Abaarso Network is pleased to announce some exciting organizational leadership changes as we enter
our next stage of growth and focus on leveraging more Somali and in-country leadership experience.
Harry Lee has been named Executive Director of Abaarso Network, effective immediately. In this role,
Harry will work with the US and Somaliland Boards to oversee the strategic direction and management of
the entire Abaarso Network including Abaarso School, Barwaaqo University, and Kaabe Schools, while
also building the resources and team needed to effectively meet the Network’s ambitious goals. In the
Executive Director role, Harry replaces Robert Kaufman, who is leaving Abaarso Network to pursue other
opportunities. We thank Rob for leveraging his years of non-profit management experience to help evolve
Abaarso from a founder-led organization to prepare it for its next stage of development and wish him the
best of luck in his future endeavors.

Harry first joined Abaarso School in 2010 and Co-Founded Kaabe Schools in 2019. He worked as
Kaabe’s Executive Director and Acting President of Barwaaqo. “Harry was a critical piece of Abaarso’s
early success and came back to found and lead the Kaabe initiative. With Kaabe now firmly established
and Harry’s previous roles at all three Abaarso institutions, he is ideally positioned to lead the Abaarso
Network forward leveraging his extensive experience creating successful outcomes in Somaliland”, said
Andra Ehrenkranz, incoming Board Chair of Abaarso Network’s US-based Trustees.

Harry will be supported in his new role by Nimo Ahmed Ismael, a graduate of Abaarso, Oberlin College
and University of Stirling Law School who also previously served as a founding team member of
Barwaaqo. Nimo will be departing the Somaliland Ministry of Planning to assume the role of Deputy
Director of Abaarso Network on July 1, 2022, helping to oversee the three school systems, liaise with the
Somaliland government and school boards, and be a focal point for Abaarso alumni.

As Andra Ehrenkranz further commented, “We are incredibly excited by the powerful combination of
experience and in-country knowledge that Harry and Nimo will bring to capably lead the organization
forward to create a world-class educational system in Somaliland.”