Lee is the President of Business Contingency Group (BCG), a firm specializing in Business Continuity/Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Emergency Management Planning. BCG also provides Humanitarian Assistance support to improve the capabilities and capacities of partner nations to respond to disasters.  In addition, BCG provides Business Continuity and Humanitarian/Disaster Relief Warehouse Management software.

Lee is responsible for Business Continuity/Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Emergency Management projects, plans, exercises, and initiatives for clients in various industries. These include government, entertainment, education, retail, research, transportation, insurance, financial, engineering, defense, and others. Some of the Humanitarian Assistance Projects Lee has worked on include Disaster Relief Warehousing, Emergency Operations Centers, and emergency response training for host country personnel throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean. 

Prior to BCG, Lee was the Business Contingency Program Manager for AT&T Wireless. Prior to joining AT&T, he was the Disaster Recovery Planner for 20th Century Fox Studios.

Besides serving on the PM4NGOs Board of Directors he also serves on the Business and Industry Council for Emergency Planning and Preparedness (BICEPP) Board of Directors since 2000. BICEPP is a Southern California non-profit association to provide a forum for information exchange from the public and private sectors to enhance emergency preparedness and contingency planning within the business community, Lee has served on the Executive Board as the VP of the Private Sector. He has also headed the BICEPP/LA County Tabletop Exercise program over the past years.

Whitney Yadao-Evans is a conservation practitioner and gender specialist at Conservation International with more than 20 years of experience in marine resource management, community-based resource management, seascapes, gender and project management. Whitney received her master’s degree in international environmental policy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, and her bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Denver. Prior to joining Conservation International’s Coral Triangle Initiative program in 2015, she worked with the Office of Policy at the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco. In nearly ten years at Conservation International, Whitney was a foundational member of the Gender Program, managed Conservation International’s engagement with the Coral Triangle Initiative, advanced marine conservation initiatives within coral triangle countries, was the Gender & Safeguards Advisor for the Blue Nature Alliance and is currently the Delivery Director with Conservation International’s Project Delivery and Monitoring Team.

Leslie Sherriff is a MEAL and international development professional with more than 30 years of experience. She has degrees from the University of Southern California, the University of Pittsburgh, and London Metropolitan University in London, England. Her career includes work world-wide with the National Endowment for Democracy, Catholic Relief Services, LINGOS (now Humentum), American University, and others as an independent consultant. During the last 10 years, Leslie has focused her time building capacity in the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) field via on-line learning. She helped design and taught a course for American University’s on-line MS in Measurement and Evaluation and co-wrote the Guide to the MEAL DPro. She also assisted in the development of the MEAL DPro resources and courses.

Leslie currently facilitates MEAL DPro courses online for both Humentum and Pyramid Learning from her home in Maastricht, The Netherlands. She is originally from Tacoma, Washington in the United States. When she is not facilitating or consulting, Leslie enjoys the gym, playing tennis, walking her dog and exploring Dutch and European cultures with her family.

Martin is a Finance MBA with 18 years of corporate experience under his belt. He worked in the private sector before he moved to the international development and nonprofit sector. His career took him to many places around the globe, and he speaks four languages. He has worked in the US, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and he has concurrently managed numerous projects across various time zones. Martin is a Finance Director at the Campagna Center, a non-profit in Alexandria, Virginia dedicated to education. Martin is excited about joining the PM4NGOs Board of Directors and being able to contribute to the organization's Vision and Mission.

Martin is a tireless advocate for equality and equity, and he served as a member of the DEI Committee and the Discrimination Prevention Committee for two and three consecutive years (respectively) in his previous role.

Martin lives with his family in Rockville, Maryland. Martin is a voracious reader, a lifelong learner, and an avid hispanophile. When he is not working or reading, he is exercising, practicing yoga, traveling, playing classical guitar, volunteering overseas on USAID projects, and trying to keep up with his 5-year-old daughter.

Alyssa Ivaska is a seasoned project management and change leadership professional with over 15 years of experience in international development. Currently serving as Project Manager for the Integrated Program Management System (IPMS) at Heifer International, she leads global standardization efforts, vendor and budget oversight, and organization-wide adoption of project management systems. Alyssa brings a unique blend of technical know-how, strategic thinking, and cross-cultural fluency, shaped by both headquarters and field-based roles across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. She holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development, International Policy, and Management from SIT Graduate Institute.

Clara Hagens is a Senior MEAL Advisor with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and has participated in the evolution from M&E to MEAL within the agency over the last decade.  Clara began her work with CRS as a regional technical advisor for M&E in Asia and currently focuses on global MEAL initiatives and resources. She has co-led the agency's work on MEAL policies and procedures and the developing of the SMILER+ MEAL System Development Resources as well as guidance on Feedback, Complaints and Response Mechanisms. Clara also contributed to development of MEAL DPro Guide and resources.

Clara facilitates a community of practice among accountability practitioners, including MEAL staff and program teams. Currently, she is working to integrate localization initiatives with MEAL activities, contributing to stronger partnerships between CRS and local actors.

