Every organisation is shaped by the people who show up in its earliest days and stay committed long after the founding excitement has faded into the steady work of building something lasting. For AllianceDFA, two of those people are Rob Madziva and Lito Villanueva.
Rob and Lito have been extraordinary contributors to AllianceDFA. Both have served on our Board since the very beginning, and as they now step down after completing two terms, as set out in our constitution, we want to take a moment to properly recognise what they have given to this organisation.
Lito took on the role of our first-ever Board Chair, a position that carries particular weight in any young organisation. In those early days, there was no established playbook, no precedent to lean on. Lito helped set the vision, brought structure to that vision, and got AllianceDFA moving in the right direction. That early leadership shaped the foundation everything since has been built on.
Rob’s contribution has been just as significant. Alongside Lito, he brought insight and dedication that helped steer AllianceDFA through the practical work of becoming a credible, sustainable organisation: welcoming new members, supporting fundraising efforts, and helping shape the governance arrangements that keep us accountable and effective today.
Together, Rob and Lito have supported the addition of new members, backed our fundraising efforts, and helped shape the governance structures that keep AllianceDFA impactful and sustainable. Not all of that work is glamorous, and much of it happens far from public view, but it is exactly this kind of steady, often invisible commitment that determines whether an organisation like ours survives its early years and grows into something durable.
We want to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude for their unwavering commitment and service. Their impact will be felt for years to come, in the members we have brought in, the governance we have strengthened, and the culture of collaboration they helped instil from the outset.
As Rob and Lito step down, they do so having fulfilled their full two terms and commitments, leaving AllianceDFA considerably stronger than they found it. This transition also opens the door for other AllianceDFA members to take up a seat and contribute to the growth and direction of the organisation, continuing the work Rob and Lito helped set in motion.
To that effect, we are calling for nominations to fill the two newly vacated seats on the AllianceDFA Board. AllianceDFA members will receive details on eligibility and the nominations process shortly.
Rob and Lito: thank you. Your leadership has been foundational, and AllianceDFA carries it forward in everything we build next.