The Atlantic Institute

Building a catalytic, lifelong community of leaders

After Fellows have completed one of the seven Atlantic Fellows programs, they are supported by their local program and the Atlantic Institute as members of a lifelong, global community. The Institute serves as a convening and knowledge-sharing hub for the global network of Fellows. Based at Rhodes House, Oxford, U.K., the Institute is hosted by the Rhodes Trust and offers resources and opportunities for Fellows and program staff to connect, learn and work together. We encourage  Fellows to collaborate and to work collectively on solutions that address systemic causes of inequity in their communities, and beyond. We also foster ways in which they can work across disciplines and borders to tackle some of today’s most pressing challenges and connect them to a broader network of equity-focused leadership initiatives to create a fairer world.

Connecting and supporting Atlantic Fellows

Our activities facilitate collaboration and learning opportunities for Atlantic Fellows. They use an online portal, the Atlantic Fellows Hub, to share interests and opportunities, and connect with one another. As mid-career leaders with a wide range of expertise, Fellows co-create the design and delivery of convenings, webinars and skills workshops that strengthen their leadership skills and  ignite new thinking. We also run residencies and teach the Fellows about the potential of using Extended Reality (XR), new technologies that can be harnessed for narrative change and to explore ways to be meaningfully together when we are physically apart.

Building a flourishing ecosystem for change

The Atlantic Institute provides the space and means for Fellows and program staff to collaborate across disciplines, geographies and communities. We also broker introductions between members of the Atlantic community and other equity-oriented strategic partners. Our partners include the Rhodes Trust, Schmidt Science Fellowship, Rise and local organizations in Oxford. Working with our partners, we facilitate knowledge exchange and shared approaches. Through our partnerships, we amplify the impact and influence of Fellows and their work.

The mission of the Atlantic Institute

Amplifying the influence and impact of Atlantic Fellows

The Atlantic Institute seeks to amplify the influence and impact of the Atlantic Fellows and the Atlantic Fellows programs by supporting lifelong community among Atlantic Fellows, with access to resources and opportunities to connect, learn and work together.
The Institute promotes collaboration and shared approaches across Atlantic Fellows programs, with virtual and face-to-face platforms for sharing knowledge. It extends community by connecting Atlantic Fellows and the programs to a broader global network of equity-focused leadership initiatives and raises global awareness of the work of the Fellows and of the programs.

Annual Review

The Atlantic Institute Annual Review

The Review (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) features the achievements of the global Atlantic community, who collectively seek to bring lasting improvements to their communities and the world. The Review features our work to connect Fellows and programs with a broader global network of equity-focused partners and leadership initiatives. By thinking and acting together, we can solve some of the world’s pressing challenges and address inequities for a fairer, healthier, more inclusive world.

Find out how the Institute has amplified the influence and impact of the Atlantic Fellows and the Atlantic Fellows programs, supported lifelong community and promoted shared approaches and collaboration.

Read the
review

Fellowship
collaboration

Convenings and gatherings

Each July the Institute runs a global convening at which recently graduated Fellows meet their peers from all seven cohorts who have also completed their programs. We also run thematic convenings offering stimulating place-based content on key issues such as climate change and displacement, inviting participants from some of the affected communities.

Learning labs, workshops & masterclasses

We regularly host skills workshops and action labs across a range of themes and topics to foster systemic change. The sessions vary in length and complexity but all of them aim to encourage Fellows to develop solutions collectively to reduce inequity.

Fellows-in-residence

The Institute runs Fellows-in-residence programs that bring small groups of Fellows to Oxford, where they work together for up to two weeks. Residencies are often delivered in partnership with colleagues from across the University of Oxford and have covered topics such as XR, effective leadership and health care. On completion, Fellows may also receive certification from the relevant partners and collaborators.

Virtual connection and emerging technologies

We deliver a suite of online offerings including webinars and community calls for conversations on topics related to equity. We create social spaces, including a virtual community café where members are randomly paired to make new connections. Our online portal, the Hub, is where the community can post events, news and resources.  Fellows are invited to Rhodes House, to explore new technologies in our XR Lab and find out how they can help their work for equity.

Support

A range of funding streams are available which provide resourcing, partnership and support for Atlantic Fellows’ collaborative projects, accelerating their urgent work to eradicate inequities, locally and globally.

Grants

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Institute has also provided Solidarity Grants to over 50 Fellows across the world to respond to the immediate needs of their communities.

