List of candidates

Ghida Anani is the Founder & Director of ABAAD – Resource Centre for Gender Equality, a leading CSO in the region advocating for gender equality. Ghida is putting in place the infrastructure for a sustainable system of protection against gender-based violence. She engages stakeholders that others avoid or fight: men, parliamentarians and ministries, and religious leaders. She has led a number of public opinion campaigns, notably the #Undress522 which resulted in a historical parliamentary vote, repealing Article 522 – the infamous ‘’rape-marriage’’ law – from the Lebanese Penal Code. In 2019, the campaign received the first prize “UN SDG Action Award” for the most impactful campaign globally.

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I have over 20 years of experience in; Strategic Planning Advocacy and networking Mobilization and mobilization Environment and climate change.

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I started to work in the sector in 1996 and joined Action Against Hunger in 2004. After years working in various countries and regional positions, I became Operations Director in 2010 with Action Against Hunger Spain. I had been actively involved in numerous emergencies during the 20 years with Action Against Hunger, evaluating and reinforcing responses, coordination mechanisms and humanitarian leadership. I actively participated in two steering committees for the EHF and reached the maximum term of 6 years as board member with VOICE, where I not only represented the ACF network, but also the Spanish NGO sector.

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Rev John Reik Yior is the founder and Executive Director of Africa Development Aid in South Sudan. Rev Yior previously served as Chair of the South Sudan NGOs Forum Steering committee from 2018-2020, a body responsible for the coordination of the NGOs activities in the Republic of South Sudan.  Besides that Rev Yior represented ADA in many coordination humanitarian and development bodies in South Sudan including but not limited to Pooled Fund working group base in Geneva, HCT in South Sudan, Near Network, Charter for Change (C4C), Localization agenda and Grand Bargain in South Sudan to mention but a few.  Rev Yior is a South Sudanese national and resourceful person.

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The nominee, Mr. Wossen Taye Tesfaye, has 30 years of managing humanitarian progrmames and projects in Africa and is currently working for Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA) in the capacity of Director of Operations for East and Horn of Africa Region, based in AHA’s Country Office in Uganda. Wossen has also served as a Board Member for the current ICVA Board since 2018. He is a strong team player with deep understanding of the dynamics involved in the humanitarian work regionally and globally.

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I would be an asset to the ICVA board in two key areas – 1) understanding the global humanitarian landscape and the role of NGOs, and 2) experience in leading and governing a growing and global organization.

1) understanding the global humanitarian landscape and NGOs’ role

I have over 20 years of experience across multiple sectors, the the past 12 years being in the global humanitarian sector. I have amassed a comprehensive understanding of global disasters for the past decade through our responsive efforts. Public speaking, media engagements, and public presentations have allowed me to promote Airlink and the NGO sector as a whole effectively.

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Mihir is the Director of the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI), one of the first local organisations active at local, national, and global levels.

He has been evaluating the humanitarian work of UN, international nongovernmental agencies, authorities, and local organisations on beneficiary feedback, rehabilitation activities, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation projects in Asia and the Pacific which he will bring to ICVA members for use.

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Ms. Ling Chunxiang, General Secretary of Amity Foundation. She joined the organization in 1999 and has been working with Amity for twenty-five years, successively taking the roles of Deputy General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Director of Administration and Management team and Rural Development Project Manager prior to be appointed as General Secretary in September 2018. Under her leadership, Amity has become one of the leading foundations in China with an annual income of over 60 million USD in 2023 with more than 430 staff members for different philanthropic work. It’s also widely recognized as one of the top humanitarian NGOs in China, responding to disasters both in China and beyond.

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Deepa has been working in the forced displacement field for over 15 years, ranging from providing direct legal services for refugees undergoing status determination processes, to convening partnerships with RLOs and NGOs across the globe, to advocacy with national and global institutions. In terms of leadership experience, she previously founded and led Asylum Access Malaysia and was on their Board until 2023, was the Chair of the Southeast Asia Working Group and Steering Committee of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN). She was also the Asia Regional Coordinator for the International Detention Coaltion, and previously worked with UNHCR.

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My name is Paul Kithima, and I am the CEO of Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Center in Kampala, Uganda. My work at Bondeko is entirely focused on humanitarian action, as Bondeko’s remit in Uganda is to support and empower refugees and asylum seekers to become self-reliant and enjoy human rights where they live. Uganda is host to 1.6 million refugees who have fled mainly from neighbouring African countries. Hundreds of refugees each year find their way to Bondeko, seeking to participate in the skills training and educational programs that Bondeko offers, as well as for emergency support. I lead all aspects of Bondeko’s humanitarian response, from strategy through implementation.

