Rachel Pulfer

Rachel Pulfer
Executive Director

Working with journalists Michael Cooke, Troy Reeb and Lisa LaFlamme among many many others, Pulfer pioneered an approach to media partnerships that embedded Canadian journalism experts in training programs with JHR across the media landscape. On her watch the organization has more than doubled its budget (growing at a rate of 25% over the past two years) while winning several regional and national awards acknowledging the impact of JHR programs. Such recognition includes the 2018 Bill Hutton Award for Excellence in Journalism from RTDNA Canada, 2018 Ontario Heritage Award and 2013 Canadian Ethnic Media Award for Innovation for the Indigenous Reporters Program, and a 2013 Governor-General’s Award for Services to the People of Ghana. 

She is a contributing editor to Corporate Knights magazine, a Fellow of the Brookfield Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a member of the Banff Forum.

Prior to running JHR, Rachel was the 2009-2010 Webster-McConnell William Southam Journalism Fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto. She was a columnist and US correspondent for Canadian Business, as well as a member of the editorial. She continues to work as a journalist, writing op-eds and features for the Walrus, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Azure and many other publications.

Bill Killorn
Interim Executive Director

Bill Killorn is the Interim Executive Director of Journalists for Human Rights. Prior to starting his term as the Interim ED, Bill served as the organization’s Deputy Director from 2020-2023. Since joining JHR, Bill has taken the lead on building the internal infrastructure to foster organizational growth including strengthening human resources, stakeholder management, communications and project reporting. Bill has also played key roles in international projects in South Sudan, Kenya, DRC, Tunisia, Turkey and Iraq.

Over the course of his career Bill has held positions in both the government and private sectors including serving as the Executive Director of Issues Management and Legislative Affairs to the Premier of Ontario and as a Senior Manager of Issues Management and Media Relations for Rogers Communications.

Bill is a passionate leader who strives to create an environment focussed on consensus building and empathy in order to achieve goals. Bill is an avid believer in the vital role journalism plays in democracy and good public policy and is honored to help JHR grow its programs both in Canada and internationally. Originally from Halifax, Bill currently lives in Hamilton with his wife Tami and children Hudson and Sloane.

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Nabin Pokharel
Finance Director

Nabin Pokharel is the JHR Finance Manager. Nabin has over ten years of experience in financial management, internal control, administration, community development and micro finance areas. He has worked with international development agencies such as the UN Development Programme and World Bank on projects in Nepal. Nabin has a masters degree in business administration (MBA) from Tribhuwan University, Nepal, and advance diploma in accounting from Centennial College, Toronto, Canada. Nabin works closely with JHR’s country offices and partner agencies to streamline the financial management, documentation and financial reporting processes. JHR is very pleased to have Nabin on the team!

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Janine DeVries
Director of Policy and Operations

Janine is working on communications, research, donor stewardship and fundraising for JHR.

Janine has graduated in International Relations (MA) and International Human Rights Law (LLM) from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. She has worked on a wide range of human rights issues and international development since, and has done in depth research in eastern Congo on the obstacles and remedies to legal assistance for victims of sexual violence.

With an international perspective, and cross-cultural experiences, she is excited to contribute to JHR’s media development programs and sees journalism and press freedom as one of the crucial links for people to obtain their human rights.

Zein Al Mograhby

Zein Almograhby
Director, International Programs & Growth

Zein joined JHR in October 2015 as a consultant on grant development, and moved on to the program manager position for South Sudan in March 2016. After studying law, Zein started his professional life as a legal aide to Syrian human rights advocacy before moving on to media development, working as program coordinator at the Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ) in Amman, Jordan.

At CDFJ, he was responsible for more solid projects and programs with complete attention to media development. He handled all aspects related to the Center’s projects, from securing funds to implementing the project, including preparing various types of reports and communicating with partners, beneficiaries and donors. He has managed national projects in Jordan that focused on building the capacity of journalists and the media sector in general, as well as to lawyers, in defending freedom of speech. His involvement in other regional projects included supervising partners’ activities and commitments to plans and contracts in different countries such as Iran, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

Aicha Touré

Aicha Touré
Director, African Projects

Aicha Touré holds a bilingual master’s degree in Public Policy and International Affairs from York University. Her work is informed by a broad interest in the Human Rights – Development nexus. She has worked and volunteered for a wide-range of human rights organizations in North America and Sub Saharan Africa. Aicha enjoys doing research and her work centers around gender mainstreaming in development policies and the interplay between the rule of law and development in sub-Saharan Africa.

