PARTNERSGLOBAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Executive Intern
Addison Foord has served as an Executive Intern at Partners Global since July of 2023. In this position, Addison lends logistical and administrative support to the executive team and spearheads the planning and coordination of the annual Arts 4 Resilience event series.
Prior to his role with Partners, Addison interned with various international development organizations including the Center for Peacebuilding and the Borgen Project.
Addison recently graduated Cum Laude from Tulane University of Louisiana, with a BA in International Relations and Communications.
Addison is inspired by Partners Global's emphasis on decolonizing the international development sphere by uplifting local actors around the world and stimulating important conversations about rethinking the role of Western actors in the field.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager of the Partners Global Civil Society Resilience
- Program Manager, Global Initiatives
Alexa is a Program Manager of the Partners Global Civil Society Resilience portfolio, focusing on increasing the resilience of civil society organizations in closing civic spaces.
Before joining Partners Global, Alexa was a Technical Specialist at IREX where she designed and led trainings pertaining to social inclusion, gender equality, trauma-informed care, and resilience and security for human rights defenders in closing and closed spaces. Alexa also managed human rights programs that focused on strengthening the resilience and security of LGBTQ+ and women human rights defenders in the MENA region, women's rights advocates across the globe, anti-trafficking activists and journalists in Southeast Asia. Prior to IREX, Alexa was Director of Advancement at a Virginia-based NGO, Sudan Sunrise, in which she directed peacebuilding efforts and reconciliation projects in Sudan and South Sudan. Alexa also researched and analyzed security developments pertaining to refugee crises in the Middle East region, including at The Jerusalem Fund in Washington, D.C.
Alexa earned her Masters of Arts in Middle East and Islamic Studies from George Mason University and a Graduate Certificate in Trauma-Informed Care from the University at Buffalo.
In addition to her work at Partners Global, Alexa is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu grappler, aspiring photographer, and lover of nature.
Ambassador Stephen A. Seche is the Former Executive Vice President at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Prior to his former position, Ambassador Seche served as a senior analyst in the Washington, DC office of Dentons US LLP, an international law practice with an extensive network of ties to the Middle East.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager
- Program Manager for the Global Initiatives Team at Partners Global
- Program Manager, Global Initiatives
Analucía Partida Borrego is a Program Manager for the Global Initiatives team at Partners Global. In this role, Analucía manages projects on conflict transformation and civil society strengthening in Latin America and provides support to the civil society resilience portfolio.
Since 2010, Analucía has worked on local dialogue processes, narratives and depolarization, and conflict prevention research in Latin America and the Middle East. Prior to joining Partners, she worked as program manager and dialogue facilitator for the Latin America Unit at Berghof Foundation, where she focused on multi-track dialogue processes. Other previous experiences include human rights protection and conflict prevention in Mexico, and conflict and protest research in Egypt.
Analucía is a passionate advocate of creating spaces for inclusive dialogue and reflection processes. She has written about depolarizing narratives, power and discourse and art-led activism. She holds an M.A. in International Affairs from the Institut d'etudes Politiques de Paris and B.A. degrees in Peace and Conflict Studies and Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Job Titles:
- Artist
- Professional Artist, Educator, and Arts Activist
Anne Labovitz is a contemporary artist whose work addresses themes of human connection, the immersive power of color, and radical care in art. Labovitz's research-based practice combines painting, sculpture, light, installation, mixed media and social practice to address ideas by activating color and light in large-scale immersive work. As part of Labovitz's artistic praxis, she connects to communities through artistic intervention, activism, anti-racism, and public co-creation.
She is Artist Founder and Producer at 122 Conversations: Person to Person, Art Beyond borders currently installed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at Terminal 2. Labovitz's significant project, 122 Conversations: Person to Person, Art Beyond Borders (2013-2019) toured six sites, six countries, and Labovitz collaboratively worked with more than 2,500 people.
Labovitz was a participant in the initial cohort of the Woke Coach and a founding member of Racial Equity Committee at the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis). Her current long-term social practice project is the I Love You Institute, an artist-led site-specific project urgently working with communities to address today's world creatively. It combines art-making, social justice, radical kindness, and relational listening to normalize, saying "I Love You" as an alternative to division and conflict.
Born and raised in West Africa, Assita started working with Partners Global in early 2018. Before Partners, Assita lived in Paris, France where she completed her Master's degree in Financial Management and worked with Aviva France. Prior to this, Assita lived in Bamako, Mali where she attained her Bachelor's degree in Management.
She is responsible for providing administrative and financial support to the Africa team, ensuring smooth and timely flow of work. She also supports Partners West Africa Centers in Senegal and Nigeria as well as Partners Global's subgrantees in Guinea, Senegal and Burkina Faso
Job Titles:
- Finance
- Senior Director
- Deputy Chief Financial Officer at Partners Global
Bisrat Yohannes is the Deputy Chief Financial Officer at Partners Global with a key role in financial management, financial forecasting and planning, development of relevant financial information, and timely financial reporting. He assists the CFO in developing internal control policies, guidelines, and procedures as well as establishing and maintaining an infrastructure that supports future stable growth and ensure that highest standards of financial integrity are being attained.
