CDF Dedicated page: Speakers

Speakers & Contributors

15 July - Opening Ceremony

SPEAKERS

JACQUELINE COTÉ, President Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation

Jacqueline Coté was the Director of Public Relations and previously Head of Communications at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva from 2009 to 2021. In that role she was instrumental in building the new campus of the Institute, the Maison de la Paix, as a vibrant centre of conferences and seminars, thus solidifying the reputation and outreach of the Institute in International Geneva and beyond. Prior to that Ms Coté was the Permanent Representative to the UN of the International Chamber of Commerce and also served as Senior Advisor Advocacy & Partnerships to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. In the early part of her career, Ms Coté practiced as an international lawyer in Canada and Switzerland and held management positions with multinational companies SGS and DuPont. Ms Coté believes that the global agenda can best be tackled by linking the public, private and non-profit sectors, and that dialogue and empathy are essential tools to achieve the sustainable development goals. She recently trained as a mediator at Harvard Law School and joined the board of several associations to continue her engagement with International Geneva. Ms Coté has Swiss, Canadian and British nationalities, is a member of the Bar of Quebec and has two grown-up children who share her passion about tackling today’s global challenges in their areas of work.

RAYMOND LORETAN, Chairman Geneva Diplomatic Club

A former Swiss Ambassador to Singapore and Consul General in New York, Raymond Loretan is a political entrepreneur who, after leaving the Foreign Office in 2006, became Chairman and Director of several companies and foundations in fields as diverse as health, the hotel industry, chemicals, watchmaking and documentary cinema. He has been President of the Geneva Diplomatic Club since 2016, with the priority of decompartmentalising the worlds of diplomacy, economics, politics, academia and culture.

AMBASSADOR THOMAS GUERBER, Deputy State Secretary, Head of UN Division

Ambassador Thomas Guerber was appointed Head of the UN Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in March 2022 and took up this role in August 2022. In January 2023 he was appointed to Deputy State Secretary. Previously, he was the Director of DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, from 1 July 2016 to July 2022. From 2010 to 2013, Ambassador Guerber was Switzerland’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. From 2007 to 2010, he worked as a Counsellor for financial, budgetary, and institutional issues at Switzerland’s Permanent Mission in New York. He was also posted in London and Copenhagen and held various other functions within the FDFA’s Middle East and North Africa Division and Human Security Division, including Head of Section for Peace Policy and Human Security. He entered the Swiss diplomatic service in 1997. Thomas Guerber holds an LL.M. degree in public international law and international economic law from the University of Berne, a master’s degree in European integration and economics from Institute for European Global Studies (Basel) and a master’s degree in history and literature from the University of Basel. Thomas Guerber was born in Bangkok in 1967. He is married and has two sons. Apart from his mother tongue German, he is fluent in English and French.

NADA AL-NASHIF, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

Appointed United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights effective February 2020, Nada Al-Nashif has over 30 years of experience within the United Nations as an economist and development practitioner. Previously, Ms. Al-Nashif served as Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO (Paris), as Assistant Director-General & Regional Director of the International Labour Organization's Regional Office for Arab States (Beirut) and at the United Nations Development Programme in various headquarters (New York) and field assignments. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Balliol, Oxford University and a Master's in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University.

AMBASSADOR ANDRIUS KRIVAS, Chair of the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the Council of Europe

Ambassador Andrius Krivas is a Lithuanian diplomat. He is the Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the Council of Europe, where he is Chair of the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies from May to November 2024. He studied International Relations and was head of the International Relations Department at the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania. From 2001 to 2003 he worked as an adviser at the integration unit of the Security Policy Department of the MFA, and later as an adviser at the Lithuanian Embassy to the United States.
From 2007 - 2008, Andrius Krivas was head of the NATO division of the Security Policy Department of the MFA, then seconded to the KAM, where he was director of the Department of International Relations and Operations. He became the secretary of the ministry in 2008, and later worked as the chief adviser of the ministry. From 2010 to 2013, he was adviser to the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the OSCE and worked as deputy minister of the MFA in 2013 - 2016. Since 1 August 2016 he was the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Lithuania to the United Nations Bureau and other international organisations in Geneva.

