PNYX - Action on Disaster Relief 2024

collaborate

Overview

Agenda

Speakers

Sponsors

ADR2024 Post-Event Video & Report

Contact

Conference Chair

Rogerio Mobilia Silva
Deputy Head of Regional Office for Latin America & the Caribbean (ROLAC)
UNOCHA - Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Mr. Mobilia was appointed as the Deputy Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) in 2019. Prior to this, he led the Information Services Unit since 2007, accumulating extensive experience in information management, communication technology, and human relations in crisis contexts. He also played a crucial role in leading the regional office during the COVID-19 pandemic and recently spearheading the continuity plan for the Turkey and Syria cross-border operation.

Holding a degree in Systems Technology Engineering with a specialization in human relations, Mr. Mobilia has over 27 years of experience in crisis management and major operations with the United Nations and additional years in the private sector. Throughout his humanitarian career, he has worked with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in various regions, including Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. MR. Mobilia’s work primarily focuses on leadership, crisis management and expands to automation and technology, communication, information management, and coordinating responses during complex crises or emergencies caused by natural phenomena or complex crisis. He has led OCHA and other international specialized teams in supporting emergency responses and has facilitated and participated in numerous international forums, engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders from political to technical themes.

Rogerio also hosts Tuesday’s OCHA Procurement Workshop.

Keynote Speakers

H.E. Juana López Córdoba
Vice Minister of Government
Republic of Panama

The Vice Minister of Government, Her Excellency Juana López Córdoba, born in the province of Darién, is a graduate of the University of Panama, she has a degree in Business Administration; She studied higher education and a master's degree in Gender and Development. She served as Regional Director of the Telecommunications Institute, Darién, (1994-1997), Commercial Manager of Cable and Wireless Panama (1997-2000), Technical Manager of Cable and Wireless Panama (2000-2004). She held the position of Governor of the province of Darién, during the administration of President Martín Torrijos (2004-2008). She also served as Financial Advisor to the Social Investment Fund (FIS) (2008-2009) and Project Coordinator at the University of Panama 2014-2019. In 2018, she received recognition as an outstanding woman by the Ombudsman's Office of the Republic of Panama, within the framework of the International Day for Women's Rights. She participated as a speaker in the first Gender Violence Congress for Peru and Latin America Lima-Peru 2017; as well as in the II International Forum on women's political participation on the way to the Bicentennial 2018. In 2016, she was invited by UN Women to the high-level consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Manuel Gómez Sánchez
President pro tempore
CEPREDENAC - Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America

Workshop Hosts

Stefano Riera
Procurement Manager for Americas Region
IFRC - International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies

Stefano embarked on his journey with IFRC as a Procurement Intern in 2005. This pivotal experience steered his career towards the Humanitarian Sector. Subsequently, he became part of the IFRC team, participating in operations across Africa, Asia, the headquarters in Geneva, and the Americas, including the Haiti Earthquake Operation. With over 17 years of dedicated experience in Humanitarian Supply Chain, Stefano holds a university degree in International Business and Logistics, along with a Master's degree in Operations Management.

Stefano hosts Tuesday's IFRC Logistics Supplier Workshop.

Speakers

Dr. Meghan E. López (Panel Chair)
Chief Strategy Officer
Global Support & Development (GSD)

As the Chief Strategy Officer at GSD, Meghan is responsible for driving organizational long-term planning and growth, partnership program alignment, accountability, and working with the leadership team to develop future strategies and ensure effective implementation that is aligned with GSD’s vision and mission. Meghan is a Doctor of Nursing Practice prepared Family Nurse Practitioner with specialty in transgenerational transmission of violence and violence prevention. She has over 20 years of experience in the United States, Latin America and worldwide. She has built a record of leading innovative humanitarian public health and community interventions for children, women and families in vulnerable and crisis situations through a rights-based, harm-reduction focus, to build durable solutions through systems strengthening that incorporate the individual, the community and government policies. In 2017 she received Johns Hopkins University’s Global Achievement Award. In 2019 she received the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing award for Innovative Research for her doctoral work in El Salvador in gang-controlled communities in collaboration with UNICEF: “Setting up for Success: Breaking Transgenerational Experience of Violence by Supporting Positive Parenting”. Prior to joining GSD in September 2022, Meghan worked as a Regional Vice President for Latin America with the International Rescue Committee, Global Director of Programs for Whole Child International, at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Chemonics International.