Jordan MacInnis
Director, Domestic Programs

Jordan MacInnis is the domestic programs director at Journalists for Human Rights, and also leads JHR’s Afghanistan evacuation and resettlement programme. Jordan’s background in journalism includes research, writing and producing experience covering social issues and technology.

Nesreen Abusultan
Manager, International Programs

Nesreen is the Project Assistant supporting JHR’s Arabic speaking projects. Previously, she worked with different organizations defending the rights of people with disabilities, right of education, and juveniles rights in Gaza, Palestine. Later, she joined the United Nations in Jordan. She is experienced non-profit project management professional with 5 years of success in the fields of human rights, refugees’ appeals, and humanitarian assistance. She participated in human rights clusters, international campaigns structuring, leadership, and public relations activities. Nesreen is graduated of University of Westminster in UK, where she finished her MA of International Relations and Democratic Politics.

Sarah Ladik

Manager, Domestic Programs

Sarah Ladik is a settler and former print journalist from north of Montreal on Omàmìwininìwag, Anishinabewaki, and St. Lawrence Iroquoian territory, with experience in community news across what is now Canada. She is currently an uninvited visitor on Kwakwaka’wakw land, also known as northern Vancouver Island, BC.
Sarah started work for JHR in 2019 as a media trainer and has held a variety of positions since then. She is now a manager in the domestic programs department.
Sarala Sigdel

Sarala Sigdel

Assistant Finance Manager

Sarala is working as a Finance Associate with JHR. She graduated with a Diploma in Accounting from Centennial College Toronto. She has also completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies (BBS) and a Master’s Degree in Rural Development from Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

She worked as a Social Science teacher for grade 11 and 12 for three years at a higher Secondary School in Nepal. Her major subjects were Sociology & Rural Economics. Sarala has more than two years of working experience as a cashier & bookkeeper at a saving and credit co-operative in Nepal and has done research on women’s issues such as the participation in politics and civil service in Nepal.

Karolina Mikula
Finance Associate, MMFC

Karolina is a graduate of the Masaryk University in the Czech Republic, where she studied Political Science and Security and Strategic Studies. She also studied as an exchange student at Sciences Po Bordeaux. Religious radicalism, conflict studies and current security threats have been her main focus. Some of her articles have been published in online media.

Karolina has 5 years of work experience in finance in the private sector. She has worked as an Accounts Payable Specialist and Office Manager. Before moving to Canada in 2016, she was involved in many European youth NGOs projects focused on informal education, tolerance and intercultural dialogue. It all started with her life-changing volunteer development internship at Kyrgyz Economic University in Bishkek. Karolina is very happy to be joining the JHR team. She strongly believes in Truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred.

Maria Carballo
Finance Associate

Maria Carballo is working as a Finance Associate at JHR. Maria has over 8 years working experience in Finance and office administration and over 15 years working in the not for profit sector. She has worked for international organizations such as ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Dignitas International and the Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR), where she had the tremendous opportunity and experience to work and interact with wide variety of different cultures from all over the world. She has an accounting diploma from Guatemala City.

Siyabulela Mandela Headshot

Siyabulela Mandela
Regional Coordinator, East and Southern Africa

Siyabulela Mandela is currently a Ph.D. candidate (International Relations and Conflict resolution) in the Department of Politics and Conflict Studies at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa, where he is also a lecturer for the Politics and Conflict Studies Department. As a youth activist, he has worked at the Nelson Mandela Museum for more than five years as a Youth Pioneer. In this role, he helped educate youth on South African history before and during apartheid with specific focus on the role that Nelson Mandela played in the struggle against apartheid. As a university student activist, Siyabulela played an instrumental leadership role in numerous campaigns for the economic and employment rights of university students and staff. As an internationally-recognized academic and activist, he has delivered papers and talks on topics related to activism, development, human rights, peace, reconstruction and conflict resolution in Canada, Republic of Ecuador, Sri Lanka, Germany, Portugal and the United States of America.

