CONFERENCE TEAM
João Costa
Conference Director
Stephania Cajero
Conference Coordinator
Aarti Khanna
Logistics Lead
Ragini Letitia Singh
Head of Communications
Tushita Varma
Conference Communications Officer
Rajesh Sharma
IT & Virtual Experience Lead
Dominic Massey
Travel & Administrative Officer
Catherine Otayek
Blog Manager & Communication Specialist
Pablo J. Varela
Conference Co-coordinator
João C
Conference Director
João joined GDN as a Program Associate of the Doing Research initiative and in January 2021 was promoted to Senior Program Manager for the Global Development Awards Competition. He continues to provide support on the planning, implementation, and documentation of the Doing Research initiative. Based in Braga, Portugal, João is a Master in Biomedical Engineering with a specialization in Translational Medicine. Prior to joining GDN, João was a Scientific Officer at the European Research Council (European Commission) where he managed, supported the evaluation and did the scientific and financial monitoring/assessment of million euro grants. João previously worked in youth and academic mobility (within the Erasmus+ program) as President of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Portugal and Liaison Officer of ESN International towards ESU and the LLLP, as well as a member of the Expert Group of the European Youth Forum on ‘Erasmus+ and funding of youth organizations’ having acted as Evaluator for the EC on calls related to Higher Education, youth, and non-formal education topics.
Tushita Varma
Conference Communications Officer
Tushita is an architect with an MSc in Strategic Communication and PR. She specialises in strategic communication and partnerships to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From 2017 to 2021, she championed community-centric models with Kokum Design Trust, ActforGoa, and Root Cause Trust, enhancing ecosystem preservation and SDG progress in Goa. At Coral Future (2021-2023), she led initiatives for SDG 13, mobilising support for Net-Zero in the Global South. As the 2022-23 India Ambassador for Architecture-in-Development, she accelerated DIY community projects in more than 80 countries. Before 2017, she worked as a design researcher with BanduksmithStudio and CEPT University. Tushita views nature as a profound teacher of humility, resilience, and accountability.
Pablo J. Varela
Program Manager | Biodiversity & Development
As Program Manager, Pablo is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the implementation of the AFD-GDN Biodiversity and Development Awards Program. He is currently based in Helsinki. Pablo has more than eight years of professional experience in project management, partnerships building, monitoring and evaluation with a background in development and humanitarian assistance. His previous work has focused on policy analysis and multi-stakeholder initiatives to promote sustainable development. Pablo holds a Masters degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University, UK
Ragini Letitia Singh
Head of Communications
Ragini is a communication professional with more than 16 years of versatile work experience in environment and sustainability, social development, advertising, branding and storytelling. Currently, she leads multiple facets of internal and external communications at GDN that includes the design and implementation of GDN's communication strategy, development of effective corporate communication material and activities targeted to increase GDN’s impact and influence across the globe. She is also the Communication Lead for GDN’s flagship event, the annual Global Development Conference and other key events. In the past, Ragini has been associated with organisations like GIZ, UNICEF, WWF-India, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (Government of India), Ogilvy & Mather to name a few. She is also a published author of a children’s book called ‘Wings of the Night – All You Want To Know About Bats’, written for WWF-India and published by the Government of Delhi.
Stephania Cajero
Manager - Social Media & Associate Editor - GlobalDev Blog
Stephania is the Associate Editor for the GlobalDev blog, and Social Media Manager at GDN. She has almost four years of experience in communications, working at GlobalDev, and started at GDN's communications team in 2022. Stephania has experience building partnerships, and designing new strategies to gain visibility through social media campaigns. She has also worked in programs of cooperation on women empowerment and childhood education in India. She has helped different embassies with their social media channels and has worked in politics and press roles at the Mexican Embassy in New Delhi. Stephania is interested in topics related to climate change, development, and gender equality, and holds a Master’s Degree in Politics specialized in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
Rajesh Sharma
IT Manager
Rajesh Sharma holds an MBA in Information, Communication and Technology and possesses over 15 years of experience in providing technical support to international organizations. At GDN, he is responsible for managing IT projects, the website, policies, platforms, and smooth operations, particularly during online events and hybrid events like the Global Development Conference. He has previously worked as IT Manager at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Information Technology Infrastructure Officer at the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie).
Dominic Massey
Travel & Administrative Officer
Dominic is responsible for travel related requirements at GDN, as well as for special events held in India and internationally. He imakes travel arrangements for staff, board members and participants of GDN's international conferences. Dominic assists in obtaining Indian visas and resident permits for GDN's foreign staff and manages a variety of affairs at the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on GDN’s behalf. Dominic also does administrative tasks such as manage drivers, and office support staff, suppliers etc. He is also responsible for office maintenance. Dominic lives and works in India. Prior to joining GDN, he worked with the defense section of the Australian High Commission. Dominic has a Bachelor of Arts from Delhi University. Dominic is the captain of the highly successful GDN cricket team which won the Commonwealth High Commission Cricket Tournament in 2007 and was a runner up in 2008.
