Global Council of Trustees

Eric Roux is currently the President of the European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom and the Vice-President of the European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights. He engaged in advocacy for religious freedom in the 2000s, and never stopped since. Writer of several books and dozens of articles, he always considered that advocacy for religious freedom should be done by multifaith coalitions. He is regularly invited as a speaker at OSCE, Council of Europe, EU Parliament, United Nations, US Capitol, etc. He also works in various interfaith platforms at the European level. He is an ordained Minister of the Church of Scientology.

Mr. Issac S. Thomas is a young leader from Kerala, India. He joined URI at the age of 13 and has been working amongst youth since then. Initially part of the South India Sri Lanka region, he was one of the first young leaders training program (YLP) candidate and later became the Youth Ambassador for the region. He founded Global Youth Movement (GYM) CC in 2017 and joined the Multiregion. Under his leadership, youngsters have grown and thrived as individuals and as a group concentrating on platforms like interfaith, intercultural and intergenerational dialogue, conflict resolution and reconciliation, women and youth empowerment, environmental protection and sustainable development, disarmament of nuclear weapons, advocacy for human rights etc. His vision, work ethics and ability to build bridges have kept him steadfast in his mission as a peace multiplier. He is also the coordinator of ‘One Billion Youth for Peace’ movement by Cosmic Community CC and an active member of the Youth Ministry of Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. Outside of URI, being a Bachelor of Technology graduate in electronics and communication, he works as a Network Engineer in Doha, Qatar. He strongly believes that URI is a global family and sticks to the motto 'Think globally and act locally.'

Prior to co-founding Kestrel Investment Management in 1993, David spent 12 years at Concord Capital Management where his responsibilities included theme development, investment research, and management of finance, operations, systems and trading. Prior to Concord, David was Director of Investment Systems at American National Bank of Chicago. He was also associated with the Harris Bank’s Management Sciences area in Chicago.

David graduated magna cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 and received his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1979. David serves on the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations.

William E. Swing is the Founder and President Emeritus of the United Religions Initiative. Bishop Swing had the original vision of URI in 1993 in response to an invitation from the United Nations, which asked him to host an interfaith service honoring the 50th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter. Bishop Swing, along with 50 others, shaped the URI purpose (to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings). URI is currently the largest interfaith grassroot organization.

Bishop Swing Bishop Swing served as the 7th Episcopal Bishop of California from 1980 until his retirement in 2006. In that capacity, he was a national and international leader in response to the AIDS crisis, co-founded Episcopal Community Services to address San Francisco’s homeless problem, and co-founded Community Bank of the Bay to support local businesses and the economy.

He is married to Mary Taylor Swing and has two children and three grandchildren.

Books by Bishop Swing: A Bishop's Quest: Founding a United Religions and The Sacred and the Silly: A Bishop's Playful and Eventful Life. Both books are available on Amazon.com; the proceeds of book sales will benefit URI.

Social Entrepreneur, Senior Ashoka Fellow, and humanitarian activist Jerry White furthers his peacebuilding journey by joining United Religions Initiative as Executive Director.

Jerry White is an author, diplomat, and humanitarian activist known for leading high-impact campaigns, three of which led to international treaties: the Landmine Ban Treaty, the Cluster Munitions Ban, and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 1984, White lost his lower right leg while hiking in an unmarked minefield in Israel. He worked closely with the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and shares the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. White wrote of his experience helping thousands of war victims build resilience in “Getting Up When Life Knocks You Down.”

White studied religion at Brown University, theology at Cambridge University, and business at the University of Michigan. He has an honorary degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and was a Professor of Practice for seven years at the University of Virginia, teaching courses on religion-related conflict, strategy, and social entrepreneurship. His latest book is "Religicide: Confronting the Roots of Anti-Religious Violence" (2022).

Jerry White and his wife Kelly live in Washington, DC, and have four adult children.

Vanessa Bergmark is the owner and CEO of Red Oak Realty, one of the largest independent real estate brokerages in the San Francisco Bay Area. Originally from Brooklyn, Bergmark moved west after studying crime, law, and justice. Her passion for real estate ignited when she purchased her first home, prompting her to become a licensed agent. She joined Red Oak Realty in 2007 and became the owner three years later. Under her leadership, Red Oak Realty has expanded and the firm now has over 160 agents, four locations. Bergmark is also known for her commitment to sustainability, leading Red Oak to become both green-certified and carbon-neutral , while being deeply involved in charity for her local community. In 2023 she received her Master’s in Law in Conflict Resolution and Mediation from Pepperdine University.

