Our Team
The Global Secretariat supports the running of MenEngage Alliance as a membership-based network. The team aims to empower the membership and networks, and to facilitate joint actions. The Global Secretariat team comes from 12 countries and is currently based across 4 continents and 5 timezones.
Bianca Marks, Program Manager, Networks and Membership
Bianca is a social impact professional with more than 15 years experience across global program management, and community engagement. Bianca is passionate about creating transformational change at both the individual and community level and has worked as an educator, activist, and project consultant. She holds a BA in International Relations and a MA in Transformative Business Leadership. Bianca is from South Africa and based in Washington, D.C, USA.
Evens Daudier, Finance and Grants Officer
Evens has been supporting non-profits with financial management and financial analytics since 2010. With an interest in applying accounting and finance skills to important global justice issues, he has worked with projects supporting the environment, sanitation, human rights, gender based violence prevention, people with disability, child protection, and public health. Evens holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and has managed significant donor funds for international organizations. Originally from Haiti, Evens moved to the USA in February 2019.
Jennifer Rodriguez Bruno, Advocacy Manager
Jennifer has worked in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment, refugee rights and environmental rights. A native of Spain, she gained her professional field experience through living and working in Latin America for five years, including working with UN Women Paraguay to advance advocacy and national initiatives on men and masculinities.
Jennifer holds a Bachelors Degree in International Development Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with regional specializations in Latin America and Africa. She also holds a Master Degree in Social Innovation for Human and Environment Rights for the Kroc School of Peace Studies from the University of San Diego.
Joni van de Sand, Co-Director
Joni is a driven women’s rights & gender justice advocate, with a passion for challenging injustices through feminist systems transformation. She has been working in international development and human-rights based advocacy for more than 15 years in networks of women’s rights, LGBTIQ rights, and gender justice. Before joining MenEngage Alliance in 2014, she worked as Senior Policy Officer with WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform, where she coordinated the network’s international lobby & advocacy work (since 2010), and gained critical leadership experience working with civil society network members and policy makers at the national level and the United Nations. Prior to that she worked as an independent researcher and consultant providing technical expertise to INGOs and academia on women’s empowerment, transnational feminist networks, transforming patriarchal masculinities & engaging men and boys (since 2009). She also worked as Gender focal point and South Asia Officer with Dutch NGO ICCO. Since her late teens she has been active in various local women’s rights and empowerment organizations in The Netherlands, India and Spain. Joni holds an Advanced Masters in International Development from Radboud University, and a Masters in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Amsterdam (with honors). She is committed to ongoing learning about intersectional feminist approaches, decolonization, anti-racism, and countering backlash through movement-building approaches.
Laxman Belbase, Co-Director
Laxman, a social worker and gender justice activist originally from Nepal, brings two decades of expertise in organizational management, strategic and program development, implementation, technical support, monitoring and evaluation, accountability, and advocacy for gender and social justice. Laxman’s work includes engaging men and boys in gender equality, advocating for LGBTIQ rights, climate justice and social justice, and promoting child rights. Recognized as an expert in the field, Laxman has provided technical assistance to various Human Rights I/NGOs, UN Agencies, and governments across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and North America. Prior to MenEngage Alliance, Laxman served as the Global Gender & Health Advisor with Save the Children Sweden during which played a crucial role in the development of the Gender Equality Policy, program guidance toolkit and building capacity of country and regional offices of Save the Children International.
With over 15 years of experience in establishing, coordinating, and strengthening networks and coalition building models in Gender Equality and Child Rights, Laxman played a pivotal role as a founding core group member to establish and strengthen MenEngage Alliance in Nepal as well as served as the coordinator for MenEngage Alliance in South Asia from 2009 to 2013. Laxman actively contributes to various initiatives, serving voluntarily as a member of the Leadership Council of the Global Women’s Institute, a member of the UN Spotlight Initiative’s Global Civil Society Global Reference Group (GRG), and a member of the Advisory Council of the Society of Gender Professionals. Beyond several advocacy and leadership roles, Laxman also serves as a part-time faculty member at the Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University in Washington, DC, USA, teaching a course on “Masculinities in International Affairs.”
Magaly Marques, Senior Advisor
Magaly is a feminist and gender justice activist and professional with extensive experience in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Magaly is originally from Brazil where she completed her graduate studies in Philosophy at the Catholic University of São Paulo, and lectured for several years. She has been involved in the Latin American SRHR and feminist movements, and has worked in technical and leadership roles in international organizations, networks and agencies. Magaly is based in Portugal.
Muhammad Khurram, Program Officer
Khurram is a poet. As an artist-academic he enjoys working in community-focused projects supported by his affiliation with the Embodied Theory Assembly. Khurram’s research interests lie at the intersection of disability studies, environmentalism, and decolonial practices. He has a deep-seated fondness for manga & animé, and is based in Karachi, Pakistan.
Oswaldo Montoya, Networks Associate
Oswaldo is a Nicaraguan psychologist. He is one of the founders of the Men’s Group Against Violence in Managua, which was the first men’s group of this kind in Central America. A former Fulbright grantee, he holds a Master’s degree in Educational and Developmental Psychology from Boston College. For over twenty years he has served as an educator, activist, program officer, researcher, consultant and counselor engaging men and boys in the effort to build a more gender-equitable society free from violence and discrimination.
Oswaldo has previously worked with Puntos de Encuentro, a feminist organization, and with Save the Children, promoting children’s rights. He is the author of several publications and educational manuals, and has contributed to successful educational campaigns, advocacy and alliances to work with boys and men. Oswaldo is based in Washington, DC, USA.
Paul Ruban, Operations & People Manager
Paul Ruban is a seasoned executive leader with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit operations, strategic planning, and partnership development. In his role at MenEngage Alliance, Paul leads Operations and People initiatives, bringing a wealth of expertise in organizational strategy, team leadership, financial management, and community-building. Throughout his career, Paul has worked with global nonprofits, advocacy networks, and grassroots initiatives, known for fostering inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing work cultures.
Paul is passionate about creating systems that empower teams and advance social impact. His leadership style is rooted in collaboration, innovation, and equity, with a focus on building resilient and purpose-driven organizations. He holds an MSc in NGO Management from Bayes Business School, London, and is a certified Coach, Trainer, and Facilitator with the John C. Maxwell Team. Paul is multilingual, speaking English, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi.
Tom Hornbrook, Communications Manager
Tom combines 15 years of experience in communications with an academic background in gender related issues. He holds a Master’s degree in Gender Studies (Cum Laude) from Utrecht University and a postgraduate certificate in International Development from the University of Edinburgh. He has been working in communications since 2010 and has extensive experience facilitating workshops on masculinities with boys and young men. Tom is based in London, UK.