Juma John
Project Coordinator, South Sudan

Juma John Stephen is the project coordinator for Journalists for Human Rights (JHR)-South Sudan. He is posted to Bakhita Radio 91.0 FM-The Voice of the Church.

He was a Radio Trainer and Producer for BBC Media Action (BBCMA)-South Sudan. Juma was tasked with the training of radio producers, presenters, reporters in all the Catholic Radio Network (CRN) radio stations including other community and commercial radio stations for two years.

Prior to that, he was part of Eye Media Production Department as a producer and presenter for “On The Road” and ‘Akwana Junubin’ programs.

He was the Central Equatoria State Correspondent for Gurtong Peace Trust www.gurtong.net for five years. Juma worked in South Sudan Radio and Television as a reporter, prior to that he worked as a reporter for The Juba Post Newspaper, The Star Newspaper and The Citizens Newspaper (currently all closed). Juma John Stephen is a 2013 graduate from Uganda Christian University (UCU) with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication majoring in Broadcast.

Mustapha Dumbuya
Regional Team Leader, Kenya

Mustapha is a passionate journalist with significant experience supporting the establishment of free and independent media in various contexts across the African continent. He has built a career as a journalist, communication strategist, and human rights researcher. He uses the skills and knowledge acquired from JHR during his early career to impact local media in his home country, Sierra Leone, and worldwide. His background as a reporter and media trainer informs his approach to implementing sustainable media development interventions.

Mustapha is based in Nairobi, Kenya where he leads JHR’s Africa regional program supporting partner relations, business development, and the expansion of JHR’s Africa program. He provides invaluable insight into business development initiatives for media outlets and contributes to the development of strategic training and capacity-building approaches for journalists and CSOs in complex environments. During his time working for
JHR in South Sudan, Mustapha demonstrated strong negotiating and relationship-building skills in navigating the complex media landscape while at the same time advancing JHR’s mandate in promoting free and independent media that promotes and protects human rights.

Mustapha holds an MPhil in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa from the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria. He’s a former JHR/Fisher journalism fellow at Massey College at the University of Toronto.

Tammam Hazem
Program Manager, Gaziantep

Tammam holds a degree in Arabic Language and Literature from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Aleppo. He worked in traditional journalism and reporting. He also covered events in the North of Syria as a war correspondent and accompanied many Arab and international media teams on their field visits. He also worked in the television with Syrian and Arab news channels as they covered the conflict in Aleppo.

Tammam is a co-founder of the Aleppo Media Centre, where he was the director of the Reports and Press section. He also worked as the director of the radio programs control room in Radio Hara FM and prepared various television and radio talk shows.

Tammam believes that media outlets should provide respectable services to the people, and to humanity in general; for this reason, he joined the Journalists for Human Rights team to serve a wider range of societies and avoid political propaganda, and his ultimate goal is to stand up for the people.

Lilaf Kanjo
Project Coordinator, Gaziantep

Lilaf Kanjo holds a Masters degree in Engineering Faculty, from Gaziantep University.

She joined JHR in August 2020 as a project coordinator in Gaziantep office.

She volunteered in Syrian Red Crescent in South Syria for five years, as a coordinator of all relief projects.

She joined some non-profit Organizations as a volunteer to support Syrian refugees.

She is interested in supporting refugees, empowering women, and humanitarian work.

Mustafa Al Hamam
Financial Coordinator, Gaziantep

Mustafa Al Hamam is working with JHR as a financial coordinator. He has graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Gaziantep University and now he is a postgraduate student in Economic and Administrative Science.

Mustafa has over 6 years of experience in financial management. He worked as a managerial and HR officer with many private companies and nonprofit humanitarian organizations.

He also started his professional life as a Data researcher in the North of Syria with the international organization “Canadian International Medical Relief Organization – CIMRO”, that provides medical and educational relief in Syria.

Mustafa as well worked with Needs and Population Monitoring Program supported by IOM that conducts protection surveys in Syria as a Team Leader and a Data Processing Assistant, responsible to provide direction, instructions and guidance.

Prince Murhula Mushagalusa

Prince Murhula Mushagalusa
Senior Program Manager, DRC

Founder and director of JHR’s implementing partner in Eastern DRC, Journalistes pour la promotion de la démocratie et des droits humains.

