Carlos Madjri SANVEE (Togo) is Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs. He took up the role in January 2019, having been elected during the 19th YMCA World Council in Chiang Mai, Thailand in July 2018. He is the first African Secretary General of World YMCA.

In his current role, he led the response to the Covid crisis from early 2020 by launching YMCA-wide efforts for Movements to share and help each other, notably launching the YMCA Covid Solidarity Fund. Putting young people at the centre of initiating and leading change, he created the vision for the Youth Led Solutions Initiative, a series of Summits and projects launched in 2021 to empower young people with knowledge, networks and resources to lead change in their communities. He has been at the forefront of developing new partnerships with the public, private and ‘third’ (civil society) sectors, especially with the ‘Big 6’ youth empowerment organisations and the WHO and UN, in launching the Global Youth Mobilization in 2020-2022. Building on the three-part Covid response strategy of ‘Resilience, Recovery and Reimagination’, he spearheaded a Movement-wide process of conversation and consultation which led to the adoption of YMCA Vision 2030 at the 20th YMCA World Council in Aarhus, Denmark in July 2022. The vision puts young people at the centre of the YMCA’s mission, a direction he had promoted across his different roles since 2010.

His priority in his second term of office – from 2022 – is to see Vision 2030 implemented across the Movement, addressing the 12 Strategic Goals of the four ‘Pillars of Impact’: Community Wellbeing, Meaningful Work, Sustainable Planet, and Just World. World YMCA’s first duty is to add value to its members. 2023 and 2024 saw the launch of two of the Vision 2030 Pillars (including a global survey on young people’s hopes and fears in the world of work), as well as the support functions for Strategic Alignment and Movement Strengthening, Learning, Innovation and Impact, and Resource Development and Partnerships. He also became Chair of the ‘Big 6’ as it launched a second phase of the Global Youth Mobilization with EU funding.

In January 2025, his term was extended until December 2028.

Carlos Sanvee has been with the YMCA Movement for 50 years.

He joined YMCA Togo as a teenage volunteer in 1973, and became a staff member in 1987 as a youth worker and community organiser. He ultimately became the deputy National General Secretary.

He first joined World YMCA in January 1999 as Executive for Finance & Administration, a position he held until 2007. During this time he was secretary of the-then Youth Committee within the Executive Committee, and strove to integrate young people at all levels of the Committee, and not in separate committees.

He then worked as General Secretary of the Africa Alliance of YMCAs from 2007 until 2018, when he led the African YMCA Movements in articulating their collective identity with a shared vision around the ‘African Renaissance’. In this period he developed the Africa-wide YMCA ‘From Subject to Citizen’ programme.

From 2011 to 2018, he was also acting as a part-time Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the World YMCAs.

He holds a first degree in Physics and Chemistry from Université du Bénin in Togo, and a “Diplôme des Hautes études de pratiques sociales (DHEPS)” from Université Lyon Lumière II, France.

Sandra COMBET (France) is an executive assistant at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, she took up the role in September 2019.

​She was previously a Business Operations Specialist and Events Manager at the World Economic Forum (2006-2017). She held ​several roles as Executive and Personal Assistant at Avent in London, UK (2001-2003); at Capital One in London, UK (2000); at IATA in Geneva (2005); and at the Diplomatic Mission of Taiwan in Geneva (1994-97).

Kathleen ELSIG (US, Switzerland) is Director of Global Partnerships at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, she took up the role in January 2022.

She has 20 years of international experience raising funds and building shared value partnerships with global and local non-profits, businesses, UN agencies, philanthropic organisations, academic institutions, and communities. She has held senior leadership roles, including for the Global Apprenticeship Network, WWF, Switzerland’s Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. She is also a senior associate with the Partnering Initiative, where she has supported international foundations and philanthropic organisations pivot to a partnering approach with grantees.

With experience working in Europe, Africa, Asia, Central Asia, and North America, she has a Masters Degree in European Political Affairs, diplomas in nonprofit management and fundraising, and has studied widely in corporate sustainability.

Kayla Williams (US) is Senior Manager, Global Partnership at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in the US, she took up her role in January 2024.

Most recently, she served as the Senior Director of Philanthropy for the Gateway Region YMCA in the US. She has more than 18 years of strategic leadership and relationship management experience in the nonprofit world, creating a culture of philanthropy, managing fundraising campaigns, and sharing inspirational stories.

John PHILLIPS (UK) is Director of Communications at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, he took up the role in September 2020.

He was previously strategic communications adviser at the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, having held the same role at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC, in Geneva since 2017.

