JLI Team
Maurice A. Bloem
Maurice Bloem
Interim CEO/President
Main areas of work at the JLI: I'm the interim Executive Director of JLI right now. I am humbled that I am giving this responsibility and my goal is to guide JLI during this change. We've got some big things planned for after January 2024, plans we made during our Istanbul board meeting in June 2023. I'm excited and hope I can make a positive impact.
Location: I've called the US East Coast home for about 13 years. I like it here.
Previous work experience: Alongside JLI, I'm still at CWS as the Chief Sustainability and Impact Officer. My role intertwines strategic analysis with nurturing relationships and sculpting the organization's influential presence. I started the CWS Innovation Hub and lead the CWS Faith and Partnership Hub. My job is also to let people know how CWS is addressing big global issues, like the SDGs and fighting climate change. I'm the one who represents CWS at the UN. Before that, I was working for CWS in Indonesia/Timor-Leste. We did some important work after the natural disasters in 2004 & 2005. I originally come from the Netherlands and got my Master's degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Leyden. In 2011, I walked 100 miles to raise awareness about hunger and poverty. And in 2020, I started my podcast, "Walk Talk Listen", to chat with people and share stories. It's really about connecting. I'm also proud to be on the board of Growing Hope Globally. Last but not least, I am a member of the Advisory Council as well as a Fellow at the Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement at Seattle University.
Joined JLI in: I became JLI’s interim CEO on August 1, 2023. But I've been connected to JLI a bit longer, since I joined the JLI Leadership Council in November 2022.
What I enjoy most about working with JLI: Even though I'm quite new to JLI, I've been really inspired. We're trying to bring together religion and science. In a world grappling with the urgency of climate change, wars, and social unrest, our mission resonates now more than ever. As I envision seven generations hence, I passionately hope they remember JLI and its leadership as beacons of transformative change. The way we challenge power asymmetries, champion equitable practices, and facilitate meaningful dialogues between diverse stakeholders epitomizes the synthesis of knowledge and action. I am profoundly honored to be part of a movement that seeks not only to understand our world better but to make it better for all.
What I like to do outside of work: Beyond the professional realm, I find solace and rejuvenation in simple pleasures. I walk a lot. I also play the drums and ukulele. I enjoy soccer, reading, and good food. And whenever I can, I spend time with my kids. They're spread out across the world, so those moments are special.
Interim CEO/President
Dr. Olivia Wilkinson
Dr Olivia Wilkinson
Chief Technical Officer
Main areas of work at the JLI: I lead JLI's research team supported by Dr Eggert and research associates and assistants on specific projects. We collaborate on research projects and faith engagement advisory work with partners from UN agencies and governments to faith-based organizations and NGOs and in collaboration with universities. We publish research reports, policy briefs, blogs, and academic articles to communicate our work, as well as sit on multiple faith advisory committees and participate in practice and academic conferences and webinars.
Location: US West Coast
Previous work experience: I have researched and worked at the intersection of sociology of religion and humanitarian/development studies for 12 years. My PhD from Trinity College Dublin focused on the humanitarian response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. I published my book from the PhD, "Secular and Religious Dynamics in Humanitarian Response" with Routledge in early 2020, which unpicks how secularity is one of many privileges and biases in the humanitarian system that makes aid irrelevant and inappropriate. I have previously worked as a research consultant, as well as for universities in a number of research and administrative positions.
Joined JLI in I've been a member of JLI since 2014, a consultant with JLI since 2016, and then a full-time staff member since 2018.
What I enjoy most about working with JLI: First and foremost, I love our team! Second, I feel extremely lucky to be able to work on a subject (religions, humanitarianism, and development) and in an organisation that is so closely aligned with my own research interests.
What I like to do outside of work: I'm a reader, baker, and hiker!
Chief Technical Officer
Rima Alshawkani
Rima Alshawkani
FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Main areas of work at the JLI: I manage all financial and HR related tasks and handle general administration and day to day operations of JLI. I also manage programs including contracts, budgets, team projects, travel and calendars, consultants and vendors. Finally, I oversee the publication of JLI external communications (including the website, newsletter, and annual reports) and serve as the board liaison.
Location: Washington D.C. area
Previous work experience: Prior to joining JLI, I was in Yemen working on development on the ground ranging from illiteracy programs, enriching school and youth activities, and establishing health clinics in remote villages.
