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About Our Team
A diverse team of passionate professionals with unique skills driving innovation and excellence in every project.
Adam Alkazely
Executive Chairperson
🇨🇦 Hamilton, Canada
Adam Alkazely serves as the Executive Chairperson of the International Youth Council on Gender Equality, tasked with pioneering this global council through its inaugural term.
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Adam has worn many hats, working in administrative roles for provincial Members of Parliament, contributing to humanitarian departments, and hosting the Hamilton Inclusivity Carnival—a project dedicated to promoting respect for individuality in Hamilton. He has extensive experience in campaign strategy, non-profit organization development, and leading teams focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). He also has experience with the Office of the Attorney General, exploring law as a future profession, and is committed to building a community where no one turns a blind eye to injustice.
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In addition, Adam has advised numerous international non-profits and sits on the boards of various startups, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and geopolitical relations. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys oil painting, composing music on the piano and cello, reading classical and philosophical literature, and cooking.
Jaiden Whitner
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs
🇺🇸 Atlanta, USA
Jaiden Whitner serves as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the International Youth Council on Gender Equality, where she leads youth outreach, strengthens partnerships between global institutions, and ensures inclusive and gender-responsive engagement across international bodies. A sophomore at Spelman College majoring in International Studies with a concentration in International Development and minoring in Refugee & Forced Migration Studies and Spanish, Jaiden is the first undergraduate intern in nearly a decade at the American Civil Liberties Union’s Human Rights Program, where she supports legal advocacy and research on international human rights standards. She also works as a Legal Assistant Intern with the International Rescue Committee, assisting refugee and asylee clients with humanitarian immigration cases, and as an Immigration Policy Research Fellow with the Alliance for Civic Engagement, conducting research on how forced displacement and restrictive visa systems produce racial inequities.
Jaiden draws on these experiences across legal, policy, and humanitarian sectors to ensure the Council’s work reflects sound, diplomatic engagement throughout the globe. She leads with empathy and a belief that lasting change requires centering human dignity, cross-cultural understanding, and the diverse realities that shape our shared world.
Kevin Guo
Director, Research & Education
🇨🇳 Kaifeng City, China
Zijia (Kevin) Guo is an aspiring academic, experienced leader, and life-long learner. Partaking in a doctoral dissertation at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (University of Toronto), he seeks to challenge institutional injustice through epistemological reforms.
Drawing upon a string of successful activist leadership experiences, he plans to develop the IYCGE into a global advocate for gender equality. His hero is the Augustan poet Alexander Pope, whose artistic mastery, penetrating wit, and life-long defiance of oppression never cease to inspire and amaze. The unforgiving satirist captures his imagination and impels his industry.
As the Director of the Department of Research and Education (DRE), he focuses on the Global Perspectives project. Through the leadership of Global Ambassadors, Global Perspectives unites activists, scholars, and leaders into National Youth Research Groups, producing an community-based report on global gender inequality. As the architect of the project, he enjoys collaboration with fighters for equality around the globe.
Magdalena Rölver
Magdalena is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the International Youth Council on Gender Equality, where she leads efforts to strengthen global collaborations that advance gender equality and empower young people.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics with a minor in Business Management, reflecting her interdisciplinary interest in social justice, policy, and leadership. Magdalena has worked with UN Women Germany and gained experience across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Her professional focus includes diversity management, private sector engagement, and inclusive organizational development.
Previously, she served as an EU Youth Ambassador and currently leads projects that promote gender and education equity in Germany. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, sharing coffee with friends, and meaningful conversations that inspire new ideas.
Director, Strategic Partnerships
🇩🇪 Bamberg, Germany
Blessing Stephen
Executive Secretary
🇳🇬 Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Blessing Stephen is a passionate advocate for girls’ rights and educational equity from Nigeria.
She has served in several youth and community-based initiatives, contributing to projects that promote access to education and empower underrepresented groups.
Through these experiences, she has strengthened her communication, leadership, and teamwork skills while deepening her sense of purpose in advocacy and service. She’s a college senior studying Statistics and has developed a strong interest in data-driven research and how statistical insights can help address social challenges. Blessing loves learning and exploring how data and technology can be used to make a real difference in people’s lives. She’s also curious about how innovation can create more inclusive opportunities for learning and positive change.
