Maison Internationale De L’environnement (Mie 2)
Chemin de Balexert 7-9
1219 Châtelaine
Geneva – Switzerland
info@ioldcs.org, admin@oipma.org
+41 22 303 77 68 / +41 79 320 92 23
MEET THE OIPMA TEAM
Thanks to the expertise and experience of a team of Human Rights and Communications professionals, OIPMA continues to fulfill its mandate and speak up on behalf of crisis-affected Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Saeed MOKBIL
PRESIDENT OF OIPMA
Saeed Mokbil is the President of OIPMA and a former Member of the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries. He has 26 years of professional experience working with UN Charter-based and mandate-based mechanisms and has held various senior positions as a former diplomat accredited to the UN.
Prior to founding OIPMA, Saeed represented and accredited several international and civil society organizations to the UN. Conflict prevention and post-conflict peacebuilding are at the core of his work, and he is committed to supporting crisis-affected Least Developed Countries.
Saeed received his Master’s degree in International Relations and International Law from Kiev University and was awarded a diploma in Journalism from the Berlin-based International Institute for Journalism. His diplomatic background and years of experience – including participation in high-level international conferences and UN meetings – have led him to prioritize the importance of global cooperation and multilateralism in achieving peace, security, and sustainability.
Jade MCLACHLAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jade is a public policy expert with over 20 years of experience spanning leadership, strategy, enterprise risk, and sustainability advocacy. She has a strong track record in leading large teams, delivering complex projects, and developing effective communication and risk management strategies. Her extensive background in diplomacy and high-level negotiations includes senior roles with His Majesty’s Government in the UK and at the United Nations in New York. Jade holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a Master’s in European Affairs with a focus on EU Law from the University of Aberdeen, along with Executive Education from the University of Cambridge. Her professional interests centre on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and promoting global stability.
Ceri CHILLIER
Main Representative to the United Nations & Lead Human Rights Officer
Dr. Ceri Chillier is OIPMA’s Main Representative to the United Nations in Geneva and serves as the organization’s Lead Human Rights Officer. In this dual role, she acts as the principal liaison to UN bodies, permanent missions, and human rights mechanisms, advocating for the rights and development priorities of Least Developed Countries.
Ceri holds a PhD in African Studies and Anthropology from the University of Birmingham and brings over a decade of interdisciplinary experience in research, fieldwork, and strategic communication. Her academic and applied work in Rwanda and Uganda – focused on peacebuilding, youth culture, music, and resilience – informs her rights-based approach to development.
Prior to joining OIPMA, she held roles in academia, international NGOs, and cultural institutions. She is passionate about inclusive governance, intercultural dialogue, and amplifying underrepresented voices in global policymaking.
Abisatou MANNEH
Additional UN Representative
Abisatou Manneh is a seasoned professional with 12 years of experience in business growth and client network development. As the Head of Marketing & Business Development at BSIC Bank, The Gambia, she manages banking relationships, business strategies, and marketing campaigns. Previously, she served as the Admin and Human Resources Manager at the Food Safety and Quality Authority and led customer experience and communications at Access Bank Gambia LTD. She has expertise in marketing, communication, negotiation, strategy, and human resources.
Abir BEN SALAH
Fundraising Officer
Abir Ben Salah has extensive experience in international cooperation, humanitarian affairs, and advocacy. With a professional background spanning over a decade, she has worked with a range of global actors including NGOs and United Nations bodies. Abir brings robust expertise in project management, monitoring and evaluation and donor relations—particularly within the MENA region.
Her academic background includes a Master’s degree in Specialised Translation from the University of Geneva and a Master’s degree in Cross-Cultural Studies from the University of Carthage, complemented by a project management associate executive certificate (IPMA) and a Fundraising executive certificate from the Geneva Graduate Institute.
A native Arabic and French speaker, fluent in English, Abir is known for her adaptability, rigor, and commitment to driving impactful change. She thrives in multicultural environments and is deeply motivated by human rights and peace building initiatives.
Yasmin HEANEY
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Yasmin Heaney is OIPMA’s Director of Marketing and Communications, leading global outreach and campaign strategy to advance sustainable development and human rights in Least Developed Countries.
