Leadership and Advisory Board
Founder and Chair of the Advisory Board
Vasif Eyvazzade – Senior Global Leader in Culture, Strategy, and Diplomacy
Vasif Eyvazzade is a globally acclaimed leader in international cultural diplomacy, institutional transformation, and strategic partnerships, with over two decades of experience spanning the public, private, and non-profit sectors. His distinguished career is defined by a visionary approach to global engagement, workforce development, and inclusive leadership.
A recipient of the U.S. EB-1A Extraordinary Ability for intercultural diplomacy and creative economy and two Presidential Awards in Azerbaijan, Vasif has directed cross-continental collaborations in over 150 countries, fostering impactful programs in culture, governance, and education. As President of the Culture Commission at UNESCO in 2021, he led global policy discussions with representatives from more than 180 countries. During his tenure as Director of International Cooperation and Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan (2012–2021), he spearheaded partnerships with UNESCO, UNWTO, UNAOC, ICESCO, and the Council of Europe, contributing to 25+ successful nominations to UNESCO’s World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.
In 2024–2025, Vasif served as Global Manager at Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins University, overseeing DEIB strategies across 40+ countries and 4,000+ employees. He chaired the Global DEIB Council, implemented international leadership programs for over 160 managers, and embedded inclusive coaching frameworks organization-wide.
As an educator and entrepreneur, Vasif founded the Chartered Culture and Education Institute (CCEI) in the U.S. He has designed and delivered pioneering programs in workforce efficiency, leadership, and organizational effectiveness through his personal platform www.vasifeyvazzade.com. He also chaired the Azerbaijan Creative Industries Federation Board (2022–2024), advocating innovation and sustainability in the global creative economy.
Vasif has organized and chaired over 200 international summits and conferences, engaging 10,000+ participants from 190 countries. He is a frequent keynote speaker at global platforms including the United Nations General Conference, UNESCO, ICESCO, and the Council of Europe.
He holds master’s degrees in Business Innovation (Spain) and Global Diversity Governance (UK), as well as dual bachelor’s degrees in Public Administration and International Affairs. Vasif has completed 12+ advanced leadership and culture certificates from Stanford and Johns Hopkins University.
His work continues to shape global conversations on culture, leadership, and inclusion—bridging sectors, countries, and communities to build a more connected and human-centered world.
Professor Mike Hardy CMG OBE FRSA
Founding Director, Centre for Peace and Security, Coventry University, UK
Board chair of the International Leadership Association (ILA), USA
In his early career, Mike was trained as an economist and led economics departments at both Leeds and Central Lancashire Universities; he was a Fulbright Scholar in the USA. From 1995 until 2011, initially seconded to UK Government as a senior adviser, Mike was a senior manager with the British Council with responsibilities, among others, for the Council’s global cultural relations programme for intercultural and interfaith dialogue, youth engagement and so-called ‘soft-power’ global strategic partnerships; his diplomatic work with British Council included overseas postings, in Egypt, East Jerusalem and Indonesia.
He returned to academic life in 2011 as Professor of Intercultural Relations at Coventry University. Mike is active with UNESCO and the UN Alliance of Civilizations; he is currently lead advisor to the World Forum for Intercultural Dialogue in Baku, the World Peace Forum in Indonesia and directs the RISING Global Peace Forum at Coventry. His Centre at Coventry will host the Academic Council of the United Nations System (ACUNS) from 2018.
Professor Hardy has been twice honoured, awarded the OBE in 2001 for his peace-building work in the Middle East, and appointed a Companion of Honour of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, June 2010, for his work internationally in Intercultural Dialogue. Mike is a trustee of 3FF the leading interfaith charity in the UK and a board director of the US-based International Leadership Association.
His published work reflects his interest in identity: Future: Next Exit (2009) and Future Agenda- the World in 2020 (2010), in innovation and vulnerability: Inclusive Innovation for Sustainable Development (2016). London: Palgrave, and in intercultural dialogue: Dialogue, Conflict and Transformation: Concepts and Context (2017) MUP/UNESCO.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers Ltd published his prize-winning co-edited volume Muslim Identity in a Turbulent Age: Islamic Extremism and Western Islamaphobia in January 2017.