Lijo Chacko is the CEO of Sigachi - Middle East and Africa and a dedicated advocate for social change. As a Trustee of the Tanta Gatha Foundation and an advisor for the Global Equality Alliance, he has been involved in numerous peacebuilding and social initiatives. Lijo played a key role in Global Action on Poverty, creating a network of changemakers and mentors focused on eradicating poverty. His work has spanned various global platforms, including disaster relief efforts and corporate social responsibility projects​. An alumnus of the Institute of Development Studies, UK, he is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Ngnedjou Francoise Foute is an accomplished leader with extensive experience serving as a Trustee and advisor for several organizations. She has played key roles in overseeing strategic initiatives and guiding executive decisions across various industries. Her leadership includes responsibilities in organizational governance and advisory capacities, ensuring operational success and contributing to the growth of the organizations she supports. Francoise’s commitment to excellence and her expertise in strategic planning have made her a valuable asset to the teams and organizations with which she has been involved.

Vincent Leong is a global trainer and entrepreneur with a deep commitment to empowering individuals and organizations through transformative coaching. As a co-founder of the Global Youth Cooperation Circle within the United Religions Initiative (URI), Vincent has contributed to fostering interfaith collaboration and youth leadership across diverse communities. His expertise has earned him invitations to prestigious platforms like Stanford University and the UN-URI Multiregion Leadership Council. With a passion for growth, Vincent continues to mentor startups and lead innovative programs aimed at inspiring positive change, embodying URI’s mission of peace and unity through interfaith dialogue.

Fareena Maria is a Computer Science Engineer with a Master's degree in International Business. As a co-founder and CEO of a software company, she specializes in managing large-scale projects and is currently based in the UAE.

With a focus on youth upliftment and women empowerment, she has been the state president of the Human Rights Resource Centre (HRRC) and an active part of URI for a decade. She was the Indian youth representative at the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) World congress held in the UK and has participated in multiple youth exchanges to Sri Lanka. Her goal is to change the world one deed at a time.

Barbara Shannon is a business growth expert. She is CEO of the Shannon Group advising C-Level corporate executives with clients that include FEI/Thermo Fischer, Lumentum, HireRight, Flextronics, and others. She helps clients achieve game-changing results for themselves and their businesses. She is founder and chair of THECEOBOARD, a San Francisco-based CEO peer group, and ATHENA, a monthly mastermind group dedicated to the success of women entrepreneurs. Barbara hosts the Bernstein CEO Speaker Series, serves on the Wharton Center for Leadership and Change, and is a frequent speaker and panelist on big shift business transformation. Previously, she was with Deloitte Consulting, where she guided senior executives at JPMorgan Chase, MetLife, Lockheed Martin, Hewlett Packard and Applied Materials. Barbara gives back locally as a board member at We Vote, as a Global Ambassador for How Women Lead, and as the coach-in-residence at Save The Bay. She has also served as a member of the URI Foundation Board. Barbara received her BA from Smith College and her MBA at The Wharton School.

Rabbi Michael Shevack has been Director of Communications at the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding at Sacred Heart University. He taught Spirituality and Comparative Religion in the School of Social Welfare at SUNY Stony Brook, and Business Spirituality at the Iacocca Center for Global Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University. He is the author of six books.

Prior to his ordination, he was a “Mad Man” and created some of the biggest campaigns in the world, including the still-running Gillette, The Best a Man Can Get. Rabbi Shevack is called upon to help religious groups and worthy non-profit organizations create their identities and discover their voices.

Prior to co-founding Kestrel Investment Management in 1993, David spent 12 years at Concord Capital Management where his responsibilities included theme development, investment research, and management of finance, operations, systems and trading. Prior to Concord, David was Director of Investment Systems at American National Bank of Chicago. He was also associated with the Harris Bank’s Management Sciences area in Chicago.

David graduated magna cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 and received his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1979. David serves on the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations.

