Meet the Global Board.

Ahmad Shah Nawazy is a passionate youth leader dedicated to empowering the next generation for positive change. As the Founder & CEO of an impactful initiative, he nurtures leadership and growth among Afghan youth. With a master’s in project management and a bachelor’s in civil engineering, Ahmad has excelled academically, securing two competitive scholarships. His professional journey includes working as a Civil Engineer at Kabul University with an international firm, where he earned a Recognition Certificate for his outstanding contributions to construction projects. Following August 2021, he transitioned to the non-profit sector, joining a leading NGO in Kabul as a Program Officer. Due to his exceptional performance, he was awarded an Appreciation Certificate and promoted to Senior Program Officer. His organization has successfully implemented projects across 30+ provinces in areas such as education, health, child protection, women’s economic empowerment, and humanitarian aid. Beyond his professional achievements, Ahmad is known for his strong leadership, resilience, and communication skills. He has actively participated in volunteer work and extracurricular activities, earning a black belt in Taekwondo and winning multiple medals. During university, he took on leadership roles in student societies and was recognized with Rector's Merit Award Certificate, and certificate of Honor.

Ashwathy is a social entrepreneur in the learning and development impact sector. She is Co-Founder and CEO of Avasarshala, a platform that connects students with competitions, scholarships, fellowships, and other opportunities beyond the classroom. She is a two-time TEDx speaker, hosts the Kectil World Youth Network podcast, and in 2024 was the lead organizer of the Kectil local meeting in Bangalore. On the 2026 Kectil Global Board she leads the Podcasts and KAI (Kectil AI) subcommittees and serves on Website Content for Kectil.com.

Christelle Barakat is a Researcher on public policy at the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) and an incoming Schwarzman Scholar. She is a Lebanese Fulbright Foreign Student Program graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she earned an M.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies with a concentration in International Peace Development. She also holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs from the Lebanese American University (LAU) where she was part of the Honors Program and earned three minors in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Gender Studies, and Legal Studies. Christelle has extensive experience in youth leadership, diplomacy, disarmament, and conflict resolution. She has led multiple global Model UN conferences, introducing young people to diplomacy and conflict resolution, and has been selected as a Youth Leader for a World Without Nuclear Weapons, Leader to the Future, Leader for Tomorrow, and Youth Champion for Disarmament by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). She is also an Emerging Expert with the Forum on the Arms Trade, an Atomic Anxiety in the New Nuclear Age Fellow, and an advisory board member of BASIC EVN. Christelle is a 2023 Diana Award recipient.

Danerine is a Peruvian public policy professional, writer, and youth advocate currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy at Sciences Po Paris, specializing in Education and Research Policy. An Émile Boutmy Scholar, she has built an interdisciplinary academic and professional journey at the intersection of education, social impact, youth empowerment, civic engagement, and the arts. Danerine joined the program as a Kectil Fellow in 2022, an experience that significantly shaped her commitment to youth leadership and international cooperation. In 2025, she became a Board Member, taking on responsibilities related to communications, regional coordination, and supporting the development and visibility of Kectil’s activities in Latin America. As part of this role, she contributed to the organization and communication of the Kectil Program Conference in Lima, Peru, in August 2025, which brought together more than 200 participants and strengthened the program’s presence and network in the region. Beyond Kectil, Danerine is the Founder and Director of Nuevos Talentos, a youth-oriented initiative using education, creativity, and the arts as tools for personal development and social transformation. Her professional experience also includes work in public policy, education, human rights, and social impact, including her current work with the Worldline Foundation, where she contributes to corporate social responsibility, civic engagement, partnerships, and social impact initiatives. Danerine is also an author, having published her novel La Combi in 2022 and a collection of poetry in 2025. Across her academic, professional, and civic engagement, she is particularly interested in how education, youth leadership, culture, and public policy can reduce inequalities and empower young people as active agents of social change, particularly in Latin America and international contexts.

Edvard Grigoryan is a conflict analyst and policy professional working at the intersection of diplomacy, peacebuilding, and regional security, with a particular focus on the South Caucasus and European foreign policy. He holds a Master's degree in EU International Relations and Diplomacy from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, which he completed on a full European Commission scholarship, and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Yerevan State University. His work combines rigorous, conflict-sensitive analysis with hands-on peacebuilding, informed by firsthand experience of conflict in his own region. Edvard trained inside the Council of Europe's Directorate of Political Affairs and External Relations in Strasbourg, where he drafted political briefings and analytical notes supporting the Secretary General's reporting on European security, and followed the work of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of Ministers. As a Future Leaders Fellow at the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (HIIA), he researched post-conflict connectivity in the South Caucasus and co-authored a policy analysis on the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process. He currently serves as a Policy Analyst with the Centre for International Security and Economic Strategy (CISES) in London (on a remote basis). Edvard has represented Armenian youth on European and international platforms, including as a Youth Delegate to the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and as a Young European Ambassador with the EU Neighbours East programme. He has also contributed to national policymaking through his work with the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, supporting the Government's long-term transformation and governance agenda. He is the Co-Founder and Programme Coordinator of Kectil Armenia Educational and Cultural NGO, leading initiatives at the intersection of peacebuilding, intercultural dialogue, youth leadership, and civic participation. Within the wider Kectil community, he serves as a Global Board Member of The Kectil Program, where he authored the programme's Conflict and Peace curriculum and helps steer and mange Kectil Community Projects, the YouTube channel, and Alumni Network. His peacebuilding training includes fellowships and programmes with CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation, and the Hansen Leadership Institute at the University of San Diego. Working across Armenian, English, French, and Russian, Edvard's work brings together conflict analysis, diplomacy, peacebuilding, and youth leadership, with a particular commitment to inclusive, locally grounded approaches to peace and cooperation. He believes the most consequential change begins where it is hardest — in divided communities, fragile regions, and local realities that rarely make the headlines.

