Meet the Team

Executive Leadership

LOREN STODDARD
Founder & CEO

Loren Stoddard is a senior diplomat and economic development leader with over 20 years of experience driving multi-million dollar public-private partnerships across emerging markets. As a former USAID senior advisor, he has spearheaded energy, trade, and agribusiness initiatives across Africa, Latin America, and conflict-affected regions, managing portfolios exceeding $1.8 billion. A specialist in stakeholder engagement, foreign direct investment, and competitive market expansion, Loren has led high-impact projects, including Power Africa’s clean energy rollout and Afghanistan’s rural trade development. He holds an MBA and a Master of International Management (MIM) from Arizona State University and the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Board of Advisors

Ann Rutledge

Ann Rutledge is a capital markets expert with over four decades of experience applying systems thinking to the evolving dynamics of global finance. As Founder and Managing Principal of her firm, she co-developed patented intellectual property that models how credit risk decay affects bond valuation. Her mission is to democratize access to credit information through rigorous, unbiased analysis. 

A published author with Oxford University Press, she has designed and led advanced training for corporations, regulators, and universities worldwide, and has contributed to statutory exam development in the U.S. and Hong Kong. Ann currently advises the UNDP Africa Concilium on sovereign credit ratings, serves on the Executive Committee of the Fixed Income Investor Network, and is an advisor to Veridicor. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a BA from Wellesley College, and is a Phi Beta Kappa and former FLAS Scholar in Chinese.

Ambassador Christopher Dell

Ambassador Christopher Dell is a distinguished former U.S. diplomat with a 32-year Foreign Service career that spanned Europe, Africa, Asia, and Washington, where he served in senior roles including Director for NATO Affairs. He held ambassadorial posts in Angola, Zimbabwe, and Kosovo, and served as Deputy Ambassador in Afghanistan and Deputy Commander of U.S. Africa Command. 

Since retiring, he has led operations for Bechtel in Mozambique, consulted for Fieldstone on African infrastructure projects, and served as a director for Sicona Batteries. He continues to advise the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff on civil-military affairs and serves on the boards of the National Center for State Courts and the American College of Sofia. His numerous honors include the Presidential Distinguished Service Award and high state decorations from Afghanistan and Bulgaria. Ambassador Dell holds a B.A. from Columbia University and an M.Phil in International Relations from Oxford, and is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and Bulgarian.

Justin R. Stoddard, PhD

Dr. Justin R. Stoddard is a leadership expert, speaker, and executive coach with over 20 years of experience shaped by service as an Army combat medic, infantry officer, and intelligence officer. As founder of Climbing the Mountain, LLC, he specializes in resilience, mentoring, and ethical leadership, translating both frontline experience and academic research into actionable strategies for growth through adversity. 

Holding a PhD in education with a focus on resilience and character development, he has published and presented internationally and consults across sectors to strengthen cultures of trust and accountability. Dr. Stoddard is an active member of the International Leadership Association and serves on several advisory boards, including Veridicor.

Dr. Ken Yamashita

Dr. Ken Yamashita brings over four decades of international development and public health experience to Veridicor’s Board of Advisors. A former Career Minister with USAID, he served in leadership roles across Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia, including as Mission Director in Afghanistan, Colombia, and South Africa. Ken also served as Director for Global Operations at the Peace Corps and was recently inducted into the American Academy of Diplomacy. He has coordinated multi-agency U.S. efforts abroad, pioneered women’s empowerment initiatives, and advised on development strategies at the highest levels of government. His global expertise and strategic insight are instrumental in guiding Veridicor’s impact-driven mission.

Luc Lapointe

Luc Lapointe is a global expert in development finance and sustainable investment, with over 30 years of experience in banking reform, innovative finance, and impact investing. Based in Ottawa, he has led pioneering efforts in thematic bonds, blockchain-enabled finance, and tokenization of public development bank assets, including a $24 trillion initiative to unlock capital for global development. 

He advises leading institutions such as CAF, UN agencies, and Concordia, and has helped structure Colombia’s first Social Impact and Orange Bonds. As founder of Capitals Hub Canada and board member of the Capitals Coalition, Luc champions natural and social capital accounting across the Americas. A trilingual educator and speaker, he teaches innovative finance in Colombia and is a frequent voice at global forums including the UN and Concordia Summit.

