Shafiu Shaibu

Shaibu Shafiu holds a Certificate of Advance Study in Project Monitoring and Evaluation, a Chartered Accountant (CA), holds MBA in Finance and Bachelor of Commerce. He further holds a Diploma in Social Work Studies, Diploma in Project Management, Certificate in Understanding Cross-Cultural Communication in International Business and Certificate in Inclusion of Minorities in Community Development. Shafiu has over 18 years work experience with between public service (academia), the NGO sector, in livelihood integrated program design and co-ordination, and senior level financial management (partnership, negotiation and fundraising) and 9 years with INGO. He has worked as Enterprise Development and Market Access Coordinator, Finance Manager, Director of Finance and Administration and as Senior Specialist in Accounting and Auditing. Joining GB at this time in Shafiu’s career creates the room for exciting times for him to bring to bear years of accumulated experience in NGO program development, financial management, M&E and IT to discharge an operations intensive position and he is excited to apply all of the programs and Global Brigades.

Dr. Cornelius Normeshie

Dr. Cornelius Normeshie, is an alumnus of the University of Ghana Medical School. He joined Global Brigades in the summer of 2012 as a medical officer and subsequently became the medical program lead in charge of planning, assessing, implementing and monitoring all medical brigade activities.He has been committed to not only providing high medical care but passionate about promulgating public health measures including strengthening partnerships that will improve the health of populations in deprived communities. Dr. Cornelius is an adaptable and responsible person with tremendous leadership skills having led the medical students association of Ghana in various capacities. He has also participated in several global health conferences across Africa, Asia and Europe. Currently, he lives in Accra with his wife and daughter. He loves reading, watching soccer and playing chess.

Emmanuel Ackah

Emmanuel pursued a joint Master of Science program in Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and UNESCO-IHE in the Netherlands. He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Water and Sanitation from the University of Cape Coast and later pursued a post-graduate project management program from the Institute of Project Management Professionals Ghana, where he was certified as Project Management Consultant. Prior to joining Global Brigades Ghana, Emmanuel worked at Training Research and Networking for Development (TREND) as Water Supply/Sanitary Engineer, where he led a team of Engineers and other professionals to implement several governmental and non-governmental projects successfully in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). While in TREND, he was promoted to the position of WASH Project Officer based on his professional project management capabilities and experiences. Emmanuel has a nurtured passion, interest and motivation in WASH related projects, especially in organisations that have mandate close to his career goals and direct bearing in providing safedrinking water and access to improved sanitation facilities for the underserved communities and the vulnerable in society. He is married, committed to family life and blessed with two children.

Edgar Adda

Edgar joined Global Brigades Ghana in August 2018 as Operations Manager. Having spent the early parts of his life in the Northern part of Ghana where poverty is predominant, Edgar has committed his life to working with organizations with the mission to improve the lives of the rural poor. He wants to see a world where everybody irrespective of race, education, geographical location, or gender has access to the basic necessities of life. Having worked with various development projects in Northern and southern parts of Ghana, Edgar has many years of experience in development.  He currently supports country operations of Global Brigades in Ghana by ensuring all the necessary structures and logistics are provided for effective Brigade and other program execution. Prior to joining Global Brigades, Edgar served as National Coordinator for Fair Trade Ghana Network, a Network that supports Fair trade certified producers in Ghana. He has a Master of Arts Degree in Migration Studies from the University of Ghana,  a Post Graduate Certificate in International Development Studies from the University of Oslo, Norway, and a Certificate in Project Planning and Management from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration(GIMPA).

Monica Aidoo

Monica Aidoo is one of the original team members who helped found Global Brigades Ghana back in 2011.  Monica earned her degree in education at the University of Education, Wenneba.  She has worn many hats in her career:  teacher, entrepreneur, manager of her own business, waitress at one of the biggest hotels in Ghana, and of course, a coordinator for Global Brigades.  Her teaching skills are apparent on each and every brigade that Monica leads in Ghana.  In addition to teaching, Monica is also very passionate about the sustainable development that Global Brigades is making in her community.  She is inspired by the empowerment of Global Brigades' staff, volunteers, and communities we serve. In her free time, Monica loves cooking for her family, teaching young children at school, dancing and singing with her students, and spending time with her family.

John Aryee

John is an industrious person who has over 11 years of work experience, including social work, public and vested land management, production editing, advertising and brand identity design, and computer software and hardware instruction. John holds a Bachelor of Technology in Communication Design and a Higher National Diploma in Commercial Arts from Takoradi Technical University. He also holds a Certificate in Budget Advocacy and Analysis, Diploma in Computer Software, and Diploma in Computer Hardware, all from the Central Automation Systems Computer Training Institute. As a staff member, John first worked as a Brigade Interpreter in June 2011, to facilitate relationships between brigade volunteers and community participation, and assist Program Coordinators and Facilitators. In March 2012, he was promoted to the position of Brigade Coordinator, in which he fostered an internal culture of empowerment, open communication, and collaboration during and between brigades. John maintains regular communication with Program Managers and officers to communicate the successes of in-country programs. Monitoring program successes and challenges in quantitative studies, and maintaining a positive attitude, and striving towards constant improvement. John says, "Global Brigades has been a great experience for me, as I always wanted to work with an organization where I could be a part of empowering others."  

Freda Appiah

Freda holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Cape Coast and she is currently in the final stage of qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana. Prior to joining Global Brigades in Ghana she worked as an Administrative & Finance officer with the Insurance Brokerage firm Ascoma Ghana Limited, and later as Credit Officer in a Community Cooperative Credit Union. Freda became  interested in Global Brigades due to her desire to be part of a young team that enables her to make use of her creativity and initiative to contribute to a better life for the underprivileged.

Charles Asante

Charles has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Resources Management from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology- Kumasi. Prior to joining Global Brigades Ghana, Charles worked in a non-governmental organization coordinating various projects of Natural Resources Conservation in the Western Region of Ghana where a bulk of Ghana’s forest exist. His contribution as Field Coordinator for a World Bank sponsored program led to the formation of a successful Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) in Enchi. Charles brings extensive knowledge in community projects and data collection to the Global Brigades team.  Charles enjoys researching, reading Christian literature and hanging out with friends.

Emmanuel Yorke

Bio coming soon.

Fortune Omega

Bio coming soon.

Kyriakos Halaris

Bio coming soon...

Tina Voulgari

Tina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the Athens University (Greece) and a Master of Arts in Marketing Communications from Bournemouth University (UK). She is the Executive Director of Global Brigades Greece, working with the local GB team, the Greek Health Department and other partners to provide primary health care for asylum seekers at refugee camps in Greece. Prior to working for Global Brigades, Tina worked for College Year in Athens, where among other duties, she helped US students volunteer with various NGOs supporting refugees and migrants in Greece. Tina enjoys spending most of her free time close to the nature, practicing yoga, scuba diving, hiking, and rock climbing.

