Welcome to Around the World in SDGs, a podcast series by the Inter Council Network that explores the sustainable development goals through those on the ground researching, collaborating, creating solutions in meeting the goals. Stories and analysis from content and context experts will inspire and inform listeners. You will hear from nonprofits, civil societies, academics, and community leaders.
Nour Hamayel is the Gender and Inclusion officer at the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) – GRIT project located in Ramallah, Palestinian Territories. Before joining the GRIT team, Nour worked for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supporting the economic empowerment of Palestinian women and youth. She then pursued her Master’s degree in international political theory at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Nour is very passionate about women’s rights and is committed to empowering Palestinian women to realize their rights and build their resilience.
Diana has accumulated diverse experience analyzing the financial and operational situation in different sectors and industries, from having worked in big companies like Chrysler and Dupont, as well as in start-ups and entrepreneurial projects. This led her to understand the details of the day-to-day execution and create a strategy according to the company main objectives.
Aída is an international migration specialist focused on returnees, refugees, and displaced populations. She has eight years of relevant experience in managing and implementing public policy and development programs for migrant communities.
Fakhira Najib is currently the Managing Director of Power Radio FM99 and the Chief Executive Officer of the POWER99 Foundation. She has conceptualized, developed, and is currently implementing many educational programs including Broad Class: Listen to Learn – an Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) program for teaching English as a Second Language to children in public schools in Pakistan. She has also conceptualized, produced, and broadcasted programs on education, reproductive health, women entrepreneurship, and more than 200 programs on human rights. An educationist by profession, she has worked on programs focused on enhancing the professional skills of public-school teachers and University faculty, developing intergenerational family literacy components which equip parents of first-generation school-goers with literacy and math skills to aid their involvement in their children’s learning journeys. Their innovative program ‘Broad Class: Listen to Learn’ has been recognized in national and international forums. Learn more about Fakhira and the Power99 Foundation here.
Dr. Meghna Ramaswamy (PhD) is the Director of the International Office at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, where she leads a team to advance the implementation of the university’s internationalization plan known as the International Blueprint for Action 2025. Meghna has a special interest in the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and serves as an executive committee member, Co-Chair of the North American Zone of Knowledge, and Co-Chair of the Institutional Award Committee for Internationalization at the Commission of International Initiatives at the Association of Public Land Universities. As a steering committee member of the International Relations Learning Community at the Canadian Bureau of International Education, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities Higher Education and SDGs Network, she advances global cooperation and dialogue on the SDGs. In 2020, she contributed to Accelerating education for the SDGs in universities — a guide from the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
Leisa, the founder of Women’s Global Health Innovations, is an entrepreneur, innovator, and advocate for global gender equality. For over 30 combined years, she has worked in healthcare, product, and grassroots program research and development. Leisa founded Women’s Global Health Innovations, a social enterprise, in 2013 with a mission to develop accessible, affordable, safe, environmentally low impact, innovative menstrual, sexual and reproductive health products inclusive with education and entrepreneurial mentorship programs tailored for the most marginalized adolescent girls and young women globally. Leisa is the developer of the innovative physically antibacterial menstrual cup, the Bfree Cup. In partnership with local organizations in Uganda, Colombia and Kenya, the Bfree Cup is already positively impacting the lives of many girls and women facing social, economic and cultural barriers to managing their periods with dignity.
COMING SOON
Fredrick Wangabo Mwenengabo is a Canadian peace and civil rights advocate of Congolese origin who twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He represents civil society organizations working for democracy, peace and development at the United Nations, and he is an observer at both the European Union and African Union.
Amb. Mwenengabo is a champion for peace, rule of law and equality in his native country of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and throughout the world. He has spoken in numerous peace and human rights conferences including those at the United Nations and the African Union. He is an advocate who has been arrested, kidnapped and tortured because of his human rights work and his stand against injustices in and outside his country of birth (DRC). On March 5, 2012, he launched a 48-day hunger strike to raise awareness about human rights issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in the Canadian government and other Francophonie nations taking a more prominent role in the peace process in Congo. From 2010 to 2013, he was a part-time lecturer for the Faculty of Anthropology and International Development at the University of New Brunswick. From his arrival in Canada in 2009 to April 2012, he worked with the Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc. in various positions. Other organizations that he has worked with include Amnesty international, Human rights Solidarity Network initiated, United Nations, Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice and Caritas International.
