Our Team

Maya Sopory supports GENDRO’s communications and project management. Sopory seeks praxis of an intersectional feminist approach, including using a liberatory framework to understand institutions of power. Sopory holds a B.A. from Mount Holyoke College (U.S.) in International Politics with minors in French and Law, Public Policy, and Human Rights and recently finished a Master’s in Development Studies with a focus on power and conflict at the Geneva Graduate Institute (CH).

Sankara Gitau specializes in strategy, programs, and organizational development, with an extensive leadership background spanning over 14 years in the impact sector. She coordinates GENDRO’s GEH Global Network, of civil society organisations, academic institutions, and research bodies.

She has held pivotal leadership positions in various organizations globally, with a primary focus on gender equality, healthcare, education, research, and leadership, and is also currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Leadership and Governance.

Kala Madhav has a Masters in Computer Applications from India. She is a part of the communications team at GENDRO and works mainly with the website and related issues. In Geneva she has been working with NGOs involved in a variety of sectors. Some of the NGOs she has been working/worked with include World Federation for Mental Health, SAHFA – Smart Access to Health For All, Action for Development (previously Bhaktar Development Network – Suisse). She is also associated with NGO committees in Genava namely the NGO Committee on Ageing (NGOCOA) and the NGO Committee on the Status of Women (NGOCSW).

With 10+ years’ research experience in biotechnology, her passion lies in the natural world, life science and communications. After receiving her PhD in Biotechnology (Ghent University, Belgium) she got interested on how fundamental research can be translated into various biotech applications (human health). Focusing on how to bridge science with technology and business, she worked with entrepreneurs advising them on lab setup and management and analyzing the market for potential suppliers on equipment, soware and consumables. Then, with a strong understanding of both health research and communications, Corina joined, this year, the c ommunication team with a target to amplify GENDRO’s mission and impact.

Yalda is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto pursuing a specialist in International Relations and a minor in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations. As an Iranian Canadian, she became passionate about women’s rights upon witnessing the long-standing struggle of Iranian women for equality and conducting advocacy during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. She is excited to explore the intersection of gender and global health with GENDRO.

Bernard Kadasia is a senior level professional who brings together close to forty years of experience in technical, managerial and leadership positions in government, civil society, private sector, and international non-governmental organizations.

Until March 2015 Kadasia was employed by the International AIDS Society (IAS) Geneva as Deputy Executive Director and Director of Policy and Advocacy, Research Promotion and Communications. Prior to joining the IAS, he worked for 17 years for the International Co-operative Alliance as Director of the Regional Office for East, Central and Southern Africa, in Moshi, Tanzania and in Nairobi, Kenya.Since 2012 he is the President of the Geneva-based Alliance for Health Promotion, an international NGO in Official Relations with the World Health Organization. The Alliance has official UN ECOSOC Status. Kadasia is also a member of the Supervisory Board of North Star Alliance. North Star Alliance provides quality healthcare across Africa to mobile populations and the communities they interact with.

Swiss national born in 1975, Ms. Olivia Mettler studied International Hospitality Management at Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne and graduated in 1999.

With more than 18 years of financial experience in multi-nationals and international non-profit companies, she is the Finance & Administration executive, member of the board of directors of the International AIDS Society (IAS). More recently, Ms. Mettler graduated in Enterprise Risk Management at the University of Geneva.

Originally from Tunisia, Aïda was born and raised in Switzerland where she studied Business Administration and Economics holding an MSc in Business Administration. She started her career in the private sector in various HR specialties and partnering roles and always strived to link her personal and professional paths with human and social outreach. Strong with her background in high-paced international environments in both Switzerland and Tunisia, she joined the INGO over a decade ago to contribute to organisations with high social impact. Aïda has continuously developed her HR toolbox to provide world-class HR skills such as conflict mediation and sensitive investigation expertise through hands-on support and servant leadership approach.