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It has been a privilege to serve the ICVA network within ICVA’s Board these past six years, helping to set a reinvigorated direction through the 2030 Strategy and lead the strategy through the first three of its nine years, completing a process of change, consolidation and focus. In the last three years as Chair, Jane has worked with the Board and Executive Director to lead the organisation through multiple responses, set a vision for diversity, equity and inclusion, represent ICVA on the UN IASC Principals, support leadership transition, including the design and launch of our recruitment process for a new Executive Director prior to maternity leave, pursue localisation, and promote collective action and commitments to tackle escalating hunger and climate change.

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Thank you for considering my nomination. At a period in history where uncertainty and the fallout from geopolitical volatility is at its highest level in decades, the role of the humanitarian sector is more important than ever. The mission of ICVA in promoting principled and effective humanitarian action is therefore more critical than ever.

As someone dedicated to transforming humanitarian impact, ICVA’s mission and strategy are hugely motivating. It aligns with my motivation in my current position as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ICVA member the CHS Alliance – another membership organization dedicated to supporting the work of humanitarian organizations globally.

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Ikali Karvinen works currently as a Deputy Executive Director of FCA, being in charge of the strategy and programme content. Earlier he has worked as a Country Director in Eritrea, Cambodia and Somalia. Dr. Karvinen’s educational background includes studies from health, education and leadership, and he holds Doctorate in Health Sciences. Dr. Karvinen has especially contributed to evidence-based Education in Emergencies at Finn Church Aid. Over the past years he has led FCA’s humanitarian and development work in challenging contexts, witnessing in practice the impact of climate change for the most vulnerable ones, changes in the funding architecture and need for understanding the overall systemic change in the humanitarian field.

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Mr. Azmat Khan has been working as Chief Executive Officer of Foundation for Rural Development, and during his leadership he has developed FRD from a small CBO level organization to an Organization which is known Nationally, regionally and Globally. Mr. Khan has been actively involved with the networking and agile collaborations right from the start, and has been founding member of National Humanitarian network, where he got elected twice to the position of Provincial chairperson and twice to the central executive council (Board) of NHN Pakistan.

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Dr. Seong Ha Eun Marcellino has 20 years career in international humanitarian, development, and human rights action with extensive experience in both international advocacy with UN and government actors as well as field level support through capacity building and partnership development for national partners.

In Good Neighbors he has contributed to the development of climate change policy, operationalization of triple nexus programs for forcibly displaced persons, and the mainstreaming of the human rights-based approach.

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Muzaffer Baca is one of the two founders of International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation in 1999 to serve humanity more with all this experience, especially after following the natural disasters and wars and other poverty issues for 25 years in Europe. Balkans, Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia

Muzaffer Baca, who has been the Vice President of the International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation for more than 20 years, developing and implementing projects in the fields of emergency relief, capacity building, health, education and social cohesion regardless of religion, language, race and gender in Turkey the Middle East, the Balkans, the Caucasus and Africa.

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 Durmuş Aydın is a versant professional with a broad background in social work and humanitarian aid. His undergraduate studies in the Social Work Department at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, coupled with a master’s degree in Labor Economics from Marmara University in Türkiye, and a Ph.D. in Social Works from Yalova University in 2022, have fortified his academic and professional expertise. Aydın has made contributions to academia, serving as a Lecturer in International Social Work and Theories and Approaches in Social Work at Yalova University and Health Sciences University. He actively contributes to academic initiatives in the civil society realm.

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Luca has a very broad humanitarian experience with NGOs, ranging from being a frontline responder in multiple crisis to a promoter of better humanitarian practices at a global level. He started working in Kosovo in 2000, then moved to Burundi and to the Thai/Myanmar border before joining Acted in Central Asia as Country Director. At Acted, Luca then was appointed as Regional Director for Asia (2006-2009), and most recently Global Director or Programs (until 2013). In 2010 Luca co-founded IMPACT initiatives and has been its Executive Director / CEO ever since.

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With nearly two decades of dedicated service in the charity sector, I have honed a deep understanding and passion for driving change and fostering growth within non-profit organisations. My journey began 19 years ago, and over this period, I’ve been privileged to lead teams towards achieving remarkable milestones in service of communities in need.

Over the past 10 years, I have embraced organisational leadership roles, focusing on strategic planning, team development, and operational excellence. My leadership philosophy is grounded in building the right corporate culture—one that values inclusivity, resilience, and innovation, enabling our team to navigate challenges and embrace opportunities for growth.

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Rooted in aviation engineering and distinguished by my role as a Board of Trustees Member at the Life Makers Meeting Place Organization (LMMPO), my career is marked by a commitment to humanitarian service and strategic innovation. Based in New York City, my experience extends to subtle engagements with United Nations frameworks, enriching my global perspective and understanding of humanitarian principles. This backdrop fuels my proficiency in strategic leadership, partnership cultivation, and the deployment of innovative solutions to humanitarian challenges. My expertise is underpinned by a decade of leveraging connections to amplify humanitarian initiatives, characterized by a blend of analytical rigor and creative problem-solving.

