Gwen Jones

As a member of the Ila Tribal Council in Zambia and in collaboration with Tribal Chiefs, Gwen created a Trust tasked with tribal empowerment and livelihood programs to safeguard the community in tribal-corporate relations. The Trust enables strategies to foster conditions through which sustained and self-determined social and economic development is achieved to protect the cultural history and sovereignty of the tribe. Furthermore, spearheaded activities related to agribusiness and rural development and identifying alternative livelihoods through community participatory approaches.

She has 25 years’ experience and a proven track record of creating commercially viable projects with operational experience in the United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Switzerland. A keen eye to identify and seize opportunities leading from concept to sustainability, e.g. introduction and leader of business team in Texas of cable tension membrane structures utilizing HDPE from South Africa to US market. This virgin product gained full market acceptance over a period of 18 years. Transformed US based company from concept through start-up to $ 2.5 million in annual sales within three years. Provided the marketing leadership that grew the US parent company through the amalgamation of three like companies into one called Trico-USA Inc. Conceived, developed and implemented the sales and marketing plan of Trico-USA Inc. took the product national through a strategic Distributor/Dealer program

In addition, Gwen has grown several businesses through effective business planning, financial profit and loss oversight, creative sales techniques and innovative marketing. In particular, successfully spearheaded a private company that helped win and support bids for international conventions in Geneva held in Zimbabwe. Managed the logistics and protocol of heads of state and delegates representing up to 135 countries with events ranging from 100-7,000 people.