Leadership Spotlight

This space celebrates the organizers, activists, and leaders who have served on our Steering Committee, Board, Grant Making Panel, and Staff. Their brilliance, vision, and commitment have helped build ITF.

If you are a former member of ITF's Steering Committee, Board, Grant Making Panel, or staff and would like to be featured here or update your information, please reach out to us at info@transfund.org.

Black and white portrait of a smiling man wearing glasses and a checked shirt, set against a colorful, abstract background with geometric shapes and curvy lines.

Abhi Muchtar
Trans Rights Advocate

Pronouns: he/him
Location: Indonesia 
Grant Making Panel 2023 - 2024

  • He co-founded Transmen Indonesia, the country’s first national network for transmasculine communities, and has served as a Regional Board Member of Youth Voices Count, a youth-centered LGBTQ+ network in Asia and the Pacific.

    Abhi currently serves on the Advisory Board of Arus Pelangi Federation representing transmasculine identities, is Treasurer on the Board of Directors at Global Action for Trans Equality, and is a member of the International Working Group on Transmen and HIV.

    He actively supports the community by guiding legal and medical transitions, mentoring future leaders, and publishing articles about transmen-related issues in Bahasa Indonesia. In 2018, alongside Transmen Indonesia and Persatuan Priawan Indonesia he developed the Pocketbook: Understanding Transmen, a key resource for transmasculine individuals in Indonesia.

    To sustain the movement, Abi provides mentorship for transmen who want to be future community leaders and build the movement in their respective areas.

A black-and-white portrait of a person with traditional jewelry and clothing, set against a colorful, abstract background with geometric shapes.

ALOK
Artist

Pronouns: they/them
Location: USA
Grant Making Panel 2017 - 2018

  • Alok's literary works "Beyond the Gender Binary,” “Femme in Public," and "Your Wound, My Garden," have garnered global recognition. Their dynamic presence has captivated audiences in over 40 countries, with sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Netflix Is a Joke Festival. Alok's first comedy special Biology! was executive produced by Christopher Guest. They are the subject of the docu-short "Alok" executive produced by Jodie Foster and directed by Alex Hedison, which made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024. On screen, they can also be seen in Complicated Order, The Trans List, and Absolute Dominion. On television, they can be seen on HBO's Sex Lives of College Girls, Sort Of and Random Acts of Flyness, Hulu's Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne, and Netflix's Gender Agenda comedy special and Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness. For their contributions to culture and entertainment, they have been honored with the ACLU of Southern California Bill of Rights Award, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment Trailblazer Award, and were selected as the inaugural LGBTQ Scholar in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania.

A black and white portrait of a woman with earrings and a patterned top, set against a colorful graphic background with abstract shapes and a red circle.

  • A social anthropologist and activist with over 30 years of experience, she has worked locally, regionally, and internationally across the fields of health, sexuality, human rights, and cultural promotion. She cherishes her Indigenous mother tongue, Zapotec, as it was her first understanding of the world.

    Her activism includes the development of empowerment processes with her Muxhe Zapotec community and national organizing efforts in Mexico, such as co-founding the Mexican Coalition of LGBTTTI+, where she served as Co-Secretary. She has also served as a citizen assembly member of CONAPRED (Mexico’s National Council to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination).

    Amaranta is currently a Citizen Assembly Member of Fondo Semillas, working to improve women’s economic access in Mexico. She also lectures in the Indigenous Experts Program at Carlos III University of Madrid, and serves as Coordinator and Principal Investigator of the Global Arramat Project (Mexico chapter). She is also proudly the first Indigenous trans woman to serve as Co-Director of the International Trans Fund (ITF, 2014–2017).

Pronouns: She/her
Location: Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca, Mexico
Board Member 2017-2020

Amaranta Gómez Regalado
Muxhe Activist and Social Anthropologist

Black and white photo of a young man with glasses, wearing a patterned shirt, set against an abstract colorful background with geometric shapes.

