THE TEAM:

COMPANY DIRECTORS: Roderick JAMES, Amanda MARKHAM, Nicholas HITIMANA. 

LEAD ARCHITECT/DIRECTOR: Jean Paul UZABAKIRIHO; Construction, Apprentice Programme

ADVISORY BOARD:

Nicholas HITIMANA, Managing Director Ikirezi Essential Oils, Kigali

Joy NDUNGUTSE; Founder and CEO of Gahaya Links, Kigali

Alberto Benvenuti; Hotelier & builder, Musanze

Sir Tim Smit; Founder of the Eden Project, Cornwal, UK

Sir John Rose; Deputy Chair Rothschild Group & former CEO of Rolls Royce PLC.

We are in the process of inviting other local people to join the Advisory Board and identifying local people with the skills to manage projects as they develop.

LOCAL PARTICIPANTS:

Gilbert NSABIMANA; Consultant.

Gaspard MUNYANGANIZI; Engineer

Rev. Jacques MURAGIJIMANA; Pastor and Head Teacher of secondary school in Shyira

Zilpa MASENGESHO; Director of Cultural Center at Shyira.

Isaac NSENGIYUMVA; Photographer, Researcher, Support staff.

CATALYSTS : UMURAGE PARTNERSHIPS LTD & UMURAGE DEVELOPMENT CBC

Amanda MARKHAM, Designer;

TV producer, Interior Decorator,  Parchment Shade Company Ltd -1986. Member of Last Word Lectures executive team hosting renowned speakers from all over the world. Works on all projects with her husband, Roderick James. Director of Umurage Partnerships Ltd. & Umurage Development CBC (Rwanda).

Nicholas HITIMANA; Managing Director of Ikirezi Essential Oils, Kigali; Director of Umurage Partnerships Ltd & Umurage Development CBC.

Peter HINDLEY. Son of medical missionary Dr Godfrey Hindley, born in Shyira and lived there for 15 years. Chairman and Chief Executive roles in several UK companies. Consultant & Co-founder.

Roderick JAMES, Architect son of medical missionaries Dr Norman and Catherine James:

  1. Founding Director and Architect for the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales in 1974. It is now a university for sustainable architecture, and a public demonstration centre of windpower, hydropower, solar heating, solar electricity, organic agriculture, and sustainable solutions.    www.cat.org.uk;

  2. A member of the Intermediate Technology Development Group (1975- 1979), now called ‘Practical Action’ developing third world technologies, brick making, fibre reinforced cement, Cinva Ram.

  3. Founding chairman of Carpenter Oak & Woodland Ltd and Carpenter Oak Ltd (Oak frame buildings, Windsor Castle, Stirling Castle, 1500 Houses, 60 carpenters at peak) 1986-2006.

  4. Founding director of the SchoolHouse Project (video here) 2016, a programme for Schoolchildren building a house in their school grounds in London.

  5. Founding director of R-Affordable Homes Ltd, a training programme for ex-offenders building a house in Scotland (2017)

  6. Founder: Roderick James Architects and Roderick James Architects LLP.  1973-2020 www.roderickjamesarchitects.co.uk;

  7. Founder of Roderick James and Company; Design, Construction & Special projects 1973-present. Partnership now with Amanda Markham.

  8. Founder of Out of the Blue Ltd with Amanda Markham 2014-Present. www.outoftheblue.uk.com; Design, development of properties for short term letting,  marine design and special projects, consultants for visitor centres, tourism,  business development and income generation.

  9. Trustee of Jamie’s Farm charity for disadvantaged children (over 16,000 children have stayed on our 6 farms). www.jamiesfarm.org.uk. Currently building two rental cabins for fundraising.

  10. Founding chairman with Amanda Markham:  Umurage Partnerships Ltd, (2024- ) www.umuragepartnerships.com;  Not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee creating Architecture For Business Development in Rwanda and working with local architects.

  11. Roderick and Amanda built their own house, Eagle Rock, (video here), as part of a development of 21 houses designed by Roderick James Architects LLP. in Scotland 2015.

  12. Founding Director: Umurage Development CBC (Rwanda) 2025-