Lead of Engagement and Impact (United States of America)

BJ McDuffie is a global public affairs strategist with over 15 years of experience leading programs that advance digital equity, civic engagement, and sustainability across government, multilateral, and nonprofit sectors. As Lead for Engagement and Impact, she supports the implementation of strategic engagement, knowledge management, and impact initiatives at the World YWCA.

Previously, at the U.S. Department of State, BJ led global civil society engagement for the TechCamp Program and managed alumni networks for the Fulbright Program with more than 300,000 members worldwide. A lifelong volunteer, she has served with the American Red Cross, Global Kids-DC, and the World Hazara Council-USA, supporting Afghan refugee communities. She also spent seven summers as a YMCA camp counsellor and taught English in France through the TAPIF program. BJ holds a Master’s in Global Communications and Civil Society from The American University of Paris, speaks English and French, and brings a collaborative spirit grounded in optimism and service to the World YWCA.

Information and Technology Senior Specialist (Great Britain and Germany)

Based in Berlin, Ryan is the Information and Technology Senior Specialist at the World YWCA, where he leads the enhancement of IT systems, the development of digital tools, and the advancement of cybersecurity measures.

Movement Building Assistant (Switzerland and Brazil)

Tamara will be key in advancing movement-building efforts across the World YWCA. She will support coordination, documentation, and communication between Secretariat teams, governance structures, and member associations, strengthening accountability and collective capacity within our movement. Working closely with the Director of Movement & Capacity Building and Accountability, she will help ensure effective operations and contribute to progress towards our Strategic Framework 2024–2027 and Goal 2035.

Tamara brings a diverse professional background, combining experience as a Pharmaceutical Assistant with a degree in Business Administration. She has worked across executive assistance, customer service, sales, and project management, much of it rooted in healthcare, gut health, and natural products. A highlight of her career was the successful establishment of an international probiotic line in Switzerland, which grew to become a market leader. She has also driven international sales and project management in the CBD industry, including introducing a CBD supplement line to the Swiss pharmacy market.

Most recently, Tamara has worked independently as a freelancer, supporting organisations in sales, business development, and project management across education and web design. Alongside her professional path, she is a certified Hatha and Vinyasa yoga teacher, integrating passions for health, spirituality, creativity, movement, and human connection. She currently lives in the state of Bahia in Brazil, where she volunteers with an NGO that supports children.

Guided by empathy, positivity, and effective communication, and her conviction that what we give to the world always comes back to us, Tamara deeply believes that change begins within ourselves and that we can transform the world through self-transformation. She is passionate about contributing to initiatives that bring people together and generate positive impact, values deeply aligned with the World YWCA movement.

Marketing and Communications Senior Specialist (Namibia)

Paleni (she/her) is a communications and advocacy professional based in Namibia. With more than 10 year’s experience, Paleni has focused her work on advocating for gender and racial equality, sexual and reproductive health, bodily autonomy, non-formal education, climate change and HIV/AIDS. 

Before joining the World YWCA, she worked as a Communications Advisor for Women Deliver. Prior to that, she was the Communications, Partnerships and Advocacy Coordinator for the first iteration of the Global Youth Mobilization. Joining the World YWCA marks Paleni’s return to working with the Big Six Youth Organisations. 

Over the years, Paleni has worked for various national, regional, and global organisations, managing communications strategies and social justice campaigns. At her core, she is passionate about using storytelling as an advocacy tool to address stigma, discrimination, harmful discourses and norms.

Paleni has a background in journalism, podcasting and writing. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics and International Relations from Rhodes University in South Africa.

Fundraising Senior Specialist (Mexico)

Hana (she/her) is a senior leader in international development with over 12 years of global experience in strategy, fundraising, partnerships, and operations. At the World YWCA, she leads efforts to strengthen donor engagement and build sustainable, movement-aligned fundraising systems.

Hana has worked across global NGOs, UN initiatives, and social enterprises, with a focus on scaling youth-centered and community-based solutions across diverse regions. She has secured multi-million-dollar investments for initiatives spanning 50+ countries, and brings a strong track record in building cross-sector partnerships that drive meaningful, lasting change.

She holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and is PMP-certified. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Bosnian.

Deeply committed to equity and justice, Hana believes in the power of collective action to transform systems and shift power to communities. Her early activism in Bosnia and Herzegovina shaped her belief that feminist leadership is not only necessary but urgent – and that young women must be at the center of designing a more just future.

Asia Coordinator for RiseUp! Young Women Initiative in Asia and Pacific (Nepal)

Suju is a feminist facilitator, youth advocate, and program strategist with over nine years of experience working alongside young women to build leadership, design advocacy, and spark change. A staunch champion of feminist leadership, she works relentlessly to build a brave feminist ecosystem that equips, encourages, and expects young women to take their place at decision-making tables.

Her journey has centered on creating spaces where young women, especially those stepping into adulthood, can lead with confidence and a strong sense of community. From working with over 300 young change-makers and mentoring more than 30 youth-led advocacy projects to co-creating a global feminist consultation methodology, her work bridges personal transformation with systemic change.

With a Master’s in Conflict, Peace, and Development Studies from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Gender Studies from the University of Iceland, she brings a strong academic foundation to her work in feminist leadership and youth advocacy. She has worked nationally and regionally with organizations such as Women LEAD Nepal, where she designed and scaled leadership programs that empower young women with the skills, confidence, and critical awareness to challenge entrenched gender stereotypes and dismantle the persistent notion that women cannot be leaders. Through this work, she has helped foster a generation of change-makers who are redefining leadership in their communities and advocating for more inclusive, equitable societies.