Before joining Partners Global, Bisrat worked at Helen Keller International as program finance manager overseeing everyday program financial activities for multimillion-dollar programs funded by USAID and private foundations. He has extensive experience in all aspects of financial management ranging from simple accounting to complex financial management.
Bisrat holds a bachelor's degree in accounting with more than 15 years of experience. Originally from Ethiopia, he enjoys reading books and playing/watching sport in his free time.
Job Titles:
- Director, Business Development
- Director for Business Development
Bridget is a native of the Boston area and started working at Partners Global in 2013 as an intern while pursuing her Master of Arts in Latin American Studies at Georgetown University. She previously lived and worked in Maracaibo, Venezuela as a Fulbright Fellow.
As Director for Business Development, Bridget provides strategic leadership for Partners' business development efforts. Her role includes developing and leading knowledge management processes, building and sustaining external partnerships, supporting new programmatic and funding opportunities, and coaching and mentoring team members and local partners. Bridget is an experienced trainer and facilitator in English and Spanish and leads Partners Global's Facilitating Accountability, Integrity, and Resilience approach, which supports local civil society and governments to jointly counter corruption and increase transparency in all aspects of governance. In addition to her official duties, Bridget takes pride in making Partners a better place to work and believes strongly in the power of teamwork, collaboration, and playfulness.
In her free time, she enjoys going on adventures, testing new and ever more elaborate recipes, and pretending that her cat and dog get along.
Job Titles:
- Senior Business Development Associate
Cara has served as the Senior Business Development Associate at Partners Global since 2023. In this position, Cara supports the organization's business development efforts globally. In addition to her primary job functions, Cara also contributes to overall knowledge and relationship management with local implementing organizations and partners, as well as internal and external communications. Cara has previously worked with local NGOs across Africa where she supported business development and program implementation in the international development field, particularly in Ghana, Malawi, Uganda, and Sudan. Cara holds a Master's degree in Humanitarianism, Aid and Conflict from SOAS, University of London, as well as Bachelor's degrees in Government and Applied Mathematics from The College of William and Mary. Cara is inspired by Partners Global's work in supporting locally-led development efforts in democracy- and peacebuilding, particularly regarding women.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Human Resources & Talent Management Intern
Cesia Delcid Hernandez has served as an Executive Leadership Intern at Partners Global since February of 2023. In this position, Cesia's internship focuses primarily on nonprofit management, including internal and external communications and executive support.
Cesia has recently graduated from the University of Maryland, with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics (International Relations Track). In addition, she recently completed her study abroad at the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico where she focused her studies in human rights and judicial interpretation, and conflict negotiation in Latin American and Europe. Cesia has previously served as an Outreach Assistant with the Montgomery Housing Partnership in Silver Spring, MD, where she provided translation and general support for low-income families applying for assistance programs. Prior to that she has served as an intern and volunteer with many organizations including the International Rescue Committee, the Library of Congress, and Students Helping Honduras.
Cesia's is inspired by Partners Global mission to positively transform communities and looks forward to learning as much as possible from her colleagues.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman / Vice President, Global Government Relations, IPC
- Vice President of Global Government Relations at IPC
Chris Mitchell is Vice President of Global Government Relations at IPC, the leading trade association for electronics manufacturing. In this role, he is responsible for development and implementation of the organization's global advocacy efforts and public policy agenda with a focus on issues related to trade; industrial policy; workforce; and environment, health and safety. Chris also oversees IPC's expanding research program which includes the organization's longstanding statistical programs.
Chris was most recently a director at Prime Policy Group, a leading Washington, D.C. government relations firm. He previously spent nearly a decade working for members of Congress from the State of California for whom he handled technology, trade, and transportation issues. He holds a Bachelor's degree from The George Washington University and a Master's degree in philosophy from San Jose State University and currently serves on the board of directors for Partners Global and the Fabretto Children's Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Program Associate, Africa
Christian Labossiere joined Partners Global as an intern for the Africa Team in February 2021. After a year, Christian was offered a Program Associate position to assist with the implementation of the Africa Team's current security governance and gender equity initiatives.
Upon graduating from Florida State University with a Bachelor's in French and International Affairs, Christian spent a few months volunteering in Port au Prince, Haiti before joining the US Peace Corps in 2018. As a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa, Christian supported his school and community by teaching English and Creative Arts full-time and collaborating with local partners to apply for infrastructure funding for the school itself. Christian's Peace Corps service was cut a few months short due to COVID evacuations but by this time he had already been accepted into Georgetown University's MA Conflict Resolution Program.
