Scholars

Agnija Kazuša has seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Master’s of Science in Communication from the University of Latvia. While working as a referee at Riga Social Service, Agnija helped more than 150 foreign residents in Latvia prepare documents for receiving crisis benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, Agnija worked as a content creator and editor for the World Peace Initiative Foundation and Peace Revolution project for three years to help raise awareness of mental health, mindfulness, and meditation. In this role, Agnija managed the Peace Blog and edited more than 500 articles; helped to create video stories; conducted Facebook Live interviews with peacebuilders from all over the world; organized more than 200 mindfulness activities in Europe, Asia and the Pacific; and provided coaching to 183 individuals on Peace Revolution’s online self-development platform. Agnija has volunteered as a facilitator and project coordinator with several youth organizations, including Lielvarde Youth Organization, European Students’ Forum AEGEE, AIESEC, Make Room, and FEJS (Forum for European Journalism Students) Latvia, which she co-founded. Through these experiences, she developed content creation, project coordination, and implementation skills. Agnija enjoys focusing on the topics of mental health and education and has a strong passion for social inclusion.Agnija Kazuša has seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Master’s of Science in Communication from the University of Latvia. While working as a referee at Riga Social Service, Agnija helped more than 150 foreign residents in Latvia prepare documents for receiving crisis benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, Agnija worked as a content creator and editor for the World Peace Initiative Foundation and Peace Revolution project for three years to help raise awareness of mental health, mindfulness, and meditation. In this role, Agnija managed the Peace Blog and edited more than 500 articles; helped to create video stories; conducted Facebook Live interviews with peacebuilders from all over the world; organized more than 200 mindfulness activities in Europe, Asia and the Pacific; and provided coaching to 183 individuals on Peace Revolution’s online self-development platform. Agnija has volunteered as a facilitator and project coordinator with several youth organizations, including Lielvarde Youth Organization, European Students’ Forum AEGEE, AIESEC, Make Room, and FEJS (Forum for European Journalism Students) Latvia, which she co-founded. Through these experiences, she developed content creation, project coordination, and implementation skills. Agnija enjoys focusing on the topics of mental health and education and has a strong passion for social inclusion.

Current Organization: Mentor at Make Room

Ako Eyo Oku is a young leader with extensive experience in broadcast media and public service. Ako has worked for the Nigerian Television Authority for nine years, where she has served three different regions and over 200 Nigerian communities with enlightening, educational, and entertaining TV programs. Ako is committed to community development and advocacy for social change. She has been an active leader in several organizations, including the Child Rights Club, Rotaract Club, MDGs/SDGs Mass Awareness Group, Strategy and Innovation for Development Initiative, and the Young African Leadership Initiative. She founded the Global Learning Community Program, a community of practice that encourages worldwide learning at the local level via MOOCs and GLAMs. In 2019, Ako participated in the US government-sponsored Mandela Washington Fellowship, where she received training on Leadership in Public Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ako is a Commonwealth+ Open Source Leader, a World Pulse Ambassador, and an African Changemaker. Ako belongs to Chatham House, TED, Creative Commons, and Wikimedia communities.

Current Organization: Senior Broadcast Officer at Nigerian Television Authority

Alexey Korf graduated from Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service (VSUES) with honors and earned the scholarship of the Governor of Primorskii Krai. Alexey also obtained his Master’s degree in Trade in Vladivostok City. Alexey founded Trust Logistic LLC in 2019 and has been working in the logistic sphere for international and domestic shipping containers since 2011. He has also served as a member of the State Examination Board and a lecturer in the field of study logistics and commercial activities at Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) and VSUES. Alexey hosted a competition at VSUES to support a student in opening their own business, joined the Business Russia union for entrepreneurs, and published two scientific articles in the Journal of Economy and Entrepreneurship in Moscow. Through his work as a specialist in logistics and the field of business organization, Alexey hopes to share his expertise and structure his knowledge to share with other business representatives and support business development.

Current Organization: CEO & Owner at Trust Logistic LLC

Amira Saber is Partner and CMO at Achimar Consulting. Amira is a Professional Certified Trainer from the American University in Cairo. She received her MBA in Marketing from ESLSCA Business School and was a regional marketer at Medtronic, the largest manufacturing company of medical devices worldwide. Her endless passion towards developing people led her to cooperate with different entities and multinationals like UNICEF, Samsung, CEDO, Ain Shams University, and Cairo University to provide training to more than 4,000 students, recent graduates, and professionals. Amira an American Express Leadership Academy Fellow. She has in depth experience in policy making, analysis, and communication. Amira delivers marketing for start-ups and social entrepreneurship trainings in different European countries through Erasmus Mundus programs and is currently responsible for the marketing and communications strategy for one of the largest local NGOs in the field of child and maternal health. She recently graduated from Ashoka’s Visionary program, which enables social entrepreneurs to gain the skills needed to master both entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial challenges and to generate social impact. She is a member of the Coordination Committee of Party’s Youth Leaders and Politicians, a leading political entity that empowers youth from different political streams and backgrounds to be part of political decision making process in Egypt.