Anwar Ogrm
Community Organizer

Pronouns: he/him
Location: Paris, France 
Grant Making Panel 2022 - 2023

  • Anwar brings 15+ years of experience in trans rights advocacy, organizational development, and community building across local, regional, and global levels. Before joining GATE, Anwar worked with the Center for Intersectional Justice (CIJ) and Transgender Europe (TGEU), holding roles ranging from Community Building Intern to Co-Director. He previously served as Trans Advisor to the Community of Practice Working Group at the American Jewish World Service (AJWS).

    Anwar began his career as a child and youth worker, primarily with working-class and migrant-background children, an experience that continues to shape his people-centered approach. He is fluent in French and English, and conversational in German and Moroccan Arabic. In his spare time, Anwar is a sexual health peer counselor and trainer for local trans organizations. He is also training in French pastry (piping bags are never far away) and is the proud parent and uncle of several queer kids.

A black-and-white portrait of a woman with shoulder-length wavy hair, smiling slightly, with festive abstract colorful shapes and confetti in the background.

Barbra Wangare
Queer African Transfeminist

Pronouns: she/her
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Board Member 2017 - 2023

  • She is the Executive Director of East Africa Trans Health & Advocacy Network (EATHAN). EATHAN connects trans and gender diverse activists and organizations across East Africa. For over 15 years, Barbra has worked directly with trans, intersex and gender non-conforming activists throughout the continent, playing a key role in growing the African trans movement.

    Barbra envisions a world where trans movements are well-resourced, feminist, anti-colonial, and able to build lasting change beyond survival. She supports this vision by connecting movements, amplifying community voices, and resourcing grassroots leadership. Through her work with EATHAN and across the continent, she remains committed to mentorship, cross-movement collaboration, and creating space for healing, learning, and collective action.

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with long, wavy hair, set against a colorful abstract background with geometric shapes.

Beyonce Karungi
Advocate

Pronouns: She/her
Location: Global
Grant Making Panel 2017-2019

  • As the founder and Executive Director of Trans Equality Uganda, she has extensive experience advocating for trans and gender equity. Beyonce works to end violence against women and girls. She promotes comprehensive sex and sexuality education for youth and works to expand access to sexual and reproductive health services.

    On a global scale, she has collaborated with the International Reference Group on Trans Women and HIV, UNDP, UNFPA, UNAIDS, PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and USAID to develop TRANSIT — a global tool guiding HIV and STI programs for trans communities. Most recently, she partnered with AVAC to support efforts addressing the PrEP needs of trans women.

A black and white photo of a woman with shoulder-length hair and a calm expression, wearing a black zip-up shirt, with abstract colorful shapes in the background.

Bianka Rodriguez
Trans Activist

Pronouns: she/her
Location: El Salvador 
Grant Making Panel 2020 - 2022

  • She currently serves as Executive Director of ILGALAC, a regional organization that connects the subregions of ILGA World. ILGALAC promotes equal rights and fights gender identity- and sexuality-based discrimination facing LGBTI people in Latin America and the Caribbean.

    A regional and international leader, Bianka is a member of the Civil Society Advisory Group of UN Women El Salvador. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Urgent Action Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean (FAU AL). She is a member of the Corpora en Libertad International Network, which focuses on incarcerated LGBT+ people. Bianka is the founder of the Salvadoran Federation of LGBTI Organizations, where she served as General Secretary, and has been a member of the ILGALAC Regional Council. Additionally, she holds a leadership position at COMCAVIS TRANS. 

    In 2019, she was recognized with the Nansen Refugee Award for the Americas for supporting displaced LGBTI people and refugees. 

Black and white photo of smiling person with short hair and glasses, set against a vibrant, colorful background with geometric shapes.

Cai Thomas
Program Manager

Pronouns: They/he
Location: San Diego, CA
Grant Making Panel 2023 - 2024

  • Cai has over 14 years of experience advancing gender equity and LGBTQ+ rights across nonprofit and federal sectors. Grounded in a commitment to social justice and inclusion, they have led multi-country, donor-funded initiatives. These initiatives focused on education, workforce development, and community engagement for historically marginalized populations.

