Our Team

Staff

Cecilia Wallen – Executive Director

Cecilia Wallen brings experience spanning international development, communications, and nonprofit management across Europe, Africa, and North America. She joined BNID as Program Associate in 2025, leading marketing, communications, and community programming, before stepping into the role of Executive Director in April 2026.

Prior to BNID, Cecilia worked as a Communications Consultant at the World Bank, where she was a core part of the corporate media monitoring team, and supported digital media strategy and communications initiatives. She has also consulted for Data4Development in the Netherlands, supporting NGOs on data reporting and digital strategy, and served as an organizational specialist for the Swedish Fundraising Association. She currently leads marketing and sales at Zimmerman B.V.

Cecilia holds an MSc in International Development and Management and a BA in Human Rights, both from Lund University in Sweden.

Board of Directors

Daniela Giardina – BNID Board Chair, Director Disaster Risk Reduction, Oxfam America

Daniela Giardina serves as Chair of the Board for the Boston Network for International Development, where she leverages nearly two decades of expertise to strengthen partnerships and advance the network purpose as international hub in the Boston area. Her career spans leadership roles with NGOs and research institutions throughout Africa, the Caribbean, and Central & Southeast Asia—designing and managing water and food security initiatives, delivering technical training, and overseeing monitoring, evaluation, and coordination.

Currently, Daniela directs Disaster Risk Reduction, climate-change adaptation, and anticipatory-action programs at Oxfam that center local leadership and gender-mainstreaming, while driving evidence-based policy and advocacy. She earned her Ph.D. in Sustainable Development (2011) and holds a Master’s in Environmental Engineering (2005), and has been a Chartered Engineer since 2006.

Fuzieh Jallow – BNID Vice Board Chair, Strategic Brand, Events, and Engagement Leader

Fuzieh Jallow is a visionary and inclusive leader with over 15 years of global experience advancing brand strategy, public engagement, and high-impact convenings across the climate, development, and social equity sectors. She has a proven track record of leading global tentpole campaigns, donor engagement programs, and multilateral events that drive visibility, build stakeholder trust, and mobilize cross-sector support.

Fuzieh specializes in integrated storytelling and engagement strategies that align with institutional priorities, elevate organizational profiles, and influence policy discourse. She is recognized for building and leading high-performing, cross-functional teams and fostering collaboration across departments to deliver compelling, data-driven outcomes. Her work spans global nonprofits, multilateral institutions, and philanthropic partners, and she is deeply committed to equity-centered leadership and international cooperation.

Adriana Ramirez – Manager for External Relations and Communications at MIT’s Office of the Vice Provost for International Activities

Adriana Ramirez is currently the Manager for External Relations and Communications at MIT’s Office of the Vice Provost for International Activities. Her career in communications started in 2008 when she worked at the Mexican President’s Communication Office as Information Specialist. There she wrote the media analysis the Mexican president read every morning, and issued recommendations for the president’s communication strategy.

After working for the president’s office, Adriana joined the Mexican Foreign Service. As a career diplomat, she worked at the Consulate of Mexico in Anchorage, the Mexican Embassy in Germany, and the Consulate General of Mexico in Boston. During her 10 years in diplomacy, Adriana had to effectively communicate the interests of the country and community she represented to a wide variety of partners and stakeholders.

Most recently, Adriana worked as Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA. There, she spearheaded efforts to publicize Perkins’ work in Latin America to prospect donors and education practitioners.

Alison Turner – Regional Public Health Coordinator, Central Massachusetts Regional Health Department

Alison Turner is a mission-driven global health and international development leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing health equity, strengthening health systems, and fostering cross-sector partnerships. Alison worked at USAID from 2018-2025, first as a Presidential Management Fellow and later as a Team Lead for Pharmaceutical Systems Strengthening within the Global Health Bureau’s Office of Health Systems. She brings experience managing programs to improve access to essential medicines in more than 25 countries, guiding pandemic response efforts, and advising on inclusive programming to advance gender equality and youth leadership. Her work has centered on building local capacity, elevating equity, and driving sustainable impact through cross-sector collaboration.

Currently, she is the Regional Public Health Coordinator for the Central Massachusetts Regional Health Department, where she manages grant implementation and builds partnerships to strengthen community health systems closer to home. Alison holds an MBA in Nonprofit Management and an MA in Sustainable International Development from The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. She is thrilled to join the BNID Board and to contribute to its engaged network of professionals and organizations working at the forefront of international development and global justice in the Boston area.

Connor Nickerson – Communications Manager, Climate and Ocean at The Nature Conservancy

Connor Nickerson is an international development specialist with diverse experience in branding, philanthropy, program management and community building. She utilizes the power of storytelling to showcase the efforts of incredible stakeholders and local leaders who are conserving biodiversity and safeguarding nature around the world. Connor has been involved with Partners in Health, Haiti Development Institute and NEID Global. She currently serves as the Communications Manager, Climate and Ocean at The Nature Conservancy where she implements communications strategies designed to advance TNC’s core ocean solutions.

Connor is based in Boston with her husband where she serves on the Board of Boston Network for International Development. In her free time, she loves traveling and being out in nature, whether biking, running, reading or finding inspiration for photography and painting.

Jacob Kuipers – Attorney, McDermott Will & Emery

Jacob (Jake) Kuipers, Esq. is a cross-border transactions attorney at the international law firm McDermott Will & Emery. Throughout his professional career, Jake has maintained a significant interest in international development, working across public and private sectors in the US government, international NGOs, and multinational firms. Drawing on his research and international experience, he has written numerous articles for a variety of publications. Among other issues, Jake’s research and writing covers global investment law, strategic mechanisms in bilateral investment treaties, and the rule of law in developing countries. Jake hopes to leverage his broad experience in the development sector at BNID. He has been a board member of BNID since 2017.