MARUEE PAHUJA, Expressive Arts Therapy Facilitator & Strategist, Visual Artist & Eye-care Practitioner

Maruee Pahuja, an impassioned Expressive Arts Therapy facilitator and strategist, visual artist, and eye-care practitioner, is dedicated to enriching lives through the power of arts and science. As an Expressive Arts Consultant with Caux Initiatives of Change, she contributes strategic insights to foster robust dialogues in peacebuilding using arts-based approaches. Additionally, she serves as a core team member of Creative Leadership, driving content creation and strategy. Currently, she is designing a programme/project on Conscious Art with the School of Conscious Politics and is building on a pilot program in arts-based coaching with Step Ahead Berlin, one of the leading institutes in Expressive Arts, alongside the assistant dean of the European Graduate School. At Natasha Eye Care and Research Centre, she holds the role of Head of Optometry and Specialty Contact Lens Consultant. Here, she leads and trains teams of optometrists and optometry interns, spearheads social media strategies, and delivers exceptional clinical care, specialising in innovative approaches with specialty contact lenses. Maruee's journey is marked by pioneering efforts in developing arts-based therapeutic interventions and leading workshops that inspire profound transformation. From crafting curriculums to strategizing content that incites action, Maruee navigates the complexities of human emotions and societal needs with unwavering creativity and compassion.

JONAS TRUNEH, Project Development Officer at Triangle

Jonas Truneh's journey with Caux began in 2017 during the Just Governance for Human Security conference, marking the start of his deep connection to Initiatives of Change's principles. His subsequent involvement in the Caux Scholars Program in 2018 solidified his commitment. In 2019, Jonas immersed himself in leadership principles at the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme, further cementing his dedication. Now, as a founding member of the Creative Leadership team, he continues to contribute to Caux's mission. Based in Beirut, Jonas serves as a project development officer at Triangle, a social enterprise acting as both a think tank and an international development consultancy. Leveraging his expertise in program development and project management, Jonas spearheads strategic initiatives, drawing from his rich international background. He holds an MSc in International Public Policy from University College London and a BA degree with First-Class Honours in Religion, Politics, and Society from King’s College London.

SIDRA RASLAN, Logistics and Outreach Lead Creative Leadership

Sidra Raslan from Syria is the logistics and outreach lead of Creative Leadership, a youth-led Caux Initiatives of Change initiative for young leaders that organises programmes focused on dialogue and storytelling. Sidra also volunteers on topics of refugees rights and inclusion, inner development, and youth empowerment. Sidra holds a masters degree in environmental, economic and social sustainability from UAB and works at HP on their partner sustainability programme.

PROF. RAJMOHAN GANDHI, Historian, Biographer and former Member of India’s Parliament

Rajmohan Gandhi is a historian, biographer and former President of Initiatives of Change International. He was born in 1935 and has worked as a journalist, writer, politician and professor of political science. Rajmohan Gandhi is unique in that he is both one of Mahatma Gandhi's grandsons and a grandson of C. Rajagopalachari, an Indian National Congress leader and the only Indian to have served as Governor General of India (from 1948 to 1950). Like Gandhi and Rajagopalachari, Rajmohan Gandhi is committed, including in politics, to a peaceful democracy with integrity and respect for the dignity of every individual. He is the author of numerous works on the figures of the struggle for Indian independence, the drama of the partition of India and the relations between Hindus and Muslims.

HOSTS

IGNACIO PACKER, Executive Director Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation

Ignacio Packer was appointed as Executive Director of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation in May 2023. Until March 2023, he served as Executive Director of ICVA, the global consortium of humanitarian NGOs. ICVA is a global network of non-governmental organisations whose mission is to make humanitarian action more principled and effective by working collectively and independently to influence policy and practice. Ignacio has over 30 years of experience in humanitarian work and development issues. He served a five-year term as Secretary General of the Terre des Hommes International Federation, and previously worked for the Terre des Hommes Foundation, the Swiss Tropical Institute, the European Association for Development and Health, Medecins Sans Frontieres, KPMG and the European Bank for Latin America. He is an expert on human rights and social issues. He has been strongly engaged in global advocacy on protection frameworks for migrants and refugees with a particular focus on children and youth. Passionate for long-distance challenges, he is also an enthusiastic ultra-trail runner.

SARAH NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Caux Initiatives of Change

Sarah Noble is the Head of Global Engagement at the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation. She is passionate about showcasing people's stories about how we build peace with each other and the planet. She brings with her more than 20 years of experience and has held leadership positions at international organisations focused on peacebuilding, humanitarian issues, and independent media. Sarah is co-founder and curator of the Peace Talks at Interpeace and also served as Director of External Relations at The New Humanitarian, a non-profit newsroom that puts quality, independent journalism at the service of the millions of people affected by humanitarian crises around the world. In her TEDx talk, Storytelling is Our Real-Life Superpower, she invites us to embrace this ability to take on the existential issues of our time and create a better future.