Goharik Grigoryan is an educational leader and researcher with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a strong professional focus on education policy, governance, youth development, and international educational cooperation. She is currently pursuing the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Research and Innovation in Higher Education (MARIHE), an internationally oriented programme delivered across Austria, Finland, China, and Germany, focusing on higher education policy, governance, management, research, and innovation. Goharik recently completed a one-year research programme in Poland under the Lane Kirkland Scholarship, hosted at Jagiellonian University, where she conducted research on governance and policy in early childhood education. Her academic interests focus on strengthening education systems through effective governance, evidence-based policymaking, and international cooperation. She currently serves as a Researcher at the 405 Educational Alliance, contributing to research and strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening Armenia’s education ecosystem and supporting evidence-informed education policy. Goharik has professional experience in Armenia’s public sector, including work at the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and an internship at the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, where she gained practical experience in policymaking and public administration. She is the Founder and President of the Professional Orientation Center NGO, dedicated to supporting young people in making informed educational and career choices. She is also the Founder and President of Kectil Armenia Educational and Cultural NGO, leading initiatives at the intersection of education, cultural heritage, youth empowerment, and international cooperation. Throughout her academic, professional, and civic engagement, Goharik has represented Armenia in more than 30 countries through international conferences, educational programmes, youth initiatives, and intercultural exchange opportunities. Her international experience has strengthened her commitment to fostering intercultural dialogue, global citizenship, and meaningful international collaboration in education. Goharik’s work brings together education policy, research, youth development, intercultural dialogue, and international cooperation, with a particular commitment to contributing to more inclusive, innovative, and evidence-based education systems in Armenia and beyond.

Hein Htet Oo is a strategy and policy executive with extensive experience spanning government, UN, and nonprofit settings — from leading operations of New York City Department of Small Business Services Career Centres in Manhattan to serving as Advisor to the Ambassador at Myanmar's UN Mission. He holds an MBA in Sustainability from Bard College.

Lennox Omondi is a Global Award-Winning Entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of EcoBana Ltd, an enterprise that is pioneering sustainable solutions to tackle period poverty in Africa through manufacturing of biodegradable sanitary towels made from banana fibers. With a background in Communication, Lennox's passion for social impact led him to establish EcoBana, empowering women and girls with affordable, eco-friendly menstrual products while promoting sustainable production practices. Recognized globally for his work, Lennox has won prestigious awards including the 2022 Hult Prize Global Award and the UN Volunteer of the Year Award. As a Kectil Global Board Member, and Fast-Forward 2030 Africa Board Member he mentors young leaders and has been honored for his leadership qualities, including the Student of the Year 2022 award. Lennox is committed to creating a better world through EcoBana, inspiring future generations to drive positive change.

Mathias grew up in a farming community in Ghana's Ashanti Region. In 2021, during a volunteer visit to a tomato-farming community, a woman farmer walked him around her farm pointing at baskets of rotten tomatoes and describing everything she had done to grow them. That afternoon became AkoFresh. He is currently an Executive MBA candidate at Hult International Business School, an Acumen Green Rise Africa Fellow, and a Youth Sounding Board member for EU–Ghana cooperation. He serves on the KECTIL Global Board, supporting regional coordination and community projects, and hosted the KECTIL Regional Youth Leadership Conference in Accra.

Mina Fangari is an international program manager, youth advocate, and community development leader with extensive experience across governmental, intergovernmental, and civil society organizations in Europe and the Mediterranean. Throughout his career, he has managed high-impact international youth programs focused on intercultural dialogue, youth diplomacy, good governance, climate action, economic development, employment, and entrepreneurship. Mina serves as a Global Board Member for The Kectil Leadership Program, guiding and supporting emerging youth leaders across more than 100 countries. He is an active member of the EU Jeel Connect Network under the European Commission's EU MedBridge program, and previously served as the Coordinator of the Economy, Education, and Entrepreneurship (EEE) Committee at the Mediterranean Youth Council. As an international trainer and facilitator, Mina designs and delivers workshops on youth activism, policy advocacy, intercultural communication, and the design and implementation of community-based actions at local, regional, and global levels. He is also the Founder of Prodigy -برودوجي, a youth-led initiative that empowers thousands of young people across the MENA region through leadership training, scholarship access, career enhancement, and entrepreneurship programs. Recognized for his contributions to civic engagement and youth empowerment, Mina is a frequent guest on Egyptian national television programs and in regional print media, offering expert insights on youth activism, volunteering, career qualifications, and global educational opportunities.