Nenad Janicevic

Nenad Janicevic is a globally respected legal expert with over 30 years of experience in corporate law, governance, and international legal affairs. He is the Managing Partner of a leading law firm in North Macedonia and served as President of the Macedonian Bar Association for over a decade. A trusted advisor to global legal bodies, Nenad currently counsels the President of the International Association of Lawyers (UIA) and represents legal interests across Europe. He is also the Honorary Consul of Peru in North Macedonia. Recognized for his contributions to legal ethics and reform, Nenad brings strategic insight, cross-border expertise, and a commitment to integrity—qualities that strengthen Veridicor’s governance and stakeholder engagement mission.

Rob Karpati

Rob Karpati is a seasoned finance executive with over 35 years of global experience in strategic transformation and business process optimization. He has led cross-cultural initiatives to align diverse stakeholders and unlock shared value, using finance as a driver of systemic improvement. Rob champions a balanced, win/win approach that integrates corporate, regulatory, and community interests for long-term, sustainable outcomes. As a Partner at The Blended Capital Group, he is currently focused on transforming the global artisanal mining sector to realize its financial, social, and environmental potential. As a Veridicor Advisory Board member, Rob brings deep insight into impact finance and ecosystem design to advance the organization’s mission.

Scott North

Scott North works at Kingsrose Mining as Corporate Development Manager. He oversees investor relations, strategy and business development. He has a background in business start-ups, holding senior management, operations and business development roles, and has been investing in and participating in the junior resources sector for over ten years. Scott’s experience in building companies and communicating with investors and stakeholders.

The Team

Luis Flores, PhD

Luis Flores specializes in the design and implementation of sustainable agriculture projects—from site selection to linking farmers and processors with end markets—bringing decades of expertise to the nexus of land and water use, stakeholder participation and socio-economic wellbeing, and the evolving demands of the mining and energy sectors. He is a skilled international development professional with 25 years of experience spanning across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. A strategic thinker, Luis blends field expertise with research to address complex, multi-stakeholder challenges. He has led major programs, built alliances, and expanded market access across global industries.

Maria Pascual

Maria Pascual is a seasoned international development specialist with over 30 years of experience in organizational engineering, capacity building, and institutional development across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She brings deep expertise in structuring systems that support both for-profit and government-led initiatives.  She has an extensive record in generating inclusive prosperity in agriculture, industry and service sectors.  At Veridicor, Maria is responsible for making business architecture the glue that binds the different aspects of the company, including strategy, operational structure, services, data management, partnerships, and others, always through tight collaboration with all Veridicor team leaders.

Slavka Stojanovska

Slavka Stojanovska brings over 18 years of international experience spanning the security sector, international development, and private enterprise. Known for forging high-impact partnerships and navigating complex regulatory environments, Slavka has worked with institutions such as WHO, OSCE, and USAID—collaborating with senior government officials and diplomatic actors to drive sustainable, measurable outcomes.

Her past roles include serving as VP of Business Development at a private consulting firm, where she advised on market expansion, secured strategic alliances, and supported clients operating in high-risk and transitional settings. Slavka has also consulted on EU-funded social and policy initiatives, deepening her expertise in stakeholder engagement and public sector alignment.

Multilingual and skilled in leading diverse teams, Slavka’s cross-sector insight and global network make her a trusted advisor in Veridicor’s mission to support responsible, resilient operations worldwide.

Robert Cunningham

Robert Cunningham has 15 years of experience scaling and launching business ventures in frontier and conflict markets, in sectors ranging from construction and commodities trading to energy access and agriculture. As an adept on-the-ground operator, Robert has successfully proven his ability to navigate the intricate logistics, politics, and regulatory dynamics required to effectuate the commercial viability of products and investments in Africa and Asia. At Veridicor, he leads the company’s communications and stakeholder engagement efforts while spearheading sales and business development initiatives. He holds an MBA from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School and a BSc in Physics from the University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA].

Makhuza Matchaba

Makhuza Matchaba is a senior procurement and contracts strategist with over a decade of experience managing high-value, public-private initiatives across Africa. A former USAID leader, he was the first-ever Warranted Local Contracting Officer in Southern Africa, overseeing portfolios exceeding $1 billion, including USAID’s flagship Power Africa program. Makhuza brings deep expertise in ESG-aligned procurement, risk analysis, and stakeholder engagement, especially in complex regulatory or political environments. Grounded in African stakeholder dynamics, he is adept at bridging government, private sector, and community interests to build sustainable, trusted partnerships. Based in Johannesburg, Makhuza draws from a legacy of ethical leadership shaped by his family’s role in South Africa’s liberation movement and global health diplomacy.

Andrew T. Green, Ph.D.