Prince graduated in Law in 2009 at the University of Bukavu (South Kivu). Since he was a kid, he dreamed of becoming a journalist. At 17, he started working for a local radio station, “Radio Maria”, where he stayed until 2012 as a presenter, reporter and editor-in-chief. In December 2010, Prince won the Prix JDH (JHR Award). With a renewed perspective on responsible journalism, he immediately founded a network of journalists in South Kivu, “Journalistes pour la promotion de la démocratie et des droits humains.” The organization strives to promote quality journalism on issues related to human rights and democracy in our local media and communities.

Munor Kabondo

Moro Siaka Diallo
Project Coordinator, Mali

Moro Siaka Diallo est un jeune professionnel en Communication et Plaidoyer au Mali. Il a débuté sa carrière en agence, puis en 2012 s’est s’engagé dans le secteur humanitaire avec des organisations internationales. Cet engagement lui a permis d’appuyer de nombreux projets d’urgence et de développement intervenant dans la protection de l’enfance, la santé maternelle, néonatale et infantile et le marketing social.

Après son diplôme de 2ième cycle universitaire en Information et Communication, Moro Siaka a été Chef de publicité Junior (stage); Assistant en communication & media ; Chargé Marketing et Communication ; Chargé communication et plaidoyer et Responsable Communication et Plaidoyer. 

Moro Siaka souhaite mieux contribuer au respect des droits humains, à la promotion de la démocratie dans son pays où la paix, la sécurité, la protection des personnes, les droits humains, la démocratie sont actuellement des plus grands défis à relever.

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Sammy Muraya
Program Manager, Kenya

Sammy Muraya is a highly motivated trainer and journalist who has over 15 years of experience. As a trainer Sammy has worked with journalists, NGO staff and editors from different regions of Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.

Along the way Sammy has picked up different roles in journalism, public relations and communication.

Sammy started working as a journalist in 2001 at the Kenya broadcasting corporation and one of the programs that he did for the English service was “A stitch in time” a weekly HIV show that helped him interact with different people working in the HIV field and it’s co-related ailments that included TB. Sammy developed an interest in TB and started working with the Kenya AIDS NGO’s Consortium (KANCO) and the National TB program to raise awareness on TB amongst journalists and the public. Sammy has been a journalism trainer since 2005 after extensive training by Internews, on health reporting and training of trainers. And he has trained different journalists, civil society organization members and members of the public on effective communication and media interaction especially on health. As part of the interaction in TB, Sammy has been working with different organizations to improve communication and relations with editors to improve reporting of TB and to follow up on commitments that were made by President Uhuru Kenyatta during the UN Nation’s General Assembly in 2018 to reduce TB deaths in Kenya.

Recently in June 2019 Sammy was tasked with the responsibility of training of the recently appointed TB, HIV and Malaria champions from some of the counties with the heaviest triple HIV, Malaria and TB burden in Kenya, at a meeting organized by the Impact Research And Development Organisation (IRDO) in Kisumu.

He is an URTNA best programme in Africa winner in 2004 and a two time CNN/ Multichoice African Journalist of the year, Radio General News Category Winner in 2006 and 2009.

Sammy is a bachelor degree holder in communication and public relations from the University of Nairobi.

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Benard Ogoi

Program Coordinator, Kenya

Prior to joining JHR, Benard worked for the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) since July 2010, starting as a radio producer and rising over the years to the position of Senior Programmes Officer. During the nine years, he organized community discourses on gender and energy, peace and security, gender and entrepreneurship, reproductive health, gender and governance, and gender based violence among others.

Benard Ogoi is a proficient Communications and Public Relations professional who has specialized in content development for radio and other media platforms. He is an audio production coach and has coordinated several trainings for radio journalists in the East Africa region on production of health focussed radio documentaries. He has also produced several radio features and documentaries for use in facilitating access to information and community dialogues to help end Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya.

Besides supporting project fundraising initiatives, he is also passionate about gender parity in the media and coordinates media monitoring tasks to generate evidence for capacity building of journalists on reporting different gender related topics.