Christian has in M.A. from Georgetown University with a degree in peacebuilding, mediation, negotiations and diplomacy. In his free time, Christian enjoys gaming with friends, watching science documentaries, and reading books on consciousness and meditation.
Deborah oversees various projects in Partners Global's Africa portfolio. She works closely with donors, network members, and partners to increase access to justice, respect for human rights and protection for communities in need.
Deborah has more than 15 years of experience in program management, business development, policy design, and training in the field of peacebuilding. She designed and managed projects funded by the governments of Canada, Switzerland, UK and US, private foundations, and companies. Her topics of expertise include conflict resolution, peacebuilding, violence prevention, youth empowerment, and protection including sexual and gender-based violence. Deborah also co-authored a number of training manuals and handbooks on peacebuilding topics. In the past, she worked and consulted for organizations such as Creative Learning, the United States Institute for Peace, Oxfam America, the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue and UNICEF. Deborah has an M.A. in History and a B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair
- Vice Chair / President, Environmental Health Resources, PC
Dr. Jessica Herzstein's career in global public health has focused on the health of workers and the workplace and on preventive medicine in communities. She has developed and implemented health promotion and disease prevention programs for workers and families in developed and developing countries with goals of improving the health of populations, and reducing acute and chronic disease and disability. She has worked in countries throughout Europe, southeast and central Asia, and North and South America to assess environmental hazards, improve health knowledge, and foster healthy and safe behaviors, all within radically varying legal, regulatory and cultural frameworks.
For almost two decades she served as global medical director at a Fortune 200 chemical and equipment manufacturing company where she developed innovative approaches to manage and respond to a wide range of local, regional and global worker and community health threats ranging from acute industrial or environmental exposure hazards, to threats from TB, HIV and hepatitis, to rapidly growing rates of noncommunicable diseases. She led global health crisis planning and the response to pandemics including SARS and H1N1. Dr. Herzstein previously oversaw U.S. worker health surveillance in the Department of Defense, worked with USAID in international partnerships to build sustainable environmental health expertise and capacity in Eastern Europe, and held academic positions at two medical schools.
Most recently, Dr. Herzstein served a 4 year term on the United States Preventive Services Task Force, a panel of specialists in primary care and preventive medicine appointed by the US Department of Health and Human Services, where she remains a consultant. This body sets the standards for screening and counseling for medical service delivery in the United States, with international influence as well. In addition to in depth reviews of science to develop evidence based recommendations on important conditions ranging from breast and colon cancers to tuberculosis and depression, she led a work group on communication and dissemination, developing tools to assist professionals and consumers with decision making.
Dr. Herzstein is currently working as a consultant on environmental health and population health. She is an advisor to a major public private partnership in Mexico charged with reducing obesity and diabetes. She is a Professorial Lecturer at the George Washington Milken Institute of Public Health. She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine's Forum on Public Private Partnerships on Global Health and Safety which leverages the power of partnerships and cross sector collaboration to address a range of health needs among vulnerable populations, migrant workers and lower and middle income countries.
Dr Herzstein holds a medical degree from Yale University where she also received a masters in public health, specializing in environmental health. She completed training in internal medicine and preventive medicine at UCSF and at Harvard.
Job Titles:
- Director, Human Resources & Talent Management
- Human Resources & Talent Management Director
- Partners' Human Resources and Talent Management Director
Originally from South Texas, Edith joined Partners Global in August 2019 as the organization's first Human Resources Leader. Edith received her BA in Political Science and Latin American Studies from Baylor University, and her MA in Public Administration in Human Resources Management and Legal/Judicial Administration from Texas State University. Prior to joining Partners Global, Edith managed the Talent Management and Human Resources functions for large and mid-size corporations across the United States, Mexico, and Canada in industries including real estate, retail, and legal services.
As the organization's Human Resources & Talent Management Director, Edith is responsible for leading senior leadership and management teams in reinforcing strong company culture, creating and leading employee engagement and development programs, and implementing reward and talent management strategies that support the achievement of Partners Global's mission. Edith's other areas of responsibility include: talent acquisition, employee relations, health and welfare, safety, organization development and learning, and compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
When not working, Edith enjoys spending time with her family, running and singing off-tuned karaoke. Edith is the proud wife of a U.S. Army Physical Therapist and in addition to having two fur babies, Kitty and Koko Kardouni, she is the proud aunt to three nephews and three nieces. In her spare time, Edith also enjoys mentoring up-and-coming HR professionals where she shares her knowledge and passion for people operations programs.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director at the Alliance for Peacebuilding
- Executive Director, Alliance for Peacebuilding
Elizabeth (Liz) Hume is the Executive Director at the Alliance for Peacebuilding. She is an international lawyer and a conflict expert with more than 25 years of experience in senior leadership positions in bilateral, multilateral institutions and NGOs. She has extensive experience in policy and advocacy and overseeing sizeable and complex peacebuilding programs in conflict-affected and fragile states in Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa.
