CITIESRISE - Key Persons
Aishwarya is a dedicated youth coordinator based in Chennai, India. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychiatric Social Work and a Master's degree in Social Work, and is currently pursuing a second Master's degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of Madras. She is passionate about empowering young people to create positive change in their communities. Aishwarya firmly believes that young individuals have the power to transform the world and drive systemic change. She is particularly focused on turning Chennai, her hometown, into a mental health-friendly city. Through her work as a youth coordinator, Aishwarya actively engages with young people to raise awareness, provide support, and foster a culture of mental well-being. With her educational background in psychiatric social work and counseling psychology, Aishwarya brings a unique perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals in need of mental health support. She is dedicated to advocating for the mental health needs of young people and creating a supportive environment where they can thrive.
Aishwarya was a star hockey player in school, and now likes to pursue several forms of art - music, dance, street play, puppetry, mime, sketching and painting.
Andrea helps people make better funding, policy, and strategy decisions. A Canadian born, Andrea moved to London to join the design and research studio, Science Practice, bringing onboard her wide experience. Her interest in complex systems, an orientation toward structure and form, and a deep personal commitment to building community brought her to Science Practice where she manages partnerships, provides strategic direction across projects, and supports the design and research team's ongoing development. She is currently leading the team working on the research for the Egypt strand of Science Practice's Global CoLab project, and working on redesigning the Good Problems website . In her early years at Science Practice, Andrea worked in strategy development, program design and opportunities research in science, tech, and social innovation and was associated with projects of Wellcome Trust, Nesta, Government of Canada, Innovate UK, Humanitarian Innovation Fund, Impact on Urban Health. Andrea has degrees in Information Design and English.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- Founder and Executive Director of the Global Development Incubator
Andrew is the Founder and Executive Director of the Global Development Incubator (GDI) and a member of the GDI boards in the US and Hong Kong. He leads the team across multiple focus areas and crafts unconventional perspectives to drive the global development sector forward. Andrew has played many roles within GDI initiatives, including Interim CEO of Convergence, and serves on the boards of the President's Young Professionals Program of Liberia, citiesRISE, and Tendrel. Prior to founding GDI, Andrew was a founding Partner of Dalberg Global Development Advisor where he worked for 10 years. Andrew holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master's in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA in Economics from Princeton University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer / American Psychological Association
Arthur is a clinical and community psychologist, health care innovator and current Chief Executive Officer at the American Psychological Association (APA) as of March 2017. Prior to joining the APA, Arthur spent 12 years as the commissioner of Philadelphia's Department of Behavior Health and Intellectual Disability Service. He realigned the agency's treatment philosophy, service delivery models and fiscal policies to improve health outcomes and increase the efficiency of the service system. Arthur has been recognized nationally and internationally for his work in behavior health care policy and service delivery innovation and holds faculty appointments at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Drexel University School of Public Health and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Arthur holds a doctorate in clinical/community psychology from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in experimental psychology from Florida Atlantic University, where he also completed his undergraduate work.
Dr. Chitayi is the team and technical lead for citiesRISE Nairobi. As the President of the Kenya Psychiatric Association (KPA) he took part in the planning of the inaugural national mental health conference in Kenya in 2019 and led the May mental health awareness month campaign of 2020 through the KPA/citiesRISE partnership. Dr. Chitayi has been a member of several ministry of health committees working on initiatives around implementation of the national mental health policy 2015-2030, and is currently a member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) developing the national suicide prevention strategy. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) and Master of Medicine in Psychiatry both from the University of Nairobi.
Job Titles:
- Financing Expert / Formerly World Bank
Brad Herbert has over 30 years of experience in international development with a focus in the social sectors including health and education. He was with the World Bank for 27 years where he spent the majority of his tenure based in developing countries. At the Global Fund Brad was the Chief of Operations and responsible for their multi-billion grant program in over 130 countries. As a result of years of development experience and leadership roles, Brad brings a practical, results-oriented approach to program policy, development, and accelerated implementation of health and education projects. Brad also lead and managed the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council in Geneva, is a founding Trustee of the Global Campaign for Mental Health, London, and engaged with Mothers 2 Mothers, Cape Town.
Job Titles:
- Administration and Communications
Catie, based in Portland, Oregon, brings years of operational experience and strategic thinking to support leaders and their teams to build organizational capacity. She strives to have a positive impact on the world, and over the last ten years has worked with global education thought leaders, managed international education partnerships, and implemented school-based initiatives and programs that focus on the wellbeing of young people. She believes in the power of collaborating and sharing knowledge to solve humankinds' greatest challenges, that everyone has something they can contribute, and that all contributions, big and small, matter immensely.
Outside of work, Catie loves to cook, work in the garden, and spend time at the river with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Principal
- Principal Coordinator for the Movement for Global Mental Health
Charlene is the Principal Coordinator for the Movement for Global Mental Health based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 1991 she was exposed to the challenges experienced by persons with mental disorders within and outside of the mental health sector. In 2014 she joined the South African Federation for Mental Health as program manager for advocacy and development and now she serves on a number of national and international boards and committees such as the Advisory Board of the Movement for Global Mental Health, the editorial advisory board of the Lancet Psychiatry and the management board of the Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorders Alliance among others.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Senior Advisor
Chris is the co-founder of citiesRISE, and a global expert in the delivery of health and rehabilitation systems to very poor people. A serial social entrepreneur he is the founder of BasicNeeds which concerns the delivery of a holistic model to mentally ill people and people with epilepsy in resource poor communities worldwide. In addition to BasicNeeds, he has founded a number of organizations related to disability and mental health, including Thrive, and Action on Disability and Development. Chris has served as chief executive of Practical Action and is currently Chair of Carers Worldwide and the International Centre for Social Franchising. Chris is a Senior Fellow of the Ashoka Fellowship, a recipient of the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, and a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur. Chris has been honored as an MBE by the Queen for his services to disability and development.