Benard has worked with wide-ranging media and human rights stakeholders including government representatives, INGOs and CSOs in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. In these engagements, Benard has been involved in event organizing, conducting trainings as well as moderating and rapporteur tasks. His recent assignments include training women journalists on digital safety and security.

Benard holds a Diploma in Radio Production from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC), A BSc degree in Communications and Public relations from Moi University, and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts Degree in Communication Studies, specializing in Development Communication at the University of Nairobi.

Winnie Syombua

Gender Lead, Kenya

Winfred is a policy, governance, gender and human rights expert who has worked with institutions and individuals to provide cutting edge solutions to policy, democracy, governance and human rights challenges in Africa and beyond. 

After working at Kenya National Commission on Human Rights for five years and as a Policy Analyst on African issues at the University of Sheffield UK, Winnie recognises the nexus around governance, policies and the promotion of human rights. It is this knowledge that drives her desire to inform change in society through sound policies and good governance. She believes that gender equity is the key to global success and thus, gender mainstreaming requires a massive and coordinated effort in all facets of life. It is this knowledge that drives Winnie to seek ways in which she can marry her multidisciplinary skills into promoting gender equality. 

Winnie was awarded a Chevening Scholarship (2015) and is a 2016 Young Diplomats Forum Fellow, also an alumnus of the Global Leadership Initiative (GLI) of the University of Sheffield. She has published her GLI research papers, policy briefs and articles on the Global Policy Journal. Winnie is an advisor for Reprieve UK on the resentencing of offenders on death penalty in Kenya. She is also the founding CEO at the Centre for Community Development and Human Rights, an organisation founded in Kibra by the Late Hon. Ken Okoth to promote human rights centred development in Kibra.

Winnie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics (UoN), an MA, Gender and Development (UoN) and an MA, Governance and Public Policy (University of Sheffield UK).

Mercy Njoroge
Gender Media Trainer, Kenya

Mercy is a seasoned journalist with over 15 years of experience in editing, gender reporting, mentorship, and training. As an editor, she has worked at Nation Media Group, Kenya’s leading media house, as the pioneer gender sub-editor for the Nation Newspapers, where she was instrumental in setting up the first Gender Desk in East and Central Africa. She was in charge of content production, editing and publishing ‘The Voice’, a monthly supplement, dedicated to highlighting and telling the stories of women and girls on the continent and beyond.

Previously, Mercy worked at the People Daily newspapers as a senior sub-editor, where she was in charge of copy-tasting international news, editing, content generation, and running a weekly column ‘The Gender Agenda’ that provided a platform to promote discourse around gender issues in Kenya. Mercy began her journalism career at The Star newspaper as a sub-editor where she discovered her interest in telling women’s stories after her debut article on how land feuds of Maiella in Naivasha had rendered many women widows. In 2012, Mercy served as the editor of ‘Dawn Magazine’, a publication on engendering the political leadership process in Kenya. She has also published a series of stories on the plight of women refugees in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement Camp in Uganda.

Mercy is an alumni of WAN-IFRA’s Women In News, African Women Leadership and Mentorship Initiative by Coady International Institute, St. Francis Xavier University, Canada, and the International Institute for Journalists (InWent), Germany. She has also participated in professional capacity-building training with Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Mercy holds a MA in Gender and Development from the University of Nairobi, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communications, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Egerton University. In 2015, she attended the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, USA, and was a delegate at the convening of roundtable discussions on
‘The Role of African Women Leaders in the Post 2015 Development Agenda’ and the +20 Beijing’ review process at Harvard University, Boston, USA.

Mercy is a member of The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) and the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) Kenya chapter, where she serves as a mentor and trainer for the Young Female Journalists programme supported by the US Embassy,
Nairobi.

Peninah Ochieng

Financial Coordinator, Kenya

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies. My work experience began in the hotel industry and later was part of the financial reporting team for health and nutrition projects carried out in South Sudan. I enjoy being part of a team that improves the living situations of a community in both stable and changing environments.

Anne Florence Wanjiku Kimani
Finance Coordinator, Tanzania, Uganda & South Africa

Anne Florence Wanjiku Kimani works in the Finance Team in JHR representing Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa. She is a Finance graduate from Kenyatta University having work experience from Kenya and Dubai in finance, accounting and administration where she has enthusiastically executed her roles. 

