Global Expert Circle
The Global Expert Circle is a network of researchers, policy specialists, practitioners, and subject-matter experts who provide strategic insight and specialized expertise to support Asia Global Forum’s work. Members contribute analysis, peer review, and regional perspectives to strengthen the Forum’s programs, research, and engagement on global issues.
Ms. Manail Anis Ahmed
Manail Anis Ahmed is a lecturer at Columbia University and an impassioned educator, curriculum innovator and convener on AI and emerging technologies. She has led the establishment of organizations and institutions for learning, research and scholarship globally. She has also architected government regulation, knowledge management infrastructure, and human capital development strategy for an entirely new global city and economic zone. She is currently engaged in cross-disciplinary curricular innovation across AI and engineering, the social sciences and life sciences fields. At Columbia University, she teaches a course titled ‘Getting AI Right for Techno-Social Change’. She is also adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins University teaching and developing curricula across Biotech Entrepreneurship, Bioinformatics, Drug Discovery, and Tech Transfer & Commercialization. She has been a visiting lecturer teaching precepts in Technology, AI & Engineering Ethics at Princeton University, and has served as Responsible AI mentor to graduate students through the Princeton GradFutures Program.
Mr. Guy Antoine Avognon
Guy Avognon is a former staff member of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with over 25 years of experience in strategic leadership positions both in complex conflict prone contexts and headquarters environments. He holds a master’s degree in law (Benin), a Master of Public Administration (Lausanne, Switzerland), a Post-Graduate Degree in Development Studies (Geneva, Switzerland), a Certificate in Human Rights Studies (Strasbourg, France) and is a Certified mediator (London, UK). He has a long field experience in the management of complex humanitarian operations, policy formulation, and advocacy. In his functions at various levels in UNHCR including Head of Operations, Head of Office, Regional Emergency coordinator, Policy Advisor, he helped develop and implement emergency preparedness and durable solutions strategies for refugee operations across Africa. He served both at UNHCR headquarters and in regional and country offices in Burundi, DR Congo, Liberia, Kenya and Tanzania. He undertook missions for UNHCR to various parts of the world including Asia (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines), Latin America (Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Cuba), North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), Middle East (Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia). These assignments and missions especially in Africa and Asia, involved extensive engagement with local state and non-state actors, international organizations, and multilateral partners, to drive forward impactful solutions for refugees and displaced persons. This helped sharpen his deep analytical knowledge of political dynamics in those respective environments. In addition to his wide experience of work in conflict prone areas worldwide, he held elective positions as Chairperson of the UNHCR Staff Council and was subsequently elected Chair of the Coordinating Committee of International Staff Unions and Association of the UN (CCISUA), representing more than 100,000 UN staff. In the latter capacity, he participated in high-level negotiations on Human Resources policy, conditions of service and staff welfare in the United Nations worldwide, representing CCISUA with institutions such as the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), with the UN High-Level Committee on Management (HLCM). Inter alia, he played an advocacy role with diplomatic missions of member states of the UN General Assembly in New York in the review of the compensation package of UN staff in general. Today, Mr Avognon provides expertise to the Government of Benin on humanitarian emergencies and to the staff Federation CCISUA on conditions of service of staff as part of the reform of the United Nations.
Mr. Jeames Castillo
Jeames Castillo is a New York-based financial professional and social entrepreneur. As an appointed member of the Global Expert Circle for the Global Asia Forum, he brings 15 years of wealth management experience and a practical focus on sustainable economic development. He currently serves as a Vice President and Senior Wealth Relationship Manager at Citi, holding active Series 7, 63, 65, and SIE registrations, as well as Life, Accident, and Health license. In addition to his corporate role, Jeames is the founder of Project Noblitude. Recently featured in Envoy Magazine, the international enterprise develops clean water infrastructure, affordable housing, and financial literacy programs in the Dominican Republic, with a strategic expansion to the Philippines planned for 2030.
