Welcoming Our New Trustee: Sadie Walton

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Sadie Walton to our Board of Trustees. A seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in the global coffee industry, Sadie brings a unique blend of logistical expertise and a deep-rooted love for East Africa to our team.

Sadie’s career as Green Coffee Buying Manager for the Newcastle-based family business, Ringtons, has seen her spend over a decade visiting rural communities across East Africa and Latin America. In her current strategic role, she works collaboratively with stakeholders to steer value chains toward a resilient future - skills she is now eager to apply to the educational landscape in Ethiopia.

"As a mum myself, one of the most challenging aspects of my trips is seeing how limited school offerings can be," Sadie says. "I have been looking for a trustee position where I can utilise my skills to support those in more challenging environments."

Sadie joins BFE at a time of both great progress and significant challenge. While our model school in Gendit has remained open as a place of safety and stability, many surrounding schools have been forced to close due to local conflict. We are now educating over 500 students, including those temporarily enrolled from other areas seeking a sense of normalcy.

Sadie recognises the hurdles ahead, particularly in maintaining fundraising momentum in a landscape of reduced international aid budgets. 

Sue Eland, BFE Founder and CEO commented: "We are delighted to welcome Sadie to our team. Her experience and expertise will be a real asset to our small charity as we continue to move forwards. It’s been a long journey! As we near completion of the school, we urgently need science laboratory resources, school bags, and library books to give our students the very best start. We welcome donations, fundraising ideas, and new partnerships to help us reach this goal.”