Dr. Andrew Green brings over 25 years of global experience in international development, applied research, and democracy promotion. He has led multi-million-dollar USAID and State Department initiatives, specializing in civil society, governance, and rule of law. As a former Chief of Party and technical director, Andrew has overseen complex research portfolios and implemented innovative methodologies in fragile and high-stakes environments. His deep expertise spans government contracting, stakeholder engagement, and donor-funded research. A former professor and published scholar, Andrew blends analytical rigor with practical implementation. With a background in both finance and political science, he brings strategic insight, process innovation, and trusted leadership to Veridicor’s advisory ecosystem.

DONATO PEÑA QUIÑONES

Donato Peña is a seasoned international development expert with nearly three decades of experience across Latin America and South Asia. His expertise spans monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, stakeholder analysis, and results-based program design. At Veridicor, Donato leads the firm’s Monitoring and Evaluation practice and curates the “News of the Week” platform, offering strategic insights on global license to operate trends. A former USAID advisor and Peruvian government official, he has worked across sectors including alternative development, youth empowerment, agriculture, and private sector engagement. Donato holds advanced degrees in economics and social management and is also a certified soccer coach, using sport as a tool to build trust and community resilience in rural regions.

JEREMY B. FOSTER

Jeremy Foster is a Certified Energy Manager with over 15 years of global experience leading energy, infrastructure, and stabilization programs in high-risk environments. As a senior USAID energy strategist, he managed multi-million-dollar partnerships across 20+ countries, supporting clean energy deployment, critical minerals research, and grid modernization efforts. Jeremy brings deep expertise in stakeholder engagement, contract oversight, and sustainable energy access, shaped by his work with the World Bank and USAID in Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Southeast Asia. At Veridicor, he contributes to critical minerals strategy, field research design, and business development. He holds graduate degrees from Imperial College London, RMIT, and the University of Melbourne, and is passionate about creating scalable, locally grounded solutions for resilient infrastructure systems.

IDREES ILHAM

Idrees Ilham is a seasoned project manager and governance expert with over 20 years of experience in international development, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory reform. He has managed complex programs for USAID and The Asia Foundation, overseeing budgets up to $250 million and teams of 100+ professionals. Idrees has led community-based governance reforms, drafted key national policies and legal frameworks, and delivered impact-driven monitoring and evaluation systems. Fluent in six languages and with deep regional expertise across South and Central Asia, he brings cultural insight and policy acumen to every initiative. At Veridicor, Idrees advises on compliance, stakeholder legitimacy, and locally grounded identity solutions to enhance operational success in fragile and complex environments.

Liliana H. Gil

A purpose-driven Development Specialist with deep expertise in economic growth, social inclusion, and sustainable development, particularly in emerging and entrepreneurial ecosystems. She specializes in designing and implementing high-impact programs that close inequality gaps, empower women and youth, generate economic growth, and foster environmental sustainability. Skilled in strategic planning, partnership development, and social impact advisory, Liliana has built strong alliances with governments, multilateral organizations, and private sector leaders such as Starbucks, Walmart, Cisco, and Microsoft. With a strong focus on innovation, resilience, and measurable impact, she is passionate about leveraging entrepreneurship and inclusive business models to drive lasting change.

Meri Cuculoska

Meri Cuculoska is a regulatory and compliance expert with over 22 years of experience overseeing financial, operational, and legal integrity for USAID and international development programs. Her expertise spans risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement across complex environments in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Meri has led large-scale compliance assessments, managed billion-dollar portfolios—including Ukraine assistance—and supported performance and data quality audits for USAID in Afghanistan, Moldova, and North Macedonia. She brings deep knowledge of internal controls, donor regulations, and cross-functional compliance frameworks. At Veridicor, Meri strengthens financial and regulatory oversight for complex projects, ensuring transparency, accountability, and resilience in fast-evolving operational contexts.

Nasrullah Ahmadzai

Nasrullah Ahmadzai is a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) specialist with over 18 years of experience working across South and Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He has led large-scale evaluations and data systems for USAID, the World Bank, and Oxfam, and served as COR at USAID/Afghanistan, overseeing $64 million in MEL contracts. Nasrullah combines field-tested stakeholder analysis with cutting-edge AI tools, such as NLP and sentiment analysis, to generate deep, actionable insights. He brings a rare blend of technical precision and cultural fluency to complex stakeholder environments. At Veridicor, he advances stakeholder diagnostics, adaptive learning, and strategic foresight to strengthen legitimacy, mitigate reputational risk, and inform decision-making in dynamic operational contexts.