He was Director of Communications at the African Development Bank, AfDB, (2013-2017) and at the European Agency for Reconstruction in the Balkans (2001-2004), and has been in advisory roles for the Secretary General of the IFRC, two AfDB Presidents, two Commonwealth Secretaries General (2006-2011), a UK Secretary of State for International Development (2004-2005), and the EU’s first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2011-2012).

Bonnie Gretzner (US) is the Content and Digital Communications Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Michigan, United States, she took up the role in October 2022.

Bonnie works closely with the Director of Communications, focusing on digital communications including the website and social media.

Bonnie joined the World YMCA from the Jackson (Mich.) YMCA in the US, where she served as the Marketing & Communications director for nearly five years, overseeing all internal and external communications. She has been involved in the YMCA for almost 20 years in a variety of roles.

Răzvan-Victor SASSU (Romania) is Head of Strategy, Policy and Movement Strengthening at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Bucharest, Romania, he joined the team in February 2019 and progressed through various roles since.

He is also the CEO of the Bucharest branch of YMCA Romania (Young Initiative Association), and he also served on the Board of YMCA Romania between 2015 and 2025.

He specialised in organisational management and economics, with a Master’s Degree in the Knowledge-based Economy and Entrepreneurial Management.

Kerry Reilly (UK) is the Global Event Coordinator at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Edinburgh, UK, she took up the role in April 2023, and works part-time at the World Alliance, on secondment from her role as Chief Executive Officer ay YMCA Scotland.

As CEO of YMCA Scotland she has responsibility for supporting and enabling work in 28 local YMCAs. She has worked in the YMCA movement since 1992, starting as a youth worker in a local YMCA. She has led several pieces of international YMCA work, including chairing the YMCA Europe Social Inclusion Group from 2001-2006, being the Event Director for YMCA 175, co-chairing the Programme design team for World Council 2022, and chairing the ‘Support for YMCA in Russia’ group from 2018 to 2021.

Duncan CHOWDHURY (USA, Bangladesh) is the Governance Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Minnesota, USA, he took up the role in August 2020.

He is a YMCA professional with extensive administrative experience, serving at local, national and regional levels. After graduating from Chittagong University majoring in Accounting, in 1985 he joined Chittagong YMCA as its General Secretary. In 1998 he was promoted as the National General Secretary of Bangladesh YMCA in Dhaka, after which from 2012 to 2020 he served in Hong Kong at the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, as Executive Secretary for Programmes. He also has experience in implementing climate change projects.

Maria GRAS-SUBIRATS (Spain, Switzerland) is the Director of Finance and Administration at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, she took up the role in January 2025.

With 20 years of experience in financial management, risk oversight, and governance, she has held senior leadership roles in commodity trading, oil, industrial manufacturing, and global health across private and INGO sectors. Starting her career as a financial auditor, she has advised Boards and management on strategic financial matters, governance practices, and risk management.

She has managed high-value global projects and led finance operations in more than 30 countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Alexandra MEISSL (France, UK & Switzerland) is an Accountant at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, she took up the role in September 2014.

Emile Richard (Switzerland) is a Financial Management Assistant at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, he took up the role in February 2023.

He was previously Finance and Administration Assistant at Antenna Foundation, a humanitarian organization in Geneva. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in Control, Investment and Finance.

Mykyta KRUSHELNYTSKI (Ukraine) is Operations Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, he took up the role in February 2019.

Mykyta holds a degree in Linguistics from Kiev State University, and an MSc in International Finance from the Geneva Business School.

Maria Cristina SALDARRIAGA (Peru) is Programme Manager at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Lima, Peru, she took up the role in May 2019.

She was a Programme Assistant at the World Alliance from January 2015 until December 2018. She was the Coordinator of the Children’s area of YMCA Peru in 2014, and is a YMCA Change Agent from the 2012 Cohort.

She has a degree in Education.

Purity Kiguatha (Kenya) is the Designated Lead for Youth-Led Solutions within the Global Youth Mobilization (GYM) Project at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Mombasa, Kenya, she took up the role in September 2024.

Purity is a development professional with over 15 years of experience across Africa, specializing in health, livelihoods, gender equality, and education. She was previously a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer at IREX (International Research and Exchanges Board), a global development & education organization, where led projects such as the Kenya Play Project and Pamoja Founders Project. Her leadership experience includes capacity-building for teams, fostering collaboration across Africa, and supporting young African entrepreneurs. Before that, she was Operations Executive at the Africa Alliance of YMCAs.