Board Member
Board Member
Fethi Mansouri, Deakin Distinguished Professor (PhD; FASSA)
Founding Director, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation
UNESCO Chairholder, Cultural Diversity and Social Justice
Professor Fethi Mansouri is a Deakin Distinguished Professor in Migration and Intercultural Studies and founding Director of the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI), a leading research institute that undertaked significant social sciences and humanities research in Australia and across many disciplinary fields. Among many national and international awards, Prof Mansouri was named by d The Australian's Research Magazine as the Australian research leader in the field of Human Migration in 2023 and 2024. Prof Mansouri has served as an expert advisor to the United Nations (UN) on cultural diversity and intercultural relations for over two decades and in 2013, he was awarded the UNESCO Chair for Comparative Research on Cultural Diversity and Social Justice at Deakin. Associated to that role, he also serves as the elected Convenor the UNESCO UniTwin Network for Inter-religious Dialogue and Intercultural Understanding. This global inter-university research nework involves over thrity UNESCO chairs working on iversity and intercultural relations. Prof Mansouri is Editor of the Journal of Intercultural Studies, founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Citizenship and Globalisation Studies and founding Co-editor of the International Journal of Social Inclusion.
He was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Science (FASSA) in 2020. Professor MAnsouri has published over twenty schoarly books with his most recent book being 'The Global Politics of Forced Migration: An Australian Perspective' (2023). He has also numerous other (co)authored rly books including 'Racism in Australia Today' (2021) 'Building Bridges: Creating a Culture of Diversity' (2009), ‘Identity, education and belonging: Arab Muslim youth in contemporary Australia’ (2008),and 'Lives in Limbo: Voices of Refugees under Temporary Protection', which was short-listed for the 2004 HEORC Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights award for non-fiction. His research interests include migration studies, refugees, global Islamic Politics, interculturalism and multiculturalism, racism, migrant youth identity, language and identity, the relationships between religious and cultural identity and Muslim cultures in Australia.
Prof Mansouri wants his work to reflect and positively impact the wider community in relation to justice, peace and co-existence, and he welcomes partnerships and collaborations with other local, national and international researchers, organisations and agencies.
ALPASLAN ÖZERDEM
Dean, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School
for Peace and Conflict Resolution
George Mason University, USA
Alpaslan Özerdem is Dean of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution(formerly known as the School for Conflict Analysis & Resolution) and professor of peace and conflict studies. Prior to his appointment as Dean in August 2019, Dr. Özerdem was Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at Coventry University in the UK
Dr. Özerdem specializes in conflict resolution, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction. With over 20 years of field research experience in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, El Salvador, Indonesia, Kosovo, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan and Turkey. Dr. Özerdem has undertaken numerous research projects that were funded by the UK’s Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC); British Academy, US Institute of Peace, and various US and European Union funding schemes.
Dr. Özerdem has published extensively (14 books and numerous journal articles, book chapters and op-eds) and amongst others, is author of Post-war Recovery: Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (2008); co-author of Managing Emergencies and Crises (2011 & 2022); co-editor of Child Soldiers: From Recruitment to Reintegration (2011); co-author of Peace in Turkey 2023: The Question of Human Security and Conflict Transformation (2013); co-editor of Human Security in Turkey (2013); co-author of Youth in Conflict and Peacebuilding: Mobilization, Reintegration and Reconciliation (2015); co-editor of Local Ownership in International Peacebuilding (2015); (2016); co-editor of Routledge Handbook of Turkish Politics (2019), co-editor of Comparing Peace Processes (2020), co-editor of Routledge Handbook of Peace, Security and Development (2020), and co-editor of Routledge Handbook of Conflict Response and Leadership in Africa (2021). He is also co-editor of Modern Turkey Series by Edinburgh University Press.
Board Member
Dr. Özerdem has also taken an active role in the initiation and management of several advisory and applied research projects for a wide range of national and international organizations such as the United Nations and international NGOs. He also runs tailor-made and in-country professional training programs for a wide range of audiences from humanitarian aid practitioners to civil servants and policy makers. Dr. Özerdem is a frequent speaker and workshop leader for events organized by the private sector, higher education institutions, international organizations and governmental authorities. He is a member of the Anna Lindh Foundation Scientific Committee, and received his Professor Extraordinary in Politics title by Stellenbosch University in 2017 and visiting professorship to the Jiangsu University and Coventry University in 2019.
