Past Activities

    • 20 Jan 2020 - 24 Jan 2020 12th GFMD Summit Meeting Quito
      • Conference Documents
      • Schedule
        • Day 1 Events (20 January 2020)2
        • Day 2 Events (21 January 2020)14
        • Day 3 Events (22 January 2020)10
          • 08:00 - 17:00 | GFMD Marketplace 2019
          • 08:30 - 11:00 | Government-led Roundtable Session 1.1
            • Location: Salón Mitad del Mundo 1
            • Description
              • RT Session 1.1 - Providing regular pathways from crisis to safety

            • Documents4
            • Speakers5
              • Rafael Barcelo Durazo
                • About
                  • Academic background

                    Master in Administration and Public Policy at the Center for Research in Economics (Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas, CIDE) (2005-2007), with the thesis “Institutional Restrictions on Implementing the Policy of Consular Protection” (2007). 
                    Academic Exchange at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University (2006).
                    Law Degree at Universidad de Hermosillo (1998-2003). 
                     
                    Work experience
                    First Secretary of Mexico´s Foreign Service, which he joined in March 2010. 
                    Currently, he serves as Assistant Director General of Human Right’s International Policy at the Directorate General for Human Rights and Democracy  of the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico.
                    Press and Cultural Officer at the Mexican Embassy in Brazil (2014-2018).
                    Political and Human Rights Officer at the Mexican Embassy in Costa Rica (2010-2014).
                    Consultant in Strategic Planning at the Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico (2007-2009). 
                    Legal affairs Officer at the Institute for Youth from the state of Sonora, Mexico (2003-2004).
                    Legal assistant at the Mexican Investment Consultants (MIC) law firm in Hermosillo, Mexico (2001-2003). 
              • Patrick Auffret
                • About
                  • More than 25 years of professional experience managing people and projects, on sustainable development issues (transport, energy, environment, climate) and on humanitarian issues, at national and European level (institutional reforms/governance), at global level on international agendas (2030 agenda, climate & Paris Agreement, disaster risk reduction, migrations) with more than 15 years at managerial level in the international field.

                    With 3 Master's degrees (Civil Engineering, Economics & MBA), I have built up a strong expertise in project management, on "sustainable development" issues. Broad approach includes technical, economic, environmental and social aspects, paving the path towards a low emission economy by taking into account public policies, institutional reforms, with a focus on the technologies of the future and on steps aiming at establishing a stable investment climate for private sector.

                    Particularly involved in the international field, adding international & geopolitical dimensions, I have been working in diversified institutional environments (Public & private sectors, WB, UN, EC, NGOs). With 15 years at managerial level, leading international & multicultural teams, I completed extensive infrastructure projects, tackled various institutional reforms dealing with public policies, conducted project evaluations, realized post-conflict missions, with knowledge of procurement rules (WB certif). I also experienced 7 years in the private sector.

              • Michele Klein Solomon
                • About
                  • Michele Klein Solomon is Director, Policy Hub, Office of the Director General, at the International Organization for Migration (IOM).  The Policy Hub is designed to draw together, and deliver, policy knowledge across the Organization.  The Hub is a catalyst to promote effective collection, analysis, and exchange of policy-relevant data and knowledge, and to facilitate strategic migration policy advice based on expertise from across IOM. 

                    She previously was Director, Global Compact for Migration at IOM, leading IOM’s support to States and partners in the development and implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

                    From 2014 to 2016, she directed the Secretariat of the state-led Migrants in Countries in Crisis Initiative. Ms. Klein Solomon was IOM’s representative to the United Nations from 2010-2014, and previous Director of IOM’s Migration Policy and Research Department.

                    She provides advice to governments in all regions of the world and to regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental entities on a wide range of migration policy matters

              • Carolina Gottardo
                • About
                  • Carolina is a migrant lawyer and economist who has worked on human rights issues for more than 20 years in different regions including Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America. She specialises on migration, asylum and gender. Carolina is the Director of Jesuit Refugee Service, Australia. Previously she was the CEO of a migrant women's rights organisation in the UK. Carolina’s expertise is on policy and advocacy and she has worked at the senior level with the British Institute of Human Rights, Refugee Council of Australia and Womankind Worldwide amongst others.

                    She has also worked with UNDP and the Constitutional Court in her native country Colombia. Carolina has served on different boards in London, Bangkok, Brussels, Bogota and Sydney. She is currently the co-chair of the End Child Detention Coalition Australia and the chair of the women, gender and diversity group and focal point on the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) at the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN). Carolina has ample experience of advocacy with the UN system and is a member of the UN Women’s Global Expert Working Group to address the human rights of women in the GCM. She is also a member of the board of the International Detention Coalition (IDC) and the Global Coalition for Migration (GCM).   

              • Lisa Smith
                • About
                  • Lisa M. Smith, CEO of Glen Haven Manor, the third largest and one of a select few nationally accredited nursing homes in Nova Scotia, Canada champions the organization’s strategic priorities through visionary, progressive leadership, best practices, innovation and high energy. Ms. Smith has a proven track record and a wealth of management experience in the health and community services sector to her credit, combined with a Masters degree in Public Administration from Dalhousie University as well as Bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Social Work, from Mount St. Vincent and Dalhousie universities.

                    She is committed to ensuring Glen Haven Manor exceeds quality and safety expectations, always promoting the organization’s values and ethical standards with a strategic, goals oriented and interdisciplinary management style. Lisa is Past-Chair and one of the founders of the Community Governed Nursing Homes (Organizations) of Nova Scotia Society (CGO), recently renamed the Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association, is actively engaged with her health care peers across the province and has also served on the Canadian Seniors Council.  Lisa is known for her innovation and outstanding work ethic and recently led Glen Haven Manor to receive a Diversity in the Workplace Business Achievement Award from the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce in 2019 acknowledging Glen Haven’s ground breaking local and global recruitment strategies. Ms. Smith was a member of a Canadian Delegation participating in a Healthy Ageing Tour to Copenhagen, Denmark in October 2018 and subsequently presented at the Danish Designs and Innovations for Healthy Ageing Conference, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Danish Trade Council in North America in Halifax, NS the following September.

                    Lisa also demonstrates enduring volunteer contributions to countless organizations. As a Rotarian, she aligns her values according to the 4 Way Test, relying on the motto ‘Service above Self’ as the foundation for all relationships, both personal and professional. Lisa is a recipient of the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow designation, a prestigious award presented to her by the New Glasgow Rotary Club in 2011, for making an outstanding contribution to her community by upholding the Rotary’s values of service to the highest standard as well as her exceptional leadership as a Rotarian.