16 July

PLENARY SPEAKERS

ASSAAD CHAFTARI, Co-Founder of Fighters for Peace

Assaad Chaftari from Lebanon took an active part in the Lebanese civil war where he worked in the security and intelligence services of the Christian Lebanese Forces (LF). In 1985 he co-negotiated the Tripartite Agreement on behalf of the LF and co-created the WAED - National Secular Democratic party in 1990. When he met Initiatives of Change, he experienced a change of heart and wrote a public letter of repentance and apology to his victims in February 2000. In 2012 he co-created Fighters for Peace, an NGO of ex-civil war fighters from all denominations working together for civil peace, healing and immunising against violence. In 2016 he wrote an autobiography with the title The truth even with a trembling voice. Assaad has a long experience in public speaking, training and organising dialogues, conferences and mediation. Since 2016 he is a member of the Global Peace Builders Network. He is also a council member of Initiatives of Change International.

DR. PETER SHAMBROOK, Independant Scholar & Historical Consultant, Balfour Project

Peter Shambrook is an independent scholar and historical consultant to the Balfour Project, which works to advance equal rights for all in Palestine/Israel. He holds a PhD in modern Middle Eastern history from the University of Cambridge. Author of French Imperialism in Syria, 1927-1936 and Policy of Deceit - Britain and Palestine, 1914-1939. He lives in Durham, UK.

ANGELA STARAVOYTOVA and colleagues from Ukraine

Angela Starovoytova is passionate about building connections between people and communities. Her expertise is in using non-formal education and participatory facilitation methods to create a safe and trusting environment where individuals and groups can find personal transformation and changed relationships. Angela has 20 years of international experience organizing and running workshops/conferences/long-term programmes on such themes as ethical leadership, conflict-resolution, trust- and peacebuilding and critical thinking. She is one of the founders of Foundations for Freedom/Initiatives of Change (Ukraine), and has worked in Ukraine, UK, Switzerland, Germany and Uganda.

REV DR. JAMES MOVEL WUYE, Pentecoastal Pastor and Co-Executive Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre Kaduna, Nigeria

Rev Dr. James Movel Wuye is a Pentecostal Pastor with Assemblies of God Northern Nigeria (AGNN), and Co-Executive Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria. During the 1980s and 1990s he was involved in Christian activities targeted at protecting the Church from ethno-religious violence. He served in various committees for peace and reconciliation in Kaduna State, national and international level and was a member of the African Union (AU) Interfaith Committee. He is Assistant District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Northern Nigeria (AGNN), Secretary-General of the North-Western States of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and also a member of the National Executive Council of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). His peacebuilding effort has earned him numerous awards, including the Peace Activist Award of the Tanenbaum Center of Interreligious Understanding. He is the subject of several documentary films, like The Imam and the Pastor; a moving story of forgiveness and a case-study of a successful grass-roots initiative to rebuild communities torn apart by conflict.

IMAM DR. MUHAMMAD NURAYN ASHAFA, Co-Executive Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre Kaduna, Nigeria

Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa is the Co-executive Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria, a faith-based non-governmental organisation he co-founded in 1995, working to end violent clashes between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria. His work has spread beyond Nigeria to Ghana, Burundi, Chad and Kenya, among some other countries in Africa, and he has featured in documentary films promoting forgiveness and reconciliation. Imam Ashafa's work has earned him numerous honours and awards. Imam Ashafa took an active role in several documentary films, like Belief, a seven-part documentary series hosted by Oprah Winfrey. Iman Ashafa is the Ambassador of the Golden Rule of the United Religions Initiative (URI) and presently an Advisor on the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) programme, a USAID funded project under the lead of the Mercy Corps. He is recognized as one of the 500 Islamic influential figures around the world for his efforts in development in line with his peacebuilding efforts across the globe.

