Scholars

Alexandra Bakiewicz has years of experience in communications and engagement, and she has earned her degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York, Polytechnic Institute. In 2018, Alexandra founded the digital communications firm AM Bakiewicz Consulting. Having been employed at a variety of companies and international non-profits across the United States, Alexandra has worked tirelessly to amplify her clients’ voices in the digital world. While working at international non-profits, she has developed digital media strategies to further her clients’ missions on an international level. Alexandra strives to uplift the voices of emerging social sector leaders worldwide. It is her personal passion and mission to make sure their stories are continuously told.

Anna Rountree brings over a decade of experience in international affairs, women’s and children’s rights, and mental health. Anna’s expertise lies in developing large-scale programs and campaigns that create opportunities for underrepresented populations. As Director of Communications at Clubhouse International, Anna plays a crucial role in amplifying the organization’s impact on individuals living with mental illness and driving engagement by developing and overseeing campaign strategy and tactics. In her prior Development roles at Clubhouse International, Anna used her interpersonal and writing skills to develop initiatives that grew constituency, helped meet financial goals, and influenced stakeholders. Anna’s focus on a rights-based approach has been instrumental in strengthening the impact of the Clubhouse network. On the Advisory Board of ECHO, Anna helps to build global capacity for emergency medicine, and on the Clubhouse Racial Justice Committee, Anna addresses inequities experienced by people of color living with mental illness. Anna edited the Governance and Rights Framework for the International Rescue Committee; prepared analytical reports for the General Assembly and Security Council, helping to secure passage of resolutions; and scrutinized policing of poorer communities as Associate Producer at CBS. Anna earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, double minoring in French and International Affairs from Binghamton University, and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from The New School. Anna’s practicum, Bridging the Gaps: Implementation of Comprehensive Abortion Care in Ethiopia, inspired much of her subsequent focus on the voiceless. Anna loves to travel, read, and meet people. She is committed to promoting the voice of underrepresented populations.

Anya has 5+ years of experience working with small companies and non-profits, and earned a Bachelors of Arts in Religion and Philosophy from Smith College. She currently serves as Corporate Communications Project Manager at MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, an organization focused on addressing unmet needs in the mental health field through the development psychedelic-assisted therapies, where she supports the leadership team with communications and company culture. Prior to her current role, Anya worked as a project manager, marketing research assistant, and ‘chief of staff’ in a variety of industries including: environmental advocacy and wildlife rehabilitation, cybersecurity, entertainment, wellness, and career coaching. Anya also spent a year serving the homeless population through a volunteer program, where she gained a greater understanding of the complexity of addressing poverty and public health, at scale for those who need it most. Throughout these experiences, she developed a greater understanding of the many systemic issues that get in the way of social innovation and development.

Christopher Obasogie has over ten years of experience working with nonprofit organizations in Nigeria. He graduated from university of Benin, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in social work. He began his career as a volunteer counselor in an HIV/AIDS program implemented by FHI 360 and funded by USAID. He currently works in SOS Children’s Villages as a Community and Family Development Officer for vulnerable families. His goal is to support them achieve self-reliance through tailored interventions that will help shape their future.

Etali Genesis Akwaji has over eighteen years of experience in community mobilization, development, and humanitarian work. He is the founder and CEO of the Association for Sustainable Development Livelihood Initiatives (SUSTAIN Cameroon), a grassroots nonprofit organization focused on eradicating harmful practices and cultures that perpetuate violence against women and children. These practices include child early and forced marriages, sexual exploitation and abuse of children, gender-based violence, human trafficking, and modern-day slavery. Currently, Etali is also involved with ECPAT Cameroon, an affiliate member of ECPAT International. Throughout his career, Etali has demonstrated the ability to engage project beneficiaries and mobilize communities for full participation in planning, implementing, and monitoring project activities. He has collaborated with local, national, and international organizations, assuming key roles in project management and organizational development. Notable positions held by Etali include UN-WFP TPM monitor at the African Initiatives for Relief and Development (AIRD) in Uganda, Casual Program Support Assistant Field (CPSA-F) for the Psycho Social (PSS) Project with Plan International Cameroon in the Bamenda PU, and Program Officer with Women in Action against Gender Based Violence (WACameroon). Additionally, he has worked with Heifer International, Cameroon, mobilizing communities in various regions for significant humanitarian and development projects.

Huma Iqbal has over ten years of experience working in Pakistan’s nonprofit sector, and earned her MA from the University of Karachi with a major in Development Communications. Huma is a public health influencer and employs strategic communications to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on policy reforms for family planning services in Pakistan. Working with the Population Council as an Advocacy Manager, Huma lobbies with parliamentarians for stronger legislation on family planning programs, advocates with religious leaders on championing the cause, and leverages the media’s role to influence policy makers and the masses. In her current role, Huma has helped build a new narrative on population, focusing on the balance between population size and resources and breaking away from more traditional and coercive approaches of limiting family size in the past. Previously, Huma worked with Oxfam where she led public and digital campaigns to end child marriages and sexual violence against girls, boys, and the gender minorities of Pakistan. Huma has acquired influencing and leadership skills to influence high-level stakeholders for policy and programmatic action. She has also acquired campaigning skills for effective public and media engagement. Huma is passionate about empowering people and socially and politically equipping them to break structural inequality and live quality lives. Huma likes to explore digital spaces for innovation and freedom of speech.

Jeanne Tai is based in Singapore and has a decade of experience in content, communications, and digital storytelling. She currently serves as the Head of Brand & Content Advocacy at Singapore’s National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), a national non-profit that advocates a more other-centered culture. Her strengths are in writing, storytelling, and corporate branding. After graduating as valedictorian from the National University of Singapore with top honors in History, Jeanne worked as a features writer at Singapore’s most established women’s magazine where she rose to Deputy Editor. She later worked as a content strategist at Southeast Asian startup Grab. The experience helped her appreciate how technology can be used for good to drive a region forward. It also reinforced Jeanne’s desire to use her talents for a higher purpose and drew her to the non-profit sector. Jeanne has always had a passion for women’s empowerment which was deepened during her time in journalism when she covered social issues that impact women and interviewed inspiring women across different walks of life. She has mentored female students and volunteered in women-focused organizations. Driven to excel, Jeanne is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Communication Management at Singapore Management University on a Leadership scholarship. Her current academic interests revolve around how diversity, equity, and inclusion can help organizations better engage and communicate with their stakeholders.

Katherine Mahon is the co-founder and CEO of Acquaint (acquaint.org), a nonprofit community of volunteers who overcome the “us and them” mentality through one-on-one conversations. She has four years of experience as a nonprofit leader and four years of experience as a 3D artist and animator. As of August 2022, Acquaint has recruited hundreds of volunteers from over 55 countries. Katherine’s role with Acquaint involves supervising employees and volunteers, building training programs, fostering partnerships, creating video content, managing social media and newsletters, fundraising, and overseeing operations. In 2018, Katherine co-founded HomeAgain VR, which was the predecessor to Acquaint. Until the pandemic, it focused on bringing virtual reality technology into assisted living, medical facilities, and other locations where people had limited mobility. The VR experiences provided an opportunity to explore meaningful and immersive spaces from home. Katherine gained experience building partnerships with various individuals and organizations, including King County (WA), the City of Phoenix, and over 50 facilities. HomeAgain VR recruited several dozen volunteers whose work included socializing with participants and helping them use the VR devices. Katherine was featured on Seattle’s King 5 News, specifically for HomeAgain VR’s work for people living with dementia. HomeAgain VR also created the beginnings of what would later become the Acquaint virtual platform. Katherine currently lives in Bellevue, WA, USA.