                    Lisa considers it a distinct honour to lead such a remarkable organization as Glen Haven and is very grateful for so many extraordinary experiences and for such a skilled, compassionate and dedicated team

          • 08:30 - 11:00 | Government-led Roundtable Session 2.1
            • Location: Salón Mitad del Mundo 2
            • Description
              • RT Session 2.1 - Shaping the public narrative on migration and migrants

            • Documents4
            • Speakers8
              • Line Patry
                • About
                  • Line Patry has been Director of Outreach for the Communications Branch at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) since 2017.

                    She first joined the department in 2012 as the Assistant Director of Consultations and Public Opinion Research where she led the implementation of a new departmental stakeholder relationship management database. Since then, she has led on a number of significant changes and initiatives, including drastically growing IRCC’s social media presence and implementation of a client service Chabot that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to answer general questions.

                    She was also fundamental in the development of the Immigration Matters initiative, which showcases the stories of immigrants who are making a strong contribution to cities, towns and neighbourhoods across Canada. She has held several public opinion research positions at Industry Canada and Environment Canada.

                    Mrs. Patry has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Double Concentration in Communication from the University of Ottawa, and worked as a public opinion and market research professional before joining the public service.

              • Ahmed Skim
                • About
                  • Mr. Skim is an engineer from the National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble, France (1993) – Master of Business Administration (MBA) of the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris (2007) - Head of the Organization and Methods Division at the Directorate General of Hydraulics, Secretariat of State in charge of Water (March 2005-Dec. 2008) - Head of the Pilot Projects & Environmental Impact Studies Division, Secretariat of State in charge of Water and Environment (Dec. 2008-March 2011) - Director of the Preservation of Heritage, Innovation and Promotion at the Ministry of Crafts (March 2011-Feb. 2014) – In Charge of Mission to the Head of Government at the Ministry in charge of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs (Feb. 2014-Jan. 2015) - Director of Migration Affairs at the Ministry Delegated to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in charge of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs (since January 2015). He led the development of the National Immigration and Asylum Strategy and coordinates its implementation.

              • Natalia Banulescu-Bogdan
                • About
                  • Natalia Banulescu-Bogdan is Associate Director of MPI’s International Program and a Nonresident Fellow with MPI Europe. Her areas of expertise include social cohesion and identity, values and civic engagement, and the intersection of nationalism and migration.

                    Since she joined MPI in 2008, Ms. Banulescu-Bogdan has primarily worked with MPI’s flagship initiative, the Transatlantic Council on Migration, through which she has helped advise participating governments on various aspects of migration management. This has included technical support to countries holding the rotating presidency of the European Union, support to the annual Global Forum on Migration and Development, and private briefings and memos to help countries think through changes to migration-related legislation.

                    Prior to joining MPI in 2008, she worked at the Brookings Institution, helping to develop public policy seminars for senior government officials in the Institution’s executive education program.

                    Ms. Banulescu-Bogdan obtained her master’s in nationalism studies from the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. Her master’s thesis focused on the political mobilization of Roma in Romania. She received her Bachelor of the Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in international relations.

              • Julien Simon
                • About
                    • Held various positions since starting working at ICMPD in 2001, including Senior Programme Manager, Head of the Secretariat of the Mediterranean Transit Migration Dialogue and Team Leader of the EUROMED Migration III.
                    • Worked at ICMPD Headquarters in Vienna from 2001 until 2012, ICMPD Brussels Mission from 2012 until 2015, and moved to Malta in 2016 where he assumed the position of Regional Coordinator and Head of the ICMPD Regional Coordination Office for the Mediterranean. In this role, he oversees ICMPD Action in the Mediterranean region, including regional programmes such as EUROMED Migration IV, Mediterranean City-to-City Migration, the Border Management Programme for the Maghreb, the Euro-Mediterranean Migration Media Award, the North African Migration Academic Network, and staff in various offices in the region e.g. Amman, Beirut and Tunis.
                    • Developed a significant experience over the course of his career particularly focused on migration cooperation between Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
                    • Managed a portfolio of large initiatives of multilateral, multi-thematic and complex nature.
                    • Developed a wide range of expertise covering:
                      • migration dialogue facilitation;
                      • migration governance and inter-institutional cooperation and coordination, and notably conceptualised the development of the migration governance process and migration governance tool;
                      • information sharing mechanisms and migration knowledge management, and notably created the Interactive Map on Migration (imap) platform;
                      • Specific themes such as irregular and mixed migration, migration and development, urban governance of migration, and narrative and communication on migration.
                      • French national. Married. Two children.
              • Ronnie Goldberg
                • About
                  • Ronnie Goldberg advises USCIB’s President and CEO on strategic matters and regularly represents American business in high-level international forums. Ms. Goldberg served as USCIB’s top policy executive for over 25 years, most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, overseeing a wide range of activities on international trade, investment, economic and regulatory matters, and supervising a staff of policy professionals with expertise on a host of issues affecting American companies engaged in business abroad. Among her responsibilities was coordinating USCIB policies in relation to its international affiliates – ICC, Business at OECD, and IOE – and various other groups. She was elected to three terms as the U.S. employer representative on the International Labor Organization’s Governing Body, and has chaired the Business at OECD Employment, Labor, and Social Affairs (ELSA) Committee.  She presently serves as Chair of the IOE Migration Policy Working Group and on the executive committee of the Business Advisory Group on Migration.

                    Prior to joining USCIB in 1987, Ms. Goldberg served as vice president for international affairs at the New York Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and as a vice president in the trade and export finance division of Chase Manhattan Bank.  From 1978 to 1982, she was a project director at the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, specializing in East-West trade, technology transfer and Soviet energy development.

                    Ms. Goldberg received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Bryn Mawr College.  The recipient of both Woodrow Wilson and Ford Fellowships, she holds a master’s degree in the history of political thought from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago.  She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

              • Irena Guidikova
                • About
                  • A graduate of Political Science and Political Philosophy from the Universities of Sofia (BG) and York (UK), she has been working at the Council of Europe since 1994. Her carrier at the Council of Europe has taken her from youth policy and research, though the future of democracy in Europe, producing standards on e-governance and e-voting, party financing and internet literacy, the Private Office of the Secretary General where she was a policy advisor, and field programmes for urban policies for intercultural integration and media and diversity. Between 2013 and 2017 she was the coordinator of the World Forum for Democracy (www.world-forum-democracy.org) which gathers annually over 2000 decision-makers and practitioners to develop and mainstream the know-how of participatory and deliberative democracy. She is currently leading the Inclusion and Anti-discrimination programmes of the Council of Europe.