AMINA DIKEDI-AJAKAIYE, Immediate past-president of Creators of Peace International

Amina Dikedi-Ajakaiye (Nigeria/UK) has been actively involved in the work of the Initiatives of Change (IofC) since 1982. Originally a teacher, Amina decided to change her profession and run a fashion business in Lagos. While involved in her profession, Amina remained involved with IofC volunteer work. In 2000, as a member of the IofC International Coordination Group, Amina and others ran international pan-African ethical leadership programmes across Africa. In 2013, Amina was contracted as Project Leader to support the South Sudan Initiative for Peace and National Reconciliation. From 1994 to 2013 Amina served as International Coordinator to the Creators of Peace (CoP). She has been a Board member of IofC Nigeria since 2012 and a member of the IofC African Coordination Group (ACG) 2007 – 2010. She has worked with the Agenda for Reconciliation programme for over 10 years, served as convenor of the ACG and was President of Creators of Peace International. Through her work and her caring approach, Amina has earned the respect, trust and friendship of a large network of individuals throughout Africa and many countries beyond, from Presidents, and politicians, senior civil servants, traditional leaders, educators, business people and ordinary citizens.

NADA AL-NASHIF, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

17 JULY

PLENARY SPEAKERS

SENATOR BOGDAN KLICH, Chair, Senate Committee for Foreign and European Union Affairs

Senator Bogdan Klich is Chair of the Senate Committee for Foreign and European Union Affairs and the Leader of the Opposition in the Polish Senate. He comes from Krakow, where he also lectures in the Jagiellonian University. From 2007 to 2011 he served as Minister of Defence in the Government of Donald Tusk. As a student he was active in the struggle for a democratic country, and was interned in 1981 by the communist regime. He was a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2017.

SYLVIA VALENTIN, Advocacy Officer Terre des Hommes Switzerland & Board Member Coalition for Corporate Responsibility

Sylvia Valentin works in the department for development politics of terre des hommes schweiz where one of her focuses is corporate social responsibility. She mainly works on the illegal resource exploitation in Western Sahara and supports the Sahrawi people in their struggle for self-determination. She is also board member of the Coalition for Corporate Responsibility in Switzerland. The background of her PhD analyzing the work of NGOs working on freedom of the media lead her to support Reporter Without Borders Switzerland as board member for ten years.

CORINNE MOMAL-VANIAN, Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation

Corinne Momal-Vanian is the Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation. Previously, she worked in various senior positions and a variety of countries for the United Nations, most recently as Director of Conference Management at the United Nations Office at Geneva (2015-2020) and Director of Information (2010-2015).

Ms. Momal-Vanian served as Special Assistant to Kofi Annan in 2005 and 2006, traveling with him to some 20 countries as he worked to resolve crises, defuse tensions, highlight the plight of communities and individuals suffering from discrimination and abuses, build international cooperation and strengthen support for development and justice. She worked for a total of six years in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, after serving in two regional economic and social commissions of the United Nations.

Passionate about justice, gender equality, inclusion, innovation and learning, Ms. Momal-Vanian chaired the Steering Group of the International Gender Champions from 2016 to 2019 and was a co-organiser of the three editions of TEDxPlaceDesNations.

TODD HOWLAND, Chief of the Development, Economic, and Social Rights Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Todd Howland is Chief of the Development, Economic, and Social Rights Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. He oversees the work of the Office on cultural rights, social security rights, the rights of people with disabilities, minorities, women, older people, migrants and others. He has worked for human rights in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Colombia and elsewhere, and has been a Professor of Human Rights Law.

HOSTS

PETER RIDDELL, Convenor, Agenda for Reconciliation, Initiatives of Change UK

Peter Riddell (UK) is Convenor of Initiatives of Change UK’s Agenda for Reconciliation programme which supports refugees who wish to contribute to rebuilding their countries of origin. He has spent several decades with IofC organizing trustbuilding programmes between people of different faiths based on shared moral and spiritual values, in particular with people who have suffered due to Britain’s imperial legacy. He is a founder member of several organizations including British-Arab Exchanges and the Balfour Project.

DAYA BHAGWANDAS, Founding Director Neuro Network

Daya Bhagwandas works in the field of neurosciences and brain development with adults and children. A passionate social entrepreneur, her approach focuses on transformation linking brain development and achieving human potential. Her neuroeducation programme, Achieving Brain Competency (ABC), has been rolled out in schools in many countries. Daya`s work experience includes rehabilitating child soldiers and more recently at-risk youths in Malaysia. In Australia she was Assistant Director at Gymbaroo the country’s largest Early Childhood Development programme with 65 centres. Daya is editor of book Tomorrow`s Children. She is also an internationally certified Yoga Master and lives in Melbourne, Australia.