Claudia brings over 25 years of experience working on youth development in California to her role at citiesRISE. Claudia managed and then led the Jamestown Community Center in San Francisco for 18 years with a mission to provide transformative youth development services rooted in cultural and artistic traditions of communities and began working in Sacramento in 2014 with Way Up Sacramento, an initiative of Council member Jay Schenirer, working to drive change at a community level in Sacramento's Oak Park neighborhood. Claudia acted as a project specialist and consultant for Way Up Sacramento and consultant to Sacramento's City Manager (2017-2018) where she led the development of Sacramento's Citywide Youth Development Campaign Plan. Claudia also consults with the Sierra Health Foundation to manage the Sacramento Youth Pop Up initiative in order to stay closely connected to the youth segment of the city. She received her BA from The University of Pennsylvania and a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Job Titles:
- Mental Health Ambassador / Johnson & Johnson
Craig is the Mental Health Ambassador and Chair, Global Campaign for Mental Health, in Neuroscience External Affairs at Janssen R&D, a Johnson & Johnson company. In this capacity, Craig leads a Johnson & Johnson team that seeks to transform mental health care globally by raising awareness, reducing stigma, promoting research, improving access, and ensuring better patient outcomes. Key initiatives include a global leaders' coalition to champion proven, scalable reforms, and a CEO roundtable to develop "next-in-class" workplace mental health practices. Prior to this role, Craig held a variety of positions in global corporate and government affairs at Johnson & Johnson and worked as a lawyer in the U.S. Congress, a Washington, D.C., law firm, and an international human rights organization. He is a graduate of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs, the University of Michigan School of Law, and Harvard Business School's General Management Program.
Job Titles:
- Director of Education and Director of the Center for Education Transformation
Dominic is Director of Education and Director of the Center for Education Transformation at Salzburg Global Seminar, where he is responsible for designing, developing and implementing programs on the futures of education, with a particular focus on education transformation. Prior to this he worked for the British Council for 14 years on global citizenship education, teacher professional development, and education collaboration. He is also a Director at the Amal Alliance, a Senior Editor for Diplomatic Courier and since 2021 the Executive Director of Karanga: the Global Alliance for Social Emotional Learning and Life Skills. He holds master's degrees in Chinese studies from the School of Oriental and African studies in London, and in education and international development from the Institute of Education at University College London. Dominic is a founding member of the Executive Committee for Karanga - The Global Alliance for Social Emotional Learning and Life Skills. He writes and speaks regularly about education reform, with a particular focus on social and emotional learning.
Job Titles:
- Professor and Head of Psychiatry at NIMHANS
Dr. Prabha S.Chandra, is a Professor and Head of Psychiatry at NIMHANS, Bangalore, India. She studied at the Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi and NIMHANS.
She has served as a Temporary Advisor to the WHO and UNAIDS and is the Secretary of the International Association of Women's Mental Health, a nominated member of the World Psychiatric Association and an executive member of the Marce International society. She has been an NHS International Fellow and Consultant in Manchester, UK and a visiting professor at the University of Liverpool.
Her main areas of interest are Women's Mental Health, Perinatal Psychiatry, teaching methods, ethics and palliative care. She has nearly 180 publications and has edited several books. She has started the first dedicated psychiatry service including a Mother Baby unit in South Asia for mothers with severe mental illness.
Job Titles:
- Research and India Program
Fredric has an extensive background as a public health researcher. In addition to his role in leading and executing programs in Chennai, Fredric actively contributes to citiesRISE's research and development endeavors across multiple countries. He collaborates with arts-based organizations, youth-led initiatives, established NGOs, and system leaders to design and establish evidence-based innovative approaches for youth mental health, with a focus on facilitating cross-cultural adaptation. Prior to joining citiesRISE, Fredric served as the Executive Director at Sangath in Goa, where he managed research operations across all locations, implementing effective policies and procedures. Fredric's adeptness in liaising with external stakeholders and representing organizations enabled him to cultivate strong partnerships for collaborative growth. Fredric holds an M.S. in Public Health from Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, UK, further augmenting his expertise in the field.
G.J. is Professor of Clinical and Social Epidemiology at the University of Exeter (UK), Extraordinary Faculty at Stellenbosch University and holds the citiesRISE Research Chair. He is a nurse and epidemiologist with a methodologically intensive and policy-facing portfolio of research that includes child and adolescent health and intimate partner violence, with a focus on evaluation and randomized trials. G.J. leads the School for Public Health Environments Research at Exeter, which is the University's membership in the NIHR School for Public Health Research, as well as a number of major grants on health technology assessment and evidence synthesis.
Glen Moriarty is a psychologist who is passionate about the Internet's power to help people lead better lives. He has been involved in a number of services and organizations that support people in need. 7 Cups of Tea is his most recent endeavor; marrying his background in psychology with his love for technology. Glen lives with his wife, Nicole, and their four children, Colin, Madeliene, Avery, and London.
Gretchen is a creative expression and trauma therapist, a visual artist, and a social justice worker with the goal of connecting people through transformative creativity. Before attending the University of Washington to earn her Master of Social Work, she always sought opportunities to connect with others and facilitate story sharing, especially amongst young people.