Board Member
Effenus Henderson
Co-Director, Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion
President and CEO, HenderWorks, Inc. USA
Effenus Henderson is President and CEO of HenderWorks, Inc. (www.henderworks.com) and Co-Founder of Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion (www.i4sdi.org ). He served as Chief Diversity Officer for Weyerhaeuser Company, Federal Way, Washington until his retirement in December 2013. He is an internationally recognized diversity thought leader and has been invited by numerous companies and organizations to share his expertise.
He has addressed members of the General Assembly of the United Nations on intercultural and interreligious diversity, and addressed a high-level panel of the Alliance of Civilizations in Madrid, Spain in 2008, Istanbul Turkey in 2009, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2010 and Doha, Qatar in 2011. He was a keynote speaker at the 9th and 10th Forum at Fez Morocco (2012, 2013) and at the 2nd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue held in Baku, Azerbaijan (2013). He currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Dialogue Foundation, located in Melbourne, Australia.
He is a member of the United States Technical Committee 260 (human resource standards) for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and served as convener for the development of recently published global diversity and inclusion standards (ISO 30415).
His background includes development of diversity and inclusion change agendas, formation and oversight of employee resource groups, executive coaching, and facilitating skill building workshops and speaking engagements in over 18 foreign countries. He is a chapter author in two ground-breaking books, Diversity at Work – The Practice of Inclusion, and Inclusive Leadership – Transforming Diverse Lives, Workplaces, and Societies. He is also faculty advisor for the Diversity and Inclusion Professional ISO 30415 Certification program at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. He serves as a lead diversity consultant to the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and its President Circle Architectural clients across the country.
He was named one of the top diversity officers in corporate America by Diversity Best Practices / Working Mother Media and received its first Diversity Officer Leadership Award in 2007. He was among the finalists for the second annual global ORC Peter C. Robertson Award for Equality and Diversity Champions. He was named to Savoy magazine’s 2010 list of the Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America. He was the 2010 recipient of the National Urban League’s Collins Award for distinctive service and commitment awarded at the National Urban League’s Whitney M. Young, Jr. Awards Gala in Washington, DC in July 2010. In May of 2011, he was named by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the “Top Executives in Diversity” for his outstanding business achievements. The World HRD Congress in Mumbai, India honored him for “Outstanding Leadership in Human Resource Management” in 2014. In June 2017 he was honored, along with Barbara Deane, with the Innovation and Inclusion Award in the Non-Profit Sector by the Society for Diversity, Inc.
He is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and the Stanford University Executive Program.
Peter (Pece) Gorgievski
Co-founder CEO and Chairman of the Global Dialogue Foundation (GDF)
Peter is a humankind enthusiast devoted to humanitarian progress. He is a global citizen and his greatest passion and focus is creating a culture of peace throughout the world. He is a co-founder of GDF, Global Shipment and Unity in Diversity. 2011-14: CL Network Vic Inc. / Whittlesea Community Leadership Network (WCLN) – Founding Vice Chairperson & Secretary. WCLN is a not-for-profit community association working under auspices of the City of Whittlesea, Victoria. It provides leadership training and capacity building via access to resources for community-based organisations and cultural and ethnic groups. WCLN facilitates intercultural dialogue and integration with mainstream society.
2001-07: Managing Director, DGX-Asia Pacific. Jointly establishing and developing new companies in several countries.
1999-01: Vice President, Direct Container Line/NACA Logistics-FE Asia, stationed in Hong Kong and Singapore.
1992-99: Direct Container Line-Melbourne, held various positions including State Manager.
Board Member
Board Member
Peter Mousaferiadis
CEO & Founder, Cultural Infusion, Australia
Peter Mousaferiadis is a thought leader in the space of culture, and of utilising culture as a driver of peace, sustainability, and innovation. Peter began his career as a conductor, and has since conducted, directed and produced large scale international and intercultural productions for a range of clients including Parliament of World Religions, United Nations, and directed 9 Australia Day Concerts.
He is a winner of numerous international awards in interculturalism including the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Intercultural Innovation Award as well as producing the winning slogan “Diversified We Grow” for their “Do One Thing for Diversity” campaign. Peter is regularly called upon as a thought leader of culture as a driver of peace. Peter Mousaferiadis has spent over three decades working in the cultural and creative industries. In 2002, he founded the internationally recognised organisation Cultural Infusion, which builds global harmony through intercultural action within education, ICT and the arts.