Dr. Maria Daniil

Bio coming soon...

Eddy Tian

Bio coming soon.

Oscar Fajardo

Oscar joined Global Brigades in January 2014 as a translator in Honduras. He fell in love with the organization from his very first brigade in the community of Palo Verde. Despite the rainy, mud, and cold week in Honduras during the Public Health Brigade, he went home happy and realized Global Brigades was what he was looking for. From there, Oscar has grown to wear many hats for the Honduras operations including coordinating brigades, preparing communities as a medical technician, an operations assistant, and supervisor of brigade logistics. Oscar now takes his experience with Global Brigades to the next step as the first Operations Managers for Global Brigades in Guatemala as we expand our operations. Prior to Global Brigades, Oscar studied at Escuela Normal Mixta del Sur in Honduras and graduated as an elementary teacher. He then earned a scholarship to obtain an associate’s degree in electronics and computers at Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. After school, Oscar started work as a production supervisor in United Hospital Services and later as a production supervisor of a new plan for Harlan Bakeries, Inc. We are thrilled to have Oscar’s passion, energy, and operations experience as part of our team. When he is not supporting the work of passionate volunteers and community development, Oscar enjoys watching all kinds of sports in his free time.

Luis Torres

Luis joined Global Brigades Honduras in January 2012 when his first role with a brigade was serving as a driver. Since then, Luis has transitioned to various roles including translator, coordinator, HR Manager, Operations Director, Administrative Director, and in 2016, Executive Director. Luis is passionate about the work that Global Brigades does in our communities and likes being able to make a difference in his home country. Luis graduated from the Catholic University in Honduras with a degree in Finance. He has held previous leadership positions in  the financial sector as he has worked for banks and insurance companies in Honduras. One of his many contributions to the organization was helping expand programs execution to the southern region of the country.

Dr. Jenny Najera

Dr. Nájera joined Global Brigades in the Winter of 2006. Her first Medical Brigade was as a volunteer translating for Doctors. That same year, she then began to work as a temporary employee assisting with Medical Brigades. In November 2010, she was promoted to the Medical Brigades Program Lead, in charge of programming and logistics. She also started establishing relationships with health authorities and developing protocols of safety and security for Global Brigades' volunteers. Prior to joining Global Brigades as a permanent employee, Dr. Nájera worked for the Ministry of Health and a Private Clinic as an attending doctor and for 1 year was the official doctor of Honduran Delegation in international events. Dr. Nájera received her degree as a Medical Doctor in 2005 from the National University of Honduras. She has 2 years of residency in Pediatrics and has participated in several forums and symposiums of vector transmitted diseases (Dengue- Malaria-Chikunguyia and Zika), as well as in various national and international congresses. Dr. Nájera is currently pursuing her Masters in Epidemiology at the Central American Technological University.

David Amador

David Amador has spent most of his professional career in the financial sector in Honduras and Central America beginning with a role as Junior Executive officer in Bancahorro in 1994. By 1996 he became a Senior Executive with the most important portfolio loans in the bank, amounting to $ 85.5 million. In 2000 he was selected to work with the leadership group to management the fusion between the most important banks in Honduras. By 2002 David became the National Branch Manager for Group Promerica in Honduras, overseeing 10 branches with 250 employees under his leadership, between loans, savings, credit cards, and certificates of deposit. At the same time he managed two projects in the bank- implementation of  the electronic bank transactions via website and development of electronic checking accounts for the medium enterprises in Central America where Group Promerica had presence. in 2004, he receive the opportunity to work in the Central America Bank for Economic Integration, and organization considered the most prominent development bank in Central America where David managed  portfolio operations of $108.3 million in three years. In 2007 he moved to United States to live in Naperville, Illinois while his soon received special treatment for an illness. During this time, David worked for the Honduras Consulate in Chicago where he had the opportunity to assist many Honduran immigrants in the Unites States. David returned to Honduras for personal reasons in 2016 and began to worry about the communities in Honduras, thinking of ways to apply is skills and experience to improve lives. He found Global Brigades in March 2017 and joined the team as  Economic Development Director in Honduras. David is a graduate from the National Autonomous University of Honduras in Business Administration, and also holds masters degrees in Business Administration and Financial Corporations. David plans to continue study to receive a doctorate degree in Economics and begin teaching in private universities in Honduras.

Marco Landa

Marco Landa, a civil engineer by trade, brings extensive experience and passion to the Global Brigades team. Marco has worked from fast food franchising in Honduras, in the telecommunications industry as a resident engineer, and  as independent consultant  and project manager. His vast experiences, diligence and passion for his work,  and  commitment bringing access to clean water and sanitation infrastructure community partners make Marco a valuable member of the Global Brigades team. Marco earned a bachelor degree in civil engineering from la Universidad Católica in Honduras.  He has been a lifelong longer committed to furthering his education to positively contribute to his work. Since starting with Global Brigades, Marco has completed his Masters in Business Administration with with a focus on finance. Additionally, he´s completed various additional certifications and courses in areas of positioning and funding in NGOs, total quality management, and water system design. When he is not supporting his team or developing partnerships with his program, Marco enjoys reading, spending time with family, traveling, and trying restaurants that serve international foods.

Ismael Pozo

Bio coming soon.

Wendy Arias

Bio coming soon.

Eduardo Rodriguez

Bio coming soon.

Yeny Martinez

Bio coming soon.

Silas Montaya

Bio coming soon.

Ana Banegas

Bio coming soon.

Carlos Muñoz

Bio coming soon.

Jakobo Nazar

Bio coming soon.

Orlin Rivera

Bio coming soon.

Jose Castejón

Bio coming soon.

Joaquin Zuniga

Bio coming soon.

Luis Bonilla

Bio coming soon.

Marlon Lemus

Bio coming soon.

Jose Luis Moncada

Bio coming soon.

Reina Cruz

Bio coming soon.