Eilda Zaghmout was born in Jordan to a Palestinian refugee family from Beit Jala and moved to Palestine in 1999. She holds a BA in Business Administration and Marketing from Bethlehem University. After working in the business and non-profit sectors for 10 years, she became a certified 200-hour Yoga teacher in 2013 and later completed Level 1, 2 and 95-hour Kids Yoga teacher training with Baptiste Institute. In 2015, Eilda co-founded Beit Ashams, Palestine’s first specialized yoga studio. She is the Head of Meditation at TAWAZON, a Wellness Trainer. A mother of two, passionate about guiding others on journeys of self-discovery.

Katende Abdu has just retired as a lecturer in the Department of Religion and Peace Studies, Makerere University where he has taught for the last 35 years in the areas of Islamic Theology, Peace Studies and Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue. He is also the Executive Director of the Centre for Inter-religious and Inter-cultural Dialogue (CIID). He is a Fulbright Fellow and a Peace Ambassador for the King Abdallah International Centre for Inter-religious and Inter-cultural Dialogue (KAICIID). He has over 30 years of experience in the areas of Religion, Peace and Conflict Studies.

His Grace Salika Dasa Adhikari, a Comparative Religionist,  is the Temple President of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Jos, Plateau State. He also serves as Vice-Chairman of the National Council of the ISKCON Movement in Nigeria. A recipient of several national and international awards, His Grace has travelled widely and presented papers at local and international conferences on religion, world peace, development, and environmental degradation. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Leadership, Education and Development (CILED).  He also serves on the Governing Council of the Global Interfaith University.

Wambui Ngige is an attorney based in Nairobi, Kenya. Wambui mobilizes young men and women to join URI and break the cycle of youth being used to propagate hate. Her experience in research and advocacy on youth and women’s rights has enabled her to use unity of religions to bring women and young people together as a way of fighting extremism and uniting Kenyans. Wambui strives to help URI engage and sustain interconnected communities to promote respect for diversity, non-violent resolution of conflict and social, political, economic, and environmental justice.

Ashwani Kumar is a born learner by nature, a student of literature, and a volunteer in social organizations. His journey brought him to serve special children. He was a founding CC of URI in 2000, and is a founding member of Patiala CC, in India. While serving the community for the welfare of the handicapped, his NGO was awarded best NGO in India for the services to the Deaf and Blind children by the President of India and a national award for Best Caretakers to the disabled children.  He joined the Special Olympics in India an international program founded by Eunice Kennedy, sister of US President John F Kennedy. In 1987, helped found the state chapter and registered thousands of special children as athletes. While working with the Special Olympics India, the registered athletes won medals in the International Special Olympics and were honored in India. For the last fifteen years, Ashwani served URI as the President of the North Zone Executive Council of URI. 

Devi Raj S, is a psychologist, wellness coach, trainer, peacebuilder and entrepreneur. She is the Managing Director of Pranaah Holistic Health Care Pvt Ltd, a pioneer in the Mental Health industry in India. She is the Director of Pranaah Autism and Child Development Center & Pranaah Neuro Rehabilitation Center. She is the Founder and Secretary of the Psychological Research and Development Council, a Non-Government Organisation, which is one of the biggest platforms for Psychology & Social Work professionals. She serves as the Principal of LaaDe Institute of Social Sciences. She joined in URI movement in 2012. Since then she has been actively participating in all the programs and projects of URI including Youth camps, Zonal, National, and Asian Assemblies, Holy books conferences etc. Actively participating in the activities of URI Zero Limits CC, winner of Sahayog Samman - 2017 Her projects named Good Touch & Bad Touch-(Personal Safety Awareness), Punarjani (Suicide Prevention campaign), Teen Summit(Conference for teens), Teen Line24X7 telephonic counseling support for teenagers), Girls Summit (Conference for Girls on Girl Power) and RISE (Women Empowerment training Series):- created a great impact especially her training series on personal safety awareness reached the hearts of more than 1.5 lakhs of girls. Her awareness training named "Surakshitha Koumaram" for adolescent girls and their mothers in association with Malayala Manorama daily crossed 54 venues across the state with more than 75000 participants. She is the Master Trainer for various Government departments and their projects. She has twelve years of experience as a trainer and had conducted more than 1500 training sessions; she is a well-known parenting expert and YouTuber. She has successfully conducted parenting sessions for more than one 100000 parents. During the covid-19 pandemic, her team of psychologists conducted online tele-support for Covid patients across the country in association with local Govt. and various

