Board & management
The people who lead Connect Saint Helena Ltd, from the Board of Directors that sets its direction to the managers who run it day to day.
Connect Saint Helena Ltd is a private company whose direction is set by a Board of Directors. The Board includes both executive and non-executive directors. Non-executive directors are appointed for their skills and knowledge in a particular field, and bring an independent view to the company's direction.
Board of Directors
Nicole Shamier
Chair
Non-Executive Director
Phanual Shangwa
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Executive Director
Russell Yon
Director
Non-Executive Director
Happyman Makamure
Director, St Helena Government representative
Non-Executive Director
Tinashe Mupfudze
Director
Non-Executive Director
Happymore Mbiza
Director (Technical)
Non-Executive Director
Richard Wotton
Director
Non-Executive Director
Senior management team
The senior management team runs the company day to day, across electricity generation and distribution, water, wastewater, finance and business support.
Phanual Shangwa
Interim Chief Executive Officer and Finance Manager
Mercy Ncube
Technical Manager, Water
Geoffrey Augustus
Technical Manager, Electricity
Clare Harris
Business Support Manager
Jayamangala Wijesuriya
Electricity Distribution Manager
Merril Lawrence
Electricity Generation Manager
Paul Duncan
Water Operations Manager
Leadership changes in 2026
In August 2026 the company announced a change in executive leadership. Roeland van der Hoeven stepped down as Chief Executive Officer for family reasons on 14 September 2026, and Phanual Shangwa, a long-standing member of the Connect team, now leads the company. The shareholder was also asked to raise the maximum size of the Board from seven to eight members, to fill an existing vacancy and widen the experience available to it.
Governance and accounts
The Board is responsible for the company's strategy, financial stewardship and risk management, and for holding management to account. The annual report and accounts and the strategic plan 2023 to 2027 set out how the company is run and where it is heading.
Names, roles and appointment dates are taken from the company's current website (October 2026).