Nabila Abbas is a dynamic global change-maker and STEM advocate who defied stereotypes, rising from the underprivileged area of Southern Punjab, Choti Zarin District Dera Ghazi Khan. In 2019, she made history as the first Pakistani delegate at the International Congress of Youth Voices USA among 130 delegates around the world where for the first time she advocated for rural women rights and their social participation beyond just farming or domestic work. Nabila, a national delegate delegate at the Commonwealth, shattered norms by pursuing a higher degree in aviation management at the University of Management and Technology, Lahore, becoming the first in her generation. Leading the self-founded "Aviation Literary Forum" for four years during her undergraduate studies, Nabila gained global recognition from the National Business Aviation Association in Washington DC. Her dedication to community service and promoting girls' rights earned her the prestigious Diana Award in 2020 for extraordinary social activism by the Diana Award, UK. Nabila's persistent advocacy for women's empowerment and her unwavering spirit led to her recognition on the global changemakers' platform as a special category titled "Women Changing the World" from Pakistan. Addressing rural women's rights, she spoke at the UN 75th Assembly Edition, representing the voice of 31% of women worldwide. Beyond her personal achievements, Nabila actively gives back to the community. She advocates for rural communities, initiated a free education campaign for rural children, supported rural areas during COVID-19, established free computer lab infrastructure in rural school, and facilitated free Conversational English Language Programs for rural girls while passing out 100+ girls through this program. She has also completed a project - Digital Inclusion: empowering rural communities with the latest digital skills in partnership with the US Embassy Islamabad. Internationally, she shines as a spotlight activist and holds a lifelong membership at the Women Economic Forum, earning the distinction of being its youngest member. She is also a distinctive memeber of the Prime Minister's National Youth Council, Pakistan since 2021. She is notable alumni at the Pakistan US Alumni Network completing U. S. mission exchange program in 2012. Nabila has had an affiliation with the International Congress of Youth Voices USA since 2019, working towards improving the lives of rural women in Pakistan through various projects. Her commitment to creating positive change in society extends to these collaborative efforts, further solidifying her role as a catalyst for transformation. Nabila is dedicated to working against gender-based domestic violence, women's honor killings, and to increasing rural women's participation in social, economic, and political affairs, further emphasizing her comprehensive approach to societal improvement.

Oleksandra Liachovic is a business consultant, project and program coordinator, entrepreneur, and mentor with 5+ years of experience in business development, project management, and international initiatives. She currently works as a Consultant at EY and serves as a Board Member of The Kectil Program. She also leads the Kectil Community Projects initiative, which in its first year supported the development of 150+ social and environmental projects involving young leaders and volunteers from around the world. Oleksandra has experience in entrepreneurship, mentoring, fundraising, partnerships, process improvement, and working with multicultural teams. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Management with a specialization in Sustainable Business and is passionate about empowering young leaders to turn ideas into meaningful impact.

Reminah Vincent is a senior-year student at the University of Papua New Guinea pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She is passionate about eradicating illiteracy in Papua New Guinea and has volunteered with various organizations and associations, including Checkmate Foundation Inc., where she served as Vice President in 2024 and successfully led a book donation project that supported five schools across Papua New Guinea. She also volunteered with and served as President of the Kectil PNG Youth Development Network at UPNG in 2024, where she played a key role in establishing and strengthening the network in Papua New Guinea. She was actively involved in the planning, coordination, and on-the-ground implementation of the Kectil Global Conference Papua New Guinea 2024, which brought together approximately 200 young people and provided a platform for youth leadership, learning, networking, and global engagement. Beyond her academic studies and volunteer work, Reminah is passionate about youth development, education, and community empowerment. She is also a strong advocate for mental wellness and enjoys poetry and spending time in nature.

Rodrick Mutale is a Zambian entrepreneur, author, and youth advocate. He is Co-Founder and Country Director of the Kectil Centre for Youth Excellence-Zambia and a Kectil Global Board Member. He joined the Kectil Program as a Colleague in 2017 and became the first Zambian to win a fully funded Kectil scholarship to the international leadership program. In 2021 he co-founded the Zambia Centre to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical execution for young innovators, entrepreneurs, and community builders.

Sherry M. Knowles is the Founder and Executive Director of the Kectil Program and the Malmar Knowles Family Foundation. An intellectual property attorney with more than 30 years of experience in global corporate and private practice, she created Kectil to connect high-potential young people in developing countries with mentors, peers, and practical training in leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship.