Key Members of Emotional Well-Being Institute (EWBI)
Professor Dr A. Basseer Jeeawody, PhD
EWBI Founding President
EWBI Executive Chairman
Professor Basseer Jeeawody is a visionary leader who has shaped the Emotional Well-being Institute (EWBI) with his guiding principles. As the institute's Founding President and Executive Chairman, he has led with a unique blend of multinational operational and strategic leadership. His innovative approach was evident in his roles as the Founding Dean for international programs in Health, Founding Regional Health Director for Professional Development (UK), Founding President of the Multicultural Council in regional Australia, and Founding National Director of the Djirruwang capacity-building Program addressing the social and emotional well-being of Indigenous Australians. He co-directed the AusAid-funded strategic Distance Education Program in Papua New Guinea.
Professor Basseer's journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to mental health and emotional well-being. His expertise and contributions have earned him a place on prestigious Boards such as the Community Relations Commission Board for Regional Australia and the National Co-morbidity Taskforce on Drug Use and Abuse. His work on the national strategy for better mental health outcomes for medical practitioners has been highly regarded. He has also been a member of the State Government Consultative Committee on Ageing and Disability and the Faculty of Health Studies Board. His achievements, including the Vice Chancellor Teaching Excellence Award and the Australia Day Citizenship Award nomination, are a testament to his recognition and impact. He is also recognized as one of ‘Geneva’s International Do-Good Citizens,’ further solidifying his global influence.
Professor Raju Adhikari, PhD
EWBI Deputy Chairman
Vice-Chairman – EWBI Research and Innovation Pillar
EWBI Executive Board Member – Geneva Hub
Member – EWBI Solutions and Advisory Critical Mass
Professor Raju Adhikari has 29 years of R&D experience in diverse fields at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Australia. He has over 100 research publications in peer-reviewed journals and owns 26 patents with over 10600 citations and an h index of 43. He currently works in a consultant position with CSIRO Agriculture and Food and holds an Adjunct assistant professor at STEM Hub, RMIT University, and Latrobe University. He is the recipient of several R&D awards, including the CSIRO Medal and the Science and Technology Award from the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology. He serves on the editorial board of the Journals Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology and the Journal of Agriculture Technology. He is the Founder and Chair of the Nepal Science Foundation and Skill Knowledge and Innovation Committee, NRNA.
Dr. Raju has a wealth of experience working for the Migrant community's well-being and is a founding president of the Nepali Association of Victoria. Federation of Nepali Associations of Australia, Help Nepal Network Australia and Nepali Astha Society, and South Asian Community Link Group. He serves on the Regional Advisory Council of the Victoria Multicultural Commission, the New and Emerging Communities Policy Advisory Committee of the Ethnic Community Council Victoria (EECV), Board member of Eastern Volunteers, and as Research director of Global Smart Health.
Mr. David McIlwraith
EWBI – Founding Member and Executive Secretary
Executive Director of Legal and Business Development (Geneva Hub)
EWBI Executive Board Member – Geneva Hub
Member – EWBI Solutions and Advisory Critical Mass
Legal Practitioner: 30 years of experience in various legal areas, including Commercial Law, International Taxation, Criminal Law, Family Law, and Property Development. Currently working on Human Rights accountability cases with the Emotional Well-being Institute in Geneva.
Corporate Governance: Proficient in Corporate Governance and executive management, with roles as Chairman, Director, and Corporate Secretary.
Sustainable Development: Experienced in establishing projects related to Green Energy, Sustainable Mining, and Community-based Agricultural projects. Developed the Mine Closure Policy for the World Bank, promoting sustainable growth and Integrated Rural Development.
Business Development: Worked as an internal Business Performance Consultant for Shell Australia, Southeast Asia & Oceania. Involved in transforming the company's remuneration regime and developing Training Packages to bridge competency gaps. In 2024, a business development role for CAMSTL audiovisual center in Dili Timor Leste.
Community Development for Mobilisation: Developed the National Youth Employment Strategy for the Papua New Guinea Government and established the Department of Youth and Home Affairs. Lead Welfare Reform initiatives for indigenous Australians in the Cape York Peninsula.
Emotional Well-being: Founding member of the Emotional Well-Being Institute, focusing on measuring happiness levels as an indicator of success in Sustainable Development Frameworks. Also serving as In-House Counsel for GEObjects, a global environmental analytical software company rolling out a global Emission Trading Scheme.