Gretchen's scope of practice has included educational systems, community-based mental health organizations, and juvenile rehabilitation systems. Within the juvenile rehabilitation system, she worked as a clinician in an acute mental health unit, as well as with police and programs within the system to elevate more equitable treatment. She has worked with King and Pierce counties in Washington state, USA in behavioral interventions, case management, and leadership consultation, and has collaborated with United Way of King County to expand mental health access and resources to students. As the Director of Restorative Justice at a local middle school, Gretchen re-designed the behavioral system to be more therapeutic and restorative.
In each setting, she has utilized the process of artmaking to inspire connectedness and radical imagination in a way that develops resiliency. Gretchen recognizes that clinical treatment is just one way to support the mental health wellness of people, and she is excited to bring her extensive experience, unique perspective, and unbridled passion to the the citiesRISE team.
Job Titles:
- President of the World Psychiatric Association
Helen is President of the World Psychiatric Association. She is Professor of Psychiatry at Orygen Youth Health Research Centre and the Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne. She is director of the World Health Organization's Collaborating Centre for mental health in Melbourne, Australia, and holds a Practitioner Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. She is recently awarded Doctor of Medical Science (honoris causa) by The University of Melbourne, and Officer of the Order of Australia for services to mental health.
For several years she served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and has been involved in collaborative activities between the WHO, VicHealth and the University of Melbourne in the field of mental health promotion. From 1992 to 2005, she was Professor and Director of Psychiatry in St. Vincent's Health Melbourne, during development of an integrated hospital and community area mental health service in inner Melbourne under Australia's national reform of mental health care.
Jaya brings over 13 years of expertise in program design and management, business development, and communications to her role. Currently serving as a Senior Manager at Ennovent, the India anchor partner for citiesRISE, Jaya is dedicated to catalyzing business ventures in low-income markets within developing countries.
Within citiesRISE, Jaya plays a vital role in various programs focused on cities and youth well-being, partnerships, learning, and communications. Prior to her work with citiesRISE, she gained valuable experience at Driptech, a drip irrigation startup, and at Infosys, an esteemed information technology company. Jaya holds an engineering degree in Computer Science from ANITS, Andhra University, as well as an MA in International Relations from the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK. This diverse educational background equips her with a multidimensional perspective and a strong foundation for her work. With her extensive experience and unwavering commitment, Jaya is dedicated to driving positive change and making a lasting impact in the fields of program management, business development, and communications. Her expertise and passion contribute to the success of citiesRISE and its mission to create healthier and more inclusive communities.
Jaya enjoys reading (particularly fiction), music, and writing.
Job Titles:
- Director of Solutions Development and Innovation at 100 Resilient Cities
- Director, Solutions Development and Innovation
Jeb is the director of Solutions Development and Innovation at 100 Resilient Cities which is pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation. Previously Jeb founded the Local Governments for Sustainability Initiative (ICLEI) and was a managing partner at The Next Practice, an innovation consultancy for 12 years. He has over 30 years of professional experience working with local governments and the corporate sector in 28 countries. Jeb holds a master's degree from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and has been awarded the Millennium Award for Best Sustainability Initiative of the European Environmental Agency/Princes' Foundation. He is the author of Welcome of the Urban Revolution: How Cities Are Changing the World.
Jeffrey is a social innovator and environmental leader, his focus lying at the intersection of sustainability, community development, food systems, and impact financing, in the U.S. and South Africa. He co-founded Up Top Acres, one of the largest rooftop farming networks in the U.S., spearheading the formation of coalitions with local and state governments. He played a pivotal role in securing the passage of the US' first-ever tax credit legislation for rooftop agriculture. Jeffrey built and led the United Nations SDSN Youth Global Innovation and Impact Awards. The platform showcases, supports, and mobilizes exceptional youth-led innovations and industry pioneers aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. He has earned recognition from leading institutions, incubators, and fellowships, including the Forbes 30 Under 30. He studied business and social entrepreneurship at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Cape Town's Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Jim Vollendroff has been instrumental to the initiation of the work of citiesRISE in Seattle/King County and has worked in the behavioral health field for over 35 years. He spent the first half of his career as a direct service provider starting as a clinician and finally the clinical director of patient services for Providence St. Peter Hospital in Lacey, WA. Jim next worked for the King County Department of Community and Human Services for 16 years, eleven as the Deputy Director and five as the Director of the King County Behavioral Health and Recovery Division. In this leadership position he was responsible for the delivery of a full continuum of mental health and substance use disorder services for the Medicaid and low income community and well as the community crisis responders. In January 2019 Jim became the founding director of the Harborview, University of Washington Behavioral Health Institute. As an individual in long term recovery Jim uses his life experience, educational background and professional experience to bring a unique perspective to the delivery of effective mental health and addiction treatment. Jim has a Master's Degree in Public Administration from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.
Job Titles:
- Senior Global Partnership Advisor / Sutter Health
John has over 12 years of experience within the public health sector. He is Sutter Health's System CEO for Mental Health Services & Chair of California's Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. John was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the State of California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and is serving his second term in that capacity. He worked eight years for Shriners Hospitals for Children, both domestically and internationally, serving in both local and system-wide capacities. Additionally, John Boyd has worked as both an inpatient and outpatient therapist in several organizations throughout his career.
Job Titles:
- First Theater - Based Life Coach
John Pradeep JL is India's first theater-based life coach for parents and children, and a keynote speaker at schools. Author of 5 books, holder of 2 world records, and 2-time Josh Talks speaker and TedEd host, John brings over a decade of experience working with children and parents. His passion lies in storytelling through theater-based methodologies, making coaching fun and energetic for children. Having trained over 10,000 children and adults on leadership and socio-emotional skills, John's engaging curriculum includes puppetry, shadow theater, clowning, mime, and plays. He actively contributes to organizations like Passion Play International-USA, World Clown Association-USA, and Schoolopreneur India. John's core strength lies in coaching, and he is the Founder of Growth School For Kids, a comprehensive after-school solution for schools, and the Senior Trainer at Training Sideways, India's No.1 Art-Based Behavioural Training Company.