    He designs intersectional programs that uplift women, girls, and LGBTQ+ individuals, keeping equity and representation at the core of policy and practice. Cai has led inclusive education and capacity-building initiatives for grassroots organizations to dismantle systemic barriers and affirm all identities. With a Master’s in International and Comparative Education from Columbia University, they bring expertise in stakeholder engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and strategic program operations.

    Cai is passionate about driving institutional change and seeking opportunities where they can continue promoting equity, human rights, and transformative social impact.

Black and white portrait of a person with long braided hair, tattoos on neck and chest, face piercings, against a colorful abstract background with geometric shapes and patterns.

Cami
Non-binary Trans Activist

  • They are firmly committed to the rights of trans, non-binary, and sex-gender diverse people. Cami serves as the communications coordinator for CTU. They also lead its Non-binary Identities Area and represent CTU in REDCAHT+. Their activism is marked by a critical, direct, and deeply political perspective that challenges adult-centrism and centers dissident children and childhoods. It recognizes children’s capacity for agency and expression beyond adult control.

    Cami advocates for activism that goes beyond symbolic denunciation. They build collective agendas, foster collaboration among organizations, and demand that the State assume its responsibility as guarantor of rights. They view activism as a daily practice of care, confrontation, and creating new realities where tenderness coexists with political firmness. With an ethic grounded in coherence and mutual respect, Cami represents a dissident voice. They unsettle, challenge, and propose, always from collective action. They hold the conviction that no real transformation happens without active participation or putting one’s body on the line.

Pronouns: She/her
Location: Uruguay
Grant Making Panel 2022-2023

A black and white portrait of a woman with short hair on one side and long hair on the other, set against a colorful background with abstract shapes and patterns.

Chivuli Ukwimi
International Development and Public Health Specialist

Pronouns: she/her
Location: Zambia 
Deputy Director 2021 - 2025

  • She has extensive experience in philanthropy, grantmaking, and implementing health and social justice work, both across Africa and globally. She has worked with organizations including OSISA, Hivos Southern Africa, PSI Zambia, and Outright Action International. As a founding member of Friends of Rainka and AMSHeR, she advocates for the rights of trans and marginalized communities.

    Chivuli’s commitment to social justice is rooted in her own lived experiences, as a transgender woman from Zambia, she is driven by a personal vision of living in an inclusive world where all people can fully enjoy and realise their inherent rights. She holds qualifications in development, public health, finance, international relations, and diplomacy from Africa’s top universities. Chivuli served as ITF’s Deputy Director, championing inclusive and community-led grantmaking and systemic change.

Black and white photo of a woman with long hair, speaking into a microphone, surrounded by colorful abstract shapes and patterns on a pink and red background.

Claudia Vásquez Haro
Transgender Migrant Leader

Pronouns: She/her
Location: Argentina
Grant Making Panel 2017 - 2019

  • She is a professor and researcher at the National University of La Plata. Claudia also serves as Adjunct Professor of Communication and Human Rights at the Faculty of Journalism and Social Communication at UNLP. She is President of OTRANS Argentina, head of the Argentine Transgender Federal Call, and founder of the first traveling transgender museum in Argentina.

    Claudia has participated in the formulation, discussion, debates, and lobbying of landmark laws including gender identity legislation, employment quotas, and reparations for transgender and travesti people over 40, among others. She is Director of the SUDAKA TLGBI News Agency and has published academic essays, book chapters, and journalistic articles. She currently serves as Advisor to the Minister of Culture of the Province of Buenos Aires on Gender, Sexual Diversity, and Migration issues.

