THE TEAM
Our team brings together passionate professionals from across the globe, committed to policy innovation, social justice, and sustainable development.
✦ The Route We Follow
Mission
To promote policy innovations that advance social justice, sustainable development, and peacebuilding through evidence-based research and community engagement.
Vision
A world where local communities have the power to shape policies that reflect their needs, creating sustainable and just societies for all.
✦ Board of Directors & Executive Leadership
Jorge Valderrábano
they/themChair of the Board & Advocacy Officer
Jorge holds B.A.'s in International Relations and Social Work, and an M.A. in Political Economy from New York University. As Advocacy Officer at Ágora, Jorge has collaborated with public and private institutions promoting projects on disarmament, drug policy and peacebuilding, including the International Rescue Committee, the Human Rights Campaign and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.
Salma Hurtado
she/herVice President of the Board & Research Officer
Salma Hurtado serves as Vice President of the Board and Research Officer at Ágora. In this role, she oversees strategic organizational governance and directs policy research methodologies across international projects. Salma works to ensure that research outputs generated at Ágora deliver rigorous, evidence-based proposals to national and international decision-makers.
Karla Sofía
she/herSecretary of the Board & Communications Officer
Karla Sofía serves as Secretary of the Board and Communications Officer at Ágora. She manages executive governance records, organizational compliance, and external communications strategy. Karla coordinates outreach initiatives designed to translate complex policy research into accessible public narratives and international advocacy campaigns.
✦ Project & Capacity Management
Isabella Galdámez
she/herProject Manager
Isabella Galdámez holds a degree in Finance and Banking from Escuela Bancaria y Comercial (EBC) and works as a Cash Advance Assistant. Driven by a commitment to aligning financial expertise with sustainable development, she works to integrate economic strategy with environmental stewardship at Ágora. Personal interests include studying languages, reading, and solving complex puzzles.
Sarah Nasimiyu
she/herCapacity Building Coordinator
Sarah Nasimiyu is an advocate for social and economic justice with over a decade of civil society experience. Holding a Master's degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Sarah specializes in social dynamics and policy assessment, designing capacity-building programs that drive sustainable community impact across international networks.
✦ Regional Coordination
Gervais Ndihokubwayo
he/himRegional Coordinator
Gervais Ndihokubwayo is an Indigenous Batwa leader and the head of the Initiative to Promote Batwa Indigenous People for Sustainable Development (IPREBAD). He holds a Bachelor's degree in Letters and Human Sciences from the State University of Burundi, alongside diplomas in Human Resources, Project Management, and Environmental Law. Gervais leads regional advocacy centered on advancing Indigenous rights and climate justice within multilateral forums.
✦ Communications & Global Advocacy
Oussoumanou Aminou
he/himCommunications Officer
Oussoumanou Aminou serves as Communications Officer at Ágora, where he develops multilateral messaging strategies and international press relations. His work focuses on expanding global awareness of Ágora's policy initiatives and coordinating multilingual public communications across diverse regional networks.
Kingsley Osajie
he/himCommunications Officer
Kingsley Osajie leads the Citizens Diplomat Society of the People's Accord. With expertise spanning political science, social work, and public administration, Kingsley brings a visionary approach to implementing community projects and advancing international policy advocacy focused on justice and human rights.
Amb. Abdussalam Haruna Sulaiman
he/himCommunications Officer
Amb. Abdussalam Haruna Sulaiman is the Founder and Executive Director of the Network for Youth Enlightenment and Development (N-YED). Holding a Bachelor's degree in Human Anatomy from Yusuf Maitama Sule University, he advocates for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and expands youth civic engagement through global channels.
✦ Policy Research & Technical Associates
Sümeyye Öztek
she/herUN Youth Representative
Sümeyye Öztek is a scholar in international law and global governance pursuing community college studies with a focus on multilateral policy frameworks. Driven by a commitment to equitable social development and systemic justice, Sümeyye engages in research surrounding global policy, human rights mechanisms, and cross-border cooperation at Ágora.
Evan Tan
he/himUN Youth Representative
Evan Tan brings over two years of experience across private banking, institutional brokerage, private equity, and quantitative research. Holding a Master of Science in Statistics from Columbia University, Evan combines technical expertise in data modeling with civic engagement, noting that "volunteering is a meaningful way to give back, learn from different experiences, and contribute time and energy to something beyond myself." At Ágora, Evan applies analytical frameworks to evaluate program efficacy and support data-driven policy recommendations.
Ishar Zaidi
they/themUN Youth Representative
Ishar Zaidi is a public health advocate with practical experience in clinical and community health settings. Committed to health equity, structural accessibility, and human rights, Ishar's work centers on strengthening community resilience through health education and systemic advocacy, ensuring community perspectives remain central to policy design at Ágora.
Lawson Smith
he/himM&E Officer
Lawson Smith is an international political economist holding a B.A. from the University of Southern California and an M.Sc. in International Political Economy from University College Dublin. Lawson's research explores macroeconomic forces, structural inequality, and democratic representation. Having supported multilateral programs for the UN SDGs and marine biodiversity, Lawson works at Ágora to recontextualize macroeconomic analysis into community-centered development initiatives.
Avilash Jayakumar
he/himClimate, Peace and Security Officer
Avilash Jayakumar is an Applied Physics and Economics candidate at Columbia University whose research focuses on sustainable energy transitions, youth civic leadership, and global climate governance. Experienced in organizing Model United Nations forums, Avilash views internationalism and cross-cultural diplomacy as essential tools for addressing systemic global challenges. At Ágora, Avilash works on climate policy and youth empowerment strategies to drive energy transitions centered on social equity.
Jade Yang
she/herClimate, Peace and Security Officer
Jade Yang is a Master of International Affairs candidate at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), specializing in Climate, Energy, and Environment. Jade holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Northeastern University and previously served as an Investigative Analyst at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Her background across five criminal justice agencies informs her focus at Ágora on climate adaptation, governance, resilience, and human security for vulnerable populations.