Thom Sinclair Email & Phone Number

Leading a talented and motivated team of people who are dedicated to improving the organizations we serve through our portfolio of consulting projects across the US and around the world. Mentoring and motivating staff and consultants, empowering them to contribute to Bixal’s overall success.Served as Acting Vice-President for the International Practice.

Led Bixal’s international work focused on improving international development impact through knowledge management, organizational learning and adaptive management techniques. Partnered internally and externally on current projects creating and developing collaborative, impactful teams and winning new work. Concurrently served as Acting Vice President for.

Advised Bixal on digital and hybrid knowledge and learning strategy development

Washington, D.C.

Taught graduate courses in International Development Management and Public Policy including management processes and tools and key theories, perspectives and approaches.

Washington, DC; Cape Town; St. Croix

Spent 3 months on a variety of creative personal and professional improvement projects that included: personal coaching, a silent retreat, wine tasting, a podcasting course, snorkeling and other activities (and some non-active time).

Washington, DC

• Performed various roles of increasing responsibility and complexity from project start up, to developing and launching a business model for spin-off including:
• Gateway Chief Digital Learning Strategist and Senior Advisor
• Gateway Academy CEO
• Gateway Academy Team Lead
• Led teams at CGAP working in capacity development (markets, systems, networks) and capacity building (individual skill building and improving technical ability) in digital finance, financial inclusion and other sectors
• Certified World Bank Trust Fund Manager, managed Mastercard Foundation Donor Trust Fund

• After spin-off and merger, provided strategic advice and guidance to Digital Frontiers' Gateway project (https://gatewaylearning.co.za/)
• Advised international development agencies and other partners on capacity development initiatives in digital development, digital finance and other sectors. Partners included: USAID; European Investment Bank; Agence.

• Led Gateway Academy- a World Bank-incubated digital capacity building marketplace- from donor funded project to a viable entity with its own business model
• Led Gateway Academy through spin-off and merger with Digital Frontiers, a South African NGO
• Led teams focused on business modeling and sales; partnerships; content development; and operations
• Led distributed/remote teams in Canada, the US and Kenya
• Partnered with 20+ financial service provider clients in sub-Saharan Africa
• Partnered with multiple capacity building partners to develop a range of digital and blended learning

• Created and iterated Gateway Academy project design through consultation, collaboration and co-creation/co-curation activities with diverse African private sector and public sector partners
• Adaptively managed the creation and development of the digital capacity building marketplace including ensuring the learning agenda was continually adapted throughout implementation
• Continually motivated staff, consultants and partners, empowering them to contribute to project impact and success

Washingotn, DC

• Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) Co-Team Lead and Program Cycle Capacity Building Team Lead in the Policy, Planning and Learning (PPL) Bureau
• Led, procured and managed (COR) USAID’s LEARN project, the Agency’s flagship project on Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning throughout the USAID Program Cycle
• Provided leadership and technical assistance in organizational learning and knowledge management to USAID bi-lateral and regional missions
• Co-led the design and development of USAID's Learning Lab (www.usaidlearninglab.org), winning the Government Standard of Excellence Award
• Developed and led peer-to-peer learning opportunities for Mission-based Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) champions
• Developed content for internal and external websites including ProgramNet and Learning Lab

Held positions of increasing responsibility focused on capacity building and knowledge management in multiple sectors

• Led USAID’s Knowledge-Driven Microenterprise Development (KDMD) project, a multi-million-dollar, multi-year project with 30+ staff
• Worked with multiple USAID units through buy-ins including: Learning, Evaluation and Research; Microenterprise; Mobile Solutions; Economic Growth; Food Security/Agriculture; Gender; and with Missions in Jamaica.
• Led and managed team leads responsible for communications; knowledge management; monitoring, evaluation, research and learning; web development; adult learning and training; and operations
• Responsible for project personnel including recruiting, on-boarding, mentoring and inspiring

• Managed the operational start-up of this multi-year, multi-million-dollar USAID knowledge management project including developing internal project operational systems
• Created and implemented a grants under contract program with multiple grant rounds focused on learning
• Led teams in web platform migration process requiring careful planning and change management strategy with internal and external stakeholders
• Led and managed training programs for new foreign service officers in Economic Growth, Agriculture, Value Chains and Microenterprise Development
• Led cross-USG Agency development and implementation of workshops in Asia and Africa on Mobile Money with the Departments of State, Justice and Treasury

• Managed project close-out for multiple USAID Contracts
• Managed multiple Task Orders under the AMAP (Accelerated Microenterprise Advancement Project) IQC focused on training and knowledge management

• Training Officer for USAID Food for Peace (Amex International, Institutional Contractor)
• Implemented adult learning/training workplan and managed the training budget under the USAID Food for Peace- Policy and Technical Division
• Developed and implemented training opportunities for USAID staff of more than 70 in Washington and liaised with USAID Mission staff on training issues
• Developed first ever USAID Food for Peace Orientation Course for new USAID hires
• Facilitated 2 Orientation Courses for 20 new staff on policies, procedures and programming
• Facilitated delivery of training with technical experts on topics including Water/Sanitation, Nutrition, Foreign Disaster Assistance and Global Development Alliances

• Managed multiple Task Orders under the AMAP (Accelerated Microenterprise Advancement Project) IQC focused on training and knowledge management

• Managed projects for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the Philippines and for USAID in Central Asia
• Worked with the International Franchise Association on a pilot project in Kazakhstan
• Assisted with training over 80 Kazakh business people/ investors on franchising law and franchising potential in Central Asia
• Coordinated with major international accounting organizations in the United Kingdom to support the design of the Central Asia Certified International Professional Accountant (CIPA) program
• Fielded consultants, developed scopes of work, drafted agreements and provided other HQ support to the field offices

Jekabpils, Latvia

• Delivered training to local organizations on project management, grant writing, monitoring and evaluation
• Designed and implemented “Small Project Design and Management” seminars for NGO Centers
• Conducted Rapid Appraisal of NGO sector and developed a two year project working on management, strategic planning, grant/proposal writing and fundraising

Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia

• Developed and delivered trainings to NGO development Peace Corps volunteers in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia
• Coordinated with the US Peace Corps Baltic Regional Training Manager and with host country training managers in all three Baltic states on timing, content and overall strategy of training

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Project intern working on communications and media for the Center

• Synthesized data for faculty research projects concerning regional economic development
• Worked with faculty on projects regarding migrant workers, the changing demographics of southern New Jersey and economic development models at work in Camden, New Jersey
• Managed graduate assistants involved in research projects and publishing the semi-annual journal "The Forum", policy papers and various special reports

Columbus, Georgia Area

• Lecturer at both Columbus State University and Georgia Military College, Fort Moore (FKA Benning) Campus
• Designed, developed and taught courses on American government
• Lectured on topics including collective action, interest group behavior, political participation and government structure
• Responsible for large class sections of 50 or more students

Mpa, International Public Service And Development

Capstone Paper: Capacity Building in the Latvian NGO Sector

Ma, Political Science

Thesis: Collective Action and Interest Group Behavior- The Moral Majority, The Christian Coalition, and The Free Rider Problem

Ba, Political Science