CURRENT BOARD MEMBER PROFILES
Cristian Birzer, President
Adelaide, Australia
Qualifications:
B.E. (Mechanical) (University of Adelaide)
Ph.D. (University of Adelaide)
Current Employment: Senior Research Associate, The Centre for Energy Technology, The University of Adelaide
Professional Experience: Dr Cristian Birzer is a mechanical engineer and Senior Research Associate with the Centre for Energy Technology at the University of Adelaide, Australia. His research fields are in fluid mechanics, combustion and laser diagnostics, with major foci on the optimisation of energy systems, renewable energy sources and emissions control and mitigation. Dr Birzer is a former consultant engineer and also member of the Australian Defence Force, having worked in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.
Dr Birzer is active member of Engineers Australia, as a Division Member of the South Australian Division, as Chair of Young Engineers Australia - South Australia (YEA-SA) Division, and on the Organising Committee for the Engineering Leadership Conference - 2012. He was elected to the Board of Directors of IYPF in 2010 with his term ending at the end of 2012. Dr Birzer's major focus with IYPF is to improve world-wide education.
Contact
cristianbirzer@iypf.org
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/cristian.birzer
Qualifications:
B.E. (Mechanical) (University of Adelaide)
Ph.D. (University of Adelaide)
Current Employment: Senior Research Associate, The Centre for Energy Technology, The University of Adelaide
Professional Experience: Dr Cristian Birzer is a mechanical engineer and Senior Research Associate with the Centre for Energy Technology at the University of Adelaide, Australia. His research fields are in fluid mechanics, combustion and laser diagnostics, with major foci on the optimisation of energy systems, renewable energy sources and emissions control and mitigation. Dr Birzer is a former consultant engineer and also member of the Australian Defence Force, having worked in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.
Dr Birzer is active member of Engineers Australia, as a Division Member of the South Australian Division, as Chair of Young Engineers Australia - South Australia (YEA-SA) Division, and on the Organising Committee for the Engineering Leadership Conference - 2012. He was elected to the Board of Directors of IYPF in 2010 with his term ending at the end of 2012. Dr Birzer's major focus with IYPF is to improve world-wide education.
Contact
cristianbirzer@iypf.org
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/cristian.birzer
Sarah Yani Vann-Sander, Vice-President
California, United States
Qualifications:
BSc (Global Change Science and Interdisciplinary Research) with First Class Honours (Human Geography), Australian National University
Current Employment: Catalina Island Marine Institute, Program Coordinator/ Instructor
Professional Experience: Sarah is a young, aspiring leader in the sustainable development field. Her professional experience has centered around research for social change and environmental sustainability as well as grassroots advocacy and community development. Aside from her university degree, she received a summer scholarship to the James Martin 21st Century School at the University of Oxford (majoring in History, Politics and Global Leadership) University of Oxford. Further, she undertook the Vietnam Field School at Đại học Đà Nẵng (majoring in Human Geography and Sustainable Development).
She has been involved previously with several other boards and professional organisations. These roles included; Member of the Board of Directors, ACT Women's Centre for Health Matters; ANU Environmental Management and Planning Committee; and Vice-President, ANU Goodwill Society, to name a few.
Contact
Email: sarahvannsander@iypf.org
Phone: +1-415-963-2937
Twitter: @SarahVannSander
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahvannsander
Qualifications:
BSc (Global Change Science and Interdisciplinary Research) with First Class Honours (Human Geography), Australian National University
Current Employment: Catalina Island Marine Institute, Program Coordinator/ Instructor
Professional Experience: Sarah is a young, aspiring leader in the sustainable development field. Her professional experience has centered around research for social change and environmental sustainability as well as grassroots advocacy and community development. Aside from her university degree, she received a summer scholarship to the James Martin 21st Century School at the University of Oxford (majoring in History, Politics and Global Leadership) University of Oxford. Further, she undertook the Vietnam Field School at Đại học Đà Nẵng (majoring in Human Geography and Sustainable Development).
She has been involved previously with several other boards and professional organisations. These roles included; Member of the Board of Directors, ACT Women's Centre for Health Matters; ANU Environmental Management and Planning Committee; and Vice-President, ANU Goodwill Society, to name a few.
