Leadership
Zoica Bakirtzief
Chair
Brazil
Jayashree Parasheril Kunju
Vice-Chair
India
Michael Chen
Treasurer
China
Yohanna Abdou
Director
Niger
Mangala Dhondge
Director
India
Narendra Fagami
Director
Nepal/Qatar
Peter Iorkighir
Director
Nigeria
Sang Kwon Jung
Director
Republic of Korea
Maryse Legault
Director
Canada
Jackson Jonathan 'Kofi' Nyarko
Director
Ghana
Faustino Pinto
Director
Brazil
Maya Ranavare
Director
India
Robert Rund
Director
USA
Elmuntasir Mukhier
Executive Director
Elmuntasir Mukhier is Executive Director of IDEA International. He has over a decade of experience in the leprosy and neglected tropical disease sector. His work focuses on empowering organisations of persons affected by leprosy and other NTDs: strengthening their capacity, securing their place in decision-making, and confronting the stigma and discrimination they continue to face.
He joined IDEA in July 2026, from the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP), where he managed governance, finances, and coordination across the federation. He also worked directly with organisations of persons affected to build and strengthen their own structures, advocated for their participation and rights, and represented ILEP with WHO, UN mechanisms and partners.
Originally from Sudan, Elmuntasir works in English, French and Arabic. He holds a Global MBA and MSc in Global Public Health.
Amar Bahadur Timalsina
Global Network Coordinator
Born in rural Nepal and diagnosed at age 10, Amar experienced deep stigma and discrimination, shaping his lifelong commitment to ensure others do not suffer the same. He went on to found a school in Kathmandu serving hundreds of children, and has held leadership roles with IDEA Nepal, the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy, The Leprosy Mission International, and ILEP.