Our Team
PAL endeavors to raise public awareness of the role diverse people can develop the province and Canada at large as responsible community and active citizens.
Kennedy Gudu
ChairmanKennedy has a strong background in HR and general management gained across the corporate, mining, financial and human services sectors across Zimbabwe and North America. Kennedy has leadership experience gained with Anglo American Corporation Zimbabwe, Hunyani Agri Forestry, Chloride Zimbabwe as well as Intermarket Holdings Ltd. Kennedy has worked in the nonprofit and Human Services sector.
Kennedy stands as a seasoned HR professional proficient in general management practices. He has a proven record of spearheading strategic HR initiatives to support business growth, ensuring that the organization remains at the forefront of its industry through its people. With many years of experience in the realm of business leadership, he exemplifies a blend of strategic vision and operational expertise. He holds degrees from both University of Zimbabwe and University of KwaZulu Natal South Africa in HR and International Business respectively. He also holds a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety from Herzing College in Winnipeg Manitoba.
Teclar Zvirevo Gudu
Teclar is an experienced, and dedicated Gender & Development Specialist with strong expertise in family therapy and community development. She has been involved in large scale programs funded by major international donors in Africa facilitating social justice through empowering communities to overcome power relations, gender integration and promoting equal opportunities for all. She also has demonstrable deep commitment to human rights, social justice and alleviation of human suffering with specific focus on improving gender equality and access to resources and services by women and girls. She holds a Masters in Development Studies from Women University in Africa and Masters in Peace Building and Collaborative Development from Canadian Mennonite University.
Munyaradzi Alois Mareke
Munyaradzi Alois Mareke is an esteemed Health Economist and Chartered Accountant with many years of multi-faceted experience emphasizing health systems strengthening, health financing, community health systems, and public financial management reforms. Educated at the University of South Wales and the University of Zimbabwe, Mareke holds a Master’s in Health Economics and an Honours in Accounting among numerous other postgraduate certificates from esteemed institutions.
In his professional trajectory, he has made pivotal contributions to health financing initiatives both at national and sub-national levels across diverse settings, such as Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Liberia. Mareke’s latest tenure in Namibia saw him in the forefront of the Health Systems. His pivotal role in strategizing and implementing health financing reform, UHC and sustainability planning underscores his expertise.
Prior to this, Mareke was at the Clinton Health Access Initiative in Zimbabwe for seven years. There, he led the development of Zimbabwe’s Health Financing Policy and Strategy and played a key role in crafting and costing numerous national health strategies.
Earlier in his career, as an Advisory & Audit Manager at Parker & Associates Chartered Accountants in Liberia, he spearheaded public sector consultancy, and audit of government projects, while also contributing significantly to the Ebola response in Liberia. He also has substantial experience in public financial management, procurement advisory, and audit from his times at Vali & Co and AMG Global Chartered Accountants in Zimbabwe.
Throughout his career, Mareke has showcased a robust ability to work effectively in multicultural environments, collaborating seamlessly with governments, private sector entities, donors, and NGOs. His deep understanding of both the macro and micro nuances of health systems and finance positions him as a visionary leader, perfectly poised to lead community-based organizations in Canada.
Veronica Zano
Veronica Zano is a Legal and Extractive Industries Governance Specialist with many years of work experience. She is a holder of a Master of Laws in Constitutional and Human Rights Law, a Bachelor of Laws Honours and an Alumni of the USA State Department International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) on Transparency and Accountability. Veronica’s wide experience in the development sector has enabled her to design and manage several successful human rights and governance programmes supported by funding partners which include Ford Foundation, USAID, European Commission, Open Society Foundation and GIZ among others. She also has vast experience in organisational capacity development and has facilitated the legal registration of over 50 Common Law Trusts in Zimbabwe including training on corporate governance. Veronica currently works for Oxfam in Southern Africa as a Regional Advisor-Extractive Industries. She has previously worked as a Legal Specialist at Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW), Pact and Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association.
Jennifer Wiens
Board MemberJennifer is a Medical Radiation Technologist who specializes in Computed Tomography imaging. Jennifer believes that empathy and compassion are two core values in work and in life. She has worked over ten years in the field and continues to pursue continuing education in her area of expertise. She enjoys spending time with her friends, traveling abroad so she can experience new cultures, and having a quiet night at home with her family. She holds a diploma in radiation technology from Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
