Linda Matiwaza, Country Manager (USA)
Linda is a native of Zimbabwe currently residing in Chicago. After graduating from University of the Cumberlands with a degree in Accounting, she worked as a Financial Analyst for Rollins Inc. in Atlanta and later on secured a position as Senior Treasury Analyst. In 2011 after getting married and moving to New York, Linda launched Seventh Row, an online vintage store and a long time dream of hers. Since Linda was a young girl living in Zimbabwe she has always had a passion for helping orphaned children and she is glad she can contribute positively to their livelihoods through her involvement with ZOF Africa. Linda enjoys cooking, collecting vintage and antique items, traveling, tennis, and singing.
Georgina Fleming, Founder & Country Manager (UK & USA)
Georgina is the volunteer-CEO of ZOF Africa, which she co-founded in 2009 initially to support an orphanage her paternal family (who is from Zimbabwe) has been supporting for decades.
In parallel to her involvement with ZOF, Georgina is a Director at SYSTEMIQ, an environmental advisory and investment firm. Georgina leads Systemiq’s business building and investment activities, which entails making direct investments into high growth cleantech companies and building new ventures where there is a market need & opportunity.
Before Systemiq, Georgina worked for a leading family office in Malaysia where she focused on investments in healthcare. She was previously commissioned by DfID to found a soybean trading company in East Africa to service 4 million farmers. Georgina began her career at the corporate law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.
Charles Fleming, Senior Advisor and Board Member (USA)
Charles Fleming, a member of the ZOF board since incorporation, was born and raised on a farm outside Harare, Zimbabwe where he lived until he was 20. He has spent the last 40 years in Paris, France, but he retains close links with Zimbabwe through various members of his family there, most notably his sister Anna who is a long-time neighbor and friend of Emerald Hill Children’s Home.
Today Charles is a financial communications consultant for Havas. Previously, he worked for 16 years as the Paris-based correspondent for The Wall Street Journal. In his spare time, Charles is closely involved in organizing three literary groups (dedicated to novels, Shakespeare and Racine), plays the clarinet (rather poorly he insists), and enjoys working on making his house in Normandy a more livable place. His other not-for-profit activities include voluntary work with the American Library of Paris, on whose board he served from 2008 to 2011, and Paris Dauphine University where he teaches Masters’ students a course on business and financial communications. He is also the proud father of four children, of whom ZOF co-founder Georgina is the eldest.
Alon Caspi, Finance & Operations (UK)
Alon spent his formative years in Zimbabwe before obtaining a degree in economics in London. Alon returned to Zimbabwe post-independence where he worked in a family business. He was then recruited as a consultant at Deloitte and Touche Consultants Zimbabwe to work with parastatals including Posts and Telecoms and Ziscosteel.
Alon went on to study for an MBA and then settled in the UK, to pursue a profession in investment banking. Alon has had a career in structuring financial transactions that support investment in developing countries with a particular emphasis on Africa.
Recently Alon has been involved in renewable energy projects.
Claudia Zeibe, Fundraising & Governance (UK)
Claudia Zeibe is an experienced international lawyer, qualified in the US (New York State) and the UK (England and Wales). She grew up and started her education and work in East Germany before moving to the US to expand her skills and experience. After qualifying in two states as a lawyer, Claudia returned to Germany to begin work in the financial services industry. She later completed a spell as legal counsel in Malaysia to experience a broader range of professional challenges, including being in a racial minority in a male-dominated environment. After this challenging but rewarding experience, Claudia moved to the UK in 2013.
During the past eight years, Claudia has applied her skills as a financial services lawyer at Fidelity International Limited and Jupiter Asset Management, where she has had legal responsibility for a range of funds carrying assets in the hundreds of millions.
Outside of work, Claudia has key positions with the American Women Lawyers in London. She contributes to Crisis, non-profit radio and Shelter.
Claudia is now seeking another opportunity in which she can provide support to, and share her knowledge and experience with those who have not had the opportunities that she has valued so much. Claudia has some connections with Zimbabwe through her partner, and these have bolstered her desire to contribute to the success of ZOF, and the people who rely on it for rare and valued opportunities.
Timon Rückel, Entrepreneurship Programme Development
Born in Germany, Timon had the privilege to graduate in the Master course "Finance & Information Management" from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) that focuses on the interface of business, digital technology, and entrepreneurship. Next to this, he works for SYSTEMIQ, a company dedicated to change our current systems to sustainable ones. By engaging for ZOF Africa, he tries his best to enable the youth in Zimbabwe to become purposeful entrepreneurs and system change leaders themselves such that the country can thrive from within.
Media Almater Tazarurwa, Big Sister Programme Coordinator
Media was born in Zimbabwe and raised in Emerald Hill. Media studied Food Science and Nutrition BSc Hon’s Degree with Midlands State University, and currently works at National Foods as a Quality Analyst focusing on new products and process innovation. She previously completed internships at food processing companies Great Dyke Abattoir, Aqua mist Beverages and National Foods Limited.
Media was previously awarded a grant by ZOF Africa to complete a vocational course in baking in 2018. Her passion for baking combined with her entrepreneurial drive led her to set up her own baking business, Medi’s Cakes, in 2019.
Media joined ZOF Africa as Coordinator of the Big Sister Programme to help mentor girls at Emerald Hill Children’s Home and nurture their talent/skills for entrepreneurial gain.