Jacques (Teddy) Chery – Community Engagement Specialist at Boston University School of Medicine

Jacques (Teddy) Chery holds a dual masters degree in Political Science and Public Administration, and has a strong professional background working in state, municipal, and federal government. Through his experience in constituent services, Teddy brings a large network of Boston-based connections such as political leaders, social service providers, philanthropists, and more, that will be an asset to the BNID team.

Jon Shaffer – Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Vermont

Jon Shaffer (he/him) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Vermont where he studies global health organizations, social movements, and their struggles over scientific knowledge. In addition to his academic work, Jon has founded and led Right to Health Action, PIH Engage, and GlobeMed. He is passionate about building people-powered campaigns and organizations that fight for the right to health.

Lynn Arsenault – Owner and Grant Consultant of LMA Grant Consulting LLC

Lynn Arsenault is a professional grant consultant who works with nonprofit clients around the U.S. to strategically develop funding goals; identify prospective funders; provide coaching to improve grant writing; and apply for foundation, corporate, and government grants. She works with clients in a variety of nonprofit sectors, including the arts, education, health, international affairs, tech, and community development. Prior to launching her consulting business, Lynn led the grant writing efforts for 4 years at the United Nations Association of Greater Boston (UNAGB) — an educational nonprofit whose mission is to build a network of global citizens in the Boston area.

Prior to her work in nonprofit development, Lynn served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu from 2012-2014. Upon her return to the U.S., she devoted several years to teaching before shifting her career toward the nonprofit sector. During this time, she was an English as a Second Language Teacher in Boston and a 4th grade Writing and Social Studies in Houston, Texas. Lynn received her MBA in Nonprofit Leadership from New England College and her BA in Elementary Education and Liberal Studies with a focus in Psychology from Westfield State University.

Mishaal Khan – Development and Philanthropy Officer at Oxfam America in Boston

Mishaal Khan works as a Development and Philanthropy Officer at Oxfam America in Boston. She joined Oxfam in 2019, upon graduating from Emmanuel College with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a concentration in International Relations and Comparative Politics. Her undergraduate research focused on genocide, with a special focus on Rohingya Muslims and the humanitarian crisis that has ensued as a product of ethnic cleaning and mass displacement.

At Oxfam, Mishaal works closely with donors and supporters in pursuit of strengthening existing relationships while paving the way for new partnerships in support of Oxfam’s mission to end the injustice of poverty.

In May 2023, Mishaal graduated with a Master’s degree in Political Science, concentrating in Public Policy, from Northeastern University. Her Master’s research included an independent research project on Decolonizing Philanthropy. She remains eager to fight the good fight in pursuit of justice and equality for all. She is excited to join BNID’s Board of Directors and aims to advance the organization’s mission to build bridges between individuals and groups interested in and concerned with issues of international development and global justice.

Neil Boyer – President/CEO, KSB 2004 Environmental Services LLC

Neil Boyer holds an MPhil in Economics from the Univ. of Sussex (U.K.), MSc. in Food and Resource Economics from the Univ. of Florida and a BA in Economics from Northwestern Univ. His work on sustainable human development centers on inclusive economic growth and livelihoods; natural resource management and environmental sustainability; and global health.

Prior to the dissolution of USAID, he was the Regional Development Advisor for USAID in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) until July 2025. From 2017-2023, he worked for the U.S. Peace Corps, first in Burkina-Faso as Director of Programming & Training (2017-18) and then in Washington D.C. as the agency’s Environmental Specialist (2018-23). From 1997-2016, he worked as an Associate Peace Corps Director for Rural Development in Lesotho (1997-2002), Economist with USAID/South Africa (2002-03), Senior Economist for UNDP/Gambia (2003-06), Deputy Resident Representative for UNDP/Eswatini (2006-2011) and Deputy Resident Representative for UNDP/Namibia (2011-2016). He has also worked as a Consultant for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (Rome, 1993; Bangui, 1994), Economist for Africare in the Central African Republic (1988-1990) and Program Associate for the Ford Foundation in Nigeria and Senegal (1987).

His academic career includes teaching assignments at Northeastern University (2017, African Studies), South Carolina State University (1995-97, Agribusiness and Economics) and the University of Sussex (1991-93, Development Studies).

Shymaa Bedaiwy Allam – Inclusive Finance & Gender Policy Advisor | MENA and LMIC Specialist

Shymaa Bedaiwy Allam is an internationally recognized inclusive finance and gender advisory specialist with more than 15 years of leadership experience across low- and middle-income countries, particularly in the MENA region. She has held senior roles in UN Women and the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) of Egypt, where she served as the first woman microfinance regulator and led the development of Egypt’s microfinance client protection guidelines and inclusive regulatory frameworks.

Shymaa brings deep technical expertise in financial inclusion, policy advocacy, regulatory design, and women’s economic empowerment. At UN Women, she directed a $9 million multi-donor Financial Inclusion Program that reached over 160,000 rural women in Egypt and championed the digitization of Village Savings and Lending Associations (VSLAs). She has led high-level partnerships with central banks, fintechs, and global actors such as J-PAL and Women’s World Banking to strengthen gender-responsive policy design and program implementation.

Campus Ambassadors

Ewura Esi Yankah

Boston University

Victoria Landa