Impact Fund

Our flagship Impact Fund will launch in July 2021 which will accelerate the work of collaborative projects undertaken by Fellows.

“when it comes
down to it, it's always about people”

Charles 'Chuck' Feeney
Founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies
Chuck Feeney's Legacy

Born into a modest, working-class family during the Great Depression, a U.S. Army scholarship enabled Chuck Feeney to attend Cornell University. Becoming a billionaire in the duty free business, he established a private foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, in 1982 believing that the rich should devote the majority of their wealth to the service of humanity. Over 38 years, in more than 25 countries, the Atlantic Philanthropies group invested over $8 billion in more than 6,500 grants to people and organizations who would make a difference in the lives of others.



As one of its final “big bets”, the foundation established the Atlantic Fellows in 2015, committing nearly $700 million—its biggest investment ever—to support the work of a global Atlantic Fellows community. This culminated The Atlantic Philanthropies’ long history of investing in people to realize a fairer, healthier, more inclusive world. Chuck’s entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy, known as Giving While Living, has been an inspiration to philanthropists such as Warren Buffet and Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates.

“I had one idea that never changed in my mind - that you should use your wealth to help people.”
— Chuck Feeney
Read the tributeS

The Atlantic Institute team

Lysa John
Executive Director
Lysa John

Lysa has a background in human rights, international development and social justice, with over 25 years of experience working for grassroots, national, and global networks. She has designed and coordinated programmes, campaigns and advocacy initiatives aimed at empowering communities, holding governments accountable and advancing sustainable development. In her most recent role as Secretary General of CIVICUS, she has led a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists working to strengthen citizen participation and defend civic freedoms. Other professional highlights include working with urban poor movements in India, leading transnational campaigns for the Millennium Development Goals, serving as the Head of Outreach for the UN panel that drafted the Sustainable Development Goals and working as the Global Campaigns Director at Save the Children. She contributes to the work of several remarkable networks as a Board member. This includes the International Budget Partnership, the Global Partnership for Sustainable Data Development and the World Benchmarking Alliance. Lysa stays grounded through a daily practice of yoga, meditation and gratitude. She loves reading, being outdoors and celebrating the people who make her deeply happy – her family across India and South Africa and her worldwide network of friends and fellow activists.

Khalil Goga
Associate Executive Director, Community Engagement, Program & Impact
Khalil Goga

Khalil is an Associate Executive Director (Community Engagement, Programing and Impact) at the Atlantic Institute. He previously served as the Director of Dialogue and Advocacy at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg where he was also a Senior Director with the Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity program. Prior to this, he was a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies where he conducted analysis on the impact of organised crime on governance. He previously lectured at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, from where he received both his undergraduate and Masters degrees.

Dr Abi Diamond
Associate Executive Director of Communications and Impact
Dr Abi Diamond

Abi is the Associate Executive Director of Communications and Impact at the Atlantic Institute. She is responsible for supporting a learning culture and leads on the design and implementation of the Institute's learning and evaluation plans. Prior to joining the Institute Abi was Managing Director of the social research organisation CFE Research for eight years and she brings over a decade’s experience designing and developing evaluation tools to evidence the impact and effectiveness of social change programs. Abi is passionate about innovative evaluation methods and participatory approaches, and aspires to ensure that stakeholders all have ownership of and investment in the learning and evaluative process.

Alice Wroe
XR Lead
Alice Wroe

Alice is experienced in using augmented and virtual realities to interrogate power structures and drive change and has worked at the intersection of art, technology and social justice. She has worked for leading institutions and brands, including Magic Leap, U2, The Gates Foundation, The Global Goals for Sustainable Development, Tate and Penguin Books. Driven by developing virtual experiences that do not compromise the humanity of the user, she says she is looking with hope to a future where technology enables everybody to reach their full potential and creates a fairer and more inclusive society.

Amanda Oduka
Program and Impact Lead (Grants)
Amanda Oduka

Amanda will design and deliver an exceptional, non-precedent setting fund for Atlantic Fellows’ collaborative projects, with responsibilities including the design of the fund’s objectives, and application and review processes. She has significant experience in the international development sector with a proven track record in Programme and Grant management, MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning) and fundraising. She is passionate about creativity, innovation, co-creation and collaboration and intrinsically believes in the greater ideals of service and transcendence.

