Acting Director
Naume Charity B. Ladu is the Acting Director of the Leadership Crucible. She is also the Founder and Director of a Charity Organization known as Interlink Help Center (IHC), established to link donors and the vulnerable of South Sudan. Naume is a seasoned writer and a researcher. As part of the South Sudan Women Research Network, she spent two years researching the practice of girl child blood compensation among the Lotuko of Eastern Equatoria State in South Sudan. She also co-authored an anthology in the popular book titled “No time to Mourn” by South Sudanese women. Naume Charity is married to Dr. Paul Ladu and is the mother of three children.
Founder
Patricia Powers Thomson is the Founder of the Leadership Crucible. She has over 30 years of international development experience, including service in the military, government, NGO, and private sectors. Thomson is the Founding Dean of the School of Public Service at the University of Juba. She has served as the Executive Vice President of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and as a Senior Governance Advisor with the U.S. State Department in Diyala, Iraq. Thomson also spent 10 years as an Associate Partner with Price Waterhouse Coopers Consulting where she advised a range of clients in the United States and abroad. Before moving to the private sector, was an advisor to Vice President Gore’s task force on reinventing government. She has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University.
Advisor
Elia Makur is the Deputy Dean of the School of Public Service (SPS) at the University of Juba. Prior to serving in this role, he was a lecturer at the School, as well as at the School of Social and Economic Studies and Stafford International University. In addition to his academic background, Makur has strong management and leadership experience. Prior to coming to SPS he was the Assistant Clerk of the State Ministry of Finance and Manpower for Warrap State. He also filled administrative roles at the junior- and senior-school level in Wau, Western Bhar el Ghazal. Makur has a Master’s in Public Policy from SPS . He also has a Bachelor’s in Statistics and Demography (with honours) from the University of Juba’s College of Social and Economic Studies.