John enjoys long, solo bike rides, and that is how he usually travels when he has workshops in other cities.
Joyce brings over a decade of expertise in project and program management to her role. She was part of the team that worked on citiesRISE Nairobi landscape mapping. Prior to joining citiesRISE, Nairobi, Joyce's commitment to youth mental health and development is exemplified through her participation in the Alliance for the Protection of Children. She played a crucial role in launching the youth mental health program in Kenya while working with BasicNeeds BasicRights Kenya. Joyce holds a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management from Africa Nazarene University, providing her with a strong foundation in business and management principles. Additionally, she holds a Diploma in Library and Information Science from the University of Nairobi, further complementing her skill set. Currently serving as the Programs Manager at citiesRISE Nairobi, Joyce oversees a range of projects and initiatives, fostering collaboration among communities and stakeholders in health, education, social services, and other developmental sectors.
Beyond her professional commitments, Joyce finds solace in long drives and cherishes precious moments with her family.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Founder and Executive Director of the Stability Network
Katherine is the Founder and Executive Director of The Stability Network and is successfully living with bipolar disorder with recurrent psychosis, suicidal depression, anxiety and OCD.The Stability Network brings together successful professionals speaking out about their mental health conditions in order to help others get the quality care they need to recover. Katherine is Senior Advisor at Camber Collective, a strategy consulting firm that helps social impact organizations to navigate complex change and achieve high performance.
Job Titles:
- Director of Peer Advocacy, Supports, and Services
Kelly Davis's lived experience with mental health diagnoses and trauma are at the center of her passion for transforming how we support individuals and change systems and services. She currently works in Peer Advocacy, Supports, and Services, where she is involved in promoting peer support, peer certification, youth and young adult leadership, and college mental health.
She is passionate about trauma-informed care, peer support, consumer-led transformation, positive psychology, and civil rights. She serves in an advisory role to the Well Being Trust, The Support Network, and the Center for Law and Social Policy. She has spoken at many events, including The White House Making Health Care Better Series on Mental Health, and has been featured in media outlets including NBC Nightly News, The Mighty, Thrive Global, Yes! Magazine, and Mashable.
Kevin brings over 15 years of professional experience working to advance youth and community wellbeing. Prior to joining citiesRISE, Kevin worked within a range of youth serving fields in the US, including the foster care, education, and community mental health systems. With experience as both a direct service provider and system level advocate, Kevin always seeks to center the leadership, knowledge, and perspectives of communities with lived experience in co-designing how approaches to support wellbeing are developed and delivered. In his current role with citiesRISE, Kevin supports innovative research, implementation, and advocacy initiatives that are driven by teams of diverse stakeholders, and anchored in partnership with youth and community. Kevin is based in Seattle and holds a BA in Political Economy from UC Berkeley and an MSW with an emphasis in clinical practice from the Silberman School of Social Work.
Lian Zeitz has been an active contributor to the philosophical underpinning of citiesRISE and leads international youth activities. Prior to joining citiesRISE, Lian worked with therapeutic programs for struggling youth in 15 states in the US to identify pathways for young people to play a greater role in their own care and the development of mental health programs. He has also worked internationally on areas such as suicide prevention, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse in Bhutan, Indonesia, and Zambia. He frequently speaks at national and international conferences about student experiences in therapeutic programs, trauma-focused community development, and pathways to successful transitions in life. Lian earned a B.A. from Quest University Canada, where he focused on public health and international development, and a certificate for Leadership in Mental Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Born and raised in Ethiopia, Lidiya embarked on a new journey by immigrating to the United States in 2011. She is a dedicated and enthusiastic learner with a passion for global health, youth development, social justice, and humanitarian work. As the oldest of six siblings and the first in her family to graduate from college, Lidiya is a trailblazer who continually strives for personal and academic growth. Currently, Lidiya is pursuing a Master's degree in Social Work and a certificate in Global Health and International Development at the University of Washington. Through her studies, she is dedicated to expanding her knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in the fields she is passionate about. With her unwavering determination and commitment to creating a better world, Lidiya is poised to contribute significantly to global health, youth development, and social justice initiatives.
