Secretariat Team

	Rediet Abiy Programme Manager - Africa As the Program Manager for Africa, I work with partners in different African countries to implement the Aflatoun Programme and work to establish new partnerships in other countries that have not been involved in the programme. I found Aflatoun a magnificent Programme that can help African Children to become agents for change both in their lives and their community at large. I am originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I have B.A. in Sociology from Addis Ababa University and Masters in Development Studies with Specialization in Children and Youth Studies from Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. Before coming to Holland, I worked as a Program Coordinator for a non-profit organization in Ethiopia that works with Orphans and other vulnerable children. I enjoy reading books and listen to Music and love sports particularly football and jogging in the parks of Den Haag.
	Simon Bailey Research Executive As a Research Executive, I am responsible for impact assessment at Aflatoun. We are trying to apply a number of cutting edge tools, like Social Return on Investment and Random Assignment, in our different country programmes. Prior to working at Aflatoun, I worked in the Canadian Parliament, managed social policy pilot programmes in Canada, and researched microinsurance in Bangladesh. I am most interested in policy approaches that are focusing on finding new ways to improve access to public goods and services for low income and at risk individuals. I have a graduate degree in political theory from the London School of Economics and a degree in History from the University of Toronto.
	Jeroo Billimoria Executive Director Jeroo Billimoria is a serial social entrepreneur who has founded six organizations including Aflatoun. Jeroo was named an Ashoka Innovator in 1999 and received the Schwab Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurs in 2001 among many other awards for her work. She was featured in David Bornstein's book How to Change the World. She is a volunteer for several organizations in different capacities and consults with the Government of India on issues related to child protection. She has written several educational books for children and published academic literature on management of non-profit organizations. From 1991 to 1999, she was a Lecturer at the University Tata Institute of Social Sciences. She is also the founder / honorary secretary of the Childline India Foundation (1996-present) and the founder / president of MelJol (1991-present). Jeroo moved to Amsterdam and founded Child Helpline International in 2003. Aflatoun was founded in 2005. Jeroo lives with her husband and 2 children, all of whom lead very busy lives. In her free time, Jeroo loves to cook, and is still honing her cycling skills.
	Oliver Gajda Director of Services As Director of Services at Aflatoun I support a dedicated and professional team in running efficient operations and stakeholder relations. Through my previous workwith entrepreneurs,venture capital, private equity and microfinance in Europe and the USA I am fully aware of the importance of sound values in social and financial education. Starting to engage childrenat a young ageand guiding them throughto adulthood, Aflatoun has the potential to make apositive ethical impact on future generations ofentrepreneurs and leaders world wide. I am a member ofthe Wall Street Journal Europe Future Leadership Institute Eagle Group andhave some 15 years editorial and management experience in the business information and services industries.I hold Masters degrees from Solvay Business School (Université Libre de Bruxelles) in business administration and microfinance and from the University of Hamburg in History, and studied Russian at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (University College London). I am happily married and have a wonderful baby daughter.
	Elizabeth MacFadyen Assistant to Executive Director Elizabeth MacFadyen joined Aflatoun in January 2008 as Assistant to the Executive Director. She is originally from New York, where she worked as a social worker. She moved to the Netherlands in 1995, and has been translating on a freelance basis with a specialization in the social sciences. She has a BA in Sociology from Oberlin College and an MSW from Hunter College School of Social Work.
	Hassan Mahtat Programme Manager - Middle East and North Africa As the Programme Manager for the MENA region, I search and work with different partners in the region to implement the Aflatoun programme. I believe that Aflatoun has an enormous impact on children's daily lives especially their and our future. I am originally from Ait Ouahi, Morocco. I hold an engineering Master in food industry for tropical and developing countries. Prior to Aflatoun, I have worked in the fair-trade and organic agriculture oriented private sector. I enjoy ethnic and 70s music, drawing abstract and sharks but most importantly having a Jordanian breakfast. My mom used to tell me and still does that a million starts with “one”.
	Valerie Meza De León Programme Manager - Americas As the Program Manager for the Americas, I work with partners in different countries to implement the Aflatoun Programme. For me Aflatoun is an exciting child centered programme perfectly adapted for children to become agents of change both in their lives and their community at large. I am originally from Guatemala City. I have a degree in Psychology From Francisco Marroquin University two Masters Degrees: one in Human Development and International Cooperation in the University of Florence and the other one in Management and Environment from the SAFE Institute in Rome. Before starting the Aflatoun adventure I worked for an International NGO working with different programmes for Children and youth in Latin American countries. I love the experience of living in Europe first in Italy and now in the Netherlands. I enjoy good coffee with friends, Italian food, music, travelling to my beloved region and independent films.
	Paul Moclair Head of Programmes My main responsibility as Head of Programs is to coordinate the Aflatoun activities in the five regions where we work. Working with the five Program Managers is like being constantly plugged into the mains grid, such is their energy and commitment. I also contribute to the design, development and implementation of strategies contributing to our partners in order to sustainably alleviate poverty in the world. I am originally from the north of Ireland. After several years of teaching in Asia I took an MA in Theatre for Development (TfD) at the University of Winchester. I have worked as a child rights TfD consultant for INGOs in Sierra Leone, Kenya and Sudan. I also spent two years as a UNAIS volunteer in Palestine, using Forum Theatre with teachers, social workers and children. I live with my wife Lucy in Amsterdam. I enjoy cooking, reading, running, and playing music.