              • Monica Trigos
                • About
                  • MGCY Regional Focal Point for North America. Part of the organizing committee for the Youth Forum taking place in conjunction with the GFMD, and facilitator of the session on “Shaping public narratives on migration and migrants”.

                    Monica is a student, activists, and migrant. In 2013 she co-founded Sin Palabras, a multicultural artist collective aimed at empowering migrants and refugees to find a voice in their situation where they feel silenced, and share their stories through art. These works are then shared in exhibitions, alongside information about migration and asylum seeking, in order to raise awareness of the issues with the host population. In her role, she has led 5 projects in different countries and in partnership with organizations such as the UNHCR, The National School of Theater of Canada, France Terre d’ Asile, The Migratory Program of the Iberoamericana University. Monica holds a BA in International Relations from Mexico, and is currently enrolled in the MPA programme in Columbia University. Her research focuses are the immigration phenomenon in Central America, Mexico and the US including shaping policies and narratives.

                    She is youth associate of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations and a volunteer in MY World Mexico.

              • Henry Mårtenson
                • About
                  • Henry Mårtenson is Senior Adviser at the Division of Asylum and Migration Policy in the Swedish Ministry of Justice, a position he has held since 2015. Prior to this, he was Deputy Director at the Division for Integration and Urban Development in the Ministry of Employment and a Desk Officer in the Administrative Division in the Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality. He has also worked for Sweden’s National Integration Board and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles.

                    Mr. Mårtenson holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Ethnic Studies from Warwick University in the United Kingdom, an MSc in European Studies from Edinburgh University, and a BA in Political Science from the University of Melbourne, Australia.

          • 08:30 - 11:00 | Government-led Roundtable Session 3.2
            • Location: Salón Panecillo 1
            • Description
              • RT Session 3.2 - Harnessing migration for rural transformation and development

            • Documents4
            • Speakers7
              • Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard
                • About
                  • Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard is the Deputy Minister for Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia since September 2018. He has been serving the Ministry for 29 years with distinguished achievements.

                    During his diplomatic career, he served in Indonesian Missions in Riyadh, Canberra, New York, and Vienna. He was Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Vienna, Austria (2015-2017). Before leaving for Vienna, He served as Director for International Security and Disarmament Affairs (2010-2013) and Director for Middle East Affairs (2013-2014).

                    He earned Bachelor Degree in International Relations from Padjajaran University, Bandung, Indonesia, and Master Degree in Diplomacy from University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

              • Easton Williams
                • About
                  • Mr. Easton Williams is the Director, Social Policy Planning and Research Division, Planning Institute of Jamaica. The Planning Institute of Jamaica is a statutory organization with responsibility for coordinating the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of Jamaica’s national development policies, plans and programmes. He has worked in the PIOJ for over 30 years and have wide experience in policy development and social research. He has headed Jamaica’s technical delegations to the United Nations and other international organizations in the areas of population, international migration, sustainable development and related areas.

              • Tatiana, Molcean
                • About
                  • Since 2017 until present, Ms. Tatiana Molcean serves as State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova.

                    Ms. Molcean is a career diplomat, who joined the Diplomatic Service of the Republic of Moldova back in 2004. Before her appointment as State Secretary, Ms. Tatiana Molcean has performed important mandates such as Deputy Director General for European Integration, Head of Division for Economic and Sectoral Cooperation with the European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Moldova in Sweden.

                    Ms. Molcean has been awarded with important State medals and rewards for her contribution to process of European integration of the Republic of Moldova.   

                    Ms. Molcean speaks English, French and Russian.

                     

              • Cristina Rapone
                • About
                  • Cristina Rapone is a rural employment and migration specialist working at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Cristina joined FAO in 2011, where she has been leading analytical and technical work on rural migration and its links to agriculture and rural development. Cristina coordinated and led the development of the FAO Migration Framework, outing the vision, mission and areas of work of FAO on migration. In her current responsibilities, she is actively involved in policy, advocacy and capacity development work at global and country levels, as well as analytical work on the drivers and impacts of rural migration. Cristina coordinated the first Atlas on rural migration in sub-Saharan Africa and contributed to the FAO flagship publication on the State of Food and Agriculture 2018 focused on migration, agriculture and rural development. Before joining the Organization, Cristina worked in non-governmental organizations and at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Outside FAO, she runs a social business start-up to create decent jobs for youth refugees living in Rome. Cristina holds two Master degrees, one from the Institute of Development Studies and one from Sapienza University of Rome.

              • Ruben Canales
                • About
                  • Rubén is a Youth representative from Latin America attending the upcoming Youth Forum at the GFMD in Quito, and who will facilitate the roundtable on “Supporting arrival cities with migration and harnessing rural transformation for development”. He was a participant to last year’s Youth Forum held in conjunction with the Marrakech conference in 2018.

                    Ruben is a young Costa Rican activist, student and researcher working on the processes of
                    centralamerican migration. He is a student of International Relations and Integration at the
                    Federal University of Latinamerican Integration (UNILA) in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, where he focuses on South-South migration in Centralamerica. One of his key focuses is the transformations of rural towns as both sender and receiver communities of migration flows, and the implications for development. He is the co-founder of the Central American Research Center at his university, where students from the entire region work together on relevant research projects, and lead talks and workshops about forced migration and violence. As part of his activism, he notably founded in 2018 the "Support Network for the Nicaraguan Migrant in San Ramon, Palmares and Naranjo,'' working in partnership with civil society and local authorities to create in the three towns “safe places for migrants” through coupling concrete humanitarian actions with the creation and implementation of appropriate public policies. He has been organizing workshops for human rights education with youth from rural areas as educator of the Latinamerican organization 'Empoderando Juventudes' (Empowering Youth) in Costa Rica and Brazil since 2017.

              • Fatna EL-K'HIEL
                • About
                  • Mrs. Fatna EL-K'HIEL is a medical specialist in public health.

                    She is a member of the political bureau of the Popular Movement Party.

