BWA International Humanitarian Action and Development Intensive Course

Fiona Smith

 
Fiona Smith has been with Baptist World Aid Australia/TAI for four years, and brings experience in community development, advocacy, and faith-based NGO leadership across Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Prior to joining Baptist World Aid Australia/TAI, Fiona worked at a start-up seeking to apply data and new technology towards sustainable development. She holds a Masters in Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Oxford, and degrees in Law and Arts (Communications) from the University of Technology Sydney.

David Gal

BA in International Relations

MA in International Humanitarian Action (to be completed in 2022)
21 years of experience in international humanitarian assistance and development visiting lecturer at Hungarian and international universities.

Melissa Lipset

CEO

Baptist World Aid Australia
Melissa Lipsett is a strong professional and servant leader, playing active roles in governance across the church and for purpose Christian sector. She holds a Bachelor of Ministry and a Bachelor of Applied Science, and is also a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Melissa is an experienced executive with a wealth of experience in the Christian not-for-profit space. Her skills in leading and managing diverse teams and complex organisations were developed in the Australian military, refined in executive leadership within the contemporary church context, and further developed in the Christian for purpose sector. She has extensive cross-cultural experience and a deep appreciation and respect for working alongside First Nations people.

MSc. Allen Chimombe

Capacity Development Specialist

Baptist World Aid, Baptist World Alliance
Allen Chimombe is the Capacity Development Specialist for the Baptist World Aid. He is responsible for partnership management and supporting churches in Africa, Asia, and Europe in their community aid and development work. He has over 15 years of work in the development field focusing on Gender, Child Protection, and Support for Refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. He holds an MSc in Sociology and Social Anthropology, and a MA in Journalism and International Communication.

MSc. Polisi Kivava

CBM

Relief and Development Specialist
Polisi Kivava Baudouin, from the Baptist Church in Central Africa, is a CBM field staff in charge of relief and development among CBM partners in Africa. Based in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he provides oversight and support for the joint CBM/Africa Church partners Relief & Community Development projects including the CBM/CFGB Food security projects. He provides training and advice on conservation agriculture and creation care to small scale farmers from partner churches in Africa. Polisi has one Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and a Master in Education.

MSc. Dickson Masindano

Executive Country Director 

Buckner International, Kenya
Dickson Masindano is the executive country Director Buckner Kenya. Dickson has served with Buckner for 23 years. He received his Undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Nairobi in 1991 and later proceeded to Hardin Simmons University in Abilene Texas where he graduated with his masters in psychology (counselling and human development) in the year 2000. A member of parklands Baptist Church–Kenya.

Dr. Samuel Reeves

Senior Pastor

Providence Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Samuel Reeves is the  Senior Pastor of Providence Baptist Church, where he has been serving for the past 18 years, Dr. Reeves has made Providence one of the most social and politically conscious churches in Liberia. His outreach ministries ring with preferential treatment for the poor, the vulnerable and hurting. He currently ministers to and feeds hundreds of homeless men, women and children. He is in the process of building a Homeless Second-Chances 
Model Center, with vision of senior house complexes. He is President and Founder of Aachen Home Care Liberia, Inc., Liberia’s first professional Home Care provider. He has build the DeVos Village, comprising of a Medical Center, a Junior High and High School, an IT Center, a water company (Providence Water), Housing Unites, etc, located in the Bo-Waterside region where he ministers to and forms inter-religious dialogue with Muslims and peoples of other faith practices. Dr. Reeves serves as the  President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, Inc., and is an Adjunct Professor at Liberia Baptist Seminary.