Daniel Salazar-Murillo
Data Insight Lead
Daniel Salazar-Murillo

An Atlantic Fellow for Social & Economic Equity, Daniel has a background in journalism and has most recently been working as a Data Researcher at Data4Change. As a fellow he is deeply committed to this community and "family". Daniel has devoted the past 11 years to communication projects relating to tax accountability, climate change and media literacy. He has also taught students of journalism how to analyze data as part of a drive to investigate issues like corruption and advance a fairer world.

David Mallinson
Team Coordinator (Events)
David Mallinson

David provides operational and administrative support to the Atlantic Institute team to ensure the smooth running of its meetings, events and special projects. Previously, he worked in events at Oxford Brookes University and as a primary school teacher.

Deepa Mann-Kler
XR Lead (Maternity Cover)
Deepa Mann-Kler

Deepa Mann-Kler is Chief Executive of Neon; Director for Belfast XR Festival; Executive Producer for Virtual Production at Aura Studios; Visiting Professor in Immersive Futures at Ulster University, an award winning Artist and a member of Euromersive and BAFTA Connect. Neon is a multi award-winning studio that harnesses the power of immersive technologies to create authentic augmented and virtual reality narrative driven experiences. Most recent achievements include The Metaverse & Me and Discover ME which shares real life stories of people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long Covid. Neon launched The Metaverse & Me, AR Peace Wall and AR Street Art apps freely available on iOS and Play Store as part of their commitment to create equal access to emerging technologies. A TEDx speaker “Being Human” and thought leader Deepa regularly keynotes on the intersection of storytelling, digital transformation, technical innovation, leadership, inclusion, ethics, bias, data, AI, design and creativity.

Fionnuala Sweeney
Multimedia Editor
Fionnuala Sweeney

An Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Fionnuala leads on multimedia content by creating and delivering films, animations, and podcasts to amplify the Institute's and Atlantic Fellows' work both within the global Atlantic community and externally. She is also responsible for the development of the atlanticfellows.org website and creating content for it, working closely with Fellows to tell their stories in their collaborative pursuit of equity. Before becoming an Atlantic Fellow, Fionnuala was an anchor and correspondent with CNN International. She was part of the broadcast team which received an Edward R. Murrow Award for coverage of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War, a Peabody in 2012 for coverage of the Egyptian Uprising, a 2012 Emmy for Outstanding Live Coverage of the Egyptian Revolution and an Emmy nomination in the same category in 2012 for Breaking News Coverage of the Libya Revolution.

Ha Nguyen
Team Coordinator (Convenings)
Ha Nguyen

As events coordinator, Ha supports the Atlantic Institute’s convenings and programming. Originally from Vietnam, Nguyen holds a master’s degree in international events management from Leeds Beckett University. Ha has six years of experience bringing conference and social events to fruition, and has a passion for promoting health, fairness and social justice. In her spare time, Ha volunteers locally, organizing fundraisers for children’s health care in Africa, and participates in advocacy campaigns in Vietnam

Jemma Stringer
Program and Impact Lead (Innovation and Special Projects)
Jemma Stringer

Jemma is a feminist, passionate about values-based practice that centres collective leadership and local knowledge in the work of shifting power for greater social equity. At the Atlantic Institute, Jemma is Programme and Impact Lead for Innovation and Special Projects, supporting an ecosystem in which Atlantic Fellows lead the changes they wish to see for equity. Jemma has held a range of roles focused on gender justice and social justice, supporting survivors of gender-based violence, women involved with the criminal justice system, and men serving custodial sentences. Most recently, at Oxfam International, she focused on feminist organisational development, co-leading Oxfam’s Global Culture Strategy, and working to embed feminist principles and practices to address power inequalities. Jemma is an experienced facilitator and curriculum designer in face-to-face and virtual settings.

Katherine Bond
Partnerships Lead
Katherine Bond

Katherine is responsible for the Partnerships strategy for the Institute and the community of Fellows it supports. She believes passionately in the power of collaboration to drive social, economic and health innovation and brings extensive experience of working across international communities and multi-stakeholder environments. Prior to the Institute, Katherine was director of the Cultural Institute at King's College London, working at the interface between the university and the creative and cultural sectors; she has also held leadership roles within creative, policy, diplomacy and non-governmental organisations. Katherine began her career directing theatre and music and continues to advocate for the arts as a platform for health and social change as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Kim Ooi
Team Coordinator (Grants and Funding)
Kim Ooi

Kim provides high-quality support as coordinator for grants and funding in support of the work of Atlantic Fellows and program staff. Before arriving at the Institute, she was involved in managing student fees, academic records and scholarships. She has worked with charitable organizations, corporations and foreign education ministries to promote and manage the University of Oxford scholarships schemes.