                    Mrs. Fatna EL-K'HIEL has been :

                    • Adviser to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Morocco from 2000 to 2002.
                    • Member of Parliament for three mandates: 2002-2007/ 2007-2011/ 2011-2016.
                    • Vice-President in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008.
                    • Chair of the Social Sectors Committee of the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2016.
                    • Mrs Fatna EL-K'HIEL has been a local councillor since 1997.
                    • She has been a member of the provincial council of Kenitra since 2003.
                    • She was vice-president of the provincial council of Kenitra from 2003 to 2015.
                    • She has been president of the Arbaoua communal council since 2009.
              • Atty. Villamor Ventura S. Plan
                • About
                  • EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

                    SENIOR PARTNER                                MALCOLM LAW OFFICES

                                                                                           Private

                                                                                           2013- 2018

                     

                    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR              DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

                    OSS CENTER

                                                                                           2008- 2013

                    DIRECTOR IV                                       OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF STAFF

                                                                                           2016- 2007

                    LEGAL COUNSEL/

                    CONSULTANT LEGAL                SUBIC- CLARK ALLIANCE FOR

                                                                                           DEVELOPMENT (SCAD) COUNCIL

                                                                                           2006- 2008

                     

                                                                               LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING

                                                                                           AND REGULATORY BOARD (LTFRB)

                                                                                           Office of the Chairman

                                                                                           2007- 2008

                                LEGAL OFFICER III                                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

                                                                                           Regional Office No. 02

                                                                                           2001- 2004

                    BOARD DIRECTOR                               GSIS MUTUAL FUND, INC.

                                                                                           Member- Board of Directors

                                                                                           2002- 2011

                     

                    EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND/ ACHIEVEMENTS

                     

                    COLLEGE                                             A.B PHILOSOHY - UST Central Seminary            

                    LAWSCHOOL                                       JURIS DOCTOR (J.D)

                                                                                           ATENEO SCHOOL OF LAW

                                                                                           H.V. Dela Costa St.,Salcedo Village, Makati City

                     

                    PASSED THE 1993 BAR EXAMINATION

          • 11:00 - 13:00 | GFMD Business Meeting and interaction with governments
          • 14:00 - 16:30 | Government-led Roundtable Session 1.2
            • Location: Salón Mitad del Mundo 1
            • Description
              • RT Session 1.2 - Facilitating social and economic inclusion

            • Documents4
            • Speakers7
              • Lizbeth Fransplass
                • About
                  • Lisbeth Fransplass is Director General of the Department for Integration at the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. She has held the position since February 2017. Prior to this, she had a number of management positions in both private and public sectors, including the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, International Service System Norway (ISS), and Personalhuset Staffing Group. She has also served as chairman and boardmember of companies such as the Norwegian Federation of Service Industries and Retail Trade (NHO SH). Fransplass has a master's degree in Political Science from the University of Oslo.

                     

              • H.E. Mr. Sek Wannamethee
                • About
                  • Sek Wannamethee was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary/ Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva in March 2017. Prior to his assignment in Geneva, he was Director-General of the Department of Information and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand from 2013-2017 and Director-General of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs from 2012-2013. Since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1991, Ambassador Wannamethee has served various positions at the headquarter in Bangkok and abroad, including among others, Bureau Chief of the Policy and Planning Office, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington DC, and Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Thailand to the UN in Geneva.

                     

                    Ambassador Wannamethee was educated at Harrow School, United Kingdom, and graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (United Kingdom), with a Bachelor degree in Economics and a Master’s in Economic History.

              • Amb. Laura Thompson
                • About
                  • Laura Thompson is the Deputy Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). She is responsible for assisting the Director General in administering and managing the Organization; conducting the political dialogue and building IOM relationships with governments, UN agencies, civil society and the private sector; as well as in defining policies, strategies and prioritised action. Prior to this position, Laura Thompson was the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva. She also served at the Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva in a prior occasion and at the Delegation to UNESCO.

                     

                    In addition to her diplomatic experience, Laura has held posts as Legal Officer in two UN Organisations. Laura Thompson obtained a Master’s degree in international relations, with a specialization in international law, from the Graduate Institute for International Studies of Geneva and holds a degree in law from the University of Costa Rica. She has also completed Executive Education at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and INSEAD. In addition to Spanish, which is her mother tongue, Laura Thompson is fluent in English, French and Greek, and has a basic knowledge of Italian and Portuguese.

                     
              • Asako Okai
                • About
                  • Ms. Okai has over 30 years of experience in the Japanese Foreign Service and in the United Nations, most recently serving as Consul-General of Japan in Vancouver, Canada.  She possesses an extensive track record in development, humanitarian response, disaster management and peace building work, at both the strategic and operational levels.

                    Throughout her career, she has closely engaged in the evolution of international cooperation frameworks in different capacities, including the forging of historic institutional reforms of the international cooperation apparatus in Japan, and implementing innovative financial mechanisms to support reliable humanitarian funding model as Japan’s Director of Humanitarian Assistance.  Ms. Okai has held several diplomatic senior positions worldwide and closely worked with the United Nations Headquarters, both in the Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN and as a Senior Member of the Office of the President of the 66th UN General Assembly.  She holds a Master’s of Arts in History of Art, Emmanuel College, Cambridge University and a Bachelor’s degree in Law, Hitotsubashi University, Japan.

              • Khalid Mouna
                • About
                  • INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION

                    Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University Moulay Ismaïl of Meknès.

                    Coordinator of the Research Group: Social Changes and Space Recompositions.

                    Member of the editorial board of the review Espace-Temps.

                    Member of the Scientific Committee of the review FuoriLuogo Journal, Federico II University,

                    Naples.

                    Professor at Ca'Foscari University Venice / Italy, MIM Masters: Crossing the Mediterranean: towards Investment and Integration.

                    Membre of Arab Council for the Social Sciences.

                    HIGHER STUDY

                    PHD in Anthropology of the University of Saint-Denis Paris VIII. 2008.

                    Associate Professor, Since 2015.

                    Assistant professor, 2010

                    Advanced studies in Political Sociology and Comparative Politics at the University of Nanterre

                    Paris X. 2002-2003.

                    Bachelor of Public Law option Political Sciences of the Faculty of Law, Economic and Social

              • Ricardo Chica
                • About
                  • Ecuadorian youth who serves as legal director for the grassroots organisation Dialogo Diverso, which runs a programme for the social and economic integration of LGBTQ+ migrants, including through basic health and sanitation kits, stipend, free psychosocial support, and legal support.
                    preferred language: Spanish
              • Farhat Ayesha
                • About
                  • Farhat Ayesha is Rapporteur of Round Table 1.2 of Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) during Quito Summit 2020.  She is serving as Counsellor in Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations in Geneva.

                    Farhat’s expertise includes; human rights, humanitarian issues, sustainable development and peace and security. Her recent focus is on humanitarian issues of refugees, migrants, emergency humanitarian assistance, disasters, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and organizations such as; UNHCR, UNDRR, ICRC, IFRC, OCHA, IOM and GFMD.

