Our Global Board

The Board consists of representatives from MenEngage Alliance’s six regional networks, plus at-large members. At-large Board members are international actors that anchor specific priority issues based on their area of expertise.

MenEngage Alliance is committed to diversity and inclusion in the Board membership. This includes designated seats for key constituencies that we consider ourselves accountable to, including women’s rights, youth and LGBTIQ rights organizations and networks.

The Global Board facilitates meaningful participation of members and key constituencies in the governance and decision making of MenEngage Alliance, as well as in setting its agenda and overall strategic direction.

Regional Network Representatives

The Regional Networks identify their representatives to the Board, who rotate on a periodic basis as determined by the Regional Networks (usually every 2-3 years). The representatives to the Global Board currently are:

MenEngage Africa: Sithembile Chunky Nontokozo Gumede, Eswatini

Sithembile serves as in Country Chairperson for MenEngage Alliance Eswatini, and the Chairperson for MenEngage Africa. They also serve as the Secretary for the LGBTQI+ Consortium and are the Cofounder and Executive Director of Queer Women’s Network, Swaziland (LBQRS).

Sithembile, popularly known as Chunky among their peers and the LGBTQI+ community, is a 30-year-old, gender-non-confirming, vibrant Swazi Diverse person, living with HIV. They actively advocate for the realization and acknowledgement of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women in Swaziland. Sithembile also holds a Higher National Diploma in Psychology and is an aspiring doctor currently pursuing an Advance Degree in Psychology. Additionally, they hold certifications in civic leadership, financial management, monitoring and evaluation, and strategic planning. Furthermore, as an experienced trainer and advocate, Sithembile facilitates transformative workshops, drawing on strong leadership skills and a holistic approach to mental well-being. 

Sithembile’s preferred pronoun is They/Them.

MenEngage Europe: Aleksandar Dimitrijevic, Malta

Aleksandar Dimitrijevic is the co-founder of Men Against Violence, Malta. He is widely recognized in Malta for his commitment to feminist values, social justice, and activism, particularly through his leadership in establishing Men Against Violence, he is highly knowledgeable and pragmatic in addressing gender equality, gender-based violence, and human rights. His expertise has earned him the respect of NGOs, state agencies, and academic circles. Regularly contributing to academic sessions on masculinities and male violence, he provides training on gender stereotypes and actively supports research and student engagement in these areas. For over a decade, he has monitored and supported online activist groups while collaborating on campaigns, training initiatives, and events. Known for his strategic thinking, professionalism, and ability to connect with diverse audiences, he fosters meaningful change in both professional and social contexts.

CariMAN: Phillip Carlisle, Dominica

Phillip is the regional coordinator for the Caribbean Male Action Network (CariMAN).

Phillip is a counsellor based in Morne Daniel, Dominica, with more than 25 years’ experience in marital and peer counselling. With extensive experience in GBV-prevention and gender mainstreaming programming, Phillip is Chairman of the National Gender Advisory Board for Dominica and Chairman of the NGO Coalition for the Rights and Protection of Children & Youths. Phillip is an ordained Minister of Religion, Pastor and Administrator of ‘Transformation Centre’, an affiliate body within Congress-WBN, a global faith-based network.

 

MenEngage Latin America: Hernando Muñoz Sánchez

Hernando is the Regional Co-Coordinator for MenEngage Latin America.

Hernando is Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia. His research interests include families, masculinities, gender and human rights. Hernando has worked with various local government departments to develop gender and family policies and has consulted with UN Women Colombia and UNESCO on various gender and masculinities projects.He was recognized by the municipality of Medellin with the Don Juan del Corral Order of Merit in 2012 for his work on human rights and social leadership.

 

MenEngage Alliance South Asia: Samitha Sugathimala, Sri Lanka, (Global Co-Chair)

Samitha is the Regional Coordinator of MenEngage South Asia and Program Director at Sri Lankan NGO, Foundation for Innovative Social Development.

Samitha is a trainer, advocate and a consultant on sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and gender justice, including on working with men and masculinities for gender justice. With more than 15 years’ experience working with communities for women’s empowerment andthe prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, Samitha has extensive practical knowledge, and has contributed to many knowledge products on SGBV, women’s empowerment and men and masculinities. Samitha is based in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

 

North America Men Engage Network: Shane Joseph, Canada

Shane is the Co-Chair of the North America Men Engage Network (NAMEN), together with Tonya Lovelace who serves as alternate for NAMEN on the Global Board.

Shane has more than fifteen years’ experience in the social services field, having worked extensively in the not-for-profit sector, within government settings and as a UN Consultant. He has worked extensively in policy development, child rights, gender-based violence -prevention, diversity and inclusion, and volunteer engagement, among others. Shane has conducted trainings around the world. Shane is based in Toronto, Canada, and holds an associate degree in Social Sciences, an undergraduate degree in Social Work and an MBA with specialization in Human Resource Development.

 

At-large board members

Q-Initiative

Represented by: Festus Kisa, Global Co-Chair of MenEngage Alliance

Q-Initiative is a community-based organization that works in the areas of health, human rights promotion, safety and security, capacity building and economic empowerment for LGBTIQ+ persons in Eldoret, Kenya.

Kisa was appointed as Executive Director in January 2020 after serving Q-Initiative in various capacities since April 2013. He has over 10 years’ experience in movement building, organization systems strengthening, policy development partnership building, resource mobilization, programming for gender, sexuality and violence prevention, advocating for rights of LGBTIQ persons. He recently added research and documentation as a tool to shift norms surrounding sexual and gender minorities. Additionally, he has served as advisor to various international and national organizations on diversity and inclusion specializing on the safeguarding LGBTIQ staff and clients.

