a Certificate of Directorship (2022) from the Institute of Directors in Tanzania (IoDT). He has served as Board Member in reputable organizations: Victoria Finance Plc, as Founding Director, signatory and Member of the Finance and Audit Committee (2010 – 2016); Board Member at HakiElimu from 2019 to date – at the capacity of Treasurer and Chairperson of the Finance & Audit Committee. He was recently appointed again as Board Member of Victoria Finance Plc (June 2024) and also appointed as Ordinary Member of HakiElimu (June 2024). On social and entertainment platform, he is a Race Organizer and Tour Operator with Rao Tours and Safaris Limited.