SEM Advisory Team

Benoît Gorgui Boubacar SARR, Senegal Director

Bouba was born in Ziguinchor in the southern Casamance region of Senegal. He holds a degree from the Higher Institute of Technology in Dakar (currently UCAD) and a license in administrative and civil law from the Faculty of Law of Bissau. He has extensive experience as a civil servant in Guinea-Bissau, including drafting texts of law, secretary to the 1st vice-president of Parliament and official French/Portuguese translator. Civil war in Guinea-Bissau forced Bouba to return to Senegal in 1998, since then he has worked in mangrove cultivation, community development and project management. In 2003 he began working with CRESP as a project administrator, and has worked to develop SEM since the project's inception in 2004. He speaks fluent French, English, Portuguese and five African languages.

Noëlla Preira, Loan Officer

Noëlla holds a certificate of intermediate studies (brevet de fin d'études moyennes) and has trained in secretarial accounting. She worked for seven years as a community trainer and educator, and is experienced in teaching youth organizations and women's groups. From 2004 to 2006, she worked as an assistant to the manager of the Education for All program within the AJAEDO association in the Casamance. She has worked with SEM as a loan officer since 2007, managing client relations and accounting for the Casamance region.

John Fay, Co-Founder

John began working in Senegal on microfinance in 2004, partnering with Nan Guslander to found SEM in 2006.  John helps coordinate US fundraising for SEM and provides oversight to its operations in Senegal.  John currently works as a senior development specialist for Emerging Markets Group.  Previously John has worked at Cigna Healthcare, investment bank FBR, and was a professional lacrosse player for six years.  Due to John's work with The SEM Fund and at EMG, he was awarded the 2006 Society in International Development (SID Washington), Truman Award. Click for the Truman Award Press Release. He graduated with a BA in History from Duke University and has an MBA from Cornell University's Johnson School. John can be contacted at john@sem-fund.org.

Nan Guslander, Co-Founder

Nan first became interested in microlending through her membership in the World Presidents Organization's microfinance forum. She joined with John in 2006 to focus on lending in Senegal's eco-villages. Nan was the CEO and President of Hadley Fruit Orchards and Chairman of the holding company HFO, Inc for 12 years. Currently she is the principal of Hilmore Group, a real estate investment company. Nan has a MA in government from Indiana University, a MSW from University of Hawaii, and an AB in social sciences from Shimer College. She also attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business's Owner, President Management Program. Nan can be contacted at nan@sem-fund.org.

Julia Kurnia, Co-Founder

Julia joined SEM in the summer of 2006, when she spent ten weeks in Senegal working with clients and local partner associations to formalize lending procedures and scale up operations.  She facilitates communication between SEM’s Senegalese and American staff and works to strengthen SEM’s collaboration with other microfinance players such as Kiva and the MIX Market, while working with in-country staff to track the progress of SEM’s client microenterprises. Julia currently works as a Portfolio Analyst at the US African Development Foundation in Washington, DC. Julia holds an MA in International Economics from the George Washington University. She can be contacted at julia@sem-fund.org.

Sheila Harrington, US Based Treasurer

Sheila began working with SEM in the fall of 2006. She serves as the US Based Treasurer and will administer all financial bookkeeping. She has taught at the high school and college level in the Business Administration and Computer Departments. While living in Virginia Beach she co-managed an office supply firm with both civilian and military markets. She graduated with a BS in Business Education from SUNY Albany and an ITMM Masters from SUNY Potsdam. Sheila can be contacted at sheila@sem-fund.org.