Outside academics, she enjoys writing, poetry, and quiet reflection. She believes in the power of words and in using her voice to express ideas, share stories, and inspire others.
Sabina Prajapati
Director, Financial Operations
🇳🇵 Bhaktapur, Nepal
Sabina Prajapati is a finance professional dedicated to advancing youth-led initiatives and gender equality on a global scale. She currently serves as the Director of Financial Operations at the International Youth Council for Gender Equality, where she leverages her financial acumen to support impactful programs driven by young changemakers.
Sabina holds a Master’s degree in Business Studies with a specialization in Finance from Tribhuvan University. She is also a final-year Chartered Accountancy candidate at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN), underscoring her commitment to financial leadership and ongoing professional development.Currently , Sabina serves as the Finance Coordinator at Women LEAD Nepal, a leading NGO dedicated to empowering adolescent girls and young women to become future leaders. In this role, she leads budgeting, financial planning, and reporting processes to ensure transparency and effective resource allocation across the organization’s programs.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Sabina is passionate about traveling, meeting new people, and maintaining an active lifestyle through gym workouts.
Orry is originally from Indonesia, but has lived in seven countries throughout her life. She recently graduated from the International School of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Now, she is currently pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences at Leiden University College The Hague, and hopes to major in World Politics.
Passionate about film, she enjoys watching and analyzing cinema, experiencing live music, and exploring new cultures while traveling across the world. In her free time, she values spending moments with friends and family. Orry aspires to build a career in humanitarian work or international development.
Patricia Orry Ginting
Director, Communications
🇳🇱 The Hague, Netherlands
Rapheal K.A. Gadoh
Director, Technology & Innovation
🇬🇠Accra, Ghana
Rapheal Kwabena Asomani Gadoh is a Ghanaian student currently taking a gap year as he prepares to pursue undergraduate studies in Engineering. Passionate about science and innovation, he is dedicating this period to promoting gender equality and equity in the Northern Region of Ghana, where access to education for girls remains a challenge.
Rapheal works with local communities and educational initiatives to advocate for girl-child education and empower young learners through STEM-related programs. His passion for social impact and innovation stems from his belief that education and technology can transform communities and create equal opportunities for all.
Through volunteer work with organizations such as Firefly IO’s Project Equality and Equity, he has introduced children to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Beyond academics, Rapheal enjoys music and reading, which fuel his creativity and curiosity.
He hopes to combine his engineering ambitions with humanitarian work to design sustainable solutions that foster inclusive development in Africa.
Inioluwa Oyetunji
Director, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
🇨🇦 Hamilton, Canada
Inioluwa Oyetunji is a high school graduate from Ontario with a strong passion for leadership, advocacy, and community engagement. As a recent graduate and active changemaker, she is committed to creating inclusive spaces that empower others—particularly youth of color and women—to reach their full potential.
She serves as the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on the International Youth Council on Gender Equality because the position aligns with her values of respect, representation, and creating equitable spaces where everyone can thrive. Extroverted by nature, Inioluwa thrives in collaborative settings and enjoys connecting with people at social events, where she often sparks meaningful conversations about equality, empowerment, learning and growth.
Outside of her studies and volunteer work, Inioluwa has a curious mind and delights in learning about new things—from social systems to the art of auto mechanics (even if she’s still learning the ropes) or diving into random topics that catch her curiosity. She brings warmth, energy, and a collaborative spirit to everything she does, always aiming to uplift those around her.
Sayuri Blake
Executive Board Member
🇯🇲 St. Andrew, Jamaica
Sayuri Blake is a motivated and creative young professional with growing experience in media, technology, and leadership. She has developed strong skills in video editing, coding, and digital design through hands-on experiences such as the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program, where she designed and programmed original games using p5.js. Sayuri also gained professional exposure at the RJR Gleaner Communications Group, where she edited videos, created metadata, and managed online customer interactions.
In addition to her technical background, Sayuri demonstrates excellent organizational and communication skills through her role as Events Coordinator and Interview Administrator at The Solitude Theory, a nonprofit organization focused on social awareness and youth empowerment.
