Kyeema Foundation Update
Celia started her career as an agronomist, graduating from the University of Queensland in 1983. She has 30 years of development experience, commencing in 1993 with the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID, now DFAT), where she worked primarily on the Africa program. In 2001 she joined Palladium, managing a wide range of development programs in Asia-Pacific and Africa on behalf of the Australian government and other donors. In late 2003, with the support of Palladium, Celia jointly established the Kyeema Foundation and was the CEO from 2003 until her retirement in 2022.
Celia Grenning has played a transformative role at Kyeema, where she served as CEO for nearly two decades. Her leadership saw the organisation grow from a small NGO focused on Newcastle disease control in village chickens in southern Africa to a global force supporting the health and prosperity of marginalised communities in 15 countries. Through her vision and dedication, Kyeema expanded its impact, addressing not only animal health but also the broader environmental and social challenges faced by vulnerable populations.
Although she has stepped down from her role as CEO, Celia continues to contribute her expertise as Kyeema’s financial manager and remains actively involved in the organisation’s nature-based solutions project in the Pacific. Her enduring commitment ensures that Kyeema's work in supporting communities and their environments continues to thrive.