Erik Werner

Erik Werner has been working in Secondary Education and International Community Development for the past thirty years.  With an undergraduate degree in International Relations from Carroll College, he embarked in the Peace Corps in Bolivia '92-'94 where he served as a Small Agriculture and ESL Teacher.  Erik received his M.Ed. from the University of Washington and was a High School educator at the Northwest School in Seattle from '97-'00.  Erik was Director and Owner of Global Works student service travel company from '00-'14 before becoming President and Co-Founder of Squads Abroad, the high school division of the 501c3 international development organization Global Brigades.  Erik is a passionate advocate for and architect of integrative programming for high school students involving global experiential learning and sustainable development.  Erik can be reached anytime at: [email protected]

Dr. Shital Vora

Dr. Shital Vora is Co-Founder and CEO of Global Brigades, overseeing Global Brigades’ human resources and talent programs in addition to administrative policies and University relationships. Prior to dedicating to Global Brigades full time, she had spent 4 years working as a Doctor of Physical Therapy focusing on Orthopedics and Sports Medicine for one of the nation’s largest and most successful orthopedic practices in Chicago. In 2003, while completing her degree at Marquette University, Shital established the very first medical brigade club, which eventually developed into the model that is used today throughout the organization. From one club at Marquette, Shital and the GB leadership team has started over 450 active groups who travel to Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, and Ghana in providing primary health care and education in rural communities. Within Global Brigades, Shital had previously worked as the CEO of Health Programs and Chief Program Officer prior to taking on the human resources role. Shital has spent much of her time abroad with Global Brigades understanding the importance of health in developing countries. She has been actively involved with not only the expansion of the organization, but overall strategies for staff empowerment. Her focus is to involve staff in these strategies not only to provide communities in need, but also challenge the minds of young individuals who are embarking and building on their professional career. Shital is passionate about creating leadership opportunities for all staff, putting people first, and the “human” side of human resources. Shital sits on the Marquette University Health Sciences advisory board, and also has been recognized at Marquette University’s Young Alumnus of the Year in 2009. Shital graduated with high honors at with a degree in Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy as well as her PhD in Orthopedics.

Pallav Vora

Pallav is the Chief Legal Officer for Global Brigades, Inc. and oversees and provides legal support to all Global Brigades entities worldwide. Since joining Global Brigades full-time in 2012, Pallav has served as Global Brigades' General Counsel and works closely with the leadership of all Global Brigades entities to strengthen operations by assessing and managing risk, implementing appropriate practices and controls, and providing advice and counsel on a broad range of legal issues critical to the organization's mission. Pallav also sits on the Board of Directors of Global Brigades Ventures and the International Volunteer Programs Association. Prior to joining Global Brigades, Pallav was an Associate Attorney at the Law Offices of Joseph V. Roddy, where he worked as a litigator on a wide-variety of civil and criminal matters in both state and federal courts, including administrative hearings, civil rights litigation, personal injury, appeals and criminal defense. Pallav received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Richmond, and received his J.D. from John Marshall Law School. He is admitted to practice before the Illinois State Bar and U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Nancy Amador

Nancy joined Global Brigades October 1, 2008 as accountant and administrator for Global Brigades Honduras, she helped on the structure of financial and administrative procedures for the grantee entities and provided support to advising and program associate teams. In January 2013 she was moved to be a part of Global Brigades USA finance team as VP of Finance, in this position she has been working with the bookkeeping for Global Brigades USA, Canada and United Kingdom, she also provides support on the audits for these countries and is now running financial compliance auditors for grantee entities. Nancy received her Bachelor's degree in accounting from the UNAH and a Master's degree in finance from UNITEC. Her previous experiences are all related to accounting, administration and finance and each company that she worked with helped her gain more knowledge as well as long lasting friendships. Global Brigades has been a great experience for her as she always wanted to work with an organization where she could be a part of helping others.

Steven Atamian

Inspired by the potential impact university students could make in rural Honduran communities, Steve helped co-found what would become Global Brigades in 2004. In addition to many programmatic contributions around the holistic model, Steve led GB’s decentralized student-led movement and its strategy for financial sustainability. From 2004-2008, Steve led Global Brigades as a volunteer while employed full-time with Deloitte, where he supported the design and implementation of their corporate social responsibility strategy in the Pacific Southwest region of the United States. In 2007, when Global Brigades was officially registered as a nonprofit in the United States, Steve was named the CEO by the board of directors and served in that position until 2016. Currently, Steve holds the position of Empowerment Officer and splits his time between high level strategy, budgeting, and pushing to maintain the student-led culture that the organization was built upon. Steve is a graduate from the University of Southern California. He resides in Seattle with his wife and baby daughter. Locally, he has contributed as an affiliate faculty member at the University of Washington at Bothell, teaching classes in social entrepreneurship and nonprofit management.

Ben Erker

Ben Erker joined Global Brigades in January 2009 to help develop and coordinate the Water Brigades program in Honduras.  Four the next four years he managed the implementation of numerous clean water projects, while coordinating over sixty Water Brigades.  From 2013 – 2015, Ben worked as Development Program Officer in Honduras, overseeing the operation of the holistic model and its program teams in the country.   Starting in January 2016, Ben began his current position as GB Director of Impact & Evaluation in charge of impact measurement and reporting, program monitoring and evaluation, and supervising local M&E teams in GB’s programming countries. Ben received his B.S. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Bucknell University, which included a semester of study in Perth, Western Australia. During his time at Bucknell Ben made his first of many trips to Honduras which inspired him to further pursue water and sanitation issues in developing countries.  Ben went on to receive his M.S. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of California - Davis focusing on water quality, drinking water and wastewater treatment. While at UC Davis, Ben spent a month in rural Uganda working on sustainable drinking water and sanitation solutions.  Before joining Global Brigades, Ben participated in a wide range of research projects investigating the effect of microorganisms on arsenic concentration in groundwater, small water system treatment techniques, anaerobic digestion of food waste, and evaporation effects of development in watersheds.

Lauren Maitland

Bio coming soon.

Juan David Villegas

Juan David joined Global Brigades in December 2014 as a brigade interpreter, soon after that, he began coordinating business brigades full time with GB. In January 2017, Juan David became the Business Program Manager, overseeing all of the Business program's staff and projects in Panama. Juan David was born and raised in Medellin, Colombia. From an early age, he has been an advocate of the power of financial inclusion and entrepreneurship in transforming people's lives. At the age of 17, he moved to Bournemouth, UK, to study and received his Higher National Diploma degree in Business Studies at MLS Management College, England. In the last 7 years, Juan David has been to 25 countries investigating the impact of business, commerce, and entrepreneurship in economic development worldwide. Juan David holds a certification of Development Project Management by the Interamerican Development Bank and Strategic Managerial Skills Certificate from the Interamerican University of Panama. Fun fact: Juan David's first brigade was actually a Medical brigade which he attended as an interpreter and where by chance there was a business brigade staying at the same lodging facility. After a 5-hour conversation with the former Business Program Manager, Juan David fell in love with the program, canceled a flight to Korea, and changed his career path to dedicate himself to working with economic and social development programs with Global Brigades.

