Our team

Global Team

Marlies Stappers

Executive Director

Margaretha Bakker

Director of Operations

Thomas Unger ​

Director of Policy and Research

Shireen Lau

Head of Fundraising and Strategy Development

Esther Kamau

Programme & Operations Officer

Anupa (Iman) Ghosh

Communications Officer

Michelle Bouchebel

Thematic Lead - AI and Emerging Technologies

West Asia and North Africa Team

Upon reflection of the deep legacy of Europe’s colonial past and its impacts on ongoing injustices, we believe it is important to decolonise our language. Moving forward, our team will be called “West Asia and North Africa” (WANA), replacing the outdated term of the “Middle East and North Africa” (MENA). This change accurately describes the geographical location of the region and allows us to be more rooted in our diversity.

Adam al-Alou

Senior Programme Officer - West Asia and North Africa

Maha Ghrer

Senior Programme Officer - West Asia and North Africa

Mouna Khaity

Programme Officer - West Asia and North Africa

Darine Matmati

Senior Programme Officer - West Asia and North Africa

Tiba Yousif

Programme Officer - West Asia and North Africa

Africa Team

David Taylor

Head of Africa Regional Programme

Christella Niyonzima

Country Programme Manager - Burundi

Sophie Kagwiza

Country Operations Manager – Burundi

Isabelle Simbarakiye

Communications Officer - Burundi

Gentil Kasongo

Country Programme Manager – DRC

Sammy Mwanza

Finance and Project Assistant - DRC

More team bios coming soon

Central America Team

More team bios coming soon