Loveness MPANJE

Loveness Mpanje

Board Member & President/CEO of WAU, former WAU Secretary and proud Mother

Mpanje has been a member of WAU since the day it was founded on January 28, 2012, when she became Secretary. She became president on April 14, 2023. When she assumed the office of the president, she promised to transform WAU in many areas including its exposure locally and beyond, to elevate its standing and to create opportunities for WAU members and the African community in Wichita through information sharing and leverage to enhance growth of the organization and its impact.

Under her leadership WAU has progressed to 501c (3) status, established a Board of Directors, developed meaningful partnerships locally and nationally, received grants for capacity building and has seen a sharp increase in individual and foundation financial support.

Mpanje is a Petroleum Geologist, employed by a local Oil & Gas Company, F.G. Holl Company, LLC, where she is responsible for production and compliance with the state and the federal government. She has been with the company since February 28, 2000. 

Mpanje relocated to the USA from Malawi, Southern East Africa in January 1999, to pursue further studies at Wichita State University (WSU) where she studied Petroleum Geology. 

Before moving to the US, Mpanje worked for Malawi Government under Ministry of Water & Irrigation Services, where she successfully managed implementation of a national multi-donor project, Community Based Water & Sanitation (8/1995-01/1999). A full description of the project can be found in a paper she co-authored with Linda Milazi, ‘Community management of rural water supply’, presented at the 23rd WEDC Conference titled, Water & Sanitation for All: Partnerships and Innovations, Durban, South Africa, 1997, pg 115-116. Before her assignment to the project as Acting Project Manager, Mpanje served other posts in the Ministry: Water Supervisor (5/1993-07/1995) and Hydrological Officer (6/1992-5/1993), all in Lilongwe.

While working for Malawi Government, her job provided extensive travel and training within Malawi and abroad: Durban, SA for 23rd Water Engineering Development Center (WEDC) Conference (1997), Monitoring & Evaluation of Water & Sanitation programs by International Reference Center for Water & Sanitation (IRC), The Hague, The Netherlands (3/1997), Water & Sanitation post graduate course at Loughborough University - WEDC, UK (3/1995-7/1995), Hydata (hydrology) course by Oceanographic Company of Norway, Trondheim, Norway, (3/1993). 

Education: Master of Science, Geology (Earth, Environment & Physical Sciences, WSU, 05/2008. Bachelor of Science, Geology (Cum Laude), WSU, 12/2001. Diploma in Agricultural Engineering, University of Malawi - Bunda College of Agriculture, Lilongwe, 6/1992.