Catherine Otayek
Blog Manager & Communication Specialist
Catherine is the manager of the GlobalDev Blog and is also responsible for Program Communications, helping showcase GDN’s programs, unique approach and outcomes. She joined GDN in 2017 as a consultant and was responsible for the French platform of the blog. Prior to her work at GDN, Catherine accumulated several experiences in different institutions and fields including a newspaper, international organizations like UNESCO and UNDP, think tanks, and also an advertising agency. Catherine studied both Political Sciences and Media and Communications at the American University of Beirut, and she enjoys bringing the two together as part of her work at GDN.
Aarti Khanna
Senior Executive Assistant to the President & GDN Board Secretary
Aarti is responsible for intellectual planning and operational leadership in the administration of the President’s office. She works closely with department heads and external stakeholders, while managing and prioritizing competing demands throughout the organization. In addition, she is the Secretary to the GDN Board and GDN Assembly, and coordinates on various matters with the Board of Directors and Assembly Members, as well as, convening of regular meetings. Aarti maintains and implements a rolling process of follow-ups on various aspects of strategic planning and management. She has previously worked as the Executive Assistant to the Country Director, Australian Habitat Studies (AusHS), an Indo-Australian training and capacity building organization in New Delhi.
Azhar Sabri
ICT Associate
Azhar is an ITC Associate at GDN and is responsible for technical support to the globally-based GDN staff members. He also helps manage online events and hybrid events like the Global Development Conference. Before GDN, Azhar has worked with Jiffy Info Solution for Danieli Corus India, CCS Computers for an L&T Project, and with PC Solutions for PDIL. Azhar holds a Bachelor Degree from Magadh University and a Diploma in Computer Hardware and Networking from Jetking, Delhi.
Idah Razafindrakoto
Fellow l Research Capacity Strengthening
Dr. Idah Razafindrakoto leads GDN's Research Capacity Strengthening Program in Francophone Africa and is responsible for its leadership in management, institutional relations and programming. This program aims to enhance the managerial culture of research institutions and strengthen access to research opportunities for young researchers. Idah holds a degree in management, governance and international relations, particularly regional relations. She is a researcher in political science and is also a specialist in institutional and international management. She has both a scientific and practical background (research and management) in various international and intercultural contexts (Africa, Europe and more).
Daniela Nuñez
Associate Graphic Designer and Community Manager
Daniela is the Associate Graphic Designer and Community Manager at the Sustainability Office in San Francisco de Quito University. Daniela has experience making visual communication outstand. She has also worked with different brands across the globe to help them build a stronger visual identity. Daniela holds a Degree in Advertisement and Graphic Design.
Bridget Blake
Global Communications Manager for Future Earth
Bridget is the Global Communications Manager for Future Earth, the world's largest network of sustainability scientists. She leads a team of globally distributed communications professionals who produce and disseminate editorial products that showcase the relevance and value of research to diverse audiences. Bridget joined the organization in 2022 after more than a decade in broadcast news, predominantly covering international affairs. She has spent her career creating engaging and accessible content that informs, inspires, and mobilizes people to care about global issues and solutions. In her spare time she enjoys bird watching, baking, and getting outside at any opportunity.
Juan Sebastián Proaño
Sustainability Coordinator at USFQ
Juan Sebastián Proaño is an Ecuadorian expert in biomass transformation into energy, fuels, and chemicals. He completed his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2009 at the National Polytechnic School. Additionally, he earned his Master's in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering in 2015 and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and BioRenewable Resources in 2017 from Iowa State University. He has worked on the design of unmanned aerial vehicles, dirigibles, and fixed-wing aircraft, providing guidance to the Ecuadorian Air Force. He co-founded Advanced Renewable Technologies International Inc., which is dedicated to producing biochar as a method for emissions offset and soil amendment. Currently, he works as a professor and researcher in the Mechanical Engineering program at the University of San Francisco de Quito. He also serves as the Sustainability Coordinator at the same institution. His research interests encompass technological innovation, the production, and applications of biochar, energy management systems, renewable energy resources, and pyrolysis for the circular economy. Additionally, he is the academic director of the Continuing Education course on Energy Management and Industrial Energy Efficiency.
Camila Espinoza
Technical assistant of the Sustainability Office at USFQ
Camila Espinoza is an Ecuadorian environmental engineer and researcher, graduated from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in 2021. She has actively participated in multidisciplinary sustainability projects, carbon footprint reporting, development of sustainable purchasing policies and climate action plan. She has also collaborated in the development of degree projects in the area of environmental engineering and academic areas related to sustainability, and has participated as a technical consultant in the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the consulting firm Sianciero. She currently holds the position of administrative assistant in the USFQ sustainability office.