Joined JLI in: October 2018
What I enjoy most about working with JLI: Working with a very supportive and high functioning team that encourage one another.
What I like to do outside of work: I thrive on social interaction. I also spend much of my time with my kids doing their various activities, or going on long walks in trails, or drives in backroads. Tennis and basketball are my competitive edge. Travel at any chance I get.
Finance & Operations Director
Florine De Wolf
Florine De Wolf
Programme Associate
Main areas of work at the JLI: I’m part of both JLI’s research and project teams. I coordinate the knowledge management side of the Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities Initiative at the global level. I also work on knowledge and research production with my colleagues from the research team. Part of my work also includes supporting the team with social media management, finance, operations, updating our website and our CRM.
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Previous work experience: I hold an MA in International Humanitarian Action and another one in Religion, Conflict and Globalization. I wrote both of my thesis on faith-based organizations and have always been very interested in this topic, so joining JLI was a dream come true. I worked as a research consultant on some projects for JLI in 2018 and 2019, but only joined officially as a team member in March 2022. I have also worked with several international organizations active in peacebuilding, development and humanitarian aid. Before joining JLI, I worked as a Programme and Operations Assistant for 4WINGS Foundation, a Belgian foundation that fights poverty in Belgium.
Joined JLI in: March 2022
What I enjoy most about working with JLI: Working with a team of amazing, smart and inspiring women on a topic I was always passionate about!
What I like to do outside of work: Reading, playing board games and discovering new places!
Programme Associate
Mira Neaimeh
Mira Neaimeh
Middle East Regional Coordinator
Main areas of work at the JLI: I manage and coordinate projects and lead their implementation in the Middle East region. I also engage with the network and hub members for the benefit of the hub’s activities. To that, I also lead research management and mapping on topics related to MEAL and faith, ensuring external communication and coordination. And finally, the effectiveness and efficiency of hub activities and members is ensured through proper M&E and reporting coupled with financial administration.
Location: Lebanon/ Egypt
Previous work experience: I hold a Master’s degree in Translation - Research & Translation Studies from Saint-Joseph University in Beirut. I have started my career in translation while for the past decade, I have various NGO contributions. I served as an Executive Committee member of the WSCF-ME and I have just wrapped up my four-year term as Regional Executive and Global Program Director for Peace Building & Overcoming Violence in the Middle East region. My recent assignment was covering ecumenical trainings and outreach in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Sudan, and Egypt; through my past experience, I have always been an active member in the community, serving as an elected member of Ksaibeh city municipality, adding to it my early commitment to the Orthodox Youth Movement to date.
Joined JLI: June 2023.
What I enjoy most about working with JLI: Professionalism and humanistic approach are what attracted me to JLI.
What I like to do outside of work: Reading, nature, sports.
Middle East Regional Coordinator
Alvin Andanje
Alvin Andanje
FPCC Coordinator Africa Region
Main Areas of Work at JLI: I am the current FPCC Africa Region coordinator. I work closely with Kirsten, Florine, and the tripartite partners including Religions for Peace and UNICEF to enhance faith engagement and mainstream positive change for children, families and communities. I support the knowledge management, stakeholder engagement and M&E of the FPCC initiative in Africa.
Location: I’m based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Previous work experience: Before this role, I have worked as a regional communications advisor at Evidence Frontiers, and as an M&E and communications officer at TAABCO among other positions.
Joined JLI in: September 2022
What I enjoy most about working at JLI: I enjoy working with JLI's vibrant team whose diverse and complementary skills present a great learning opportunity and an even better chance to create social impact globally working with FBOs.
What I like to do outside of work: I read widely, largely about current affairs and I'm a small scale poultry farmer too.
FPCC Coordinator Africa Region
Noor Ur Rehman
Noor Ur Rehman
FPCC Coordinator South Asia Region
Main Areas of Work at JLI: I serve as the FPCC ROSA Regional Coordinator, collaborating closely with the JLI team and the FPCC partners: Religions for Peace and UNICEF. Our aim is to promote faith engagement and drive positive transformation for children, families, and communities. My responsibilities include supporting knowledge management, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring and evaluation of the FPCC initiative in South Asia.