Dr Jan Owen (AM, Hon DLitt, Australia) is Strategic Advisor to the World Alliance of YMCAs.  Based in Melbourne, Australia, she began working with the World YMCA and Y Australia in 2020. She works part-time for World YMCA.

Jan is the co-Founder of AdaptabilityQ (2019), Learning Creates Australia (2019), and Be Well (2022). She was CEO of the Foundation for Young Australians (2010-2019); Executive Director of Social Ventures Australia (2002-2010); and Founder/CEO of the CREATE Foundation (1994-2002). She is Author of Every Childhood Lasts a Lifetime (1996) and The Future Chasers (2016).

Caroline CHERNOV  is Lead, Global Impact Investing at the World Alliance of YMCAs.  Based in Melbourne, Australia, she took up the role in July 2022.

Following 10 years of international strategy consulting, she has 20 years of experience as a social finance and systems change practitioner. Caroline has held senior management positions in Australia, US, Asia and Europe across venture philanthropy, catalytic philanthropy, community-led finance and impact investing. She is interested in driving new social investment practices that harness the full potential of private and public capital for social change and in embedding the voices of community and young people into solution design.

She is an active Board member of a range of Australian and Asian-based nonprofits that tackle poverty, gender equity, biotech innovation, and the Arts. Caroline is an Honorary Senior Fellow at The University of Melbourne, Australia where she graduated Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and holds a Masters of Business Administration from I.M.D Lausanne, Switzerland, and a diploma Managing Non Profit Organisations from Harvard University, USA.

Roshni Venkatesh (India, Singapore) is Programme Director for the Igniting Youth Futures program at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Singapore, she took up the role in February 2025.

Prior to this, Roshni was with Accenture for close to 2 decades, responsible for their global grant-making and developing strategic cross-sector partnerships. Her first career was in management consulting, where she spent close to 7 years working with Arthur Andersen and KPMG. Roshni has an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur, India, and sustainability certificates from the University of Cambridge. Outside of work, Roshni mentors girls and women and provides advisory inputs to non-profit organisations across a range of issues.

Rehana Merali Merchant (UK) is Pillar Lead for Meaningful Work at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in London, United Kingdom, she took up the role in June 2023.

Rehana has served the YMCA movement since 2010, joining from Y Care International-All We Can, where she held senior management roles, focused on programme and partnership development, with organisational strengthening. Rehana’s experience spans the civil society and government sectors, with a focus on formal and non-formal education for children and young people, as well as employment and enterprise development. Rehana has developed and managed programmes in 20+ countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and held in-country posts in Europe, Africa and Asia. Prior to Y Care International-All We Can (2010-2023), Rehana worked with the Aga Khan Foundation (2005-9), the UK’s Department for International Development (2003-5) and BRAC (2002-3). 

Shakil Karim (US) is the Pillar Lead for Sustainable Planet at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in London, UK, he took up the part-time role in July 2023. He works part-time for World YMCA.

As a Sustainability Strategist with over nine years of experience in climate policy, human rights, and social justice, Shakil has led advocacy teams at UN Climate Conferences and works to advance climate justice through policy and collaboration. Shakil founded the World YMCA’s Green Advocacy Coalition (2022) and Vision X Youth Programmes (2016). Previously, he spent eight years as a Director at the YMCA of San Francisco and three years as an Independent Policy Consultant. He holds degrees in International Relations and Public Policy from the Universities of San Francisco State and King’s College London. Shakil concurrently manages Impact and Scaling at Pilotlight.

Kelly Bradshaw-Walsh (UK) is Co-Lead of the Learning, Innovation and Impact (LII) Function at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Hertfordshire, England, she took up the role in June 2024. She works part-time for World YMCA.

With over 20 years of experience in research and evaluation, Kelly has held senior leadership roles across the Charity Sector. She was previously Director of Research, Design and Insight at the Centre for Youth Impact (now YMCA George Williams College), Head of Research and Impact at BookTrust, and Research Manager at the Community Development Foundation. Prior to that, she held research roles at Lane4, a management consultancy. Since July 2020, she has worked as a freelance social researcher and evaluation specialist.

Bethia McNeil (UK) is Co-Lead for Learning, Innovation and Impact at the World Alliance of YMCAs. Based in Leicester, UK, she took up the role in February 2024, and is seconded part-time to the World Alliance from YMCA George Williams College.

Bethia began her career working in further and higher education as a teacher and trainer, before moving into research and policy. Bethia has worked in a number of national charities in the UK focused on adult learning and youth development, and has a particular interest in evaluation, quality improvement and relational practice. She is a 2012 Clore Social Fellow and a trustee of a non-profit data for good charity.