One Young World Academy Series - Official Development Assistance (ODA)

James Chau

President of the China-United States Exchange Foundation and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador.

Born in London, he has earned a special reputation as a television news anchor who has interviewed world leaders in politics, science, and culture. They include Nobel Peace Prize laureates Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, Muhammad Yunus, and Aung Sang Suu Kyi. He has also spoken to Bill Gates, Christine Lagarde, Winnie Mandela, Elton John, Jane Goodall, Winnie Mandela, and Madame Peng Liyuan. He was a main anchor on China Central Television and a guest presenter on BBC World News.

Mr. Chau leads the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), an independent non-governmental organization that builds trust between the world’s two leading economies through educational exchanges, cultural programs, and digital content creation.

David McNair

Co-founded by Bono, it is a movement of millions of people fighting for economic opportunities and healthy lives. He sits on the European Council on Foreign Relations Council and is a founding executive board member of the Africa Europe Foundation.

Previously, he was a non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he authored a collection of essays entitled ‘Why Europe Needs Africa.’ He worked on successful campaigns to reduce child mortality and crack down on grand corruption and tax evasion.

In 2012, he was named one of the ninety-nine top foreign policy leaders under 33. He holds a PhD in social geography from the Queen’s University of Belfast.

Laurence Janta-Lipinski

Career diplomat, policy advisor, and scholar with over 15 years of experience advising governments at the highest level. Provides policy analysis and strategy development with a demonstrated track record in science and technology policy, and global governance – specifically in the areas of the digital economy, climate policy, and global health. Served in a variety of key roles within the Government of France on European affairs, political strategy, and policy-planning. Effective and entrepreneurial executive manager of complex and highly-technical projects across silos. Has written and published extensively on politics, diplomacy, and science & technology policy.

Adrien Abécassis

Career diplomat, policy advisor, and scholar with over 15 years of experience advising governments at the highest level. Provides policy analysis and strategy development with a demonstrated track record in science and technology policy, and global governance – specifically in the areas of the digital economy, climate policy, and global health. Served in a variety of key roles within the Government of France on European affairs, political strategy, and policy-planning. Effective and entrepreneurial executive manager of complex and highly-technical projects across silos. Has written and published extensively on politics, diplomacy, and science & technology policy.

Etsehiwot Negash Kebre

Etsehiwot Kebret is a Development Finance Advisor who focuses on African Debt, Special Drawing Rights, and broader global financial architecture reform. Her writing can be found in the Diplomat, CSIS Africa, China Dialogue, Africa Business, and more. Prior to DR, Etsehiwot had diverse experience in humanitarian and development issues, working in both multilateral organizations and international non-governmental organizations. She holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.

Cerni Escalé Cabré

Cerni is an Andorran politician who founded the Concòrdia political party and has been leader of the opposition in the General Council since 2023. Before venturing into politics, Escalé volunteered for the Red Cross in Dominica with the indigenous Carib people. He worked for six years at the World Bank, restructuring debt in Argentina and supervising the fund in the 2014 Ebola crisis.

After returning to Andorra, he became General Secretary of the Escaldes–Engordany parish. In July 2022, Escalé left his municipal office to found the political party Concord. His party took over 21% of the vote and five seats, second behind the 16 seats and 32% of the governing Democrats for Andorra

Radhika Batra

Social Entrepreneur, Neonatologist and Pediatrician fighting malnutrition and its devastating consequences in children and women, across 4 countries. Have successfully saved more than 550,000 malnourished children from preventable blindness through my work at Every Infant Matters. Striving tirelessly to ensure ubiquitous access to healthcare for all by health systems strengthening and ensuring last mile delivery of healthcare services.

Winner of the Gates Foundation’s Global Goals’Goalkeepers Award in the progress of SDG’s category, recognised as one of the United Nations’ and Niti Aayog’s Top 75 Women Transforming India. One Young World Ambassador and Delegate Speaker at Hague 2018. Also a Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 Honouree and a twice over TEDx Speaker.