    For over 30 years, Claudia has been committed to ethical and political activism. Her extensive experience has allowed her to envision the urgent need to build a movement not only locally and regionally, but globally. Claudia’s terms as a member of the Grant Making Panel expanded her global perspective and enabled her to bring the experience of Latin America and the Caribbean — particularly trans activism in Argentina — into global philanthropic spaces.

Black and white portrait of a woman with long braided hair, set against a colorful geometric background.

Cleopatra Kambugu
Artivist, Community Organizer, Speaker

  • She has previously led and advised at UHAI EASHRI, Astraea, Initative Sankofa D'Afrique de L'ouest (ISDAO), The International Trans Fund (ITF), The Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) and Trans Europe and Central Asia (TGEU). Her work bridges lived experience, political strategy, and care, while centering joy and resistance in the face of violence.

Pronouns: She/her
Location: East Africa
Grant Making Panel 2020-2024

Black and white portrait of a woman with short curly hair, wearing earrings and a leopard print top, surrounded by colorful abstract shapes on a mustard and black background.

Deyonce Cleopatra Chaniqua Naris
Activist, Community Organiser, Speaker and National Coordinator

Pronouns: she/her
Location: Windhoek, Namibia 
Grant Making Panel 2020 - 2022

  • She currently serves as the National Coordinator of the Transgender, Intersex, and Androgynous Movement of Namibia. The movement advocates for the rights and bodily autonomy of trans and gender-diverse persons. Deyonce is a trained human rights defender and has held leadership roles across numerous youth movements and forums.

    Previously, she worked as a radio presenter, bringing her advocacy into public discourse and addressing issues related to gender, sexuality, and sex workers’ rights. She engages in trans philanthropic spaces that aim to reach communities directly while preventing activist burnout. Through her work, she brings a broad range of skills and expertise in grassroots mobilization, advocacy, and community-centered leadership.

A smiling black-and-white photo of a young man with tattoos, earrings, and facial piercings, wearing a black t-shirt, set against a colorful abstract background with geometric shapes and bold colors.

Dr. Max Appenroth
Activist, Diversity Consultant, Public Health Expert


Pronouns: They/he
Location: Germany
Grant Making Panel 2017 - 2019

  • As founder & CEO of Diversity Factory, Max supports businesses and organizations in fostering inclusive work environments for people from marginalized groups. Max received their PhD in Public Health, researching trans access to HIV prevention.

    They have worked with organizations such as WHO, UNAIDS, GATE - Global Action for Trans Equality, and many more. Max envisions a world where trans organizations receive not just scraps, but the full, sustained support they deserve. He is fighting for a future where intersecting identities are honored and trans justice is fully resourced.

Close-up portrait of a woman with braided hair, smiling softly, against a colorful geometric background.

Evane
Program Manager

Pronouns: They/them
Location: Mali
Grant Making Panel 2024-2025

  • They are the volunteer coordinator of the only trans-led association in their country. Evane also leads communications for a local LGBTQ association. They are fluent in two languages and actively engaged in regional and international LGBTQ+ networks. Evane is committed to advancing trans rights through grassroots organizing, visibility, and collective action.

    Evane believes in supporting trans movement building by directly funding trans-led organizations and initiatives, and by prioritizing organizations with trans people in leadership roles, especially those serving marginalized trans communities.

A smiling woman with dreadlocks, wearing a collared shirt against a background with abstract shapes and colors.

Happy Mwende Kinyili
Global Movement Strategist, Organiser, and Storyteller

Pronouns: they/them
Location: Earth 
Board Member 2017 - 2019

  • With over two decades of experience spanning grassroots organising and global philanthropy, they are a pivotal voice in feminist resourcing and participatory grantmaking. Happy sees their role in movement building as helping direct as many resources as possible to trans communities, ensuring all trans people have what they need to live full and abundant lives.

    Based in Nairobi and rooted in the Global South, Happy brings lived experience and visionary leadership to their role as Co-Executive Director of Mama Cash. Their joy is defiant, their hope grounded, and their commitment to justice unwavering. Across every space they enter, Happy’s message is clear: every contribution counts toward shared freedom.