Kisa believes in centering LGBTIQ persons and young people in advocacy work, intersectional feminist principles, and innovative approaches to create social change.

Athena Network

Represented by: Irene Ogeta

The ATHENA Network is a global network of individual and institutional members that has been at the forefront of ensuring the centrality of gender equality and human rights in the HIV response since 2006.

Irene Ogeta is a powerful, intelligent, and articulate Young Women Rights Activist and leader on HIV, sexual reproductive health and rights, and gender equality. She has been working on issues of menstrual health, pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, cervical cancer awareness, women’s rights, child protection, and advocacy for girls’ child education in Kenya, and many other issues key to the health, rights, and agency of adolescent girls and young women, since 2010. Her passion for young women’s leadership, mentorship, and amplifying the voices of adolescent girls and young women occasioned her engagement in various advisory boards. These include The Positive action for girls and women board at ViiV Healthcare since 2018; the ViiV Technical review committee since 2020; the Youth Reference Group for the International HIV & Adolescence workshop and the Tackle Africa advisory panel. She is serving as the Associate Program Officer for young women’s advocacy at ATHENA Network.

 

Breakthrough India

Represented by: Nayana Chowdhury

Breakthrough is an organisation working to create a cultural shift and make discrimination and violence against girls and women unacceptable.

Nayana, CEO, Breakthrough has close to 25 years of experience in the development sector ranging from grassroots organisations to large scale international donors conceptualising, implementing, as well as monitoring projects Internationally. She is a long-time advocate for justice and gender equality. She grew up in a small town in West Bengal, studying in a vernacular medium school and grew up in a colony of steel factory workers. Her parents were fervent advocates against discrimination based on caste, class, and religion. She used this early learning to stand up against gender-based discrimination through her work. Her dedication to creating a more just world led her to pursue Social Work in New Delhi, overcoming obstacles along the way. In her previous avatar as a donor with two of the biggest philanthropies, namely, Tata Trusts and IKEA Foundation, she has developed large-scale, multi-state, multi-country programmes empowering young girls and women in Africa and Asia.

International Planned Parenthood Federation

Represented by: TBA

Founded over 69 years ago, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a locally owned, globally connected civil society movement that provides and enables services and champions sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, especially the under-served.

 

Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice

Represented by: Gary Barker

Equimundo is a global leader in advancing gender equality and preventing violence by engaging men and boys in partnership with women, girls, and individuals of all gender identities.

Gary is a leading global voice in engaging men and boys in advancing gender equality and positive masculinities. He is the CEO and founder of Equimundo, and co-founder of MenEngage Alliance and the global MenCare campaign. He co-created and leads the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), the largest-ever survey of men’s attitudes and behaviors related to violence, fatherhood, and gender equality. Based in Washington DC, USA, Gary has advised the UN, the World Bank, numerous national governments, and key international foundations and corporations on strategies to engage men and boys in promoting gender equality. In 2017 he was named by Apolitical as one of the 20 most influential people in gender policy around the world. He holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology.

 

Sonke Gender Justice

Represented by: Bafana Khumalo

Sonke Gender Justice is a South African-based non-profit organisation working throughout Africa to resist patriarchy, advocate for gender justice and achieve gender transformation.

Bafana is a Co-Founder of Sonke Gender Justice, and worked as co-director of the organisation from 2006-2010 and as manager of Sonke’s International Programmes Unit and the Policy, Advocacy and Research Unit from 2010-2011. He is currently a Co-executive Director. Bafana has served as a Commissioner for the Commission on Gender Equality, was senior gender technical advisory for EngenderHealth South Africa and has sat on Sonke’s Board. Together with Sonke Co-Director, he was awarded Men’s Health Magazine “Best Man” Award in 2007.

 

Sexual Violence Research Institute (SVRI)

Represented by: Elizabeth Dartnall

With more than 6600 members, the SVRI is one of the largest networks in the field of research on violence against women and violence against children. The SVRI produces leading publications and materials, strengthens research capacity, provides research grants and technical assistance for research on violence against women in low and middle-income countries, and hosts the key global biannual event in the field – the SVRI Forum.

Elizabeth Dartnall is a health specialist with over 20 years’ research and policy-making experience on health systems, mental health, violence against women and violence against children. Having worked in several countries, in both government and research positions, Liz has a deep understanding of the policy process and the use of research to inform policy and practice. For example, in South Africa, Liz worked for the Department of Health at both provincial and national levels in epidemiology and health information systems. In Australia, she worked in mental health for the Western Australian state government. Since 2006, Liz has managed the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) and recently with the support of multiple partners, launched SVRI as an independent NGO. Liz is committed to research and policy-making that is feminist, ethical, equitable, and partnership-based.

White Ribbon Canada

Represented by: Humberto Carolo

White Ribbon is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity.

Humberto Carolo is the Executive Director of White Ribbon Canada. Based in Toronto, Canada, he is a gender-based violence prevention specialist with over 18 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector with expertise in gender equality, human rights, HIV/AIDS, education, community development, research, social marketing, strategic planning, and multi-sectoral partnerships.

 

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is one of the world’s longest-standing women’s peace organisations.

Representative: TBA

Board Treasurer (Ex-Officio): Richard Boriskin

Richard has three decades of experience in non-profit publishing, financial consulting, business planning, and law and was previously Vice President of Finance and Operations at Equimundo. Richard practiced law for 19 years and was the business and financial consultant for a multinational plastics company. He is currently based in the USA.