From 1997-2001, Liz was seconded by the US Department of State to the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo as the Chief Legal Counsel and Head of the Election Commission Secretariats. In these positions, she was responsible for developing the legal framework and policies in support of the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords and UN Resolution 1244. After 9/11, Liz worked for the International Rescue Committee in Pakistan and Afghanistan where she established and managed the Protection Department for Afghan refugees and returning IDPs. Starting in 2004, she served in leadership positions and helped establish the Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation at USAID developing programs and policies to improve the USG's ability to address the causes of violent deadly conflict. In 2007, Liz was the Chief of Party for Pact where she managed a USAID funded conflict resolution and governance program in Ethiopia. She also served as a Technical Director at FHI 360 where she managed a USAID funded peacebuilding and governance program in Senegal with a focus on the Casamance one of Africa's longest-running civil wars.
Liz is also an experienced mediator, and she is a frequent guest lecturer and author on conflict analysis and peacebuilding in conflict-affected and fragile states.
Liz holds a BA from Boston College, a JD from Vermont Law School, and a MA in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She lives in Falls Church City, VA with her husband in a much cleaner and quieter house since their twin girls went to University.
Job Titles:
- Founding Director of Partners El Salvador
As the director of the Partners Center in El Salvador, Eva worked extensively with local communities, civil society organizations, and government agencies to promote peace, security, and social justice in the country. She developed and implemented innovative peacebuilding and mediation programs and networks that had a real impact on the ground and built strong relationships with local and international partners and stakeholders. Eva is currently a peace fellow with Rotary Peace Foundation at Uppsala University Peace Center in Sweden.
As a member of the board of directors, Eva will bring regional expertise and perspective, program design and implementation experience, community engagement skills, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. She has committed to promoting collaborative and participatory approaches to peacebuilding, and to working with local and international partners to address the root causes of conflict.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director Berkeley Research Group, LLC and Faculty Member, Johns Hopkins University
- Managing Director of Berkeley Research Group
Dr. Broadman is Managing Director of Berkeley Research Group a global consulting firm that helps leading organizations advance in three key areas: disputes and investigations, corporate finance, and strategy and operations. Broadman also serves as Director of Johns Hopkins University's Center on Global Enterprise and Emerging Markets at the university's graduate School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington DC, where he is also a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute. A veteran operational advisor to C-suites and corporate board of directors, Broadman has been CEO and managing partner of Pro Global Partners LLC, a transaction advisory firm. In mid-January 2015, Broadman stepped down as Senior Managing Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he founded and led PwC's Management Consulting Emerging Markets Business Strategy Practice.Over his 34 year career, Broadman has developed deep expertise in multinational corporate strategy; negotiation of trade and foreign direct investment transactions; private equity deal origination and fund-raising; sovereign wealth fund performance; infrastructure project finance; anti-corruption compliance; and economic development policy.
Broadman has worked in virtually all of the advanced countries and most emerging markets, including China; India; Russia and the CIS; Eastern and Central Europe and the Balkans; Brazil and much of Latin America; most of East Asia; throughout Sub-Saharan Africa; and parts of the Middle East. Prior to PwC, Dr. Broadman was Managing Director and served on the Investment Committee at Albright Capital Management LLC, an alternative strategy investment fund dedicated to emerging markets; Managing Director at Albright Stonebridge Group, a global consultancy chaired by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; a senior official at the World Bank Group, where he managed some of the Bank's largest operations in China, Russia, the Balkans, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Earlier, he served in the Executive Office of the President as US Assistant Trade Representative, where sat on the Board of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) as well as on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS); Chief of Staff of the President's Council of Economic Advisers in the White House; Senior Professional Staff on the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, then chaired by Senator John Glenn; Assistant Director of Resources for the Future, Inc.; Consultant at the Rand Corporation; Fellow at the Brookings Institution; and on the faculties of Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University.
Broadman received an A.B. in economics and history, magna cum laude, from Brown University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan. He is a life-time Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Member of the Bretton Woods Committee. He serves in several non-executive board of director roles, including on the Board of Directors of The Corporate Council on Africa, the Board of Directors of Partners for Democratic Change, and the Board of Advisors of the Global Business School Network.
Broadman has published several books, the most recent being Africa's Silk Road: China and India's New Economic Frontier, as well as numerous articles in peer-reviewed economics, foreign policy and law journals.
Job Titles:
- Associate at Partners Global
- Senior Finance Associate
Husn Maab has served as Senior Finance Associate at Partners Global since 2022. In this position he provides financial and procurement leadership and oversight of the financial aspects of multiple programs including leads and proposals, start-up, implementation and control, monitoring and evaluation, close-out, and cross-cutting functions.