	Sandy Pan Communications Officer I wear a couple different hats at Aflatoun: communications and resource mobilisation. These roles collaboratively come together in creating and strengthening a sustainable and strong Child Social and Financial Education movement. It is an enjoyable and worthwhile challenge to create a united communications front through online platforms, advocacy materials, publications and resource raising. Like a number of Aflatouners, I am a new resident of Amsterdam, NL. I hail from the USA from a small upstate NY town called Rome. Small town life nurtured a desire to empower people and communities. I went on to receive my BA in Psychology from Brown University and manage a creperie in Boston. Following time in New England, I moved to New York City where I received a Masters in Urban Planning with a focus on community organising and planning as well as participatory planning with youth. While in NYC, I also worked as a project manager and a training manager for Project for Public Spaces.
	Ana Rodrigues Programme Manager Europe As the Programme Manager for Europe I spend most of my time supporting partners working with the Aflatoun programme. It is an amazing experience to work with many partners from a region as diverse as Europe. I believe that Aflatoun presents new opportunities for children to overcome and improve difficult situations in their lives through using available resources. I am originally from Cascais, Portugal. I have a BA in Early Childhood Education from Lisbon School of Education and a Masters in Development Studies with Specialization in Children and Youth Studies from Institute of Social Studies in The Hague.Before coming to the Netherlands I worked in several schools and centres in Portugal where I had contact with children from different backgrounds. I also worked for one year with children from a primary school in rural Costa Rica. What I love most in life is dancing. I also enjoy painting, going to the theatre, eating tasty food and socializing.
	Bernice Roldan Programme Manager - Asia As Programme Manager for Asia, I work with different partners implementing the Aflatoun programme and reach out to stakeholders to support our work. It is both inspiring and challenging to focus on a diverse region such as Asia. I believe Aflatoun presents children with the opportunity to overcome inequalities and become change-makers in their community. I am originally from Quezon City in the Philippines. Before joining Aflatoun, I was involved in training Filipino migrants on-site on savings, investment and social entrepreneurship, and lobbying for migrant rights and welfare. I have a Masters in Development Studies at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, specializing in Local and Regional Development, and a B.A. in English Studies: Creative Writing at the University of the Philippines. I enjoy traveling, cooking and photography. I practice yoga and would like to write short stories and essays about my travels someday.
	Hayley Rose Advocacy Manager I have worked for Aflatoun for the past 3 years, spending 2 and a half years as the Aflatoun Programme Manager for Europe, working with the European partners to prepare and launch Aflatoun programmes in Europe. Recently, I have begun as Advocacy Manager to to help raise resources globally both for the secretariat team and for the various Aflatoun programmes across the world. I am originally from Boston, Lincolnshire in the UK. I have a B.A in Sociology and Social Policy from the University of Sheffield, where I was also president of the student union. Before coming to Aflatoun I worked at a non-profit training organisation and a London-based children's educational charity. When I'm not working, I can usually be found riding my bike, going for a jog or just generally enjoying the sights and sounds of Amsterdam. I live with my husband Gavin and my two sons ElIiott and Rowan.
	Alodia Santos Senior Programme Manager As Senior Programme Manager, I am responsible for curriculum development and supporting communication within the network. I am a development communications professional from the Philippines, where I was involved in educational communication in health financing, sexual and reproductive health, children & youth formation and documentary making. I graduated BA Journalism from the University of the Philippines, and MA Population, Poverty & Social Development from the Institute of Social Studies (the Hague). I spend my empty moments enjoying music, admiring pop-up books, watching films and daydreaming about warmer weather.
	Lubna Shaban Communications Executive As communication executive, it is my role to tell the world about all things Aflatoun! The energy here is infectious -it is wonderful working with a dedicated group who are working hard to create a stronger movement in social and financial education. I love to travel and explore and by fortune and fate I ended up in Amsterdam. Nothing makes me happier than a bike ride along the canals on a sunny, spring day. Simple pleasures!
	Bram Stoffele Advocacy Manager I am interested in social entrepreneurship, network and scaling strategy, and multi-stakeholder partnerships for impact. Over the years I have fulfilled different roles around these issues within the Aflatoun team. I am currently researching the scaling and ecosystem approaches of Aflatoun and Childfinance. Earlier I raised funds for Aflatoun and managed our relations with bi- and multilateral agencies, as well as foundations and business schools. As research executive, I coordinated the design and implementation of Aflatoun's impact assessment and quality assurance strategy and coordinated the research network. I was a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University in History of Science, and have a Research Masters in that field from Utrecht University, as well as an Undergraduate degree in Physics from the same university.
	Maartje Tijhuis Operations Manager As Operations Manager I make sure the internal organization runs smoothly, like human resources and legal matters. Next to that I am managing relations in the Dutch market. This includes building and maintaining strategic alliances and fundraising. I love to be part of Aflatoun as I believe education (social and financial) is the best way to reach a more equitable world. Being able to help (even if it’s just a little bit) inspire children around the world via the Aflatoun learning materials makes me happy every day. I was born and raised in Amsterdam (so one of the few Dutchies in the secretariat!). I studied philosophy and chose to leave my job at McKinsey to join Aflatoun. I live on a houseboat with my boyfriend in the North of Amsterdam. A very urban and exciting area as a lot of creative and media organizations are putting up their business here. My personal interests are philosophy (especially Spinoza and Buddhism), music, dancing and sailing the canals with our new small motorboat!