Ms. Clari Chen
As a Singaporean native, Clari Chen believes a home is never just a transaction — it’s a foundation for family, financial security, and belonging. As a property specialist at Robinsons Land Corporation Philippines, she works with a diverse range of clients, from local families to international investors and expatriates, helping each one find not just a property, but a sound step toward their long-term future. Beyond the transaction itself, Clari takes a genuine interest in her clients’ bigger financial picture. She guides many through the fundamentals of financial literacy, helping first-time buyers and seasoned investors alike understand how real estate fits into their broader wealth strategy — an educational approach that mirrors a deeper belief in fostering global awareness and empowering people with the knowledge to make confident, informed decisions. For expatriates in particular, she brings a thoughtful, patient approach to retirement planning, helping them navigate property investment as a way to build security and options for the years ahead, wherever in the world they choose to settle. Working at the intersection of local expertise and an international clientele, Clari sees her role as a bridge — connecting cultures, building trust across borders, and fostering the kind of dialogue and cooperation that allows people from different backgrounds to thrive together. That same spirit of compassion and service carries into her life outside of real estate as a practitioner of Shinnyo Buddhism, which shapes how she listens, serves, and shows up for the people and communities around her. For Clari, empowering clients through real estate is part of a larger story: one where Asian communities and the diaspora are not only supported and represented, but celebrated for the meaningful role they play in shaping a more connected, informed, and equitable global society. Whether she’s helping a first-time buyer understand their options or an expatriate plan, she sees her work as one more thread in that shared journey toward security, understanding, and belonging.
Dr. Henia Dakkak
Dr. Dakkak is a senior humanitarian leader with a technical professional background in a wide range of healthcare interventions, including Emergency Obstetrics care, HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health programs including addressing Gender-based Violence, mental health, psychosocial support, maternal and child healthcare. Holding a leadership position as the Head of the Policy unit within the Humanitarian Office at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and later as Acting Chief of the Humanitarian Office, Dr. Dakkak was responsible for providing policy and technical guidance to UNFPA country offices navigating reproductive health challenges during crisis and post-crisis situations. She led and advised on the organizational humanitarian strategy, advocacy strategies, resource mobilization efforts, built strategic partnerships, and managed a diverse team of staff members. Dr. Dakkak has a deep understanding of the humanitarian system and architecture and has deployed to numerous emergencies, including scale-up situations in a Senior Emergency Coordinator role. She has demonstrated skills and experience in the facilitation of a wide range of humanitarian topics and was instrumental in the establishment of the UNFPA Surge Assessment Workshop, where she was a facilitator and assessor. She curated content, facilitated workshops, and participated in scenario-based simulations, which later became industry best practices. Additionally, Dr. Dakkak has coached and mentored both existing and emerging humanitarian professionals. Furthermore, Dr. Dakkak's expertise extends to medical activities in conflict-affected regions. She has engaged in developing and managing medical initiatives in the Balkans, specifically in pre-conflict and post-conflict Kosovo. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in establishing and developing a multispecialty medical center in Jerusalem. To further contribute to the body of knowledge in emergency healthcare, Dr. Dakkak has dedicated her efforts to researching and authoring a paper on Reproductive Health programs in emergency situations. Her research aims to provide valuable insights and recommendations for healthcare providers and policy makers operating in crisis and post crisis settings. Throughout her career, Dr. Dakkak has fostered collaborations with numerous UN agencies, Inter-Agency Standing Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (IASC), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), IFRC, donor agencies, and military organizations, including OFDA, PRM, GAC, FCDO, ECHO, and NATO. These partnerships have been instrumental in implementing successful healthcare programs and ensuring the delivery of life-saving services to vulnerable populations in crisis-affected regions.
Dr. Bahar Aldanmaz Fidan
Dr. Bahar Aldanmaz Fidan is a sociologist, researcher, and nonprofit professional whose work focuses on disaster philanthropy, menstrual justice, and community-led response. She holds a PhD in Sociology from Boston University, where her dissertation examined how nonprofit and philanthropic actors respond to crises in the aftermath of the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye. Her writing and research have appeared in Alliance Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Think Global Health, Health Policy, and other academic and public platforms. She currently serves as Foundation Relations & Grants Lead at Turkish Philanthropy Funds and is the co-founder of Konuşmamız Gerek, the only organization focusing on menstrual health and hygiene in Türkiye.
Ms. Georgina Galanis
Ms. Georgina Galanis is a cultural creative, peace educator, spiritual intuitive, sacred artivist. As founder of THE COLORS OF LIFE Portal, she has guided individuals and non profit social agencies in synergetic discovery using Lifestyle Mapping Formulas and Creativity Consulting for inside out freedom, an expanding lens of mindfulness and compassionate awareness through which to free authenticity, unfold individuation through life cycle transitions and changemaking potentials. Her work has upheld philosophies of Gandhian ‘Ahimsa’ and non violence , a Buddhist precept that humans should "cause no injury" to other living beings includes one's deeds, words, and thoughts. A dedicated creativity and consciousness researcher, lifestyling design consultant extending to various non profit boards since 1999 ~discovering the abstract path of service through empathic self transformation, to individuals, social causes and humanity. As a founding member, ASP newsletter production, writer and VP for The Association for Spirituality and Psychotherapy,NYC - A network integrating Science, Spirituality and Psychotherapeutic healing modalities highlighting wholistic practitioners, gathering community through conferences and educational events. Ms. Galanis has acted as Creative Strategist for Organization for the Arts and Whole Brain Learning and VP of Humanitarian Outreach ATOP- Curriculum Enrichment Advisor for Meaningfulworld 2006. Propelled by curiosity, the exploration and study of diverse spiritual history and a sacred activist calling, lead her to United Nations DGC, as accredited NGO Representative for The Good News Agency 2011-present. She was a 2010 recipient of Orphans International Humanitarian Award NYC. Reaching forward as a 2011 founding civil service advocate for United Nations Global Movement for the Culture of Peace, https://www.facebook.com/groups/gmcop/ a UN HQ related community of world servers dedicated to awakening and educating towards the Culture of Peace, Programme of Action, and Resolution #1325, Women Peace and Security and as a representative organizer at annual UN High Level CoP Forums annually from 2012-2020. Co chair Advisory Council of Educators for CGC2030 and 2018 Board Member for Global Network for Sustainable Development. Advisory Consultant to Source of Synergy Foundation and 2020 - Voices of Women Canada (VOW) Culture of Peace Education Award, 2018 Board Member Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace, 2021 Poet - Amanuensis ATTOTA project 2022 conference Colombia Steering Committee. 2022 Director - I AM PEACE Film Forum, 2024 Dare to Dream Edu, International Convenor - Partnerships and Alliances. 2014-2026 The Kintsugi Konsortium - YouRGold - Make Art Not War initiative #cultureofpeaceNOW #letskintsugiworld! #youRgold Contact : Geocolors2@gmail.com
Mr. Takashi Kamishiro
Takashi Kamishiro is an international affairs, peacebuilding, and humanitarian practitioner with three decades of experience in diplomacy, development, humanitarian action, and United Nations peace operations across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe. Mr. Kamishiro began his career as a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, with postings in Spain and Ecuador. He then held field, advisory, and planning roles with the United Nations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), the UN missions in Sudan and South Sudan (UNMIS and UNMISS) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Mission in Colombia (UNMC), the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC), and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He also worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Myanmar and Afghanistan, supporting humanitarian protection and assistance in conflict-affected areas. Dialogue has been central to his work, whether with government officials, local communities, non-state armed actors, or other non-traditional stakeholders across gender, youth, ethnic, and racial lines. In Colombia, he held regular discussions with former guerrilla groups as part of the peace process. In Afghanistan, he engaged prison and security authorities on human rights and humanitarian principles, and in Myanmar, he worked with military and government counterparts on humanitarian access. His expertise includes peacebuilding, conflict prevention, humanitarian response, reintegration, and organizational performance, and he offers practical insight into how global policy intersects with local realities. He is currently Coordinator of the United Nations Asia Network for Diversity & Inclusion (UN-ANDI), advancing dialogue and institutional efforts to promote diversity, inclusion, and racial equity across the UN system. Mr. Kamishiro holds a Master in Public Policy and Management from the University of Southern California, a graduate certificate in Community and Economic Development from Pennsylvania State University, and a Bachelor of Laws from Waseda University. As a Japanese national, he brings a cross-regional perspective and a commitment to practical solutions for complex global challenges in Asia and beyond.
Ms. Absa Samba
Absa Samba is a policy, women’s rights, advocacy and grassroots movement expert. She leads the Washington Coalition to End FGM/C which led the a law banning FGC in Washington State in 2023. With over 15 years of experience, she advocates for girls’ education and the elimination of harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital cutting through policy. She has received multiple honors, including the University of Washington Evans School Diversity, Global Citizen, Equity & Inclusion and “Walk the Talk” awards. Absa holds dual master’s degrees in Public Administration and Social Work from the University of Washington, where she serves as a Global Engagement Manager working with public health leaders across the African continent.