Scholars

Abenezer is a Human Resource Professional with almost ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Abenezer earned a Bachelor of Art in Public Administration and Development Management from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. While working as a Senior Human Resource Officer with CARE International in Ethiopia, he helped the organization to recruit, train, and retain a high performing workforce and implemented gender equality program in recruitment to increase female employees in the organization. Previously, Abenezer worked as a HR & Admin Manager with International Rescue Committee Ethiopia program under USAID and other donors funded programs. Through these experiences, he has developed strong people management skills, communication skills, and created welcoming workplaces for employees, where they can strive to do their best. Abenezer enjoys focusing on the topics of economic development, democracy, and human rights and has a strong passion of reading books.

Host Organization: Panorama Global

Role at Host Organization: As a Talent Acquisition Fellow, Abenezer will help Panorama Global source, identify, screen, and hire individuals for a broad range of roles across the organization affiliates. The Fellow’s role includes: inputting the overall hiring strategy of the organization to ensure the teams consist of a diverse set of qualified individuals; ensuring the staffing needs of the company are being met, with a long-term talent strategy in mind; and devising and implementing sourcing strategies to build pipelines of potential applicants, such as employer branding initiatives.

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.

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.

Cyndi Natalia has over 10 years of experience as a Legal Analyst for the Ministry of Finance in Indonesia. Upon receiving the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), she pursued a Master of law (LLM) degree from the Pennsylvania University in the USA. Cyndi’s primary duty as a civil servant in the Ministry of Finance of Indonesia is to enforce bureaucracy reformation and finance professional development through her expertise in drafting national laws. Cyndi has contributed to many legal drafting of the statute. Her recent work is drafting the omnibus law for the Financial Reporting Law of Indonesia, which will reform all the governmental organizations of submitting a financial report to establish a uniform and transparent report with the support of digital technologies. Cyndi has been involved in many international affairs diplomacy and agreements to develop regulations and programs for accountant professionals in Indonesia. Specifically, during the ASEAN Economic Community, to ensure the free trade and services in the ASEAN region fairly implemented for all member states. She was appointed by the Minister of Finance of Indonesia to hold a position as the Head of ACPACC Secretariat. With this position, she is trusted to liaise and coordinate with relevant authorities and or parties regarding accountant professionals within ASEAN member states and facilitate mobility of accountancy services professionals across ASEAN.

Jean Junior Lozama is 44 years old and lives in Les Cayes, Haiti. He studies administrative sciences at Public University of South Aux Cayes (UPSAC) with many years of experiences in administrative and financial
management and in supporting the implementation of development projects of a social and economic nature. He also studied linguistics at the Faculty of Applied Linguistics in the State University of Haiti with years in language
teaching at the secondary school level. Junior Lozama has started in June 2018 an MBA in leadership and sustainability at Cumbria University in the UK in partnership with Robert Kennedy College in Switzerland. And, he has already submitted his final dissertation. Junior worked from 2006 to 2009 for the “Evangelical Baptist Mission of South Haiti” (in French acronym MEBSH) as assistant to the accountant and then as an accountant. From 2007 to 2009, he assisted two professors in the courses of financial mathematics and accounting principles at the “Public University of South Aux Cayes (UPSAC). Since November 2009, Junior Lozama has
worked for Heifer International Haiti initially as an administrator/accountant then as a finance officer. Junior Lozama has about 15 years of experience in administration, accounting, and financial management. Some social issues of his interest are particularly local development and education.

Kian Chong has years of experience in the for-profit sector. He earned a Master of Philosophy in Management from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Imperial College London in the United Kingdom. He is an entrepreneur and has activities in the tech, education, cybersecurity, F&B, and industrial gas industries. His work includes increasing accessibility to improving security awareness maturity for companies and individuals as well as upskilling in emerging technology areas. For work in lifelong learning and digital transformation, one of his companies was awarded the SkillsFuture Employer Award 2021 which is presented by the President of the Republic of Singapore. He is passionate about education and youth empowerment. Currently, he serves as a Global Shaper, an initiative of the World Economic Forum, where he is the Impact Officer of the Singapore Hub and driving impact for community projects. He also serves as a committee member of the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Singapore (OCSS), the Imperial College Alumni Association of Singapore (ICAAS), and Canberra Secondary School in Singapore. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA). Through these experiences, he has developed skills in technology, partnerships, partnerships, and training.

Lorna Kanyuga is a skilled development professional with five years of experience in the social sector. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi. Currently, she is the Kenya Philanthropies Lead at Microsoft, where she coordinates digital training initiatives and entrepreneurship and employability programs. During her time at Yusudi Limited, she led the development, testing and launch of Jijali, an online learning program that uses blended learning techniques to provide personalized entrepreneurship and career training to over 1,400 young people. Previously, she was Life Skills Trainer at the same company, where she developed and delivered career preparation training to over 200 unemployed college graduates and young professionals. Prior to that, she managed the Social Projects Department at the AIESEC office in Kenya, where she led the development and implementation of strategies to grow the international volunteer program. Through these experiences, she has gained skills in project/program management, training, and youth development. In her spare time, Lorna volunteers at schools in informal settlements in Nairobi, where she supports schools in providing life skills training to students and fundraises for learning materials. She is passionate about skills development for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, youth development and the use of technology in education.

Natasha Dadzie has four years of work experience in the nonprofit and education sectors. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. As an Engagement Manager with the New Entrepreneurs Xchange for Transformation: Idea to Impact program, she leads stakeholder engagements across platforms and provides venture development consultancy to entrepreneurs. Natasha is passionate about using business as a force for good: creating businesses that contribute to making social impact as well as generating wealth. She uses her expertise to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by helping young startups in Ghana build structure, create long term value and processes for business development, as well as to make social impact. She is passionate about social development, entrepreneurship, youth development, venture growth and success, girl empowerment, and child rights. She created, developed and managed the Ashesi Venture Incubator COVID Relief Impact Project: a collaborative effort to mitigate the immediate challenges posed by the pandemic in her community. Previously, as a Programs Manager for The BEIGE Foundation, she managed fifteen projects promoting and advocating for education, youth development, entrepreneurship, gender issues, financial literacy, and environmental sustainability. The BEIGE Foundation celebrated Natasha with the Youth Excellence League Award for her exceptional contribution to her organization and community in 2018. She has developed a lifelong urge to work on the fringes of social development, gaining leadership skills and exceptional expertise to run projects from inception to completion. She is a change agent, driving change in Africa.