Contact
Email: sarahvannsander@iypf.org
Phone: +1-415-963-2937
Twitter: @SarahVannSander
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahvannsander
Nick Byrne, Treasurer
Brisbane, Australia
Qualifications:
B.E. (Civil & Environmental) with Honors, University of Adelaide
Master of Social Science (International Development), RMIT University pending
Diploma of Arts (French Major) Studying
Current Employment: Knowledge Manager, Engineers Without Borders Australia
Professional Experience: Nick passionately believes that the business paradigm should be working for us, to enrich people's life and enhance innovation to solve the problems of the day. Through local initiatives and involvement with EWB and IYPF, he is working towards a vision of an 'open knowledge' culture amongst the professional sector. This means engaging people to demonstrate the benefits of collaboration - enhanced innovation and shared celebration.
He feels very lucky to be working with Engineers Without Borders Australia, as their Knowledge Manager. This sees him responsible for the coordination of the EWB Knowledge Centre seed/startup phase - an initiative presenting amazing opportunity for EWB to expand their engagement with the corporate sector, use their knowledge more efficiently internally and share their knowledge externally. Outside of EWB-A, he founded the Brisbane Development Circle, a local initiative aimed at enhancing the development sector industry linkages.
Websites
http://www.ewb.org.au
http://www.thinkactlive.com
http://www.thedevelopmentcircle.com.au
Contact
Email: nickbyrne@iypf.org
Phone: +61 430 031 476
Twitter: @ByrneNick
Qualifications:
B.E. (Civil & Environmental) with Honors, University of Adelaide
Master of Social Science (International Development), RMIT University pending
Diploma of Arts (French Major) Studying
Current Employment: Knowledge Manager, Engineers Without Borders Australia
Professional Experience: Nick passionately believes that the business paradigm should be working for us, to enrich people's life and enhance innovation to solve the problems of the day. Through local initiatives and involvement with EWB and IYPF, he is working towards a vision of an 'open knowledge' culture amongst the professional sector. This means engaging people to demonstrate the benefits of collaboration - enhanced innovation and shared celebration.
He feels very lucky to be working with Engineers Without Borders Australia, as their Knowledge Manager. This sees him responsible for the coordination of the EWB Knowledge Centre seed/startup phase - an initiative presenting amazing opportunity for EWB to expand their engagement with the corporate sector, use their knowledge more efficiently internally and share their knowledge externally. Outside of EWB-A, he founded the Brisbane Development Circle, a local initiative aimed at enhancing the development sector industry linkages.
Websites
http://www.ewb.org.au
http://www.thinkactlive.com
http://www.thedevelopmentcircle.com.au
Contact
Email: nickbyrne@iypf.org
Phone: +61 430 031 476
Twitter: @ByrneNick
Constance Georgina Khaendi Walyaro
Nairobi, Kenya
Qualifications:
Master of Business Administration, Cambridge University.
Current Employment: President, Citron Wood Foundation
Professional Experience: Connie has always been aware of her purpose and obligation to help build a world in which peace, justice, solidarity; human dignity and respect for nature prevail, so in 2002 she established Citron Wood Foundation. CWF is bringing positive and sustainable socioeconomic development where it is needed most' by empowering disadvantaged communities with tools and resources to fight from poverty, conflict, hunger and disease.
Connie has always been passionate about Trade Justice Advocacy, Bio-safety & GMOs, protecting the right to health in EU-EAC EPAs, effectively addressing HIV & Aids, fighting Poverty and contributing to the fulfilment of the MDGs. For over 8 years she has contributed immensely to various key development processes including: Gov Of Kenya-UNICEF Work Plan, NEPAD APRM, ECOSOC, WSIS, WTO MC6, UNGASS, GCAP, Kenya Vision2030, GMC Lessons for Life.
In 2004 Oxfam Int. Youth Parliament selected Connie to join their global network of social change leaders and activists working to build a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world. In 2005 she was selected to join the Oxfam IYP Trade Justice Programme. In 2007 she was selected by Seatini/Tarsc/Equinet to form the Kenyan Team that initiated national action plans to take forward measures to protect health goals within TRIPs and Economic Partnership Agreements [EPAs] currently being negotiated between EU and EAC countries. Connie has also gained a wealth of knowledge through numerous local and global development initiatives. Connie definitely brings a wealth of experience, ambition and success through her initiatives in Africa.