Intersectionality, empathy, and inclusivity are at the core of her approach—and challenging the status quo remains her favorite thing in the world.

Strategy and Operations Assistant (Based in Lebanon)

Melissa is a strategist, advocate, and active volunteer focused on youth leadership and advancing gender equality. She currently serves as Strategy and Operations Assistant at World YWCA, where she drives global engagement and operational coordination to support youth and women’s advocacy.

Melissa was a Global Youth Representative of the Gender Patrol at the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and a member of the UN Youth Office’s Youth Reference Group, where she provides strategic input to the UNYO on advancing meaningful youth engagement.

In addition to her current roles, Melissa has extensive experience in application review and selection processes. She has reviewed and assessed applications for several youth programs, including imaGen ventures by Generation Unlimited, Moonshot Camp and Awards, and as a pre-shift consultant for the Global Youth Mobilization EU Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF). Her experience in these roles has equipped her with the expertise to evaluate and select impactful projects and initiatives that promote youth leadership and innovation across global platforms.

Melissa’s commitment to gender equality is further demonstrated by her role as a MEPI Tomorrow’s Leaders Gender Scholar during her studies at the Lebanese American University (LAU). She also has a published article in the Al-Raida Journal, exploring gender discrimination within Scouting. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics with a Minor in Computer Science and has held leadership roles at The ARK as the Program Manager and later the COO, and at Geek Express where she was the co-lead trainer for the Girls Innovate Program, which empowered 120 young girls in Gambia with coding and ICT skills. She is also a Generation Connect Arab Youth Envoy Alumni, a Gender Champion at the ITU, and among the first certified NewGen Peacebuilders and Facilitators in the MENA region. She was previously a Generation Connect Implementation Intern at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Arab Regional Office; she played a key role in supporting the Generation Connect regional efforts, including organizing youth engagement activities and contributing to implementing the ITU Youth Strategy in the Arab region.

Advocacy and Training Manager (Based in Kosovo)

Eurisa Rukovci is a Kosovar feminist leader and strategist, currently serving as the Advocacy and Training Manager at the World YWCA. In this role, she leads global initiatives focused on advancing young women’s leadership in advocacy for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), peace, and justice.

Prior to joining the World YWCA, Eurisa worked at CIVICUS, where she led communications and project learning for the Digital Democracy Initiative. She also managed a multi-year UN Trust Fund programme with Women for Women – Kosovo, focused on economic empowerment and violence prevention for women.

Eurisa is the founder and editor-in-chief of Grazeta, the first feminist media outlet in Albanian, and the founder of Shnet, the first Albanian-language mobile app providing a menstrual health calendar and comprehensive sexual education. Her work has been widely recognized, including being named Kosovo’s Balkan Hero by BIRN for her contributions to gender justice and feminist media.

Her career bridges research, media, grassroots mobilization, and international advocacy. Eurisa brings a background in psychology, with expertise in trauma-informed care, mindfulness-based interventions, and research. Her approach is grounded in feminist values, political clarity, and an enduring commitment to transforming systems of power.

YW4A Project Manager for South Sudan (Based in South Sudan)

Beina Eveline Alex Ruben is a skilled project manager and passionate advocate for gender equality with over ten years of experience empowering women and youth. Based in Juba, South Sudan, she has led several impactful projects focused on helping women and youth become entrepreneurs, leaders, fight sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), and promote fair gender equality policies.

Currently, Beina serves as the Project Manager for the WorldYWCA’s Young Women for Awareness, Advocacy, and Accountability (YW4A) project in South Sudan. In this role, she manages a program that supports young women in the western and central regions of South Sudan by offering training and mentorship through the World YWCA RiseUp! model. This program promotes young women transformative leadership, gender equality and challenges traditional gender norms. Beina has played a crucial role in advocating for important policy changes in South Sudan, such as ratification of the Maputo Protocol, the enactment of anti-GBV bill, and other laws related to women’s rights.

In addition to her current role, Beina’s career spans various fields, including cooperative and entrepreneurship development, with a special focus on women and youth. She has worked with organizations like the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the South Sudan Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and the Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs as a trainer and expert in women’s entrepreneurship and cooperative development. She is experienced in organizing community events, designing training programs, and leading discussions on topics such as enterprise development, gender-based violence, and child protection. A committed advocate for women’s rights, Beina holds a Master’s degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. Her expertise includes project management, partnership building, research, and gender-responsive advocacy. Beina continues to empower young women by fostering leadership skills and driving long-term positive changes in communities across South Sudan.

Accountant (Kenya and Switzerland)

Dorothy relocated from Kenya to Switzerland in 2015, bringing with her over 15 years of experience in Accounting and Back Office Supply Chain Management within the downstream Oil and Gas industry.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education (Business Studies) and is a Certified Public Secretary from Kenya, in addition to an Advanced Diploma in ACCA from the UK.  Dorothy later expanded her academic portfolio with an MBA from the University of Cumbria. 

Since settling in Geneva, she has dedicated her career to the Not-for-Profit sector, working in finance roles across organizations focused on Ethics and the Environment.  In 2024, she joined the World YWCA, aligning her professional expertise with her lifelong passion for empowering young women. 

A firm believer in mentorship and community service, Dorothy has served as a volunteer director for her local church’s Pathfinder Club for six years, where she guided and mentored teenagers, before being nominated to lead the Women’s Ministry.  She remains deeply committed to supporting initiatives in Kenya that promote the safety, well-being, and empowerment of young girls and women, as well as mentorship programs that inspire the next generation of leaders.