1. Middle East Children's Institute (MECI)

Mission: Address educational, psychosocial, health and humanitarian needs of Middle Eastern children and women in war-torn and impoverished areas.

Vision: Advance peace and prosperity in the Middle East through hope and education by empowering disadvantaged children and women to become agents of change.

Key Personnel:

• Lola Nashashibi Grace - Founder & Executive Chair: Venture philanthropist with investment banking background, multiple Stanford degrees, serves on Citi Private Bank EMEA Advisory Board
• Salah Daraghmeh - Program Director (Palestine): 20+ years humanitarian experience in MENA, former teacher with MBA
• Lara Bouchedid - Director of Operations and Marketing (Switzerland): Graduate of American University of Beirut with microbiology/immunology background
• Betsy Eggert - Board Member (Boston): International lawyer, Harvard/BU Law graduate, extensive experience with children in conflict zones

Current Impact: Supporting over 2,500 children through comprehensive afterschool programs, digital literacy initiatives, and psychosocial support.

Strengths: Direct field experience in conflict zones, comprehensive child-focused programming, established track record, diverse international leadership team.

2. Dr. Raúl Mercer MD MSc (Argentina)

Institution: FLACSO (Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences), CISAP (Research Center in Population Health)

Background:

• MD from National University of La Plata (1976)
• Master in Epidemiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1992)
• Public Health Specialist, National Academy of Medicine (1997)

Current Roles:

• Coordinator, Program of Social Sciences and Health, FLACSO
• Commissioner, Lancet-WHO-UNICEF report "A Future for the World's Children?" (2020)
• Coordinator, CAP-2030 (Children in All Policies) Argentina

Expertise: Maternal and child health, early childhood development, health policy, child rights, epidemiology, health systems research

Notable Achievements:

• Extensive WHO, UNICEF, PAHO consulting experience
• Member of International Society of Social Paediatrics
• Author of numerous publications on child health and rights
• 40+ years experience in pediatrics and public health

Strengths: Deep expertise in child health policy, strong academic credentials, extensive international consulting experience, focus on social determinants of health.

3. Dr. Constanza Liliana Alarcón Párraga (Colombia)

Background:

• Psychologist with Bachelor's in Special Education
• Specialization in Integral Social Care in Mental Health
• Master's degree in Educational and Social Development

Professional Experience:

• Former Colombian Vice Minister of Education (preschool, basic, high school)
• Former National Coordinator, Intersectoral Commission for Early Childhood (Presidency)
• Former Deputy Director of Childhood, Bogotá
• Former Director, Alpina Foundation
• Current: Policy Manager, J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean

Key Achievement: Led design and implementation of Colombia's State Policy for Integral Development of Early Childhood

Current Work: International consultant on early childhood with World Bank, CAF, and UNICEF

Strengths: Extensive policy implementation experience, deep understanding of early childhood systems, proven ability to work across sectors, strong regional expertise in Latin America.

4. Dr. Sherri L. Alderman MD, MPH, IMH-E, FAAP (United States)

Background:

• MD from University of Wisconsin Medical School
• MPH from University of New Mexico
• Board Certified Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician
• Infant Mental Health Endorsement Level IV (Clinical & Policy)

Current Positions:

• Appointee, HRSA Secretary's Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality
• Executive Committee Member, AAP Council on Healthy Mental and Emotional Development
• Immediate Past Chair, AAP Council on Early Childhood

Expertise:

• Infant mental health and secure attachment
• Child rights and Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Developmental screening and surveillance
• Trauma-informed care
• Child advocacy and systems change

Notable Work:

• Extensive experience with vulnerable populations (incarcerated mothers, homeless children)
• International experience and child rights advocacy
• 200+ presentations, publications, and trainings
• Active in ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the US, state-by-state

Strengths: Clinical expertise combined with policy experience, strong child rights background, extensive training and presentation experience, focus on vulnerable populations.