LEADERSHIP TEAM

Lisa Farley Sebree is the Global Executive Director for MMW U.S. She holds a law degree from Georgetown University and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Kansas. Lisa’s career in law ranged from criminal defense work to commercial matters and import/export law. As in-house counsel for a multinational telecommunications corporation, she held global responsibility for international trade issues. Lisa worked with ECPAT International to produce its Global Legal Review on Sexual Exploitation of Children Online, a comprehensive tool for prosecutors and human rights activists worldwide. Lisa has served on MMW’s International Advisory Council for many years. She was the IAC’s chairperson and a trustee for MMW UK from 2019 to 2022 before taking up her current position.

Jennifer Forker is a public relations and communications professional. She was a journalist for 20 years, working at daily newspapers and for The Associated Press. Jennifer received a Master of Divinity from the Iliff School of Theology in Denver and a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

Renee Botta, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Media, Film & Journalism Studies at the University of Denver. She has spent 20 years working in Haiti and throughout Africa to improve health outcomes through health promotion and participatory communication. Her research focuses on culture-centered dialogue, relationships and messaging in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Renee is particularly interested in developing participatory communication models tailored to the local socio-cultural context. She’s also interested in the motivational role that income-generating activities and community-driven social innovation play in sustaining behavioral change and in sustaining health outcomes. Renee studied communication about HIV and AIDS as a Fulbright Scholar in Zambia in 2003. She continues to study health communication and behavior change in a number of countries including Malawi, Haiti, Zambia, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Botswana, and the United States. She has also focused on WASH in Kenya, Malawi and Haiti and since COVID-19 has been looking at similar issues in Denver among those experiencing homelessness.

Katie Faulds is a Principal Consultant at Crasner Consulting, focusing on legal search and management consultant. In parallel, she works as a Vice President within Crasner Capital, a boutique investment bank. Katie is a passionate philanthropist and advocate of women’s rights and empowerment and of diversity and inclusion. She chair’s the active women’s groups within Crasner. Katie speaks English, German and Spanish. She holds a first class honors degree in International Business with modern languages.

Sharon Bylenga was inspired to set up MMW in 2010 while working in Africa building public radio stations in post-conflict and crisis zones. She experimented and proved that mobile phones and solar chargers are highly effective and significantly less costly than radio in meeting the information needs of rural women and girls. Sharon earned her master’s degree in agricultural economics and has extensive experience as a U.S. diplomat with the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service and as a consultant for the World Bank and United Nations. She currently serves as a member of the Core Group of the National Alliance of Women’s Organizations (NAWO) in England.

Muaz Cisse is an experienced leader in information technology, including eight years heading the implementation of complex IT infrastructures for Fondation Hirondelle, a global nonprofit which partners with the UN to build nation-wide media projects in Africa. Muaz earned his master’s from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. He recently joined New Access, Geneva. He aims to use his IT expertise to effectively lead in the revitalization of his continent and promote sustainable development.

Margaret Thompson, Ph. D., is the MMW journalism trainer, secretary of the MMW US advisory board, and an International Advisory Board member. She is a professor emerita in multicultural and global communication and journalism. Margie has also been a journalist for over 25 years, primarily with women’s independent media in Central America and the United States. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Mass Communication & Journalism.

Gaimin Nonyane is an experienced economist with extensive experience in emerging and frontier markets. She is an experienced leader with a strong focus on building effective teams and strong customer relationships and communication skills. Gaimin is currently Director at K-Frontiers Solutions Ltd and holds a master’s degree in International Economics and Policy and an honours degree in Economic Studies with Law.

Anthony is a Senior Consultant of Marlow Global, advising clients on political risk in Africa. He has over 12 years experience as a research manager and risk analyst and advises investors on global social, governance and security risks. Anthony holds a MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a MA (Honours) in Politics from the University of Edinburgh. Anthony speaks German, French, and Turkish.

Leah Jewett Royall is a writer, editor and the founder of Outspoken Sex Ed, a social enterprise focused on encouraging parents to talk openly with their children about sex and relationships issues. Leah studied at Columbia University and for 20 years was Deputy Chief Sub-Editor on the Observer Magazine of The Guardian. She founded and directs Outspoken Sex Ed.

Larka McCray is a former Executive Recruiter and Commercial Real Estate broker. Based in Kansas City, she is a co-founder of the Friends Board for Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing and is heavily involved in Be Headstrong, and Carolyn Glasoe Bailey Foundation. Larka’s philanthropic values were instilled by her family and continue to spread throughout her sphere of influence. Larka is passionate about MMW’s mission, having three sisters and a daughter.

Suzanne Spears specializes in international disputes and Business and Human Rights law. She has handled disputes involving Africa, the energy and natural resource industries and human rights. She has worked for international human rights and foreign relations organisations, including the UN, the Inter-American Institute for Human Rights and the Council on Foreign Relations. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Law at University of Notre Dame in London, where she teaches International Arbitration and Business and Human Rights.

Delia Perez-Paya helped found MMW, she has extensive experience in global business and is a recognized leader in the field of corporate transformation. She earned a master’s degree in Economics from the European University in Bruges. She began her career with Accenture going on to work as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing with oversight for Commercial excellence for Lafarge. She currently works at Etex in Global Pricing and Sales Excellence. Delia speaks four languages and lives in Paris with her husband and two young daughters.

Liz Umlas helped found MMW, she is an independent researcher and consultant with extensive experience in the field of business and human rights, and a particular interest in labor rights issues. She was a senior analyst in socially responsible investment research, and has worked for Oxfam America and UNHCR. She is a co-founder of Sustainable Finance Geneva, and has designed and taught masters courses in business and human rights at the University of Fribourg and Oxford University. Liz has a doctorate in political science from Yale University.

Irene Ward Yates is an experienced global business leader whose corporate experience includes leading global tax organizations for publicly traded multinational corporations. She holds an MBA from the University of Cincinnati, a law degree from Salmon P. Chase College of Law and a B.S. in Business Administration from Miami University. She currently works as a management consultant and executive coach. In addition to MMW, she serves as a board or advisory council member with Green Halo Scholars and The Salvation Army. She has been involved with MMW since 2021.

Danielle Prince is an experienced international nonprofit professional and passionate advocate for women’s rights. Danielle is fundraiser and communications expert who works for Fund for Congolese Women, a women’s fund in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Previously, she worked on women’s human rights projects in Cambodia, Germany, Ghana, India, South Sudan and the USA. Danielle, who speaks three languages, holds a Master’s Degree in International Development Studies and a post-graduate certificate in Psychological Trauma and in Fundraising Management from the University of Washington in Seattle.

Peta Barrett is a global feminist with more than five years of experience in building relationships and partnerships for gender equality and the rights of women and girls internationally. In her current role at the nonprofit mothers2mothers, Peta is working with teams across 10 African countries to deliver HIV and primary care services to marginalized communities through a proven mentor mother model. Peta is an experienced consultant, supporting operational and fundraising strategies for charities and social enterprises.