Black-and-white portrait of a smiling woman with long dark hair, surrounded by colorful abstract shapes on a dark background with a gold border.

Isa Noyola
Community Organizer and National Director

Pronouns: She/her
Location: USA
Grant Making Panel 2017 - 2019

  • She fights at the intersections of immigration, criminalization, and gender justice. Isa is a national leader in the LGBTQ+ immigrant rights movement. She serves both within the United States and across the southern border. She is a passionate and seasoned organizer rooted in her community. She advocates for the abolition of oppressive systems that criminalize, harm, and dehumanize immigrant communities of the global majority.

    Isa is the director of the Border Butterfly Project, an effort serving queer and trans migrants with culturally competent and comprehensive trauma- informed services. The Border Butterfly Project promotes just and humane practices in the immigration system. Isa actively campaigns for the release of transgender women held in ICE detention and calls for an end to deportations and mass incarceration targeting marginalized communities. She is committed to supporting those on the front lines of trans liberation.

A smiling man wearing glasses and a black t-shirt with the word "happy" written on it, against a colorful, abstract background.

Jack Byrne
Researcher and Activist

Pronouns: he/him
Location: Aotearoa/New Zealand
Grant Making Panel 2017-2018

  • His activism is deeply indebted to lessons learned as a tauiwi (non-indigenous) supporter of Māori land rights and reflects a longstanding commitment to economic justice

    Jack has led national, regional, and international trans advocacy and research projects, including as project manager of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission’s Transgender Inquiry, and co-authoring the Asia Pacific Trans Health Blueprint. He is currently co-lead Principlal Investigator for Aotearoa’s Counting Ourselves, a community-led trans & non-binary health survey. He is also a Research Associate for Project Village which explores trans youth's experiences with family support.

    Jack’s advocacy and research focus on trans human rights, with expertise in legal gender recognition, including for refugees and asylum seekers. With a background in spoken word and theatre, he hopes to spend more time being creative as a powerful way to imagine the world trans people and communities deserve.

A black and white portrait of a woman with shoulder-length dark hair and glasses, set against a colorful graphic background with abstract shapes.

Jasmine
Ex KM & Operations Officer

Pronouns: she/her
Location: Saigon, Vietnam 
Grant Making Panel 2023 - 2024

  • She has spent over a decade living in Bangkok and now resides in Saigon. Previously working in tech (gaming, telcos, and advertising), she has shifted her focus to non-profit, social change, and diversity & inclusion spaces. She is committed to using her talents and skills for good. She supports minorities and people in difficult situations, and volunteers with NGOs focused on children, women’s empowerment, and elderly care.

A black-and-white portrait of a person with long dark hair smiling, set against a colorful abstract background with geometric shapes and a pink circle.

Julia Ehrt
LGBTI Advocate/Movement Organizer

Pronouns: She/her
Location: Berlin, Germany
Board member 2017 - 2019

  • She served on the founding interim Steering Committee of the International Trans Fund, continuing as a member until 2019, while also leading Transgender Europe as Executive Director. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice and is a signatory to the Yogyakarta Principles plus 10.

Black and white portrait of a person with short hair, glasses, and a plaid shirt, with abstract colorful shapes in the background.

Linn Julian Koletnik
Activist, Advocate, Researcher

Pronouns: they/them
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia 
Grant Making Panel 2023 - 2024

  • She has spent over a decade living in Bangkok and now resides in Saigon. Previously working in tech (gaming, telcos, and advertising), she has shifted her focus to non-profit, social change, and diversity & inclusion spaces. She is committed to using her talents and skills for good. She supports minorities and people in difficult situations, and volunteers with NGOs focused on children, women’s empowerment, and elderly care.

Black and white portrait of a woman with glasses, dreadlocks, and earrings, set against a colorful, abstract background with shapes and patterns.