Dr. Chintamani Yogi is a great scholar of Nepal; a Nath Yogi, spiritual master, an educationist and peace activist. He is a founding principal of Hindu VidyaPeeth Schools based on love, peace, selfless service etc. He also established Peace Service Centre, Youth Society for Peace to help children, women, senior citizens. He runs community-based programs - Children's Peace Home – orphanage, Women's Training Program, Girls Scholarship Program, Gorakhnath Sewa Sangh and Biswa Omkar Ekata Mahabhiyan to reform society in totality. He lectures about Conflict, Peace and Development Studies, at Universities in Nepal. He lectures at Rotary, Lions, Corporate Sectors, Government Offices, Armies, Police, TVs, Radios. He is associated with many international organizations - HVP-UK, Peace Service Center-USA, Global Communities for Peace-Australia, Global Network of Religions for Children, United Religions Initiative. He has written several books and songs, won national/international awards. He conducts camps, classes to understand ''The Art of Life''

Jaume de Marcos is a member of the Board and former President of AUDIR (UNESCO Association for Interreligious Dialogue), an NGO based in Barcelona (Spain) which is a founding member of URI and dedicated to interreligious and interconvictional dialogue. Born in Barcelona, Mr. de Marcos has a Master's degree in History of Religions and a Postgraduate degree in Religion and Human Rights. He is also a distinguished member of the Michael Servetus Institute, and of the Spanish Society for the Science of Religions (SECR). He has published 2 books and several articles on topics related to history of religion, particularly the Protestant Reformation, as well as interfaith dialogue and understanding among traditions and cultures.

Daniel Eror was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He obtained formal education at the University of Sarajevo, Master Studies of Economy and Management, with a focus on Human Resources as well as the Master Program of Interreligious Studies and Peacebuilding at the Faculty of Catholic Theology Sarajevo, the Faculty of Islamic Studies Sarajevo, and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology Vasilije Ostroski Foča. He is a member of civil society with 14 years of progressive experience in the field of intercultural dialogue, reconciliation, and peacebuilding, mainly working with young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as abroad.

He is a founder and president of Youth for Peace, an organization which has positioned itself as one of the most prominent youth-led organizations in BiH, working in the field of peacebuilding. Daniel has been an active member of the United Religions Initiative network for several years. He has been a URI Global Council Trustee and URI Europe Treasurer since 2018. In Religions for Peace Europe,  he serves as a co-president of the Organization. He is a certified trainer for work with youth, with expertise in the field of conflict transformation, dealing with past experiences, human rights, and discrimination.

Eric Roux is currently the President of the European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom and the Vice-President of the European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights. He engaged in advocacy for religious freedom in the 2000s, and never stopped since. Writer of several books and dozens of articles, he always considered that advocacy for religious freedom should be done by multifaith coalitions. He is regularly invited as a speaker at OSCE, Council of Europe, EU Parliament, United Nations, US Capitol, etc. He also works in various interfaith platforms at the European level. He is an ordained Minister of the Church of Scientology.

Elianildo da Silva Nascimento, a seasoned lawyer and advocate for human rights, currently serves as the Coordinator of Policies for the Protection and Promotion of Religious Freedom at the Human Rights Secretariat of the Government of the Federal District. With a law degree from Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, he has played pivotal roles, including Executive Secretary for several district committees focused on religious diversity, combating torture, and eradicating slave labor. Elianildo has been a staunch advocate in the Brazilian National Congress since 2002, focusing on religious freedom and disarmament. His extensive experience in promoting interreligious dialogues and coordinating human rights conferences marks him as a leading figure in human rights advocacy in Brazil.

Francisco Morales is Urban Indigenous member of the Aymara community in Argentina, and he is a social science student and writer on issues of Indigenous worldview and Latin American thinking. Francisco has been a part of URI since 2008, when he and others founded Comunidad Cosmica CC. He was selected as URI Youth Ambassador in 2010 and serves as a member of the URI Multiregion Leadership Team. He has been a part of the youth facilitators team since 2017.

