Nicholas Torres, M.Ed, has over 25 years of experience in executive management, Nicholas works at the cross section between the private sector, government, and not-for-profits to align them toward collective social impact and change public policy. Nicholas has led and founded multiple for-profit and not-for-profit social ventures that are driven both by social impact and financial sustainability measures. Some of his launched social ventures include charter schools, an early literacy technology platform; school-based health centers; and community-based satellite college sites. Nicholas serves in the capacity of President TUFH international/Executive Director TUFH USA of The Network: Towards Unity for Health where he provides governance, strategy, and financial oversight.
He also serves as CEO and President (Interim) for The Alliance for Health Equity Foundation. He is Co-Founder and manager of Social Innovations Partners which publishes the Social Innovations Journal. He teaches Nonprofit Leadership, Social Policy, and Social Entrepreneurship at University of Pennsylvania.
Aricia De Kempeneer, M. Sc., is the Operations and Programming Director for The Network: Towards Unity For Health. She is responsible for managing the annual conferences, virtual regional conferences, TUFH Symposiums and Workshops, TUFH Academies, ISAT, iSTEP, Digital Aspects, Social Media, Newsletter, Communications and Membership. In addition, Aricia is the liaison to the Student Network Organization.
Aricia holds a Masters in Health Education and Promotion from Ghent University and a Bachelor in Midwifery from Erasmus Hogeschool. She works as an independent midwife in Belgium and gives prenatal lessons, prenatal care, and postnatal follow-up.
Prior to The Network: TUFH Aricia worked as a midwife in Gambia, Finland, United Kingdom, and Belgium in low-risk birthing units. She co-founded and was the first president of the Student Network Organization in 2015. She has been attending TUFH annual conferences since 2012.
Serving in the capacity of the Operations Manager at TUFH. Nikolaj Hansen-Turton also serves as Education Platform and Social Media Manager for the Social Innovations Journal. Originally from Philadelphia and now lives in London. Nikolaj holds a Undergraduate Degree in Politics and International Relations, and a Post Graduate in Digital Marketing – Queen Mary, University of London.
Dr Stephen Knight is a retired public health medicine physician from South Africa. I
still work part-time as a mentor and moderator for the Master of Public Health
program in the School of Nursing in Public Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
After medical education in Johannesburg, I worked as a clinician and medical
superintendent in a rural hospital in KwaZulu-Natal for ten years. Once registered as
a specialist, I worked as a district public health physician involved in primary
healthcare and community health worker training and infectious disease programs,
including EPI, TB, and STI in the province. I spent the second half of my career as
an educator in public health at the UKZN, where I was involved in master-
undergraduate-level modules in health measurement, research methods, infectious
disease epidemiology, and primary healthcare. I am an honorary fellow of the
College of Public Health Medicine of South Africa and have served as an examiner
and council member. I chair the board of a home for older people in Durban and am
a passionate environmentalist and birder. I have attended many Network
conferences over the past 15 years.
Rawan Al-Ahdal is a dedicated researcher and social activist, currently pursuing a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Societies. With a background in Sociology-Anthropology from the American University of Beirut and experience in civil society initiatives, Rawan has worked extensively in research, digital archiving, and data analysis. Her contributions span multiple regions, including the Arab world, where she has collaborated on projects focused on inclusivity, human rights, and social justice.
Anupriya is a dedicated nonprofit professional committed to enhancing healthcare access and quality of care for individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and mental health conditions.
She holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from India, and has completed courses in Psychology and Sociology at Harvard. With expertise in managing donor relationships, fundraising, project management, and research, Anupriya has impacted underserved communities in both urban and remote rural areas of India.
Anupriya’s work has been particularly effective in supporting marginalized rural and indigenous artisans, especially women, by helping them create sustainable livelihoods. Through organizing training programs, facilitating connections with leading retailers, and securing funding from corporations and foundations, she has been instrumental in expanding economic opportunities and reducing migration pressures in these communities. Her passion for social impact continues to guide her work towards creating meaningful and positive change on a global scale.
Vida graduated from the International Relations Department Faculty of Social and Politics Universitas Gadjah Mada in 2000. She starts her career working as administration supports in Asia Link NPC, a Project by European Commission based in Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing UGM in 2004. Vida continued her career at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies based in Yogyakarta then continue to work in RHK Project Management under Australian Aid (AusAID) and responsible for administration and human resources. Due to her background study, she then continues her career at Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing and managed international collaboration then currently she is a Coordinator for International Relations Office. Vida actively in writing stories for writing event held by writer’s communities.
Ghislaine Attema is PhD (C) in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University. Ghislaine’s doctoral research focuses on social accountability, teaching and faculty development, and is supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Banting Doctoral Research Award. In addition to being the Social Accountability Fellowship Coordinator, Ghislaine is a Research Assistant at the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity at NOSM University. She, and her thesis supervisor Dr. Erin Cameron, are Co-Investigators on funded projects through the Northern Ontario Academic Medical Association (NOAMA), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Associated Medical Services (AMS). Ghislaine is a lifelong resident and passionate advocate for the north, a mother to three amazing daughters, and lives in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
