YMCA - Key Persons
Alexandra MEISSL (France, UK & Switzerland) is an Accountant at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, she took up the role in September 2014.
Portrait Extract from candidate profiles for the elections to the World YMCA Executive Committee of July 2022 The real impact the YMCA makes on people's lives, and the dream to collectively build a better world motivates her to serve in its most diverse spaces. By applying to be part of the World Alliance Executive Committee for 2022 - 2026, Anaclara wishes to work for a democratic and participatory World Alliance, which can maximize the positive impact every YMCA makes around the world. Anaclara has been elected as an Executive Committee Member of the World Alliance in 2018 and will be serving on it until the 2022 World Council. At the YMCA of Montevideo, she served on the Board of Directors for a three-year-term (2014-2017). During her service, Anaclara was twice appointed for the position of Secretary of the Board. She also integrated the directive commission of the largest branch of the YMCA Montevideo (CENTRO) for two three-year-terms: 2012-2014 and 2018-2020. She attended the ACJ Montevideo Board of Directors as a delegate in 2013-2014 and 2018-2020. Anaclara would also like to highlight her participation in two international programs, YGOR (a LACA program) and Change Agents. Being part of the Executive Committee since 2018 has made Anaclara gain a deeper understanding of the everyday reality of the World YMCA, its projects, and future expectations. Her participation on the Governance Committee gives Anaclara the opportunity to work closer to the governance documents and policies and allow her to take a position taking the governance perspective into account. In December 2021 Anaclara finished her MBA. This training has given Anaclara many tools and competencies for her role as a member of the executive committee. Since her early childhood Anaclara has been involved with the YMCA. She always took part in a wide range of activities that offered her a safe environment to grow and to develop herself as a kid, teenager and adult. At the age of fourteen Anaclara's engagement shifted from mere participant to volunteer, and her purpose was to work with others to provide everyone with the same safe and motivational environment she had experienced herself. What Anaclara likes most about the YMCA is that its works are made collectively, working closely with others, and giving everyone involved the space and opportunity to develop their own ideas and empowering them to multiplicate the impact.
Job Titles:
- Content & Digital Communications Manager / USA
Bonnie Gretzner (US) is the Content and Digital Communications Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Michigan, United States, she took up the role in October 2022. Bonnie works closely with the Director of Communications, focusing on digital communications including the website and social media.
Bonnie joins the World YMCA from the Jackson (Mich.) YMCA in the US, where she served as the Marketing & Communications director for nearly five years, overseeing all internal and external communications. She has been involved in the YMCA for almost 20 years in a variety of roles.
Previous roles include working as a magazine editor and writer, and she has degrees in English and Spanish.
Job Titles:
- Registered Nurse
- Strategic Leader
Brenda Flaherty is a strategic leader with extensive experience guiding organizational change initiatives for complex organizations and systems in the health care sector. Strongly committed to building healthy communities, she has actively worked to do so throughout her career and volunteer engagements. Brenda believes all young people should have the opportunity to reach their full potential and that organizations like the YMCA are well-positioned to support youth and communities worldwide by influencing and transforming the systems that impact them.
Brenda's involvement with the YMCA in Canada includes most recently serving as Chair of the National Board. She is also past Chair of the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford. One of Brenda's most significant YMCA accomplishments was to lead the development of the Live Well partnership between the YMCA, Hamilton Health Sciences, and McMaster University, collaboratively linking acute care hospital health services with community health and wellness programs.
Brenda retired as Executive Vice President, Clinical Operations and Chief Operating Officer at Hamilton Health Sciences, representing seven hospitals and serving 2.3 million people. Brenda continues to lead systems-wide change to improve healthcare, research, and education, which involves leading and participating in many regional, provincial, national expert panels and advisory committees. Brenda is also an Assistant Professor at McMaster University and was a part-time instructor in the MBA program.
Brenda remains engaged in several organizations which have included the Ontario Brain Institute Outreach Advisory Committee; North Hamilton Community Health Centre; and the Change Foundation where she served in capacities including Board Chair.
