External Affairs Manager at Sierra Rutile Limited (SRL) (2025-07 – 2026-09)
Most recently managed SRL’s External Affairs department with overall responsibility for the Corporate Affairs and Government Relations and Community Relations and Social Development teams. In this role, I was responsible for overseeing all SRL’s external communication and engagements, shaping its public image and reputation and managing relationships with stakeholders in Government, Parliament, Regulatory Agencies, Industry and Development Partners, and Host Communities to advance the company’s interests and shape its public image and reputation. This also involved developing and implementing comprehensive sustainability strategies ensuring that SRL upholds its commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and responsible business practices.
I was also tasked with managing investor relations activities for the company’s Sembehun Expansion Project including supporting engagement with lenders, investors, and development finance institutions; coordinating financing-related due diligence processes across internal functions and ensuring timely provision of technical, legal, ESG, and stakeholder information required to support fundraising, refinancing, and investment transactions.
- Led Corporate Affairs, Government Relations, Community Relations, and Social Development functions, providing strategic direction across all external-facing activities.
- Advised executive leadership on stakeholder risks, political developments, regulatory changes, sustainability priorities, and emerging issues affecting business performance.
- Drove implementation of sustainability and ESG initiatives, aligning operational practices with international standards, investor expectations, and customer requirements.
- Supported investor relations activities by coordinating engagement with lenders, investors, and development finance institutions and managing cross-functional inputs for financing-related due diligence.
- Aligned Operations, Legal, Technical, HSE, HR? Finance and Procurement, and Community Relations teams to advance corporate objectives and deliver on social performance commitments.
- Developed and implemented communication frameworks and external affairs strategies aligned with corporate objectives and long-term business priorities.
- Developed and executed stakeholder engagement strategies involving government ministries, regulators, parliamentarians, development partners, industry associations, civil society organizations, and host communities that strengthen the company’s reputation and social license to operate.
- Oversaw community investment programs, grievance management systems, and statutory community obligations to ensure sustainable and mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships.
- Represented the company in strategic external engagements and industry forums.
Corporate Affairs and Government Relations Manager at Sierra Rutile Limited (SRL) (2023-08 – 2025-07)
As Corporate Affairs and Government Relations Manager, I was responsible for SRL’s stakeholder management and public relations and engagement with GoSL officials, local and international organizations, the media and industry partners; corporate and external communication; reputational and issues management; and oversaw implementation of the company’s ESG and sustainability objectives. I also worked closely with the Legal and Technical teams, and the Community Relations and Social Development team to strengthen the company’s ties with relevant stakeholders within government and the community, and to ensure that SRL fully complied with the applicable legal and fiscal regime and meets its statutory obligations to host communities.
- Responsible for developing and implementing SRL’s Corporate Affairs and Government Relations strategy and to build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including the government, community stakeholders, industry organizations and other external partners.
- Engaged with policymakers to stay on top of and influence legislation and regulations that are favorable to SRL’s operations and liaise with various GoSL departments to ensure SRL fulfils its statutory obligations.
- Ensuring the company is seen as a responsible and innovative industry leader and corporate citizen by overseeing all external communication, publicity campaigns and engagements with the media.
- Supported executive leadership in strategic planning, stakeholder management, and sustainability governance initiatives.
- Led executive briefings and stakeholder engagement plans relating to regulatory, policy, and community matters.
- Coordinated internal and external communications supporting company reputation and sustainability commitments to meet global ESG standards and requirements of customers and financiers.
- Together with the CEO, represent the company at external meetings and events, and within relevant industry bodies including the Sierra Leone Chamber of Mines and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Multi-stakeholder Group (MSG).
Deputy Country Manager at Marampa Mines Limited (MML) (2021-07 – 2023-01)
As Deputy Country Manager for MML, an iron ore mining company operating in Sierra Leone, my role was primarily to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the government and other external stakeholders to promote the corporate interests of the company and ensure it fulfils all legal and compliance requirements under the mining agreement, and relevant laws and regulations. I was also responsible for managing the corporate office in Freetown, coordinating public relations and media communication, and implementing Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) best practices in relation to the sustainable development of local host communities, health, safety and environmental (HSE) regulation, and corporate responsibility.
