GIDEON H KAUNDA (PhD)
BOARD CHAIRMAN
Graduated first as a lawyer earning an LLB degree, University of East Africa, Dar-Es-Salaam College. Practiced in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda as Counsel in the EACSO/EAC, prior to appointment as Tanzania Permanent Representative on ICAO Council in Montreal, Canada. He rejoined Government service after his overseas diplomatic tour of duty. As a UNDP Scholar, Dr. Kaunda obtained a Diploma in Air and Space law, subsequently graduating with a Masters Degree (LLM) and a PhD (DCL), at the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, McGill University, Canada.
At different times he served in various National Institutions as Board Director, in STS, NTC, ATCL, the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU);Task Force Member- Presidential Commission on Reduction of Expenditure in Government Ministries and Corporations and Steps to Increase Efficiency and Productivity and Member of the National Sports Council.
Internationally, he served as a Consultant with the World Bank, UNDP, the European Union (EU), AFCAC, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), (as Consultant of the UN Secretariat), COMESA and the Lesotho Government on infrastructure projects. He also carried out investment and advisory assignments of multinational companies in mineral prospecting and gold extraction for Golden Pride Nzega, AUSENCO of Australia, Shanta Gold Mine (Songwe) and Peak Resources of Australia on Rear Earth Minerals. He currently serves as EXTENDA Chairman, a regional micro-finance entity.
Before joining the private sector as a TPSF Member, Dr. Kaunda was appointed by a London Panel of Judges Session as an Arbitrator of the International Court of Aviation and Space Arbitration (ICASA). He maintains special interest in the Outer Space regime and scientific studies on celestial bodies, associated with the UN- COPUOS.
Other areas of involvement include: Member, Tanzania Institute of Directors; Trustee; Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology; Founder Director, VIASAT-1 Free to Air Television Network (TV-1.); Participant; Tanzania Government Technical Preparatory Team for the Five Year Development Plan (FYDP- II) 2016 – 2021; Member, Court Users` Committee, High Court Commercial Division; Chairman; Rural Energy Agency (REA); Board Director and Investment Committee Member; TICL; Member, Tanganyika Law Society and Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania; Life Member, McGill Institute of Air and Space Law Canada, Co-opted Member, Flight Transportation Laboratory, Centre for Advanced Engineering Study, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Boston USA; Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow (2002); President, Rotary Club of Dar-Es-Salaam (2002- 2003).