Scholars

Afsheen Fatima is a lecturer from Karachi. She started her career as a Researcher of Political Affairs for Pakistan Television Corporation. Later, Afsheen moved to Turkey to pursue her Master’s degree in South Asian Studies and International Relations at Necmettin Erbakan University under the Türkiye Burslari Scholarship program. After completing her degree, she returned to Pakistan and began teaching various courses in social sciences such as International Relations, World History, and Sociology. In addition to her work at IQRA University she’s also an intern at The Gender Guardian (TGG) NGO. TGG is the first school in Pakistan established specifically to provide vocational training to the marginalized transgender community in Pakistan so that they can earn a respectable living. Her areas of interest include media and politics, identity politics, minority rights, gender issues, and sustainable development. Previously, she worked for the Salman Sufi Foundation as the coordinator for the Women on Wheels project. This project was funded by UNDP and enabled women to learn how to ride motorcycles to improve their freedom of movement. She enjoys participating in youth-related programs and strongly believes that if we equip our youth with the right skills, things will change. In addition to her professional activities, she’s passionate about making organic soaps, learning languages, traveling, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.

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.

Alex Szebenyi is a software engineer and the CTO for Acquaint, a nonprofit community of volunteers who overcome the “us and them” mentality through one-on-one conversations. As CTO, Alex is responsible for all the organization’s technical aspects, including developing the Acquaint software platform, which volunteers use in over 55 countries. Separately, at insurtech-startup AssuranceIQ, he has worked as a principal software engineer. Over the last three years, he led critical teams before and after one of the world’s largest and fastest fintech startup exits. Additionally, Alex has worked at tech startups focused on machine learning/AI and immigration. His career started after receiving a BA in Biological Sciences from SUNY Buffalo. He performed neuroscience research in a chemosensory lab, contributing to several papers before transitioning to software engineering roles. Alex’s interests include neuroscience and building software systems that empower personal growth on a global scale. At Acquaint, he focuses on building social cohesion and international solidarity by using technology and volunteerism to facilitate positive contact across divisions of all kinds. Generally, he is also excited about ways to sustainably empower the nonprofit sector to innovate in the tech space.

Astrid Leon, hailing from Puebla, Mexico, holds a degree in International Relations from the Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla. Since 2021, she has served as the Director Assistant at Compañeros en Salud Mexico (Partners in Health). In this role, Astrid has played a part in establishing strategic communication with other NGOs, governmental agencies, and private entities to foster relationships and enhance cooperation. She has also been involved in the organization’s strategic planning and has contributed to various activities encompassing coordination and support across multiple areas. Astrid has further engaged in research projects at the National Commission to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women (CONAVIM), exploring topics such as violence against women in prisons and identifying aggravating factors in femicides across Mexico’s justice system. With a deep passion for development cooperation, project development, migration, and child protection, Astrid remains dedicated to making a positive impact in these areas.

Beni Suryadi is an energy professional with a decade of experience managing research and program relating to energy, power, and climate change in Southeast Asia. As a manager, researcher, and director of studies at the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), Beni helps the 10 countries in the region to develop and implement their regional and national energy policies in achieving energy accessibility, affordability, energy security, and sustainability goals. Beni is the Project Leader at the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT), the first official integrated project on energy-climate nexus in the region, aiming to study and contribute to the implementation of energy policies for the climate change mitigation strategies. Beni is also a member of the Sustainability Advisory Council of Gojek, Agence française de développement (AFD) Indonesia Advisory Board, Steering Committee of the Global Consortium on Power System Transformation (G-PST), and Non-Resident Fellow of the U.S.’s based think tank; Energy for Growth. Beni is interested in energy poverty, just transition, and sustainable development goals.

Daniela Toda has a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, a Master’s degree in Education, and twelve years of experience in education, especially in teacher training. She lives in Rondônia, Brazil, and is interested in sustainable development, education and inclusion.

Dennis Dias is a teacher with over a decade of experience in education. He is a 35-year-old resident of New York City. Dennis was born in southern California. He completed an undergraduate degree in history and English at the University of California, Riverside. As an undergraduate, Dennis volunteered with organizations supporting LGBT youth. After graduating, Dennis served as a United States Peace Corps volunteer in Albania, contributing to youth development and English instruction. His experiences in Albania instilled an ongoing concern for international development and-cultural exchange opportunities. Dennis completed a master’s degree in Intellectual Disability/Autism at Teachers College, Columbia University, and is currently completing a master’s degree in International Policy Management at Kennesaw State University. Dennis works as a special education teacher for the New York City Department of Education. Dennis specializes in inclusive and literacy instruction as a special education teacher. Dennis is interested in international and comparative education, particularly institutional policies that promote access, equity, and inclusion for all students, regardless of their gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, home language, ability status, or migratory status. He believes that educational policies and practices are deeply entwined with matters of social justice. Although often regarded as a secondary concern, education is a central pillar in sustainable development.

Dione Sharon has five years of experience in peacebuilding and humanitarian coordination programming. She has a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Social Science from the Protestant University of Central Africa and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Buea. She is also Certified in Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Management from the Pan African Institute for Development – West Africa and is an alumnus of the Young African Leaders Initiatives (YALI). She currently works as INGO Forum Officer, fostering coordination initiatives, collaboration, joint research, analysis, and advocacy among 24 international NGOs advancing emergency relief and development response within complex security contexts in Cameroon. Prior to this role, Sharon volunteered with the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network as a Program Consultant where she facilitated joint program coordination, collaboration, and learning for effective peacebuilding by youth organizations within the Network in Cameroon. Sharon previously led as the program team lead for a National Peacebuilding NGO, implementing peace and conflict management initiatives including USAID-funded community peace and security initiatives, peace research and policy, as well as community dialogue, and mediation processes. She is a lifelong learner, passionate, and committed to supporting collaboration and partnership in delivering humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding.