IDEA

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

Kati Swinney

Executive Director

Kati Swinney brings a well-rounded background in nonprofit leadership, finance, and community-building to her role as Executive Director of IDEA. She’s spent her career supporting mission-driven work focused on advocacy, education, and connection – and she’s passionate about helping people feel seen, valued, and empowered.

Kati leads with integrity, care, and collaboration, and loves bringing people together to create lasting, positive change. She’s especially skilled at building strong partnerships and helping organizations grow in thoughtful, sustainable ways. When she’s not working, Kati is likely singing, running, hiking, or exploring new places with her family.

Amar Bahadur Timalsina

Global Network Coordinator
As the first person with lived experience to serve in this role, he has helped to expand IDEA’s international network to include 32 countries. He facilitates IDEA’s Gatherings for connection and knowledge sharing.

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.

Amar leads with resilience, integrity, and vision, and is dedicated to building a world where dignity and inclusion replace stigma. He and his wife Mim are the proud parents of Jenny and Bibek.
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