Personal Information
George is an authority in the development and financing creative industries in Africa, an arts manager, and the founding partner at HEVA Fund LLP. George is leading a development and business exploration of the creative industries in Africa, and is providing leadership in creating long-term economic and cultural value in this dynamic sector.
In his previous role as the managing partner at HEVA Fund - a finance and business support facility for creative industries in East Africa, George was instrumental in raising over USD 10 million and deploying this facility to over 100 creative industry businesses and projects in film, music, fashion and gaming across the East Africa region (2013-2022). George supported the establishment of the Ford Foundation backed Documentary Africa Fund – DocA (2018) which committed USD 2 million to film development grants across Africa. Also, George supported the establishment of the Netflix Film and Television scholarship program in East Africa (2022), which awarded 46 full scholarships in the inaugural year. Recently, George has helped to establish the Mastercard Foundation – Kenya, creative industries program which has committed USD 10M to the growth of creative enterprises.
George has significantly contributed to the transformation of the creative economy policy environment in Kenya and in the East Africa region, most notably spearheading the development and finalization of Kenya's first film policy white paper (2017). George was appointed a senior advisor on culture, to the Minister of Sports, Culture and Arts in Kenya (2020) to support the sector to overcome the impact of COVID19. He led the effort to establish a fashion and garments, Center of Excellence Project with the Executive Office of the President as part of the “Big Four Agenda” national development plan (2018/2020).
As a researcher and writer, George has participated in over 12 unique research projects, playing numerous roles including project lead and lead researcher. Some of his recent publications include the Uhuru Market Case Study: Examining Firm-level Opportunities Necessary for the Transformation of Kenya's Micro and Small Textiles Operations (2020, October); Safeguarding Africa's Creative and Cultural Moment, via the Creative Industries Policy Evidence Center (2020, July), Engaging the Youth - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (2020, March); and, a report on the Impact on COVID-19 on Creative Industries: Options and Strategies (2020, April).
As a filmmaker, George together with his team at the NEST have developed a large catalogue of films which have been selected for screenings in over 100 countries around the world have been featured in some of most prestigious global film festivals including: Toronto International Film
Festival (2016); Berlin International Fashion Film Festival (2015); MoMA Documentary Fortnight Festival (2015); 65th Berlin International Film Festival (2015); BFI: Flare (2015); Toronto International Film Festival (2014); and the Bokeh International Fashion Film Festival (2014) among others. George's films have been nominated and have gone ahead to win the following awards: Berlinale Teddy Awards, Jury Prize (2015); Berlinale Panorama Audience Award 2nd Place (2015); and the Berlin Fashion Film Festival, Best Original Music (2015). George has also published his first book, “The Reverse is True. A Reflective Journey.” via London’s Author House Publishers ( September, 2010).
George has a background in Communication from Daystar University (Kenya), Conflict Prevention and Management from the International Peace and Security Institute (Italy), Design Thinking and Problem Solving from the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Private Equity and Venture Capital, Strathmore Business School (Kenya). He brings to this role a unique blend of career experiences working in resource development and governance with particular focus in entrepreneurship, youth development, social innovation and arts management.
Additionally, George is the Kenya program advisor on creative industries for MasterCard Foundation (2022/2023), he is a member of the International Advisory Council, of the Policy and Evidence Center in the United Kingdom (2019/2023), an Honorary Fellow at Goldsmiths University of London (2020/2024), was considered among Africa’s top 100 most talented young African economic leaders of their generation by the Institut Choiseul in France (2022), was elected to UNESCO’s Administrative Council of the International Fund for the Promotion of Culture (IFPC) by Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Namibia, Senegal, Togo and Kenya (2021), and is a recipient of the International Development Committee's Outstanding Leadership Award (2016).