TradeMark Africa
Growing Prosperity Through Trade

TradeMark Africa

Council Members

TradeMark Africa’s Council is the overarching governing body, comprising representatives of funding partners who wish to have representation on the Council.

TradeMark Africa’s Council is the overarching governing body, comprising representatives of funding partners who wish to have representation on the Council. The Council’s mandate includes approving TradeMark Africa’s corporate strategic plan, representing TMA to its stakeholders including donor headquarters, setting the framework for TMA’s intended results and impact, appointing the Board, as well as providing high level strategic support to the Board and Legal Member. 

Meet the Team

Leo Svahnbäck

Finland
Council Chair

Hellen Oriaro

Global Affairs Canada
Council Member

Kanar Salam Patruss

Denmark
Council Member
More on Who We Are

Mr Svahnbäck is the chair of TradeMark Africa Council and holds a full-time position as Deputy Head of Mission and Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Finland in Nairobi. He has extensive experience with the European Union, having worked in various capacities in Brussels and other capitals. Mr. Svahnbäck joined Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2011, and his international postings have included Beijing, where he focused on economics and trade cooperation. His diplomatic endeavours have also covered security policy and issues pertaining to Eastern Europe. Mr. Svahnback was part of the Finnish Parliament staff, serving in the EU office in Brussels and as an adviser to a Finnish MP. He earned his master’s degree in political science from the University of Turku, Finland, and studied briefly at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Aix-en-Provence, France.

Hellen Oriaro is an International Development Officer at Global Affairs Canada.