Maria Jeffery
Communications Lead
Maria Jeffery

Maria delivers the Institute's communications strategy, using internal and external channels to build connections across the Atlantic community, and capture and amplify the voices of the Fellows. She spent many years as a reporter in fast-moving TV and radio newsrooms before working in media relations and communications roles for Oxfam GB, the Public Affairs Directorate of the University of Oxford, and one of the Oxford colleges. Maria provided media support for emergency work, development programs, fundraising and campaigns. At the University of Oxford, she dealt with media issues relating to signficant University policy; supported the vice chancellor and chancellor on their media work overseas; and promoted the University's social sciences division.

Mel Nash
Finance Coordinator
Mel Nash

Mel will take up a newly created position as Finance Coordinator. Previously, Mel handled the management accounts for a Bicester-based company, Memoria, which has 12 sites across the U.K. She also worked for the Oxford Women’s Training Scheme, an organisation advocating gender equality that offered skills workshop opportunities to women.

Patronella Nqaba
Program and Impact Lead
Patronella Nqaba

Patronella is part of the team seeking to develop the Atlantic community and broaden its global impact, particularly in strengthening the links with Atlantic Fellows who live in Africa or have links with the continent. Previously, she was the Network Director for Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity and concurrently held a leadership position at the Nelson Mandela Foundation (AFRE’s anchor partner). At AFRE, she led the program’s strategic outreach to identify and recruit applicants from diverse international networks and communities and led the program’s Senior Fellow community. She also contributed to network development and program planning. At the Nelson Mandela Foundation, she conducted analysis on governance and social activism and supported the Foundation’s anti-racism activities and efforts to build democracy.

Richard Smith
XR Specialist
Richard Smith

As XR (Extended Realities) specialist, Richard Smith leads the day-to-day running of the XR Lab at Rhodes House, Oxford. The role is shared between the Atlantic Institute and the Rhodes Trust. He leads demonstrations in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed/merged reality and other immersive technologies. Richard also manages the equipment loan store, assists with workshops and supports Fellows to help them realize their XR projects. Richard has almost 10 years of experience in working with XR, 3D printing, 3D scanning and other new technologies. Previously, he spearheaded the establishment of the first free VR equipment lending service at the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. He introduced the University to XR through creation events, training and the establishment of the Oxford X-Reality Hub. He also led the development of several University of Oxford XR research projects, including EdTech in the Cloud, a VR app aimed at bridging attainment gaps experienced by disadvantaged secondary students. He works with Alice Wroe, XR Lead, supporting the Atlantic and Rhodes community with XR projects for storytelling.

Salman Usmani
Communications Coordinator
Salman Usmani

Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity, Salman Usmani has joined the Atlantic Institute as communications coordinator. A communications expert and campaign strategist he will work with the Institute to amplify the impact of the Atlantic Fellows community by promoting their work around the world . Salman has worked in journalism, advertising and media production across themes ranging from climate change and public health to democracy and human rights. He holds a master’s degree from LSE where he studied inequalities, political communications, social network analysis, and media and technology policy. Salman's work as a Fellow includes new storytelling techniques, narrative change, and developing information architecture and methods to map networks of hate and disinformation.

Shanjitha Rajasingam
Team Coordinator (Convenings)
Shanjitha Rajasingam

Shanjitha provides support for the Atlantic Institute's convenings and programming. A Tamil-Canadian, she has a passion for social change, equity and inclusion. She spent has six years working in the philanthropic sector, working previously at the Catherine Donnelly Foundation in Canada. She has a batchelor's undergraduate degree in Women & Gender Studies and Sociology from the University of Toronto; and holds a postgraduate certificate in digital media marketing from George Brown College, Toronto. In her spare time, Shanjitha loves teaching yoga and is a great believer in its transformative, healing and uplifting powers. She supports people in living physically well and mentally resilient lives.