Husn has previously worked as a Financial Analyst with ACDI/VOCA and Acquisition and Assistance Specialist with USAID Mission. Husn holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from University of Peshawar.
Husn is inspired to work at Partners Global to be part of an organization working for prosperity and positive change for all people across the world.
Job Titles:
- Global Initiatives Intern
Jana's journey with Partners Global commenced in July 2023 when she stepped into the role of intern, actively contributing to the global initiatives team. This strategic choice was motivated by her desire to harmoniously merge theoretical knowledge with hands-on practical exposure.
Currently immersed in her pursuit of a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies at Uppsala University, Sweden, her academic journey has also opened doors for her upcoming semester as an exchange student at the Heller School, Brandeis University. Before this, Jana successfully completed her Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Sociology, complemented by a minor in Public Law, at Julius-Maximilians-University in Wuerzburg, Germany. Throughout her undergraduate years, she further enriched her education with a semester abroad at the University of Bologna, Italy.
Yet, Jana's current academic trajectory marks her second professional chapter. In her prior career, she delved into Finance and Bank Management at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. This expertise led her to a decade-long role as a private client consultant, providing her with invaluable insights into the financial sector. Jana's involvement with Pro Regenwald, a Munich-based NGO dedicated to environmental conservation and human rights, further enriched her journey into her current field.
At present, Jana wears multiple hats. She serves as the chairwoman of the board at Pax et Bellum, a student organization in Uppsala that actively fosters dialogue surrounding peace and conflict matters. Additionally, her commitment to these causes has led her to secure a fellowship with the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
Jana's alignment with Partners Global's mission, centered around grassroots peacebuilding and bolstering civil society's resilience, fuels her inspiration. Driven by her passion, she is resolute in her mission to contribute to the creation of a more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous world for all.
Job Titles:
- Pastor, Professor, Author and Advocate
- Senior Pastor of St. Joseph African Methodist Episcopal
The Reverend Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine (a/k/a Jay Augustine) serves as senior pastor of St. Joseph African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Durham, NC and as national chaplain of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He has a proven history of leadership in addressing some of the 21st century's most pressing social issues. Immediately prior to his current pastoral assignment, Augustine served as senior pastor of Historic St. James AME Church in New Orleans (1844), the city's oldest predominately black, Protestant church, and as an adjunct professor at Southern University Law Center.
A former civil rights litigator, he successfully represented a class of plaintiffs in Carter v. St. Helena Parish School Board, one of the oldest desegregation cases in the United States, originally filed by Thurgood Marshall, then-counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He served in the administration of Louisiana's 55th governor, as executive counsel & director of legislative affairs for the Louisiana Workforce Commission, and in locally elected office as vice president of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. He is a silver life member of the NAACP.
Augustine earned an economics degree from Howard University, along with an active duty commission as a U.S. Army infantry officer. After four years of decorated military service, he earned his Juris Doctorate from Tulane University and served as a law clerk to Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice (then-Associate) Bernette Joshua Johnson. He later earned his Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary, before completing a fellowship at Princeton Theological Seminary, and earning his Doctor of Ministry degree at Duke University.
Jeffsky Poincy joined Partners Global in August of 2021 as a Program Manager for the Africa portfolio. As a Program Manager, Jeffsky works with local implementing partners and Partners Network members based in the region on projects in accountable governance, civil society strengthening, and peacebuilding.
Jeffsky comes to Partners Global with a rich background in project management and diverse technical expertise. He has over seven years of experience in economic development, strategic planning, program management, and policy development across public, private, and NGO sectors. He has worked for organizations such as Plan International, the Haitian Ministry of Tourism, and the Haitian Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Civic Action. In addition, he is the Founder of BUSY (Business-driven Solutions for Youth), a Haitian-based economic development organization whose mission is to promote and foster economic empowerment of marginalized youth in Haiti.
Jeffsky has a Master of International Development Policy from Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy, focusing on Governance and Economic Development. He also obtained a master's degree in International Project Management and a bachelor's degree in Economics and Management from the People's Friendship University of Russia. He is fluent in English, French, Haitian Creole, and Russian. In addition to his work at Partners, Jeffsky is a passionate and committed advocate for social justice.
Jessica has served as Program Manager with the Global Initiatives team at Partners Global since May 2022. In this position, Jessica supports the civil society resilience portfolio. She primarily manages the Civil Society Resilience Activity (CSRA) in Serbia-a five-year project funded by USAID and SDC, and implemented by Partners Global together with five local and international organizations. The project seeks to improve the legal environment for civil society, public understanding of civil society's contributions to the development of Serbian society, and the ability of civil society in Serbia to be more transparent, accountable, and representative of its constituents.
