Introduction text about the leadership team in general.
Dr Iain Pickett grew up in the UK. He put his trust in Jesus as a young child, and as a teenager God began stirring his heart for mission.
Katherine Porter leads OM’s Organisational Development which is responsible for training, leadership development, spiritual formation and boards across OM.
I’Ching Chan-Thomas leads OM’s global resourcing strategies, ensuring field ministry needs are clearly identified and prioritised for maximum effectiveness.
Matthew Skirton grew up in a Christian home on the south coast of England. Having joined an OM Love Europe outreach in 1992, he and his wife Helen joined OM long term in 1994.
Gian Waler leads global services to provide efficient operating structures, administrative services and systems for OM. Gian Walser was born and raised in Switzerland. From a teenager to young adult, he was greatly involved in YMCA youth work, as well as his local church.
Claudia Costa, from Brazil, led OM’s work in Bosnia-Herzegovina for over 12 years before returning to Latin America as area leader.
Melvin Chiombe holds a B.A. in pastoral theology, mission’s studies, leadership development, social work and project planning and management, and is very involved in church mobilisation and training.
Mary Lederleitner is Founder and Executive Director of Missional Intelligence LLC. She is a researcher, author and leader in areas that foster greater inclusion and mutuality as people from the Global Church work together in God’s mission.
Zenet Maramara, a dynamic woman from the Philippines, has multiple master’s degrees in journalism, Christian education, divinity, an M.B.A. in Biblical Stewardship and Christian management as well as D.Min. in Transformational Leadership for the Global City from Bakke Graduate University in the USA.
Shura Façanha boarded Logos in 1987 as the second woman from her home country of Ecuador to join OM – her sister being the first. Shura went on to work with OM in Europe and, later serving on Doulos and in the USA.
Andrea Vogt grew up in Germany but has spent a considerable amount of her adult years living and working across the globe. She has a passion for global health, equal education and community development.
Paul Hynam has served as the chairman of the board for OM in his home country Barbados, as well as OM in the Caribbean.
Seang-Pin started her career as a lawyer and is now in mission work. She has been with OM since 2015 when she joined OM’s majority world sustainability innovation project.
Wei-Leong Goh from Singapore is passionate about social justice and connecting people to one another. He aspires to be a ‘Catalyst Bringing life’ and enjoys engaging millennials over a good cup of coffee.
Jon Seeley has worked with OM in Australia, his home country as well as in Austria and Uzbekistan. He served as OM International’s Chief Financial Officer from 1994 to 2000 and as the Chairman of the board for OM Australia from 2012 to 2017.
Bert van de Haar was born and raised in The Netherlands. He has been involved with OM since 2013 when he joined the board for OM Ships. He became chairman of the ship’s board in 2015.
Rev. Calisto Odede, from Kenya, has travelled to many countries conducting Bible exposition and leadership training, and has been a frequent featured speaker at conferences and mission conventions.
Born into a second-generation Christian family, Moses came to know Jesus at age 17. After completing his undergraduate degree in Science, he joined OM when he was 21 and served on youth evangelism teams for more than two years.
Boureima Diallo is a Fulani from Burkina Faso. God has blessed Boureima and wife Susanna with three children, and they host and care for many more in their home. Boureima earned a B.A. in cross-cultural mission studies at Moorlands College in the UK and studied MTH in Qur’anic and post Qur’anic interpretation of biblical themes at London School of Theology. He has worked for two UK banks: HSBC and Alliance and Leicester.
Joel grew up the son of a church planter in India, where he was able to witness the gospel take root in communities and churches established among the poor, marginalised and social outcasts.
David Rolles, from the UK, joined OM in 2023 and serves as Operations Director for OM in the Caribbean. His early childhood was spent in Italy, where his parents were missionaries, and he returned there as part of his bachelor’s degree at Reading University.
Lawrence Tong, from Singapore, is OM’s International Director, cultivating the vision and providing guidance to the Global Leadership Team. He studied Communications and has a master’s degree in Business Administration.
As the International Director of OM from 2003 to 2013, Peter emphasised the spirituality of OM team members and the importance of God’s Word permeating the entire life of Jesus followers.
George Verwer was born in New Jersey, USA, in 1938. When he was 14 years old, a woman named Dorothea Clapp gave him a copy of the Gospel of John. Mrs Clapp prayed for 18 years for the students at George’s school to become passionate Jesus-followers and take His message to the ends of the earth. Three years later, George attended a Billy Graham meeting in New York City, where he made a personal commitment to Christ. His entire life was changed.
Dale Rhoton, who co-founded Operation Mobilisation (OM), was born in 1938 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. His older brother led him to faith in Christ when he was 17 years old. The family moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, where Dale attended a youth group at a Christian and Missionary Alliance church. Its pastor was a guiding influence as Dale grew in his faith.
