Our Team

At Ubwiru, our small start-up team come from different backgrounds and each have a range of skills that merge together to design and manufacture well thought out, quality furniture.

When you contact Ubwiru, you will speak directly with one of us so get to know us below!

Ryan Johnson

Co-Founder and Business Lead

“There is nothing more exhilarating than building something! At Ubwiru I get to create amazing wooden furniture and build my own micro-manufacturing company - life could not be better”

Ryan Johnson is a South African national who has lived and worked most of his life outside his native country. He moved to Rwanda a year ago and started Ubwiru Woodcraft. Ryan studied economics at Stellenbosch University and worked as a researcher, project manager and freelance writer for the past nine years.

Larison Poppe

Co-Founder and Carpentry Lead

“At Ubwiru we work hard to gel business and creativity. We don't only deliver quality finished products, but we also ensure that our products are affordable, timely and profitable”

Larison is a serial entrepreneur. Before joining Ubwiru, Larison ran his own micro-manufacturing firm in Kigali. Currently Larison is completing his Bsc in Software Development at the Adventist University of East Africa.

Eden Faulkner

Furniture Designer

“Working at Ubwiru, I find myself constantly pushing the boundaries through my designs. I am inspired by the creativity of the people who I work with every day. This is my first job in the start-up space so I am learning a lot and enjoying watching Ubwiru develop”.

Eden Faulkner, is from Birmingham in the United Kingdom. She has been living and working in Rwanda for the past year and a half. Eden studied Interior Architecture at Sheffield Hallam University and has a passion for furniture design.