In 2002, Peter founded Cultural Infusion to foster an appreciation of cultural diversity throughout Australia and the world. Cultural Infusion’s education program “Discovering Diversity” is delivered to more than 350,000 students annually. By harnessing the capability of art, education, technology and multimedia, Cultural Infusion regularly delivers creative services, events, workshops, training courses, consulting services and has produced a range of digital acclaimed resources. In 2013, Sound Infusion which helps to discover diversity through creation of music was a winner of the United Nations Alliance of Civilization Intercultural Innovation Award. In 2019, following 5 years of research and development, Peter launched Diversity Atlas a world first data analytics tool able to provide comprehensive insights into the extent and type of cultural and demographic dimensions of diversity. Diversity Atlas is now being used by think tanks and a range of multinationals to map their global workforce.
Peter is the Chair of the Lahore International Conference on Culture, a Global Trustee of United Religions Initiative, a Salzburg Global Fellow and was admitted to the Asia Peace Innovators Forum in 2020. In 2017, Peter was issued with the Peace Ambassador Award from the Center of Peace Studies (Sri Lanka). In 2021, Peter was awarded the Global Business & Interfaith Peace Award Silver Medal from the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation and the United Nations Global Compact’s Business for Peace Initiative. The award recognises individuals for their contributions to peaceful and inclusive societies.
Peter lives by the motto: “I exist because of You, You exist because of Me, We exist because of each other”.
Professor Javier Gonzalez Nuñez
International University Professor | Consultant | Courses Creator | Strategist & Entrepreneur | Travelholic, Spain
Javier González Núñez is an internationally acclaimed educator, consultant, and social entrepreneur with a global footprint in business education and innovation. Currently a Professor of General Management and Deputy Director of the EMBA at IPADE Business School in Mexico City, he is the only Latin American recognized in the Poets & Quants 2024 global ranking. He has delivered lectures and training in over 47 countries and more than 100 universities, reaching an audience of 25,000+ participants.
Javier serves as a Senior Consultant for the United Nations, and holds academic roles at prestigious institutions including MIT, University of Oxford, Maastricht School of Management, SKEMA, Esade, and Indian Institutes of Management. His teaching spans disciplines from business strategy to design thinking, innovation, and sustainable finance.
As founder of HOPE (Higher Opportunities for People through Education), Javier champions educational access for refugees and vulnerable communities. He also leads Tonic Teaching, an education consultancy operating in 45 countries, promoting diversity, sustainability, and academic excellence.
He sits on various boards, such as Coach Me Academy and Grupo Gross Corporativo, and advises global education and social ventures. Javier’s mission is rooted in human-centered leadership, innovation for impact, and equitable access to education across borders.
Board Member
Board Member
Walter U. Baker
Managing Director
Cornerstone International Group, USA
Walter U. Baker is a Managing Director with Cornerstone International Group, a global leader in executive search, leadership strategy, and coaching. With more than 25 years of retained executive search experience, Mr. Baker has successfully recruited senior-level executives across the private and public sectors worldwide. He is recognized for his collaborative, insight-driven approach to identifying and recruiting top-tier talent that aligns with organizational culture and strategic goals.
Mr. Baker’s expertise spans the Industrial, Consumer Durables, and Not-for-Profit sectors, with a strong focus on leadership roles in global and regional markets. Over half of his projects involve sourcing executives for international responsibilities, and more than 70% of his work is at the Vice President level and above. His long-standing client relationships—reflected in a repeat business rate exceeding 75%—attest to his trusted advisory capabilities and results-driven approach.
In addition to his role at Cornerstone, Mr. Baker serves as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chapter Chair for Washington, D.C. at the International Executive Resource Group (IERG), a global nonprofit network of senior executives with international experience. In this capacity, he leads initiatives focused on strategic growth, global connectivity, and peer-to-peer leadership engagement.
Prior to joining Cornerstone, Mr. Baker held senior leadership roles at Amrop and Signium International, two prominent global executive search networks. He began his career in executive search with a top-five integrated search firm in Chicago. Earlier in his career, he held sales and marketing positions at MCI Communications and Ralston Purina.
