ZAMBIA EMBASSY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief of Post for the Republic of Zambia
Mr Robert Sichinga Jnr is Zambia's Honorary Consul and Chief of Post for the Republic of Zambia in California. He will perform delegated functions on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia.
Robert Sichinga was born and raised in Zambia and moved to the United States in 1996. He possesses a master's degree in business administration, and a Master of Science degree in healthcare administration. He has been employed in the pharmaceutical industry for over 12 years in different capacities. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and his professional background includes management, teaching as an adjunct professor in the School of Business, managed healthcare, real-estate investment, and business development and consulting.
For over 15 years, Robert has exhibited an unrelenting passion for Zambia as is evident in his activities. He is the founder of the Zambia-USA Chamber of Commerce, an organization whose primary interest is in promoting and developing commercial and industrial opportunities between the United States of America and Zambia. He also runs Strategic Shift, a business consulting practice whose services include strategic planning and business coaching. Strategic Shift also has an agreement with a Zambian stock brokerage firm to facilitate investment into Zambia's financial markets.
In addition to his own newsletters, Robert has used various platforms to expose Zambia as a desirable destination both for business and leisure. Since 2009, he has been a contributor to the Black Business News Group in their international edition. He also contributes to the online publication, Africa Speaks For Africa, and since 2013, has been a contributor to the Zambia-South Africa Chamber of Commerce publication. He has represented Zambia on panel discussions and summits and has sat on several boards for organizations with a focus on Africa.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Owner and President of Explore Inc
Ms. Cherri Briggs is Zambia's Honorary Consul for Colorado. She will perform delegated functions on behalf of the Embassy.
Cherri Briggs, owner and president of Explore Inc., spent much of her youth on a remote cattle ranch in Nevada. Perhaps this "wild and free" childhood catalyzed her zest for adventure. After almost twenty years of combing the African continent, from crossing the Bayuda Desert of Sudan to luxuriating in the elegant hotels of Cape Town, she remains committed to offering incomparable African travel experiences to her clients, and continues to personally seek the ultimate in adventure travel. Beyond the love of exploration is a strong commitment to utilizing her travels and her business as a tool for supporting projects which preserve conservation and help local people across the continent.
Cherri is co-founder and a board member for the Safari Professionals of the Americas (SPA), a group of North America's leading safari operators who are authorities on sustainable travel to Africa. Cherri was appointed to the Botswana Tourism Organization Board in January 2014 and is the first non-citizen to receive this appointment. She has also been appointed as Honorary Consul for the Embassy for the Republic of Zambia to the USA in August of 2013. Cherri is also a member of the Explorer's Club, a meeting point for explorers and scientists worldwide. Her passion for exploration was best exemplified in the expedition she organized and led in 2003, which was the first descent of Mozambique's 450-mile Lugenda River.
Patrick Mapalo is Zambia's Honorary Consul in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He performs delegated functions on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia.
Patrick Mapalo is owner of Kumba Coffee based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was born and raised in Zambia. Mr. Mapalo holds a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Science Project Management, undergraduate degree in Management of Information Systems with a minor in Business Administration, and two diplomas in Practical and Systematic Theology.
Since 2004, Mr. Mapalo has been leading various teams to Zambia by creating partnerships with different Government agencies, universities, high schools and cultural leadership between the United States of America and Zambia.
In 2012, Memorandum of Understandings (MoU's) were signed by two universities, University of New Mexico (UNM) and Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU), with the University of Zambia (UNZA). The Sister Cities program is at the heart of Mr. Mapalo who has helped to connect three cities in New Mexico, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Clovis with Lusaka, Livingstone and Kasama, respectively.
As a result of this work, in 2015, Mr. Mapalo was honored by the Governor of the State of New Mexico, (Ms. Suzanna Martinez) with an outstanding service to New Mexico and Zambia. Former New Mexico State Treasurer Mr. James B. Lewis also honoured him as The Guardian of the Treasury of New Mexico.
Mr. Mapalo also sits on various boards within the state in advancing project management skills and inter-business/cultural connections between the USA and Zambia.