Brenda leverages her position as a community leader to advocate for change, particularly on behalf of youth, and always with a lens of diversity and inclusion, seeking to integrate differing perspectives. Motivated by her work with the YMCA, from 2019-2021, Brenda was a member of a three-person independent review panel involving nearly 10,000 stakeholders in a consultation process that produced a report: Building Healthy Relationships and an Inclusive, Caring Learning Environment, on bullying prevention and intervention. They have since engaged the Ontario government to call for transformational systems change in education.
Brenda is a Registered Nurse, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from McMaster University and a Master of Public Administration from Queen's University. She was recognized by McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences with an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Science (2019). Brenda lives in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada with her husband and is the proud mother of three daughters.
Carlos SANVEE (Togo) is Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs. He took up the role in January 2019, having been elected during the 19th YMCA World Council in Chiang Mai, Thailand in July 2018. He is the first African Secretary General of World YMCA.
In his current role, he led the response to the Covid crisis from early 2020 by launching YMCA-wide efforts for Movements to share and help each other, notably launching the YMCA Covid Solidarity Fund. Putting young people at the centre of initiating and leading change, he created the vision for the Youth Led Solutions Initiative, a series of Summits and projects launched in 2021 to empower young people with knowledge, networks and resources to lead change in their communities. He has been at the forefront of developing new partnerships with the public, private and ‘third' (civil society) sectors, especially with the ‘Big 6' youth empowerment organisations and the WHO and UN, in launching the Global Youth Mobilization in 2020-2022. Building on the three-part Covid response strategy of ‘Resilience, Recovery and Reimagination', he spearheaded a Movement-wide process of conversation and consultation which led to the adoption of YMCA Vision 2030 at the 20th YMCA World Council in Aarhus, Denmark in July 2022. The vision puts young people at the centre of the YMCA's mission, a direction he had promoted across his different roles since 2010.
His priority in his second term of office - from 2022 to 2026 - is to see Vision 2030 implemented across the Movement, addressing the 12 Strategic Goals of the four ‘Pillars of Impact': Community Wellbeing, Meaningful Work, Sustainable Planet, and Just World. World YMCA's first duty is to add value to its members.
Carlos Sanvee has been with the YMCA Movement for 50 years.
He joined YMCA Togo as a teenage volunteer in 1973, and became a staff member in 1987 as a youth worker and community organiser. He ultimately became the deputy National General Secretary.
He first joined World YMCA in January 1999 as Executive for Finance & Administration, a position he held until 2007. During this time he was secretary of the-then Youth Committee within the Executive Committee, and strove to integrate young people at all levels of the Committee, and not in separate committees.
He then worked as General Secretary of the Africa Alliance of YMCAs from 2007 until 2018, when he led the African YMCA Movements in articulating their collective identity with a shared vision around the ‘African Renaissance'. In this period he developed the Africa-wide YMCA ‘From Subject to Citizen' programme.
From 2011 to 2018, he was also acting as a part-time Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the World YMCAs.
He holds a first degree in Physics and Chemistry from Université du Bénin in Togo, and a "Diplôme des Hautes études de pratiques sociales (DHEPS)" from Université Lyon Lumière II, France.
Portrait Extract from candidate profiles for the elections to the World YMCA Executive Committee of July 2022 Christopher is motivated to ensure relevance and sustainability of the YMCA, continuing to make a difference in the progression and development of the World Alliance with his risk management, governance, assurance and operations capabilities. Christopher has worked internationally for more than 35 years focusing on risk management, governance and controls, assurance and operations. He has experience delivering services as an external advisor, as a line executive responsible for substantial business operations and as an external director. He has led and participated in consulting, assurance and due diligence projects for a range of companies in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, United Kingdom, China, and Asia. He has a Bachelor of Economics and Mathematics from Monash University, and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand and a Graduate member of the Institute of Company Directors. Christopher has a passion for engaging with people to improve their organisations with a focus on governance, process and controls, finance and risk management. He is also passionate about mentoring, coaching and developing young people, and has done so over his entire career. He believes that individuals can make a difference, when they're supported. In the last five years, Christopher has strengthened the YMCA Australia national movement - moving the YMCA Australia from secretariat to leader with deliverables and outcomes. Other highlights include development of National Safeguarding children and young people unit and resources, the National Redress scheme, empowering young people with the Office for Young People, the Y brand refresh, key advocacy in 2020 and national strategic pillars alignment. Christopher is a long-term member of the Salvation Army community church.
