CNGS is led by a globally connected team of thinkers, practitioners, and change agents working across regions and sectors. We are united by a shared commitment to reimagining global systems to be more inclusive, collaborative, and responsive to today’s most pressing challenges.
Shiraz Ahmad is a communications strategist with over a decade of experience in advocacy, media, and public engagement for intergovernmental bodies and leading global NGOs. He has worked extensively with Global South communities, delivering initiatives on climate sustainability, interfaith dialogue, and media capacity-building through the NGO Faith for Our Planet. His work has included collaborations with the United Nations and the African Union, as well as participation in high-level programs such as the UN SIDS (Small Island Developing States) Summit. Shiraz has led communications campaigns, training programs, and events that bridge diverse stakeholders, amplify under-represented voices, and advance sustainable, inclusive development.
Joseph Hammond is an award-winning journalist, policy consultant, and interfaith advocate. A former Cairo correspondent for Radio Free Europe, his reporting has appeared in Newsweek, Forbes, and The Washington Post. He has advised governments as a Fulbright Public Policy Fellow and held fellowships with the Atlantic Council and African Union. A founding member of the International Association of Religion Journalists, he engages regularly with UN and AU platforms. He speaks Spanish and Arabic and holds the title of Datu Sadja from the Sultan of Sulu.
Saboto Caesar is a Vincentian politician and lawyer, serving as Minister of Agriculture and key economic sectors in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. A former Island Scholar, he has held roles as Government Senator and Cabinet Minister. He leads major community projects through the South Central Windward Development Organization. His initiatives include playing fields, cultural spaces, and youth programs. Caesar remains a driving force for grassroots development and national progress.
Juan Carlos Monterrey-Gómez is Panama’s Special Representative for Climate Change and Director of Climate Policy. He leads Panama’s climate agenda and represents the country in key UN negotiations. A former UN Climate Convention Vice Chair, he co-authored Panama’s carbon market framework and led the youngest-ever UN climate delegation. An Obama Foundation Scholar, his work is globally recognized. His insights have been featured in TIME, The Washington Post, and the Financial Times.
Dr. Natalio Wheatley is the Premier of the British Virgin Islands, serving since May 2022, and President of the UK Overseas Territories Association as of 2025. Before becoming Premier, he served as Minister for Education, Culture, Youth, Fisheries, and Agriculture. Known for opposing direct British rule and asserting BVI’s autonomy, he also leads the Virgin Islands Party and was re-elected in 2023.
Jeremy Lissouba is a Member of Parliament in Congo-Brazzaville, a leading voice in the main opposition party, and a deputy judge on the High Court of Justice. He focuses on governance, sustainable development, and social entrepreneurship, and runs both a small business incubator and a farm. An alumnus of the Obama Foundation’s 2018 Africa Leaders Programme, he continues to champion economic opportunity and institutional reform.
Benedicta Lasi is a Ghanaian lawyer and political leader, serving as Secretary General of the Socialist International—the first African woman and youngest to hold the role. A member of Ghana’s National Democratic Congress, she has led in youth mobilization, policy, and election strategy. She co-founded Edfields Attorneys and holds advanced degrees in law, politics, and economic policy. Lasi also co-chairs the Feminist Foreign Policy Progressive Voices Collective and advocates for gender equity and inclusive governance.
Philda Nani Kereng is Botswana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria and former Minister of Environment and Tourism. She led major reforms to boost citizen engagement and diversify Botswana’s tourism sector. With a background in rural development, she has partnered with global institutions including the U.S. African Development Foundation. She holds a Master’s in Sociology of Development from the University of Essex. Her leadership earned her top honors from the African Tourism Board and Destination Africa.
