Executive Director
Filippo Ferraro
Filippo is a Missionary of St.Charles. Born in Italy, he completed his Bachelor Degree at the Theological Institute of Northern Italy (Milan) and obtained a Diploma in Pastoral Theology of Migration from SIMI (Scalabrini International Migration Institute - Pontifical Urban University in Rome). He started his pastoral ministry with migrants as Chaplain of the French speaking refugees community at the Archdiocese of Cape Town in 2014. Since the end of 2017 he has been the Executive Director of SIHMA and the Coordinator of social projects of the Scalabrinian Congregation in Africa.
Head of Research
Dr Rachel Chinyakata
Rachel Chinyakata is the Head of Research at SIHMA working on human mobility, migration policies, migration and health, gender, migration and climate, and vulnerable minors research. She holds a PhD in Gender Studies from the University of Venda. Rachel has previously worked for mothers2mothers as a researcher responsible for conceptualising and conducting evaluation and operations research. She also worked for the University of the Western Cape as a postdoctoral research fellow. She has led research on families, migration, gender, youth and health. Rachel has published over 15 articles in DoHET-accredited journals in the above-mentioned areas. She is passionate about conducting research that contributes to knowledge development, informed policies and programmes, and promotes the rights and well-being of individuals and vulnerable groups.
Researcher
Dr Cletus Muluh Momasoh
Cletus Muluh Momasoh is uniquely suited to working as a researcher for SIHMA as his research interest (African migration, inequalities, theories, integration, social change, and policy formation) and experience in lecturing address the phenomenon of migration. He holds a doctorate in Sociology from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Teaching both first and second-year classes, he brought a particular African lens to the spectrum of courses within the field of migration studies at his alma mater and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. His passion for migrants and his interest in migration are evident from his organization of the Migration and Mobility Hub Seminar Series and his work on the Ethiopian-South Africa migration corridor for the Department of Sociology’s Migration for Development and Equality (MIDEQ) project, while still at UCT. Muluh brings rich academic exposure to the framework of policies for which SIHMA advocates. He brings compassion and a cognitive investment to this research desk at SIHMA, from which he seeks to build bridges between migrants and their host communities.
Financial Manager
Malcolm J. Salida
Malcolm Salida is a highly skilled, trained and respected finance executive having professionally assisted many companies, organisations and international developmental projects. He has held multiple roles, primarily in finance as Chief Financial Officer, Financial Director, Managing Director, Board Member, Finance Advisory and Mentor/Finance Capacity Trainer. With close to 30 years working experience, of which at least 18 have been at an executive and board level, Malcolm brings an enthusiastic leadership style to all roles he assumes. He applies his financial and business management skills with an attention to detail and a willingness to get actively involved at all levels to ensure that processes and systems are aligned to achieve strategic business goals and objectives. He has a strong passion to ensure that governance, ethics, professionalism, transparency and authenticity are foremost in the business/organisation he manages.
Admin Officer
Dhano Letchman
Dhano Letchman is the Admin Officer at SIHMA. She is an organized and detail-oriented professional with a focus on efficiency and continuous improvement. She has previously worked at SIHMA between 2021 and 2022 as an Office Administrator of the Project at St Patrick Centre in LaRochelle (Johannesburg), and then for the International Labour Organization office in Cape Town as Financial Administrator. Previously, she worked for almost 24 years at Telkom. Throughout her career, she has excelled in managing operations, finances, and administrative functions by breaking down complex tasks into manageable steps and optimizing processes for better outcomes. She values data-driven decision-making, which has been integral to her professional approach, and she is currently completing a Data Science course to further enhance her analytical skills.
Accountant
Gladys-May Mukonowenzou
Gladys-May is a skilled and motivated Accountant with a strong foundation in analytical problem solving, financial management, and customer service. Currently working as the Admin and Accounting Officer at SIHMA, Gladys-May was born and raised in Zimbabwe where she gained experience in the NGO sector having worked for Catholic Relief Services in Zimbabwe as a Data Clerk and then an Admin Assistant working under the World Food Program and C-Safe programs. Gladys-May moved to South Africa where she worked for a consultancy company as a Finance and Admin Officer and as an Assistant Accounting Officer for a local NPO. Gladys-May is a team player and is always willing to go the extra mile to help her colleagues and the Organisation achieve its goals.
Research and Communications Intern
Brian Arnoldi
Brian Arnoldi is the Communications and Research Officer at SIHMA. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in History and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in European and International Politics at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, Italy. His primary research interests include the history of Africa during and after decolonization, as well as the connections between human migration and climate change. In 2024, he published his first academic work, "The Trade of Shark Fins as an Indicator of Chinese Economic Penetration in Central and Southern Africa," featured in the volume "Natural Resources in Africa: Reflections and Proposals," edited by Prof. Beatrice Nicolini, PhD. In addition, he is a licensed journalist in Italy and has completed a Master in Web Content Editing. He writes on economics and geopolitics for various Italian newspapers, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.
