Advisory Board
MR. DESMOND APPIAH
Board Chair
Desmond Appiah bring on board 21 years of experience in business sustainability-related projects in private sector, manufacturing, academia, forestry, mining, agro-business, and commercial entities across Europe, USA, and Africa.Desmond is Currently the Country Lead in Ghana for Clean Air Fund. Desmond was the Programme Manager for African Cities for Clean Air (AC4CA) initiative of C40 Climate Leadership Group. Prior to that he was the C40 City Advisor and Chief Resilience and Sustainability Advisor to the Mayor of the City of Accra at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
He coordinated city programmes aimed at ensuring sustainable city development in areas pertaining to air quality, waste management, climate change, road safety, disaster planning and management, with a charge to integrate management structures for enhancing urban resilience. Desmond holds an MS (Environmental Protection & Safety Management) from St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia USA, an MSc (Energy and Sustainable Development) from De Montfort University, Leicester UK, and a Bachelors with Honours from the University of Ghana. He holds other post-graduate certificates in multiple areas.
MS. KATHLEEN ADDY
Member
Kathleen Addy is a seasoned communications professional with over 25 years’ working experience, working in policy and communications for development. She previously served as the Afrobarometer Communications Manager of the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) with oversight responsibility for seven countries across East and West Africa. Prior to Afrobarometer, she was with the Center for Policy Analysis (CEPA), where she focused on Economic Partnership Agreements, as well as Women’s Economic Empowerment.
Kathy has also consulted on a wide range of issues for different development Organizations and Partners. Ms. Addy is a former lecturer of the GIMPA Law School, where she taught Communications for Law. She is highly regarded as an activist with keen interest in civics, women’s empowerment, as well as accountable and responsive governance. Ms. Addy is presently the Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education, and is also a Reagan-Fascell Democracy fellow of the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington DC.
PROF. MICHELE NAPLES
Member
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MR. MICHAEL APPIAH OTO
Member
Michael Appiah Oto is a highly skilled Information Technology professional with extensive experience in Physical Security Systems, Computer Integration, and Computer Systems Auditing. He has built a strong reputation for delivering reliable IT solutions, implementing secure technology infrastructures, and supporting organizations in improving operational efficiency through innovative digital systems.
Michael possesses significant expertise in the design, deployment, and management of IT infrastructure and security solutions, particularly within financial institutions and public sector organizations. His professional experience spans system integration, network implementation, and the training of technical and administrative staff in specialized technology systems.
Prior to joining BDR, Michael served as a Site Technician for Angel Data and Telecom Services, where he played a key role in supervising the installation, configuration, and maintenance of technology systems across various institutions. In this role, he also conducted training sessions for both front-office and back-office personnel in several financial institutions throughout Ghana, focusing on counterfeit detection technologies and voice recording applications used in banking operations.
Michael further enhanced his technical expertise through specialized training provided by Focus Bank in Guangzhou, China, where he received advanced instruction on the operation and management of state-of-the-art money counting machine technology. This training strengthened his knowledge of financial technology equipment and its application in secure banking environments.
Throughout his career, Michael has successfully led and contributed to several major IT projects. One notable project involved the design, installation, and implementation of a networking infrastructure for the Graduate Laboratory at the University of Professional Studies (formerly IPS). This project involved the deployment and networking, creating a modern and fully functional laboratory environment to support academic research and learning.
In addition to this, Michael contributed to the implementation of a computerized birth registration system for the Births and Deaths Registry in Ghana, aimed at improving the efficiency and accuracy of national civil registration processes. He also participated in the assessment of the m-Birth project, a UNICEF-supported initiative focused on evaluating the progress and effectiveness of Ghana’s computerized birth registration system.
Michael has also served as a Lead Consultant for Provident Insurance PLC, where he provided expert guidance on system integration and IT infrastructure improvements to enhance the organization’s operational systems and technological capabilities.
Academically, Michael holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, which complements his professional experience by providing advanced knowledge in information security, cyber threat management, and digital investigation techniques