Anne uses the opportunities given to her to positively impact the world through empowering others, with her biggest achievement being mentoring young African girls and women on financial freedom through self-sustaining strategies such as self-employment in small businesses. 

Positive impact and teamwork is the philosophy that she uses in every opportunity given to her both professionally and personally. Anne enjoys listening to music and travelling.

Nozha Ben Mohamed
Country Manager, Tunisia

Nozha Ben Mohamed Albouchi is a highly accomplished individual with a master’s degree in political science and a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She has augmented her knowledge through various certifications, including Training of Trainers (TOT) in Media Treatment of Migration, Communication, and Radiographic Content Creation, as well as Entrepreneurial Coaching, Employability Coaching, Project Feasibility Studies, Project Management, and Project Planning and Execution Monitoring.

Nozha is a seasoned journalist who has received training in women’s rights and freedom of expression from the international organization IREX. She has worked as a communication trainer in migration matters with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). She has established herself as a designer of international programs on radiographic content creation. Her ability to conceive and execute innovative projects has made her a highly sought-after figure in her field.

In addition to her work in journalism and media, Nozha also serves as a consultant in project management, planning, and execution. She is known for her ability to facilitate productive discussions and has moderated numerous international meetings, workshops, and seminars. Nozha is the Country Manager of JHR in Tunisia. In this role, she uses her vast expertise in journalism, project management, and human rights to drive the mission of JHR, advocating for freedom of expression and ensuring that media effectively and accurately covers human rights issues. Her leadership and strategic vision continue to shape the impact of JHR in Tunisia and beyond, making her an instrumental figure in the ongoing fight for human rights and free expression.

Ahed Jemaaoui
Projects Coordinator, Tunisia

Ahed Jemaaoui is a 32-year-old professional coach and hypnotherapist with 10 years of experience in project management, training, political communication, and human rights. She specializes in promoting young and women’s political participation as well as media development.

Ahed holds a master’s degree in political communication, a diploma in project management, and a certificate in professional coaching from the High School of Coaching in Paris. She has also participated in various exchange and civil society programs, where she honed her skills in building support and advocacy campaigns, writing and managing projects, communication, and conflict resolution. Additionally, Ahed has gained knowledge in fields such as human rights, policy analysis and evaluation, and political and civic participation.

Ahed works as a digital communication and press unit coordinator in the cabinet of the president of the government, Mr. Habib Essid.

Yosra Manai
Journalists Coordinator, Tunisia

Yosra Manai is a journalist who completed her studies at the Institute of Press and Information Sciences in Tunisia. She also obtained a French master’s degree in journalism and communication from the Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme in Paris-Tunis. With eight years of experience in radio production and animation, Yosra has worked on programs that focus on women’s rights and feminism. She has also served as a communications officer and press officer for associations that are dedicated to empowering young girls in civil society.

Nada Yahyaoui
Financial Coordinator, Tunisia

Nada Yahyaoui is a finance professional with a keen eye for detail and a strong background in monetary economics and banking. She has a Master’s degree in Monetary and Banking Economics from the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management in Tunis. Nada is proficient in Power BI and excels at analyzing financial performance, data modeling, and creating interactive visualizations that have a significant impact.

At Ramada Plaza, Nada worked as an HR and Accountant, applying her academic knowledge and practical training to real-world financial scenarios. She demonstrated her competence by deftly managing a wide range of tasks, from human resources to intricate accounting operations.

Currently, Nada is a Financial Coordinator with Journalists for Human Rights, where she leverages her financial acumen to contribute to an organization dedicated to promoting human rights. Her unique blend of academic excellence, professional training, practical experience, and passion for non-profit work make her an invaluable asset in any financial setting.

Malek Bel Haj Yahia
Financial Coordinator, Tunisia

Malek Holds a Bachelor degree in International trades from the university of Higher Studies of Tunis. Malek is working as a finance coordinator with JHR Tunisia since 2022.

He started his professional career as sales manager, and then as a co-manager of a retail and wholesale company. He has more than 4 years of experience.

Malek is enjoying the work with JHR team and wishes to contribute more in the promotion of the importance of democracy and human rights and in the success of JHR Tunisia

Hela Louati
Communications Specialist, Tunisia

Hela Louati is worked with JHR Tunisia as  a communication specialist.