Lukoye Atwoli is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mental Health at Moi University School of Medicine, and a Consultant Psychiatrist for the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and other facilities in Eldoret and western Kenya. He also holds visiting positions at Harvard University's School of Public Health and Duke University's Institute of Global Health and an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town's Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health. His work integrating city programs and implementation at citiesRISE is supported by years of global work, including with several consortia involved in mental health research and development in Kenya and in other parts of the world, including the Orphans and Separated Children's Assessment Related to their health and well-being (OSCAR project) in western Kenya, the South African Stress and Health Survey (SASH), and the World Mental Health Surveys Consortium. Lukoye received his medical degree in Pyschiatry from University of Nairobi Medical School, Nairobi, Kenya and his PhD in Psychiatry from the University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Researcher, Psychiatrist, and Technical Director for CitiesRISE Chennai
- Research and Advocacy, Chennai
Suresh is a clinical researcher, psychiatrist, and technical director for citiesRISE Chennai. He currently practices at his private clinic and is also associated with the Psymed Hospital (Chetput) as Director & Consultant Psychiatrist. Suresh was formerly a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Institute of Mental Health and Professor of Psychiatry at the Madras Medical College, Chennai. He brings extensive expertise in research and design, with over 35 years of involvement in the field of drug use prevention, treatment, and mental health as a service provider, professor, trainer, researcher, and international consultant. Suresh holds positions on a number of international boards, task forces, and working groups- all relating to injectable drug use, HIV/AIDS, and harm reduction. He holds an M.D. from Madras University. He is a former Hubert H Humphrey Fellow in substance use and obtained a Master's Degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Happily married for 38 years to Shakuntala, a Psychiatrist, Suresh enjoys music, books, long walks and being with the children.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Global Research
Mark is a clinical psychologist and currently works full-time in research - mainly in the area of child and adolescent development across the life course. He has worked at the University of Cape Town, and the Medical Research Council. Mark has done a randomized controlled trial on improving the quality of the mother-infant relationship and infant attachment in a peri-urban settlement in Cape Town. He is currently the Co-Director of the Institute for Life Course Health Research at Stellenbosch University and is also Professor of Maternal and Child Health at Queens University, Belfast. Mark completed B.A. from Rhodes College, a B.A. Honours from Wits University, a masters in Clinical Psychology from the University of Cape Town, and received doctorate from the University of Reading in the UK.
Mark loves music, gardening, and cooking and is a lifelong supporter of Liverpool.
Matt is an advocate of wellbeing and justice, committed to making a positive impact on individuals, communities, and the planet. He plays a pivotal role at citiesRISE in developing public health research, fostering innovation, and nurturing leadership initiatives. Prior to his involvement with citiesRISE, he spearheaded knowledge management and learning initiatives aimed at supporting deworming programs that reached 280 million children across six countries. Matt has played an instrumental role in promoting evidence-informed decision-making within various government bodies, including South Africa's Presidency and Ethiopia's Federal Ministry of Health. He has collaborated with organizations such as Grand Challenges Canada, where he modeled the impacts of global health innovations. Matt has worked with Unity Charity, evaluating the positive effects of hip-hop programs on youth mental health. Matt holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences (global health focus) from McMaster University and a Master of Public Health (leadership focus) from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He is a certified professional coach.
Maureen is a mental health advocate from Kenya. As a co-founder of the Speak Mind Love Foundation, a youth-led organization centered on mental health advocacy and resilience-building, she has been instrumental in promoting positive change. Maureen's passion lies in transforming and empowering communities while ensuring that individuals with lived experiences are included on the basis of equality and non-discrimination. Maureen actively contributes as a member of the Lived Experience Council within the Healthy Brain Global Initiative (HBGI). Through this role, she participates in shaping global mental health initiatives, leveraging her personal experiences and insights to drive meaningful impact. Maureen's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Special Needs Education, with a specialization in emotional and behavioral disorders. This academic foundation equips her with a deep understanding of the unique challenges individuals face and further fuels her dedication to improving mental health outcomes.
Maureen enjoys spending time with her family and friends, dancing as well as trying out new dishes.
Job Titles:
- Head of the Department of Psychiatry
Miguel is head of the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health in the School of Medicine at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and a Psychoanalyst at the Colombian Psychoanalytic Association. He is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana School of Medicine and an Associate Member at Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá. He also has his own private practice in adult psychiatry. Miguel brings an extensive background to his advisory role at citiesRISE, having also consulted for the World Bank for Mental Health in Latin America and Colombia. He specialized in Consultation Liaison Psychiatry at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá and has a Masters in Public Health from Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.
Milka is a public health professional who is passionate about mental health and development. She has over 10 years' experience in mental health research, evaluations and policy, working with community based organizations in Kenya and collaborating with partners internationally. She has participated in and led several collaborative research projects in Kenya and beyond. Milka contributed to mental health evidence generation and advocacy in Kenya with her well documented work and co-authorship with other research team members in three reputable international journals. She was involved in the formative stages of citiesRISE's work in Kenya through a partnership with BasicNeeds, and has played a key role in the early stages of the development of that platform. Milka looks forward to working with the team to enhance evidence generation and documentation to ultimately influence practice, programs, and to support policy work.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Co - Founder
- Founder
Originally from India, Moitreyee has been guided by the core belief that everything is connected, and that large-scale social transformation happens when people, communities, and institutions work together. Moitreyee spent 10 years in research and development at General Electric (GE) where she successfully led multidisciplinary teams, leveraging diverse skill-sets to find ways to translate discoveries across sectors. From R&D, she moved to leading GE Foundation's Global Health portfolio in 22 countries, forging connections across cultures and sectors to build multi-stakeholder initiatives in maternal child health and technology for health. With citiesRISE, Moitreyee brings her unique vision for collective, community-based action to the issue of mental health, breaking down barriers and unifying people, communities, and institutions in the service of helping others. She holds a Ph.D. in Physics and has received Cambodia's highest Medal of Honor for Philanthropy, the Global Business Coalition's Award for Disease Prevention & Beyond, and GE's Highest Technical Team Award.
Moitreyee loves arts, music and nature, and enjoys painting, hiking and meeting people from different cultures.
Moitreyee is a humanitarian, social entrepreneur, scientist and seeker. Moitreyee's journey with impact work began with leading the GE Foundation's Global Health portfolio in 22 countries, where she successfully developed critical care programs for children, maternal child health, clean water, ICT, humanitarian relief, and education. At Global Development Incubator, she directed the Beyond Health portfolio and continued to mobilize social entrepreneurs and large institutions to build healthier communities. These experiences revealed to her the centrality of mental health to overall well being, which became the raison d'être for citiesRISE. With citiesRISE, Moitreyee brings her unique vision for collective, community-based action to mental health and represents the culmination of a lifelong project of breaking down barriers. She received GE's highest technical team award and the Kingdom of Cambodia's Highest Award for Philanthropy. Moitreyee received a PhD in Physics from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Nathaniel has spent 30 years in management consulting, during which he has helped dozens of companies improve performance and accelerate growth through more effective strategy development and greater organizational alignment and commitment. He has also led a number of major, multi-constituency projects to improve innovation, collaboration and outcomes in the not-for-profit sector.
