Meet the Team.
In 2009 Navyn set out to help end the crisis of global malnutrition by founding Edesia, a U.S. non-profit, social enterprise, with a mission to treat and prevent malnutrition in developing countries worldwide. Her factory in Rhode Island produces a range of fortified, peanut-based products like Plumpy'Nut for humanitarian agencies like UNICEF, World Food Programme, USAID and other NGOs working in emergency and conflict zones. Since 2010, Edesia has reached over 25 million children in 65 countries, including Somalia, Venezuela, Yemen and Syria.
Navyn is a 2022 McNulty Prize Winner, was a Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year/New England in 2018, New Englander of the Year by the New England Council in 2017 and New England Business Woman of the Year by Bryant University. She was awarded honorary degrees by her alma mater, Boston College (2012) as well as Bryant University (2014), Providence College (2017), Curry College (2018), University of RI (2021) and Salve Regina University (2022). She is a Trustee of Boston College. She is a 2014 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Navyn’s father is from Tanzania and she has four daughters, all of whom were the inspiration for the creation of Edesia.
Andrew Kamara is the Vice President of Global Operations at Edesia. In this role, he leads the organization’s manufacturing and operational efforts, overseeing production, quality, logistics, warehousing, and supply chain management at Edesia’s Rhode Island facility. He also plays a key role in driving global expansion initiatives related to Last Mile delivery and impact.
Since joining Edesia in 2009, Andrew has held a variety of roles across the organization, contributing to its growth and operational excellence.
Before Edesia, Andrew spent two years at Coca-Cola Enterprises as a mid-level Distribution Resource, managing delivery, storage, and distribution operations for a broad portfolio of bottled beverages. He also worked for six years at United Natural Foods, serving as both a Quality Assurance Specialist and a Supervisor in grocery and repackaging operations.
Andrew holds a degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Connecticut and an Advanced Diploma in Electronics from NIIT in Accra, Ghana.