Madame Jholerina Brinnette Theodora Khoetage Timbo
Program Manager, Trans Inclusion Specialist, Trainer and Campaigner

Pronouns: She/her
Location: Namibia
Grant Making Panel 2023 - 2024

  • She advocated for the equality, social inclusion, economic empowerment, and safety of LGBTI persons from diverse backgrounds. As a transgender professional she was passionate about generating knowledge, raising awareness, and providing creative educating on LGBTI issues.

    As the founder of the Wings to Transcend Namibia Trust, she was exceptional at planning, policy development, budgeting, program implementation, report writing, and building relationships within the LGBTI community. She served as vice chairperson of the Key Populations Technical Working Group (KP TWG) under the National Strategic Framework for HIV and AIDS Response in Namibia. In recognition of her leadership and commitment to the community, Ms. Timbo was a 2018 alumna of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

    When asked about her connection to trans movement building, Ms. Timbo reflected: “I have been part of local trans organizing and have led a national trans organization. I participated in the formation of the Southern Africa Trans Forum and the African Trans Network. Representing the voices of African trans activists internationally has been a privilege.”

    Ms. Timbo passed away on October 9, 2025. May she rest in peace and power.

Black and white portrait of a smiling man with short, dark hair, wearing a checkered shirt, set against a colorful, abstract graphic background.

Mani AQ
CEO & Community Organizer

Pronouns: he/him
Location: South Asia
Grant Making Panel 2022-2023

  • As one of the country’s only prominent trans men, he has worked to raise visibility and secure rights for transmasculine communities, often at great personal risk. Mani is a dedicated human rights defender whose leadership spans grassroots activism, legal advocacy, public education campaigns, and policy reform.

    He has represented Pakistan on national and international platforms, championing the dignity and justice of those most marginalized. He has taken on high-profile legal cases that set important precedents for trans rights in Pakistan.

    Through his unwavering compassion, conviction, and perseverance, Mani empowers those who are frequently silenced. His work brings society closer to accepting people’s fundamental human rights, regardless of their gender, body, and sexuality. Mani continues to make meaningful and lasting change.

A professionally dressed man with glasses and a beard, wearing a suit and tie, in front of a graphic background with abstract shapes and bold colors.

Masen Davis
Executive Director, Funders Concerned About AIDS (+trans activist and artist)

Pronouns: he/him
Location: Berlin, Germany 
Board Member 2017-2019

  • He has over 25 years of experience advancing human rights and healthcare for LGBTQ and HIV-impacted communities. He served as Interim Executive Director of Transgender Europe, CEO of Freedom for All Americans, and Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center. During his time as Co-Director of Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE), he helped launch the International Trans Fund.

    Masen's philanthropic work includes the Gill Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles. He holds a Master of Social Welfare from UCLA and a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University. His writing has appeared in journals such as the Seattle Journal for Social Justice and Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression in Social Work Practice. Masen has also been featured in documentaries including Becoming Chaz, Just Gender, and Trans.

    A gay, trans man, Masen lives in Berlin, and often works from his studio (masen.art).

Black and white portrait of a woman with glasses, wearing earrings and a necklace, against a colorful abstract background.

Matilda González Gil
Lawyer, Actress, Writer, Filmmaker

Pronouns: She/her
Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Grant Making Panel 2023 - 2024

  • She co-designed the strategy for the first draft of the Integral Trans Law, currently under Senate discussion. Matilda combines her legal expertise with her passion for opinion-based journalism and the arts.

    She has written for Vice Colombia (2015-2018), Cromos (2017-2019), and El Espectador. Matilda co-created the YouTube channel La Prohibida with El Espectador and produced, wrote, directed, and performed in the mini-series Feminismo Intergaláctico on her own channel (@matildagonzalezgil1711). She also co-created La Flor del Plátano with CAMBIO.

    She now leads outreach to LGBTIQ+ individuals affected by armed conflict at the Unit for the Search of Missing Persons. Alongside her legal and advocacy work, Matilda is pursuing work as a writer, actor, playwright, and filmmaker. She is driven by a belief in collective creativity to inspire change in both forensic sciences and art.