Nathaniel is a co-author of Higher Ambition: How Great Leaders Create Economic and Social Value, based on a four-year research study, including interviews with 36 CEOs. He has written extensively on the role of superior strategy, organization design and knowledge management in achieving high performance. Nathaniel is also a Senior Fellow of the Harvard Center on the Developing Child.
Job Titles:
- Professor Norman Sartorius Is Professor of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Switzerland and Former Director of the Division of Mental Health of the World Health Organization
- Professor of Psychiatry / University of Geneva
Professor Norman Sartorius is Professor of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Switzerland and former Director of the Division of Mental Health of the World Health Organization.
Professor Sartorius is an eminent figure in the field of international mental health. He has been instrumental in bringing science to mental health by establishing the first internationally-agreed upon classification of mental disorders that can be applied in both the developed and developing countries. Professor Sartorius's work called attention to the high frequency and the importance of mental disorders throughout the world, including in developing countries. His contribution is important for the recognition and forms a basis for treatment of psychiatric disorders in primary health care. Dr. Sartorius studied medicine in Zagreb and subsequently trained in psychiatry. He started working with the WHO in 1967, serving in Southeast Asia and other regions. He became Director of WHO Division of Mental Health in 1977, a position he held for more than 20 years.
Dr. Sartorius is actively involved in a number of professional associations including serving as President of the World Psychiatric Association and President of the Association of European Psychiatrists.
Nyawira has dedicated her career to supporting the research and implementation of health programs that focus on young people. She has more than 15 years of experience in this field within LMIC settings, including multi-country clinical trials, surveillance studies, and programs that address socio-behavioral aspects of health. Nyawira has been an NIH Fogarty fellow grantee and is currently a P.I. for a research grant that focuses on the integration of mental health screening interventions within primary care for youth living with HIV. She is currently a non-tenured scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute and a visiting scientist at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Previously, Nyawira was a project director at LVCT health, where she led large adolescent multi-layered socio-behavioral and biological reproductive health education and HIV prevention programs (DREAMS). She also brings skills in leadership and strategic partnerships as a director of Gold Star Kenya, a Nairobi-based NGO that focuses on health system strengthening, program implementation, and optimizing youth access to care. Nyawira holds an undergraduate degree in Medicine, a Masters in Public Health, and is currently completing a PhD in Global Health.
Oliver is a storyteller. He has 25 years of working with individuals and communities in conflict as an artiste healer. His expertise in counseling psychology and creative healing has endeared him to communities and institutions where he facilitates the efficacy of theater in mental health, psychosocial support and social reconciliation. Oliver is presently a lecturer at Kenyatta University in the Department of Communication, Film and Theatre Studies where he teaches art of storytelling, dramatherapy, psychodrama, community theater and children's theater. Oliver has trained and mentored members in arts approaches to peace-building and advocacy and facilitated experiential workshops for international interns with Kenya's grassroots communities in peace, dialogue and intercultural communication. Oliver leads citiesRISE arts strategy and training on principles that inform mental health among the global youth community.
Oliver has a passion for cooking and interior decoration.
Pamela is a psychiatrist and mixed methods researcher with 25 years of experience in global public health and global mental health research, education, training and capacity-building, and science policy leadership. Dr. Collins's research has focused on social stigma related to mental illness and its relationship to women's health behaviors; the intersections of mental health with HIV prevention, care, and treatment; and the mental health needs of diverse groups in the US, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. She has served as the director of the Office for Research on Disparities & Global Mental Health and the Office of Rural Mental Health Research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), was a leader of the Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health initiative, an editor of the 2011 Lancet series on Global Mental Health, and the editor of the 2013 PLoS Medicine Policy Forum series on global perspectives for integrating mental health in diverse platforms of care. Currently the Principal Investigator of EQUIP Nairobi: a pilot implementation of Trauma-Focused CBT in Nairobi, Kenya, she is leading a more comprehensive effort to meet the mental health needs of children and adolescents in Nairobi. Pamela received her MD from Cornell University and her MPH from Columbia University in New York, NY.
Job Titles:
- Lead Public Health Specialist / the World Bank
- Lead Public Health Specialist at the Health
Patricio is the lead public health specialist at the Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice of the World Bank, coordinating the Global Tobacco Control and Mental Health Initiatives. Since July 2014, he has been part of the World Bank Group team that designed the Ebola Emergency Response Program for West Africa. Before assuming this role, he served as Human Development Sector Leader for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Prior, he served as Health Cluster Leader for the countries in Southern Africa in 2011-2012 and worked in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region over 2004-2011. Patricio, originally from Ecuador, has worked in more than 50 countries in Africa, Europe, Central Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, East Asia, and the Pacific since 1988.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director of Orygen
- Professor
Professor Patrick McGorry is the Executive Director of Orygen, Professor of Youth Mental Health at The University of Melbourne, and a Director of the Board of the National Youth Mental Health Foundation (headspace). He is a world-leading researcher in the area of early psychosis and youth mental health, and has a strong interest in promoting the mental health of the homeless, refugees and asylum seekers. His work has played a critical role in the development of safe, effective treatments and innovative research into the needs of young people with emerging mental disorders, notably psychotic and severe mood disorders. He has also played a major part in the transformational reform of mental health services to better serve the needs of vulnerable young people.
