Aparna Arora (she/her) is a development practitioner from India dedicated to gender justice and fighting inequalities through transnational civil society organizing and policy advocacy. She has worked for over a decade across private, nonprofit and multilateral sectors in India, South-East Asia, and the USA. Aparna currently co-leads the Society of Gender Professionals (SGP), a nonprofit membership association of gender academics, activists, and practitioners from 50+ countries. At SGP, she collaborates with a team of passionate volunteers from around the world to drive programs and advocacy for gender justice, including a community of practice on trans and intersex inclusion.

Leisa Perch is SAEDI Consulting Barbados Inc’s Managing Director, Founder and Practice Manager, and has more than
22+ years in development. She has worked across the English-speaking Caribbean, in Latin America (Brazil), Southern Africa (in Mozambique and South Africa as well as on Swaziland, Lesotho, Zambia, Madagascar), as well as Asia and the Pacific and Europe and the CIS, providing advisory services to development actors and governments. She has served as a Deputy Country Representative for UN Women, contributing to strategic planning, programme development and project oversight. As the CEO/Managing Director/Practice Manager of SAEDI Consulting, she leads the work of the practice, negotiates contracts, seeks out opportunities and expands the company’s portfolio of work and leads the Head Office and Research Teams. Under her leadership, SAEDI Consulting works with a range of clientele including UN agencies, other consulting firms as well as engineering companies. She is SAEDI’s Lead Trainer and is regularly invited to speak on gender and environment/gender and climate issues throughout the Caribbean and beyond. She is a member of the Caribbean Action Learning Group on the Green Economy coordinated by CANARI, Advancing Women in Development or AWID and the Society of Gender Professionals (SGP).

Angelique V. Nixon, Ph.D. is a Black queer writer, scholar, and activist; born and raised in the Bahamas, she has lived and worked in Trinidad and Tobago for over 10 years. Her research and creative work are available widely; she is author of poetry and art chapbook Saltwater Healing and scholarly award-winning book Resisting Paradise. Angelique is a senior lecturer at the Institute for Gender and Development Studies, The University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago. She is also a director of the feminist LGBTQI+ organisation CAISO: Sex & Gender Justice in Trinidad and Tobago, where she spearheads operations, resource mobilisation, and community engagement. Angelique is a social justice educator and community worker with 20+ years of experience and leadership in community-based organisations and academic institutions. She is fiercely committed in her work to intersectional queer feminist praxis, decolonial politics, climate and environmental justice, and Black liberation.

Yemi Knight is a Barbadian advocate for environmental and human rights, dedicated to advancing inclusive and equitable solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. As a passionate conservationist and justice-driven leader, Yemi has successfully spearheaded Caribbean environmental and LGBTQIA+ advocacy campaigns. With over seven years of experience in consulting, research, and project management, they have worked at the intersection of climate justice, human rights, and community resilience, ensuring that marginalised voices are centred in policy and decision-making. Their expertise spans disaster risk reduction, environmental justice, and movement building, focusing on empowering vulnerable communities. Yemi’s work bridges activism and strategy, translating grassroots advocacy into impactful policy change.

Violeta Colmán is a Paraguayan lawyer with a master's degree in public policy, specializing in social justice and human rights. She is a feminist advocate with extensive experience in gender-based violence, grassroots activism, and international development, collaborating with organizations such as the World Bank and the Organization of American States. Her passion lies in the power of feminist organizations to generate knowledge as advocacy tools for demanding better public policies from the government. Her human rights experience is closely linked to several feminist organizations. She currently serves as a human rights researcher for the Monitor Marielle Franco at MundoSur, an organization dedicated to documenting hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals in Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, she is an active member of the Society of Gender Professionals (SGP), where she co-leads the Employment and Peer Support Circle, as well as strategic advocacy efforts at the United Nations.

Bren Kutch (they/them) is a human resources and organizational inclusion champion, reflecting their passion for creating excellent workplaces for employees to do their best work towards a better world. They are currently the Director of Talent, Equity, and Culture at the Center for International Environmental Law, and previously worked with USAID, Mercy Corps, and Portland State University. As a trans/queer activist, organizer, and researcher, they have been involved in various co-leadership roles at the Society of Gender Professionals since 2020, advocating for gender and LGBTQI+ justice within feminist movements and beyond. They hold a Masters in Public Administration in HR Management from Portland State University and a Certified Professional certification from the Society for Human Resource Management.

Sreevidya Varma (she/her), is an employment lawyer from India, whose practice is focused on conducting impartial workplace investigations and providing training antiharassment and bullying training. She is associated with Society for Gender Professionals as a Circle Co-Lead for Ending Workplace Sexual Harassment Circle since 2018.The circle focuses on fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing around the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace. It aims to bring together discussions and best practices from across the globe to enhance workplace safety and support.