Job Titles:
- Head of Digital Strategy / Switzerland
- Head of Digital Strategy at the World Alliance of YMCAs
Claude-Alain DANTHE (Switzerland) is the Head of Digital Strategy at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, he took up the role in May 1984.
He specializes in information technology, digital implementation, and also runs the World YMCA archives. He has taken part in five YMCA World Councils, and worked with seven different Secretaries General. He holds a degree in information science from the University of Geneva.
Job Titles:
- Area President / Africa Alliance of YMCAs
Job Titles:
- Governance Manager / Bangladesh
- Governance Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs
Duncan CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) is the Governance Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Minnesota, USA, he took up the role in August 2020.
He is a YMCA professional with extensive administrative experience, serving at local, national and regional levels. After graduating from Chittagong University majoring in Accounting, in 1985 he joined Chittagong YMCA as its General Secretary. In 1998 he was promoted as the National General Secretary of Bangladesh YMCA in Dhaka, after which from 2012 to 2020 he served in Hong Kong at the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, as Executive Secretary for Programmes. He also has experience in implementing climate change projects.
Job Titles:
- Financial Management Assistant / Switzerland
- Financial Management Assistant at the World Alliance of YMCAs
Emile Richard (Switzerland) is a Financial Management Assistant at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, he took up the role in February 2023.
He was previously Finance and Administration Assistant at Antenna Foundation, a humanitarian organization in Geneva. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, specializing in Control, Investment and Finance.
Job Titles:
- Area President / Latin America & Carribean Alliance of YMCAs
Job Titles:
- Programme Manager / Kenya
Gloria SHIMULI ANYIKA (Kenya) is Programme Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, she took up the role in January 2021.
She was previously a Resident Advisor at the Young African Leaders Initiative for East and Central Africa (2016-2019). Gloria is an Africa YMCA Subject to Citizen (S2C) Ambassador from the 2012 cohort, and was a YMCA Change Agent from the first cohort in 2012.
She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources Management from the University of Nairobi.
Job Titles:
- Management Consultant at Bain and Company
Portrait Extract from candidate profiles for the elections to the World YMCA Executive Committee of July 2022 Born in India, Harvin left his friends and family to move to the United States in elementary school. Initially filled with hope and a sense of adventure, he quickly fell victim to the many issues that plague young immigrants. Harvin was outcast at school for not knowing American culture and stagnated academically as he learned English. After struggling for months, Harvin's parents signed him up for a soccer league at his local YMCA. Quickly, his sense of being an outsider faded as Harvin and his friends scrambled around the soccer pitch. Harvin's local YMCA was instrumental to his finding a home in the US and its programs gave him the confidence to grow into a youth leader. Today, he volunteers with the Y to give the millions of other struggling kids in the movement the same sense of refuge. Outside the Y, Harvin works as a Management Consultant at Bain and Company. Day-to-day, he helps the largest companies tackle pressing and existential questions such as, "will this acquisition help us stay relevant in the market?", "how do we empower our employees to be more innovative?". As the World YMCA adopts Vision 2030, these sorts of questions are more important than ever. Harvin will bring strategic, analytical thinking and a tactical understanding of how to implement a strategy to the Executive Committee - vital skills as it executes its new strategic plan. Harvin has three years of YMCA governance experience: first serving as ex-officio, national board member with YMCA of the USA while getting his MBA at Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, and currently as a member of the YMCA of the USA's National International Diversity & Inclusion Committee. As a Board member, he pushed for more youth representation in the Y-USA board and elevated best practices from across the world movement. The World YMCA is at a crossroads, and Vision 2030 is an ambitious plan that requires careful execution. With his expertise as a management consultant and his passion for the Y, Harvin can help the World YMCA successfully implement Vision 2030. The World YMCA has the opportunity to create a more inclusive world - one where every refugee, immigrant is welcomed with open arms, and young people are empowered to help shape the policy and solutions of the world - Harvin plans to help the organization realize this goal.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications / UK
- Director of Communications at the World Alliance of YMCAs
John PHILLIPS (UK) is Director of Communications at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, he took up the role in September 2020.
