MEET TIRZAH’S
Executive Leadership
Executive Leadership Team
Anita DelHaas
NETHERLANDS
Chair of the Board
Anita is the Chair of the Board for Tirzah International. She is currently the Executive Director of Mercy Ships Netherlands. She has held the roles of Chief Executive for ICOHS in London, UK and served as Executive Director for the International Justice Mission for the Netherlands and Europe. Formerly, she spent twenty years in leadership with World Vision serving as: Country Director for World Vision Lebanon, National Director of World Vision Netherlands, Director of Corporate Partnerships WVI/Board representative EULO in Brussels, Belgium, Director for European Expansion in Spain and France and National Director of Romania. She and her husband Robert live in Amsterdam.
Dieda Anita Gouentoueu
CANADA
Director of Microenterprise
Anita stepped into the Director of Microenterprise in 2023. She currently lives in Canada and works remotely with her mother, Tirzah’s Legacy Leader Madeleine Gouentoueu. Anita has served with Tirzah’s Emerging Leader Program helping women know their value and worth. She coordinates the small-business training across the Francophone region.
Esme Bowers
SOUTH AFRICA
Director of Leadership
Training and leadership development for God’s purposes is Esmé’s passion. She is Tirzah’s Director of Leadership Development and serves other ministries including being the International Director of Church Engagement for the World Evangelical Alliance and a chairperson for African Women in Mission Network and the Pan African Women's Alliance. Her ministry focuses on training women leaders to know their value and recognize their callings. She also works to help reconcile the genders by teaching both men and women that God values women and has great purpose for their lives. She resides in Cape Town, South Africa with her husband who is a pastor.
Jenny Nuccio
KENYA
Director of Sustainability
Dr. Jenny Nuccio is Tirzah’s Director of Sustainability where she invests in our Global Leaders creating sustainable opportunities in all aspects of life. She is the Founder and CEO of Imani Collective. At Imani Collective, the goal is to prevent women from having to go into areas of desperation. They fight against the injustice of sex trafficking, prostitution, and inequalities by continuing to grow their impact and provide more jobs. She has a doctorate in social business and is the founder of School of Ethical Impact.
Board of Directors
Abraham George
UNITED STATES
Abey began his career as a Young Adults Pastor and Seminarian in India, where he was born and raised. Over the last 10 years, as the Global Director for Church Partnerships for International Justice Mission, he travelled extensively to build and lead national teams tasked with drawing the local body of Christ into the work of bringing rescue and restoration to victims of trafficking and modern-day slavery. He is co-author of God of Justice, a Study Guide on Shalom and the Justice of God, published by InterVarsity Press. He and his wife Florence and their two children live near Annapolis, MD.
Why Tirzah? Having been a witness to the oppression of women for much of my life and career, while at the same time a witness to the incredible influence of empowered women, I am privileged to be a part of a ministry seeking to facilitate such empowerment.
David Kirkland
UNITED STATES
David serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board. He has a 40-year corporate career in the area of Information Technology (IT) where he has managed global teams, led IT programs, and now specializes in Project Management. David's personal vision is to empower men and women to hope, learn, and grow. Toward that end, David has supported Tirzah International in various ways, beginning with its precursor organization, Women of Global Action. David and his wife Julie, a talented artist, live in Colorado Springs, Colorado where David enjoys playing tennis, trail running, and wood working. He has two adult children.
Why Tirzah? I want to bring technology possibilities and make Tirzah and its work more visible to other organizations, such as men’s ministries. I want to be a part of project management training for leaders.
Debbie Ardan Christian
UNITED STATES
Debbie has been affiliated with the Tirzah since 2002. She has a background in economic research, corporate philanthropy, and publishing. A devoted book lover, she happily handled submissions for Alive Literary Agency and acquisitions/production for Bondfire Books until retiring in 2019. Debbie and her husband, Rick, live in Black Forest, Colorado.
Why Tirzah? I have a widow’s heart that connects with the women we are serving.
Fenny Ang
SINGAPORE
Coming soon
Jessica Thompson
UNITED STATES
Jessica is Vice-Chair of the Board. Her drive to help women globally began on her first trip to Africa where she met a woman named Gaudence, whose story inspired Jessica to start her own business to help build microenterprise opportunities for women. She now owns her own health and wellness company with Arbonne International and is a National Vice President. With over a decade of experience in mentoring and coaching women in the business arena, she is passionate about using her knowledge to help women all over the world use their God-given gifts. Jessica is a mother of four and wife of the senior pastor at Pulpit Rock Church, Thomas Thompson, in Colorado Springs.
Why Tirzah? I have a passion for impacting women. I want my colleagues and friends to know and love the Tirzah story like I do.