Sukh Sanghera
Technology Platforms Lead
Sukh Sanghera

Sukh administrates, maintains and develops the technology offerings at the Atlantic Institute. He is also responsible for supporting the Fellows and Program staff with the Atlantic Fellows platforms (such as The Atlantic Fellows Hub). If you are a Fellow or a member of Program staff, feel free to get in touch directly with Sukh for any training and support requirements you may have. He works closely with the team to help ensure the Institute's vision and programming is supported and achieved with the use of online technology.

Tanya Charles
Senior Program and Impact Lead
Tanya Charles

Tanya is an African feminist who has years of experience working to advance women’s rights, gender equality and social justice across Africa and globally. She has expertise in research, policy development, curriculum design and relationship management. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences and Inequality from the London School of Economics and a Master of Philosophy in Justice and Transformation (Human Rights Law) from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Tanya is an Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity 2018-19. At the Atlantic Institute, she provides strategic support to the Global Atlantic Fellows Advisory Board, manages the flagship Global Atlantic Fellows Annual Convening, and develops programming (webinars, skills training and place-based) for Atlantic Fellows and staff.

Vincent Battaglia
Senior Executive Assistant
Vincent Battaglia

Originally from California, Vincent moved to England in 2019. He has been a personal/ executive assistant for over seven years, with experience in providing support to high-profile individuals, including HM King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales. Outside of work, you can find him tending his garden alongside his 11-month-old son and their three chickens.

Atlantic Institute Governing Board

Christopher G. Oechsli
Chair
Christopher G. Oechsli

Mr. Oechsli has more than 35 years of experience in international business, law, philanthropy and policy development in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe. President and CEO of The Atlantic Philanthropies from June 2011 until its closure in 2020, he led Atlantic’s grant making and Founding Chairman grants. Previously, Mr Oechsli served as Counsel to U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, whom he advised on legislation and a range of domestic and international issues. Beginning in 1990, Mr. Oechsli served as a director, counsel or chief executive of operating companies within the General Atlantic Group, an international investment subsidiary of the Atlantic Foundation. He was a senior staff member at The Atlantic Philanthropies and related companies for 17 years. Mr. Oechsli is a graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles. Following studies in Chinese language at Georgetown University and graduate studies at Columbia University, he received an M.A. in Foreign Affairs and a J.D. from the University of Virginia.

Armine Ishkanian
Executive Director, Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Armine Ishkanian

Armine is executive director of the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE) program and a professor in the department of social policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She also co-convenes the Politics of Inequality research program at the LSE International Inequalities Institute. She provides institutional and strategic oversight of AFSEE to achieve its vision, mission and goals, supporting the team in building a powerful, effective program at the heart of the LSE International Inequalities Institute. She also curates the academic content of, and provides facilitation during, the Fellowship modules, ensuring a clear, cohesive learning arc within and across modules. Her work was recognized with LSE’s Excellence in Education Award 2019-2020.

Elizabeth Kiss
Warden, Rhodes House; CEO, Rhodes Trust
Elizabeth Kiss

Dr Elizabeth Kiss is Warden and CEO of the Rhodes Trust (2018). Previously, Dr Kiss (pronounced ‘quiche’) served for twelve years as president of Agnes Scott College, Georgia during which time the college broke records for enrolment and retention. It was named the second ‘Most Diversified College in America’ by Time and the country’s most successful liberal arts college for graduating low-income students by the U.S. Department of Education. Dr Kiss served as the founding director of Duke University’s Kenan Institute for Ethics (1997-2006) and taught at Randolph-Macon College (Virginia), Deep Springs College (California) and at Princeton University. Her academic focus has been on moral and political philosophy and she has published on moral education, human rights, ethnic conflict and nationalism, feminist theory, and transitional justice. Dr Kiss received her BA in philosophy, magna cum laude, from Davidson College in North Carolina, where she became Davidson’s first female Rhodes Scholar and received a BPhil and DPhil in philosophy from the University of Oxford.

Kofi Appenteng
President, Africa-America Institute
Kofi Appenteng

Kofi Appenteng is the President of the Africa-America Institute (AAI), which was founded in 1953 with a mission of promoting enlightened engagement between Africa and America through education, training and dialogue. AAI has more than 15,000 African alumni from more than 50 African countries. Throughout his career, Kofi has been active with numerous civil society organizations. He is currently: a member of the International Advisory Board of IE University; a member of the board of Poets & Writers, Inc; and chairs the board of the Greentree Foundation. He is also a past chair of the board of the Ford Foundation, the International Center for Transitional Justice, and the Community Service Society of New York.