Yasmin is pursuing a Master’s in International Management with a focus on Digital Marketing at Geneva Business School. She brings hands-on experience from roles in public relations and digital marketing across the US and Europe. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Marketing at the University of Colorado along with completed certifications in Digital Strategy and Data Analytics from Northwestern University.
Her international background informs her inclusive approach to communications, ensuring OIPMA’s message resonates across diverse audiences. Yasmin is committed to impactful storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and elevating underrepresented voices through strategic marketing and communications. strategies.
Alexandra BOLOCAN
Institutional Projects Coordinator & Additional UN Representative
Alexandra serves as Institutional Projects Coordinator at OIPMA, where she supports the organisation’s strategic initiatives, manages partnerships, and contributes to its presence at the UN Human Rights Council.
She holds a Master’s in International Relations from the Global Studies Institute at the University of Geneva, specialising in Russia and Eastern Europe, with a strong academic focus on civilian protection and post-Soviet geopolitics.
Her prior roles have equipped her with hands-on experience in project coordination, institutional fundraising, communications, and event organisation, with a regional scope spanning Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the African Great Lakes region.
At OIPMA, she oversees digital platforms, contributes to institutional development, and helps shape projects that align with the organisation’s global mission.
She is driven by a commitment to inclusive governance and believes in OIPMA’s role in amplifying the voices of Least Developed Countries on international platforms.
Camille BATTISTA
Human Rights Officer and Additional United Nations Representative
Camille Battista serves as Human Rights Officer at OIPMA, representing the organization before UN bodies to amplify the voices of Least Developed Countries and conflict-affected communities. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from McGill University, with a double specialization in International Relations and Political Theory. Her master’s thesis explored how compassion and a cosmopolitan perspective can cultivate benevolence through a reimagined understanding of community, motivating global citizenship in a globalized and fractured world.
Her previous work has focused on minority rights and women’s rights, informed by professional experience in public policy and research. In parallel to her work at OIPMA, she volunteers for a Canadian NGO supporting women’s economic empowerment globally.
An Italian-Canadian, Camille is bilingual in English and French, with advanced proficiency in Spanish and Italian. She approaches global issues through a philosophical lens, with a commitment to fostering dialogue, inclusive policy-making, and compassion-informed approaches to global governance.
Kateryna KHOROSHKO
Communications and Social Media Officer
Kateryna Khoroshko is a multimedia and communications professional and OIPMA’s Communications and Social Media Officer, specialising in digital storytelling, audiovisual production, and strategic content development within humanitarian and international contexts. Her work focuses on transforming complex social and humanitarian issues into clear, engaging, and accessible narratives for diverse global audiences.
Kateryna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Audiovisual Arts and Production from Kyiv University of Culture and is currently pursuing a Federal Diploma in Communication and Digital Strategy at CREA. Her academic and professional path bridges creative storytelling with structured communication strategy, combining visual production expertise with editorial planning and digital outreach.
She has gained hands-on experience with leading humanitarian organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Committee of the Red Cross, where she has contributed to internal and external communications, video production, campaign content, and multilingual storytelling. Her responsibilities have ranged from scriptwriting and video editing to editorial coordination, content localisation, and media asset management for international platforms.
With a strong international background and fluency in multiple languages, Kateryna brings a culturally sensitive and inclusive approach to communication. She is particularly committed to impactful visual storytelling, cross-team collaboration, and the development of content that strengthens stakeholder engagement while amplifying underrepresented perspectives. Her work is guided by clarity, ethical storytelling principles, and a strong understanding of how communication can support advocacy, awareness, and institutional credibility.
Kumiko-YOSHIDA
Writer and Translator
Kumiko is working with OIPMA to produce in-depth, interview-driven articles that bring international attention to the lived realities of people in conflict-affected Least Developed Countries.
She has over 13 years of experience as a journalist at a Japanese news organisation, specialising in international affairs and sports reporting. In the international news department, she covered global developments across regions including North Korea, North America, Europe, and the Middle East. She has extensive experience producing well-researched articles under tight deadlines, analysing international news coverage, and presenting complex issues in a clear and accessible manner.