Dr. Georgy Gontuar, PhD
EWBI Vice Chairman – Finance and Investments
Treasurer – EWBI Geneva Hub
EWBI Executive Board Member – Geneva Hub
Member – EWBI Solutions and Advisory Critical Mass
Dr. Georgy Gontuar is EWBI Vice Chairman for Finance and Investments, EWBI Executive Board Member, and Treasurer for EWBI Geneva Hub. Georgy has many years of professional experience in banking and investment and a strong academic background, such as PhD in Economics, an Oxford University Diploma in Global Business, a Geneva Diploma in International Relations, and a CFA Investment Foundations certificate holder. He is currently the Chief Investment Officer, Chairman of the Investment Committee, Head of the Global Advisory Board at Dominion Blockchain, and a member of the Board of Directors at Go Grain. Along with his financial skills and competencies, Georgy has well-developed management and administrative skills, in-depth knowledge of international relations, strategic thinking, scenario planning, and corporate communication and diplomacy.
Mr. Ali Mohamad Kassar
EWBI – Founding Member and Executive Director – Middle East and the Gulf Region
Executive Director – International Relations (Geneva Hub)
EWBI Executive Board Member – Geneva Hub
Member – EWBI Solutions and Advisory Critical Mass
Ali Kassar’s significant professional and community experiences and dedication to the EWBI's advancement as a founding member are highly acknowledged. His contributions to international engagements towards advancing emotional well-being through his connection with the United Nations, dedicated engagements with the World Muslim League, and humanitarian work with disabled and vulnerable people within multicultural communities are acknowledged. Ali is of Syrian heritage and is an Australian citizen who has lived in Australia and Switzerland. He is multilingual and speaks English and Arabic fluently, as well as other dialects of the Middle East.
Ali is dedicated to making a difference in health, well-being, and safety, particularly for disabled individuals. He is himself a registered disabled person and fully understands the needs of disabled persons and the importance of giving them a ‘fair go’. He is a committed advocate who understands the philosophy behind advocacy, such as fostering good services and quality of life in individuals who are vulnerable, disadvantaged, and refugees, towards developing empowerment and being valued.
He is an Advisor to the European Organisation of Islamic Cooperation—Geneva (EOIC) and is recognized as a key human rights defender in the Gulf region concerning ‘Arab Gulf matters for 2023.’ He is the advisor and advocate for ‘disability without borders’ and contributes to the Arab world by improving the conditions of persons with disabilities. He is a peace ambassador for the World Muslim League. Ali Kassar has skills in developing relationships readily at all levels.
Joao Gonclaves
Patron – EWBI South East Asia RegionProfessor Drona Prakash Rasali, PhD, FACE
Vice Chairman – EWBI Regional Engagement Pillar
Cluster Director – North America Region
President – EWBI Canadian Chapter
Member – EWBI Solutions and Advisory Critical Mass
Dr Drona Rasali is an adjunct professor at the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, and holds a Fellowship designation from the American College of Epidemiology. He retired recently from the position of Director of the Population Health Surveillance and Epidemiology at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. Previously, he served as a Provincial Chronic Disease Epidemiologist at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health and as an adjunct professor at the University of Regina, Canada. He earned his Veterinary Doctor professional degree from India, graduate training in health-related sciences from Australia, the Philippines, and the UK, and PhD degree from Canada.
Professor Sundram Sivamalai, PhD
Executive Director – EWBI Oceania Region
Chairman – EWBI Solutions and Advisory Critical Mass
Member – EWBI Australian Chapter
Dr Sundram Sivamalai is Citizen of the Year 2021 – City of Ballarat and Foundation Chair of Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council in Victoria, Australia. He is the past President of the EWBI. He currently serves as Director of the Ethnic Communities Council, Victoria. Previously, he was the Community Representative Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, a community observer on the NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council), an Adjunct Professor at the University of Manipal (India), and an Associate Professor at the School of Medicine and Dentistry at James Cook University (Australia). Dr. Sivamalai was born in Malaysia and is actively involved in international consultancies in cross-cultural education for health professionals and organizations in Japan, Indonesia, China, and Malaysia. He has published widely on multiculturalism in Australia and was awarded the Commonwealth Government Centenary Medal for his work with migrants.