Nicolette Naylor
Pan African Feminist Lawyer and senior Philanthropic Executive
Nicolette Naylor

Nicolette Naylor is a Pan African feminist lawyer and senior philanthropic executive who has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of justice, feminism and philanthropy. She has led the Ford Foundation's Southern Africa office and International Program on Gender, Racial & Ethnic Justice where she was responsible for directing the Foundation’s strategy and team in the Southern African region as well as global programming on gender, racial and ethnic justice. Her work has focused on increasing resources and financial support for civil society in the global South and a commitment to strengthening the feminist funding ecosystem for Black and Indigenous feminist movements as well as LGBTIQ+ and gender expansive movements. She retired from Ford Foundation in September 2022 and is now providing consultant support to philanthropic organizations, feminist movements, civil society organizations and academic institutions whilst completing her book project which spans deeply personal and political reflections, celebrations, and critiques of her time in philanthropy.

Roger Glass
President of China Medical Board
Roger Glass

Dr. Roger Glass became president of the China Medical Board in January 2023. His distinguished career in global health spans five decades and includes leadership roles in public service, research, capacity building, and international collaboration. Most recently, he served as the director of the Fogarty International Center and associate director for international research at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). As the longest-serving director of the Fogarty International Center (2006-2023), he led efforts to support and facilitate global health research conducted by U.S. and international investigators, building partnerships between health research institutions in the U.S. and abroad, and training the next generation of scientists to address global health needs

Amina Evangelista Swanepoel
Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in Southeast Asia
Amina Evangelista Swanepoel

Amina is a committed advocate for gender, reproductive health and human rights in the Philippines. She is the founding executive director of Roots of Health and Ugat ng Kalusugan, a local reproductive health organization she started in 2009. In this role, she leads a team of 40 advocates in their work to reduce unplanned pregnancies, maternal deaths and HIV incidence in the Philippines

Kevin Liverpool
Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity
Kevin Liverpool

Kevin is a violence prevention practitioner with a passion for fostering men’s holistic well-being, championing gender equality and eradicating violence against women, girls and gender-diverse individuals. Based in Trinidad and Tobago, he collaborates with various local and regional civil society organizations to advocate for legislative reforms prioritizing victim safety and enforcing perpetrator accountability

Global Fellows Advisory Board

Amanda Fononda
Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in South Africa
Amanda Fononda

Amanda Fononda has been a Global Atlantic Fellow based at Tekano since 2019. In 2024, she was appointed to serve for two years as one of the 14 Global Fellows Advisory Board, selected from the community of Fellows. Amanda’s health equity work focuses on understanding and addressing barriers to integration and successful management of mental health screening in primary health care settings. She also facilitates work on Indigenous knowledge, mainly how friendship is a social capital that improves health outcomes. Amanda has years of experience working in local and international non-governmental organizations in public health. Her focus has been on contributing to prevention, case finding, treatment, and retention in care in high-risk and key vulnerable populations with TB and HIV. Amanda has attained qualifications in Journalism, Sociology, Health Economics, Public Health and Futures Studies

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Amina Evangelista Swanepoel
Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in Southeast Asia
Amina Evangelista Swanepoel

Amina Evangelista Swanepoel is a committed advocate for gender equity, reproductive health and human rights in the Philippines. She serves as the Founding Executive Director of Roots of Health and Ugat ng Kalusugan, a local reproductive health organization she started in 2009. In this role, she leads a team of 40 advocates in their work to reduce unplanned pregnancy, maternal deaths and HIV incidence in the Philippines. In her pivotal role at Roots of Health, Amina also acts as a bridge between the organization’s boards in the United States and the Philippines. She oversees day-to-day operations, management, and fundraising. Amina also contributes to the Provincial Family Health Council of Palawan and the Puerto Princesa City Local Health Board. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Forum for Family Planning and Development and actively participates in the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network. She also sits on the Global Atlantic Fellows Advisory Board of the Atlantic Institute. Amina’s accomplishments include recognition as a Philippines Ashoka Fellow, an Atlantic Institute Fellow, and an Asia Society Asia 21 Young Leader. Her career encompasses human rights research in Asia, including a two-year stint with Human Rights Watch, as well as positions with the Guttmacher Institute and UNHCR in India. Amina holds a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and dual Master’s degrees in International Affairs and Public Health from Columbia University. Amina resides in Puerto Princesa with her family, including her husband, children, mother, four cats, and five dogs.

