Meet our Consulting Team

Managing Consultant

Having worked in global economic development for over 15 years working with large INGOs (Mercy Corps, MEDA and Grameen Foundation USA) in the capacity of Sr. Advisor and Sr. Project Manager on financial inclusion programs throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and the MENA region.

Nicki has years of technical experience working with formal financial institutions and developing informal savings and loan schemes that are linked to banks, while also bringing years of experience of engaging and managing programs with an array of donors (USAID, DfID, GAC, EC, MasterCard and Gates Foundation).

Keisha Thomas, Head of Programs

Mrs. Thomas brings over two decades of expertise in international development and financial inclusion, delivering strategic guidance and technical support across various regions, including the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Americas.

She has worked with more than 65 financial institutions, ranging from central banks and government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Treasury, OTA, to startups and established institutions. Keisha has led large-scale projects funded by major global donors such as USAID, GIZ, UNDP, EIB, FCDO, DFAT, GAC, FAO, and IFAD.

To date, her work focuses on creating inclusive financial products, conducting gender-lens assessments, and performing market research to improve access to finance for underserved groups such as rural enterprises, youth, women, and SMEs. In addition, she has significant experience in strategy development, operational restructuring, and curriculum development such as financial capabilities. Keisha’s proven success in launching and managing financial institutions, driving mergers and acquisitions, and enhancing operational efficiency has resulted in enhanced service delivery and measurable impact across diverse financial ecosystems.

Julie Redfern, Advisory Council

Julie is a senior manager, advisor and strategy specialist with over 27 years of international experience with start-up, mature and regulated Microfinance Institutions around the world.

Formerly, for 17 years Julie served as Vice President of Financial Services at Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA). In the past Julie has also held several board positions including Trustee of Women’s World Banking (New York); Director, Sevis Finansye Fonkoze (Haiti), Vice-President of MiCredito’s Board of Directors (Nicaragua); and Director, Microvest, a private investmentfund for MFIs.

Jane Onoka, Gender Lens Investing Expert

Jane Onoka is a bilingual (English/French) expert in gender lens investing and international development, with over two decades of experience designing and leading global advisory projects focused on women’s empowerment, capacity building, and financial inclusion.

Jane has led gender integration initiatives across Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, enhancing opportunities for women in organizations and supply chains. Notably, as the Advisory Projects and Gender Lead at IFC, Work Bank Group in Nairobi, she helped her department achieve the highest gender targets and developed resources for integrating gender into agribusiness value chains, while managing partnerships with major international donors.

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