Maimuna Maibe

With over 16 years of experience spanning the public, private, and development sectors, Maimuna Maibe is a seasoned executive shaping and executing Africa's policy and advocacy strategy at Global Citizen. In her role, she aligns global advocacy efforts with the priorities of African nations, focusing on government relations in key markets and cultivating strategic partnerships with foundations and multilateral organisations.

Daeshik Jo

Mr. Daeshik Jo is a Secretary-General of the KCOC(Korea NGO Council for Overseas Development Cooperation). KCOC is a network of over 140 Korean NGOs engaged in humanitarian assistance and development cooperation at international level. Before he joined civil society, he was a career diplomat. He served as Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Canada and Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

With a profound interest in poverty and development in developing countries, he has extensive experience in both the public sector and CSO. He holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from USC (University of South Carolina, USA) and his B.A. in Sociology from Korea University. He is married with two sons. The ROK Government awarded him an Order of Service Merit twice, in 2008 and 2013.

Vivian Ojo

Vivian is a Namgerian (Namibian-Nigerian) professional with over 10 years of experience in international development focusing primarily on performance management, strategy delivery and human capital development. Most recently she was a Change Advisory Specialist at the Global Fund in Geneva Switzerland where she led the development, implementation and monitoring of the 6 year People and Organization strategy for over 1000 employees managing over 3 billion dollars per year.

Giorgi Tumasyan

Giorgi Tumasyan is a passionate advocate for Georgia's path toward European Union membership, leveraging Official Development Assistance (ODA) as a catalyst for transformative change. As a former Georgia's Youth Representative to the United Nations, a Young European Ambassador from Georgia of the EU's Neighbourhood and Enlargement, and a Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum, he has actively worked to advance Georgia's EU integration.

Leading initiatives like the SDGs Caucasus, Giorgi strategically directs ODA to drive impactful projects that strengthen governance, boost sustainable development, and align Georgia with EU standards. His efforts demonstrate how ODA serves not merely as financial support but as a vital instrument for accelerating Georgia's journey towards a stronger, more integrated European future.

Shudufhadzo Musida

Shudufhadzo 'Shudu' Musida is an Author and Mental Health Champion, whose journey is rooted in a deep commitment to humanitarian causes, shaped by her childhood experiences and an unwavering desire to uplift her community. Crowned as Miss South Africa in 2020, she transformed her title into a platform for meaningful change, dedicating her advocacy to mental health and sustainable development.

Shudu's journey is deeply rooted in her belief in the transformative power of education. This belief was the bedrock of her academic pursuits, culminating in a Bachelor of Social Science degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Pretoria, followed by an Honours degree in International Relations from the University of Witwatersrand.

As the first Regional Champion for Eastern and Southern Africa with UNFPA, Shudu has become a force for sexual reproductive health rights and mental health. Her impactful work extends to the written word, with two authored books on mental health earning her well-deserved recognition.

Fara Ndiaye

Fara Ndiaye is a problem-solver dedicated to improving lives across Africa. As co-founder of Speak Up Africa, she tackles critical issues in public health, sanitation, and gender equality. With 15 years in the field, Fara excels at uniting diverse groups—from local communities to government officials—to create lasting change. Her work on malaria prevention in Senegal demonstrated her talent for crafting impactful campaigns and forging key partnerships.

Fara's experience spans grassroots NGOs to international organizations like the IOM, giving her a unique perspective on development challenges. She holds degrees from McGill University and the Graduate Institute of Geneva, blending academic knowledge with practical skills.

Known for her persistence and collaborative spirit, Fara is committed to finding workable solutions to Africa's most pressing issues. Her approach: bring people together, listen to communities, and take decisive action.

Hassan Damluji

Hassan is a senior executive, advisor and author on global affairs, with a track record of building and leading teams, organizations and large-scale initiatives, working in complex stakeholder environments. He is a co-founder of Global Nation, a think/do-tank aimed at improving global cooperation.

Global Nation advises the world’s leading institutions working on tackling humanity’s greatest challenges, including the Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, WHO, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Wellcome Trust, and national governments. It also receives grant funding to pursue thought leadership and coalition-building for a fairer international system.