Location: I’m based in Islamabad, Pakistan
Previous work experience: I have a 12-year tenure with Islamic Relief Pakistan (IRP) where I held various roles. Throughout my time at IRP, I actively engaged with children, families, and diverse communities in multiple capacities. I have extensive experience in emergency response, as well as initiatives such as Channels of Hope (CoH) and Spiritual Nurturing in Early Childhood. In my role as a lead trainer, I have conducted numerous trainings on child protection from a faith perspective, child rights, UNCRC, and other related topics. Additionally, I possess in-depth knowledge of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), education, protection in emergencies, and DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) and Social Mobilization. As the focal person for networking and linkages at IRP, I represented the organization in establishing connections with relevant stakeholders, faith leaders, government entities, and UN agencies. I am also an associate member of Child Rights Movement (CRM) Pakistan and the National Action and Coordination Group (NACG) of SAIEVAC, which is the regional body for SAARC countries.
Joined JLI in: May 2023
What I enjoy most about working at JLI: JLI provides a platform for me to create sustainable change by conducting research, generating evidence, and documenting best practices across faith communities. Through this platform, I aim to positively influence people's attitudes and behaviors towards children, families, and communities on a larger scale. I am thrilled to be part of JLI's vibrant and diverse team, as it will undoubtedly contribute to my personal and professional growth. My passion lies in working for the well-being of children, particularly those facing extreme challenges. Together, we can make a difference - that's my motto.
What I like to do outside of work: I enjoy browsing the internet, being active on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook for activism purposes. I also find pleasure in evening walks, hiking, cooking, swimming, and spending quality time with my friends, family, and especially my two children—a boy and a girl. My wife is not only my spouse but also my closest companion.
FPCC Coordinator South Asia Region
JLI Board of Directors
Andrea Kaufmann
Andrea Kaufmann
DIRECTOR, FAITH PARTNERSHIPS
WORLD VISION INTERNATIONAL
Andrea Kaufmann serves as Director for Faith Partnerships at World Vision International, leading a team focused on the integration of faith and faith actors across World Vision’s technical sectors and priority project models. Her previous work includes providing program management and design, monitoring and evaluation support to World Vision’s integrated faith programming as well as serving as Communications Director for World Relief, promoting the role of faith and churches in sustainable development.
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Araif Yusuff
Araif Yusuff
Director of Programs, Islamic Relief USA
Araif Yusuff serves as the Director of Programs for Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA). In this executive role, he supports the nonprofit in carrying out its mission of eliminating poverty from the world through programs focused on relief and development. Araif Yusuff has carried out responsibilities as director of programs since 2021, and in this capacity, he has oversight of a $350 million portfolio of disaster relief and development programs in the US and around the world.
Yusuff’s achievements in this role include developing a five-year strategy for increasing IRUSA’s presence in the US, with a particular focus on healthcare, food insecurity, and disaster management. He has also led IRUSA to become active in refugee resettlement. The organization now receives multi-year federal State Department funding to resettle Afghan refugees across the US. Araif Yusuff came to his director position after having previously spent more than four years working with IRUSA. He joined the nonprofit in 2017 as a New Jersey-based US programs coordinator, and later earned a promotion to manager of the Disaster Management Team. Holding this position from 2019 to 2021, he strengthened IRUSA’s relationship with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and stabilized the organization’s Houston Recovery Program to align with best practices for long term recovery. Prior to the appointment of IRUSA CEO Ahmed Shehata, Yusuff also served as interim CEO. Outside of his responsibilities with IRUSA, Araif Yusuff is the board president of New York Disaster Interfaith Services and the vice chair of the New Jersey State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters. He also maintains a board seat with the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and is an advisory board member of the New York City Faith Sector Community Preparedness Program.
Before beginning his career, Araif Yusuff graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He remained at the school for his graduate studies, completing a Master of Public Administration in 2016. Four years later, he earned the certified fundraising manager accreditation from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Currently, He is pursuing an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
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Bwibo Adieri
Bwibo Adieri
Executive Director, Anglican Development Services Kenya
Bwibo Adieri is the current Executive Director at Anglican Development Services Kenya (ADS- K), providing overall management, strategic and operational leadership. In this assignment, he is strategically leading, developing and directing the implementation of all ADS programmes in Kenya based on the approved strategic plan, annual work plans, budgets and donor compliance. As the Executive Director, he is the advisor to the Archbishop of Kenya on matters of social transformation and advocacy.
He has also worked as a Senior Part-time lecturer with the University of Nairobi, Moi University, Africa Nazarene and Hekima University where I was involved in creating a positive learning environment focused on helping students explore challenging business concepts and develop deeper understanding of critical issues in Project Management, Strategic Management and Research.
