Our Team

Erwin Kinsey

East Africa

Director, ECHO East Africa Impact Center

Erwin Kinsey was born and raised on a Vermont dairy and maple farm. He volunteered with the American Friends Service Committee in Mexico for two years before finishing his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Vermont. He has worked for 35 years promoting food security of small, low-income farmers and pastoralists, first with Heifer International in Tanzania and across Africa from 1977-2007, and for Global Service Corps in Tanzania from 2007-2012. He obtained a Masters in Rural Development from the University of London SOAS in 2008 and has written numerous farmer manuals and publications.

Grace Ju Miller

North America

Director, ECHO North America Impact Center

Patrick Trail

Asia

Patrick is originally from Louisiana but spent most of his growing-up years overseas. He lived in Rwanda, Mauritius, and Botswana before returning to the U.S. to begin university. After completing his undergraduate degree, he returned to Virginia Tech to complete a Master’s degree in Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences and worked on a Feed the Future project in Senegal. Patrick is also an International Certified Crop Advisor.

Robert Sanou

West Africa

Director, ECHO West Africa Impact Center

For over 15 years Robert has directed the work of ACCEDES, a multi-sectorial development organization in Burkina Faso. Mr. Sanou holds a Master’s degree in Project Management and a Jurist Doctor degree in Law. He is a French and English-speaking Burkinabé who has served on Boards of regional organizations consulted for European and U.S. entities and traveled widely throughout the region and the world.