Arman Nadershahi

Arman Nadershahi is an entrepreneur and multi-faceted attorney. Arman co-founded Global Brigades, Inc., as well as several successful medical device startup companies, including one startup that was acquired and another that had an IPO on NASDAQ. Arman also serves as the in-house counsel for the Alfred E. Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California. Arman’s legal expertise includes intellectual property, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, nonprofits, and startups. Earlier in his career, Arman practiced intellectual property law at Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP, where he focused on patent prosecution, licensing, and intellectual property litigation in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Arman graduated with distinction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in Zoology and English Literature. He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School, a Master’s in Biological Science from the University of Minnesota, an MS in Regulatory Science from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, and an MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.

Susan Reynoso

Susan graduated from Universidad Católica de Honduras with a degree in International Relations, Susan has always been passionate about learning and understanding the different relationships that exist between countries and cultures. She is always challenging herself to learn new things.  Another of her biggest passions has always been helping other people. She started volunteering as a medical brigades translator from a very young age and she fell in love with the entire experience.

Dulce Corea

Dulce joined the team in 2021 as a Program Associate based in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. She is a Psychologist with a passion for sustainable development and holistic well-being. With experience in Learning & Development, social responsibility initiatives, and program management, she has seen the profound influence that volunteering work has in creating positive change. Inspired by Global Brigades' holistic approach, Dulce is committed to ensuring inclusivity and leveraging the organization's volunteer programs to empower communities and ensure equitable access for all.

Isabel Ocando

Isabel started working with Global Brigades in March 2025 with her first Squad and then joined the Program Associate team in April. She completed her bachelor's in Psychology and master's in Family Therapy and Stress for Psychologists. Prior to joining Global Brigades, Isabel worked part-time at a Canadian company called My Studio Party as a booking and operations assistant. She has also worked as a research and thesis advisor since 2018 (now in her free time). Isabel is excited to be working with Global Brigades as it aligns with her values. She loves its holistic approach and the fact that it was founded by students, which shows how far a little experience can go. Outside of work, Isabel enjoys spending time with family and friends, meeting new people, reading and going on long walks. Currently, she is working on going hiking on a volcano in Guatemala.

Erika Amador

Erika joined Global Brigades in the summer of 2014 as an accountant assistant providing accounting and financial support for the accounting process making transfers, processing refunds, posting manual transaction on dashboard ans helping with accounting reports. Starting in 2017, Erika is taking responsibility in the Canada and United Kingdom accounting process. Erika received her Accountant degree from the Autonomous National University of Honduras in 2014 and a English Diploma from The National Pedagogical University in 2015. Prior to joining Global Brigades, Erika worked as accounting assistant for a chemical factory. Erika was always interested in working with a company like Global Brigades, which helps people in need.

Claudia Corrales

Claudia came to the organization through a friend who shared an available opportunity with her, she joined Global Brigades on January 1, 2017 as an accountant for Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. Her previous experience was always in the accounting, administrative and human resources areas. She has a degree in accounting and is currently studying a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration at Ceutec in Honduras, her main interests are to finish this degree and English studies which she started this year.

Josue Rios

Bio coming soon.

Karen Fonseca

Karen learned about Global Brigades through a friend and currently works as an accountant, managing the bookkeeping for Global Brigades Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. She earned a Secretary degree at a young age and then in 2010, received her Bachelors Degree in Public Accounting and Finance. Karen has experience working with several companies, mostly in administration. In the future, she would like to obtain a Masters of Human Resources and complete her English studies.

Azeema Fatima

In love with all life everywhere, student of computer science and an eager learner, I always had a passion for helping others any way I could. Using my skill set of tech based work that I was learning and being absolutely mind-blowingly fascinated with the good work being done by people all over the world, I always wanted to join an organization which could provide me an opportunity to utilize my skills for the good. In stepped Global Brigades, big time! GB provided me with an opportunity of my dreams, working alongside the best teams in the world, doing absolutely wonderful soul-fulfilling work. Be it helping the volunteers with their tech based issues, or working alongside the GB family, I keep on growing and every single day proves to be an opportunity to learn something new something wonderful and also be able to feel awesome inside, all the while doing what I love doing and helping others in whatever way I can in this amazing organization determined to make this world a better place, one day at a time. This, for me, is the best feeling in the world!

Pablo Garron

Pablo Garron is a consultant/trainer/facilitator, team player and skilled in management of multicultural staff with over 20 years’ experience in international development. He has worked advising the Panamanian government in establishing the microfinance policy and design the regulations for the Microfinance Development Fund. He worked 12 years for The Peace Corps in Bolivia as master trainer and in Panama as a Program manager and as a Senior Programs Manager. He worked as a business development consultant for the UNDP, IDB. FUNDES, REDPAMIF among other organizations. In 2013, Pablo began working with Global Brigades Panama designing, implementing and monitoring the Microfinance program. In June of 2015, He became GB´s Panama Programs Officer and in January 2017, he was nominated as GB Nicaragua Executive Director. Pablo has a BA in Economics and and a Masters in Business Administration.

Miguel Caceres

Bio coming soon.

Jorge Pinto

Jorge grew up in Santiago de Veraguas, Panama, where he got his Commerce Degree at the Omar Torrijos Herrera Institute. He got his Masters from Universidad de Panamá. Jorge previously worked as a business advisor at two recognized financial institutions in Panama, until he saw the job ad for Global Brigades and decided to join the business program. Jorge enjoys interacting with everyone he meets during his field visits, as well as with his co-workers at the office. He also enjoys seeing the positive impact created in the lives of Community Bank members in each of the communities where Global Brigades works. Jorge has been amazed with the changing mindsets of Community Bank members. He remembers in the beginning while speaking with new members, many said they only earned enough to get by with food, but now they have succeeded in a collective savings of more than $50,000 and more than $65,000 in loans. In Jorge’s free time he enjoys time with his family, reading, and going for walks.

Denis Gaitan

Denis Gaitán has a degree in Social Communication at Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) in Managua. He also has a Master's Degree in Social Policies and Rights for Children and Adolescents from the same university. Before joining the team of Global Brigades Nicaragua, Denis worked in non-governmental organizations coordinating various projects of social communication and promotion of the children and adolescents rights . From the age of 12 he was involved in youth groups focused on issues of citizen participation. He also was a Director of a local community radio station and worked a volunteer program, French-speaking from Québec, Canada with whom he promoted south-north exchanges.

Since May 2015, he has been part of the Global Brigades Nicaragua team where he has worked in different roles, including Public Relations, community organization, and accreditation. Currently, he is the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager.

In his free time Denis enjoys spending time with his son Javier. He loves photography and historical articles of Nicaragua and likes to spend time with friends and family.

Yohana Jimenez

Yohana Jimenez, is our new microfinance technician! She is the former community bank tresurer of the community of Canglon, (and member of the community) one of the fastest-growing cajas in Darien. Her eagerness to learn, dedication and passion to develop the communities through the power of financial inclusion was decisive in order to join the business team of GB Panama. Thanks to the business brigades and the trainings she learned how to manage the finances of her community bank and became one of the best treasurers across the 20 cajas in Panama.