Professor Uttam Gaulee, PhD
Vice Chairman – EWBI Education and Professional Development Pillar
Chairman – Consortium of EWBI Affiliated Global Universities
Member – EWBI Solutions and Advisory Critical Mass
Professor Uttam Gaulee is a distinguished figure in American higher education. As President of the STAR Scholars Network, he sets the vision for the global society of educational leaders. He is also known as a policy analyst, author, and keynote speaker. Dr. Gaulee is a professor of higher education at Morgan State University in the Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership, and Policy. He made significant contributions as the Chair of the University Council from 2019 to 2021, enhancing faculty-administration relations and establishing a committee to boost the university's research profile. His commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion led to his advocacy for fairness amidst financial educational challenges during the pandemic.
Dr. Gaulee's research interests span international higher education systems, diaspora studies, and global citizenship, highlighting his advocacy for community colleges as catalysts for social and economic advancement. With over twenty years dedicated to elevating student success and institutional effectiveness, including pivotal roles within the Community College Futures Assembly and the Bellwether College Consortium, Dr. Gaulee's work on the global adaptations of community college infrastructure marks him as a vital proponent of education's transformative power.
Dr. Melika Yassin Sheikh Eldin, PhD
President – EWBI Australian Chapter
EWBI Executive Board Member – Geneva Hub
Dr Melika Yassin manages International Settlement Partnerships and Community Development with AMES Australia. She is also a board member of the Refugee Council of Australia, a member of the UNHCR Gender Audit team, and the Refugee Steering Group on Resettlement at the UNHCR. She has been part of the Australian Delegation and represented AMES Australia at the UNHCR Annual Consultations in Geneva from 2007 until recently, June 2022. She was part of the 2008 UNHCR Mission to Sudan, the 2011 UNHCR Refugee Women’s Dialogue in Jordan, and the 2013 Resettlement missions to New Zealand, Japan, and Sweden. Dr Yassin is also a recipient of “the 100 Most Influential African Australians” Award, the “Pride of Australia Medal for Fair Go” for her work with Refugees and Humanitarian Entrants, and a finalist for the Voices of Courage Awards from the Women’s Refugee Commission in New York.
Dr. Pramod Dhakal, PhD
Executive Director – EWBI South Asia Region
Executive Director – EWBI Spirituality and Meditation Hub, South Asia
Member of Global EWBI/HiCAS Education Stream, Nepal Cluster Region
Dr. Pramod Dhakal is a Member of the Global Education Stream, EWBI Nepal Cluster Region. He spearheaded a mission to establish the Nepal Open University, which was adopted by the Nepalese government in 2021. Dr. Dhakal has worked as a Senior Consultant at IBM, a Senior Engineer and Scientist at Bell Northern Research Laboratory, and a Research Associate at Carleton University, Canada. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from IIT-Roorkee, India, an M.Sc., and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Professor Abraham Francis, PhD
Executive Director – South East Asia Region
Member – EWBI Solutions and Advisory Critical Mass
Convenor – DeNOVO International Emotional Well-being Conference, Kerala, India
Abraham P. Francis is an Associate Professor and former Head of the Academic Group in Social Work and Human Services at James Cook University, Australia. Dr Francis is a visiting professor and adjunct faculty at the Department of Social and Health Innovation, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal University. He has developed many international partnerships and research collaborations with universities and agencies worldwide. Dr. Francis also developed many innovative cross-cultural staff-student exchange programs with universities and non-government organizations and established a centre for well-being in Kerala in 2014. Dr. Francis received the NAPASWI (National Association of Professional Association of Social Workers in India), a lifetime achievement for his outstanding contribution to social work Education. In 2016, Dr Francis received the James Cook University’s ‘Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning for his leadership and expertise in social work education in mental health. Dr Francis is the chair of the collective flourishing network and has gained accreditation as chief wellbeing officer from World Happiness Academy, USA. Dr Francis is also the chair of Australia's Australasian Mental Health in Higher Education Collaborative.