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Dela Wilson
Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity
Dela Wilson

Dela Wilson is a social impact strategist and founder of Axle Impact Studio, a social innovation firm blending management consulting, design research, and brand strategy to drive equitable change. Her current projects include Rectify, the world’s first open-source platform for harm repair, and Repair.VR, an immersive experience exploring worlds of repair. Dela's journey in reparative justice began as a legal scholar, evolved into cultural transformation, and now focuses on design research. She is passionate about leveraging business and technology to shift structural relationships through creativity and innovation. Recognized as a Social Entrepreneur-in-Residence at USC Marshall, a "30 Under 30 for the Future of Venture Capital,” and an "Innovator to Watch" by the United Negro College Fund, Deloris “Dela” Wilson is a first-generation graduate of Spelman College, Harvard University, and Georgetown Law.

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Ginger Ramirez
Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity U.S. + Global
Ginger Ramirez

Dr. Ginger Ramirez is a public health physician and Balik Scientist of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Her work is focused on policy and program development for suicide prevention, mental health education, and the provision of trauma-informed therapeutic services. Her public health experience spans various health system levels, from rural primary care communities and provincial-level governance to the national Department of Health (DOH) and international consultancies. She completed her Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery Program (MMSc GHD) from the Harvard Medical School and her Doctor of Medicine and Master in Business Administration (MD, MBA) from the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health. Her research focuses on suicide prevention, trauma-related interventions, and youth mental health and well-being. She is one of the co-founders of Communitails, Inc., an organization providing animal-assisted interventions as complementary and creative therapies for mental health. She is also an artist and aerialist.

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Ifeanyi Nsofor
Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity U.S. + Global
Ifeanyi Nsofor

Ifeanyi Nsofor is a public health physician, behavioral science researcher and global health equity advocate and has had more than 120 articles published in outlets such as Project Syndicate, Al Jazeera and NPR. He has led 30+ research projects across West Africa. Recognized as one of the top 100 most influential Africans in 2020 as well as one of the top 100 coronavirus healthcare professionals globally that year,, he played a key role in evaluating the African Union's response to the Ebola outbreak. A two-time TEDx speaker, two-time MOTH storyteller, and Senior New Voices Fellow at the Aspen Institute, Ifeanyi is dedicated to advancing equity health leadership globally. Ifeanyi’s current focus is a project that uses social media, and community pharmacists (as local influencers) to increase HPV vaccination in Nigeria.

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Ivana Merckel
Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in South Africa
Ivana Merckel

Ivana Merckel is a committed human rights defender and disruptor based in Johannesburg, South Africa, with over a decade’s experience in social justice. Her work focuses on advancing social change through a decolonial, feminist, and pan-Africanist approach. Ivana has designed and led initiatives addressing the intersection of sexual and reproductive health, human rights, and equity,while managing programmes that empower communities and foster collaboration. She has worked with various global and national organizations, including Komons Collective, where she mapped media narratives to shift online culture for women’s, sex workers’, and LGBTQ+ rights, leading to the establishment of the u amba Network. A digital narrative ecosystem that collaborates with over 20 organizations and aims to expand. As a consultant, Ivana offers strategic and programmatic guidance to organizations advancing social justice. Ivana is a graduate of the University of Cape Town and an alumna of the Atlantic Fellowship for Health Equity. She remains committed to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities through storytelling, the arts, and activism.

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Kevin Liverpool
Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity
Kevin Liverpool

Kevin works with community organizations to end sexual- and gender-based violence globally. He is based in Trinidad and Tobago.

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Laura Booi
Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health
Laura Booi

Laura Booi is a dedicated social gerontologist who focuses on optimizing brain health across the lifespan. She works both as a consultant and an academic. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Dementia Research at Leeds Beckett University. She leads research projects exploring brain health in young adults, supervises PhD students exploring issues related to dementia and teaches qualitative research methods. As an Atlantic Fellow, Laura co-leads two special interest groups for Fellows: the AI Run Club and the Cannabis Equity Group. As a representative for the Global Atlantic Fellows in Brain Health Equity, she serves on the Global Fellow Advisory Board for the Atlantic Institute.

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Maureen Siguake
Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity
Maureen Siguake

Maureen is a dedicated community leader and agitator known for her expertise in organizational development and her commitment to driving sustainable community-led impact.