                    She had served as Director (Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad. She had also served in Consulate General of Pakistan in Shanghai (China), High Commission of Pakistan Singapore, Embassy of Pakistan Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York (USA).

                    Farhat has represented Pakistan at numerous multilateral fora: UN General Assembly (2nd & 3rd Committees), ECOSOC, NAM, Treaty bodies, Governing bodies of IOM, UNHCR, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDRR and many intergovernmental conferences. 

                    She has served as Rapporteur of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR during its 70th Session (October 2018 to October 2019). She also served as Vice Chair in the Bureau of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in 2010-11.

                    She holds a Masters degree in English Literature. She has undertaken courses in International Law and Diplomatic Practice, drafting of Resolutions, Deposit and Registration of Treaties, Disaster Management, Human Rights and Civilian Staff Officers Course.

                    She is married, having one son.

          • 14:00 - 16:30 | Government-led Roundtable Session 2.2
            • Location: Room: Salón Mitad del Mundo 2
            • Description
              • RT Session 2.2 - Communicating effectively with migrants

            • Documents4
            • Speakers8
              • Alexander da Costa
                • About
                  • Alexander da Costa is a highly well-developed and organised Strategic and Corporate Communications Specialist, with 30 years working at Senior levels in Government,/Public, Not-for-Profit and private sectors. His studied Law at Cardiff University, Wales, UK; Post Graduate studies in Public and Private Sector Strategy at Kingston University, Surrey, UK; was certified a practitioner in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) by the Gambia Judiciary and also certified by the Public Utility Research Centre (PURC) and the World Bank (WB) in Utility Regulation and Strategy at The University of Florida, USA.

                    Alexander’s knowledge and experience spans across International development processes of the UN, EU and other multilateral agencies coupled with adept skills and abilities in International Relations, Diplomacy, Governance, Regulatory Affairs, Media & Public Relations. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations UK, Vice President of The Public Relations Association, The Gambia, a member of The Gambia Press Union (GPU), a member of The National Union of Journalists (NUJ), UK and a member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). In addition, Alex was the Head of Media, Information & Technology at the Coordinating Secretariat for the African Union (AU) Banjul Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Banjul in July 2006.

                    Alexander was also Special Assistant and Adviser to late Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara – The first and former President of The Republic of The Gambia. He travelled extensively with Sir Dawda Jawara to numerous international meetings whilst managing his private, and official public engagements. Prior to becoming Managing Director at Prudent Trust in August 2014 and subsequently Chief Executive Officer of The BEST Co Ltd in November 2014, Alexander worked at the UN in The Gambia.

                    He served in multiple positions, first as Head of Finance, Resource Mobilization and Communication Specialist for UNDP, and subsequently as UN Coordination Specialist and Special Assistant to UN Resident Coordinator in The Gambia. In August 2017, after the transition and change of Government in The Gambia, Alexander was appointed to the Foreign Service of The Gambia. He is now posted as Deputy Head of Mission and Deputy Permanent Representative of The Gambia to the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG), Switzerland and accredited to the Swiss Confederation as Minister- Counsellor. Alexander doubles up as The Mission’s expert on Migration IOM), Humanitarian Affairs (UNHCR), Human Rights (OCHR) and Intellectual Property (WIPO) as among others.

              • H.E. Amb. Evan P. Garcia
                • About
                  • H.E. Amb. Evan P. Garcia, is the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

                    Prior to his appointment to Geneva, he had been serving as Ambassador of the Philippines to the United Kingdom and non-resident Ambassador to Ireland since May 2016.

                    He was Undersecretary for Policy at the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2013 to 2016.

                    He served as the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office at Geneva from 2010 to 2013. Prior to this, Ambassador Garcia served in various capacities in the home office, including in the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs, the Office of ASEAN Affairs, and the Office of the Secretary.

                    Among his foreign assignments, Mr. Garcia served as Consul and Economic Officer in the Embassy of the Philippines to Japan, and as a Political Officer, Acting Consul General, and Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of the Philippines to the United States. Mr. Garcia has a License in international relations and political science from the Graduate Institute for International Studies in Geneva (1981) and a Bachelor of Science degree in foreign service from the University of the Philippines in Diliman. He is married and has one son.

              • Alex Zalami
                • About
                  • Alex Zalami joined the UAE Ministry of Labour in January, 2007, where he serves as Advisor to the Minister on international relations, regional and international cooperation, and labor mobility administration. Alex has served as a GFMD focal point for the UAE since 2008, represented the UAE as co-chair of the GFMD Ad Hoc Working Group on the Protection and Empowerment of Migrant Workers and member of the GFMD Assessment Group. He co-chaired roundtable sessions at successive GFMD summits.

                    Prior to assuming his position at the UAE Ministry of labour, Alex established a center of business ethics and corporate governance at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and served as its director until December 2006.

                    Alex holds a post-graduate degree in Mathematics from California State University and another in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of California at Berkeley.

              • Rob Whitby
                • About
                  • Rob Whitby has worked for 11 years in the field of international development and is currently the Deputy Head of Migration and Modern Slavery Department in the UK’s Department for International Development. Rob previously worked for the European Union in Turkey on the €6 billion Facility for Refugees, assisting the Turkish Government with migration management and integration for Syrian refugees. Rob has an MA in International Relations and also has expertise in education policy having been a teacher and worked on education for many years also with the Department for International Development.

              • Mr. Thibault Chareton
                • About
                  •  Thibault Chareton is the Project Management Specialist – Media and Migration at the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the leading UN entity for intercultural and interreligious dialogue. In that role, he designs and implements media projects that impact reporting on migration and migrant communities. Since 2015, Thibault has focused on the #SpreadNoHate initiative, a platform engaging global media in a dialogue on hate speech against minority groups and the sharing of best practices to combat it. He also manages the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival on migration, social inclusion, and diversity, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (UNAOC), and manages all digital communications of the organization.

                    Previously, Thibault was the Policy Program Officer at the French-American Foundation in New York, where he developed various transatlantic initiatives, including an international fellowship and award program for migration journalists. As part of his programs, Thibault has partnered with a number of foundations, including the Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Knight Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

                    A native of France, Thibault holds a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Paris IV Sorbonne (2006) and a master’s degree in Journalism from New York University (2009).

              • William Gois
                • About
                  • Mr. Gois is the Regional Coordinator of Migrant Forum in Asia, a regional network of migrants' organizations, NGOs, advocates, grassroots organizations and trade unions working to promote the rights and well being of migrant workers and members of their families. He also chairs Migrants Rights International (MRI), an international non-government organization with consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). For over ten years, he is at the forefront of international advocacy efforts engaging and influencing international and multilateral organizations to promote and protect the human rights and labor rights of migrant workers and members of their families through fair and informed migration and sustainable development policies. He facilitates the network to engage with regional and internationals platforms and work closely with the UN treaty bodies, in particular with the Committee on Migrant Workers and the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. He also heads a team to the International Labour Conference (ILC) of the International Labour Organization to monitor the development of labor migration issues within the ILO framework.

              • Alberto Echavarría
                • About
                  • Mr. Alberto ECHAVARRÍA is a Colombian lawyer with a specialization degree in Financial Law.  He has worked as an independent lawyer and has experience working with companies and organizations across the financial and industrial sector.

                    He has worked with The National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI) since 1991. Currently, he is the Legal Affairs Vice-President of ANDI. He is Employer Member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Office as well as member of the Committee of Freedom of Association, which is a special procedure within the ILO for complaints regarding freedom of association, and GAN Board Member. He also attends the International Labour Conference (ILC).

                    He has been invited to participate as a professor and international conferencist by many international universities and institutions.

                    In addition, he has published several law articles in national reviews.

              • Neha Prakash
                • About
                  • Neha graduated from the Australian National University with a master’s degree in International Relations, where her research focused on human rights, human security and migration policy. Prior to this, she pursued law with an aim to identify existing vulnerabilities in society and alleviate them through policy, legal reforms, and welfare programs.

                    Her work experience included working as a settlement officer and project coordinator at a Settlement Agency in Australia. Through her legal internships, volunteering experience, and leadership roles, Neha has led literacy programs, legal aid camps and conducted research that addressed the question of social justice.

                    Her personal and professional trajectory has constantly pushed her toward choosing work opportunities that promote inclusivity, diversity and the securitisation of vulnerable groups.

                    Neha is a youth advocate at the UNMGCY where she advocates for better outcomes for youth migrants. At The National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA), Neha manages the community radio engagement project, working with people with a disability from migrant and humanitarian backgrounds, with an emphasis on new and emerging communities, and using community radio as a format of co-design and engagement.

          • 14:00 - 16:30 | Government-led Roundtable Session 3.1
            • Location: Panecillo 1
            • Description
              • RT Session 3.1 - Supporting arrival cities through policy coherence and multi-stakeholder partnerships

            • Documents4
            • Speakers8
              • Amb. Pietro Mona
                • About
                  • Pietro Mona is Ambassador for development, forced displacement and migration at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Prior to being appointed to this position in summer 2017, he was Deputy Head of the Global Program for Migration and Development at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Between 2009 and 2012 he worked as Migration and Development Expert at the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) based in Abuja, Nigeria. He started working on migration back in 2004 in Armenia before taking up the position as migration policy adviser at the Human Security Division (FDFA) in 2005.

              • H.E. Amr Elsherbini
                • About
                  •  

                    Amr El-Sherbini is the Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister of Egypt for Refugees, Migration & Combating Trafficking since October 2019.

                    He has been in the Egyptian Foreign Service since 1995 and served in the following positions:

                    • Deputy Head of the Egypt’s Mission to the EU, NATO and Belgium (Brussels, 2015-2019).
                    • Director of the United Nations Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cairo, 2011-2015).
                    • Political Councilor at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (New York, 2006-2011).
                    • Political Adviser on Arab Affairs at the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt (Cairo, 2003-2006).
                    • Political Officer at the Embassy of Egypt in Syria (Damascus, 1999-2003).
                    • Political Officer at the International Multilateral Relations Department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cairo, 1996-1999).

                     

                    He participated in several international and regional meetings and worked closely on issues related to multilateral affairs, international organizations, peace and security and conflicts.

              • Vittoria Vittoria
                • About
                  •  Vittoria Zanuso is the Executive Director of the Mayors Migration Council (MMC), a new global initiative supported by Open Society Foundations and the Government of Switzerland in partnership with C40 Cities. As the MMC’s Executive Director, Vittoria oversees the organization’s efforts to help cities influence international deliberations and ensure that migration and refugee policy both reflects and helps cities address realities on the ground. As chief executive of the MMC, Vittoria also seats in the Steering Committee of the The UN Start-Up Fund for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (or Migration MPTF).

                     

                    Prior to joining the MMC, Vittoria held multiple positions at the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities initiative (100RC), liaising with mayors, senior officials and private sector leaders to address natural and human-made disasters, from climate change to rising global inequality. As a founding staff member of 100RC, Zanuso helped establish a network of 100 cities from the ground up and created the organization’s urban migration practice, leading advocacy campaigns and strategic partnerships with the International Rescue Committee, Brookings Institute, and NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, among others.

                     

                    Prior to 100RC, Vittoria worked with the Carbon War Room, Richard Branson’s organization to tackle climate mitigation alongside the business sector. Vittoria began her career in the field of strategic communications, first at the Spokesperson’s Office of the Vice-President of the European Commission in Brussels and then on the Communications team of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City.

                     

                    Originally from Milan, Italy, Vittoria holds an MPA in International Policy and Management from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a BA in Politics from Queen Mary University of London.

                     

              • Tathiana Moreno
                • About
                  • Master in Risk Management and Disaster Administration.  Master in Communication and Digital Journalism.  RIT in Communication and Reporting.  Degree in Social Communication.  Independent Consultant in Risk Management and Communication.  University Professor, Universidad Andina Simon Bolívar, Universidad Católica de Guayaquil.

              • Claudia Carletto
                • About
                  • Ana Claudia Carletto is a journalist graduated from Faculdade Cásper Líbero and post graduated in Political Marketing from Escola de Comunicações e Artes da Universidade de São Paulo. She is currently a master's student at the postgraduate program in Smart and Sustainable Cities (PPG-CIS) at UNINOVE.

                    She began exercising her political activity in the recently created Municipal Department of the Person with Disability and Reduced Mobility of the City Hall of São Paulo from 2005 to 2007, when, from then on, she became part of the advisory services of the former deputy and, now a senator, Mara Gabrilli - working later, until 2012, as her chief of staff in the Federal Chamber.

                    In the following years, she was Director of Communication of the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo, when she reformulated the activities of TV Alesp, reviewing the programming grid for a focus on providing services to citizens.

                    Between 2017 and 2018 she was chief of staff at the São Paulo City Hall and from 2018 to 2019 she held the position of Deputy Executive Secretary for Women's Policies at the Municipal Secretariat of Human Rights and Citizenship, implementing and managing public policies for women. Since December 2019, she has been the municipal secretary of Human Rights and Citizenship.

