Executive Director, Madagascar

Rooted in rural Ihosy, Tojo is dedicated to rural development and planetary well-being. His commitment began at 15, when he co-founded the environmental group Club Masoandro for local tree-planting. A passionate illustrator and photographer, he trained in graphic design in Germany, working for firms like Rova Caviar Company and illustrating seven children's books. His communication skills and international relations expertise were honed over seven years as a Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitator for U.S. Peace Corps Madagascar. He now leverages this experience through his own company, MADEinDAGO, and proudly serves as our Executive Director in Madagascar, merging visual artistry with impactful grassroots service.

Executive Director, Uganda

Growing up, Paul witnessed the harsh reality of poverty and extreme suffering. He saw children dropping out of school because their parents and caretakers couldn’t afford fees, farmers losing harvests because they lacked access to credit, storage facilities, fluctuating prices, and families forced into endless cycles of debt. These experiences planted a question in him: What if finance wasn’t just about profit, but about dignity, opportunity, and hope? Paul believes access to small loans, savings, storage facilities, steady and good market prices for agri-produce and financial education can help transform lives.

Read the rest of Paul’s perspective here.

Research Director, Madagascar

Walter grew up in the southeastern region of Madagascar in a village called Andranovolo-Antsinanana. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Tropical Biodiversity at the University of Fianarantsoa, within the Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science. He works with Improper as a Research Director. Walter believes that Improper truly cares about its members and the broader community, while also seeking sustainable ways to support and empower them.

Field Director, Madagascar

Joseph lives in Maropanahy, Manarbo Commune. He oversees all of Improper’s on-the-ground agroforestry operations. In Joseph’s words, “Improper is an NGO, where I have seen many benefits already. Improper helps me a lot in my life, and it also helps my wife and children.”

Without Joseph, there would be no coffee!

Chairwoman

Hannah has deep experience and a strong passion for decarbonization solutions. On the commercial side, she has advised major corporations on reducing emissions across their supply chains. She currently works at a climate-focused fund that invests in carbon markets—aiming to drive down global emissions by pricing pollution and holding emitters accountable in key jurisdictions. Hannah’s passion for nature—and her commitment to implementing nature-based solutions that deliver broad community co-benefits—stems from a childhood spent deeply connected to the mountains and beaches of Northern California. Improper’s mission—to improve human health and livelihoods through reforestation—aligns with and inspires her broader climate goals.

Board Member

Jamaican-born and raised, Sashoy’s passion for environmental justice stems from her Caribbean roots and her commitment to protecting vulnerable communities from environmental hazards. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Management from Duke University, where she was awarded the prestigious Nicholas Scholar distinction, and currently serves as Associate Health Scientist II at Stantec. She views Improper as a vital platform to advance One Health approaches—recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health—while amplifying voices from marginalized communities who are disproportionately affected by environmental inequities.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Board Member

Fiona was raised in Boston, MA, where her feeling of purpose derived from service and civic engagement with her city. Academics led her to UCLA in Los Angeles, CA, where she focused on genetics and society. After completing a Master’s in Bioethics at Columbia University, NY, she enrolled at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, RI, where she is a third-year medical student. She is currently exploring OB/Gyn, Reconstructive Surgery, and Family Medicine. Fiona hopes to contribute a bioethical and health-focused lens to Improper and fulfill her purpose serving others.

Intern

Ben is a fourth-year student at UCLA studying Economics and Public Affairs. At Improper, he is focused on quantifying the impacts of reforestation on both malaria incidence and the local economy. Ben appreciates seeing how data-driven insights can bring about positive change around the world.

President

Ryan grew up in the South Bay of Los Angeles, where he learned to appreciate the natural world and how to work with marginalized populations. He is currently a graduate student researching hydrologically mediated health effects among rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Ryan views Improper as an outlet to channel his interests in creativity and the environment into a mission of serving others.