Scholars

Ahsan Hayat is a graduate of the College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, NUST, majoring in computer systems. He’s currently enrolled in an EMBA program at NBS. He has more than 6 years of professional experience, mainly in the telecommunications sector, where he gained hands-on experience in various industries in areas such as telecom operations, service delivery and customer care, governance and standards. Recently, he has been working as an IT Audit Manager, ensuring compliance with global best practices and standards. During his work experience, he learned the methods to comply with global standards and practices, document and design processes, and ensure customer satisfaction through timely service delivery. The operational aspect of the telecommunications sector continues to be his forte, as that is where he gained much of his experience. He also enjoys spending his time reading and participating in writing competitions. He has qualified for the selection exams twice (CSS and PMS). He recently completed the McKinsey Forward Learning Program and is also a member of the Youth Parliament of Pakistan. He follows the issue of climate change and its impact on Pakistan with great interest, as recent events have shown that it’s a matter of life and death for his country in particular and the world in general. It’s time to act now, otherwise the socio-cultural and economic impacts of climate change will threaten our collective existence.

Aitzaz Ali pursues law degree at University of the Punjab in Pakistan. He is the founder of a welfare organization called Qadar Bashar. Throughout his career, he has worked at the national and international levels as a Global Youth Ambassador at Theirworld and as the Country Director of IYAP. He’s an education and climate activist, a speaker, and an advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals. His vision is the “deference of mankind.”

Alba Giol is from Catalonia. She studied Social Work at the University of Girona. She did her final project about how this profession can contribute to fighting the climate crisis, according to how it affects vulnerable groups. That research helped her focus her professional training on sustainable development. That is how she decide to study for a Master’s degree in Environment, Sustainability and SDGs, which is focused on the UN 2030 Agenda and brings a whole view of sustainability on its three edges. Right now, Alba is doing her Master’s internship with UN Etxea, participating in some projects about environmental education, the climate crisis, and human rights. She has a particular interest in the relationship between the climate crisis, social exclusion, and inequalities. She had not particularly studied the link between these sectors in the university degree and she feels that nowadays it has become part of the base of social change. She also shares the idea that we are now facing a very complex problem, which means we need multidisciplinary solutions. This will lead everyone to be involved and contribute as much as we can, working together as a society and empowering community work, to ensure a better future for the next generations and even for ourselves.

Alexander Gunkel is a serial entrepreneur using space technology for social and environmental good. Alexander’s company Space4Good leverages satellite earth observation, geographic information systems, and artificial intelligence to provide geospatial analytics to global impact initiatives for data-driven decision making and increased transparency. The company is active in nature conservation, agriculture, smart cities, disaster relief, and peace and justice. Space4Good provides its insights to clients such as The Red Cross, The World Bank Group, The Carter Center, and The European Commission. Additionally, Alexander co-founded Skytree, which invented a CO2 recycling process to reduce global CO2 emissions, as well as RoadEO which is developing a global road quality monitoring and prediction platform to improve road safety and comfort. He is actively mentoring “Tech4Good” entrepreneurs in university-related incubators as well as accelerators, including in Startupbootcamp and Google LaunchPad. Before starting his entrepreneurial career, Alexander studied mechanical engineering and business administration and worked as a Project Manager at the European Space Agency. He is a Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative Fellow of the German Marshall Fund and believes in the power of social entrepreneurship to drive positive societal and economic change.

Alexandria Sasek has a B.A. in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from the University of Oregon and an M.Sc. in Urban Strategy from Drexel University. Ms. Sasek has over a decade of experience with nonprofits and community development, from activism to academia. She currently leads an internship program connecting youth and local social-impact businesses and nonprofits with paid internships and a professional development workshop series. As a volunteer girls’ softball coach and co-founder of a womxn-run farming collective, Alexandria strives to facilitate safe, creative spaces for youth to experientially learn and imagine their futures. Her experience with community development spans from historical societies to food banks, including leading visioning exercises and a political campaign. Alexandria is passionate about environmental justice, youth empowerment, mutual aid, community engagement, and facilitating spaces for groups to imagine and plan for a shared future on an environmentally precarious planet. She wishes to see more equitable and accessible spaces for truly community-centric plans and public engagement.

Alisson Figueroa has worked in community social development with NGOs and private companies for over 10 years. Nicaragua is going through different social, economic, and environmental challenges and as a game changer, she feels the responsibility to make a positive contribution. That is why she is interested in being part of the Virtual Leadership Institute because she knows with this program she will have all the necessary tools for her professional development and to be able to implement her inclusive recycling proposal. Through this program, she will be able to find a community network in which she can maintain her development focus and involve local corporations to be part of the change as well. The result of her proposal is that families have a second source of income and that it can be a model for other communities in the country.

Amanda Creary completed her graduate studies at Mercer University, gaining her Master of Public Health degree. She has been working for Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), a program at The Task Force for Global Health, a non-profit subsidiary of Emory University. She previously worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supporting grants, proposals, contracts, and the Office of Budget Services. At TEPHINET, Amanda provides project management, logistical and programmatic support for multiple projects and special initiatives. Most recently, she has worked with Polio Eradication efforts in Pakistan and supports the in-country Field Epidemiology Laboratory Training Program. She has a passion for healthcare, humanitarianism, and servitude and excitement to use knowledge, skills, and mentorship to continue a career in global health. During Amanda’s free time, she volunteers as a patient advocate, helping low-income families and individuals with medical debt forgiveness, which has also influenced her career in the public health sector.

Ando Razafiaritsara is a public servant with nine years of experience in the Ministry of Economy and Finance. She held many positions in different departments within the ministry, such as being a financial auditor, research analyst, and executive assistant. She also leads a non-profit organization, African Leaders for Africa, which contributes to community improvement related to the environment, education, health and hygiene, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship. She studied Business Administration at INSCAE, Private Law at CNTEMAD, and Public Procurements at ENAM. In 2017, she participated in the Young African Leadership Initiative at the Regional Learning Center in South Africa within the Public Management track. Two years later, she founded ALFA with friends she met during the YALI program with the desire to bring positive change while applying skills and methods learned during their training. Ando is passionate about country development, social change, and team working. Her first volunteering experience was as a volunteer teacher for underprivileged children on the streets. After this first engagement, she decided to bring her contribution to sustainable development in Madagascar to the African continent. She enjoys focusing on the topics of youth empowerment, education, and the environment.