Noah Flessel is a stabilization and conflict mitigation expert with 16 years of extensive experience working in fragile, violence-affected and low-trust operating environments in Africa and the Middle East. He specializes in working with communities to design and implement development projects that build trust while addressing root causes of instability and improving community outcomes. He has a proven track record of reducing the risk of conflict, developing credible local partnerships, and building social and political capital that can be leveraged to prevent, mitigate or manage crises. As VP of BD he leads Veridicor’s global business development function, overseeing BD Directors, and BD Advisors, shaping and executing the company’s business development strategy, and coordinating opportunities, relationships, and regional priorities, in alignment with Veridicor’s commercial objectives.

Oscar Lancho is a strategic finance and corporate structuring expert with more than 20 years of international experience leading financial operations, valuations, budget management, and stakeholder-focused financial strategies across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and other emerging markets. He is Founder and Financial Director of Metta Finance, a strategic finance advisory firm focused on external CFO services, financial restructuring, cash flow optimization, valuation, governance, and strategic decision-making support. He also serves as Strategic Consultant in Corporate Finance at PKF Vila Naranjo. Prior to this, Oscar spent over two decades with USAID, supporting complex multinational programs and diplomatic missions. His expertise includes business valuation, operational finance, governance, and stakeholder-aligned financial strategy.

Kristina Kempkey is Director of the Africa Group at Veridicor, where she provides strategic advisory services on political risk, stakeholder dynamics, governance frameworks, and license-to-operate strategies affecting extractive sector operations across Africa. She advises governments, investors, and private sector clients on stakeholder engagement approaches that build trust, mitigate risk, and align commercial objectives with long-term value creation. Prior to joining Veridicor, she spent more than two decades in senior leadership roles at USAID, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the United Nations, managing governance and conflict mitigation portfolios exceeding $660 million across more than 20 countries. She holds a Master’s degree in International Security Studies from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. 

Ms. Kempkey holds a Master’s degree in International Security Studies from Columbia University (SIPA), where she received the George C. Marshall Prize for Strategic Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UC Berkeley, Magna Cum Laude.

John Youle is a senior international advisor with more than four decades of experience spanning diplomacy, corporate leadership, government relations, stakeholder engagement, and strategic advisory services across Latin America. He brings a rare combination of public and private sector expertise, having served as a U.S. diplomat, a senior executive in the mining sector, and a trusted advisor to companies operating in complex political and social environments. John is also Vice President of ConsultAndes, S.A. and ConsultAndes, LLC, where he has advised companies and institutions across the region for more than three decades. He previously served as Vice President of Southern Peru Copper, leading government relations, corporate communications, community engagement, and crisis management initiatives. At Veridicor, he strengthens strategic partnerships and guides stakeholder engagement across Peru. 

Peter Natiello is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister and more than 35 years of experience advancing U.S. foreign policy, international development, peace building, civilian-military coordination, public diplomacy, and humanitarian affairs. He has held senior leadership positions across Latin America, Africa, Afghanistan, multilateral institutions, and U.S. Special Operations Command, working in some of the world’s most complex operating environments. His roles have included USAID Mission Director in Afghanistan, El Salvador, Colombia, and Bolivia, as well as Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean. Peter has led multi-billion dollar portfolios and built strategic partnerships across government, civil society, and the private sector to support stabilization, governance, and development outcomes.

Engr. Clever Sithole, MSc, BEng, is a distinguished mining strategist, gemologist, and mineral evaluator with extensive experience in gemstone formalization, ethical sourcing, and value chain integration. He serves as Chairperson of the African Gemstones and Jewellery Committee under the African Minerals Development Centre of the African Union. He holds a Master’s degree in Applied Entrepreneurship and Business Management and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering, and is currently pursuing a DPhil in Mineral Economics. His career includes serving as Head Gemologist for the USAID/DAI Invest project in Afghanistan and as a Mineral Evaluator in Zimbabwe. His work continues to advance sustainable mineral governance and regional beneficiation across Africa. 