Before joining Partners Global, Jessica was a Program Manager at an international nonprofit where she managed the implementation of public, private, and foundation grants in Nigeria and Belarus. In Nigeria, Jessica managed an agriculture and education program to build the resilience of smallholder farming communities through improved agricultural practices and increased access to finance and income diversification opportunities for women and youth. In Belarus, she managed the implementation of a business education program that aimed to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem by establishing regional business education centers, start-up competitions, and women and youth networking groups.
Jessica earned her MA in International Peace & Conflict Resolution from American University and a BA in Anthropology & Sociology from Lewis & Clark College.
Jessica is inspired by Partners Global's approach of fostering collaboration and partnership. She believes that the greatest and most sustainable positive impact is grounded in strong trust and collaboration that effectively leverages the strengths and resources of each partner.
Kyra's journey with Partners Global began in 2017 when she was tapped for her expertise in access to justice, rule of law, and human rights issues to advance Partners' programs and local partner capacities. Over time, she took on diverse management roles and in January 2020 became Managing Director for Program Portfolios. In this capacity, Kyra provides strategic oversight and guidance on management and program implementation across all regions and thematic areas. In January 2021, she was named Co-Executive Director.
From 2014-19, Kyra served as Senior Technical Director of New Rule, LLC, providing technical assistance across the globe while involved in all aspects of the development and growth of a woman-owned small business. She has lived in South Asia and Eastern Europe, where she advised national human rights institutions, government agencies, and community-based organizations on capacity building and citizen services delivery. Kyra launched her development career as one of the initial directors of the American Bar Association's overseas programming. She credits this experience with igniting her passion for justice for the underserved and opening her eyes to the reality that lasting change requires long-term commitment.
Kyra is a Double Hoya - a graduate of both Georgetown University Law Center and Georgetown's School of Foreign Service. She and her husband have four children and two cats. When not traveling together (19 countries as of 2019), they play a lot of board games - very competitively - and everyone pretends to listen to Kyra pass down family lore.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Program Associate
Leonora Smart-Abbey has served as a Senior Program Associate at PartnersGlobal since 2021. In this position, she coordinates program management and business development on the Africa portfolio. She also acts as the focal representative for Partners in the Africa region. Before joining PartnersGlobal, Leonora worked with both multilaterals and NGOs including Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Accra, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the UNCTAD Office of the Secretary-General in New York. She supported diverse projects on economic affairs, governance, and sustainable development by providing services including inter-governmental support, grants management, communications and strategic consulting. Leonora holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, and a Master's degree in Economic Policy Management from the University of Ghana. She also holds a graduate certification in United Nations studies, from Seton Hall University in the U.S, and a professional certification in multilateral diplomacy and negotiations from the United Nations Institute of Training and Research in Geneva, Switzerland. Leonora is particularly interested in bridging policy with project implementation to realistically and successfully achieve impact in local communities.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Treasurer / Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Ocera Therapeutics
Linda Grais, MD, JD was President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Ocera Therapeutics (OCRX), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel treatments for gastrointestinal and liver diseases, from 2012 until its acquisition by Mallinckrodt in December, 2017. Dr. Grais has extensive experience in the healthcare field as a physician, biotechnology entrepreneur and investor. Previously, she was a Managing Member at InterWest Partners, a venture capital firm investing in drug development and medical device companies. Dr. Grais was a founder and executive vice president of SGX Pharmaceuticals (SGXP), which pioneered the integration of genomics with high-throughput protein structure determination to accelerate drug discovery. SGXP went public on NASDAQ and was acquired by Eli Lilly in 2006. Prior to founding SGX, Dr. Grais worked in the corporate practice at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where she represented healthcare companies in venture financings, public offerings and strategic partnerships. Dr. Grais trained in Internal Medicine and Critical Care Medicine at Yale and the University of California, San Francisco, and was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine and Critical Care at UCSF.
Dr. Grais received a B.A. from Yale University, Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, an M.D. from Yale Medical School, and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. She has served on several advisory boards, including the Master's Degree in Translational Medicine at UCSF, Yale Healthcare Advisory Board, and the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors. Dr. Grais currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Arca Biopharma, Inc. and PRA Health Sciences, Inc. She has received numerous honors, including the American Liver Foundation's 2015 Salute to Excellence Award.
Job Titles:
- Director, Global Initiatives
Luis has been part of the Partners Network since 2008, starting his career at our sister organization in Mexico, Centro de Colaboración Cívica (CCC), where he served as a facilitator for complex multi-stakeholder dialogue processes and Director for the Citizen Security and Human Rights portfolio. He joined the Partners Global team in 2015, bringing to the organization a deep level of technical and regional expertise. He has experienced firsthand the power of dialogue and believes deeply in positive conflict transformation.
