Thomas Danaher is an entrepreneur, inventor, and global business leader with decades of experience building international partnerships. He pioneered the flannel sheet industry and generated more than $1 billion in international trade. As the inventor of OKnet, a redesigned mosquito bednet, he brings extensive experience in product development, international manufacturing, and the transitioning of products from concept to market.
Michael Okal is a Kenyan vector-control and product-development specialist. He holds a PhD from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and serves as Director of Research and Development at A to Z Group in Arusha, Tanzania. He has worked with partners across Africa and internationally to translate scientific concepts into practical disease-control products. With extensive experience in malaria prevention technologies, he brings deep technical expertise and valuable African manufacturing experience to the OKnet Foundation.
Peter Giersch has more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and organizational development. He founded Cathedral Consulting Group in 2004 and led its growth into a multinational management consulting firm. Having served on numerous private and nonprofit boards, he brings valuable experience in governance, leadership, and organizational growth to the OKnet Foundation.
Samantha Sarelli is an advocate, international speaker, and Miss Globe USA 2025. Through public service and community engagement, she uses her platform to raise awareness about human exploitation. She brings leadership experience, public visibility, and a strong commitment to helping those most in need to the OKnet Foundation.
J. Kevin Hand is President and CEO of Hand & Associates, an internationally recognized executive management consulting firm. With more than 30 years of experience, he has helped businesses and nonprofits strengthen leadership and achieve long-term growth. He brings expertise in strategic planning, executive development, organizational growth, and talent acquisition to support the long-term success of the OKnet Foundation.
David Gallagher brings extensive experience in education, communications, and nonprofit leadership to the OKnet Foundation. He spent nearly three decades in senior leadership roles and currently serves on several educational and nonprofit boards. A former Associate Professor of Philosophy at The Catholic University of America, he has authored numerous scholarly articles and continues to pursue academic interests through teaching and writing.
Matthew Owenby brings nearly 15 years of executive leadership experience at Aflac, where he currently serves as SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, and President of Commuicorp. Over his tenure he has held roles as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer & Corporate Services Executive, leading enterprise-wide initiatives spanning human resources, corporate security, facilities, and strategic planning. Prior to Aflac, he held senior HR leadership roles at Bank of America and GE. He brings valuable expertise in organizational leadership, strategic planning, and talent management to the OKnet Foundation.
The OKnet Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing OKnet, a redesigned mosquito bednet.
Our work includes factory qualification, field testing, WHO collaboration, and fundraising — each is essential to bringing OKnets to families who need them most.
The OKnet name reflects the product itself:
Simple, practical, easy, memorable, reassuring and friendly --
The OKnet name is more than branding.
It distinguishes OKnet from traditional hanging nets and represents our commitment to build better bednets for better protection.