18 JULY

PLENARY SPEAKERS

MARTIN BOGOMILOV PENOV (Bulgaria), Development Consultant & Political Activist, Vice-President of the Young European Federalists

Martin Bogomilov Penov is an international development consultant and political activist focusing on youth policy and democracy at the European level, particularly in Eastern Europe. He grew up in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria and went on to study political science and international relations at the University of Manchester. During his time in the UK, he helped revive the Young European Movement UK, serving as its Vice-President and International Officer between 2020 and 2023 and campaigning for a closer relationship with the EU. As part of the board of YEM UK, he represented the organisation in a number of international conferences and worked closely with the EU Delegation to the UK on youth topics, as well as launched a charity campaign for Ukraine. Later in 2023 he was elected Vice-President of the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) where he currently leads the organisation's work on the rule of law, democracy, the war in Ukraine and the Eastern Partnership. Now back in Bulgaria, Martin is actively campaigning against corruption and advocating for a more transparent and democratic future for the country's youth, having participated in his first parliamentary election at the age of 23 as part of "Yes, Bulgaria!". Martin is also a Young European Ambassador for the EU Neighbours East programme and has written about politics in Bulgaria and the wider region for a number of media outlets.

MURSAL KHAROTI (UK/Afghanistan), Mental Health Activist

Mursal Kharoti is a British-Afghan dedicated to advancing mental health services and infrastructure in conflict-affected nations. Her unique perspective is informed by her family's humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan, her academic background in Psychology as well as her passion for social ethics and creative writing. She is currently focusing on technological solutions for war trauma sufferers and the formation of community-based women's collectives in Kenya, focusing on whole-person development. Mursal's work aligns with core democratic principles and promotes the universal values of compassion and mutual understanding. Her humanistic worldview drives her dedication to fostering inclusive and equitable solutions particularly within education, mental health, and gender equality.

VERONICA TING-HSIN HONG (Taiwan), Coach and Facilitator

Veronica Hong is on a mission to foster an inclusive, inspiring, and loving world where people lead fulfilling lives as their authentic selves, in harmony with all beings and nature. Drawing on her unique blend of cross-cultural experiences, interdisciplinary background, and a varied career in multiple sectors, she excels at bridging cultures and disciplines and illuminating fresh possibilities. She hosts playful and regenerative spaces for exploration, deep connection, and co-creation, empowering individuals and teams to become creators for positive change.

PROF MYROSLAV MARYNOVYCH (Ukraine), President of the Institute of Religion and Society, Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv/Ukraine, Educator & Human Rights Activist

Myroslav Marynovych is the President of the Institute of Religion and Society at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Ukraine, and a Rector’s Adviser. He has organised and participated in multiple ecumenical meetings and those in the field of inter-religious and inter-ethnic dialogues. He was a founding member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group and a prisoner of conscience (1977–1987). Myroslav headed the Amnesty International structures in Ukraine (1991–1996) and is the former president of the Ukrainian Center of the PEN International (2010–2014). He is the Honorary President of the Ukrainian PEN-Center, a member of the “First December” Initiative (since 2011) and of the Nestor Group of Ukrainian intellectuals (since 2012). Myroslav Marynovych is a promoter of inter-ethnic and inter-religious reconciliation and cooperation. His personal experience of imprisonment was summarised in his memoirs The Universe behind Barbed Wire: Memoirs of a Soviet Ukrainian Dissident (2021).

AGOK MAKUR KUR AGOK (South Sudan), Deputy Minister of Finance

NATHALIE CHAVANNE O'NEILL (France), Member of Board of Directors Initiatives of Change France

Nathalie Chavanne O'Neill has had a long association with Initiatives of France, from her student days in Paris and England to her husband's involvement in links with the Arab world and French-speaking African countries. In France, she spent many years taking part in peace education programmes in secondary schools. She has also co-facilitated dialogue forums to help different cultural communities live together better in times of great tension. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Initiatives of Change France.