Clara lives in Medellin, Colombia and is originally from Tacoma, Washington. She holds a master of public health degree in global health from Emory University.

A passionate for strategy, project management, and business development, Hazem thrives in a culture that drives innovation, change and results. For him strategy is not a matter of being better at what you do – but different at what you do. Hazem has 25 years of experience and has been working as a senior consultant and trainer for more than 15 years, providing consulting and training assignments for clients from different sectors around the world.

So many stories have shaped his core. Originally a pharmacist, Hazem holds an Ms in Marketing and holds the PMP accreditation as well as PMD Pro and project DPro Practitioner. Juggling between both industries, Hazem made the shift to satisfy his desire to serve others and help make the biggest leaps forward within teams, companies and organizations.

Believing in the value and benefits of cross industries learning and inoculation, his experience is split equally between the private and the not -for -profit sectors across the MENA region, Far East and Central Europe. This is the reason which inspired him to adopt PMD in 2011 when he started providing training and consulting services to NGO’s, especially after he experienced first-hand how heavy the PMP was for these organizations.

Hazem has been active in PMI until he headed the Jordan Chapter in 2010 for four years, during which the Chapter won “the Chapter of the Year Award”. The award was accredited for rolling out project management for schools’ curriculum which was delivered by volunteers to teach students (13-17) the principles of Project Management and help them applying it on real life projects for their schools and communities. They were 30 projects in total.

An advocate for more incorporation of risk management in the work of NGOs, Risk Management is one of Hazem’s favorite topics. He sees calculated risk-taking, exploring new ideas and methods as a necessity for continuous learning, self-development and personal growth..

Married with two kids, Hazem comes from the Middle East region, an area with certain “interesting dynamics” and where many of the development and humanitarian work takes place. He sees that this part of the world requires more adaptable approaches and in many occasions, tailor-made solutions.
He had the privilege of translating the first official editions of PMD Pro Guide and the Program Management Guide (Program DPro) into the Arabic Language.

Josephine has worked in international development and humanitarian response for more than twelve years. A true generalist, she has accumulated a broad experience from managing programmes, people, and processes for several large INGOs and across a wide range of thematic areas, predominantly while based in post-conflict and/or disaster-affected contexts, such as Afghanistan, Lebanon and Myanmar. Having played a central part in Mercy Corps’ efforts to roll out and standardise project management across the agency globally, Josephine is qualified to Project DPro Level 1 and Program DPro, and a trained facilitator and Trainer of Trainers in Project DPro.

Josephine is a firm believer in that improving and assuring quality, with the ultimate goal of delivering the best impact for the communities we support and serve, should drive all international development work. Successful project and programme management is key to this effort.

Josephine holds both a Bachelor Degree and a Master of Social Science in Peace and Conflict Studies from Uppsala University, Sweden. She is Swedish and currently based outside Stockholm.

Juan Manuel Palacios, started his career in the development sector with non-profit organizations about 27 years ago, working as project coordinator, project manager, operational director and regional manager for international cooperation and non-profit organizations, on leadership projects, development of indigenous populations, art and culture, income generation, microfinance and small business development. Between 2003 and 2006 he worked in the Northeast of Brazil, in monitoring, evaluation and financial training for over 25 NGO's in self-sustainability and organizational strengthening.

In 1996, he founded VRS Consult, a consulting company for strengthening of management skills for companies and non-profit organizations, planning, monitoring and evaluation, budgeting, self-sustainability and strengthening of Human Resources.

He has developed training processes in Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Brasil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico, USA, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea Bissau, South Africa, Peru, Haiti, Thailand, Costa Rica, etc., and delivered consultancy in project management, organizational sustainability and strategic planning in about 15 countries in Latin America and the Portuguese speaking region in Africa.

Juan Manuel is a CPA, and has an MBA, with additional studies in Management, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Company Incubation. Additionally, studied development of small tourism enterprises in Okinawa Japan. Certified Project DPro Foundations, Project DPro Practitioner, Program DPro, and Risk Management for development organizations.

He is a professor for College and Master Degrees since 1994, in topics as: Budgeting, marketing, Project Management, Organizational Strategy, Finances, etc.

Karla Peña Romero is a dynamic nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience at the intersection of community development, resilience, and organizational growth—locally in Puerto Rico, across Latin America, and globally. Her career spans both local and international NGOs, including Mercy Corps, where she led complex, high-impact programs focused on disaster preparedness, infrastructure development, and capacity building. She has managed portfolios exceeding $15M and guided diverse, cross-functional teams to deliver measurable, lasting impact. Karla holds a master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Puerto Rico and is widely recognized for her servant leadership, strategic mindset, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

A proud native of Puerto Rico, Karla’s deep-rooted dedication to community empowerment has shaped every step of her journey—from founding DogTown Puerto Rico to helping establish resilience hubs that now serve over 90,000 people. As she steps into her new role as Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Puerto Rico, she brings passion, vision, and a steadfast belief in the power of safe, affordable housing to transform lives and strengthen communities across the island.