- Worked closely with the CEO and Country Manager to develop and maintain relationships with key government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), local community stakeholders, other mining companies, the media, development partners and the diplomatic community.
- Advised executive leadership on regulatory, political, social, and reputational risks.
- Liaised with all relevant MDAs to ensure that the company fulfilled its regulatory obligations and fully complied with the laws of Sierra Leone.
- Supported community relations and development team to ensure the company meets its statutory obligations to its host communities including resettlement requirements, surface rent, crop compensation and agricultural development payments; managing relationships with local stakeholders and addressing concerns; and creating and implementing meaningful programs that support local development through the Community Development Fund or CSR initiatives.
- Supported implementation of the company's ESG Framework and integrated sustainability practices into operational planning and business decision-making.
- Coordinated multi-stakeholder initiatives involving government, communities, development partners, and industry stakeholders to support operational stability and long-term business objectives.
- Coordinated public relations initiatives such as press engagements, sponsorship and participation in local and international industry events, and other campaigns to enhance the image and reputation of the company.
Country Operations Officer at World Bank Group (WBG) (2020-07 – 2021-06)
In this role, I was an integral part of the Country Management Unit (CMU), supporting the Country Manager to implement the World Bank Group’s country program, project portfolio, lending pipeline, and analytical work in Sierra Leone. The role strengthened my international development experience through direct involvement in country strategy, portfolio performance monitoring, development policy dialogue with government, and coordination between government counterparts, development partners, and technical teams. This included participation in Country Partnership Framework preparation and progress assessments, portfolio monitoring and tracking, management briefs, and operational support to task teams addressing country-specific implementation challenges.
- In coordination with the Country Manager, supported strategic planning, portfolio performance monitoring and reviews, governance processes, and executive-level reporting.
- Prepared analytical briefings and recommendations for senior management to support evidence-based decision-making.
- Facilitated coordination among government counterparts, development partners, and technical teams to achieve program objectives.
- Organized Quarterly Country Portfolio Monitoring meetings in close collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and facilitated knowledge sharing and learning between task teams to capture operational challenges, solutions and best practices.
- Provided first level review and inputs on Project Concept Notes (PCN), Project Appraisal Documents (PAD), Negotiation and Board packages, Restructuring papers and other documents for quality control and compliance with fiduciary, Environmental and Social safeguards requirements and consistency with WBG cross-cutting issues such as gender and climate change considerations.
- Contributed to the preparation of a range of reports and briefs to regional and senior management including Spring and Annual Meetings briefs, maintaining up-to-date information on portfolio performance to provide analysis on portfolio quality, implementation issues and areas needing attention and responding to requests for information on the country program.
- Assisted the Country Manager in the day–to-day management and supervision of the country office and supported activities designed to enhance working relationships and the functioning of the country teams and with IFC and MIGA.
Mining Specialist at World Bank Group (2016-04 – 2020-06)
As part of the Extractives Global Practice, my role involved providing in-country support to the design and implementation of mining and petroleum sector technical assistance projects in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
In Sierra
Leone, I was a member of the task team that designed and implemented the Extractive Industries Technical Assistance Project (EITAP), a two-phased US$30 million WBG funded project which supported the creation of the National Minerals Agency (NMA) and other legal, regulatory and institutional reforms aimed at improving extractives sector management and governance.
- Provided oversight of project activities to ensure timely and efficient delivery within the project scope, allocated budget and in compliance with WBG policies and processes.
- Advised governments on mining policy, environmental and social governance frameworks, stakeholder engagement processes, and institutional strengthening.
- Supported the design and implementation of sector-wide governance and sustainability reforms.
- Led coordination among public, private, and development-sector stakeholders to improve natural resource governance and sustainable investment outcomes.
- Contributed to and provided inputs on analytical studies, sector strategies, and diagnostic exercises related to project activities; assisting in the dissemination of relevant WBG reports and best practice principles including engaging in policy dialogue and participation in relevant workshops, conferences and study tours or knowledge exchanges.
- Provided necessary inputs to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) team that led the corporation’s US$60 million equity investment in Sierra Rutile Limited (SRL), a large-scale mineral sands mining company in Sierra Leone, on issues relating to the investment in the context of the country’s legal and regulatory environment, fiscal regime, and environmental and social frameworks.