He was previously strategic communications adviser at the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, having held the same role at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC, in Geneva since 2017.
He was Director of Communications at the African Development Bank, AfDB, (2013-2017) and at the European Agency for Reconstruction in the Balkans (2001-2004), and has been in advisory roles for the Secretary General of the IFRC, two AfDB Presidents, two Commonwealth Secretaries General (2006-2011), a UK Secretary of State for International Development (2004-2005), and the EU's first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2011-2012).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee of the World
Karren has been a member of the YMCA for 11 years now. It has played an integral part of her life and helped shape her into the person she is today. Karren would like to pay forward in this endeavor through further engagement in the movement.
Currently, Karren is a member of the Executive Committee of the World YMCA, and particularly the Movement Relevance Committee. She has also been a part of the Solidarity Fund Special Committee. Simultaneous to her engagement with the World YMCA, she sits as an ex-officio member at the national board of the YMCA of the Philippines. Karren's involvement with the Y goes as early as when she was in High School, being a member of the Hi-Y Club and eventually working at her local YMCA as a Program Coordinator. Karren also got an opportunity to be exposed at the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs when she completed a year-long internship for the Global Alternative Tourism Network program. All these experiences combined have provided her with great appreciation for the mission of the YMCA as she has not only experienced them as a recipient, but also been a part of the programming and implementation level.
Professionally, Karren works at a foreign mission in the Philippines and helps in enhancing the relationship of the Philippines and the Czech Republic through engagement with the government, private sectors, and civil society. She has also taken on the role as the Gender Focal Person of the Embassy, engaged at the working group of the Delegation of the European Union to discuss gender equality programs and initiatives of the EU member states in the Philippines. Karren is also training herself on research and policy analysis as she completes her graduate studies in Development Policy. Specifically, Karren's current research is focused on women's participation in politics and governance.
Karren strongly believes in the space that the YMCA provides to the youth as she has seen it first hand. With this, she hopes to be of value to the continuous improvement and relevance of the World YMCA. Karren trusts in its mission and hopes to be an agent through which the mission of the YMCA can be realized.
Job Titles:
- Director of Global Partnerships at the World Alliance of YMCAs
Kathleen ELSIG (US, Switzerland) is Director of Global Partnerships at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, she took up the role in January 2022.
She has 20 years of international experience raising funds and building shared value partnerships with global and local non-profits, businesses, UN agencies, philanthropic organisations, academic institutions, and communities. She has held senior leadership roles, including for the Global Apprenticeship Network, WWF, Switzerland's Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. She is also a senior associate with the Partnering Initiative, where she has supported international foundations and philanthropic organisations pivot to a partnering approach with grantees.
With experience working in Europe, Africa, Asia, Central Asia, and North America, she has a Masters Degree in European Political Affairs, diplomas in nonprofit management and fundraising, and has studied widely in corporate sustainability.
Portrait Extract from candidate profiles for the elections to the World YMCA Executive Committee of July 2022 Young people are not only the future of our world, they are the present. As a young woman, Lena is thankful to say that in the YMCA she received the opportunity to get rooted in a strong community, got to see the beauty of serving others, got a voice that was heard by others and a faith in a God that knows no borders. Young people are not only the future of our world, they are the present. As a young woman, Lena is thankful to say that in the YMCA she received the opportunity to get rooted in a strong community, got to see the beauty of serving others, got a voice that was heard by others and a faith in a God that knows no borders. Vice President of YMCA Berlin since 2019 (Board member since 2018), member of the committee "YMCA Worldwide" in YMCA Germany and a former YMCA Change Agent (2017-2018), Lena studied medicine at Charité Berlin since 2015; going to be a graduated medical doctor in June 2022. Lena's focus is on pediatric care and youth health. She has international YMCA experience through one-year voluntary service in YMCA Perú in 2014/2015 and participating in YMCA World Council 2018. Lena believes the YMCA is the best place on earth for young people to explore their purpose in life, get the motivation to change our world and find hope for the future. For her, young people get transformed by the love of Jesus Christ and start to serve their communities as the Paris Basis calls them to spread God's kingdom among young people. The beauty of people coming together from all ends of the world and having the same goal - striving for hope, purpose and the future for our generation - is what amazes her most when she thinks about the YMCA. As a professional in health issues with focus on pediatric and youth care, Lena knows the importance of mental health in society. She wants to put emphasis on this topic within the movement and help to develop strategies on how to strengthen young people's mental health.