She has a law degree from the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences of Tunis and she was worked in many fields related to administration, Media, and the relationship with the Press.

She worked at the beginning of career as a photographer in a team with Ex President of the Republic of Tunisia Beji Caïd Sebsi in 2014 then she moved to work with the Trade Union of Maghreb Workers and the Arab Federation of Trade Unions.

She has worked with Secretary of State for Maritime Fisheries and Minister for Local Affairs in mission as a photographer and charge of the official page.

In 2016, she joined to work in Assembly of the Representatives of the People until 2021 in a position charge of Media, Administrative Affairs, and Relations with the Press and the Ministries, then she went to work in a law firm.

Yosra Seif Nasser
Project Coordinator, Tunisia

Yousra Saif Ennaser project coordinator at Journalists for Human Rights.
She worked with civil society for more the five years in the field of Youth empowerment and political and civil Rights.
She worked with Tunisian organisations in the field of women’s health care and sexual education.

MICHAEL COOKE
Board Chair

Michael Cooke was appointed Editor of the Toronto Star in 2009. Michael was raised near Lancaster in Northern England and began his career at age 17 as an apprentice reporter. He moved on to work in and around London’s Fleet Street, and at Bristol’s Western Daily Press and emigrated in 1974 to Toronto where he became assistant national editor at The Star, Canada’s largest newspaper. In 1977, Michael moved to The Gazette in Montreal, where he served as assistant city editor, city editor and co-managing editor. Michael moved to The Edmonton Journal in 1992 as managing editor and became editor in chief of The Vancouver Province in 1995.

During the winter and spring of 1998, Michael was one of a team of founding editors of Canada’s new national newspaper, The National Post. And, for the summer of 1998, Michael served as the last editor of The Financial Post. He supervised the paper’s merger with the new national newspaper. During both periods, Michael continued to edit The Province, commuting between Toronto and Canada’s west coast.

In 2000, Michael was named editor in chief of the Chicago Sun-Times and was appointed editor in chief of the New York Daily News in January of 2005, returning to Chicago as Vice-President of Editorial for the Chicago Sun-Times news Group (100 titles) in 2006. Michael was also re-appointed editor in chief of the Sun-Times in the fall of 2006.

ALETHEA AU
Vice Chair

Alethea Au practices in the Corporate M&A and Technology & Outsourcing Groups in Stikeman Elliott’s Toronto office. Her practice areas include mergers and acquisitions involving both private and public entities, corporate commercial transactions, corporate finance transactions and various securities matters.She advises on a wide range of corporate commercial matters including those related to corporate governance, corporate structures and general commercial engagements. She also acts for large and mid-sized technology companies in connection with outsourcings, licensing and technology development and has been involved in IT procurement arrangements in a variety of industries including, financial services, retail, insurance, telecommunications and mining.

In addition, Ms. Au is a member of the Knowledge Management Group of Stikeman Elliott. She advises principally in mergers & acquisitions and corporate commercial transactions for a wide range of corporate entities across various industries and is consulted on a variety of corporate practice matters as well as various drafting and transactional issues.

Ms. Au is responsible for developing, managing and delivering legal content and current awareness to ensure that both lawyers and clients have the benefit of the firm’s collective legal expertise and the latest in legal and industry developments. She also participates in the training and education of practice group members about legal, regulatory and market developments through formal and informal education initiatives and the creation, assessment and implementation of legal project management and other value-added initiatives for clients.

She also works on a wide range of other firm-wide Knowledge Management initiatives, including internal and external continuing legal education, publications, legal project management and client development initiatives.

Ms. Au is a graduate of McGill University, Osgoode Hall and the Schulich School of Business. She is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association, the Federation of Chinese Canadian Professionals and CATA (Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance) WIT (Women in Technology) Toronto Chapter.

PETER DONOLO

As one of Canada’s most experienced communications strategists and a veteran adviser to leaders in corporate Canada, and at all three levels of government, Peter brings more than twenty-five years of experience in communications and government relations.

Using his understanding of both the rapidly changing currents of public opinion and the complex decision-making processes of government, Peter is a senior adviser to H+K’s senior management and to its clients – focusing on strategic communications and public engagement.

