Executive Leadership Team
Experienced leaders guiding Victoria Community Project’s transformation through sustainable aquaculture
Strategic Vision • Government Relations • Technical Operations • Community Leadership
Michael Ogolla
Project Director
Leadership Responsibilities
- Strategic Planning: Long-term vision and goal setting for community development
- Government Relations: Liaison with county, national, and international development partners
- Stakeholder Management: Building and maintaining relationships with funders, partners, and community leaders
- Project Oversight: Ensuring all initiatives align with community needs and organizational mission
Experience & Expertise
- Community Leadership: 5+ years leading community development initiatives on Rusinga Island
- Aquaculture Innovation: Pioneer in addressing Lake Victoria’s environmental challenges through sustainable fish farming
- Partnership Development: Successfully established 9 strategic partnerships, ensuring market validation
- Youth Empowerment: Track record of creating opportunities for young people in the community
Leadership Philosophy
“True leadership in community development means listening to our people, understanding their challenges, and creating solutions that work for everyone. Our fish farming breakthrough represents more than sustainable aquaculture – it’s the foundation for transforming our entire community’s future while preserving our cultural values and environmental heritage.”
Vision for the Future
Michael Ogolla envisions Victoria Community Project as a model for sustainable community development across East Africa. His goal is to demonstrate how environmental innovation, youth empowerment, and traditional community values can work together to create lasting prosperity while addressing climate challenges.
Key Achievements
- Led team to 85% fish survival rate
- Secured 9 strategic partnerships
- Established CBO legal status
- Built a committed 8-person team
- Developed oxygen management innovation
Operational Excellence
- 3+ years aquaculture experience
- Expert in water quality management
- Team coordination specialist
- Quality control systems
- Equipment maintenance expertise
Collins Otieno
Operations Manager
Operational Responsibilities
- Daily Operations: Overseeing all fish farming activities including feeding, monitoring, and harvesting
- Quality Control: Ensuring fish health, water quality, and production standards
- Team Coordination: Managing 8 working staff across pond and cage operations
- Technical Implementation: Installing and maintaining aeration systems and monitoring equipment
Technical Expertise
- Aquaculture Systems: Hands-on experience with both pond and cage farming techniques
- Water Management: Expert in oxygen monitoring and aeration system operation
- Fish Health: Trained in disease prevention, nutrition, and growth optimization
- Equipment Operation: Skilled in solar-powered systems and monitoring technology
Operational Philosophy
“Technical excellence and community values guide everything we do in our fish farming operations. Success comes from combining modern aquaculture techniques with deep understanding of our local environment and the needs of our community.”
Innovation Focus
Collins leads the technical implementation of our oxygen management innovation, ensuring that our fish farming operations not only succeed commercially but also demonstrate sustainable solutions to Lake Victoria’s environmental challenges. His focus on training and knowledge transfer ensures the entire team maintains the highest operational standards.
Daniel Hirtz
Community Partner · San Francisco, USA
Partnership Responsibilities
- International Visibility: Connecting the project with a global network of educators, facilitators, and community builders
- Community Design: Supporting the relational and human dimensions of the project alongside its technical and operational goals
- Long-term Accompaniment: Walking alongside the project as a committed partner — not a funder or adviser from a distance
- Web Presence: Building and maintaining the project’s digital presence so the team can focus on the work on the ground
Background & Experience
- Community Facilitation: 40+ years working at the intersection of music, breath, and human connection in the USA and Europe
- Music & Rhythm: Tabla teacher and drum circle facilitator — using rhythm as a language for community cohesion
- Breathwork Education: Founder of Conscious Adaptive Breathing, teaching self-understanding through the body
- Digital Infrastructure: Webmaster for this project — building the tools that make the team’s work visible to the world
On This Partnership
“I came to this project as an observer. I stayed because of what I saw. What this community has built — the trust, the mutual dependence, the willingness to carry each other — is something the rest of the world is still trying to learn. I am not here to bring something from outside. I am here because I recognize something real.”
Why Rusinga Island
Daniel connected with Victoria Community Project through a shared belief that communities who genuinely depend on each other carry a wisdom that more prosperous societies have largely lost. His commitment is long-term — he is interested not only in what this project can become, but in what it already is.
What He Brings
- 40 years of community facilitation
- Global network of educators and facilitators
- Music and rhythm as community tools
- Breathwork and human connection practice
- Website design and digital presence
San Francisco, California
danielhirtz.com
Leadership Impact & Results
85%
Fish Survival Rate Achieved
9
Strategic Partnerships Secured
8
Committed Staff Recruited
3+
Years Operational Experience
Connect with Our Leadership Team
Our experienced leaders are ready to discuss partnership opportunities and answer questions about our innovative approach to sustainable community development.