Maria Cristina SALDARRIAGA (Peru) is Programme Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Lima, Peru, she took up the role in May 2019.
She was a Programme Assistant at the World Alliance from January 2015 until December 2018. She was the Coordinator of the Children's area of YMCA Peru in 2014, and is a YMCA Change Agent from the 2012 Cohort.
She has a degree in Education.
Portrait Extract from candidate profiles for the elections to the World YMCA Executive Committee of July 2022 Maurine is a longtime volunteer at the East Jerusalem YMCA and works closely with youth groups. She is a member of the general assembly of the EJ-YMCA and participated as a Change Agent in 2018. Kouba has also volunteered in different projects in the youth and women's programs throughout the years. Kouba is a Business Communication Master graduate from the University of Siena in Italy and holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Banking and Business Administration from Birzeit University in Palestine. Currently, she is a project coordinator at the YWCA of Jerusalem in the women's and youth development programs. Maurine led Gender-Based Violence, women and youth empowerment projects through capacity building training and community action as well as leading advocacy campaigns. Being a member of the YWCA, a sister organization, gives her another dimension of understanding the work that YMCA is doing. Throughout her experience with the YMCA, Maurine discovered her passion in working towards creating change in her community. Maurine believes that the YMCA with its mission and Christian values, is a safe space for enhancing the capacities of those that share these values, and is the home where youth can raise their voices in which opportunities manifest for creative solutions for the problems that they and many others face. Maurine also learnt how to interact with the different groups she worked with, which gave her the sense of leadership, especially with sharing decisions and solutions. In turn, it had a good impact where she was a key person to initiate the very vibrant youth hub in EJ YMCA, Ramallah. Being a YMCA person with the basic slogan "Once a YMCA person, forever a YMCA person" gives Maurine the eagerness to look for more involvement and on higher levels, where she believes, by representing the Middle East in the Executive Committee, she can share their vision with her fellow members and enhance their work in the global movement. Coming from East Jerusalem gives Maurine another perspective to understand working with marginalized communities. On the other hand, with her Bachelors and Masters degree, Maurine feels she can be useful in this coming Executive Committee and will look forward to being a member in the different committees, especially the Finance Committee. Our voices are not only a fundamental part of the YMCA movement, but are also the building blocks for transformational change in our societies in our time and beyond.
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager / Ukraine
- Operations Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs
Mykyta KRUSHELNYTSKI (Ukraine) is Operations Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, he took up the role in February 2019.
Mykyta holds a degree in Linguistics from Kiev State University, and an MSc in International Finance from the Geneva Business School.
Job Titles:
- Consultant With CBM Madagascar
- in 2016 As a Young Member
Nalisoa joined YMCA Madagascar in 2016 as a young member of the YMCA Urban Environment Club as she was passionate about the protection of the environment. In 2017, she became one of the leaders of the club and in 2018 was selected to be part of the young advocate for change program, a program of the African Alliance of YMCAs. Based in YMCA Zimbabwe and with the support of the local branch manager, she implemented different activities related to transformative masculinity, members recruitment, and establishing different youth power space activities. The same efforts were made during her follow-up activities back at her local YMCA. The creation of the Y-quiz club that aims at enhancing young people's knowledge through different quizzes and games was part of that plan.
