The people who open the workshop door.
WAJA is led by a team committed to strengthening workforce development, expanding economic opportunity and building modern automotive service infrastructure in West Africa.
Our leadership team brings together experience in business, technical training, operations and international development.
Who leads the work.
Founder
Ben
Founded WAJA on a simple belief: when women gain skills, entire communities rise. 15+ years in international development, global business and military service.
CEO
Philip Johnson
A veteran and former U.S. Army officer who keeps WAJA's standards, compliance and stewardship of donor and partner support strong.
COO
Abigail Rabbi
A Ghanaian leader in women's empowerment who leads WAJA's day-to-day operations as the garage network and training grow.
Senior Executive Director
Gerard Hillary Osei Boakye
Decades of leadership across the military, the church and national service. Gerard provides WAJA's strategic oversight and governance.
Partnerships Director
Homero Vasquez
Builds WAJA's relationships with investors, industry partners and philanthropic organisations that support the growth of its automotive workforce platform.
Programs Director
Aisha Bernard
A global advocate for women's empowerment who leads WAJA's programs, expanding access to education, economic opportunity and leadership.
Logistics Director
Jose de Jesus Vasquez
A connector and organisation builder who turns collaboration into measurable progress, leading logistics for WAJA.
The people who give their time.
As dedicated volunteers, they are an essential part of our efforts to raise funds responsibly, promote awareness and deliver lasting change through collaboration, research and workforce development.
- Douglas KarboniU.S. veteran and business owner
- Scholastica DohardEducation program officer
Governance
How we hold ourselves accountable.
Transparency
Organizations working for social impact should give clear information about their mission, programs and operations. We communicate openly with donors, partners and the communities we serve.
Accountability
Our leadership is responsible for allocating entrusted resources responsibly and in line with our mission, supported by internal systems for program delivery and financial management.
Mission alignment
Every strategic decision is measured against our mission: expanding opportunity for women and vulnerable people through technical training and entrepreneurship.
Ethical stewardship
We are committed to ethical fundraising and responsible stewardship of every contribution from donors and partners.
Global Automotive & Mobility Advisory Board
We are establishing an advisory board of leaders from the automotive, mobility, investment and development communities. It will help WAJA grow responsibly while staying connected to global best practice.
Join the advisory boardThe board will provide:
Strategic guidance
Industry insight
Introductions to potential partners and investors
Expertise in automotive infrastructure and workforce development
Organizational structure
WAJA is a nonprofit organization and does not issue equity or investment opportunities. Certain mobility innovation initiatives may be developed through separate for-profit entities that can pursue investment to support scalable projects.
Questions about how we are structured? Contact us