At the 2025 IODA OD World Summit, held in Accra, Ghana from September 3–5, the International Organization Development Association (IODA) proudly celebrated the remarkable contributions of four outstanding leaders in the field of Organization Development. Their dedication, vision, and impact embody the spirit of OD and continue to shape its global practice.
Michelle de Bruyn – Richard Beckhard Award for Outstanding Contribution in Furthering IODA’s Mission
Since joining IODA in 2005, Michelle de Bruyn has served with dedication and passion, taking on roles such as Young Professionals Coordinator, Executive Committee member, Co-Chair of the 2017 Stellenbosch Conference, and most notably as President from 2019 to 2022. She has inspired new generations of practitioners with her vision, steadiness, and inclusivity, while strengthening IODA’s global presence. Beyond IODA, as Managing Director of Kaiser Economic Development Partners, Michelle has led more than 70 economic development projects across Africa, the Middle East, and India, bridging OD with public policy and economic strategy. For her service, leadership, and commitment to building global connections, Michelle was honored with the 2025 Richard Beckhard Award.
Lemlem Zeleke – Saul A. Silverman Award for Conflict Resolution, Healing & Human Dignity
Lemlem Zeleke, Program Coordinator and Senior Training Facilitator at the Child Development Training and Research Center (CDTRC) in Ethiopia, was honored with the 2025 Saul A. Silverman Award for her courageous and transformative work in trauma healing and peacebuilding. For years, she has been on the frontlines of conflict-affected regions, creating safe spaces for dialogue, reconciliation, and recovery in communities torn apart by violence. Her leadership in developing trauma-informed care models, training frontline workers, and guiding inter-ethnic dialogue has provided hope and healing to countless survivors. Deeply empathetic and grounded, Lemlem exemplifies the heart of OD practice—valuing human dignity, resilience, and connection even amid division and risk. Her work not only addresses trauma but also advances organizational and systemic change, offering a replicable model for conflict transformation across Africa.
Roderick (“Rod”) Barnett – IODA Lifetime Achievement Award
With more than four decades of leadership in OD across six continents, Rod Barnett has left an enduring legacy of transformational change. His early work in South Africa against apartheid laid the foundation for a career devoted to organizational and community development. As founder of Salient Consulting, Rod has supported organizations worldwide, advancing leadership alignment, social responsibility, and organizational effectiveness. A long-standing practitioner of the Systems Leadership approach, he has empowered leaders to create collaborative, high-performing environments in industries ranging from education and banking to healthcare and mining. His contributions as Vice President of IODA and champion of global OD practice earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nana Kwasi Agyekum-Dwamena – IODA Lifetime Achievement Award
As Head of the Civil Service of Ghana, Nana Kwasi Agyekum-Dwamena championed visionary reforms that transformed bureaucratic systems into dynamic, performance-driven, and digitally enabled institutions. His innovations—including the Electronic Staff Performance Appraisal (E-SPA) system, e-recruitment, and e-procurement platforms—set new standards of accountability, transparency, and organizational learning in Ghana’s public service. He advanced fairness and inclusivity through equitable remuneration structures, transparent appraisal systems, grievance-handling mechanisms, and dispute resolution frameworks, while strengthening institutional effectiveness with tools such as the Functional Organisational Assessment Tool (FOAT). Beyond Ghana, he has contributed to African Union and World Bank initiatives, conflict-sensitive institutional reforms, and participatory governance.
Through his lifelong commitment to reform, equity, and organizational excellence, Nana has left an enduring impact on public sector transformation in Ghana and beyond. In recognition of his leadership, dedication, and contributions to the field, IODA proudly honored him with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Noble Kumawu – IODA Lifetime Achievement Award
Widely recognized as the “Father of Organization Development in Africa,” Noble Kumawu has devoted his career to advancing OD education and practice across the continent and beyond. He was instrumental in institutionalizing OD education in Africa and played a key role in establishing the Organization Development Institute (ODI) Ghana, the first accredited postgraduate institution in Africa devoted solely to OD training. His leadership roles include President of IODA, Chair of the Richard Beckhard Award Committee for twelve years, President of the Organization Development Practitioners’ Association (ODPA) Ghana, and Board Member of the International Society for Organization Development and Change (ISODC), USA. He has also led major transformative projects with the UN, EU, World Bank, and public sector reforms across Africa. A prolific author and global thought leader, Noble’s lifelong dedication was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Celebrating Global OD Leadership
These awards reflect the strength, resilience, and creativity of OD leaders who have dedicated their lives to advancing the field. Michelle de Bruyn, Noble Kumawu, and Roderick Barnett represent the values of collaboration, inclusivity, justice, and transformation that are central to IODA’s mission.
As the global OD community looks ahead, their examples remind us of the profound impact OD can have on individuals, organizations, and societies worldwide.