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Suraj Ray is the Chairperson fo the Mauritius Council of Social Service (MACOSS), the National Platform of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Mauritius, since 2018.

Suraj Ray is also President of AHEAD, a registered grassroot non-governmental organization (NGO), actively engaged in Human Rights, sustainable development, mainstreaming people, world of work, wellness, environment, education and living things; with gender and youth as cross cutting. AHEAD is also present in Rodrigues.

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Anne is an experienced humanitarian with 20 years experience in emergency response and operations management, including 16 years at senior management and leadership level. She was Medair’s International Programmes Director from January 2019 to December 2022 overseeing Medair’s worldwide operations including the Global Emergency Response Team (G-ERT). Anne is now CEO of Medair since January 2023. When working as Country Director in Sudan and South Sudan, she was a member of the INGO Steering Committees and Humanitarian Country Teams (HCTs) and Security Management Teams for more than 8 years.

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Mr. Raymond Johansen is the Secretary General of NPA as of January 2024. He comes from the position as mayor of Oslo for the last 8 years and was before that the party Secretary for the Norwegian Labour Party. He served as state secretary for the Foreign Minister for two periods under the Stoltenberg-governments during the period 2000- 2015. He has also worked in the Norwegian Directorate for Development Assistance (Norad)

He therefore has a vast experience from conflict-settings, humanitarian and development portfolios, in addition to local politics where the interaction with civil society organisations and local institutions is key. We believe this combined experience can be useful for ICVAs board as it seeks to be globally distributed and locally rooted.

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For the past 25-plus years, I have worked in and on humanitarian, development, and health issues- on the frontlines where people encounter hostile forces- disasters, military, mobs, microbes, bad governance, human rights violation, ill-planned development, and extreme weather and so on.

I have worked in senior management, leadership, representational, governance/ board, and advisory positions for humanitarian, health, and development agencies (such as Oxfam, ActionAid, Plan International, Save The Children, War Child and the People’s Health Movement), inter-agency and UN initiatives, academic and technical teams. I currently work as the Global Humanitarian Director, at Plan International.

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With many years of experience in the field of global refugee leadership, rooting my knowledge in lived experience as well as legal and humanitarian expertise, I will bring a grounded and human focussed approach to my tenure on the ICVA Board. As Co-Managing Director ofR-SEAT, we have successfully scaled our work across over 10 countries of varying positionalities to the global system, and have furthered the emerging norm of meaningful refugee participation internationally. Including a direct line of communication to numerous refugee-led organizations is central to R-SEAT’s mandate and would better connect the work of ICVA’s member organizations to those on the ground.

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Ms Hassan has over 15 years of experience in both the humanitarian and development programming and approaches. She has specialised in delivering programs that empower vulnerable persons and marginalized communities particularly, refugees, urban youth, women and young girls. Ms. Hassan brings significant expertise in managing and leading complex partnerships and multi-sectorial humanitarian and development programs. As director of a consortium, Nimo oversees the development and implementation of the Somali NGO consortium Strategic Plan which has a 6_year strategic plan focusing on advocacy, coordination, representation and communication. She has developed strong skills in building and maintaining strong partnerships with NGOs, governments, UN agencies, donors, and other stakeholders to enhance collaboration and coordination in humanitarian response.

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Vikrant is the CEO of Sphere India. He comes with 26 years of versatile professional experience having worked across sectors with Government, UN, NGOs, Corporates, Academia and Armed Forces. He is a passionate humanitarian and have been on the front line of most disasters in India and the region over nearly two decades. He also been very active on Global and national policy forums and represents on several inter agency forums and board of many organisations. He has been a Board Member of Sphere Association for 8 years, members of LEGS Steering Committee for 6 years and Trustee of LEGS for 3 years.

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Jameel brings over 22 years of extensive expertise in program and project management within both humanitarian and non-humanitarian fields, including 15 years in management roles. With a Master’s in Project Management and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, his leadership over seven years in humanitarian efforts, emergency response, economic recovery, peacebuilding, and local development is noteworthy. As the CEO of the Tamdeen Youth Foundation, Jameel leads the localization movement in Yemen and collaborates closely with ICVA, RSH, NEAR, and other platforms, holding positions in the NEAR Leadership Council and the Operational Policy and Advocacy Group (OPAG).

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Mr Nabil Abdullah is currently holding the position of CEO for the Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA).

He has 15 years of experience working with local, international non-governmental organizations, thinktanks and brain trusts, in the fields of humanitarian project management and development. Partnerships and Communications, Monitoring and Evaluation and humanitarian program management in both national and international roles.

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