Meet the Heart of Asili
People are at the heart of Asili. Our team’s diverse talents and unwavering dedication reflect the very communities we serve—each person contributing to a shared vision of progress and hope for Congo’s future.
Leadership Team
Meet the staff working to empower communities, propel innovation, and create lasting change in eastern Congo, embodying a commitment to sustainable development and social impact.
Establishing and maintaining world-class services in eastern Congo is only possible because of the skill of more than 100 local experts in everything from epidemiology to agronomy to plumbing. At the center of all this technical complexity is Valéry, who manages every aspect of Asili as CEO. From day to day, he coordinates the operation of the whole Asili enterprise, from counting cash at water points to negotiating rights-of-way with local kings and princes. With his gentle sense of humor, deep commitment to human dignity, and constant attention to detail, Valéry makes sure Asili services live up to the promise of our brand, every day.
Beyond his work for Asili, Valéry is renowned throughout the DRC for his skill as a pianist and composer. He has been summoned to Kinshasa to play for the President of the Congo. He lives and works in Bukavu, a city he loves for its culture and architecture.
Bringing over a decade of professional experience, Arnauld is an expert in project and program management, strategic planning, social enterprise development, and organizational leadership. He excels in team building, effective communication, and public speaking, fluent in both French and English.
With a bachelor’s degree in development studies and a master’s degree in project planning and management, Arnauld has led programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Rwanda, demonstrating a strong commitment to African community development.
Dr. Mugisho possesses a master’s degree in community health alongside extensive experience in the South Kivu region. With a specialized focus on primary health care, he excels in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating health initiatives.
Collaborating closely with organizations such as the WFP, UNICEF, and WHO, Mugisho has spearheaded vital nutrition, water supply, sanitation, and hygiene programs benefiting impoverished communities in Kabare. He has also managed comprehensive vaccination and health programs aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. Additionally, Dr. Mugisho has played a pivotal role in conducting epidemiological surveillance and leading responses to various epidemics, including cholera, measles, and COVID-19, as well as managing disaster relief efforts during floods and fires.
Giovanni (Gio) serves as Asili’s Director of Development & Communications, a role dedicated to advancing the organization’s growth, sustainability, and impact through strategic fundraising and compelling storytelling. In this capacity, Gio leads institutional partnership development and private giving efforts, manages the grant lifecycle from prospecting to reporting, and cultivates meaningful relationships with foundations, corporate partners, and individual supporters. He oversees donor engagement and stewardship, directs cross-channel communications, and collaborates closely with leadership and field teams in Congo to align fundraising strategy with operational priorities in water, health, and energy sectors. The dedication, resilience, and leadership of Asili’s team on the ground inspire him daily and fuel his commitment to strengthening the support systems that allow their work to thrive.
Highly organized and detail-oriented, Gio holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and a master’s in Global Development and Justice, grounding his work in transformative and holistic development and applying those principles to advance Asili’s mission each day. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, traveling (especially to Africa), exploring the outdoors, tending to his garden and chickens, and reading.
Aude serves as Director of Operations and External Relations for Asili, where she orchestrates and streamlines operations while championing the organization’s mission to create sustainable, community-led development. Since her start with the Asili team, Aude has brought extensive professionalism and service management expertise. Her role progression to operations reflects her fervent passion for humanitarian development and her commitment to amplifying her colleagues’ transformative work in the DRC. What drives Aude’s dedication is Asili’s distinctive approach: programs that are fully built and managed by local Congolese teams, creating jobs, strengthening communities, and ensuring lasting impact well beyond any single project.
Before joining Asili, Aude held key leadership positions at Robert Half International and One Hope United. Trilingual in English, French, and Spanish, she leverages her diverse skill set to enhance community welfare and foster innovative development initiatives. Aude studied at the University of Bordeaux III in France, where she developed the administrative prowess and cross-cultural competencies that define her work today. Her greatest strength lies in her innate kindness and genuine compassion for others.