Job Titles:
- Director at Fajara Associates
Peter McDermott is currently Director at Fajara Associates, a bespoke International Development and Global Health consultancy company. Prior to joining Fajara Associates he worked in various capacities at the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and is currently a member of CIFF's Program Investment Committee. He joined CIFF in 2007 following over 21 years in the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Peter served UNICEF in senior capacities throughout the world and extensively in sub-Saharan Africa. He also worked in UNICEF headquarters in New York in the office of the UNICEF Executive Director James Grant, and in Geneva as Deputy Director Emergency Programs. As well, he has also held the positions of UNICEF Representative Zambia, and head of office in Somalia, Afghanistan and Rwanda. Peter has also served in advisor positions for HIV/AIDS at UNICEF and USAID
Ramon Castaño brings a wealth of experience in public health in Latin America. He has developed research on the issue of equity in health financing, financial sustainability of the health system, autonomy of public hospitals and Centers of Excellence in health. Ramon is currently dedicated to promoting innovations in business models in the provision of health services which is vital to informing his role at citiesRISE. He is a corresponding member of the National Academy of Medicine of Colombia and holds a doctor of the Institute of Health Sciences, CES, a Master's in Management and Health Policy of the Harvard School of Public Health and a PhD in politics and public health from the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London.
Richard leads research projects at Science Practice, which is a consultancy that works with research and innovation funders. Most of Richard's work has been in global health, for the Wellcome Trust. He is also developing Science Practice's specialism in mental health and wellbeing, with a particular interest in the connection between wellbeing and the more soulful areas of life, such as spirituality and community. As a student at University of Oxford, Richards took the first year of a BA in Theology before switching focus to Human Sciences, which is an interdisciplinary subject aimed at bringing together biological and social science perspectives on humanity. Richard is interested in the connected wellbeing problems people face, including mental ill health, loss of meaning, and loneliness. Prior to joining Science Practice, Richard worked as a freelance researcher with D-Prize and 80,000 Hours. At Science Practice, he helps funders answer questions such as what are the research priorities in this field; how to bring together stakeholders across disciplines; and how to design a funding program that selects the right grantees.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University
Robert, who is Professor of psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University, is devoted to helping students learn how to help others. Also a Senior Scientist with the VIA Institute on Character in Cincinnati, Ohio, Robert has authored over 200 publications and presentations and written two textbooks, including the Quantitative Models in Psychology. His interest in research is not just about doing research. He believes people will be "better people if we learn how to be humble when data doesn't support what we hoped to be true". "The most objective way to uncover the truth and understand that our choices will be better is if we think in terms of probabilities (even though that's hard for us to do)." Robert earned his B.A. in Psychology from Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York, M.A. in Psychology from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Auburn University.
Robert lives with his wife and a cat outside New York City.
Job Titles:
- Founder of Amazing Minds Kenya
Samuel Talam is the founder of Amazing Minds Kenya, a youth led organization housed within Kenyatta University that equips students and staff with mental health resources. Amazing Minds promotes mental health through art, serves as a peer support and referral link for mental health care and services and offers youth leadership opportunities at the university. Samuel is a recipient of the citiesRISE Youth Challenge Award in 2017. Samuel is currently a student at Kenyatta University.
Job Titles:
- Director General and Dean / Thunderbird School of Global Management
Sanjeev Khagram is a world-renowned scholar and practitioner in the areas of globalization, transnationalism, leadership, strategic management, entrepreneurship, social enterprise, cross-sector innovation, public-private partnerships, inter-organizational networks, good governance, transparency, the global political economy, sustainable development, human security, and the data revolution. He holds a bachelor's in development studies and engineering, a master's degree and doctoral degree minor in economics and doctorate in political economy, all from Stanford University. He has worked extensively with global start-ups, corporations, governments, civil society groups, multilateral organizations, cross-sectoral action networks, public-private partnerships, foundations, professional associations and universities all over the world from the local to the international levels. He has lived and worked for extended periods in Brazil, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Founder
- Founder and Executive Director of StrongMinds
Sean is the Founder and Executive Director of StrongMinds. StrongMinds uses its own unique depression intervention based on Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy, a low-cost, proven methodology that has reduced depression symptoms for over 80% of the women treated in Uganda. In 2013, he founded StrongMinds with the goal of ending the depression epidemic on the sub-continent. He is a former diplomat and social marketer who believes that there are simple and cost-effective interventions which can improve mental health. For years Sean implemented successful HIV/AIDS and malaria programs in Africa and saw firsthand the struggles of the mentally ill.
Seika is an advocate and a researcher in mental health. She founded a non-profit organization focused on mental health policy in Washington State at the age of 15. Seika and her team worked tirelessly, leading to the successful passage of a bill in 2019. Collaborating with citiesRISE, Seika's non-profit also published a youth advocacy toolkit to empower future youth campaigns. Currently pursuing her undergraduate degree at Cornell University, Seika majors in Urban and Regional Studies with a minor in Anthropology. During her first year at university, Seika established a global research initiative aimed at exploring the diverse cultural perspectives on mental health. Since then, she has collaborated with local, national, and international institutions, contributing to youth engagement, mental health awareness, research design, and policy implementation. Seika received the esteemed mPower award from Mental Health America in 2021. She was also selected as part of the inaugural cohort of ambassadors for the Rare Impact Fund, an initiative established by Selena Gomez.