HON LEE JU-YOUNG (South Korea), former deputy speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly, former Minister of Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, five-term National Assembly member

VERONICA ALCOCER GARCIA, First Lady of Colombia

Verónica Alcócer García's dedication and commitment have been fundamental in the social work of her husband, Gustavo Petro, throughout his political career. She has played a crucial role in the promotion and development of social initiatives, positively impacting Colombian children. During her time as First Lady of Bogotá, Verónica Alcocer García dedicated her efforts to strengthening education and the integral well-being of children, youth and women. She used tools such as music to create safe environments and promote the integral development of these groups, reflecting her commitment to building a more just and inclusive society. Currently, as First Lady of the Republic of Colombia, she works tirelessly for national reconciliation, considering art, culture and active listening processes as tools to transform the social fabric, to promote unity and peaceful coexistence. From this vision, her lines of action are oriented towards the training and productive process of people deprived of liberty; access to drinking water as a right that promotes social justice; the integral wellbeing of children and the elderly, and the strengthening of women as agents of change, through artistic expressions and the customs of each territory. In addition, she has led her work in collaboration with the private sector and international cooperation to carry out fundamental alliances that unite communities and promote respect, identity and equality in the country.

CONTRIBUTOR

LEWIS CARDINAL, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue, Canada

Lewis Cardinal comes from the Woodland Cree people in northern Alberta, Canada. His long track record of public service includes founding Board Member of Alberta Aboriginal Arts, Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Commission for Human Rights and Justice, and Trustee of the Parliament of World Religions. He has received QE II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for Public Service, the IndSpire Award for Public Service, the Province of Alberta’s Centennial Medal for his work in Human Rights and Diversity, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Grant MacEwan University, and an Honorary Degree of “Doctor of Sacred Letters” from the University of Alberta.

WORKSHOP EXPERTS

JO BERRY, Founder of Building Bridges for Peace and Public Speaker

Jo Berry, an inspiring speaker and founder of the charity Building Bridges for Peace, emerged from a profound personal tragedy to become a global advocate for reconciliation. In 1984, her father fell victim to an IRA bomb, igniting a journey that led her to engage with the ex-combatant who planted the bomb, Patrick Magee. Their unprecedented relationship, documented in the BBC's "Facing the Enemy" and featured in films like "Beyond Right and Wrong" and "The Bomb," encapsulates Jo's belief in unbounded empathy as the key to transforming conflict. Jo's impactful message of hope resonates in international conferences and seminars on reconciliation, conflict resolution, and sustainable peace. She has shared her insights worldwide, from Lebanon to South Korea, contributing to panels, radio, and TV discussions. Her work has become a vital resource in peace studies and conflict transformation education globally. As a TEDx speaker and Visiting Fellow at the University of Nottingham, Jo's influence extends beyond speeches. She has crafted workshops on conflict resolution, difficult conversations, and navigating uncertainty, both in-person and virtually. Jo Berry's journey exemplifies the power of empathy in overcoming deep divisions and fostering understanding.

DR PATRICK MAGEE, Author and Public Speaker

Dr Patrick Magee was released from prison in 1999 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Shortly after his release, he completed a PhD examining the representation of Irish Republicans in ‘Troubles’ fiction. For 27 years he was a committed member of the IRA. In November 2000 he agreed to meet Jo Berry, whose father had been killed along with four others in the IRA’s attack on the Grand Hotel, Brighton in 1984. Since then they have met on more than 200 occasions, in Ireland, the UK and overseas. Although Pat carries the burden of knowing he had caused Jo profound hurt, they continue to explore their common humanity, recognising that war robs combatants of what it is to be human, of an essential capacity to empathise and to see the world through the eyes of others. Patrick Magee's memoir 'Where Grieving Begins - Building Bridges after the Brighton Bomb' was published by Pluto Press in 2021.

DR. MUNA ISMAIL, Programme Manager Refugees as Re-Builders™, IofC UK

Dr Muna Ismail is the Programme Manager and team leader for Refugees as Re-Builders™ of Initiatives of Change UK. She is a plant scientist by training and an environmentalist interested in the ecosystem restoration of degraded arid land for sustainable livelihood regeneration. A former refugee herself, Muna’s vision has guided the development of the Refugees as Re-builders™ training programme since 2016. Muna completed her doctoral research at King’s College London and subsequently held visiting postdoc research at the School of Pharmacy, University College London and the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. Muna is interested in arid land wild crops domestication and rural community land regeneration for food security in the Horn of Africa for sustainable livelihood. Muna is Founder of The Yeheb Project charity focused on regeneration and domestication of the yeheb plant, a hardy droughtresistant legume that is a source of food to both humans and livestock in the Horn of Africa.