Mike has been developing the capacity of development and relief professionals for over twenty years. As a founder of LINGOs, PM4NGOs and Last Mile Learning, he has worked with hundreds of non-governmental organizations, developing learning and creating professional certifications for the sector. As a lead author of the Guide to the PMD Pro, the Guide to the FMD Pro and the Guide to the MEAL DPro – he has been a thought leader in establishing standards for development and relief professionals.

Equal parts field-based development worker and instructional designer, Mike has extensive experience working for NGOs across the world, including Central America, Africa, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. He has developed over 100 eLearning titles, on-line course and workshop curricula.

In his free time, Mike lives in Seattle, where he enjoys the many outdoor activities of the Pacific Northwest.

Michael Chen is the CEO of HANDA Rehabilitation & Welfare Association and the President of HANDA Social Service Development Center in China. He is an experienced Project Manager has been worked in development sector since 1999. He also serves as consultant and advisor for many international and Chinese NGOs for program and project management, providing training for thousands of NGOers. With medical background and as a medical doctor, he was a Temporary Expert for WHO for disease control programs. He has a passion for quality social service and development of social sector, especially in project and program management. He sits on several boards in social sector committing himself to developing sector and quality project and program management.

Michael is certificated as Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute and also qualified to PMD Pro Level 1, Level 2, Program PMD and FMD. He volunteered himself to translate the 2nd Edition Project DPro Guide and the PMD exam into Chinese. He has been engaged deeply in promoting Project and Program DPro in China and Asia, as he believes that professional project and program management will greatly improve the effectiveness and impact of international relief and development projects to bring a better world and harmonious society.

Simon Badcock is an executive leader in conservation and international development with more than 25 years of experience delivering complex, multi‑country programs across Asia‑Pacific, Africa, and the Americas. He currently serves as Managing Director for the Global Restoration Portfolio at Conservation International, where he oversees delivery and performance across a diverse portfolio of small, medium and large scale restoration, that aim to provide climate, biodiversity and community‑centred benefits.
Simon’s career has focused on strengthening organisational systems, improving delivery effectiveness, and building the enabling conditions required for credible, long‑term impact. He has led major portfolios involving oversight for critical government service delivery by partners, collaborated with a range of non-government organizations, private‑sector actors, and global donors, with a strong emphasis on monitoring, learning, and adaptive management. His work integrates science‑based restoration, landscape and jurisdictional approaches, smallholder agriculture (value chains) and practical field implementation, ensuring that global commitments translate into measurable outcomes on the ground.

He has extensive experience in project and portfolio governance, risk management, and donor accountability, including oversight of multi‑million‑dollar investments, compliance frameworks, and performance systems. Simon has worked with the Australian Federal Government, collaborated with foundations and other bilateral and multilateral partners (e.g. USAID, IKI, GEF, GCF), and has supported teams in navigating complex delivery modalities, subcontracting arrangements, and cross‑institutional partnerships.

Simon brings to PM4NGOs a deep commitment to strengthening project management standards across the development and conservation sectors, with a particular focus on outcomes and impacts that promote positive outcomes for people and nature.

Tamidra Marable is a human resources and organizational development leader with more than 20 years of executive-level experience supporting mission-driven organizations. She currently serves as the Director of Human Resources for a U.S.-based nonprofit, Our House, Inc., where she leads strategic initiatives in talent management, organizational effectiveness, and leadership development. Tamidra has significant experience in program and project management, including developing and implementing a global project management framework that integrates people, processes, and systems to strengthen organizational performance. Her work in global organizational change and capacity building has supported initiatives across 19 countries, aligning workforce strategy with mission-driven outcomes. She holds a Master of Arts in Applied Communication and is passionate about strengthening organizational capacity and advancing professional standards within the nonprofit sector.

Dr. Tikajit Rai has over 20 years of PPPM experience in leading capacity in EdTech, wireless technology, and software development spaces. Also, a champion in social entrepreneurship, he won the 2013 International Project Management Association (IPMA) “Gold” for Community Development Project and the 2013 Green Project Management “Silver” for Most Sustainable Project for the project he implemented in Nepal to help rural farmers’ financial cooperatives transform through the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). His mantra for successful project and program deliveries has been his favorite quartet: PPPM, Systems Thinking,

Entrepreneurial Change, Enabling Thrivability of teams. For him, the last of the quartet focuses the team’s well- being and organizational health. He currently leads and supports both projects and programs at Adtalem Global Education, USA, through LearnoVation team to research, test, and scale innovative learning technologies – includes AR/VR, AI, Avatar based simulations – across the company’s five education institutions to support its collective students to succeed academically.

He served as the PM4NGOs board member from 2018 and 20023 and is one of the contributors to PM4NGO’s two guides: the Program DPro and the new Project Dpro. He is an active IPMA Project Excellent Awards assessor, the current IPMA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Special Interests Group global head. He holds Bachelor of science in Electrical Engineering, Master of Science in Information and Communications Technology, and Ph.D. in eLearning Methodology; and maintains his PMP certification.