Currently, Francisco is also advisor to different social organizations on issues of interreligious dialogue and diversity in conflict situations. He is a member of the First Nations of America Student Community - CEPNA. Together, with other Indigenous writers, Francisco founded the Circle of Indigenous Written and Oral Knowledge.

Marina Tirado Misle, a graphic designer from Venezuela, combines her artistic talents with a passion for peace and interreligious dialogue. Educated at College Vieux Montreal, she has been the President of Centro Zen Bodaishin since 1993 and is deeply engaged in spiritual education and community initiatives. Marina advocates for enhancing communication within the United Religions Initiative network in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on harmonious collaboration and shared goals. She is committed to developing programs for youth that promote peace culture, dialogue, and environmental care, aiming to empower future generations and foster community support through strategic partnerships. Fluent in Spanish, with proficiency in French and basic English, she integrates Zen training and Reiki mastery into her leadership and community work.

Ahmed Abdullah Mohammed Saleh is a distinguished legal advisor and lawyer from the Kurdistan region of Iraq. He holds Bachelor's degrees in Law and Agricultural Engineering. His passion for law inspired further studies, leading to a Master’s degree in Cybercrime Law. Ahmed took on leadership at "Smart Lawyer," a company known for its exemplary legal and advisory services to both local and international organizations. He has significantly contributed to leading and supporting student and youth organizations. Since 2010, he has been an active participant in the activities of URI (United Religions Initiative), working diligently to eliminate violence and promote justice and peace. 

Dr. Omar Ahmad Tayeh is from Amman, Jordan and has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with experiences in the private sector, public institutions, NGOs, and educational institutions. Dr. Tayeh is one of the founders of the Arab Council for Gifted and Talented, Jordanian Psychological Association and Jordanian Volunteer Center, and has worked as a general director for one of the biggest schools in Jordan, as well as the President of Private Schools Council. He has also established cultural exchange programs between Jordan and the USA, Germany, Italy, and other Arab countries. Dr. Tayeh is interested in subjects related to education, peace, cross-cultural Issues, human rights, and religions. 

El Hassane Zamani, from Morocco, is an accomplished professional in Information Sciences and a dedicated leader in community and interfaith initiatives. He holds a Master’s degree in Archives and Documentation from the School of Information Sciences in Rabat and has significantly contributed to educational leadership as the General Director at prominent educational institutions. A foundational member of several NGOs and deeply involved with the United Religions Initiative since 2010, El Hassane has led numerous workshops on leadership, negotiation, and citizenship. Proficient in Arabic, French, and Spanish, he is committed to promoting interfaith cooperation and integration projects. He currently leads the Moroccan League for the Protection of Children and founded the Rotary Club of Maamora Kenitra.  

Greshma Pious Raju, an interfaith leader from India, is pursuing a Master of Arts in Environmental Studies and holds degrees in English and International Peace Studies. Founder of the Ecopeace Teen Café CC, she champions youth engagement and interfaith dialogue. Fluent in Malayalam, English, and Hindi, and intermediate knowledge in Spanish, Greshma has effectively led initiatives addressing environmental sustainability and human rights through her Ecopeace Movement.

Her commitment to the United Religions Initiative’s principles is evident in her advocacy for interfaith collaboration, empowering youth and women, and using innovative approaches to expand dialogue and build inclusive communities. Greshma is also a vocal advocate at international forums, where she promotes global peace and environmental action. Her local and global efforts aim to foster mutual understanding and community cooperation.

Catherine Starr, from Canada, is an experienced personal life coach with a Master’s in Library Science from San Jose State University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Houston. Her career includes roles in information management and web development, alongside significant interfaith leadership. Since 2006, Catherine has been the Wiccan Chaplain at the University of Toronto, and from 2008 to 2023, she chaired the Campus Chaplains Association, coordinating efforts across multiple chaplains. A key participant in the 2018 Parliament of World Religions’ Toronto Steering Committee, she has extensive experience in group facilitation and public speaking. Catherine is dedicated to enhancing support for grassroots organizations through URI, advocating for shared learning to tackle community challenges.