Gregorio Linares

Gregorio Linares was born in the comarca Guna Yala in the community of playón chico (Uggubseni), indigenous territory in Panama. As a child, Gregorio was raised by his parents and grandparents in Panama City as well as Santa Librada, a community in the Darién province. He attended seminary school at La Universidad Santa María La Antigua in Panama City for seven years. His classes also consisted of coursework in social psychology and social work. He then served as a priest in the city and in the comarca Guna Yala where he had to learn his native language of Guna. In 2008, he first encountered Global Brigades in the community of Koshkuna, Veracruz where he was serving as the community secretary. Global Brigades worked with local leadership to begin working on a community store as part of a business brigade and a kitchen for the Baptist church. Before becoming a member of the Global Brigades team, Gregorio worked in various capacities from construction, government surveys, The World Bank, and also as a local consultant for the government institution, MIDES. In 2011, Gregorio was invited to join Global Brigades as a guide and community liaison to ensure that Global Brigades was familiar with each community’s local leadership. Currently, Gregorio is in charge of connecting with each community with whom Global Brigades works to collect information to properly monitor and evaluate each program. Gregorio likes his current role as he can continue strengthening the relationship built on trust and dialogue between communities and Global Brigades so we can all work as a team. His favorite sports include chess, ping pong and volleyball. He also enjoys listening to instrumental music in his free time.

Evidelia Martinez

Evidelia grew up in the community of Rio Pavo in the Darién province. Before she was with Global Brigades, she worked as a promoter for Avon cosmetics to coordinate traveling salespeople. Evidelia first learned of Global Brigades when they came to work with the cooperative in Platanilla. She was an active member of the cooperative and worked with Global Brigades in some of their first projects. She remembers meeting another field technician and was put in touch with the business program team members for a position. One of Evidelia’s first well-known phrases with the business team was “Don’t worry. I will be on time. Even if it rains and the river rises, I’ll be there.” Evidelia enjoys going to work each day to see the growth and development in all the communities that have established their Community Banks and what the bank members have accomplished with their credit. In her free time, Evidelia enjoys visiting her family and writing.

Keyla Mendoza

Keyla grew up in the community of Platanilla in the province of Panamá Este. There she attended primary school and went to the nearby town of Torti for high school. Also in Torti, is a satellite branch of the University of Panama where she received her degree in technical studies. Before Global Brigades, Keyla worked in the Informatics and Training Center in Torti. She was living in Platanilla when she was contracted to do a baseline survey for Global Brigades in 2014. She was trained how to conduct the household survey and then continued to visit other communities for Global Brigades to gather more information. Later she was officially offered the opportunity to join Global Brigades as a technician on the Monitoring and Evaluation team where she continues to work on projects to gather community insights through household surveys and personal interviews. Keyla enjoys meeting people from different communities. In her free time she is dedicated to her children and family.

Aiby Wendy Ardila

Wendy joined Global Brigades in the summer of 2012 originally as a part-time employee, but soon she began working full time for the Accounting team in Panama. She was drawn to the multicultural environment and the diversity of people that supported one another in the organization. Being able to support the mission the organization has with both indigenous communities in Panama and with volunteers that come from other countries has been highly energizing for Wendy. Although, her work is mostly focused on the administrative side of the organization she has had various opportunities to visit communities. She remembers one time when she was in the community of Metetí for an informal celebration with community members. She was nervous to try an unfamiliar beverage and then learned it was tamarindo or known in English as tamarind. She was very touched at the hospitality and generosity of communities that are said to have so little in resources, but are always delighted to share with visitors. Wendy was born and grew up in Columbia and has been in Panama for the last 10 years. She is currently in her fourth and final year at the University of Panama to earn a degree in Applied Informatics. Each day in Global Brigades brings with it new experiences and Wendy looks forward to what lies ahead.

Manuel Quintero

Bio coming soon.

Imaira Chiari

Bio coming soon.

Sydney Waddington

Sydney Waddington holds a BSc (Hons) in Neurobiology-Psychology from the University of Victoria and is a committed advocate for health equity, as demonstrated by her various philanthropic and professional roles with health organizations. In these positions, Syd promotes collaboration and the application of leading practices, firmly believing in the power of an organized and adaptable team. In 2018, Syd had the privilege of participating in a one-year overseas volunteer placement, which taught her the purposeful impact of a strong and benevolent global community—an experience that continues to inspire her work in championing Global Brigades Canada's mission. In her downtime, Syd enjoys connecting with nature through running and ocean swimming, exploring new disciplines like philosophy and the arts, and immersing herself in other cultures through travel and learning new languages.

Amanpreet Dhillon

Bio coming soon...

Theoren Goosney

Growing up in a small town in Newfoundland, Theoren moved to Vancouver to attend the University of British Columbia, where he obtained his BASc in Engineering Physics and competed as a varsity swimmer. He currently resides in Dartmouth, NS where he works remotely as the Lead Mechanical Designer for two technology design companies in Toronto. His interests outside of work include real estate investing & construction, travelling, camping, spending time with friends and family, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Theoren travelled to Honduras in 2016 with the Memorial University of Newfoundland water brigade. He quickly understood the importance of the work of Global Brigades, and how much it empowered the members of so many communities in Honduras. He returned in 2017 in order to continue helping those in the country, and was able to go back to Cuscateca to see the progress that the community and the citizens had made since he was there the summer prior. After working on his professional career for a number of years and through COVID, Theoren has joined the Board of Directors to help grow the organization and inspire the next generation of brigaders to begin helping individuals and communities in Honduras and other countries around the world.

Cindy Zhang

Cindy first became involved with Global Brigades in 2019 when she joined the chapter at the University of Toronto. Intrigued by GB's holistic model and mission, she worked in a variety of roles from Outreach Director to Campus Chairperson, and even Media Coordinator where she published media content to spread awareness about ethical volunteering and sustainable development. She is delighted to continue working on upcoming fundraisers with GB Canada! After leading her first Brigade to Honduras in 2022, she decided to continue her interest in public health education and will pursue an MPH in the upcoming academic year. She is deeply passionate about helping everyone achieve their desired level of health using community-based approaches. Cindy is currently working in a cardiovascular clinic in Toronto. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, baking, thrifting, and socializing with friends.

