Stellamaris is an award-winning development practitioner and values-driven leader with a passion for grassroots transformation and climate-conscious development. She is the Founder and CEO of Acts for Change Trust, a nonprofit organization championing community-led change through agroecology, economic resilience, and regenerative practices across rural Kenya. Stellamaris brings over two decades of hands-on experience and strategic insight in development cooperation, local-led governance, and systems innovation. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree in Economics and Business Studies, is a graduate of the Strathmore Business School’s Women Directors Leadership Programme, and has completed professional training in Project Cycle Management at the MS Danish International Centre and Permaculture Design at the Permaculture Research Institute of Kenya. Her superpower lies in connecting vision, action, and community to deliver sustainable, inclusive impact—earning her national recognition, including the Women on Boards Network’s Award for Empowering Grassroots Women.

With a strong foundation in financial risk analysis, internal controls, and impact assessment methodologies, Kimani Kinyanjui brings a strategic and evidence-based approach to financial governance and program effectiveness. He has over a decade of experience in development finance, specializing in financial management, grants administration, and organizational capacity assessments for non-governmental actors in Kenya. His work with Acts for Change partnering with organizations such as  Fastenaktion, Trócaire Somalia, and DKA Austria has involved financial due diligence, capacity building, and program evaluations for more than 30 partner organizations. Currently pursuing an MSc in Development Finance at Strathmore University with a research focus on the impact of development aid on the adoption of agroecology among smallholder farmers. Kimani is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Finalist and have gained from various certifications including a certified Finance Management for Development Professionals (FMD Pro) with Humentum, Project Cycle Management with MS-Training Centre for Development Cooperation, Community Animation with Amref, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Nairobi. He is passionate about supporting organizations to build strong, resilient financial systems that drive sustainable development outcomes.

Miriam is a seasoned Sustainable Food Systems Expert with over a decade of experience in agricultural development and value chain strengthening. She specializes in agroecology, climate-smart agriculture, and community-led resilience, with a focus on optimizing resources to benefit smallholder farmers.

Miriam has led impactful training for organizations such as Fastenaktion Kenya, Trócaire Somalia, ORAM-Kenya, and the Southern Africa Women’s Rural Assembly-Zambia. She has contributed to regional agroecology initiatives, facilitated cross-border knowledge exchange, and spoken at various conferences on agroecology, climate resilience, and sustainable value chains. She holds a BSc in Agricultural Extension and Education from Egerton University and a Diploma in General Agriculture. Her credentials also include certifications in Participatory Action Research (University of Vermont), Permaculture Design, Nature-Based Climate Solutions (UNEP-PEDRR), and Project Planning & Management.

Passionate about ecological sustainability and community empowerment, Miriam bridges traditional knowledge with scientific innovation to support resilient, just, and thriving food systems.

Johnson is a results-driven Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning, and Reporting (MEALR) specialist with extensive experience across Africa. A certified M&E expert and Project Management Professional (PMP)®, he has a track record in designing, implementing, and optimizing MEALR systems that drive impactful decision-making and sustainable development outcomes. His expertise spans multiple sectors, including agriculture, climate adaptation, livelihoods, and peace.

He is well versed with OECD DAC Evaluation Criteria, and Value for Money (VFM) concepts, Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) approach, results measurement using the DCED Standards, and Adopt-Adapt-Expand-Respond (AAER) model for measuring systemic change in market system development programmes. Johnson is well conversant and has experience in the use of various attribution measurement approaches. He is also well adept in gender and climate mainstreaming, with proven skills in the development and tracking of gender sensitive and gender specific indicators, ultimately leading teams in using resulting information to inform decision making. Johnson possesses meticulous planning, writing and analytical skills, and the ability to convey project details clearly using captivating snippets of success stories and infographics.

Caroline Thuita is a dedicated and detail-oriented Project Assistant at Acts for Change Trust, known for her strong commitment to supporting community-driven initiatives. Starting as an Office Assistant, she quickly adapted, gaining hands-on experience through workshops and field activities. Her proactive approach, attention to detail, and ability to multitask make her a valuable asset to the team.

She has also pursued professional development in office etiquette and project management, including earning a Certificate in Project Management from Oxford Home Study Centre. These qualifications have equipped her with essential skills to enhance efficiency in project coordination. With a strong focus on office operations and workshop training material preparation, she plays a key role in ensuring smooth execution of projects. Always eager to learn and grow, she remains committed to making a meaningful impact within the organization.