Denis Chitowe has more than four years' experience in dairy production and processing and veterinary services. He is a professional livestock specialist who is passionate about developing Malawi's dairy industry to a level recognizable in Africa and ensuring socioeconomic growth for both smallholder dairy farmers and developing commercial dairy farms, in which women and youth are key players. Denis's background includes degrees from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Malawi College of Accountancy. He is also a trained professional accountant. Currently, he is the managing director of Mzuzu Dairy Limited, a company that works with smallholder dairy farmers to provide a farm-to-market pipeline for their products, and chief executive officer of the Centre for Agricultural Excellence, which supports child-headed families through small-stock production. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Denis will advocate for the growth of smallholder dairy farms into commercial farms, lobby for more women- and youth-focused dairy cooperatives across Malawi, and establish a savings and credit cooperative that will help dairy farmers be economically resilient at all times.