Leo Watts is a private sector and stakeholder engagement specialist supporting Veridicor’s origination and technical integration work. As Private Sector Engagement Officer at Winrock International, he contributed to more than $150 million in winning donor-funded programs across U.S. Government, GIZ, and Swiss development cooperation portfolios, with proposal and implementation experience spanning the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Central America, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Ukraine, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Sahel. Relevant work addressed compliance risks in communities adjacent to artisanal and small-scale mining operations plus responsible-sourcing experience with partnership design with the Alliance for Responsible Mining and supply-chain traceability work with Nestlé, alongside corporate engagements with AB InBev and PepsiCo. He has also advised and scaled SMEs, with two successful exits. He is completing a master’s degree in Human Rights, Interculturality and Development and works in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

Jared Batzel is an international development and humanitarian specialist with extensive experience leading strategy and operations in complex crisis environments. A former U.S. Foreign Service Officer with USAID and Major in the United States Marine Corps, he has managed large-scale humanitarian programmes, advised governments and multilateral partners, and supported disaster response and resilience initiatives across Africa, the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East. Jared combines expertise in humanitarian assistance, strategic planning, risk analysis and international partnerships to help organisations navigate complex challenges and deliver sustainable impact. At Veridicor, he provides strategic advisory support on international development and business growth.

Jared Batzel is an international development and humanitarian specialist with extensive experience leading strategy and operations in complex crisis environments. A former U.S. Foreign Service Officer with USAID and Major in the United States Marine Corps, he has managed large-scale humanitarian programmes, advised governments and multilateral partners, and supported disaster response and resilience initiatives across Africa, the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East. Jared combines expertise in humanitarian assistance, strategic planning, risk analysis and international partnerships to help organisations navigate complex challenges and deliver sustainable impact. At Veridicor, he provides strategic advisory support on international development and business growth.

Mahesh Kanjee is a seasoned procurement, contracts and business operations specialist. Having held senior leadership roles with USAID, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of State, Old Mutual and Vodacom, he brings deep expertise in business analysis, procurement strategy and operational performance. At Veridicor, Mahesh provides strategic analytical support for business development across Africa, helping identify opportunities, strengthen decision-making and support sustainable growth. 

Mónica Tuesta is a project management, monitoring and evaluation, and geographic information systems (GIS) specialist with more than 20 years of experience supporting international development programmes. Having spent over two decades in international development in Peru, she has led monitoring and evaluation for multimillion-dollar initiatives, developed geospatial analyses to inform strategic decision-making, and strengthened collaboration between government, donor and implementing partners. At Veridicor, Mónica brings deep expertise in data analysis, GIS, project oversight and performance management, helping organisations turn complex information into practical insights that improve programme delivery and impact. 

Lois Moodley is a strategic communications consultant with more than 20 years’ experience helping organisations translate complex ideas into compelling stories that influence policy, attract investment and inspire action. She has worked across climate, energy, international development, gender, governance and social impact, leading communications for major donor-funded programmes and global partnerships. Her expertise spans strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, thought leadership, media relations, digital communications, content development and event strategy. Lois works with foundations, NGOs, governments and the private sector to develop communications that build trust, strengthen partnerships and drive meaningful change. She is passionate about using communications as a catalyst for sustainable development and social impact. 

Recipient of the prestigious Laura W. Bush Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Global Women’s Equality (2022), Mahmuda Rahman Khan is a seasoned development professional and technical expert in gender integration across multiple sectors. She is a former USAID staff. She also taught university courses in Gender Issues in Public Health, and  Gender & feminists movements in SRHR  in KIT: Royal Tropical Institute. She holds graduate degrees in Economics (Bangladesh) and Gender & Development (UK), and brings extensive experience from both international and national development organizations, as well as the private sector in emerging markets. She has demonstrated outstanding expertise in designing, organizing, and delivering impactful training programs and has facilitated numerous workshops in her areas of specialization, including gender equality, development, leadership, and organizational capacity building. Known for her strong facilitation and team leadership skills, she excels in engaging diverse stakeholders and creating collaborative learning environments. Mahmuda is highly adept at establishing and nurturing strategic relationships with government leaders, international development agencies, donor organizations, and national partners to successfully plan and implement programs and projects. Her distinguished career reflects a proven track record of advancing impactful initiatives with international, US-based, and local organizations across diverse development contexts. She worked for BRAC, UNFPA, DFID, and USAID.

Saurabh has 20 years of experience working on private sector development, governance and institutional strengthening. He has served in various lead and technical roles for the World Bank Group and UN agencies in low-capacity, post-conflict environments including Afghanistan, Sudan, South Sudan and Rwanda. He most recently served as the Private Sector Engagement Advisor at USAID Egypt between 2021 to 2025, establishing partnerships that mobilize private investments for community and development solutions. Saurabh is based in Cairo, Egypt, and covers the Middle East/North Africa region for business development while also serving as the Director of Veridicor University.