Her volunteer work with Sophie’s Place Child & Youth Advocacy Centre and the Salvation Army School for the Blind reflects her compassion and commitment to helping others. A confident and adaptable individual, Sayuri also expresses her creativity as a fashion model with Pulse, participating in runway shows for various designers. She continues to pursue opportunities that allow her to blend innovation, artistry, and purpose in everything she does.
Ishan Visvanath
Executive Board Member
🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom
Ishan is a passionate student from the United Kingdom with interests spanning across politics and academia. He serves as the Minister for the Environment within the London Youth Assembly, working with the mayoral team to champion youth input within policy discussion.
In addition, he is Head of Marketing for the educational non-profit, ‘Project GOOD’, which helps 5000+ students from the UK - many from underprivileged backgrounds - find work experience and internship opportunities across a range of sectors. Academically, Ishan has excelled in STEM, being crowned as 3X UK National champion and overall world champion (1st / ​​≈ 6000 teams) at the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, TX - the largest robotics competition in the world. He has also worked as an AI & EdTech Youth Advisor with Salesforce and HundredED, reviewing technological innovations within the education space.
As an executive board member, Ishan aims to leverage his academic expertise to increase educational provision on gender equality, and raise awareness of the necessity of tackling this prevailing global issue.
Margarida Runa
Executive Board Member
🇵🇹 Lisbon, Portugal
Margarida is a multilingual, neurodivergent human rights advocate and published researcher interested in the peace-justice nexus. With a striking curiosity about the intersectional nature of social justice and its effective translation into policy, she stives to challenge and dismantle structural and contextual constraints to human rights and equity mechanisms. Currently in the final year of the BA in Political Science and International Relations at NOVA FCSH, her work is anchored in SDGs 4, 5, 10 and 16.
Her experience spans across local and global initiatives, leveraging cross-cultural communication skills to advance international advocacy efforts.
Additionally, Margarida was a DMUN Foundation Delegate to the 2025 UN Social Forum in Geneva, and is Global Youth Ambassador for TheirWorld. In the future, she aims to bridge academia, field activism and international governance to ensure justice for victims and survivors of mass human rights atrocities.
Margarida Runa
Executive Board Member
🇪🇹 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Blen is a highly motivated Youth Advocate and Social Worker dedicated to transforming policy into progress at the intersection of mental health, gender equality, and climate action. She believes that the best way to shape the future is to empower the leaders already living it—the youth. As the UNESCO O3 Young Changemaker Program Ethiopian Ambassador, Blen is a pivotal force, actively shaping national youth agendas and leveraging digital platforms to execute powerful, nationwide campaigns centered on Gender Equality and SRHR. Her work is a commitment to meaningful engagement through strategic leadership. She collaborates extensively with key organizations like the TaYA (Talent Youth Association) as youth council to achieve meaningful youth engagement and the empowerment of girls and women.
Furthermore, Blen possesses specialized skills in reconciliation, having served as a Peace Dialogue Facilitator, which adds critical expertise in conflict resolution and community resilience. With a background in Social Work and specialized training in Counseling Psychology, Blen uniquely bridges macro-level advocacy with micro-level human connection, including practical experience providing supervised counseling at Hope for Justice. Blen is driven to forge the strategic partnerships needed to create scalable, sustainable solutions for complex global challenges.
Balqis A.J. Quraisy
Executive Board Member
🇮🇩 Central Java, Indonesia
Balqis is an International Relations student at Diponegoro University who has interests in the environment, economics, and public policy. She is particularly passionate about water security and development. She is open to various fields of study and enjoys learning using an interdisciplinary approach in looking at any issues. She presented at an international student conference, researching a comparative study of Indonesian and Malaysian national policies toward Rohingya refugees. Balqis is also active in various social and educational organizations focused on community empowerment, such as teaching in villages and organizing sign language training events. She is also involved in organizations focused on education and the implementation of sustainable lifestyles, including speaking on eco-enzyme production and assisting in the production of soap from used cooking oil.
Additionally, Balqis volunteered for the Urban Citizenship Academy program organized by the NGO Kota Kita. The program led her to write an article about a local initiative in community-based mangrove restoration and conservation in Semarang, Indonesia, which was published by Green Network Asia. Currently, Balqis is active in the International Youth Council on Gender Equality, particularly in the Department of Research and Education and the Department of Communication.
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