At Partners Global, Luis oversees Partners' Civil Society Resilience portfolio as well as the organization's peacebuilding and democracy-building programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. He is one of the organization's lead trainers and focal point persons for civil society capacity-building and conflict resolution, providing support to other regional teams and leading different global consultancies. He has a decade of experience designing, implementing, and evaluating multi stakeholder dialogue, negotiation, and consensus-building processes and platforms concerning human rights, access to justice, and human security policies and laws, as well as designing organizational change management processes and supporting civil society organizations to undertake those processes.
Luis earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas in Mexico City and his Master of Arts in Development Studies with a specialization in Crises, Emergency Interventions, and Development Actions from Université Panthéon - Sorbonne in Paris.
In addition to his work at Partners Global, Luis is an avid reader and chef, as well as an aspiring potter.
Manal joined Partners Global in February 2020 as a Finance Associate for the Middle East and North of Africa (MENA) programs. She provides financial leadership and oversight of the financial aspects of multiple programs including leads and proposals, start-up, implementation, and control, monitoring and evaluation, close-out, and cross-cutting functions.
Her journey with the Partners Network started first with PartnersYemen in 2009 until 2015 where she worked as an HR and Finance Manager. Prior to that she worked with National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) Yemen in finance and operations and contributed to programs implementation with local CSOs in the field. She also worked for five years in finance and operations for a travel agency.
Originally from Yemeni descent, Manal was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where she earned her Associate Degree in Marketing and Management from Commercial College of Addis Ababa University. She moved in 2004 to Yemen where she earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) English literature from Al Andalous University. Manal has extensive training in conflict analysis and resolution, security management and crisis leadership, first aid, basic ticketing, and intermediate a peroration at Yemenia Airways- Yemen. She also spent earning a several credit hours in Accounting for Non-Accountants.
Manal likes to spend her free time cooking, traveling, visiting historical places, and learning about new cultures. She also loves dancing and movies.
Retired Congressman, Mike Honda, served in the United States House of Representatives for 16 years. During his tenure as a legislature, Honda quietly attained positions of authority in the House Democratic Caucus, serving on the party's Steering and Policy Committee and rising to a seat on the House Appropriations Committee. An advocate of tolerant and inclusive policies, Honda led the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and helped found the LGBT Equality Caucus. During his childhood in California, Honda's family was among 7,000 individuals sent to the Granada War Relocation Center in Colorado under the policy of Japanese-American Internment. Honda remained imprisoned even after his father joined the U.S. Military Intelligence Service (MIS) in 1943 to teach Japanese to American servicemen. After the war, the family returned to the Bay Area and settled in San Jose. Honda later joined the Peace Corps and graduated from San Jose State University before working as a teacher and principal throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 1971 Honda joined the San Jose planning commission and served for a decade, later serving on the San Jose school board for nine years (1981-1990) before winning election to the Santa Clara county board of supervisors. In 1996 Honda was elected to the California state assembly, representing San Jose, before later representing his district in the United States Congress.
Mohammed is a Senior Program Associate with the MENA Team at Partners Global. He holds a Master of Arts in Middle East Studies - Conflict and Conflict Resolution from George Washington University and a bachelor's in International Studies from Washington College.
Mohammed previously worked as a Local Development Consultant - Research Analyst, Civil Society at the Libya-based Taqarib Project. He led a team of young professionals from the MENA region for the youth-led and focused MENAACTION. He also worked as a senior research analyst at some of the region's top research centers. Mohammed is also contributing writer for Arab News.
Mohammed's interests include working on youth engagement in political decision making; democratization; conflict resolution; and advocating for human rights issues.
Job Titles:
- Director, Middle East and North Africa and Civil Society Strengthening
Rasha started her journey with the Partners Network in 2009. She first worked at Partners Jordan for around eight years then joined Partners Global team in 2019 as the Director of Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Civil Society Strengthening. Prior to her work at Partners Network, she worked at the private sector for couple of years, and with other local and international organizations.
Rasha is a catalyst for change and is driven to mak e a difference through advocating for human rights issues and for safe and resilient environments for women, youth, human rights activists, and marginalized communities. That's what resonates with her about Partners Network and Partners Global work.
Passionately throughout her career, Rasha worked with civil society organizations and activists around the world to amplify their voices, increase citizen participation in decision making processes, advocate for human rights, and create innovat ive solutions to community issues. She is part of a diverse network of activists and civil society organizations around the globe, and she helped establishing networks in the MENA region and lead many advocacy campaigns and initiatives on social accountability, governance, transparency, anti-corruption, defending civic space, and a variety of awareness raising campaigns.
Rasha serv es on the Board of Directors for Amnesty International - USA for the 2022-2025 term. In 2022, she was recognized as one of the Arab America Foundation's 40 under 40. Rasha holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, a Community Organizing Certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School, and abachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Jordan.
