OUR TEAM

At Build African Schools, we are a small but dedicated team, fully voluntary and driven by a shared commitment to expanding access to quality education in Kenya. Our work is fueled by passion, collaboration, and the belief that education can break the cycle of poverty. Together, we work closely with local communities, donors, and educators to build schools, empower students, and create lasting change. With no full-time staff and no overhead costs, 100% of our resources go directly toward building schools—ensuring that every dollar makes a difference.

JOHN RIORDAN - CEO

John has been involved indirectly with BAS since it’s founding in 2006, supporting the team periodically in various projects over the years. Since retiring from a successful career in 2021, John assumed the full time role of CEO and now leads the team in project development planning, fund raising and ongoing execution of the BAS mission. John spent 30+ years working in the high tech sector in Europe and the U.S, most recently as Vice President of Operations for a San Francisco based technology company.

JOANNE O’SULLIVAN - SECRETARY & CFO

Joanne manages our financial and legal administrative affairs. She has served on the Board of Directors of BAS since its inception in 2006. Joanne is an attorney at a business and litigation law firm in Silicon Valley, and brings to BAS substantial experience in business operations and nonprofit administration.

DICKSON MUTAITI - DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Dickson lives near Nairobi, Kenya. He is responsible for the project management of the construction of our schools and has a large influence on the decision as to where schools should be built. He has been involved with BAS since its founding and has worked tirelessly on the execution of our plans to date. He is one of Kenya’s top Safari guides and he speaks several languages including English and French. Dickson is also chairman of the School Board of Directors of the Secondary school in his village.

sean riordan - advisor

As a high school and college student, Sean supported Build African Schools in various capacities since 2005, including photo/video production, media support, and planning. These days, he supports the longer term development of the BAS vision. He is currently the Director of Strategic Ventures at Stanford Medicine where he develops and operationalizes the enterprise's key strategic priorities. Sean brings a wealth of experience from a career in innovation consulting for public and non-profit clients. He holds a B.A.in International Economics from the University of San Francisco.

PATRICK O’SULLIVAN - FOUNDER

Patrick founded BAS in 2005 following a very impactful visit to Kenya. During his visit, he witnessed first hand the challenging economic constraints which impeded the access to even the most basic education for African children. He personally funded the very first school project near the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Pat has visited Kenya many times to oversee projects and raise awareness on the need for children’s education. He worked with several major technology companies in Silicon Valley and Europe, for over 40 years.

Philip Musyimi Mutaiti - PROJECT coordinator

Philip’s primary role revolves around overseeing project management activities during a school’s construction. He meticulously plans project timelines and schedules, keeping a close eye on progress and addressing any delays or issues that arise. He maintains close coordination among team members, maintaining strict quality control measures, ensuring that all work meets the highest standards. Philip is currently in his third year at university studying project planning and management.