Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
With over two decades of experience in international relations and humanitarian operations, I bring dynamic leadership to my role as Head of Talent Experience at UNHCR. My focus lies in fostering a culture of empowerment, performance, and inclusion, leveraging strategic communications and operational expertise. Recently, I expanded UNHCR’s onboarding program to serve over 2,000 staff in multiple languages, enhancing cross-functional awareness and reinforcing organizational values. My mission centers on enabling impactful talent development strategies that align with UNHCR's mandate, supported by a track record of success in high-risk and crisis environments. From shaping emergency response plans in Ukraine to establishing operational field offices, I thrive on collaborating with diverse stakeholders to deliver results. Grounded in diplomacy and driven by a commitment to excellence, I aim to create sustainable systems that empower teams and strengthen organizational impact.
Co-founded T4H, a Geneva-based humanitarian innovation non-profit applying ethical AI analytics to protection, workforce mobility, and crisis response. Originator of the T4H vision and architect of its founding concept, including the design of its two flagship platforms. Provide strategic leadership, guidance, organizational oversight, and day-to-day management of programmes, partnerships, governance, and finance. Highlights: • Leading development and pilot deployment of two flagship platforms, namely H-TalentLink (humanitarian workforce) and oRa (digital identity and protection for displaced persons). • Established T4H's governance architecture (General Assembly, Executive Board, Ethics & Privacy Board, Executive Secretariat) in compliance with Swiss association law, GDPR, and nFADP. • Building strategic partnerships with UN agencies, and INGOs in Geneva and beyond. • Driving resource mobilization across institutional donors, innovation funds, philanthropic foundations, and ethical private-sector collaborations toward a CHF 1.3M three-year programme.
Crafted comprehensive strategy to foster a culture of performance, and empowerment, focusing on talent development and employee experience in a dynamic learning environment where employees feel valued and engaged. • Lead an organization-wide Onboarding program ranging from training / development to cross- functional awareness. Supervised a comparative study of onboarding best practices in 12 other UN agencies. • Expanded quarterly onboarding experience in multiple languages for 2000+ newly recruited staff members. • Built out program to include not only code of conduct sessions, but also iteration of UNHCR's mandate and field operations. • Supervised the Exit interview design team, with automated content gathering for advice, opinions, and recommendations for improving the overall employee experience. • Created archive for each departing staff member, including a video component answering questions to help preserve legacy knowledge. • Created and developed the UNHCR Senior Speakers Series, managing and executing multiple sessions in which a senior leader from UNHCR is invited to give a talk about their work, experience, and their own personal career journey.
Assumed leadership roles in Lviv and Odesa in relation to the Ukraine emergency response. • Established UNHCR’s first operational presence in Odesa and expended to a permanent fully functioning field office. • Provided critical analysis to senior management, crafting the Ukraine emergency response contingency plan, and advising on protection strategies amidst highly volatile and unpredictable circumstances. • Consulted with local authorities and NGOs to coordinate field activities, ensuring the delivery of essential assistance, and maintaining relations with government officials as well as humanitarian actors. • Initiated, negotiated, planned and implemented the first 2 UN inter-agency convoys to Kherson and Mykolaiv, working very closely with government entities, UN AFPs, INGOs and local NGOs, as well as local implementing and operational partners, and other humanitarian actors including ICRC. • Represented UNHCR with stakeholders, donors, and diplomatic corps. • Intervened promptly to safeguard the rights of vulnerable populations and internally displaced population.
Headed the emergency response to the Tigray emergency to ensure the legal protection for persons of concern to UNHCR. • Established the field office in Gedaref and turning it into a fully operational sub-office with 2 reception centres and 3 refugee camps. • Drove coordination and development with local authorities in Gedaref. • Provided senior management and principals with timely and accurate analysis of the on-going conflict in Tigray and population movement into Sudan. • Undertook regular field and assessment missions to camps, settlements, and reception centres. • Enhanced cooperation with local authorities and governmental counterparts, national and international partners, NGOs, INGOs, and civil society, local communities, and refugee leaders. • Negotiated with the competent authorities to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to remote areas where Tigray refugees sought shelter in remote areas. • Fostered excellent conditions to initiate and implement the humanitarian - development nexus activities AoR, including missions form UNDP, the World Bank, donor states and other development partners, serving both the local host communities and persons UNHCR protects alike.
Produced contextual analytical reports on various situations investigated by the Office of Prosecutor (OTP), including Sudan, Libya, Kenya, Central African Republic. • Contributed substantially to analysis and strategy development to the Libya situation investigation. • Monitored serious crimes in Libya and the Darfur/Chad region, producing key strategic reports on geopolitical situations, structures, networks, financial and arms trafficking investigations. • Produced suspect profiles and risk assessments of witnesses. • Monitored human rights and Rome Statute mandated crimes in the Arab Spring. • Produced intelligence research reports on various investigations, including financial structures and arms trafficking networks and risk assessments of safety and security. • Represented the OTP in outreach, advocacy, activities, including presentations to community groups, Diaspora groups, and media events to communicate the work of the ICC to the public. • Liaised, cooperated, and negotiated, with national authorities, international organizations, NGOs, and civil society,
• Conducted situational analysis into human rights violations. Interviewed witnesses, analysed data, and produced summary reports, including crime scenes and site visits. Authored 4 important sections of the final report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, namely on the demolition of religious structures, sectarian attacks targeting of foreign workers and foreign interventions.
• Produced strategic and operational analytical reports on crimes and criminal organizations. • Authored or co-authored risk assessment reports on major international political and sporting events, including the World Cup 2006, the Russia G8 summit, and the IMF /WB Singapore Summit. • Analyst-in-charge to the Stolen and Lost Travel Document (SLTD) project. • Investigated and analysed criminal cases with a focus on terrorism. Analysed intelligence sent by the National Central Bureaux (NCBs), Europol and other international organizations. • Led monitoring, tracking research and threat analysis effort on radical militant websites, Jihadi fora, and chatrooms.