Mr. Issac S. Thomas is a young leader from Kerala, India. He joined URI at the age of 13 and has been working amongst youth since then. Initially part of the South India Sri Lanka region, he was one of the first young leaders training program (YLP) candidate and later became the Youth Ambassador for the region. He founded Global Youth Movement (GYM) CC in 2017 and joined the Multiregion. Under his leadership, youngsters have grown and thrived as individuals and as a group concentrating on platforms like interfaith, intercultural and intergenerational dialogue, conflict resolution and reconciliation, women and youth empowerment, environmental protection and sustainable development, disarmament of nuclear weapons, advocacy for human rights etc. His vision, work ethics and ability to build bridges have kept him steadfast in his mission as a peace multiplier. He is also the coordinator of ‘One Billion Youth for Peace’ movement by Cosmic Community CC and an active member of the Youth Ministry of Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. Outside of URI, being a Bachelor of Technology graduate in electronics and communication, he works as a Network Engineer in Doha, Qatar. He strongly believes that URI is a global family and sticks to the motto 'Think globally and act locally.'

Bhikkhu Vasu Bandhu is a Buddhist Monk at the Dhammapada Sangha; serving as Interfaith Manager for the Arizona Faith Network; representing North America on the International Youth Committee of Religions for Peace; as Co-Chair on the Faith for Earth Youth Council of the United Nations Environment Programme; as a Global Council Trustee from North America for the United Religions Initiative; and on the Global Youth Network of the Charter for Compassion. He has served the interfaith movement since age 18, collaborating with diverse interfaith organizations including the Parliament of the World's Religions. He is 29 years old; his studies are in Political Science and Social Projects from UnADM; 4 years ago, he migrated from his country of origin, Mexico, to the United States of America to live with his husband, who is Muslim.

Geneva Blackmer is a Ph.D. Candidate at Amridge University, with master’s degrees in Ecumenical and Religious Studies. She is the Interim Director for the Interfaith Center at Miami University CC, and a Research Assistant within the University of Bonn’s Theological Faculty. She has served as a Global Council Trustee for URI North America since 2020. Her background consists of interreligious cooperation at a grassroots level, working with numerous interfaith organizations and CCs, including the North American Interfaith Network, the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada, the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington, Faith Communities Go Green, Interfaith Cincy, the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council, and CRES.

Rev. Will Rucker is the Director of Community Health—Nevada at Intermountain Health, focusing on enhancing mental well-being, healthcare access, and equity. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Religion, a Master in Executive Leadership, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. With over two decades of experience in ministry and interfaith dialogue, Will is a respected healthcare leader and an influential voice in promoting inclusive cultures through his coaching and speaking business.

His involvement extends to roles with the Charter for Compassion, Compassionate Las Vegas, and the Nevada Minority Health and Equity Coalition. As a URI Global Trustee, Will aims to advance URI’s mission of fostering peace, justice, and healing.

Abelardo A. Moya transcends from being a political activist and revolutionary into a peacebuilder and community development expert, and a conflict transformation practitioner, who embraces the active-non-violent principle anchored in the Christian faith. With over 27 years of experience, he has built on the theory and practice of Mindanao conflict resolution processes with non-state actors: Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth. He successfully implemented 40+ peace and development projects; conducted more than five project-end external evaluations, one appraisal mission on forced internal displacement, and various technical consultancy works. Abel values unity in diversity and practices mission-based leadership and governance.

Butmao Sourn lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and has more than thirteen-year experience in the legal and human rights field including nine years with a senior management level. He is responsible for managing program development, conducting research-analysis legal and policy records, leadership, and office management. He is a fellow of KAICIID and a part-time professor teaching criminal law and technical research with Preah Sihanoukraja Buddhist University. He is the Head of the Human Rights and Land Rights Section at the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC). He is a former Executive Director of Minority Rights Organization, Project Management, and Research Advisor to Ministry of Cult and Religion, Legal Consultant for Statelessness at Jesuit Refugee Service and a Legal Assistant to Co-Civil Party Lawyers before the ECCC. Butmao has experienced presenting the report to UNHRC-UPR pre-session 3rd cycle in Geneva and UN Regional in Bangkok. 

Chairing the Interfaith Council for Peace in Mindanao, Bishop Stephen L. Villaester has been doing interfaith work for over twenty years. He knows that accomplishing the goals of URI at the local level contributes to the synergy that is created at the global level.