Mr. Baker is certified in Harrison Assessments Levels I & II and Talent Recruitment, specializing in predictive analytics to acquire, develop, and engage high-performing leaders. He is a past member of the Americas Council of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) and has served on the boards of several civic and educational organizations.
He holds a Master’s in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BA in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Nupur Tron
Founder of the Foundation Frison Horta, Belgium
Nupur Tron is a visionary cultural entrepreneur, heritage consultant, and founder of the Foundation Frison Horta in Brussels. With more than two decades of residence and work in Paris and Brussels, she has become a prominent figure in bridging Eastern and Western worlds through heritage, luxury, and cultural diplomacy.
She is the creator of the haute jewelry brand Nupur-Paris, renowned for its refined craftsmanship and East–West inspirations, and retailed at Le Bon Marché and other international platforms. A graduate of L’École Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris, Nupur has collaborated with prestigious luxury houses including LVMH, Kering, and Richemont, and with brands affiliated with Comité Vendôme and Comité Colbert—establishing her leadership in the Art de Vivre and luxury lifestyle sectors.
With a Master's in Architecture and Restoration, Nupur has curated several heritage projects globally. Notably, in 2018, she brought European Art Nouveau to India with a landmark conference at Mumbai’s Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, highlighting the influence of Indian craftsmanship on 19th-century European decorative arts.
Nupur currently serves as Head of Business Development – Culture & Philanthropy at the Europe India Chamber of Commerce in Brussels, advocating for cultural collaboration and creative economy development.
Her foundation, Frison Horta, is housed in Victor Horta’s second-built Art Nouveau masterpiece, Hotel Frison. Under her leadership, the foundation undertook the complete restoration of the historic Winter Garden, revealing for the first time since 1894 an extraordinary cultural treasure with original Horta furniture and decorative art. The Foundation stands today as a living museum and a beacon of heritage revival, preservation, and sharing.
Nupur’s life work exemplifies how culture, craftsmanship, and history can be harnessed as soft power to promote peace, beauty, and enduring cross-cultural understanding.
Board Member
Board Member
Ahmet Akcan
General Manager, Lale Organization | Chairman, Traditional Arts Association | Lawyer | Cultural Leader, Turkiye
Ahmet Akcan is a respected Turkish lawyer, cultural leader, and advocate for traditional and Islamic arts. He serves as the General Manager of Lale Organization and the Chairman of the Board of the Traditional Arts Association (Geleneksel Sanatlar Derneği – GSD), a UNESCO-accredited civil society organization. Based in Istanbul, he blends his legal expertise with visionary leadership in the fields of culture, heritage, and publishing.
Akcan graduated from the Faculty of Law at Istanbul University and pursued training in ebru (marbling) and hat (calligraphy) during his university years, which shaped his deep engagement with traditional arts. In 2007, he founded both Lale Organization and Lale Publishing, two pioneering initiatives that have since led and supported a wide range of cultural projects and publications. Lale Publishing has released over 50 distinguished titles in areas such as Islamic art, Turkish civilization, traditional crafts, and cultural heritage.
In 2020, he launched Lale, a peer-reviewed cultural journal, and continues to serve as its Editor-in-Chief. He has produced documentary series that highlight Istanbul’s living cultural heritage and Turkey’s intangible cultural assets. His leadership has extended to organizing international events and exhibitions aimed at increasing global recognition of Turkish and Islamic art traditions. As Chair of GSD, Akcan actively participates in UNESCO meetings and advocates for cultural diplomacy, engaging in numerous international collaborations. He also served as the National Coordinator for the Civilization Consciousness Project (2018–2020) in partnership with the Istanbul International Civilization Studies Center (MEDAR).
In the legal realm, Akcan specializes in intellectual property and copyright law, offering training and consultation in the field. He is General Coordinator of the International Union of Jurists and Secretary General of both the Association of Constitutional Lawyers and the Association of Legal Academics. As President of the Turkey Law Platform, he also leads the editorial strategy for TurkiyeHukuk.org and Darbeler.com. He has contributed over 40 academic and professional publications and led the Eurasia Law Congresses in Bosnia (2014), Azerbaijan (2018), and Montenegro (2022), hosting over 40 countries.
Ahmet Akcan’s unique integration of law, culture, and heritage makes him a leading figure in Turkey’s intellectual and artistic life.
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