Our Team

GORDON ASANTE SARPONG - HEADTEACHER

Gordon Asante Sarpong has a Bachelor of Education Degree in Geography, and is currently studying Education Leadership as an MA at Akenten Appiah Menka University of Technology and Entrepreneurship in Kumasi, Ghana. With fifteen years of classroom and five years of managerial experience, he has grown into a dedicated leader with a clear vision for quality education.

The school has achieved significant strides in both academic performance and extracurricular success since Gordon became headmaster. He has committed himself to fostering a culture of academic excellence, moral integrity and innovation, and strongly believes in empowering both teachers and students to become confident, responsible and future-ready citizens regardless of their academic and financial background.

DENNIS AKOMEAH - DIRECTOR FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS

Dennis Oduro Akomeah has been with Alma Mater Education since the very beginning. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management Studies and an MSc in Monitoring and Evaluation. He started as a teacher of maths and accounts and is now the Director for External Relations and Special Projects, and in charge of all operational matters in Ghana . He works tirelessly to ensure the school and farm run smoothly and has been instrumental in the development of the farm.

CAROLINE LODEN - CEO

With over two decades of experience in the charity sector, Caroline joined Alma Mater Education in April 2025. Her extensive background includes serving as CEO for Giving Africa (Education in Burkina Faso) and holding senior management positions at Help the Aged (Age UK) and The Children’s Society. Caroline was also a founding Director of the Association of Volunteer Managers.

Throughout her career, Caroline has championed causes spanning international development, children's welfare, disability support, elder care, environmental initiatives, mentoring, volunteering, education, and entrepreneurship. Her work with both small and global non-profit organisations has provided an in-depth understanding of what drives successful impact and sustainable growth.

Caroline is very much looking forward to working with the incredible Alma Mater Education team and building on the impressive impact made in Ghana so far.

CHRISTOPHER BIELENBERG
CHAIR AND FOUNDER

Christopher graduated from Trinity College Dublin in Physics and, following an industrial career, was Chairman and CEO of an International Consulting Company for 25 years. During this time, he was closely involved with the UK based Organic Research Centre for 30 years as Trustee and Chairman. He is currently a Trustee of both the Conservation Farming Trust and New Food Entrepreneurs and has been actively engaged with Alma Mater Education since its inception in 2014.

CHARLIE EASMON
TRUSTEE

Dr Charlie Easmon trained at St George's, London, and did his elective in Ghana (his country of birth). He has since worked widely abroad with, among others, Merlin, Raleigh International and Save the Children in Rwanda, and ECHO in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. His particular interest is in mental health in the workplace, and he lectures on the subject in schools. Over the past fifteen years he has built up his own private medical business, Your Excellent Health Service (www.yourexcellenthealth.co.uk), based at 1 Harley Street. In 2008, Charlie was awarded the Excell award for Innovation, Dedication and Excellence at the 8th Annual Ghanaian Professional's Association Awards, and in 2012 was nominated for the Ghana UK Business Awards. He is a regular commentator on health matters in the media.

KATHARINA BIELENBERG
TRUSTEE

Katharina has worked in book publishing for more than twenty-five years, specialising in international literature, and is passionate about literacy and building bridges through cultural exchange. She is also a Trustee of the South London-based children’s charity, Slade Gardens Community Association.

TOM CRONIN
TRUSTEE

Tom has a wide range of experience both within teaching in the UK and project management within the charity sector in Ghana.  Tom worked closely with James Riggs, the co-founder of Alma Mater Education, in the setting up of the first pilot school in Wioso.  He now oversees all academic strategic decisions.

CONSTANCE AGYEMAN
TRUSTEE

Constance works at NESTA and has designed and delivered programs with, among others, USAID, World Bank, Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Cabinet Office. Constance provides strategic innovation guidance and has delivered more than twenty-five challenge prizes in the fields of agriculture in South-East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, in social innovation across Europe, and UK prizes focused on waste reduction and ageing populations, as well as youth-focussed digital-enterprise challenges.

At the heart of her work ethos is a practice of co-creation with communities and innovators, building effective stakeholder networks across a range of sectors to strengthen the market potential of products, technologies and services for sustainable and impactful change that helps communities thrive.

Constance is engaged in a number of judging and speaker panels and was on the board of trustees for Youth Music, serving disadvantaged youth. She also demonstrates her entrepreneurial spirit by running her own micro business.

ARABELLA HUDDART
PATRON

Bella has been involved with the development of Alma Mater since 2016. She has initiated partnerships which have helped the school build its infrastructure including our girls boarding house. Bella’s background in Art, Media and Interior Design and her close involvement and enthusiasm for children’s education and development ensures her ongoing support and contribution to Alma Mater.  She has taken on the role of Founder Patron to create a small group of supporters and ambassadors for Alma Mater Education to spread the word.