Professor Arun Garg, PhD
Co-Director EWBI Education and Professional Development Pillar
Director, EWBI Canadian Region
Professor Arun Garg holds an MD from the University of British Columbia (BC) and a PhD from the University of Regina. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is of Indian origin and has over 40 years of experience as a Clinical Pathologist and extensive experience in Medical Consultation, Strategic System Development, Project Management, Quality System Management, Innovation, and Diversity. Professor Garg’s extensive Leadership and Community Volunteer experiences encompass the President of the BC Medical Association, Chair of the Council of Policy and Health Economics of the Canadian Medical Association, Chair of the Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee, and Chair of the BC Institute of Technology Board. He is the Founder of the Canada India Network Society (www.Thecins.org). Professor Garg has been actively engaged in building a healthy civil society incorporating the best of the East and the best of the West through integrative thinking and internal and external intervention
Professor Serge Riviere, PhD
Advisor Implementation Committee – EWBI/Open University Mauritius Initiatives
Editorial Member - EWBI Publications Committee
Member EWBI Australian Chapter
Professor Serge Rivière was a Laureate of the Royal College of Curepipe, Mauritius in 1965 on the Arts. He earned his PhD at Glasgow University (Scotland, 1980) and a Diploma in Education at Monash University (Australia, 1982). From 1970 to 2008, he lectured on French and Francophone Literature and Cultural Studies in Scotland, Canada, Australia, France, Ireland, and Mauritius (as a Visiting Professor at the University of Mauritius from 2003 to 2005). On his retirement in 2008, he was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus of Limerick University, Ireland. He was decorated by the French Government as Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques in 2005.
Dr. Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, PhD
EWBI Global Education and Professional Development Strategic Advisor
Strategic Advisor – EWBI and Open University Mauritius Collaborative Initiatives
(Professional Doctorate; Centre for Emotional Well-being; Research and Innovation)
Dr. Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK), a PhD and an MBA with distinction, is a visionary leader with a strong combination of operational and strategic leadership skills. He is the Founder and Director-General of the Open University of Mauritius. He is also the Chairman of the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council and the Chairman of the Board of the Mauritius College of the Air and Mauritius Museums Council. He holds an honorary position at Imperial College London (UK). Dr Sukon has developed a new method called the Two-parameter Alternative Group Explicit (TAGE) Iterative Method for the Solution of a Tridiagonal Linear System of Equations. He has coined the term “blearning” for blended learning.
Mr. Peter De Lorenzo
Member – EWBI Australia Chapter
EWBI Strategic Advisor
Peter De Lorenzo is the Chief Executive Officer of Unity Health Pty Ltd and iTherapeutics for Pharmacy Pty Ltd, based in Melbourne, and the founder of an integrative medicine gateway – Imgateway.net. UnityHealth provides online education services for over 60,000 health professionals across Australia and New Zealand, including GPs, Pharmacists, Retail Assistants, Naturopaths, and Allied Health Professionals. UnityHealth has partnered with the University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, National Institute of Complementary Medicine, MIMS Australia, API, Green Cross Health NZ, and Melbourne Polytechnic. He has vast working experience in the medical, corporate, and healthcare sectors, spanning over 35 years in developing business information and technology solutions for the healthcare industry to meet the educational needs of practitioners and members of the public. He holds a BSc in Applied Science and has majored in Mathematics and Computer Science. Peter has received industry awards with leading international organisations, Deloitte Touche Tomatsu and DMR Consulting. UnityHealth team received the 2013 iAwards for Health and Education.
Professor Simon Sutcliffe, M.D., FRCP, FRCP(C), FRCR
EWBI Global Strategic Advisor
Member EWBI Foundations
President – EWBI and Two Worlds-Cancer Care Collaboration
Dr Sutcliffe is a clinical oncologist trained in internal medicine, scientific research, and medical and radiation oncology in the UK, South Africa, the USA, and Canada. Formerly the President and CEO of Princess Margaret Hospital/Ontario Cancer Institute (1994-1996) and the BC Cancer Agency (2000- 2009). He is now the President of Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration, a volunteer-based non-profit Society advancing better population health and cancer control in lesser-resourced countries (2010 - to date). He is Editor-in-Chief for Cancer Control (Global Health Dynamics Inc), Chief Medical Officer for 3 biotechnology companies, and a member of private, NGO, and public sector boards and advisory committees.
Integrative medicine leadership includes founding Wellspring (1991-) and past board membership of Wellspring, Hope House, Tzu Chi Institute, Centre for Integrated Healing, and InspireHealth. Dr Sutcliffe has held professorial rank at U. Toronto and U.B.C. and has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth 50th Jubilee Gold Medal (2003), Terry Fox Award of the BC Medical Association (2009), and LifeSciences B.C. Rix Award for Lifetime Career Achievement (2015).