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with short dark hair, set against a colorful geometric background with shapes and lines.

Mickey Papakoch
Human Rights Advocate and Financial Specialist

Pronouns: they/them
Location: Germany
Grant Making Panel 2022-2023

  • Mickey is a finance specialist with extensive expertise in managing grants. In 2019 they joined TGEU as Operations Officers and in 2022 and 2023 served as Interim Executive Co-Director. As a former GMP member, they have continued to implement the experience they gained while working closely with local and regional trans organizations in the Balkans to support their work.

Black and white portrait of a smiling young woman in a white shirt, with a colorful abstract background.

Neish McLean
Philanthropist

Pronouns: they/he
Location: Atlanta, Georgia 
Grant Making Panel 2019

  • They bring almost ten years of trans organizing and movement building experience to philanthropy. Neish serves as the Chair for the Nominations and Governance Committee at the International Planned Parenthood Federation. He also holds a grantmaking advisory role with GiveOut and serves on the Board of Movement Advancement Project. Their experience, though global, is deeply rooted in the Caribbean where their activism thrived.

    As Co-Founder of TransWave Jamaica, Neish helped to shift the landscape for trans activism within Jamaica while also providing technical support to organizations across the Caribbean region. They are currently the Associate Director for the International Fund at Astraea Foundation. Neish holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management. As a sports, fitness, and adventure enthusiast, they enjoy traveling, cooking, photography, and gardening.

A smiling man with a beard and mustache in formal attire, wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, with a white headband, against a colorful abstract background.

Sanjar
Program Manager

Pronouns: He/him
Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Grant Making Panel 2017 - 2018

  • He has led initiatives on social justice, inclusive policy reform, and trans-feminist grassroots organizing across diverse regions. His academic interests include human-environment interactions, Indigenous knowledge, and sustainable development. Multilingual and committed to equity, Sanjar brings global perspective, analytical insight, and a collaborative spirit to every project he leads.

Black and white portrait of a woman with glasses, dark hair, wearing a patterned top and a choker, against an abstract colorful background.

Sayonara Nogueira
Educator

Pronouns: She/her
Location: Brazil
Grant Making Panel 2020 - 2022

  • She has a strong commitment to education and social justice and has dedicated her career to advancing inclusive practices and strengthening the trans movement across Brazil. Sayonara studied Geography, specializing in Inclusive Education and Pedagogical Coordination. 

A young man with glasses smiling, wearing a light-colored t-shirt, with a graphic background of abstract shapes and colors.

Tristán López
Community Organizer

Pronouns: He/him
Location: Guatemala 
Grant Making Panel 2023-2024

  • He has a background in philosophy and a master’s degree in contemporary history, where he researched the historical anti-gender movement. Tristán activism is rooted in trans and queer organizing and the struggle for democracy and anti-corruption in Guatemala. He now focuses on building community and narrative power to imagine and materialize liberated futures. For him, trans movement building is both the blueprint and standpoint: a way to build broad coalitions grounded in collective liberation. He sees being trans as an endless possibility of becoming—ideally, in communion with each other and with the planet.

Black and white portrait of a bald man with a beard and multiple ear piercings, wearing a black shirt, against a colorful geometric background with red, teal, yellow, black, and blue shapes.

Wiktor Dynarski
Philanthropic Professional, Educator and Advocate

Pronouns: they/them
Location: New York, USA 
Board Member 2019-2020

  • Since then, Wiktor has been involved in various initiatives aimed at financing trans movements and supporting trans people. They have worked with the Global Philanthropy Project, the International Trans Fund, and Grantmakers United for Trans Communities.

    Before entering philanthropy, Wiktor worked in trans and LGBTQIA organizing across Europe. They collaborated with Trans-Fuzja Foundation, Love Does Not Exclude, Campaign Against Homophobia, and Warsaw Queer Muzeum in Poland, as well as TransFúzia Slovakia and Transgender Europe. Their current work focuses on programmatic and compliance aspects of post-award grant review and closure.