Aparna Karthikeyan

Aparna began volunteering with Global Brigades in 2019 at the University of Guelph. During her four years with the medical chapter, she served as the Finance and Fundraising Representative, followed by Chapter President in her final year. In 2022, she took on the responsibilities of Campus Chairperson, working to build a Public Health and Dental chapter as well as leading the Eastern Student Leadership Conference. She also led the chapter on medical brigades to Greece in 2022 and Guatemala in 2023. She is currently studying medicine at Saba University School of Medicine. She graduated from the University of Guelph in 2023 with a BSc in Neuroscience. Driven by Global Brigades' commitment to sustainability, Aparna hopes to integrate the holistic model of care in her role as a future physician.

David Shamala

David Shamala is an experienced Human Resource Practitioner with expertise in board governance for non-profit organizations and civil societies. He has successfully supported multiple projects focused on gender equality, climate change, poverty reduction, and human rights, working with diverse stakeholders such as local communities, donors, partners, and media. He is also involved in organizational and community development initiatives. David received his Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (BCom) specializing in Human Resources Management from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. He is currently a Master of Business Administration (MBA) candidate at the University of New Brunswick. He has held various executive leadership and board membership positions with different organizations. He has experience in human resource management, strategic planning, fundraising, project management, financial oversight, and startup initiatives. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds certifications in Resource Mobilization and Management.

Reena Tandon

Bio coming soon...

Mark Wong

Mark Wong is a graduate in medical sciences from the University of Alberta. Originally from the Philippines, he witnessed healthcare inequalities firsthand and strongly resonates with Global Brigades' mission to address these gaps sustainably and effectively. Global Brigades' programs offer long-term solutions tailored to the needs of communities, driven by their unique holistic model. Mark's journey with Global Brigades began in 2022 when he co-founded the University of Alberta’s first-ever brigade, the Medical Brigades. Inspired by this experience and the holistic approach of Global Brigades, he assumed the role of Campus Chairperson in 2023. In this capacity, he facilitated the creation of two additional successful chapters: the Business Brigades and the Dental Brigades, where he served as a co-lead. He was also a member of the Student Leadership Conference committee and presented on the importance of ethical volunteering in 2024. Mark is grateful for the opportunity to continue contributing as [role here] on the Board of Directors and is excited about the future of Global Brigades Canada. Professionally, Mark works at the Kurata Lab, researching potassium channels associated with severe epileptic encephalopathy. He also contributes to Global Brigades Canada in various roles, including Alumni Relations Coordinator, Onboarding Officer, and Educational Program Designer. Looking ahead, Mark aims to pursue a diverse career in healthcare. Outside of his professional pursuits, he enjoys graphic arts, hiking, running, and bouldering.

Julia Hossne

Julia first got to know about Global brigades at a society fair at Dalhousie University in 2019, where GB's mission and holistic model sparked her interest in becoming part of this student-led movement. After participating in her first Medical Brigade in Guatemala, Julia decided to start a public health chapter on her campus. In 2023, she assumed the role of Campus Chairperson, where she assisted new volunteers in creating their campus's first Dental Chapter, as well as organizing and hosting the East Coast Student Leadership Conference of that same year. She says that some of the aspects that make Global Brigades such a great organization are the excellent partnership between GB and their country communities and staff, their transparency regarding the use of resources and donations, and the long-lasting impact each brigade has on both their partner communities and their student volunteers. Julia graduated with a double major in Psychology and Biology and currently works as a research assistant in a psychology lab. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, painting, and going indoor climbing with friends.

Kate Starr

Kate graduated from Queen's University with a Bachelor of Health Sciences in 2024, specializing in Global and Population Health. She began volunteering with Global Brigades in September 2020, participating in two TeleBrigades and leading an in-person medical brigade to Honduras in 2023 as Chapter President. Throughout her time at Queen's, she served as Chapter Co-President for three years, demonstrating her dedication to promoting sustainable and holistic health practices. In 2024, Kate became a Student Board Member on the Global Brigades Canada Board of Directors, where she co-heads the Finance Subcommittee. Her passion for sustainable health practices and her leadership experience make her a valuable contributor to the organization. As a future health professional, Kate is interested in building meaningful relationships with communities, taking on leadership roles in health organizations, and continuing her involvement in global health projects. She is dedicated to addressing health disparities and mentoring future leaders in the field.

Yoorim Lee

Yoorim is an undergraduate student at The University of Toronto, pursuing a double major in Cell & Systems Molecular Biology and Human Biology, along with a minor in Finnish Language Studies. Her journey with Global Brigades began in the summer of 2022. She participated in the Medical Brigade in Honduras, organized by The University of Toronto Global Brigades Student Chapter. The immersive volunteering experience profoundly impacted her to identify her new passion. It broadened her perspective, exposing her to diverse cultures and socio-economic realities. Motivated by the experience in Honduras, Yoorim has continued her involvement with Global Brigades for the past two years, merging her artistic passion and leadership skills by taking on roles such as Director of Marketing and Design, and Campus Chairperson within The University of Toronto Global Brigades Student Chapter. She has joined the Boards of Directors to enrich with diverse insights from the student body and deepen her commitment by advocating for the significance of collective actions locally and globally through the holistic model of Global Brigades.

Dr. Shaswath Ganapathi

Shaswath is the Chairperson for Global Brigades UK. He is currently on a fellowship year in the National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellowship Scheme 24/25 and is working with Bupa. He studied medicine at the University of Birmingham, completed an intercalated BSc in Health Management and Leadership during his undergraduate studies, and has completed a Health Professional Education PGCertification. He aims to build a career in Ophthalmology and scale his clinical impact, both in the UK and in under-resourced countries by leveraging his interests in use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, education, leadership and management and continued links with Global Brigades. Shaswath first became involved in Global Brigades in 2019, with a medical brigade to Honduras. He went on to work as the Campus Chairperson of the University for the next two years and took up a board position in August 2021. He is excited to grow the student leader community in the UK and expand into new campuses. Shaswath is passionate about Global Brigades’ sustainable model to empower and improve lives in partner communities. He believes that students in the UK will be able to make a big impact through their involvement in brigades, and will also deepen their understanding of the global economic and social circumstances, and the importance of working collaboratively with local professionals and communities in delivering a sustained impact. He also hopes that following a brigade, with mentorship throughout the year, students will have developed transferable skills for their future careers and will be inspired to continue being involved in global development throughout their careers.

Georgia Maddy-Powell

Georgia is currently in her fourth year of medical school at King’s College London. Her involvement with Global Brigades started in 2024 when she went on the Medical Brigade to Ghana with her university. Since then she joined the committee at her university as Treasurer and developed her financial management skills. Since going on the Brigade last year, she has been very passionate about getting more people involved in GB at her university and now as a UK Board Member she can’t wait to work with the amazing team to make an even bigger impact in the next few years.