Previously, he worked as the Head of Strategy/ Programs Support Manager at Plan International Kenya where he guaranteed the successful implementation of projects based on approved annual work plans and budgets and donor compliance. With this acumen, he provided leadership and oversight to the implementation of the five-year Country Strategic plan with an annual US $24million program budget.
To achieve this, he worked closely with and supervised over 300 staff of Plan Kenya to actualize the strategy through programme development and resource mobilization, coordination, consolidation, technical support and guidance.
Additionally, he was responsible for fostering long-term relationships with Plan Kenya Partners and Allies to successfully deliver the program strategy.
He is passionate about offering a demonstrable depth of valuable leadership experience and decision-making. My proven specialism to recruit, motivate and mentor has enabled me to build and train cutting-edge professionals and staff.
As a confident negotiator and leader, I bring to the table effective skills that mitigate risks in an organization.
In 2023, he joined the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI). What he enjoys most about JLI is working with a supportive team who believe in ethical and faith based leadership that is aimed at enhancing dignity and humanity.
Bwibo has inculcated a personal culture of reading widely in the areas of religion, politics and current affairs. He enjoys classical music, mentoring young people and discovering new tree species. He is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
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Dionne Gravesande
Dionne Gravesande
CHRISTIAN AID
Dionne Gravesande has over 25 years of experience in the UK charity sector, much of which has focussed on the humanitarian and development sector working with churches, national and international non-governmental organisations. Currently she is an executive manager and strategic adviser at Christian Aid with a corporate remit for faith partnerships and ecumenical collaborations in the areas of inequalities, peacebuilding, gender and climate. Her graduate education and training embraces theology, international relations, community development and business administration.
Her Pan-African work includes international outreach in USA, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean through the Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race and other forums, more recently she has worked with INGOs as a consultant on strategic leadership and providing change management support. In December 2021 she took up the role of Chair of board at the Joint Learning Initiative.
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Elisa Di Benedetto
Elisa Di Benedetto
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RELIGION JOURNALISTS
A passionate about communication in all its forms, Elisa Di Benedetto is a freelance journalist and a writer based in north-eastern Italy. Her areas of focus include cross-cultural and cross-religious issues, migration, Muslim communities in Italy, diversity and interfaith dialogue. A founding member of the International Association of Religion Journalists (IARJ), she is currently a Managing Director of the association. Previous positions include Project Manager at the IARJ and trainer at the ICFJ and at NATO Multinational CIMIC Group.
She reported from Afghanistan and Lebanon and in recent years she has also worked as a cultural mediator with refugees. A former recipient of the Henry Luce Fellowship in Washington DC, she is a member of the EU’s Global Exchange on Religion in Society (GERIS) network. She speaks regularly at conferences and events about journalism and religion, migration and interfaith issues.
She graduated in Communication Studies from Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna (Italy) and holds a post-graduate MA Degree in Peacekeeping and Security Studies from RomaTre University (Italy).
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Emma Tomalin
Emma Tomalin
PROFESSOR OF RELIGION AND PUBLIC LIFE
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS RELIGIONS AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
Dr Emma Tomalin is Professor of Religion and Public Life at the University of Leeds. She carries out research into the role of religion in public life in the world today with research interests in Gender, Religion and Society, Religion and Global Development and Buddhism and Hinduism amongst others. She has published multiple books and journals. She is currently working on an AHRC network grant on work a project entitled – Keeping Faith in 2030: Religions and the Sustainable Development Goals which will completed late in 2018. She also works with Public Health Leeds on a project that examines the role of places of worship as Public Health settings in Leeds and Co-Chair of the International Development and Religion Group of the American Academy of Religion. Since 2013, with Drs Caroline Starkey and Jas Singh, she has been carrying out scoping studies on places of worship in Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Zoroastrian and Bahai traditions in England.
She also co-chairs the new JLI Hub on Anti-Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery.
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Imad Madanat
Imad Madanat
VP for Programs
ADRA INTERNATIONAL
Imad Madanat is the current Vice President for Humanitarian Affairs at ADRA, a role he has
held since October 2023. Previously, he served as the Vice President for ADRA Programs from
October 2013. An ADRA veteran, Madanat has dedicated more than a decade to the agency,
serving in various capacities including Senior Program Finance Manager and Country Finance
Director in Yemen. His extensive experience encompasses new business capture, program
expansion into new countries, and managing a portfolio of innovative projects and teams.
