Meet Our Board and Staff

DEBRA HOPKINS – BOARD CHAIR

 Debra first became involved with Mission With A Vision in 2006 when her daughter volunteered at the Safe House. She was deeply moved by the impact the organization has on the lives of the girls. She is proud to be part of an organization that makes a meaningful difference. Debra lives in Colorado, USA. She has made significant contributions by sponsoring numerous girls.

GILL NEALE- VICE CHAIR
Gill lives in the UK and is a member of a charity called TURF, which stands for Team Up Reach Forward. They mainly raise funds through property development and include the local community in their projects. Gill also works as a matron in a junior boarding school and is a barista and cake baker two days a week. Her passion is travelling, she has been fortunate to visit 6 out of 7 continents so far!

GILL PIPER – BOARD MEMBER

Gill Piper is based in the UK and spent 17 years working with an international NGO, delivering humanitarian aid to communities across the globe. Her career took a significant turn during a work trip to Kenya in 1998, when a colleague encouraged her to visit the Maasai Mara. That visit impacted her and inspired her to dedicate herself to supporting girls in finding positive paths away from the dangers of FGM.

Now involved in raising dementia awareness, Gill remains deeply committed to Mission With A Vision. She is proud of the incredible progress the organization has made under Patrick and Josephine's leadership and understands the critical role of donor support in sustaining and expanding this impactful program. Gill’s hope is for Mission With A Vision to achieve complete self-sufficiency in the future.

JOSEPHINE ROTIKEN- BOARD MEMBER
Josephine holds a Law degree from Kabarak University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law. She joined the Board in 2008 as a representative of the girls, having been rescued from a forced early marriage. A passionate advocate for girls' rights, Josephine leads the girls at the Safe House, serving as a mentor and role model. Her dedication to supporting and empowering others is at the heart of her work.

RACHEL HORNER – BOARD MEMBER

Rachel Horner is a freelance journalist and dedicated anti-FGM campaigner. Her journey with Mission With A Vision began in 2014 while volunteering on a collaborative project between MWV and the UK-based charity, Mission Direct.

Reflecting on her experience, Rachel shares:

"What impressed me so much about Mission With A Vision is its unwavering focus on rescuing girls from FGM, providing them with a safe haven, and supporting their education. Patrick and his family’s efforts, carried out with such joy and love, have transformed a difficult and frightening time for these girls into an opportunity for hope. It’s never easy to leave behind your family and village, uncertain if you’ll ever return, but Patrick and his family have become surrogate parents to hundreds of girls over the years, creating a true home for them."

To explore some of Rachel’s campaigning journalism, click here and here.

BARBARA “Bibi” PICKETT – BOARD MEMBER

Barbara “Bibi” Pickett first met Patrick in 1999 while managing a Peace Corps training program in Naivasha. Since then, she has witnessed Mission With A Vision’s incredible growth—from supporting just a few girls to becoming a vibrant organization that has significantly impacted the lives of nomadic girls. She began her career as a nurse at a leprosarium in Ethiopia. 

With over 25 years of experience managing international programs, primarily across Africa, she brings a wealth of expertise to her work. Barbara holds a B.S. in Nursing and an M.A. in International Development.

CATHERINE MUNAI – BOARD MEMBER

As one of the first girls supported by Mission With A Vision, Catherine’s journey with the organization has come full circle. Catherine is a passionate advocate for girls’ education, she has contributed her time and expertise on numerous occasions to support this cause. She is a registered nurse at Kenyatta National Hospital and holds a Diploma in Nursing from the Kenya Medical Training College. Inspired by the impact MWAV had on her life, she joined the Board to continue empowering and supporting more girls, ensuring they have the opportunities she once received.

John Z.Eanes
John’s involvement with Mission With A Vision began during his first mission trip to Kenya in 2018. At the time, the organization was working to enhance its economic self-sufficiency through farming. Leveraging his mechanical expertise, John played a pivotal role in securing a farming tractor for the girls’ safe house. With the tractor, the girls were not only able to plow and plant their own fields but also offer these services to others, generating income to support their living expenses and education. John now lives in Galveston and graduated from Texas State Technical Institute. He also founded his own business, Galveston Automotive Professionals, in 1992. John has provided invaluable technical and financial support to Mission With A Vision over the years.

DAN COLLINS – BOARD MEMBER
Based in Cambridge, UK, Daniel is an osteopath working across London and Thetford. He has been a passionate supporter and sponsor of Mission With A Vision since 2016, when he witnessed the charity’s impact firsthand during a missionary trip. He is impressed by the work the organization does to empower girls and women in Kenya, helping to create brighter futures for those most in need. Dan also serves on the Board of the Institute of Osteopathy and is an Army Reservist with the London Regiment.

Gill Martin Bsc, Msc, PGCE
Gill is a retired Geography and TEFL teacher from the UK with a passion for education and community development in developing countries. Her two years teaching in Nigeria shaped her career, which included 14 years managing education projects in Latin America and Asia. In 2013, nearing retirement, Gill began working with NGOs in Africa. She joined the Mission Direct team in 2015, where she met Patrick and was inspired by the work of Mission With A Vision. Since then, she has supported MWAV and sponsored three girls at the House of Hope. Gill also volunteers with Debt Advice Counselling and a Community Café for Migrants in London.

JACINTA NAISIMOI- FINANCE OFFICER
Jancinta was a beneficiary of Mission With A Vision during her schooling and now holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) from Bondo University. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in the same field at Mount Kenya University. Jancinta joined the organization as a staff member after graduation. She is passionate about supporting others and serves as the Finance Officer while also managing the farm. In this role, she supervises food production, contributing to the organization’s self-sufficiency and impact.

EMILY SADERA – PROGRAM OFFICER
Emily Sadera, is a beneficiary of Mission With A Vision and achieved her educational dream with the organization’s support, earning a diploma in Computer Studies. Following her graduation, she expressed a strong desire to give back to the organisation joined it in 2017 as a Program Officer. Emily is dedicated to serving the girls and her shared experiences with them make her an invaluable asset to the program.