    Wiktor holds a PhD from the Warsaw University Institute of Applied Social Sciences. A firm believer in labor rights, they currently serve as a shop steward with Communications Workers of America Local 1180, the union representing Open Society staff.

Black and white portrait of a woman with wavy hair, wearing a patterned blouse and earrings, against a colorful abstract background with geometric shapes.

Yael Demedetskaya
Trans Advocate, Scholar, and Creative Leader

Pronouns: She/her
Location: New York, USA
Grant Making Panel 2019 - 2021

  • She is the founder of the Transgender Foundation, which advances trans advocacy and social justice. As a member of ITF's Grant Making Panel, she drove equitable funding, applying her analytical expertise to prioritize intersectional initiatives.

    As a Data Science Instructor at The Cooper Union, Yael bridges AI and social impact. Her research in trans health, gender studies, and machine learning is cited in both academic and policy contexts. Her PhD in Mathematics informs her data-driven advocacy. Yael co-authored Critical & Experiential: Dimensions in Gender and Sexual Diversity. She is featured in Mark Gevisser’s The Pink Line, helping amplify trans narratives globally

    Her acting in Nastya (2017), A Worm in the Heart (2020), and Guarantor, an upcoming film on immigrant experiences, advocates for trans visibility. Blending her Russian heritage with a global perspective, Yael champions trans dignity. 

A black-and-white portrait of a woman with short dark hair, wearing a leopard print scarf, set against a colorful, abstract background with geometric shapes and a red circular element.

Ymania Brown
Coalition Architect & Capacity-Building Strategist

Pronouns: She/her
Location: Berlin, Germany 
Grant Making Panel 2017-2021

  • Originally from Samoa, Ymania overcame severe discrimination, transphobia, employment prejudice, and family abuse. After 20 years in corporate law in Australia, she used her expertise as a global human rights advocate. For two decades she led international NGOs, advancing LGBTIQ rights, Indigenous justice, interfaith dialogue, environmental protection, and economic equity.

    Ymania served as Executive Director of TGEU and Co-President of InterPride, applying strategic focus to policy, funding, governance, and risk management. Her leadership included previous roles as Co-Secretary General of ILGA World, Advisory Board member at Astraea, Co-Chair of the International Trans Fund, Co-Chair of the Global Interfaith Network on SOGI, and Advisor to World Pride Copenhagen 2021.

    Rooted in her First Nations Samoan identity as a matai across four districts, Ymania was a powerful voice at the intersection of trans, Indigenous, spiritual, climate justice, and human rights. She envisioned a decentralized trans movement grounded in intersectional solidarity.

    Ymania passed away on September 15, 2025. Rest in peace and power.

Black and white portrait of a smiling man wearing glasses, a checkered scarf, and a jacket, set against an abstract colorful background with geometric shapes.

Zhan
Global Coordinator, LGBTI Pathways

Pronouns: he/him
Location: Singapore and Bangkok 
Board Member 2017-2023

  • In 2014, they founded the Gender Identity and Expression Program at ILGA World in Geneva. In 2022, they joined Transgender Europe as Deputy Director. Before this, Zhan worked as a refugee lawyer. In Pakistan, they assessed claims for the United Nations, and in Bangkok, they represented clients through a grassroots legal service. They also held roles as a government lawyer and a judge’s associate in Australia.

    Zhan leads a resource mobilisation project called LGBTI Pathways, jointly run by the Global Philanthropy Project and ILGA World. The project aims to build a fuller picture of the funding needs and realities of LGBTI movements, providing evidence-based data to support stronger advocacy for resources.

    Zhan is committed to strengthening the trans movement through sustainable funding, strategic advocacy, and visible trans leadership across civil society, philanthropy, government, and multilateral spaces to ensure that trans voices are not only represented but leading the way forward.