- Delivered cross-country support to Liberia and Sierra Leone to enhance their attractiveness as investment destinations for mining and related sectors including shared infrastructure use; and leveraging these investments to harness the role of the private sector in driving growth and development in the region.
Private Sector Specialist at World Bank Group (2013-09 – 2016-03)
In the Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, I was a member of the team that developed the World Bank’s Growth Poles project in Sierra Leone prior to the Ebola outbreak and also jointly implemented the Post Ebola Recovery and Reconstruction SME Business Linkages program with the IFC.
- Managed stakeholder relationships across government, private sector, civil society, academia, the donor community and media. Facilitating public-private dialogue to address binding constraints and engaging the private sector and other actors to enable effective implementation of project activities.
- Carried out diagnostic exercises to identify value chain opportunities created by foreign direct investments in selected sectors of the economy including mining, tourism, manufacturing, and agribusiness sectors, and undertook a comprehensive analysis of the constraints that local enterprises faced in accessing those business linkages opportunities.
- Facilitated the creation of a roundtable on mining linkages in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, the National Minerals Agency and the Chamber of Mines.
- Vetted and recruited consultants to develop and implement various activities including Local Content Development Programs.
- Developed an action plan for increasing access to specific business linkage and procurement opportunities for local SMEs and collaborated with the IFC to facilitate effective implementation of the program including executing the training of up to 100 SMEs nationwide.
Country Representative and Private Sector Adviser at RESOLVE Inc (2015-01 – 2019-12)
As a consultant working with RESOLVE, a US-based NGO, I supported implementation of the ReGrow West Africa Global Development Alliance, a public-private partnership between USAID and Chevron focused on catalyzing post-Ebola local enterprise development, promoting impact investing, and strengthening SME access to finance and market opportunities in Sierra Leone.
- Provided technical, advisory, and managerial support to the ReGrow team in Sierra Leone and coordinated the ReGrow Oversight Committee, ensuring effective collaboration among PPP implementing partners.
- Designed project activities including developing criteria for identification and assessment of pipeline investment opportunities to be considered for funding under the ReGrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and profiling on the ReGrow MarketPlace.
- Supported the development of various training and capacity building components of ReGrow including; a business ethics and social responsibility training module and SME Lending workshops delivered in collaboration with the Dutch NGO, Cordaid.
- Liaised and regularly engaged with government entities relevant to the successful delivery of the project.
General Manager at British Chamber of Commerce Sierra Leone (BCCSL) (2012-05 – 2013-09)
Managed the Chamber in its inception phase under the leadership of the British High Commission, to promote and support the business interests of its members both in Sierra Leone and in the UK; strengthen commercial ties between the two countries; introduce new foreign businesses into the Sierra Leonean market and increase Sierra Leonean exports to the UK.
- Developed the Chamber’s Strategy and Business Plan, to guide its operations and built stakeholder networks and partnerships both in and outside Sierra Leone to provide Chamber members with a suite of services that help alleviate the complexities of doing business in Sierra Leone.
- Executed Chamber membership benefits such as high-profiled events and conferences, productive networking and promotional opportunities, valuable information services and export-readiness training, access to influential individuals and institutions, commercial advocacy and lobbying on behalf of chamber members as well as setting up the Chamber office and creation of the BCCSL website.
Senior International Business Executive at Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (2007-07 – 2010-07)
My role within the Africa Business Centre, run under the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce with support from the UK government, was mainly to heighten awareness in the UK of business opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa’s growing oil and gas markets; promote the UK’s expertise and capabilities in these markets; and provide market entry support for UK companies to operate successfully in those challenging and dynamic business environments.
- Provided advice, guidance and information on doing business Sub-Sahara Africa including market intelligence on the legal and fiscal regimes, political, socio-economic and security conditions, and business culture.
- Led high profile trade missions to hydrocarbon markets in West Africa working closely with UK embassies, high commissions, trade organizations and companies in target countries.
- Collaborated with international and national oil companies to develop initiatives aimed at increasing local content participation in the oil and gas industry by facilitating transfer of knowledge, skills and technology between indigenous businesses and counterpart UK companies.
Board Member and Company Secretary at Dalan Development Consultants (2010-01 – Present)
Member of the Board of Governors at British International School and Montessori Education (2016-09 – Present)