Gianmarco Iannello

Gianmarco is currently Treasurer & Trustee for Global Brigades UK.  Based in London, Gianmarco works at Permira – a growth-oriented global Private Equity firm – as an Investment Professional, focusing on large cap buyouts and minority investments within Fintech and tech-enabled B2B services industries. Prior to Permira, he worked at Perella Weinberg Partners, in the M&A and Restructuring advisory practice, covering Technology, Media and Telecom clients. Outside of work, Gianmarco is a volunteer for the Social Business Trust, a UK charity that provides grants and business advice to established social enterprises with the aim of supporting their growth and helping them to achieve greater social impact. His involvement with Global Brigades started in 2012, when he participated in the UCL Microfinance brigade in Ghana. He has been on the Global Brigades UK Board since August 2021. Gianmarco holds a degree in Economics from University College London, and is a proud UWC alumnus (UWCAD ’08-’10).

Jess Woodrow

Jess is currently a Trustee for Global Brigades UK. She studied Law at the University of Exeter, and is currently working as a Trainee Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell LLP. Jess will commence her SQE prep in August 2024 at the University of Law, with the aim of qualifying as a Solicitor by 2026. Jess first became involved with Global Brigades in 2021 when she attended a TeleBrigade to Honduras amidst the pandemic. She went on to become Exeter’s Campus Chairperson, and organised two legal brigades, before taking up a board position in January 2024. Jess is looking forward to building the Global Brigades student community and expanding into other universities across the UK.

Ellie Stubley

Ellie first joined the University of Birmingham Global Brigades Society in October 2019, attending her first Brigade, a Medical Brigade to Honduras, in August 2022. During her time at Birmingham, Ellie was Co-Fundraising Representative for Global Brigades. While volunteering in Honduras, Ellie collected data for an independent research project on menstrual health and community attitudes. While studying at the University of Oxford, Ellie started a Global Brigades Legal Society and attended as Chapter Leader a Legal Empowerment Brigade to Greece.

Nazim Zaim

Nazim is a 4th year medical student at King's College London, originally from Cyprus. He completed an intercalated degree in Pharmacology iBSc, graduating with a high 2:1 in 2024. In his spare time, he actively pursues music production, and playing the guitar, having completed Grade 8 ABRSM exams for classical guitar. Coming into contact with Global Brigades in 2022, he attended his first Medical Brigade in June 2023 in Ghana. Nazim could not have predicted that the year long of fundraising, the tedious visa applications, and the long flights would end up giving him one of the most empowering and joyful weeks of his life. Nazim became the campus chairperson of KCL in the following academic year. Driven by the fire lit inside him from his previous brigade experience, he followed up to organize another brigade in Ghana, which took place in June 2024. Seeing the true impact of setting up a brigade, and re-living the surreal experience of a brigade is something that he will forever cherish. Starting from September 2024, Nazim joined the GB UK Board, in the role of Expansion and Development Director, with an objective to reach out to university campuses that do not currently have GB on board. Through setting up a GB internship, in collaboration with other team members, Nazim hopes to empower individuals to set up their own campuses in their respective universities, and to grow Global Brigades within the UK.

Samahat Ahmed

Samahat is a second-year medical student completing an MBBS at Kent and Medway Medical School. She previously worked as a student volunteer lead for a national medical book club for the social enterprise MedicMentor. MedicMentor looks to combat educational inequalities by increasing access to Medicine via university application support. She first came into contact with Global Brigades as Co-Campus Chair for the University of Kent. They went on a Medical Brigade in the summer of 2023. It was gratifying to learn about limited-resource healthcare from an international team and experience a new culture. Especially since her dream is to become a humanitarian doctor. The organization’s work stands out in every sector of global development as it’s underpinned by empowering communities worldwide to grow their infrastructure sustainably. Samahat is excited to work with student leaders who are passionate about propagating global change. Outside of Global Brigades, she volunteers for the charity StreetDoctors, providing first-aid training to children across the UK. StreetDoctors aims to equip the youth in the face of the UK’s knife crime epidemic and street violence. Samahat also serves in a food truck for people experiencing homelessness locally with some cool neighborhood aunties. She loves going home to Bangladesh, spending time with loved ones, eating out and dancing.

Emily Jones

Emily first became involved in Global Brigades as a Co-campus chair for the Kent and Medway Medical School, when she was able to go on her first Medical Brigade to Honduras in 2023. She then went to Ghana in 2024 on a Medical Brigade. Emily is in her final year of medical school and hopes to work in the humanitarian field when she is a qualified doctor. She is excited to work with this year’s campus chairs to support them to go on their brigades. Global Brigades stands out as a sustainable charity which helps community’s to develop in all areas.

Samah Ramsi

Samah is currently a 4th year medical student at King's College London. Having been on her first Medical Brigade to Ghana in 2024, she joined her university's committee as a Social Media Officer. Following this, she became involved with the GB UK board and managing their social media platforms. Samah has an interest in emergency medicine and acute care, hoping to specialise in this once she graduates.

Dr. Duffy Casey

Bio coming soon.

Catherine Berman

Over the past decade Catherine Berman has co-founded several successful mission-driven ventures, including Deloitte Center for Leadership & Community, the Information Technology Consortium and most recently, Global Brigades – the world’s largest student development organization.  In the past, Catherine maintained a host of management positions, including Chief Executive Officer, GB Panama, Strategy and Operations Manager at Deloitte Consulting, LLP, Director of Marketing at Redefining Progress and Vice President of Evins Communications, LLC. Her international work experience spans from India to Israel with extensive work in Central and South America. Catherine graduated magna cum laude from Boston University and received her MBA from Oxford University, England, where she founded the Oxford Women in Business Network.

Dr. Angelo Passalacqua

At Global Brigades, Angelo has been co-founder, Treasurer and President of Global Brigades in the UK.  While President, he oversaw the growth of the UK organization from 3 to 23 volunteers and donations of over £380,000.  At the association level, Angelo was integral in devising the methodology and conducting the analysis for assessing country risk in Africa, ultimately leading Global Brigades to expand to Ghana. He has also contributed to the association’s SWOT analysis. Angelo is currently the General Manager of a translation agency in Chicago, USA.  Previously, he was a management consultant for the healthcare industry, helping Pharma price and valuate potential medication, and held a teaching positions at King’s College London and the North China Institute of Science & Technology.  He is a certified ISO 9001:2004 Lead Auditor, Associate at the Higher Education Academy and holds a PhD in Biostatistics and BSc in Management.  Angelo speaks English and Spanish fluently and maintains conversational fluency in Mandarin and French.