Dr. Smriti Krishna, MPhil PhD
EWBI Associate Director, Indian Sub-continent Region
Member -EWBI Australian Chapter
Dr. Smriti Krishna is a cardiovascular scientist committed to translational research that benefits patients. She is a Senior Scientist at VivaZome Therapeutics Ltd, Australia; Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University; Adjunct Research Fellow at the School of Molecular Sciences, La Trobe University; and Senior Fellow at the Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne.
Dr Smriti is a mentor and professional supervisor to postgraduate and higher-degree research students. With a career spanning several countries. Dr Smriti has developed a strong passion for multiculturalism, community integration, and broader community engagement. She enjoys working with culturally and linguistically diverse groups in rural and remote communities. She is a compassionate, community-focused individual who strongly desires to promote change using scientific tools. She believes in maximizing human potential by identifying strengths and promoting talent, thus bringing together diverse community groups for successful creative outcomes. She believes in promoting emotional well-being through Art Therapy and Spiritual practices, including Yoga and Meditation. She has also taken up the mantle for equitable representation in the Australian Army as the first Hindu Female Chaplain in the Tertiary Education sector and encourages societal participation in meeting the spiritual needs of common people. Dr Smriti serves as the Treasurer of the EWBI Victorian Chapter.
Professor (Dr.) Suraj Thapa, PhD
EWBI Advisor – Nordic Region
Professor Suraj Thapa is Head of Research at the Division of Mental Health & Addiction at Oslo University Hospital. He is the Project Leader of the NORPART project between Norway and Nepal in collaboration with higher education in mental health. He has specialist training in Adult Psychiatry from Oslo University Hospital. He also holds a PhD from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo and a Master of Philosophy in International Health from the University of Oslo. Professor Thapa is Interested in and has practised in Trauma Research, Stress, PTSD, Psycho-oncology, Transcultural Psychiatry, Perinatal Psychiatry, Migration, and Global Mental Health.
Dr. Chintamani Nath Yogi, PhD
EWBI Network Advisor
Critical Member of Nepal Cluster Region
Founding Member Spirituality and Meditation Hub, South Asia
Dr Chintamani Nath Yogi is a great scholar of Nepal, a thinker, a philosopher, a spiritual master, an educationist, a social reformer, and a peace activist. He has founded several organizations in Nepal. He is a founding principal of "Hindu Vidyapeeth School," a movement consisting of 3 schools supporting underprivileged and orphan children to receive values/ethics-based education. The children are encouraged to develop human virtues such as peace, harmony, love, and international brotherhood. He established 'Shanti Sewa Ashram' (Peace Service Centre- www.peaceserviceusa.org
to promote peace and spirituality at every level of society to help disadvantaged children, women, and senior citizens. He founded 'The Youth Society for Peace’ to support young people in understanding the values of peace, tolerance, and selflessness. He is dedicated to promoting and preserving Gorakhanath Yog's Philosophy internationally.
Dr Chintamani runs community-based programs: "Children's Peace Home, an orphanage (www.childrenpeacehome.org.np in Nepal; Children Study Club; and Women's Education/Training Program. He is the chief patron of "Naimisharanya Gurukul—Banepa" and Banakhandi Gurukul—Saptari. He is a guest lecturer of "Conflict, Peace and Development Study" at Tribhuvan University and "Value Based Education and Personal Transformation" at Kathmandu University. Dr Chintamani is widely known as a motivational speaker. He lectures regularly at Universities, Rotary International, Lions Club, NGOs, INGOs, Government offices, Corporate Sectors, TVs, and Radios. He is actively associated with many international organizations, such as HVP-UK, PSC-USA, GCP—Australia, Global Network of Religions for Children, United Religions Initiative, Open Yoga Uni- -USA, and EWBI—Geneva.
Professor Sagar R. Sharma, PhD
Professor, Department of Development Studies, School of Arts
Director, Himalaya Centre for Asian Studies (HiCAS)
Kathmandu University
Ms. Analisa Blake
Director, Community Engagement – EWBI Canadian Cluster Region
Member – EWBI Canadian Chapter
Analisa Blake is the Director of Collaborative Innovation at the British Columbia Ministry of Health’s Health Innovation Hub. Analisa is a Connector and Strategist at the intersection of public health, community development, and technology. She fosters systems change and social innovation for healthy, sustainable, equitable communities. Analisa has a Master’s degree in Geography from the University of Victoria and has published “The Geography of Wellness and Well-being across British Columbia: A Supplement to the British Columbia Atlas of Wellness.”