Shravan is a dedicated mental health advocate with personal lived experiences. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, which has equipped him with valuable insights into the human mind and behavior. He leads a small grassroots initiative called The Safe Place, where he actively works to create mental health awareness among young individuals in Chennai. With his personal experiences and professional expertise, Shravan is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of individuals facing mental health challenges. Through his role at citiesRISE and his grassroots initiative, he is dedicated to advocating for mental health awareness, fostering resilience, and promoting well-being among youth in Chennai and beyond. Shravan thrives on engaging in meaningful conversations that promote understanding and support.
Sitawa Wafula is a blogger and nomadic mental health crusader. She's using her personal journey as a rape survivor living with a dual diagnosis of epilepsy and bipolar disorder to provide people in Africa with information and support to handle mental health conditions and deal with everyday life. Wafula is also an Aspen New Voices Fellow with the Aspen Institute, USA and a non-communicable disease champion under the Ministry of Health in her home country, Kenya. She is supporting citiesRISE's youth engagement program and brings in her own challenges and triumphs as a youth leader to support citiesRISE work.
Stephen has dedicated 25 years to designing and implementing policies, programs, and direct clinical work aimed at improving the lives of children, youth, and families. He has worked and lived in more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. His experience encompasses various roles, including leading UNICEF's engagement with legislative branches of government and religious communities. He has also directed education, youth, and parent support programs for one of the largest child welfare agencies in the United States. Stephen has conducted individual and group therapy sessions with children, youth, and parents, making a direct impact on their wellbeing. His expertise extends to overseeing the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of child protection and refugee programs in Africa and the Middle East. Stephen has won several awards and accolades, including an Aspen Institute Fellowship. Stephen holds a Law (J.D.) degree, a Social Work (L.M.S.W.) degree from Columbia University, and a History (B.A.) degree from Yale University.
Outside of work, I like to exercise, read, and, most importantly, spend time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Architect
- Architect, Impact Entrepreneur, and Futures Thinker
Thomas is a regeneration architect, impact entrepreneur and futures thinker, helping communities, developers and local authorities making better and happier places. He is the producer, design director and co-author of Recoded City: Co-Creating Urban Futures. Thomas is the founder and creative director Clear Village, a strategic regeneration non-profit organization, LimeWharf, a cultural innovation center, and Machines Room, a prototyping space and futures laboratory for artistic and technological projects. Thomas holds a master's in Geography focusing on sustainability and urban design from the University of Paris I, Panthéon-Sorbonne and participated in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management's Start-Up Program.
Tyler is an experienced executive and manager of global health programs in international settings, a strong advocate of peer learning and adoption of effective, innovative solutions in health. He provides technical assistance to health systems and other health initiatives in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors in Central and South America and East and West Africa. A Global Health Corps and Georgetown University alumnus, Tyler holds MS and BS degrees in Health Systems Administration, Public Health, and International Development. Tyler is the co-CEO of Business for Health Solutions, a non-profit organization that applies an innovative private-sector approach to increase healthcare access in Africa by building the capacity of local healthcare enterprises. At citiesRISE, he has provided technical direction for the development of Accelerator and Learning for global mental health innovators across 20+ countries. He has conducted needs assessments, facilitated coaching activities, designed and delivered offerings, grew the faculty network, and convened funders and other stakeholders for field building.
Tyler enjoys traveling, spending quality time with his three children and the family dog, hosting cocktail events at his home in Kigali and eating good food anywhere!
Job Titles:
- Public Health Researcher
- Research, Chennai
Upasana is a public health researcher with experience in various areas, including mass gathering health research, caregiver burden, health promotion, mental health, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) development. Upasana holds a Ph.D. from AMCHSS, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in India, supported by a fellowship from the Indian Council of Medical Research. She has also received the Junior Research Fellowship from the University Grants Commission of India. She has worked as a research fellow at institutions such as PGIMER in Chandigarh, NIMHANS in Bangalore, and as a consultant at the ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology. At citiesRISE, she is responsible for designing and implementing research programs and strategic initiatives in India and globally. Passionate about health promotion and writing, Upasana shares her expertise as a health and wellness contributor to SHE-India, a leading monthly women's magazine in south India. She believes in harnessing new-age technologies to enhance public health education and research.
Upasana is an avid dog lover and an enthusiastic traveler.
YooNa is an international educator and experienced mental health specialist who has dedicated over 13 years to empowering thousands of youth and fostering their capacity and resilience. She excels in bridging theory and practice by integrating academic knowledge into comprehensive school-wide well-being programs. As a founding member of Branksome Hall Asia in South Korea, YooNa played a pivotal role in establishing an educational institution committed to holistic development. Seeking further opportunities to deepen her work on inner development and psychosocial support for distressed communities, she relocated to the United States. YooNa extends her support to young people through her involvement with organizations such as Manhattan Hunter High School, the International Rescue Committee, and the Columbia University Global Mental Health Lab. She passionately creates spaces that encourage individuals to explore their inner journey and discover their innate strength. YooNa holds a Master's degree in Global Mental Health from Columbia University.
YooNa's passion is to create spaces where people can explore their inner journey and find their signature strengths.
Yvonne is a mental health advocate and citiesRISE Nairobi's youth leader and program manager. She previously worked at Nzumari Africa (a citiesRISE Youth Challenge Award winner), an organization that focuses on poverty in slums, gender-based violence, HIV, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health. Nzumari Africa also addresses mental health by empowering youth holistically, using creative and interactive methodologies that fit into the dynamics of their evolving world. Yvonne was one of citiesRISE's first established youth leaders who mentored and supported other youth leaders globally to accelerate the transformation in mental health.