Gabriela Valencia

Gabriela is based in Panama City, where she currently works as Executive Director of Fundacion Calicanto. A community-driven and non-governmental organization working to reduce gender-based violence and economic insecurity in Panama City. She holds a certificate degree in Nonprofit Management and recently earned accreditation to teach Architecture Design at the University of Panama. Through the years, she has had the opportunity of leading several community-led development initiatives while managing the cultural and non-traditional learning experience of over 3,000 students from around the world. In the past, Gabriela maintained the position of Operations Manager and Executive Director at GB Panama. Gabriela received her B.A. in Architecture from the University of Panama and a Master’s degree from Ball State University, Indiana, studies she was able to conduct by earning a Fulbright Scholarship in 2007.

Alex Dang

Bio coming soon.

Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird is a Senior Manager at Deloitte & Touche. In his spare time he advises nonprofits on growing their revenues through the application of leading edge business marketing practices. Andrew has over 30 years of experience in complex project management, marketing strategy, leading diverse teams, and developing future leaders. He is the co-author of the bestseller “Putting the Profit in Nonprofit! 5 Power Fundraising Strategies for Nonprofits.” He currently serves on the Board of Global Brigades USA. He earned his BS in Business Administration from New York University, an MBA from Loyola University, and an MA in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.

Dr. Toby Peters

Dr. Toby Peters has been involved with the mission of Global Brigades since its inception at Marquette University. He served as an advisor to the group of students that journeyed to Honduras for the first medical brigades. He has traveled to Honduras and Nicaragua on numerous occasions participating in medical, public health, and water brigades. Additionally, he has assisted his wife, Dr. Mary Kay Ellis, an ophthalmologist, staff vision stations with the medical brigades in Honduras for the last two years. During his career in higher education at Marquette and Syracuse Universities he served the students and institution in the areas of administrative and student services, student affairs, academic affairs, and auxiliary services. Toby’s leadership background in administrative, consulting, and faculty roles provide him a unique blend of experiences that he enjoys bringing to and sharing in a learning environment. He received a Doctorate in Educational Policy and Leadership from Marquette University and a MBA and a BS degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. As a faculty member at Marquette University he designed and taught Organizational Behavior courses featuring a blended learning management system. He focused on many of the areas of organizational behavior and development including; challenges for managers, motivation at work, learning and performance management, stress and well-being, communication, work teams and groups, leadership and followership, conflict and negotiations, organizational culture, and managing change. Toby served as the Associate Senior Vice President at Marquette University. Under his auspices, he had the responsibility of leading hundreds of employees ranging from entry level to senior executives. He managed high level projects including serving as liaison with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation during the six-year reconstruction of the Marquette Interchange that bordered on three sides of the university. He also served as the co-chair during the university’s assessment of institutional effectiveness that led to a successful reaffirmation of accreditation. Through these experiences, Toby managed conflict, communications, negotiations, and strategic planning, all while promoting a strong and cohesive team. Toby also has expertise in emergency management planning having led response teams and managed the planning and execution of the exercises. He was also charged with identifying means to maximize resources to provide better service through efficiency, productivity, and quality improvements. He implemented process improvement assessments through Value Stream Mapping and Lean Management principles. He has consulted on a variety of topics including: assessment, strategic planning, construction, organization structure and review. In addition, he has presented and published on topics including transformational and servant leadership, retention, development, assessment, volunteerism, cultural competence, construction, renovation, unrelated business income taxes (UBIT), unfair competition, and Ignatian pedagogy and spirituality. In 2014 he earned the honor of Loaned Executive of the Year for United Way of Greater Milwaukee for his assistance and service with the annual community fundraising campaign. In Milwaukee, he is a board member for InTandem, a local theater production organization. He was a board member with Variety Children’s Charity of Wisconsin and a regular volunteer at the United Community Center serving the Latino population of Milwaukee. Toby is now a faculty member at the Federal Executive Institute within the Center for Leadership Development for the federal government.

Jason Hirsch

Jason is a medical student at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He earned his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University in 2021 with a B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience. He started volunteering with Global Brigades in September 2018 and went on two in-person medical brigades, to Panamá in 2019 and Honduras in 2020, which he led as Chapter President. He played a central role in organizing our 2021 Student Leadership Conference where he led discussions on ethical volunteering and chapter best practices. He served as Northeastern’s Campus Chairperson his senior year and is currently serving as one of our Student Board Representatives until Autumn 2023. He is committed to amplifying the student voice in this role. He can identify with many of our pre-health undergraduate volunteers, which helps guide his input in board meetings. As a future physician, he is interested in cultivating meaningful relationships with his patients, taking on a leadership role at an academic medical center, and remaining actively involved in community health. He is most passionate about narrowing the barriers to care in the community as well as teaching and mentoring future healthcare leaders.

Dr. Richard Lee

Inspired from volunteering with Global Brigades, Richard has pursued a career in health care. He works as a clinical pharmacist, pharmacology professor, biotechnology manager, and biomedical entrepreneur. He has volunteered and led multiple brigades from the University of Washington (UW). As campus chairperson, he helped develop a professional school-focused brigade program with the UW School of Pharmacy leading interdisciplinary trips alongside diverse healthcare disciplines in Central America and Western Africa. He currently serves on the Global Brigades Board of Directors as a student representative to continue the movement to support students and patients globally. Richard is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Pharmacy with focused training in global health, health economics, clinical trials and has earned an MBA Technology Entrepreneurship Certificate. Richard has completed fellowship training in technology commercialization with CoMotion, Amazon.com, and the National Science Foundation (NSF). His work with Global Brigades has inspired him to address health care disparities by increasing access to medications for all patients with technology, through MedsForAll. His current research focus includes population health, telehealth, oncology, gene therapy, and pharmacy practice. Current projects of interest include supporting COVID19 vaccination efforts. He plans on leading a brigade with a focus on needs assessment, health capacity building, and the implementation of COVID19 vaccination programs for at-need communities that desire access to vaccines.

Cassie Laibly

Cassie is a Masters of Public Health student at the Medical College of Wisconsin and aspiring medical school candidate.  Cassie has participated via Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin the the following roles: January 2019 Medical/Dental Brigade - brigader, May 2019 Dental brigade - brigader, January 2020 Medical/Dental/Water brigade - leader, January 2021 Medical Telebrigade - leader, May 2022 Medical/Dental Brigade - leader. With her student leadership team, Cassie launched her Medical Brigades chapter's first local brigade project in Milwaukee in December 2020, where they donated over 600 homeless kit care bags to our Milwaukee community. Cassie led this while simultaneously continuing to support Global Brigades' new Telebrigades initiative. Cassie believes that leadership must be multidisciplinary, especially when working with an organization like Global Brigades. She states that “allowing individuals who have not only witnessed, but also experienced Global Brigades through different viewpoints is essential to allow this organization to continue to grow and empower the lives of individuals in our world. In a world that often lacks representation in leadership, I believe that this position fits my goals, as a female leader in my community.” We are thrilled to have Cassie on the GB USA Board as one of our student board representatives.