Marlene Ogawa

Marlene Ogawa is Acting Country Director for Synergos in South Africa .

She is a highly experienced manager who has worked with NGOs, government and the private sector in South Africa and the SADC Region. Her expertise is in designing and implementing adult learning and sharing interventions addressing both micro and macro needs. Career highlights include designing and implementing a national capacity building strategy that ensured the National Youth Service implementers had the knowledge and skills to successfully guide young people in skills acquisition and service to their country. She was also instrumental in drafting a strategy and convening collaborators for the professionalization of youth workers in South Africa.

Ms. Ogawa has worked with youth and youth development practitioners in entrepreneurship, mentorship, education design, information technology for development programs, education policy and volunteer initiatives. Ms. Ogawa is committed to and is passionate about supporting volunteer programs and community initiatives and believes that enhancing peoples’ capacity leads to successful program delivery and positive sustainable change and impact in society.

She has an education degree with the University of Johannesburg and various certificates in project management, ICT for development and management.