Professor Tun Myint, PhD
Director of Research, EWBI Canadian Region
Member – EWBI Canada
Professor Tun Myint is an interdisciplinary health professional specialising in medical and public health epidemiology, encompassing health planning, program planning, implementation, and evaluation. He specializes in health sciences, global health, research and development, HIV, reproductive health, and ethnic health. Professor Myint has worked in the health industry for over 30 years in developing and developed countries as a researcher, administrator, advisor, and consultant in teaching, research, and service settings, government and non-government, UN organizations, NGOs, CBOs, and private and public organisation.
Dr. Jane Amisi, PhD
EWBI Board Member (Geneva Hub)
President – Kenya Chapter, Strategic Member - East Africa Region
Dr Jane Amisi is an experienced land administrator currently serving as Assistant Director of Land Administration with a demonstrated history of working in the real estate industry. Jane has a mix of land management and human resource development skills, strategic planning, and organizational development. Dr Amisi obtained her PhD in Human Resource Development from the University of Malaya, Malaysia. She has served in the Kenyan Civil service for over 15 years and as a consultant in human resources and leadership development.
Mr. Huseyin (Huss) Mustafa OAM
Executive Director – EWBI Mediterranean cluster region
Member – EWBI Foundations
Huseyin (Huss) Mustafa is a very proud Australian with a Turkish Cypriot heritage and very humble beginnings who migrated to Australia with his family at the age of 10 at a time when one was expected to assimilate into the Australian way of life and not to be different. Multiculturalism was not promoted then, and he had little support in learning English. Under these very difficult circumstances, Huss could learn the English language in just over five years, pass his grades, and, at the ripe age of 16, obtain his first job at the then-known State Bank of Victoria, which merged with Commonwealth Bank in 1991. Huss is now a Senior Executive at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and the General Manager of Multicultural Community Banking Australia, a division he initiated and established in August 2016. Huss has actively promoted cultural diversity in the community and at work for over a quarter of a century. His work was also acknowledged on the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours list, and he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM)for his services to Multiculturalism and Business. Huss has also served a 4-year term as a Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission.
Dr. Karun Karki, MA MSW PhD
Director – Professional Development, EWBI Canada Region
Co-Director – Education and Professional Development, EWBI Pillar
Member – EWBI Publication Committee
Dr Karun Karki is an Associate Professor of the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. He holds a PhD in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada, and a Master of Social Work from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA. He also holds two master’s degrees, Sociology and English Literature, from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. His scholarly inquiries are grounded in critical theories, including anti-racism, anti-colonialism, intersectionality, and anti-oppressive social justice praxis focusing on social determinants of health and well-being of minoritized communities, including immigrants, refugees, and LGBTQ+ communities. Additionally, informed by postcolonial theory, Dr. Karki is more interested in understanding how biopolitical and necropolitical spaces within the borders of the nation-states govern people and how the state’s sovereign power becomes a persistent recurrence of the process of exclusion and disposition of people in light of today’s urgent issues, including the migration crisis, the rise of populism, homonationalist practices, and state-sanctioned targeting of gender, sexual, racial, and ethnic “others.” Gender justice, people living with HIV, and human trafficking are the recent expansion of his research scholarships.
Mr. Rod Jackson
Co-Director EWBI Indigenous Trajectory
Member – EWBI Australian Chapter
Member – EWBI Foundations
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Rod Jackson is an Advisory Panel Member of the National Indigenous Knowledge Education Research Innovation Institute at Deakin University, Australia. He is a Rail Tunnel Aboriginal Advisory Council member, the Board of Australian Football League Sport-Ready, and the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll Advisory Panel. He is a Reconciliation Advisor to the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation and the City West Water. Rod is an experienced national and Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations leader. He is a Respected Person/Elder in the County and Magistrates Courts and volunteers with the Independent Prisoner Program.
Mrs. Patricia (Tricia) Greenway
Member – EWBI Foundations
Member – EWBI Australian Chapter
Associate Director – Self-care Trajectory
Member – EWBI Solutions and Advisory Critical Mass – Policy Advisor
Tricia is a sociologist who currently serves as Secretary of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association. She was an advisor to the Federal Minister for Aged, Family, and Health Services, where she developed her interest in patient-centered care. She was Senior Policy and Planning Manager at Arthritis Victoria for 10 years. She has also served on different national boards and committees to represent the consumers’ perspective on policy reviews.
