Our mission-driven team blends scientific rigour and community roots to deliver practical, frugal solutions for farmers and resilient agricultural systems.
FIPS Africa’s team brings together skilled, mission-driven professionals rooted in communities and technical expertise. We combine scientific knowledge with hands-on experience, supporting farmers, youth and market actors through practical, frugal solutions.
FIPS invests in continuous learning and a diverse, inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Guided by innovation, accountability, and partnership, our team works with collaborators to drive transformation at both farm– and system–levels, helping Small Farms build Big Futures.
The work of FIPS is overseen by a Board of trustees who help deliver excellence in its endeavours and ensure the organisations has the resources in place to thrive.
Dr David Priest is the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technical Officer, and a Board Member of FIPS Africa. He provides strategic leadership across the organisation, guiding delivery, partnerships, and institutional growth. Dave combines executive management with board-level governance, ensuring FIPS remains mission-driven, accountable, and focused on scaling practical, farmer-centred solutions that strengthen livelihoods and food systems across Sub-Saharan Africa. He has a passion for enabling learning, supporting teams to draw out lessons, and deploying them to catalyse impact through FIPS and its partners.
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David Mwangi Njuru is a Board Member of FIPS Africa and a Kenyan agronomist with expertise in soil health, seed systems, and smallholder farming systems. He brings academic and research leadership that helps ensure FIPS’ work remains evidence-based and responsive to farmers’ realities. Throughout his career, he has worked with farmers, researchers, and development partners to strengthen agricultural productivity and resilience through improved soil management and practical innovation. At FIPS, he promotes collaborative research and learning that connects science with farmer experimentation and local knowledge. He is passionate about translating research into practical solutions that farmers can test, adapt, and scale to improve livelihoods and strengthen resilient food systems.
Dr Paul Douglas Seward is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of FIPS Africa and the originator of the Village-Based Advisor (VBA) model. An agronomist and soil scientist, he has spent more than 30 years working alongside smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa to develop practical, scalable solutions that strengthen productivity and resilience. He has held leadership roles with the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Programme (TSBF) and AGRA, where he helped institutionalise the VBA model within the organisation’s programming. He also pioneered innovations in soil fertility and input systems, including designing one of the first fertiliser blends produced in Africa, Mavuno. At FIPS, he leads work on soil health innovations, including the development of WonderGro soil conditioner. He is passionate about enabling smallholder farmers to learn by doing, using affordable technologies and low-risk trial packs that allow farmers to experiment, adapt, and scale solutions that work in their own farming systems.
Janey Leakey is a Board Member of FIPS Africa with extensive experience in agribusiness, seed systems, and community-based enterprise. She is the founding director of Leldet Seed Company Ltd., which focuses on developing and supplying seed for crops suited to Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands. Janey also manages mixed arable and livestock farming through Chemeron Ltd., promoting sustainable farming practices that maximise local resources while protecting the environment. At FIPS, she brings practical market insight and a strong commitment to ethical practice and safeguarding. She is passionate about seeds and technologies that empower smallholder farmers, particularly women and communities in marginal areas, to improve productivity and build sustainable livelihoods.
Dr David Priest is the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technical Officer, and a Board Member of FIPS Africa. He provides strategic leadership across the organisation, guiding delivery, partnerships, and institutional growth. Dave combines executive management with board-level governance, ensuring FIPS remains mission-driven, accountable, and focused on scaling practical, farmer-centred solutions that strengthen livelihoods and food systems across Sub-Saharan Africa. He has a passion for enabling learning, supporting teams to draw out lessons, and deploying them to catalyse impact through FIPS and its partners.
Dr Ed Rege is a Board Member of FIPS Africa, bringing extensive experience in agricultural research, livestock systems, and organisational leadership. Ed supports FIPS’ strategic direction and governance while strengthening partnerships that advance farmer-centred solutions across food systems. Ed previously held senior leadership positions at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and now leads the Emerge Centre for Innovative Africa, where he supports organisations to strengthen strategy, leadership, and institutional performance. With over three decades of teaching and research experience and more than 200 scientific publications, his work has focused on livestock genetics, breeding, and sustainable livestock management in Africa. At FIPS, he brings strong facilitation and systems thinking skills that help teams and partners co-create solutions and draw out diverse perspectives. He is passionate about organisational leadership and building the capacity of institutions to innovate, adapt, and deliver lasting impact for farmers.
Join a mission-driven team dedicated to bridging the gap between research and reality. Let’s leverage our shared expertise to create inclusive, market-linked growth across the continent.