Meet the Humans
We're a dynamic, curious and diverse group of individuals who are passionate about helping organizations leverage the latest technology.
Olivier Mills (He/Him)
Founder / CEO
Olivier started building software at 15 and never really stopped. Over nearly two decades, he's worked across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean on WASH humanitarian and development initiatives, managing large teams and complex budgets while staying hands-on with digital strategy. That blend of tech and human work shaped a core belief: AI & tech should serve people, not the other way around. With Baobab Tech, Olivier champions a different approach to AI, one rooted in frugal AI, practical innovation, small tech over big tech, and solutions designed for real-world impact rather than hype. He's driven by the idea that we can do AI differently and build AI responsibly, with social and environmental purpose baked in from the start.
Annabella (She/Her)
Senior AI Engineer - Consultant
Annabella is a senior AI engineer with over 10 years of experience spanning education, manufacturing, medical diagnostics, and business development. Annabella started her career as a Machine Learning engineer training Neural Networoks, backed by DAAD and Fulbright scholarships. She then went on to built Siemens' cloud portfolio in the US before leading AI strategy for its Americas hub. Annabella specializes in production-ready AI, multi-agent systems, and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), helping organizations move from rapid prototyping to long-term, human-centered AI solutions that create meaningful impact.
Duncan Penfold-Brown (He/Him)
Senior Data Scientist / AI Engineer - Consultant
Duncan is a senior data scientist whose path has crossed many fields, including astrophysics, political science, psychology, biology, social media, and humanitarian work. He has always been in it for the application: where, why, and how data science is applied, and what it can do for the world. After studying in Canada, Duncan worked in New York at the Center for Social Media and Politics, the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, and as partner in a data science consultancy with clients including Bloomberg, Buzzfeed, and the Flatiron Institute. He later moved to London as a founding member of a commodities trading firm's data science team before transitioning to the humanitarian sector. Duncan is now committed to data for good.
Solène Pradat-Paz (She/Her)
Partnerships, Engagement & Gender Lead - Consultant
Solène brings a unique blend of international expertise and local impact. Her background in political science has been enriched by a journey across humanitarian, development, and social spaces. Her professional experience includes coordinating the WASH Working Group of the French Water Partnership and the WASH RoadMap international initiative. Through her own company, she specializes in empowering local social and cultural organizations to enhance their activities through advocacy, engagement development, and strategic consulting services. As the lead of partnerships at BaobabTech, Solène continuously supports partner engagement, ensures stakeholder coordination and objective alignment. She also leads linguistic quality and ensures gender responsiveness in our service development.
Serge Scevenels (He/Him | She/Her)
AI & Data Engineer - Consultant
Serge brings 20+ years of experience building production-grade Data & AI systems, with deep strengths in geospatial intelligence, scalable platforms, and data governance. Across his career, spanning mission-driven environments (NATO CMRE, ESA) and high-growth tech (including OLX Group), he’s combined impact-driven thinking with strong product and delivery discipline. Today, Serge applies that blend to data-for-good work, supporting humanitarian and non-profit initiatives as a consultant and volunteer (including the World Food Programme and Omdena). She’s especially interested in practical social innovation: LGBTQI+ rights, cash-based interventions (including universal basic income/care), and government tech that makes social protection more effective.
Chaiwe Mushauko (She/Her)
Consultant / Localization & Country Focus
Chaiwe Mushauko, based in Zambia, is a localization consultant with Baobab Tech, focusing on leveraging AI to democratize knowledge access. With a strong background in WASH, climate change, and gender advocacy, Chaiwe brings extensive experience in strategic planning and capacity development. As CEO of CaDev Capacity Development, she has led numerous impactful projects. At Baobab Tech, Chaiwe ensures that solutions like WASH AI prioritize local knowledge and leadership, fostering community-driven development. Her commitment to sustainability and social innovation drives her work to make essential knowledge accessible to all.
Camilla Thorsen (She/Her)
Full stack developer - Consultant
Camilla is a software developer with 5 years of experience. She just completed a computer science degree, focusing on Machine Learning and AI, and holds two additional science degrees. Passionate about human-computer interaction and UX design, Camilla excels at creating intuitive and visually appealing applications. At Baobab Tech she supports the building of AI-integrated web apps, delivering solutions that are both innovative and user-centred.
AJ Koenig (He/Him)
Advisor / Full Stack Developer / Startup Maker - Consultant
AJ Koenig is a maker at heart, always looking for ways to create and innovate efficiently. As a founder and full stack developer, AJ specializes in helping startups bring their ideas to life, with quick-to-market skills and a "get it done" attitude. With a background in Mathematical Physics, AJ transitioned from the world of academia to web app development, driven by a passion for programming and problem-solving. He believes in transparency and practicality, often sharing insights on how to build MVPs quickly and affordably. AJ is dedicated to empowering others to succeed in the tech industry.