She holds a Master’s degree in Poverty and Development in South Asia from the Faculty of Media and Governance at Keio University, Japan. As part of her studies, she conducted field research with a local NGO in South India, focusing on women’s poverty, education, and self-help organisations.
Kumiko currently works as a freelance writer and translator, contributing to Japanese publications and translating articles from English and French into Japanese. Her recent work includes coverage of a landmark legal case brought by elderly Swiss women on climate change, published in a well-established Japanese monthly magazine.
Camille BLAISE
Human Rights Officer
Camille works as a Human Rights Officer at OIMPA, where she contributes to raising awareness on issues affecting Least Developed Countries and the communities concerned. She holds a master’s degree in International Relations, with a specialization in African Studies, from the University of Geneva.
Originally from Senegal, she has a strong interest in issues related to human rights, migration, and access to basic needs. Her academic and personal background has fostered a deep sensitivity to questions of inequality, vulnerability, and access to essential services in crisis contexts.
Through her engagement with OIMPA, Camille seeks to place her skills at the service of an organization committed to peace, security, and the promotion of human rights, while making a concrete contribution to the dignity and protection of marginalized populations.
Mihret TEKLEMARIAM
Digital Communications and Content Officer
Mihret serves as OIPMA’s Digital Communications and Content Officer, leading the organization’s online presence to support advocacy, visibility, and engagement on issues affecting Least Developed Countries. She works closely with programme, policy, and leadership teams to translate complex development and policy content into clear, accessible digital stories for global audiences.
Her work ensures that OIPMA’s digital platforms reflect its mission, priorities, and commitment to amplifying the voices and perspectives of Least Developed Countries. She coordinates coverage of key events, initiatives, and advocacy moments, maintaining consistency of messaging, strong editorial quality, and alignment with institutional standards.
She brings extensive experience in digital communication, content management, and information systems within international and not-for-profit environments. She holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Media Studies and a Master’s degree in Computing, combining strong editorial judgment with a solid understanding of digital platforms to support effective and responsible communication.
Climate-Conflict White Paper Team
Cristina Bernal
RESEARCHER
Cristina Bernal is a consultant specializing in climate change adaptation. She assesses the adaptation progress of UNFCCC Parties, contributes to event planning, and implements communication strategies. Previously, she served as a Development Consultant at UNESCAP, focusing on digital development in the most vulnerable countries to reduce inequalities and enhance climate change preparedness. Cristina holds a master’s degree in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation from Lund University.
Noémie Guigue
RESEARCHER
After working on water resources management at Amman Airport with a focus on climate and human factors, Noémie Guigue expanded her climate expertise at the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies in 2021. She then worked on urban governance and resilient cities at Groupe Huit. Noémie joined Espelia in 2022, where she works in the international environment department, focusing on water, sanitation, waste, energy, and environmental projects for developing countries. Specifically, she assists donors such as the AFD with the setup of water projects in Djibouti and Pakistan, and conducts evaluations of initiatives including the hydro-agricultural development of Bahr Linia and PPIAF interventions in Ethiopia.
Gabriel Lagrange
RESEARCHER
Gabriel is a researcher specializing in climate security, international governance, and geopolitics based in Geneva. Gabriel gained experience working with international organizations like IOM, the International Crisis Group. While researching for OIPMA on climate security in LDCs, he is also spearheading the “Environmental Geopolitics” Department at the Institute for Applied Geopolitics (IEGA), a Paris-based Think tank.
Marie-Lou Pijnenburg
RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Recently graduated in ecology and evolution from ETH Zurich, Marie-Lou Pijnenburg specialized in research questions linked to plant diversity in a changing world. From DNA to remote sensing analysis, Marie-Lou built up wide knowledge on the study of diversity and ways of doing so, in order to be able to better protect it. On the side, she got involved in multiple projects or volunteering organisations. With different roles along this path, she tended to be part of the strategy development and coordination of projects, something she is also currently assuming in her role at InfoSpecies. Her enthusiasm for the study of our ecosystems and the management of projects that make sense to her are daily drivers.