Job Titles:
- Area President / Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
Job Titles:
- Resident of the Gambia and a Member
Ronald Senghore is a resident of The Gambia and a member of The Gambia YMCA. He has volunteered and served in the YMCA for over twenty years, currently holding the position of a Marcom (Marketing & Communications) Manager at Africell Gambia LTD (Telecoms company). He manages a diverse team that plans and implements marketing and public relation programs to increase subscriber growth and retention.
Ronald took up leadership roles very early in his life, having served at almost all leadership roles in Youth and Children Organizations that he was part of as a pre-teen and teenager.
Ronald has completed a number of trainings over the years, including but not limited to Entrepreneurship, S2C, Peer Health Education, Change Agent, Communications etc. He has worked with young people in starting their own businesses, engaging in tree planting to combat climate change, running his own weekly youth radio talk show on the biggest radio station in The Gambia and organising a yearly concert to educate young people through music and art.
Having served in the Executive Committee and a member of the strategy committee (putting together the strategic plan of World YMCA) from 2018 - 2022, Ronald is motivated to continue the amazing work the Committee has been doing. Following the outbreak of the pandemic, the Movement was hit by the biggest pandemic of our time and he can proudly say that he was part of the Executive Committee team that made decisions that kept the organization afloat and supported YMCAs across the world with the Solidarity Fund. Ronald was part of the team that planned and organized the Youth-led Solutions Initiative series on climate justice and the future of work. The youth-led initiative gave young change makers the opportunity to drive social innovation advancing the SDGs of the UN.
The YMCA has given Ronald life skills and experiences which he will continue to share in his community to impact the lives of young people. Ronald believes as a young person being part of a diverse group of EXCO members, he can help grow the YMCA, design programs and work with young people to come up with solutions. Using the communications and marketing experience he has gathered over the years to help make the YMCA become the go-to organization for all youth related matters around the world.
The YMCA has given Ronald life skills and experiences which he will continue to share in his community to impact the lives of young people. Ronald believes as a young person being part of a diverse group of EXCO members, he can help grow the YMCA, design programs and work with young people to come up with solutions. Using the communications and marketing experience he has gathered over the years to help make the YMCA become the go-to organization for all youth related matters around the world.
Job Titles:
- Deputy President / Hong Kong
Portrait Extract from candidate profiles for the elections to the World YMCA Executive Committee of July 2022 Having served as the Treasurer in the World YMCA since 2018, it gives me great confidence and vision to dedicate myself further to serve as the President in the coming term in the World YMCA. In these two years, the pandemic had brought a detrimental effect to the operation of YMCAs globally. Praise to GOD for giving me and our Board members at the local YMCA the wisdom to rightly manage and adjust our investment portfolio to not just survive but to continue to grow sustainably and even substantially stronger in our financial strength and vitality, aiming to bring even more positive impacts to communities. On the world level, as the Treasurer, I have witnessed with active participation how World YMCA can assist the other YMCA movements globally to face the challenge and overcome difficulties. I trust all agree that, apart from the mission and vision, a sound and sustainable financial standing together with good corporate governance are important issues in YMCA as we are the world's oldest and largest youth-serving movement that works to bring tremendous positive social impact to the world. It has always been one of the crucial tasks for the World YMCA to continue strengthening our resources mobilization capacity and consolidate on the financials, so as to facilitate the YMCA movements as a whole in achieving the strategic plans. I am a professionally trained accountant, with over 40 years of solid track record in the field of financial consulting and risk management. Being entrusted by various professional bodies and even government at both the local, regional and national levels, I have assumed different key positions either in managing or consulting roles as revealed in my biography. I am confident that my knowledge and experience are valuable assets for the YMCA movements in upholding a sustainable financial position as well as governance in the future development of World YMCA. The biblical teaching: "To serve and not to be served" is the major driving force for my service at the YMCA over the past fifteen years. My stories have begun with the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong where I have been serving as a Director and the Honorary Treasurer ever since 2007. The experience has been transformational to somewhat a ‘Re-baptism' for me. Along the path, I have been transforming from yet another policy volunteer with financial expertise into a passionate servant leader committing himself to the vision of enterprising our Movement's corporate governance with sustainable financial management to finance all of our endeavours to serve our communities with Christian love, vitality and sophistication. It is this mindset I have brought with me to serve passionately in the Hong Kong YMCA Council, Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and World YMCA with impact in all these years. During my tenure in each of these offices, I have been instrumental in strengthening corporate governance and policy formulation in both financial and other areas. I aspire to further fulfill these in the capacity of President of the World YMCA together with fellow officers of the Executive Committee, the professional staff team, fellow prominent YMCA leaders and our promising young leaders to make our Movement more sustainable and impactful to bring about positive change in the World.