Job Titles:
- Co - Executive Director
- Partners Global in 2015 As Global Director
Roselie joined Partners Global in 2015 as Global Director for Civil Society. In this position, she played a dual role with a foot in both the regional teams and the technical support team. She provided strategic planning and oversight for the Latin America programs and played a leading role in advancing Partners Global's civil society resiliency programming and innovative Resiliency+ Framework, which offers tools and tactics to support organizations in navigating complexity and thriving in uncertainty. In 2021, Roselie was promoted to Co-Executive Director.
She began her career in Moscow as a PR manager on the first USAID public-private partnership promoting distance learning for staff of Russian-American joint ventures. From there she spent several years working at the intersection of capacity-building, advocacy, and entrepreneurial skill-building, often in politically challenging and conflict-affected environments. She has designed and led multiple projects, including as Country Director and Chief of Party for programs to build organizational sustainability and resiliency through soft diplomacy, social entrepreneurship, public-private partnerships, and alternative revenue generation in fragile and volatile states. She has worked across Russia and Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Among her achievements, she created a sustainable civil society capacity building program in Central Asia, worked to empower women social entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia, and built a network of women's health advocates across nine countries in the Middle East and North Africa. She also launched and led her own small business delivering last mile connectivity solutions for civil society organizations.
Job Titles:
- Telecommunications Executive
- Ad Hoc Member / Entrepreneur, and Former CEO of African Multinationals
Salim Suleman is an award winning telecommunications executive acknowledged internationally for launching one of the largest satellite telecommunications networks in Africa, iWay Africa. He is a serial entrepreneur and true visionary with a strategic mindset and proven performance in leading organizations through change and building cohesive teams of talented professionals that consistently deliver exceptional growth and profits in extremely challenging operating environments.
A specialist in corporate strategy and change management, Salim is adept at scaling and growing companies while motivating culturally diverse teams. He has led and motivated multinational team of 1,700 employees and distributors spanning 26 countries to achieve phenomenal growth in sales and revenues.
Salim's 35 year career spans start ups in aviation, telecommunications, oil and gas, and agriculture sectors, including mergers and acquisitions and preparing mature businesses for sale.
Salim ‘s success at iWay Africa was built on taking businesses across African borders in order to create the critical mass for growth. Operating in 26 countries through subsidiaries and distributorships, iWayAfrica was one of the 20 most recognized brands in SSA. The company was acquired by the Naspers Group in 2007 resulting in returns to the shareholders including OPIC of 5 x investment in five years.
He is a Board Director of the Simba Corporation, a Kenyan conglomerate that operates car dealerships, 5 Star hotels and lodges, vehicle assembly plants, and real estate development. Salim served as a Board director of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya and was Chairman of the Finance and Strategy committee taking the parastatal from a 6 gas-station distribution to a 200+ gas-station distribution company from 2006-2009.
Salim is a graduate of HEC/University of Oxford joint program with an MS in Consulting and Coaching for Change as well as the University of Oxford Advanced Management Program and Strategic Leadership Program.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Executive
- Partners Global in 2021 As Executive Coordinator
Samuel Basa joined Partners Global in 2021 as Executive Coordinator. In this capacity, Sam supports the leadership team, provides overall administration and office management for the organization, and supports communications and marketing efforts. Sam graduated from Chowan University with a Bachelors' in Graphic Communications. He has extensive experience in administration, graphic design, and theatre management.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Senior Vice - President
- Secretary / Senior Vice - President, Burson Cohn & Wolfe ( BCW )
Shaila Manyam is a Senior Vice-President and leads international public affairs at Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW). In her role, she advises clients ranging from global organizations to national governments/world leaders and foreign companies on strategic communications, political risk mitigation, trade and tariff issues including CFIUS and FIRRMA, reputation management, crisis communications and thought leadership/stakeholder strategy. She joined BCW's Washington, D.C. office following a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State focusing on Haiti, the Middle East (including Iraq, Syria and regional counterterrorism), Washington, D.C. and the United Nations.
The recipient of multiple awards for service, including five Superior Honor Awards from the State Department, Shaila served as a spokesperson on behalf of U.S. embassies and missions and the President's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. She has advised Cabinet-level national security officials, journalists and Members of Congress on Middle East bilateral and regional security and political strategy, economic policy, multilateral diplomacy, public diplomacy and media, refugees and migration issues. She has also represented the United States at UNESCO for communications, press freedom and technology issues, served as the Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of Political Affairs on International Organizations/UN issues, and was deployed to Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, receiving recognition from the Smithsonian Institution for her work supporting post-disaster cultural heritage recovery. Prior to joining the State Department, Shaila was a Partner and Global Communications Director at Ogilvy, focusing on strategic communications, youth marketing and interactive media.
Shaila was born in Canada and grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. She graduated from Smith College with honors, double-majoring in Economics and Government, and received a Masters' of Science from the London School of Economics. Shaila speaks six languages, including French, Arabic and Spanish. She is a member of the Global Leadership Council at the Meridian International Center.