Our Team - Eastern Congo Initiative

Ben Affleck

Co-Founder and Chair

In addition to a successful career as a two-time Academy Award winning actor, writer and director, Ben Affleck is also a passionate advocate and philanthropist. In 2010, Ben co-founded Eastern Congo…

Maura O’Neill

Through her work in the public, private and academic sectors, Maura O’Neill has created entrepreneurial and public-private solutions for some of the toughest domestic and global problems. A serial entrepreneur, Maura…

Mvemba Phezo Dizolele

Secretary

Mvemba Phezo Dizolele is a writer, foreign policy analyst, and independent journalist. He is a senior strategy and advocacy adviser at Eastern Congo Initiative. Mr. Dizolele is a professorial lecturer in…

Nima Taghavi

Nima Taghavi is the Founder & CEO of Group 206, a private investment firm created in 2013. Taghavi’s entrepreneurial journey began at a young age. Taghavi immigrated to the US from…

Whitney Williams

Co-Founder and Vice Chair

Whitney serves as co-founder and Vice Chair of the Board for Eastern Congo Initiative, the first U.S.-based advocacy and grantmaking organization focused solely on working with and for the people of…

Ricardo Michel

Treasurer

Ricardo Michel is an international development expert with more than 25 years of international finance and leadership experience in both the private and public sectors. He is the Founder and CEO…