              • Christian Di Candia
                • About
                  • He studied for a degree in political science at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Udelar, where, in 2012 and 2013, he participated in the workshops, "Housing and Development" and "Gender and Economy".

                    In 2007 he joined the Departmental Board of Montevideo, through an external open competition of merit, during a year in which he was also the Political Secretary of the Presidency of the House of Representatives, and general coordinator of several projects.

                    From 2007 to 2009, he drafted and corrected departmental decrees and resolutions in all areas of legislative performance.

                    He was editor and general coordinator of the project "Producing Citizenship", of the House of Representatives. Writer and coordinator of the project "We learn, we decide and we do in Democracy" (CRR-ANEP Project 2007), and also the project "If I were a deputy" (CRR Project, ANEP, Departmental Boards).

                    In 2009 he was promoted, by internal competition, to Coordinator of Commissions (Deputy Director); and in 2011 to Head of the Commissions on Urban Planning, Housing, Works and Services; Urban Mobility, Settlements and Nomenclature.

                    In 2011 he took the course "Technique and legislative function" (APF for the CCSS, FCSS, Udelar). And in 2014, "Management skills for middle management" (ENAP, ONSC).

                    From 2015 to 2019, he was general Pro-Secretary of the Montevideo City Hall. During his term of office, he promoted the transformation and updating of regulations on matters related to coexistence; promoted the reformulation of the former Central Inspection Service; resumed the organization of the Festivals for Coexistence (Montevideo Rock, Montevideo Hip-Hop, Montevideo Tango and Montevideo Tropical); and promoted cooperation agreements with the Madrid City Council (Spain) and the Rosario Municipality (Argentina).

              • Pilar Toyos
                • About
                  • Training in the professional field

                    • Economist at the Center of Studies of the Argentine Industrial Union (CEU-UIA)
                    • Policy officer at Business 20 (B20) Argentina- coordination and technical guidance in the contents of the working tables; collaboration in the supervision and review of the deliverables of each group: position papers, public policy recommendations and technical reports.
                    • Head of Internal Management and Analyst at the SME Sub-Secretariat of the Ministry of Production- management reports and budgetary monitoring of the programs of the sub-secretariat; consolidation and assembly of audit reports; assistance in the diagnosis and design of policies for SME competitiveness.
                    • Administrative Assistant in Agricultural SME's- accounting and administrative task

                    In the academic field

                    • Degree in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires
                    • Master in Economics, Faculty of Economics, National University of La Plata (FCE-UNLP) - Ongoing
              • Poem Mudyawabikwa
                • About
                  • Mr. Mudyawabikwa is a minister counsellor (Labour attache) at the Zimbabwe Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office  and other International Organizations in Geneva responsible for Migration , Humanitarian and ILO issues.

                     

                    Before  joining the Mission he was involved in a host of migration related  activities in Zimbabwe ranging from development of migration policy frameworks , bilateral agreements to assistance and reintegration of returnees.

                     

                    Recently, Mr. Mudyawabikwa was part of the Africa group that was participating in the inter-governmental negotiations of the GCM

          • 17:00 - 19:00 | Platform for Partnerships Session
          • 17:00 - 19:00 | Future of the Forum Session
        • Day 4 Events (22 January 2020)21
        • Day 5 Events (24 January 2020)1
          • 09:00 - 13:00 | GFMD Dialogue on the GCM (Optional)
            • Location: Panecillo 4
            • Description
              • GFMD Dialogue on the GCM (Optional)

            • Documents12
            • Speakers12
              • Michele Klein Solomon
                • About
                  • Michele Klein Solomon is Director, Policy Hub, Office of the Director General, at the International Organization for Migration (IOM).  The Policy Hub is designed to draw together, and deliver, policy knowledge across the Organization.  The Hub is a catalyst to promote effective collection, analysis, and exchange of policy-relevant data and knowledge, and to facilitate strategic migration policy advice based on expertise from across IOM. 

                    She previously was Director, Global Compact for Migration at IOM, leading IOM’s support to States and partners in the development and implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

                    From 2014 to 2016, she directed the Secretariat of the state-led Migrants in Countries in Crisis Initiative. Ms. Klein Solomon was IOM’s representative to the United Nations from 2010-2014, and previous Director of IOM’s Migration Policy and Research Department.

                    She provides advice to governments in all regions of the world and to regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental entities on a wide range of migration policy matters

              • Jonathan Prentice
                • About
                  • Twenty-three years of experience in conflict prevention, political analysis, human rights and protection including at senior strategic and management level and in the field in varied positions including at the United Nations and International Crisis Group; postings in New York, Brussels, Jakarta, Geneva, Baghdad, Dili (Timor Leste), and Phnom Penh; participation in human rights fact-finding missions; experience in political negotiations, peace missions, strategy and programme development, high-level advocacy, fundraising, speech writing; establishing and running of complex UN operations (East Timor, Iraq); the management of front offices and critical project teams in UN and NGO settings.

              • Vasco Malta
                • About
                  • Vasco Malta, has a degree in Law and a L.LM in European Law in a Global Context, by Católica Scholl of Law. He is a lawyer since 2005 and started his work in the human rights area within the High Commissioner for Migration and Intercultural Dialogue, in Portugal, in 2009. He was also legal adviser to the Commission for Equality and Against Racial Discrimination and was part of the Portuguese National Commission for Human Rights. He was appointed, by the Portuguese Government, since 2009 as a National Liaison Officer to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, and since 2014 until 2018, worked in the Agency based in Austria as a National Expert, coordinating the National Liaison Officers network, the National Parliaments Focal Points network, the Working Party on Hate Crime project, among other projects. Since 1 February of 2018 he was appointed as Deputy of High Commissioner for Migration in Portugal, and since 1 March 2019, Head of Migration Policy, International Relations, Enrolment of Migrants of the High Commissioner for Migration. Since November 2019 he was appointed as Deputy of the PT Minister of Homer Affairs, with the areas of migration, refugees and traffic of human beings

              • H.E. Amb. Evan P. Garcia
                • About
                  • H.E. Amb. Evan P. Garcia, is the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

                    Prior to his appointment to Geneva, he had been serving as Ambassador of the Philippines to the United Kingdom and non-resident Ambassador to Ireland since May 2016.

                    He was Undersecretary for Policy at the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2013 to 2016.

                    He served as the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office at Geneva from 2010 to 2013. Prior to this, Ambassador Garcia served in various capacities in the home office, including in the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs, the Office of ASEAN Affairs, and the Office of the Secretary.

