Our Global Board
At the global level, MenEngage Alliance is governed by the Global Board. The Board sets the strategic priorities for MenEngage Alliance at the global level. The Board also governs the organisation, activities and finances of MenEngage Global Alliance (Inc.), the Global Secretariat that connects and coordinates the Alliance’s work worldwide.
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 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.
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
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.
Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice
Represented by:
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.
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.
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.
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