Connie plans to study a PhD in International Trade with a focus on Health Economics, Policy and Law.
".... as long a poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest. Alleviating poverty is not an act of charity, It s an act of duty."
Nelson Mandela
Email: constancewalyaro@iypf.org
Qualifications:
Master of Business Administration, Cambridge University.
Current Employment: President, Citron Wood Foundation
Professional Experience: Connie has always been aware of her purpose and obligation to help build a world in which peace, justice, solidarity; human dignity and respect for nature prevail, so in 2002 she established Citron Wood Foundation. CWF is bringing positive and sustainable socioeconomic development where it is needed most' by empowering disadvantaged communities with tools and resources to fight from poverty, conflict, hunger and disease.
Connie has always been passionate about Trade Justice Advocacy, Bio-safety & GMOs, protecting the right to health in EU-EAC EPAs, effectively addressing HIV & Aids, fighting Poverty and contributing to the fulfilment of the MDGs. For over 8 years she has contributed immensely to various key development processes including: Gov Of Kenya-UNICEF Work Plan, NEPAD APRM, ECOSOC, WSIS, WTO MC6, UNGASS, GCAP, Kenya Vision2030, GMC Lessons for Life.
In 2004 Oxfam Int. Youth Parliament selected Connie to join their global network of social change leaders and activists working to build a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world. In 2005 she was selected to join the Oxfam IYP Trade Justice Programme. In 2007 she was selected by Seatini/Tarsc/Equinet to form the Kenyan Team that initiated national action plans to take forward measures to protect health goals within TRIPs and Economic Partnership Agreements [EPAs] currently being negotiated between EU and EAC countries. Connie has also gained a wealth of knowledge through numerous local and global development initiatives. Connie definitely brings a wealth of experience, ambition and success through her initiatives in Africa.
Connie plans to study a PhD in International Trade with a focus on Health Economics, Policy and Law.
".... as long a poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest. Alleviating poverty is not an act of charity, It s an act of duty."
Nelson Mandela
Email: constancewalyaro@iypf.org
‘Gbenga Sesan
Nigeria
Qualifications:
BSc, B.E. (Electronic & Electrical), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Current Employment: Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria
Professional Experience: ‘Gbenga Sesan, an Ashoka Fellow, is the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), a social enterprise that connects underserved people-groups with ICT-enabled opportunities. PIN's projects include Ajegunle.org (a capacity development initiative that connects the community's youth with training, internship and mentorship opportunities) and MISSPIN (the social campaign that is tackling cybercrime issues in Nigeria). Originally trained as an Electronic & Electrical Engineer at Obafemi Awolowo University, ‘Gbenga completed management training at Lagos Business School, New York Group for Technology Transfer, Oxford University, Harvard University, Stanford University and Santa Clara University. His consulting experience includes assignments completed for numerous institutions, including Microsoft, Harvard University, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Freedom House, Res Publica, Computer Aid International, Heinrich Boll Foundation and the International Telecommunications Union.
Beyond Nigeria, ‘Gbenga has consulted and made presentations in various countries. A member of the United Nations Committee of eLeaders on Youth and ICT, he is a Crans Montana Forum Fellow, Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow, Ashoka Fellow and Our Common Future Fellow. ‘Gbenga was Nigeria's first Information Technology Youth Ambassador and served as the Vice Chair of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa's African Technical Advisory Committee. In 2006, he was appointed as the youngest member of the Nigerian Presidential Task Force on the Restructuring of the Nigerian Information Technology and Telecommunications Sectors. His book, In My Own Words, was published by Imprimata in September 2009.
'Gbenga has been honoured with numerous fellowships and awards for his service. He has been profiled as an Icon of ICT in Nigeria and he keeps a personal website atwww.gbengasesan.com. ‘Gbenga is married to Temilade, a PhD scholar with research interests in Sustainable Energy Development in developing economies (especially Nigeria and Kenya).