Madanat currently oversees ADRA/International's programmatic efforts and leads the team responsible for responding to natural disasters, providing humanitarian assistance, and driving long-term development initiatives.
Under his leadership, ADRA’s programs team has achieved significant milestones. In the past year alone, they have tripled ADRA’s USG portfolio and expanded operations in the Middle East
and North Africa (MENA), Africa, and Latin America, focusing on the needs of displaced
populations in these regions. Additionally, Madanat played a crucial role in ADRA’s Global
COVID-19 Task Force, addressing the challenges posed by the pandemic and planning for the
recovery phase.
Born in Jordan, Imad Madanat moved to the United States in 1989. He earned a Bachelor of
Science in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland in 1995 and went on to complete a
Master in International Management with a Finance emphasis from the University of Maryland,
University College (now University of Maryland Global Campus) in 1999.
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Jayeel Cornelio
Jayeel Cornelio
ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY
Dr Jayeel Cornelio is the Director of the Development Studies Program and the incoming Associate Dean for Research and Creative Work at the Ateneo de Manila University, The Philippines. He conducts research in the areas of religion, politics, and generational change. He is the author of Being Catholic in the Contemporary Philippines: Young People Reinterpreting Religion (2016) and the lead editor of the Routledge International Handbook of Religion in Global Society (2021). Focused on the Philippines, his recent projects have been on some of the most controversial topics in the country: Christianity and the war on drugs, religion and the LGBTQ+ community, and youth in post-conflict Marawi. Some of his projects have been funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme, the UK Economic and Social Research Council, and the Global Religion Research Initiative at the University of Notre Dame. For his scholarship, he received the 2017 Outstanding Young Scientist Award from the National Academy of Science and Technology. Dr Cornelio is Associate Editor of the journal Social Sciences & Missions and a regular contributor to the Thought Leaders section of Rappler.
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Julie Clague
Julie Clague
Lecturer & Associate Academic
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
Julie Clague studied Chemistry at Nottingham University, and theology at Heythrop College, London University and Jesus College, Cambridge. Julie works as a theologian with the Catholic development agencies CAFOD and SCIAF, and sits on SCIAF’s Development Policy Advisory Group. She is a member of the Theological Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales agency, Caritas-Social Action. Julie serves on the theological panel of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at Edinburgh University, and chairs the Ethics Committee of the Assisted Conception Service of Greater Glasgow NHS Trust.
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Katherine Marshall
Katherine Marshall
Senior Fellow, Executive Director
WORLD FAITHS DEVELOPMENT DIALOGUE (WFDD)
Katherine Marshall has worked for some four decades on international development, with a focus on issues facing the world’s poorest countries. A senior fellow at Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs and Visiting Professor in the School of Foreign Service, she is Executive Director of the World Faiths Development Dialogue.
Her long career with the World Bank (1971-2006) involved a wide range of leadership assignments. She was Country Director in the Bank’s Africa region, first for the Sahel region, then Southern Africa and led the Bank's work on social policy and governance during the East Asia crisis years. In 2000 the World Bank’s president appointed her to a newly created post of liaison with faith-based development charities, with the objective of clarifying shared objectives and building trust and coordination.
Ms. Marshall is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on various boards of non-profit organizations. She served as a core group member of the Council of 100, an initiative of the World Economic Forum to advance understanding between the Islamic World and the West.
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Somboon (Moo) Chungprampree
Somboon (Moo) Chungprampree
INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF ENGAGED BUDDHISTS (INEB)
Somboon Chungprampree (Moo) is a Thai social activist working for Peace and Justice in Asia. He became involved during the early 1990s in Thailand’s student movement which focused on Environmental Justice and Spiritual Engagement. Since 1997, he has held different positions with key Thai and Asia regional and international civil society organizations. They include Sathirakoses-Nagapradipa Foundation (SNF), a Thai NGO established in 1968, Spirit in Education Movement (SEM), focusing on empowering civil society in Burma, Laos PDR, Cambodia, and Thailand, School for Well-being Studies and Research, and Wongsanit Ashram.
Somboon is an international Program Director of Spirit in Education Movement (SEM), focusing on empowering Civil Society in Burma, Laos PDR, Cambodia and Thailand. He has served as Executive Secretary of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) since 2010. He is the editor of the Seeds of Peace journal issued three times a year. As a civic leader he serves on the boards of several international and national foundations.
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