Board of Directors and Advisors
The Ronella Group is led by seasoned professionals with extensive international and UK experience. Known for their honesty, reliability and principled approach, the directors bring credibility, stability and trust to every partnership, guided by a shared desire to create meaningful and lasting benefit for others.
Charles Shaw
Founder and Chairman of the Board
With over 45 years of experience in construction and civil engineering, Charles brings deep practical knowledge in project delivery, property development, and infrastructure to support Ronella’s global initiatives. His career, including a decade in the Middle East leading major projects, has shaped his ability to guide diverse, high-performing teams and deliver complex solutions in challenging environments.
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At Ronella, this experience is applied to developing scalable, sustainable projects that address real-world challenges,particularly for communities affected by climate change. Charles focuses on building strong partnerships, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring that ideas are translated into practical, impactful outcomes.
His role is centred on enabling collaboration, maintaining strategic direction, and helping Ronella deliver meaningful, long-term value where it is needed most.
Juan Manuel Cadenas
CEO and Director of Middle East and Latam
Juan has over 30 years of international experience in civil engineering and infrastructure project leadership, with a strong track record in managing large-scale construction and complex delivery environments. His career spans Spain, Europe, and the Middle East, where he has led multicultural teams across sectors including transport, industrial, petrochemical, and major civil works.
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At Ronella, Juan applies this expertise to support the planning and delivery of high-impact infrastructure projects, ensuring they are designed and executed to the highest standards. His experience on landmark programmes such as major metro systems provides valuable insight into managing scale, complexity, and long-term sustainability.
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Juan also contributes to strengthening partnerships and promoting innovation, helping Ronella develop solutions that are both technically robust and aligned with its mission to support communities globally.
Peter Lalor
CFO and Director of African Operations
Peter has extensive international experience across strategic leadership, financial management, and organisational transformation, developed over a career spanning global infrastructure groups and diversified investments. His 18 years in the Middle East as CFO of major organisations, combined with experience across the USA, Japan, and Europe, provide Ronella with a strong foundation in navigating complex, multi-cultural environments.
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At Ronella, Peter applies this expertise to strengthen financial governance, support sustainable growth, and ensure that projects are structured for long-term viability and impact. His background in restructuring, digitalisation, ERP systems, and financial reporting enables the organisation to operate efficiently while scaling its global initiatives.
Peter plays a key role in building robust partnerships, aligning commercial and humanitarian objectives, and supporting Ronella’s ability to deliver meaningful, sustainable outcomes worldwide.
John Shaw
CSO and Head of Australasia Strategy
John brings a broad range of entrepreneurial and leadership experience across construction, property, hospitality, and digital enterprise in both the UK and Australia. His background in building and managing diverse ventures, including large-scale property operations and online investment initiatives, provides Ronella with practical insight into delivering and scaling projects across different sectors.
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At Ronella, John contributes a strong people-focused approach, drawing on his experience in behavioural psychology and crisis intervention to support effective leadership, collaboration, and decision-making. His ability to understand both commercial dynamics and human factors helps ensure that projects are delivered with clarity, resilience, and sensitivity to the communities they serve.
John plays an important role in strengthening team cohesion, supporting strategic direction, and helping Ronella build initiatives that are both commercially sound and socially impactful.
Oliver Hemsley
Advisor and Supply Chain Consultant
With decades of hands-on experience, Oliver is a business owner across agriculture, horticulture, landscaping, and property development, with a strong track record of delivering projects to a high standard for private, commercial, and public sector clients. His practical approach and ability to coordinate teams ensures that work is completed efficiently, reliably, and with lasting value.
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His time in local government, including over five years in senior management, adds valuable experience in public service delivery, long-term planning, and leading teams through complex challenges such as the COVID period. This strengthens Ronella’s ability to align projects with community needs and operate effectively within structured environments.
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At Ronella, Oliver contributes a grounded, community-focused perspective, supporting the delivery of initiatives that are both practical and impactful, while helping to build strong local engagement and sustainable outcomes