Websites
http://www.gbengasesan.com
http://www.pinigeria.org
Contact
Email: gbengasesan@iypf.org
Phone: +234 1 741 56 25
Qualifications:
BSc, B.E. (Electronic & Electrical), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Current Employment: Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria
Professional Experience: ‘Gbenga Sesan, an Ashoka Fellow, is the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), a social enterprise that connects underserved people-groups with ICT-enabled opportunities. PIN's projects include Ajegunle.org (a capacity development initiative that connects the community's youth with training, internship and mentorship opportunities) and MISSPIN (the social campaign that is tackling cybercrime issues in Nigeria). Originally trained as an Electronic & Electrical Engineer at Obafemi Awolowo University, ‘Gbenga completed management training at Lagos Business School, New York Group for Technology Transfer, Oxford University, Harvard University, Stanford University and Santa Clara University. His consulting experience includes assignments completed for numerous institutions, including Microsoft, Harvard University, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Freedom House, Res Publica, Computer Aid International, Heinrich Boll Foundation and the International Telecommunications Union.
Beyond Nigeria, ‘Gbenga has consulted and made presentations in various countries. A member of the United Nations Committee of eLeaders on Youth and ICT, he is a Crans Montana Forum Fellow, Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow, Ashoka Fellow and Our Common Future Fellow. ‘Gbenga was Nigeria's first Information Technology Youth Ambassador and served as the Vice Chair of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa's African Technical Advisory Committee. In 2006, he was appointed as the youngest member of the Nigerian Presidential Task Force on the Restructuring of the Nigerian Information Technology and Telecommunications Sectors. His book, In My Own Words, was published by Imprimata in September 2009.
'Gbenga has been honoured with numerous fellowships and awards for his service. He has been profiled as an Icon of ICT in Nigeria and he keeps a personal website atwww.gbengasesan.com. ‘Gbenga is married to Temilade, a PhD scholar with research interests in Sustainable Energy Development in developing economies (especially Nigeria and Kenya).
Websites
http://www.gbengasesan.com
http://www.pinigeria.org
Contact
Email: gbengasesan@iypf.org
Phone: +234 1 741 56 25
Bernise Ang
Singapore
Qualifications:
BSc (Psychology)
Current Employment: Assistant Vice President, Office of the CEO (Property & Hospitality), Straits Trading Company
Professional Experience: Bernise Ang is a social entrepreneur who works with young people to realise their potential to positively impact society. Though trained in psychology, she thrives on making connections between different worlds - technology, business, design, society, sustainability, and the human condition. Inspired by student activism in her university days, she started Syinc, a Singapore-based nonprofit that connects like-minded young people to seek, create, and collaborate on innovative solutions for social change. Syinc does this in two ways: by equipping youth with skills for adaptive problem-solving; and by building support networks of community-minded peers.
For this work, she has received a number of awards, including the International Youth Foundation YouthActionNet Fellowship and the Foundation for Youth Social Entrepreneurship's Paragon Fellowship. Most recently, she was named Singapore Woman of the Year 2011.
Bernise also holds a full-time role in change management and strategic development at a Singapore-based investment and property firm. She also serves as a board member of International Youth Foundation, and continues to provide strategic mentorship to a number of social organisations in Asia and internationally.
Website: www.syinc.org
Contact
Twitter @bernise
Facebook www.facebook.com/bernise.ang
Qualifications:
BSc (Psychology)
Current Employment: Assistant Vice President, Office of the CEO (Property & Hospitality), Straits Trading Company
Professional Experience: Bernise Ang is a social entrepreneur who works with young people to realise their potential to positively impact society. Though trained in psychology, she thrives on making connections between different worlds - technology, business, design, society, sustainability, and the human condition. Inspired by student activism in her university days, she started Syinc, a Singapore-based nonprofit that connects like-minded young people to seek, create, and collaborate on innovative solutions for social change. Syinc does this in two ways: by equipping youth with skills for adaptive problem-solving; and by building support networks of community-minded peers.
For this work, she has received a number of awards, including the International Youth Foundation YouthActionNet Fellowship and the Foundation for Youth Social Entrepreneurship's Paragon Fellowship. Most recently, she was named Singapore Woman of the Year 2011.
Bernise also holds a full-time role in change management and strategic development at a Singapore-based investment and property firm. She also serves as a board member of International Youth Foundation, and continues to provide strategic mentorship to a number of social organisations in Asia and internationally.
Website: www.syinc.org
Contact
Twitter @bernise
Facebook www.facebook.com/bernise.ang
