The Members’ Council (MC) is a consultation and advisory body which is broadly representative of Oikocredit’s member organisations. It meets between the annual general meetings (AGM) of members and is elected by the members to reflect and defend their interests. The MC was set up in 2016, initially with six people, with the intention to grow to a total of nine.
Members' Council
Ulrike Chini (Chair)
Germany Oikocredit Westdeutschland Support AssociationUlrike Chini has enjoyed a long relationship with Oikocredit since the early 1980s. In 1982 she was elected to the board of Oikocredit West... Read more
Ulrike Chini has enjoyed a long relationship with Oikocredit since the early 1980s. In 1982 she was elected to the board of Oikocredit West Germany. From 1994 to 2015, she held the position of Managing Director of the Support Association, and was involved in various Oikocredit committees at national and international level. By way of example, together with others she initiated the SAturn process and the process of designing Oikocredit’s gender policy. She also served for six years on the Nomination Committee.
Ulrike Chini holds an MA in development studies from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague and has a degree in Romance languages, philosophy and geography.
Ueli Burkhalter
Switzerland Oikocredit Deutsche SchweizUeli Burkhalter is an ordained minister in the reformed church of Berne, Switzerland. He has been associated with Oikocredit since 2001 and... Read more
Ueli Burkhalter is an ordained minister in the reformed church of Berne, Switzerland. He has been associated with Oikocredit since 2001 and has been a member of the board of the Oikocredit Support Association of German-speaking Switzerland since 2002, including eight years as its president. He has attended many international Oikocredit meetings and served as Confidentiality Officer of the Oikocredit Support Associations.
In 2013 he completed a three-month internship at Oikocredit’s regional office in San José, Costa Rica to learn more about the organisation’s outflow network.
Polisi Kivava Baudouin
DR Congo Communauté Baptiste au Centre de l'AfriquePolisi Kivava is the Head of Diakonia (service of others) and Development in his church in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A teacher by... Read more
Polisi Kivava is the Head of Diakonia (service of others) and Development in his church in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A teacher by profession, he was seconded to the United Evangelical Mission, an international organisation of churches, where he served for 12 years as program officer and then as Executive Secretary for Africa. He was in charge of the implementation of joint programmes, including initiatives for poverty alleviation with a special focus on small credit associations.
Polisi Kivava holds a master’s degree in education, and is currently doing an MA programme in organisational leadership in Nairobi, Kenya.
Huub Lems
The Netherlands Protestantse Kerk in NederlandHuub Lems is currently Treasurer of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN). He as been an investor in Oikocredit since the... Read more
Huub Lems is currently Treasurer of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN). He as been an investor in Oikocredit since the Oikocredit Support Association Netherlands started, both institutionally and privately. Since 1989 as a representative of PKN he has attended most of Oikocredit’s annual general meetings around the globe.
Huub Lems worked for the mission of his church, first in Indonesia and later on as its finance officer. He has been involved in many working groups and task forces of Oikocredit over a period of more than two decades. He also participated in the Members’ Council (MC) working group, up to the MC being established.
Emmanuel Muhozi
Rwanda Eglise Presbytérienne au RwandaEmmanuel Muhozi is a pastor within the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (EPR). He has initiated several savings and credit associations in... Read more
Emmanuel Muhozi is a pastor within the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (EPR). He has initiated several savings and credit associations in various parishes. From 2010 to 2014 he was a programme manager for Christian-Muslim Relations in Rwanda. He has been managing the Presbyterian Pastors initiative for Development (PPID) since 2012. Since March 2014 he has been responsible for church growth and the deputy legal representative of Kigali presbytery.
Emmanuel Muhozi holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from the Protestant University of Rwanda and is doing research for his Master of Business Administration from Jomo Kenyata University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
Hans van Nie
Canada United Church of CanadaHans van Nie has worked as an ordained minister in congregations, a seminary lecturer in Canada and Africa, and a global ministries... Read more
Hans van Nie has worked as an ordained minister in congregations, a seminary lecturer in Canada and Africa, and a global ministries facilitator. He was involved in the administration of Oikocredit Canada in its early years, and then spent 10 years on the Board of Directors of First Oikocredit Canada and five years as its President. Hans has served on many committees in the United Church administrative structure and on executive bodies, with a focus on global partnerships, social justice and ecumenical relations.
Christiane Riffaud
FranceChristiane Riffaud has been involved with Oikocredit since 2008 as an investor and volunteered as a Franche-Comté Bourgogne Support... Read more
Christiane Riffaud has been involved with Oikocredit since 2008 as an investor and volunteered as a Franche-Comté Bourgogne Support Association (SA) board member. She also served as the vice-president for Burgundy, in charge of the links with Oikocredit International and the French National Support Office. Additionally, over the last 10 years, she has been involved in the collaboration of the French SAs and strongly believes in the power of cooperation and mutual empowerment.