2024 Executive Board
Tatiana DA.
Co-President | London
Tatiana Der Avedissian is a communications specialist currently serving as head of business development for Economist Impact's World Ocean Initiative at The Economist Group (TEG). She also sits on the group's sustainability steering committee.
Tatiana has extensive experience in business development, strategic communications, and management. A creative and solutions-driven thinker, she is passionate about sustainability, human rights, history, politics, philanthropy, and building the next generation of great leaders to champion important global interests that will change the dynamics in a complicated world. She previously worked for the Spectator and the Guardian News and Media.
Outside of work Tatiana runs her own consultancy and uses her expertise to advise and support other organisations with their strategic communication and business needs. She helps lead the strategy and fundraising efforts for two charities in the UK, serving as trustee and co-president of Alkionides UK, and trustee and advisor of the Armenian Institute. Tatiana sits on several advisory boards and has taught ethics and politics for the Escuela de Gobierno Universidad Hemisferios in Ecuador.
Farah A.
Co-President | New York
Farah Arabe is an international development and policy specialist with impactful contributions in economic policy research, strategy consulting and global development programs. She has more than 10 years working internationally and leading cross-border efforts in the private, public and non-profit sectors. She is the founder of itotheN, an international development consulting organization, focused on the early formation of the human mind and heart as an engine of global, intergenerational change. Farah also serves on the advisory board of the Global Mental Health Action Network, the world’s leading advocacy network for global mental health.” Prior to this, she helped set up the Democracy & Governance practice at Deloitte Consulting, led performance assessment and economic research projects at the United Nations, and worked as a project engineer in the US and abroad.
Eva B.
Membership Chair | London
Eva is an international finance and development expert, currently leading on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)’s agenda on Gender Equality and Climate Change. As such, she ensures EBRD’s investments and policies promote environmental sustainability, while having a social impact and benefitting equally to the population they serve.
Previously, she worked at the World Bank, she designed new country strategies and engagement models in Africa, and worked on a wide range of human development issues, including youth employment, education, and social policy. Eva is an alumna of the Harvard Kennedy School, l'Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan, and Sciences Po Paris. She also studied at the London School of Economics.
Stephanie O.
Communications Co-Chair | Boston
Stephanie Oestreich is Chief Business Officer at Galecto and serves on the board of the German American Business Council. She is also a member of the Launchpad Venture Group and an advisor at grIP Venture Studio and with the drug development and investment company OrangeGrove Bio. Previously she was Vice President at cell therapy company Mnemo Therapeutics heading up operations and alliance management, a Venture Partner at RA Capital and Executive Vice President at Evotec where she built up its North American investment arm and started an incubator with Samsara BioCapital.
Stephanie conducted the research for her Ph.D. in biochemistry in the lab of a Nobel Prize winner at Harvard Medical School and obtained a MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. As a semi-professional violinist, she performs with Philharmonic orchestras in Carnegie Hall and other international venues and conducts workshops with live orchestras, demonstrating the similarities between teams ad leadership in music and management.
Jimena B.
Communications Co-Chair | San Francisco, CA & Colombia, South America
Jimena Barrera is an impact-driven professional with a global perspective and a passion for fostering gender equality and women's empowerment.
Raised in Colombia during the drug war period, she developed a profound commitment to social change and human welfare. With a career spanning five countries across Asia, Europe, Latin America and US, and over 10 years, Jimena's expertise lies at the intersection of business leadership, innovation and gender equality.
An alumna of the Executive Certificate in Public Leadership 2023 at Harvard Kennedy School, and former HKS Women's Network co-chapter lead of Boston, she embraces a smart and creative approach to driving positive change, leveraging the power of innovation, leadership and emerging technology. Her extensive international experience across sectors such as international development, business consulting, and software development positions her as a versatile and adaptive leader. Currently focused on the startup world, impact investment, and entrepreneurship with gender lens, Jimena is whole-heartedly aligned with HKS's motto, "You're here to make a difference”.
Barbara V.
Development Chair | Fort Lauderdale
Barbara is a nonprofit development leader who is highly skilled in obtaining major gifts and currently serves as Vice President of Development at Gilda's Club South Florida. She has 19+ years’ experience in nonprofit development and is skilled in the cultivation of major gifts. Barbara graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics and Human Resource Management, and from California State University with a Master’s in Adult/Secondary Education. She has served on the boards of the Grants Professional Association; the International Children’s Heart Foundation; the City of Sunrise Mayor’s Educational Task Force; and Alfalit Literacy. She currently serves on the board of Bridge to Hope in Miami, Florida. She holds numerous certificates, including, most recently, one in Nonprofit Performance Management from the Harvard Executive Education Program. She also holds certs in Nonprofit Management from the Florida Association of Nonprofits-Nova Southeastern University; and two in Monitoring and Evaluation from USAID. She has served as Vice President of the Miami NE Lions Club, and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Grants Professional Association, and the Boca Raton Rotary Club. Barbara is bilingual (English/Spanish).
She currently lives in Fort Lauderdale with her husband, two sons and two dogs. She enjoys playing the piano (classical and ballads), yoga, and singing in the car when no one is listening.
Nancy M.
Programming Chair | New York
Nancy retired in December 2018 after a 41 year career in New York State government. She served as Budget Director for the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) which is the State’s human / social services agency and oversaw an annual budget of $6 billion. For several years prior to her retirement, Nancy was OTDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Integrated Family Assistance Programs. In that capacity, Nancy oversaw several divisions and along with fellow senior staff focused on strategic planning and State of the State initiatives that addressed Agency priorities and integrated policy / programming needs. Earlier in her State career, Nancy worked at the NYS Division of the Budget which is part of the Governor’s Office. Nancy is and has been on several education-related boards. Nancy received her Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and her Master in Public Administration degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Sibel K.
Treasurer | Washington DC
Sibel Kulaksiz is a Senior Economist with the World Bank Group South Asia Region, based in Washington, D.C. She also served as Country Economist for Middle East and Africa regions task-managing macroeconomic policy work with a focus on economic growth, fiscal policy, international trade and regional economic integration issues.
Sibel holds double master’s degrees in Economics and International Relations/Development, the latter from the Johns Hopkins University. She completed the executive education program in Economic Growth at Harvard University Kennedy School Government.
Kadijatou (Kadija) Diallo
Chapter Leads Director | Boston
Kadija is a policy analyst focused on the intersection of technology, governance and human rights, including the ethical and responsible development of emerging technologies, especially in the Global South. She earned her Masters in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she was also a Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs