Executive Board Members
Gillian D’Souza-Nazareth
Chair
A civil society (NGO) diplomat for the Red Dot Foundation at the United Nations headquarters in New York with functional expertise in global public policy, social justice, and gender equity advocacy.
Henry Ramirez Soler
Vice-Chair
Mary Caspillo
Secretary
Alexia Gaube
Treasurer
Alexia Gaube is the UN Representative for Life Project 4 Youth (LP4Y). She combines strategy consulting experience with multilateral grassroots work in Asia for youth empowerment.
Cecilia Schirmeister
Member at Large
Cecilia Schirmeister is a representative of the Baha’i International Community’s UN Office in New York. Her primary areas of work include youth, social development, and climate change. She also currently serves as Chair of the World Social Summit Subcommittee for the NGO Committee for Social Development.
Subcommittee Chairs
Advocacy
Sabita Geer – Brahma Kumaris at the United Nations
Sarah Rudolph, CJ – Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate
Communications
Farah Arabe – Make Mothers Matter
Education
Li Zou – Center for Social Development, Next Age Institute at Washington University in St. Louis
Dinesh Jonnakuty – Inclusivity Project
Grassroots
Barbara Bozak – Congregations of St. Joseph
Member State Engagement
Henry Ramirez Soler – Claretians Missionaries
Council of Past Chairs
The Council of Past Chairs serves as a body of institutional wisdom and experience, composed of former Chairs of the NGO Committee for Social Development. These esteemed leaders serve as sherpas in the Committee’s ongoing work, providing guidance, drawing on their lived experiences, offering strategic insights, and contributing valuable leadership expertise. The Council was created to serve as a bridge between past and present leadership, ensuring that the values, traditions, and lessons learned over the years continue to inform and shape the Committee’s work. Through active mentorship and engagement, the Council fosters continuity, accountability, and innovation in our advocacy. As a trusted sounding board for current leadership and a platform for intergenerational learning, the Council strengthens our collective ability to uphold and advance the principles of the Copenhagen Declaration, ensuring that NGOCSocD moves forward with wisdom, integrity, and a deep sense of continuity.
Jean Quinn
2022-2024
Jean Quinn, DW, is the former Executive Director of UNANIMA International and served as Chair of the NGO Committee for Social Development from 2022 to 2024. She is the founder of Sophia Housing and co-founder of the NGO Working Group to End Homelessness.
Maria Fornella-Oehninger
2019-2022
Maria Fornella-Oehninger is a UN Representative of Apne Aap Women Worldwide, a non-governmental grassroots organization with UN ECOSOC consultative status dedicated to ending sex trafficking. Originally from Montevideo, Uruguay, Maria taught International Politics and directed the Model United Nations Program at Old Dominion University in Virginia for 23 years.
Daniel Perell
2015-2019
Daniel Perell joined the Baha’i International Community’s United Nations Office as a Representative in 2011. His areas of work include climate change and the environment, global governance and global justice. He has held numerous roles in organizing civil society at the United Nations.