ALHAMISS DICKO, President GEN-émergent, Mauritania

Alhamiss Dicko is the President of the GEN-émergent association in Mauritania. Alhamiss is developing new opportunities for refugees in Africa.

ANGELA STARAVOYTOVA and colleagues from Ukraine

RICHARD WERLY, Journalist - France & Europe correspondant for Blick

Richard Werly is the France and Europe correspondent for Blick, Switzerland's largest newspaper. He appears frequently in TV news programmes in France and Switzerland, and has been awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Republic. He is also senior strategic advisor to the Swiss Diplo Foundation, which aims to improve global governance and international policy development, especially by increasing the power of small and developing states to influence their own futures.

CAROLINE VUILLEMIN, General Director Fondation Hirondelle

Caroline Vuillemin has been General Director of Fondation Hirondelle since 1 January , 2017. Fondation Hirondelle is a Swiss non-profit organisation founded in 1995, which provides information to populations facing crises, empowering them to take action in their daily lives and as citizens. Her career reflects a commitment to international development in the field of good governance, democratic participation and access to information. She joined Fondation Hirondelle in December 2003. Committed to helping public-interest media, including radio, meet the economic, governance and technological transformation challenges they face, she is a board member of the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD). Prior to Fondation Hirondelle, she worked for the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), where she took part in numerous electoral observation missions in Africa. Caroline holds a bachelor's degree from the Institut d'études politiques de Lyon, complemented by a degree in international relations from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

SARAH NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation

MARK GOYDER, Founder Director of Tomorrow’s Company

Marc Goyder is the Founder and Director of Tomorrow's Company, a London-based think-tank focusing on rediscovering the human purposes of business.

ANTOINE JAULMES, Consultant in business ethics, corporate management and corporate social responsibility

Antoine Jaulmes is a graduate engineer from Mines ParisTech. He worked for 35 years at Peugeot SA, where he held several management positions, including eight years as Director of the global platform for commercial vehicles and cooperation projects.With a long experience in industrial and R&D management positions, he is now a consultant in business ethics, corporate management and corporate social responsibility, and he also leads the Initiatives of Change Business & Economy Programme. Since his youth he has been concerned about the tragedy of extreme poverty in the world and by the prospect of planetary exhaustion in the face of world population growth. He now works to help business leaders take all their stakeholders, near and far, into account and to steer their companies towards serving humanity’s needs. He chaired the board of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation from 2012 to 2018.

SIDRA RASLAN, Creative Leadership & HP Partner Sustainability Programme

DR IRINA FEDORENKO-AULA, Researcher, Serial Green Tech Entrepreneur

Dr Irina Fedorenko-Aula is a researcher and a serial green tech entrepreneur working on nature-based solutions. She is a steering group member at Initiatives of Land Lives and Peace, a programme of IofC International. She previously served as a Managing Director of Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security. Irina co-founded the first tree-planting drone company and ran ecosystem restoration projects in Asia and Africa. She is a co-founder at Flying Forests that uses technology to empower local communities and Vlinder that develops Social Blue Carbon projects. Irina is an expert on carbon sequestration, having obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford as a recipient of the Weidenfeld-Hoffman Trust Scholarship. In Oxford, she mentors young climate activists and entrepreneurs, who want to work on the interplay of people, technology and sustainability.

DR ALAN CHANNER, Film Director, Environment and Peace Specialist

Dr Alan Channer is a specialist in the nexus between environment and peace. He has carried out research in agricultural ecology in Tuvalu, Malawi and China and worked in peacebuilding in Cambodia, Kenya, Nigeria and Chad. He has served as a consultant for the United Nations Development Programme, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Transparency International, the Global EverGreening Alliance, World Agroforestry and the World Council of Churches. He was director of the award-winning documentary film ‘The Imam and the Pastor’ and a runner-up for the Bremen International Peace Prize. He has been inspired by growing up within the ethos of Initiatives of Change.

AILI CHANNER, Researcher & Writer

Aili Channer is a researcher and writer interested in thinking historically and philosophically about the cultural patterns that have led to our contemporary ecological crises and how to create societal renewal. This interest took her to Bhutan to learn how this country puts its economy at the service of human wellbeing and the natural world. More recently, she has been working for Earthrise, Al Jazeera’s environmental solutions series. She is a graduate of the University of Oxford.