                    Among his foreign assignments, Mr. Garcia served as Consul and Economic Officer in the Embassy of the Philippines to Japan, and as a Political Officer, Acting Consul General, and Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of the Philippines to the United States. Mr. Garcia has a License in international relations and political science from the Graduate Institute for International Studies in Geneva (1981) and a Bachelor of Science degree in foreign service from the University of the Philippines in Diliman. He is married and has one son.

              • Stephane Jaquemet
                • About
                  • Stephane Jaquemet is ICMC’s Director of Policy since February 2018. He is a lawyer and an experienced humanitarian professional with substantial expertise in the policy field.

                    Before joining ICMC, Stephane spent 25 years working with the UN Refugee Agency, with assignments in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Most recently, he was UNHCR’s Regional Representative for Southern Europe, based in Rome. Prior to that, he served in UNHCR headquarters as Senior Legal Advisor, then Chief of Section, Protection Capacity and Promotion of Refugee Law. He has also worked at the International Committee of the Red Cross as a delegate in Africa and the Middle East and as a Legal Officer in Geneva. Jaquemet has also worked for the Swiss faith-based aid organization Entraide Protestante Suisse, and as a lawyer in private practice.

                    Stephane is a Swiss national. He completed his Law Degree at the University of Lausanne. He holds a Master of Advanced Studies in Criminology from the University of Paris II Pantheon. Stephane is fluent in French, English, Spanish and Italian and has notions of Arabic.

              • Ahmed Skim
                • About
                  • Mr. Skim is an engineer from the National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble, France (1993) – Master of Business Administration (MBA) of the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris (2007) - Head of the Organization and Methods Division at the Directorate General of Hydraulics, Secretariat of State in charge of Water (March 2005-Dec. 2008) - Head of the Pilot Projects & Environmental Impact Studies Division, Secretariat of State in charge of Water and Environment (Dec. 2008-March 2011) - Director of the Preservation of Heritage, Innovation and Promotion at the Ministry of Crafts (March 2011-Feb. 2014) – In Charge of Mission to the Head of Government at the Ministry in charge of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs (Feb. 2014-Jan. 2015) - Director of Migration Affairs at the Ministry Delegated to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in charge of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs (since January 2015). He led the development of the National Immigration and Asylum Strategy and coordinates its implementation.

              • Rafael Barcelo Durazo
                • About
                  • Academic background

                    Master in Administration and Public Policy at the Center for Research in Economics (Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas, CIDE) (2005-2007), with the thesis “Institutional Restrictions on Implementing the Policy of Consular Protection” (2007). 
                    Academic Exchange at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University (2006).
                    Law Degree at Universidad de Hermosillo (1998-2003). 
                     
                    Work experience
                    First Secretary of Mexico´s Foreign Service, which he joined in March 2010. 
                    Currently, he serves as Assistant Director General of Human Right’s International Policy at the Directorate General for Human Rights and Democracy  of the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico.
                    Press and Cultural Officer at the Mexican Embassy in Brazil (2014-2018).
                    Political and Human Rights Officer at the Mexican Embassy in Costa Rica (2010-2014).
                    Consultant in Strategic Planning at the Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico (2007-2009). 
                    Legal affairs Officer at the Institute for Youth from the state of Sonora, Mexico (2003-2004).
                    Legal assistant at the Mexican Investment Consultants (MIC) law firm in Hermosillo, Mexico (2001-2003). 
              • Rob Whitby
                • About
                  • Rob Whitby has worked for 11 years in the field of international development and is currently the Deputy Head of Migration and Modern Slavery Department in the UK’s Department for International Development. Rob previously worked for the European Union in Turkey on the €6 billion Facility for Refugees, assisting the Turkish Government with migration management and integration for Syrian refugees. Rob has an MA in International Relations and also has expertise in education policy having been a teacher and worked on education for many years also with the Department for International Development.

              • Kanishka Weerasinghe
                • About
                  • Attorney -at - Law, PgD. International Affairs (BCIS), MA-International Relations (Colombo).

              • Amb. José Luis Pardo
                • About
                  • José Luis Pardo He entered the Spanish Diplomatic Service in 1993. After serving in the Directorate for Europe (OSCE and Council of Europe) he was posted abroad at the Embassies of Spain in Libya (as Deputy Head of Mission 1996-1999), Jordan (as Deputy Head of Mission 1999-2002) and Germany (as Counsellor for EU Affairs 2002-2005). From 2007 to 2014 he was Deputy Director General for EU Foreign Policy and Trade Affairs. Nominated Ambassador of Spain in the Republic of Niger for the period 2014-2017. Since July 2017 he is Ambassador at Large for Migratory Issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation. He has a Law Degree (University of Salamanca 1985-1990), a Master in European Law (College of Europe Bruges 1990-1991) and a Degree on History of Art (UNED 2012-2018). He speaks Spanish, English, French, German and Italian.

              • H.E. Amr Elsherbini
                • About
                  •  

                    Amr El-Sherbini is the Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister of Egypt for Refugees, Migration & Combating Trafficking since October 2019.

                    He has been in the Egyptian Foreign Service since 1995 and served in the following positions:

                    • Deputy Head of the Egypt’s Mission to the EU, NATO and Belgium (Brussels, 2015-2019).
                    • Director of the United Nations Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cairo, 2011-2015).
                    • Political Councilor at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (New York, 2006-2011).
                    • Political Adviser on Arab Affairs at the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt (Cairo, 2003-2006).
                    • Political Officer at the Embassy of Egypt in Syria (Damascus, 1999-2003).
                    • Political Officer at the International Multilateral Relations Department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cairo, 1996-1999).

                     

                    He participated in several international and regional meetings and worked closely on issues related to multilateral affairs, international organizations, peace and security and conflicts.

              • William Gois
                • About
                  • Mr. Gois is the Regional Coordinator of Migrant Forum in Asia, a regional network of migrants' organizations, NGOs, advocates, grassroots organizations and trade unions working to promote the rights and well being of migrant workers and members of their families. He also chairs Migrants Rights International (MRI), an international non-government organization with consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). For over ten years, he is at the forefront of international advocacy efforts engaging and influencing international and multilateral organizations to promote and protect the human rights and labor rights of migrant workers and members of their families through fair and informed migration and sustainable development policies. He facilitates the network to engage with regional and internationals platforms and work closely with the UN treaty bodies, in particular with the Committee on Migrant Workers and the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. He also heads a team to the International Labour Conference (ILC) of the International Labour Organization to monitor the development of labor migration issues within the ILO framework.