Dr. Nagendra Prasad Luitel, PhD
Associate Director Research, Nepal Cluster Region
Nagendra Luitel is a global mental health researcher from Nepal with a PhD in the integration of mental health services into the primary and community healthcare system from the University of Amsterdam. He is currently a Research Advisor for Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) Nepal, an Adjunct Assistant Professor at George Washington University in the USA, and a Wellcome Trust Fellow. Dr. Luitel has been involved in mental health research since 2006 and has made significant contributions to the development and evaluation of community-based mental health services that can be delivered by non-specialist healthcare providers. His research expertise includes assessing mental health problems and service needs, adapting and validating mental health instruments, and developing and evaluating community-based interventions to increase the utilization of mental health services. He has authored over 100 research articles in international peer-reviewed journals.
Dr Ameenah Sorefan
Past President (2022-2024) – EWBI Mauritius Chapter
Executive Member – EWBI Mauritius Chapter
Member – EWBI Research and Innovation Trajectory
Dr Ameenah is a consultant psychiatrist with expertise in early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. She graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, holds a Master's in Psychological Medicine, and is a member of the European Academy of Medicine in Ageing (EAMA). Dr. Ameenah was previously the President of the Association of Alzheimer & Dementia, Mauritius, since 2018. She is a Board member of Alzheimer Disease International (ADI) (2024-2027), London, representing member associations of the African region.
As Consultant in Charge of Psychiatry in Mauritius, Dr Ameenah led the decentralization of mental health at regional hospitals and the community and prepared the Mental Health Act. She implemented the Early Dementia Diagnosis Clinic (EDDC) in the public hospitals and was an Adviser on Ageing and Disability (2008-2014). She was the National Coordinator and Focal Person for Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Dementia, and the Global Dementia Observatory for Mauritius, working closely with WHO at HQ and AFRO region. She developed policies and action plans on Violence, Suicide prevention, Ageing, Disability, Children and Adolescent mental health, Dementia, and Special Education Needs.
Dr Ameenah co-authored “Reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia: WHO Recommendations”; Frontiers Neurology, Jan 2022. She is the principal investigator for the MO-FINGERS study, a two-year multidomain lifestyle intervention for cognitive improvement and prevention of dementia in at-risk adults, an RCT in Mauritius, 2023-2025. Dr Sorefan is the Director and Melvin Jones Fellow (MJF) of Lions Club International, Mauritius.
Mrs Neluka Senanayake
Member - EWBI Australian Chapter
Associate Director, EWBI Cultural trajectory
Neluka is an Australian Sri Lankan architect. She has a double master's in architecture from Sri Lanka and Australia. While being an academic in Sri Lanka, her professional experience varies from hospitality to high-end residential, multi-storey commercial, defense, & education on architectural projects in Sri Lanka, India, Kuwait, and New Zealand. She is also a Bharatanatyam dancer and a dance instructor managing her dance school. She has performed in Sri Lanka, Australia, India, Thailand, and Sweden. Currently, she works in the field of education and is pursuing further studies to become a Dance/Movement Therapist in a new and niche field in Australia.
Ms Maiyshla Chunwan
Member of EWBI Mauritius Chapter
Advocate for youth Emotional well-being
Maiyshla Chunwan is a health promotion professional and well-being coach. She was previously the Assistant Secretary for EWBI Mauritius Chapter, and has led the Secretariat for the EWBI premier conference in Mauritius (EWBIC2023). She holds a Master of Public Health (Curtin University, Australia), a Bachelor of Science in Biology (University of Mauritius), and a Certificate in Soul Purpose/Spiritual Life Coaching (Highest Self Institute).
Maiyshla is the founder of Sunshine Spell (www.sunshinespell.com), a coaching practice aimed at helping university students and young professionals by taking a well-being journey through conversation and compassion.
Ms. Naz Hadi Zihaoui
Advisory Member of EWBI Geneva Hub
Executive Officer, EWBI Human Rights Trajectory
Naz Zihaoui is a consultant with a Swedish master's degree in law. Naz works exclusively with human rights law based on the rights of individuals, from Stockholm University. Her research expertise includes investigating whether the state follows the rights that exist for individuals, assessing whether help is needed to develop in accordance with the regulations to adapt to the changes that are taking place and validate instruments for developing these and evaluating community-based efforts to increase the use of the rights prescribed for individuals in connection with interventions by the state. She has also written research articles and participates in interviews related to the rights of people in prison in 2018.
Mr. Bhagirath Yogi
EWBI – Multimedia Journalist and Freelance Media Consultant
EWBI Communication and Editorial Advisor
EWBI Advisor - Print and Digital Publications Relations
Bhagirath Yogi is a former BBC journalist with experience of more than three decades working as an Editor, Reporter and Multimedia Journalist in Nepal and the UK. After leaving the BBC World Service in 2019, he works as chief editor of www.southasiatime.com - a UK-based news portal. He is also working as a freelance consultant advising companies on strategic communications, branding, and greater visibility on social media, among others. He holds a Master's in Sociology from Tribhuvan University (Nepal) and an MSc in Development Management from The Open University, UK. He is also a global steering committee member of HELP NEPAL Network, a charity. He maintains interests in Eastern philosophy, family values, and how communities can help and support each other to deal with global challenges like conflict, environmental degradation, and climate change. He lives in London along with his family
Dr. Preeyamvada Panchoo, PhD
President – EWBI Mauritius Chapter
Member – EWBI/Open University Mauritius Initiatives – Implementation Committee
Executive Member – EWBI Eastern Africa Regional
Dr Panchoo (Preeyam) is a pedagogue and the Head of School (Principal) of a State Secondary school in the Republic of Mauritius. She has 30 years of experience in the education sector and is the newly elected President of the EWBI Mauritius chapter. Her professional journey took off with her first scholarship from the Indian government. After graduation, she joined the Public Service as a Hindi Educator. Teaching allowed her to lead by example as President of the Hindi Drama Club, Vice-Chairperson of the Welfare Committee/ Benevolent Club/ Magazine Committee/School Management Team, Behaviour Management Committee, Coordinator and Examiner for the Cambridge International Examinations.
A second scholarship enabled Dr Preeyamvada to complete her Post-degree Diploma with Distinction. The zeal for academic research within the theme of Quality Education led her to complete her Master's in Educational Leadership and Management. She then embarked on a PhD to explore Emotional Intelligence's role in enhancing Academic Achievement and Life Skills within Quality Education to help students with learning difficulties amidst personal, educational, social, and economic turmoil. She graduated with a Doctor in Philosophy in 2024.
Dr Preeyamvada espouses universal values of hard work, perseverance, integrity, justice, fairness, equity, compassion, empathy, generosity, and universal love. Her actual quest stands for helping generate happiness, peace, and general well-being among learners and community members.
Mrs. Sonia Elmasri
Executive Assistant – EWBI Geneva Hub Board
Assistant Treasurer – EWBI Geneva Hub
Manorani Guy
EWBI Associate – International Students Support
Past EWBI Executive Secretary, Southern Hemisphere
Member EWBI Australian Chapter
Manorani Guy has over 28 years of experience working with and supporting international students in diverse fields. She is the Founder and President of a non-government organization, the Victorian Working Group on International Student Employability (VicWISE). Manorani was previously the Co-Executive Assistant of Southern Hemisphere for Emotional Well-Being Institute (EWBI), and Director of Student Services of EWBI- Geneva. She continues to be committed to the work of EWBI with a special interest in supporting international students.
Dr. Eric Loo, PhD
EWBI Website Advisor
EWBI Communication and Media Advisor
Dr Eric Loo holds a PhD in journalism from Macquarie University, Australia, and an MA in journalism from the University of the Philippines. Dr Loo is a retired journalism academic from the University of Wollongong, Australia. Dr. Loo has also practised as a journalist in Malaysia and Australia and a journalism trainer.
Er. Rupak Lamichhane
Consultant Associate – Webmaster
EWBI Communication Advisor
Er. Rupak Lamichhane, a resident of Nepal, completed his undergraduate studies in computer engineering at Khwopa Engineering College in 2016 and began his professional career as a programmer at Chhanakya Software. He is currently employed by the Non-Resident Association Nepal (NRNA) as an IT officer. He also works as an IT supervisor for Nepal Limerick Community, Ireland, and freelancing projects. Along with his professional activities, he regularly participates in community service projects run by local organizations, such as the ‘Social Eye Of Nation’ and ‘Youth Bhadgaun.’ He is actively involved with the Nepal Red Cross Society's rescue efforts during the tragic earthquake.