Current Organization: Partner and CMO at Achimar Consulting

Angela Umoru has three years of experience in the nonprofit and media sectors. Angela earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Mass Communication from Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria. She is a 2020 World Literacy Foundation Ambassador and has utilized the opportunity to maximize and strengthen her fundraising, leadership, and advocacy skills. As a literacy advocate, she raised awareness on how illiteracy affects daily life by curating and sharing 112 “literacy stories” on social media. Previously, she worked as a Media and Communications Officer at Skills Outside School Foundation (SOSF), focusing on publicity for the Foundation’s work in life skill education for disadvantaged youth while securing relevant partnerships through digital media and production of media materials. In the time she worked with SOSF, she raised the organization’s profile by increasing social media followership by over 80% and spear-headed partnership discussions with various organizations. Currently, she is the Chief Operating Officer at Jela’s Development Initiatives (JDI), where she leads the teams in providing access to water, mental healthcare, and blood donors and promoting youth empowerment through volunteering. Through these experiences, she developed strong advocacy and collaboration skills. Angela is most interested in good governance and improving inclusion in education and mental health advocacy.

Current Organization: Chief Operating Officer at Jela’s Development Initiatives

Anna Egorova has six years of experience in the tech sector, and has earned a Master’s degree in Media from the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Russia. Her other academic achievements include studying computer science and communications as an exchange student at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. With more than six years of entrepreneurial and management experience in digital production and IT, Anna currently serves as an independent consultant and product manager, as well as a course producer and lecturer, for the “Digital Media Project Management” course at the leading Russian University, the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. As an individual entrepreneur and consultant, Anna works in the tech sector to help startups and production teams with business development, partnerships, and community building. Anna is passionate about developing collaborations between the tech sector and nonprofit organizations, as well as art initiatives.

Current Organization: Digital Producer, Project Manager, & Founder at curves.digital

Bashar Timraz has eight years of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors. Bashar earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administrations from Al-Quds Open University in Palestine. Bashar has diverse work experience in administration, coordination, security, reporting, and project management. In his current role as Operations Coordinator in the Field Security and Risk Management at the United Nations for Relief & Work Agency (UNRWA), he provides emergency response to around 13,000 staff members working in 300 UNRWA installations, guarantees a safe work environment for the UNRWA employees, follows up and reports all security incidents as needed, and organizes and maintains security files on all issues related to assessments, security plans, and more. Through his work with UNRWA, Bashar works with staff from different backgrounds, experiences, and working styles. Thus, he has developed strong communication, teamwork, risk-management and problem-solving skills. Previously, Bashar worked at the Ministry of Detainees and Ex-detainees Affairs in the projects and planning department, and was responsible for preparing the Ministry’s projects, operational plans, and reports. Working with the government has enabled him to develop report writing skills, strategic thinking, and communication skills, along with the ability to organize media events. Bashar is particularly looking to challenge himself and learn new things focusing on the topics of humanitarian, operations, and economic development.

Current Organization: Operations Coordinator at United Nations for Relief & Work Agency (UNRWA)

Benjamin Shako has over three years of experience in the social change sector and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While working as the Communications Chair for the Union for Democracy and Social Progress/Youth League in Congo, Benjamin helped establish and maintain the strategic direction of the organization, develop communication plans and messages for various youth league activities, and raise awareness about the league platform as a networking hub for youths. Benjamin is also a Thought For Food (TFF) Ambassador, where he raises the reputation of the food and agriculture industry to create a sustainable food system nationally and globally. Previously, Benjamin worked with a community-based organization, where he conducted an awareness campaign on Ebola prevention and ending child marriage in Congo. Benjamin has volunteered for several nonprofits, including the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa, the Center to Support Marginalized and Exploited Youth, International Youth Fellowship, and AIESEC in support of Sustainable Development Goals 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 13, and 16. Through these experiences, he developed strong communication, planning, volunteer management, and advocacy skills. Benjamin deeply values empathy, team work, and global collaboration. In the future, Benjamin plans to serve in an elected position to effectively promote solutions to address the social issues facing his country. He enjoys focusing on the topics of leadership, marketing, governance, and agriculture, and has a strong passion for youth and community development.

Current Organization: Communications Chair at Union for Democracy and Social Progress/Youth League