Peter has in-depth knowledge to provide counsel to clients facing major transformational challenges when it comes to the economy, the way we now engage audiences and how we live together in society. And he appreciates the importance of developing the right strategy and putting together the best team to achieve measurable results.

Peter is a director of (G)irls 20, CIVIX, and a former director of Pathways to Education Canada, the Toronto Board of Trade and the Canadian Journalism Foundation.

Peter was most recently special adviser to the Ontario government on intergovernmental affairs and communications. He is the longest-serving prime ministerial director of communications in Canadian history (to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien), served as a senior executive in the private and public sectors, and also represented Canada abroad as a senior diplomat

THERESA EBDEN

Theresa Ebden is the Director of Marketing and Communications programs for Accenture’s global Growth & Strategy organization. Within the Office of the Chief Strategy Officer, she leads cross-functional teams to drive global programs across every area of the company. Theresa is an EMBA candidate at the Ivey Business School. Prior to her tenure at Accenture, Theresa worked in public affairs at the Ontario Securities Commission.

Earlier in her career, Theresa worked as a journalist for 12 years at Bloomberg News, The Globe and Mail, BNN and the Toronto Star.

Today, she serves on several volunteer boards including Journalists for Human Rights, Canada’s leading media development organization; and the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, a global leader in the field of DNA barcoding with the goal to preserve the world’s biodiversity. Theresa also chairs the Industry Advisory Board at the Ryerson School of Journalism, where she graduated with a B.A.A. in Journalism (Print) in 1998. She enjoys cross country skiing, running, cycling, hiking and spending time with her family in the Greater Toronto Area.

ADRIAN HAREWOOD

Adrian Harewood is a Canadian television and radio journalist, and the anchor of CBOT‘s CBC News: Ottawa at 5/5:30/6 and CBC News: Late Night in Ottawa.

An Ottawa native, Harewood attended Ashbury College, a private school in Rockliffe, where he was headboy. Harewood volunteered for CKCU-FM and CHUO-FM before moving to Montreal, earning a degree from McGill University in political science and becoming a programmer and station manager for CKUT-FM. At CKUT, he hosted a weekly program, Soul Perspective, about Black Canadian issues. Notably, he devoted several episodes of the program to the issue of homophobia in the black community after a performance poetry night at which poet Judge Dread Mathematik performed a work which some audience members felt was homophobic.[1]

He later joined CBC Radio, becoming a journalist and substitute host on CBLA-FM in Toronto, before being named the permanent host of CBO-FM‘s All in a Day in 2006.[2] He remained in that role until September 2009, when he joined CBC News: Late Night.

CATHERINE CANO

An innovative global leader and a seasoned manager in a time of transformational change with a solid expertise in media and strategic management, governance, and financial stewardship, Mme Cano has been a executive manager for almost 20 years in media organizations as the head of news and 24 hours news networks at Radio-Canada, CBC and Deputy News Director at Al Jazeera in Qatar, CEO of the media network CPAC, as well as Managing Partner at NATIONAL public relations in Toronto and most recently COO of the International Organization of La Francophonie based in Paris. Now President of Canovision, a boutique consulting service firm specializing in  media, governance, ethics, transparency, integrity and accountability, Mme Cano has worked in complex political and multicultural environments and with multiple stakeholders and issues.  She has won the recognition of her peers and been selected twice as one of the 100 most powerful women and won the Innovator of the year award from Women in Communication and Technology. She also won 2 Gemini awards and the Michener-Deacon Fellowship.

BEN PETERSON
Co-Founder and Board Chair Emeritus

Ben Peterson co-founded Journalists for Human Rights in 2002, and served as its Executive Director until 2011. During that period, JHR grew into Canada’s largest international media development organization. Under Ben’s leadership, JHR worked across 15 different countries in sub-Saharan Africa and built one of Canada’s strongest student leadership networks. Ben has a BA in Economics and a BAH in Political Studies from Queen’s University, and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics (LSE).

Ben has received many national and international awards for his work, including Canada’s Top 40 under 40 Award, the Action Canada Fellowship and the Queen’s University Alumni Humanitarian Award. Ben is a published author and accomplished public speaker.

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