Paul holds a B.Sc. in Biology from McGill University in Montréal, Canada. He and his wife, Sophia, founded AFRIpads in 2010 while living in a remote village in Uganda, where they saw the direct need for an affordable sanitary pad in these parts of the world.
Management Team

Paul Grinvalds
CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

Sophia Grinvalds
CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR
Sophia holds a BA in Environment & Development from McGill University in Montréal, Canada. She co-founded AFRIpads in 2010 with her husband Paul, and currently serves as a Managing Director of the company.

Barbra Nambafu
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
Barbra holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Accounting) and a Diploma in Accounting from Makerere University Business School. Barbra also attained a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management from Uganda Management Institute (UMI).

Irene Nakayima
PRODUCTION MANAGER
27 year old Irene has worked with AFRIpads for 5 years now, and has a diploma in social work and social administration.
AFRIpads B.V.
AFRIpads B.V. is the company’s legal entity in the Netherlands. Its dedicated team of professionals works closely together with AFRIpads Ltd., providing hands-on operational and financial support to the Ugandan operations.

Bert Bolkenstein
MANAGING DIRECTOR AFRIPADS BV
Bert has been an investor but even more importantly a mentor for AFRIpads from the very beginning. He met Paul and Sophia when they started the pilot project in 2009, immediately saw the potential of their idea and decided to invest.

Rene Meijer
CFO
Rene has been involved with AFRIpads since 2011. He is the owner of Fixum Finances and previously worked for various small and med-sized companies all over Europe.
Supervisory Board
Our strong international, non-executive Supervisory Board consists of members from diverse backgrounds, ranging from international women’s issues, to fast moving consumer goods, to finance. The Supervisory Board formally supervises the management’s policies and the company’s general course of operations. It furthermore proactively provides advice to AFRIpads’ management.

Konstanze Neuerberg
BOARD MEMBER
Konstanze joined the Supervisory Board in the spring of 2012. She is currently working as an independent architect in Paris, France. Before establishing her own practice she worked for renowned architectural firms such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in New York, Dominique Perrault and Jean Nouvel in Paris. She is currently involved in sustainable architecture projects in France and in the design of the new AFRIpads factory in Uganda.

Cristina Ljunberg
BOARD MEMBER
Cristina joined the Supervisory Board in 2014. Her previous positions are Principal Engineer at Baxter International and Consultant at McKinsey & Co. She currently serves as a partner at Influence Film and Director at Giving Wings.

René van de Wolfshaar
CHAIRMAN SUPERVISORY BOARD
René was appointed in 2010. Some of his previous positions are MD of C&E Bankers, Head of Private Clients Lombard Odier, SVB Lowland international and Board member of Youth Theatre School The Masquerade. He is currently a partner at Stuijvesant Wealth Strategy and Board member of two family foundations.

Giovanni Gerola
BOARD MEMBER
Giovanni was appointed in 2014 as Board Member of the Supervisory Board. His previous positions are Investment Manager at MicroVentures Investments SA (LUX/CH) and COO at Altromercato Soc. Coop (IT). He currently serves as Director of Investments at Fondazione Opes (IT).

Mark Holladay
BOARD MEMBER
In 2009, Mark was appointed as Board Member of the Supervisory Board. His previous positions are Managing Director Europe and Asia Aalberts Industries and Founding Partner Espinosa Partners. He currently serves as the Managing Director Wharf Advisory Services LTD.
- OUR AFRICA TEAM
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Management Team
Paul Grinvalds
CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR
Paul holds a B.Sc. in Biology from McGill University in Montréal, Canada. He and his wife, Sophia, founded AFRIpads in 2010 while living in a remote village in Uganda, where they saw the direct need for an affordable sanitary pad in these parts of the world.
Sophia Grinvalds
CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR
Sophia holds a BA in Environment & Development from McGill University in Montréal, Canada. She co-founded AFRIpads in 2010 with her husband Paul, and currently serves as a Managing Director of the company.
Barbra Nambafu
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
Barbra holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Accounting) and a Diploma in Accounting from Makerere University Business School. Barbra also attained a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management from Uganda Management Institute (UMI).
Irene Nakayima
PRODUCTION MANAGER
27 year old Irene has worked with AFRIpads for 5 years now, and has a diploma in social work and social administration.
- OUR INTERNATIONAL TEAM
-
AFRIpads B.V.
AFRIpads B.V. is the company’s legal entity in the Netherlands. Its dedicated team of professionals works closely together with AFRIpads Ltd., providing hands-on operational and financial support to the Ugandan operations.
Bert Bolkenstein
MANAGING DIRECTOR AFRIPADS BV
Bert has been an investor but even more importantly a mentor for AFRIpads from the very beginning. He met Paul and Sophia when they started the pilot project in 2009, immediately saw the potential of their idea and decided to invest.
Rene Meijer
CFO
Rene has been involved with AFRIpads since 2011. He is the owner of Fixum Finances and previously worked for various small and med-sized companies all over Europe.
Supervisory Board
Our strong international, non-executive Supervisory Board consists of members from diverse backgrounds, ranging from international women’s issues, to fast moving consumer goods, to finance. The Supervisory Board formally supervises the management’s policies and the company’s general course of operations. It furthermore proactively provides advice to AFRIpads’ management.
Konstanze Neuerberg
BOARD MEMBER
Konstanze joined the Supervisory Board in the spring of 2012. She is currently working as an independent architect in Paris, France. Before establishing her own practice she worked for renowned architectural firms such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in New York, Dominique Perrault and Jean Nouvel in Paris. She is currently involved in sustainable architecture projects in France and in the design of the new AFRIpads factory in Uganda.
Cristina Ljunberg
BOARD MEMBER
Cristina joined the Supervisory Board in 2014. Her previous positions are Principal Engineer at Baxter International and Consultant at McKinsey & Co. She currently serves as a partner at Influence Film and Director at Giving Wings.
René van de Wolfshaar
CHAIRMAN SUPERVISORY BOARD
René was appointed in 2010. Some of his previous positions are MD of C&E Bankers, Head of Private Clients Lombard Odier, SVB Lowland international and Board member of Youth Theatre School The Masquerade. He is currently a partner at Stuijvesant Wealth Strategy and Board member of two family foundations.
Giovanni Gerola
BOARD MEMBER
Giovanni was appointed in 2014 as Board Member of the Supervisory Board. His previous positions are Investment Manager at MicroVentures Investments SA (LUX/CH) and COO at Altromercato Soc. Coop (IT). He currently serves as Director of Investments at Fondazione Opes (IT).
Mark Holladay
BOARD MEMBER
In 2009, Mark was appointed as Board Member of the Supervisory Board. His previous positions are Managing Director Europe and Asia Aalberts Industries and Founding Partner Espinosa Partners. He currently serves as the Managing Director Wharf Advisory Services LTD.
- OUR PARTNERS
AFRIpads (U) Ltd
Plot 28 Ntinda View Crescent
Naguru, Kampala, Uganda
+256 (0) 392 174 561
[email protected]