Nezir is a seasoned international development specialist with experience in environmental and social policy research, strategic communications, and civil society advocacy. As a former Research Analyst for the Institute for Development Policy in Kosovo, he has in-depth understanding of the engagement of civil society to advocate for sustainable development standards and safeguards. Nezir has also served as Corporate Communications Manager for a state-owned energy company in Kosovo, where he led public outreach and media engagement during a process of structural reform in the energy sector, and as a Communications Specialist for a governance reform program funded by USAID in Kosovo, focusing on civil society engagement, civic education, and awareness campaigns. He holds an M.S. in Service Management from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a B.A. in English from the University of Pristina. He is fluent in English and Albanian, and is proficient in Serbo-Croatian and German.

Kate joined BIC in 2016 and became BIC Europe’s Co-Director in November 2017. Previously, Kate led Oxfam’s advocacy on land rights, working in support of communities affected by land grabs and campaigning for policy change; and was also a policy adviser for Oxfam on climate change and the private sector. Before joining Oxfam in 2004, Kate worked for a number of environmental and human rights organisations – including TERRA in Southeast Asia – and was Coordinator of the Ilisu Dam Campaign coalition, including Friends of the Earth, the Kurdish Human Rights Project and The Corner House. She has published a number of reports including Our Land, Our Lives; The New Forests Company and its Uganda Plantations; Now or Never; Climate Change: Time to get down to business; The Forecast for Tomorrow: The UK’s climate for change; co-author of Dams Inc: The record of twelve European dam-building companies; and for several years was Managing Editor of Watershed magazine in Thailand. She has a degree in Modern Languages from Oxford University.

Petra joined BIC Europe in March 2018. Before this, she worked with BIC and as a Programme Manager at the Bretton Woods Project, monitoring the World Bank, for over five years where she coordinated the work on environment, human rights and social impacts. She has previously worked at organisations such as Progressio, the New Economics Foundation, and the World Development Movement, focusing on social and environmental issues, such as sustainable and equitable water resources management and climate change. She has also spent one year working in Tanzania for a conservation organisation. Petra holds an MSc in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London, a BSc in Social Science from University of Stockholm, Sweden, and a PGDip in Environment and Sustainability from Birkbeck, University of London.

Natalya joined BIC Europe in December 2018. For the past 17 years she has worked in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, leading a number of local and international projects funded by, for example, OSI, European Commission and USAID, focusing on social issues, such as budget transparency and accountability, CSOs capacity building, human rights and sustainable development. In Kazakhstan, Natalya led the INTEL charity program for Project Harmony International in Kazakhstan. She has also headed the Moscow office of Independent News agency. Natalya holds an MSc in IT from Technical State University, Kazakhstan, and a degree in journalism from Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia.

Wunna joined BIC Europe in April 2019 as Myanmar Project Manager. Wunna has extensive experience of working with different local and international organisations, and is a founder and board Member of Social Care Volunteer Group (SCVG) based in Myanmar. Wunna worked with ActionAid Myanmar for six years in different capacities, including as Governance Thematic Coordinator, and also worked at BIC(US) as Country Coordinator. In his various roles, Wunna has been instrumental in building capacity among youth in Myanmar and supporting them to work for the development of their own communities. As a farmer from the Ayeyarwaddy Delta region who has worked on issues of governance and IFIs for the past nine years in Myanmar, Wunna is well placed to understand the complexities surrounding IFI work and community empowerment. Wunna has written and published many articles in Myanmar and has carried out research consultancies for ActionAid Myanmar and Oxfam Myanmar in the areas of national budget and taxation. Wunna holds a Bachelors degree in Public Health and Post-grad diploma in Political Science from Yangon University.

For twenty years, Heike Mainhardt has provided empirical analysis to support initiatives in the field of environment, poverty, and development. Heike has consulted to a wide range of organizations, including civil society organizations, the US government, the United Nations, and the World Bank. She has been an expert contributor to the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change and the US Government’s greenhouse gas inventory. Heike has held senior positions at the Bank Information Center, World Wildlife Fund, and ICF Consulting. Heike received her M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and holds a B.S. from the University of Michigan in Environmental Science.

Jen Derillo is a graduate of Media and Culture studies and has been working in development communications for the past 5 years. Jen is currently taking a doctorate in Anthropology and its role in development in Belgium at the University of Ku Leuven.

Marcus Colchester life’s work has focused on securing indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands and livelihoods by pressing for policy change at grass-roots, national and international levels. He has worked extensively in support of indigenous communities in countries including Venezuela and Indonesia, and is based in the UK. Marcus joined BIC Europe’s Board in 2015 as Chair.

Susanne Breitkopf, Policy Manager at the Environmental Investigation Agency in the US, has worked on forests, natural resources and governance for over 20 years. For eight years, she served at Greenpeace International as forest campaigner, political advisor, and team leader for international forest and climate policy. A German national, she has lived and worked with different civil society organizations in Europe, Africa and North America. Susanne joined BIC Europe’s Board in 2015.

Kristen (Kris) Genovese, senior researcher at SOMO in the Netherlands, specialises in supporting communities and workers who are seeking remedy for corporate-related human rights abuses through non-judicial grievance mechanisms. Since 2007, Kris has worked with sugarcane workers in Nicaragua affected by chronic kidney disease to help determine the cause of the epidemic and to obtain improved health and social services; and has also worked with mining-affected communities in Colombia, Guatemala and Bolivia. Kris joined BIC Europe’s Board in September 2017.

Pol Vandevoort is a seasoned social justice campaigner based in Belgium. Pol worked for many years for the NGO 11.11.11 (Coalition of the Flemish North -South movement) ,first running their Asia Programme, then as advisor on international financial institutions. In the 70s and 80s, Pol worked with communities in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, running community development projects. Pol joined BIC Europe’s Board in September 2017 as Treasurer.

Joe Athialy is Executive Director of Centre for Financial Accountability, New Delhi.  He has previously worked with the Bank Information Centre, Amnesty International, Narmada Bachao Andolan, and various other human rights and accountability institutions in leading positions. He is a key organiser on issues of accountability of International and National financial institutions with regard to the impact of their activities on human rights and environment. He joined BIC Europe Board in March 2019.