Job Titles:
- Head of Strategy & Policy / Romania
Răzvan-Victor SASSU (Romania) is Policy and Advocacy Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Bucharest, Romania, he took up the role in February 2019.
He is also the CEO of the Bucharest branch of YMCA Romania (Young Initiative Association), as well as the Treasurer of YMCA Romania. He also serves as Vice-President of the VOLUM Federation in Romania, the largest federation in the country.
He specialised in organisational management and economics, with a Master's Degree in the Knowledge-based Economy and Entrepreneurial Management.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant / France
Sandra COMBET (France) is an executive assistant at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, she took up the role in September 2019.
She was previously a Business Operations Specialist and Events Manager at the World Economic Forum (2006-2017). She held several roles as Executive and Personal Assistant at Avent in London, UK (2001-2003); at Capital One in London, UK (2000); at IATA in Geneva (2005); and at the Diplomatic Mission of Taiwan in Geneva (1994-97).
Portrait Extract from candidate profiles for the elections to the World YMCA Executive Committee of July 2022 Sarah was brought up in the YMCA and then became a volunteer in her local YMCA - Dumfries. When she moved to Aberdeen to study primary teaching at Aberdeen University, it was natural to become involved in Aberdeen YMCA. At the same time, Sarah also became more involved nationally at YMCA Scotland in their Youth Committee before joining the Executive Committee. From these positions, she attended events at YMCA Europe and progressed to becoming a Change Agent with the World YMCA. Sarah has always loved the feeling of being part of the YMCA family at all levels and looked for other opportunities to become more involved in the YMCA. Sarah completed YMCA Scotland's Full Board training programme and this trained her in different aspects involved in governance and the role and responsibilities of being a part of a Board of Directors. This training course provided her with a wealth of knowledge which assisted in Sarah's role on her local board of directors and then joining YMCA Scotland's executive committee. Being involved in governance at both local and national levels has given Sarah great experience in understanding how governance at different levels operates, as well as how to deal with unknown challenges, and how to pre-empt other challenges. She has learnt a vast range of skills including dealing with finances, strategic planning as well as policy writing. One other skill Sarah has learnt is to look to the future. It is good to learn from the past but ultimately, we need to be looking forward and identifying the next opportunities and ways to empower young people. She feels that she will be able to use these skills at a world level as part of the World Executive Committee but also continue to learn and develop through this new, exciting opportunity. Sarah is excited, if elected, to be part of driving forward the new strategic plan at local, national and world levels, continuing to look forward and find new ways and opportunities for empowering young people.
Ms. Soheila Hayek has extensive experience with non-profit organizations, both as a volunteer and in management, including World YMCA (4 years), YMCA Lebanon (10 years), Director of The Goguikian Foundation, an NGO engaged in Youth Empowerment (12 years), and others. She has well-rounded competencies in Policymaking, Strategic Planning, Governance, Advocacy, Budgeting, Financial Management and Fundraising.
Soheila is confident that her years of leadership in senior management inspiring teams of volunteers as well as paid staff to achieve their very best, her ease with public speaking, advocacy and relationship-building, give her the confidence that she would be well suited to exercise the duties of President.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance & Administration / UK
- Director of Finance and Administration at the World Alliance of YMCAs
Suzanne WATSON (UK) is Director of Finance and Administration at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, she joined the organisation in February 2005.
She studied Business and Financial Management, and has an MBA as well as a Swiss Diploma in French Language and Civilisation. She first worked in International Equestrian Event Management, and then moved on to a career in Shipping Logistics and International Trade Finance. After an 8-year break from work to have children, she joined the YMCA in 2005 as Administrative Assistant, Finance & Administration.