CHRISTOPH SPRENG, Advisor to the Standing Comittee CINGO

Christoph Spreng, Switzerland, has been representing Initiatives of Change at the Council of Europe since 2006 and in his role has been entrusted a large variety of specific assignments. He was Vice-President of CINGO until April 2024 and was asked to continue his work at CINGO as Advisor to the Standing Comittee. Christoph is also the coordinator of the INGO Dialogue Toolkit Hub. In June 2017 he was appointed INGO Special Advisor for Human Rights and Business and has been representing CINGO at the CoE North-South Centre since 2018.

At the occasion of 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe, Christoph Spreng has helped his colleagues to organise this 10th edition of World NGO Day as their contribution as representatives from and in Europe to a global event that wants to treasure the civic space and show its potential at a time when this space is so challenged.

DR LAURIE JOHNSTON, Professor of Theology, Emmanuel College, Boston/USA

Dr Laurie Johnston is Professor of Theology at Emmanuel College in Boston where she teaches courses on social ethics. She is the author or editor of works on peacebuilding, reconciliation, and just war theory and most recently edited a journal issue on the thought of Jacques Maritain and contemporary challenges to democracy. She also serves as the Executive Vice President of the Sant'Egidio Foundation for Peace and Dialogue. She first visited Caux in 1999.

ELIZABETH LASKAR, Programme Manager Creators of Peace IofC UK, Facilitator & Trainer

Elizabeth Laskar is a Creators of Peace facilitator and trainer, and a mindfulness practitioner. Since 2021, she has been part-time programme manager with Initiatives of Change UK and joint National Coordinator of Creators of Peace UK. From 2004 to 2014, she advocated for justice in the sustainable fashion sector. She holds a master's in shelter and disaster, led the Oxford Human Rights Festival (2019-2021), and volunteers as Treasurer of the Oxford Fair Trade Coalition. She loves cooking and hospitality.

RUKMINI IYER, Founder of Exult! Solutions

Rukmini Iyer is the founder of Exult! Solutions and integrates leadership development, organisational transformation, and peacebuilding. With over 23 years of experience, she emphasises ecocentrism, dialogue, and conscious leadership. She is a Creators of Peace facilitator and also leads governance on the CoP International Committee and has master's degrees in Organisational Psychology and Business Management. Rukmini has received multiple awards, including the Soularize Award (2023) and Vital Voices Visionaries Fellow (2022). Her interests include nature art, space fiction, and philosophy.

MIRANDA SHAW, Programme Manager Initiatives of Change UK

Miranda Shaw has been a programme manager with Initiatives of Change UK since 2021 and is a facilitator and trainer with Creators of Peace. She currently volunteers as Treasurer for Creators of Peace International. She has been involved with Creators of Peace since 2011 and been one of the UK National Coordinators since 2016. She graduated with a degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford in 2009 and since then has been involved in climate and housing activism, personal development work, catering large community events, and supporting activists fighting illegal deportations from the UK. She has taught the violin and managed a community cafe until 2021. She loves to dance and spends as much time as possible reading and gardening.

JANE NAMURYE, Facilitator, UK/South Sudan

Jane Namurye from the UK/South Sudan is a facilitator is passionate about peace and reconciliation work. She iskeen in reaching out to women and enable them to become peacemakers in their own contexts. Her international and local involvement in pursuit for peace has enabled her to connect and network with many peace loving women in her country South Sudan and internationally.

KEREN LEWIS, Artist & Art Psychotherapist

Keren Lewis is an Artist and Art Psychotherapist and member of Women on the Front Line, an initiative which supports women living and working in conflict environments. She has co-led retreats and training in South Sudan, DRC, Melanesia and India with a particular emphasis on enabling creative and therapeutic spaces. Keren has most recently been working as an Art Psychotherapist with homeless women and vulnerable children in London, all of whom have experienced complex trauma.

Previously Keren worked as part of the Community of St. Anselm at Lambeth Palace, a global community of young people, running art workshops, co-leading retreats and providing spiritual accompaniment. Alongside this, she worked as a multi disciplinary Artist in residence, providing contemplative work for their exhibition space in her mediums of printmaking, painting and fibre art. Keren also worked alongside refugee women at the British Red Cross's Destitution Centre in East London establishing a retreat and making space.

Keren's wider background includes a decade in international development; including reconciliation projects in Israel/Palestinian Territories and Southern Nigeria, rapid recovery programming in South Sudan supporting local communities to build on existing local systems for implementing projects, as well as seeking opportunities to provide creative classes and projects for local children.

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