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Michelle Steele
Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity
Michelle Steele

Michelle is a Kamilaroi/Gomeroi Yinarr (woman), who has dedicated her career to advancing outcomes for Indigenous Australians. Currently her work involves effecting generational change through Indigenous-led initiatives.

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Obenewa Amponsah
Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity
 Obenewa Amponsah

Obenewa is a certified coach who works with leaders to clarify their purpose, find greater alignment professionally and expand the impact of their work. As a seasoned facilitator and frequent speaker, Obenewa also works with organizations to create the conditions for learning, collaboration, and growth.

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Rennta Chrisdiana
Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in Southeast Asia
  Rennta Chrisdiana

Rennta Chrisdiana is passionate about learning and leading collaborative efforts that enhance the well-being of youth and families, driving positive social change. With a strong academic background in Communication Development and Community Services, she has built a solid foundation for teaching and leading a wide range of projects, organizations, and community development initiatives. Rennta has been teaching at Indonesian Islamic universities for the past 10 years and has served as a community educator at the Yogyakarta Consumer Institute for over 25 years. She has collaborated with various organizations on critical issues, including mental health and well-being, health equity, consumer protection, and youth empowerment. As a lifelong learner, Rennta is an inspiring speaker, lecturer, mentor, coach, facilitator, and trainer in areas such as strategic communication, health equity, well-being, adaptive leadership, and personal development and transformation. Currently, she leads a School-Based Mental Health Program and the #ConnectToCare campaign, which uses film to engage youth in meaningful dialogue. She is also the founder of the Rumpun Nurani Foundation, the Ilm Seeker Institute, and serves as Chairwoman of Lembaga Advokasi Keluarga Indonesia (LAKI). From 2015 to 2019, she was a Commissioner on the Yogyakarta Hospital Supervisory Board. Presently, Rennta is a Fellow for the Health Equity Initiative in Southeast Asia and a member of the Global Atlantic Fellows Advisory Board, working toward a fairer, healthier and more inclusive world.

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Te Awa Puketapu
Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity
Te Awa Puketapu

Te Awa is looking at the next 40 years of te reo Maori revitalization in Kohanga Reo, prioritizing language concepts, sovereignty and access, and decolonizing how reo Maori is used in bilingual settings, and empowering families and community. She is based in Wainuiomata, New Zealand.

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Yared Zewde
Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health
  Yared Zewde

Dr. Yared Zewde is an Assistant Professor of Neurology and past chair of the Neurology Department at Addis Ababa University. As a Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, he is a fervent advocate for brain health equity and improved dementia care. Dr Zewde has pioneered the development of early dementia detection tools and remote consultation technologies, significantly enhancing patient care in Ethiopia. He founded Alzheimer’s Ethiopia, the first dementia-focused non-profit in the country, which supports patients and their families while raising awareness about dementia prevention and training health professionals. Through this organization, Dr Zewde has made substantial strides in reducing stigma and providing essential resources to those affected by dementia. As a member of the Global Atlantic Fellows Advisory Board, Dr Zewde is committed in supporting and promoting the translations of fellow’s innovative ideas into practical solutions that address local inequalities and benefit communities. His work is instrumental in creating a fairer and healthier society in Ethiopia that he will leverage his experience to guide and shape the focus of the Atlantic Institute’s initiative to achieve its goals on accelerating the eradication of inequalities around the world.

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The Atlantic Institute team

The Institute team brings diverse expertise and experience across many areas including programming, operations, communications, technology and data analysis. The team is committed to the success of the Institute’s mission and supports the wider Atlantic community.

Atlantic Institute Governing Board

The Atlantic Institute Governing Board (AIGB) provides operational and programmatic oversight of the Institute. It also plays a key role in promoting and supporting the vision of the Atlantic Fellows community. The Board reflects the diversity of the Atlantic Fellows programs.

Global Atlantic Fellows Advisory Board

The Global Atlantic Fellows Advisory Board (GFAB) informs the Atlantic Institute, supports Atlantic Fellows and aims to ensure all voices are represented. Every two years, 14 Fellows, two from each program, are appointed to serve on the Board. GFAB also guides community engagement, programming and key activities for the Institute.

Our programs
Join us in forging a better world

There are many ways to contribute to the positive change Atlantic Fellows is championing. As an individual, you can apply to one of our seven programs. Change is a lifelong mission, and there’s no better time to start than today.

Atlantic Fellows Newsletter

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