Julian is a Gender Justice and women’s rights expert with extensive experience working with development and human rights organizations. She is a Human Rights Lawyer with a deep passion for Gender equality and women’s empowerment. Currently, she serves at World Renew – A Christian based International Development and Humanitarian organization working in 19 countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
Eddy Pérez joined Climate Action Network Canada in January 2018 after working in Geneva with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and as a Climate Action Network International consultant. He is the International Climate Diplomacy Manager at Climate Action Network Canada. Eddy is a lecturer at the University of Montreal and teaches Climate justice and international cooperation. Eddy is an expert on climate diplomacy, analyzing and monitoring international climate negotiations, particularly on climate finance matters.
He chairs the G7 Climate and Energy WG within the G7 Global Taskforce. He sits on the Canadian Domestic Advisory Group (CEDAG) for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Eddy holds a Master of Science degree from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique du Québec (INRS). Eddy loves poetry and attributes part of his passion for climate justice to the work of Eduardo Galeano. One of his favourite quotes from this author is: “Recordar, from the Latin records, to pass back through the heart.”
Chris has served as the Executive Director of CPAWS Yukon since March 2016. He has a passion for nature and feels privileged to be able to help protect it for future generations. He recognizes that conservation can only be successful when it’s done in a good way, together with First Nations, Inuit and Metis people.
A native of Australia, Chris has lived in Whitehorse since 2012 and previously worked as Executive Director of BYTE – Empowering Youth Society, an organization that works with youth in the Yukon’s First Nations communities. Chris has a Masters Degree in Commerce (International Business) from Swinburne University in Melbourne and has worked in non-profit management since 2008. Chris is friend to a black and white dog called Hutch, who comes to work at the CPAWS office most days.
In his spare time, Chris loves the outdoors and likes to get out backpacking and paddling in the Yukon’s wild spaces. He also loves Leeds United, a football (soccer) team, and the Vancouver Canucks.
Lorraine Netro is from the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, born and raised in Old Crow, Yukon.
Lorraine reached her professional goals in the work force. Lorraine served in leadership roles as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Vuntut Gwitchin (2000 to 2006) and a short term as Deputy Chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. Passionate about issues that impact and affect Vuntut Gwitchin and all Indigenous People, she has served on many Boards and Committees which included the Porcupine Caribou Management Board, as an Alternate on the Arctic Council, as the Vice-President and Director of the Yukon Aboriginal Women’s Council, and has served six years as the Assembly of First Nations Women’s Council representing the Yukon Women, in the position of Vice-Chair of the AFN Women’s Council. She also represents Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation on the Board of Directors of the Gwich’in Steering Committee.
Lorraine is unwavering in her long-standing commitment to her community. She continues to be an advocate for protection of our Sacred Lands, for all future generations.
April Ingham is the Executive Director of Pacific Peoples’ Partnership since 2009 managing projects focused on civil society conflict transformation in Papua New Guinea, including the development of a women’s network, cooperatives, water security, and economic strategies. Also prducing events and environments that connect Indigenous peoples of Canada and the South Pacific while opening space for all that care about Pacific concerns.
April is Co-Chair of Cooperation Canada (formerly CCIC) and is a member of the Indigenous Led Funds working group. She boasts an impressive career and record of service within the non-profit sector, most notably with the First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation, Peace Gallery North, the BC Arts Council, and the BC Museums Association.
Throughout her career, April has successfully managed complex projects in a cross-cultural and multi-stakeholder context. Prior to joining PPP, she worked as Production Manager for the nationally broadcast Indigenous arts and the culture television show “The New Canoe”. She has also credited as part of the development team for the web-based Indigenous language archiving system First Voices.
