About Us

Our Foundation

Vision, Mission & Purpose

Our Services

Guiding Principles for Lasting Partnerships

Our Approach

Empowering Your Success Through Personalized Solutions

Our Team

Meet the GARI Board of Directors

Dr Willard Bepete — Founder & Executive Director

As a seasoned specialist orthopaedic surgeon with 28+ years of handling a wide range of complex orthopaedic cases, he brings to the GARI board a solid sense of community responsibility, tenacity, humility, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, compassion, integrity, authenticity, conscientiousness, continuous learning, care & diligence, as well as patient, client and employee safety and advocacy.

With a long-standing background in entrepreneurship and board experience spanning 25+ years, guided by some of the best global business mentors and human behaviour and value experts, and as a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), he brings visionary leadership.

“Knowledge is power,” as the saying goes. The GARI LMS (Learner Management System) provides an excellent opportunity for him and the team to offer relevant courses in the growth of individuals, communities and businesses, and entire value chains, through good governance, gratitude, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and authentic growth mindsets moulded for shared prosperity and responsibility — creating thriving communities with equal opportunities, where women and youth are multi-skilled, have good values, and live abundantly in a world that is peaceful and safe.

The goal is the achievement of happy, fulfilling lives and a choice of wisdom over despair in all circumstances.

Lucy Bepete — Executive Director

With 28+ years of combined experience across the medical field and business sector, Lucy brings a rare blend of operational depth, commercial insight, and strategic clarity to the organisation. Her academic foundation — a BCom (Bachelor of Commerce), an MBL (Master of Business Leadership), a professional nursing background, and status as a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors — strengthens her ability to contribute meaningfully at director level within GARI’s LMS-focused environment.

She applies strong capabilities in business strategy, governance, and financial literacy to support sustainable growth, ethical decision-making, and long-term organisational resilience. Her leadership approach is rooted in integrity, cultural awareness, and a commitment to excellence.

Driven by a passion for community empowerment, she champions strategic foresight, critical insight, and a mindset shaped by relevant knowledge and ethical leadership. Her work focuses on delivering world-class governance, leadership development, and skills training that help individuals and organisations become sustainable, inclusive, and thriving.

This combination of experience, academic strength, and purpose-led leadership positions her as a key contributor to GARI’s mission and long-term strategic success.

Dr. Julia U. Ugorji, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, FAAN — Director

Dr. Julia Ugorji is an accomplished nurse leader, educator, healthcare executive, and internationally recognized advocate for health equity, leadership development, and community empowerment. Throughout her distinguished career, she has advanced nursing excellence, transformed healthcare education, and championed initiatives that create opportunities for underserved communities.

Dr. Ugorji has held several prominent leadership positions, including Associate Dean and Chief Nurse Administrator at Metropolitan State University, Dean of Nursing at North Hennepin Community College, and Associate Dean at Rasmussen University. In these roles, she provided visionary leadership in nursing education, workforce development, and academic innovation.

As a community leader, Dr. Ugorji serves as an External Advisor to the Minnesota Governor’s Office on Public Engagement, where she contributes to initiatives that promote community engagement/empowerment, inclusivity, and public well-being. Her exceptional service has earned numerous honors, including the United States President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service, the International Leadership Award, and induction as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), the highest distinctions in the nursing profession.

As a Director at GARI Consultants, Dr. Ugorji provides strategic governance and advocates for innovative education and workforce development initiatives. She strongly supports the GARI Learning Management System (LMS), recognizing its capacity to deliver relevant education and practical skills that promote good governance, emotional intelligence, gratitude, self-awareness, and authentic leadership. Through education, mentorship, advocacy, and service, Dr. Ugorji continues to inspire transformational change and help build healthier, more equitable, resilient, and prosperous communities globally.

Elizabeth Kamau — Chair of the Board

Elizabeth Kamau is an innovation, technology, governance, and agribusiness leader with over 15 years of experience providing strategic leadership in ICT, project management, digital transformation, policy development, risk management, business management, and corporate governance across research institutions, diplomatic missions, and international non-governmental organizations. She holds a BSc degree in Computer Technology, an MBA in Strategic Management, and is a PRINCE2® Certified Project Management Practitioner and ITIL® (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) practitioner, reflecting her commitment to excellence in strategic leadership, project delivery, and organizational performance.

Born and raised in the rural communities of Central Kenya, Elizabeth witnessed firsthand how farming sustained families but rarely created prosperity. Inspired by the untapped potential of agriculture, she has spent the last decade combining technology, innovation, and sound governance to transform farming into sustainable agribusiness. She is currently the Co-Founder of Shebah Farms, an agribusiness specializing in the sustainable production, value addition, and commercialization of high-value horticultural crops and African botanical wellness products, creating market opportunities that improve livelihoods for women, youth, and rural communities.

As Chair of the GARI Board, Elizabeth is inspired by the opportunity to help shape an organization that will redefine the future of Africa through transformative leadership, innovation, and sustainable enterprise. She believes that Africa’s greatest opportunity lies not only in its natural resources but also in developing leaders, entrepreneurs, and institutions with the vision, values, and capabilities to build resilient organizations and thriving communities. Drawing on her experience in technology, governance, and agribusiness, she is committed to strengthening GARI as a catalyst for thought leadership, collaboration, and practical solutions that address the continent’s most pressing opportunities and challenges.

Elizabeth envisions GARI becoming Africa’s premier platform for leadership, governance, innovation, and entrepreneurship—cultivating a new generation of directors, executives, entrepreneurs, women, youth, and community leaders grounded in self-awareness, gratitude, ethical conduct, responsible citizenship, and a growth mindset. Through transformative learning, strategic collaboration, and practical experience, GARI will equip them with the capabilities, networks, and opportunities to build resilient institutions, create sustainable value chains, and develop globally competitive enterprises.

Together with the Board, Elizabeth is committed to building an institution that shapes principled leaders, influences policy and practice, accelerates innovation and entrepreneurship, and drives inclusive economic transformation. Her vision is for GARI to leave a lasting legacy of prosperous organizations, empowered communities, and ethical leadership that will positively impact Africa and inspire the world.