Adherbal De La Rosa
General Director
SINAPROC Panama - National Civil Protection System

Adherbal de la Rosa Toulier was born in the city of Chitré, Herrera province of the Republic of Panama (1983). He obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Health and Safety, and completed Postgraduate Studies in Higher Education at the Specialized University of Las Américas, where he also serves as a Professor of Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management. Mr. de la Rosa is currently responsible for the Technical Secretariat of the Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Cabinet, he worked for more than 10 years in the Panamanian Red Cross, coordinating several projects, including: Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management, Water and Sanitation, and Training Center. He was a Delegate of the Red Cross Red Crescent Federation International Federation in the Haiti earthquake in 2010, as water and sanitation officer (Whatzan), and of the American Red Cross for Latin America in the floods of Iquitos Peru (2012). Since 2014, Mr. de la Rosa has worked in the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) with roles including Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Center (2014 – 2016), Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator (2017 – 2018), Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator (2017 – 2018), and Coordination of the SINAPROC Academy (2018-2019). He also served as Deputy Leader of the USAR PANAMA team for the earthquake in Ecuador and Mexico and was Director of the National Training School for Lifeguards Lt. Cr. Jorge Franklin Palacios R. He currently serves as a volunteer with the Panamanian Red Cross Lifeguard Corps and is the General Director of SINAPROC.

Elisa Mariel Trujillo Leyva
General Director
CENACED A.C. Mexico - National Support Center for Epidemiological Contingencies & Disasters

A Mexican national, Elisa is an Architect with a specialty in Sustainable Architectural Design from the Tec de Monterrey (México), Master of Science in Infrastructure Planning by the University of Stuttgart (Germany), has completed the Disaster Risk Reduction and Local Sustainable Development program at the ITCILO (Italy), and recently concluded the International SPHERE Program with CADENA A.C. (Mexico), a one-year training for Humanitarian Assistance. Elisa has collaborated with different international organizations in Mexico, Spain, and Germany, performing positions as a consultant, research assistant, academic coordinator, and professor. She has also participated in multiple social projects for Mexico. She specializes in disaster resilience, urban development, climate change, and their relationship with poverty eradication. Elisa has participated in different national networks related to sustainable development, being a partner of Tierra Prima, a social entrepreneurship group to reduce environmental impact. She was an Observer of the United Nations Youth Assembly in 2017 with the Mexican Delegation. Currently, she serves as National Director of the ARISE MX Network and General Director of the National Support Center for Epidemiological Contingencies. and Disasters A.C. (CENACED A.C.).

Luis Gamarra Tong
Program Specialist in Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery
UNDP - UN Development Programme

Luis has over 20 years of experience in resilience building, disaster risk reduction and recovery, working for UNDP and other development agencies in Latin America and Asia-Pacific. His experience has focused on the generation of mechanisms, instruments and institutional coordination for disaster risk governance, with emphasis on urban areas. Luis is a geographer (U. Católica del Perú) and holds a master's degree in Urban Environmental Management (U. Wageningen, The Netherlands).

Barry Koperberg (Panel Chair)
General Manager,HQ
Wings for Aid

Barry Koperberg is Founder and General Manager of Wings For Aid, living out his passion to bridge gaps between available knowledge and needs in the field. He is also a seasoned and skilled business consultant, with a specialisation in public/private partnerships and cooperations. He developed successful concepts and social ventures in technology and education. Wings For Aid is at the brink of introducing the MiniFreighter cargo drone to the market, a technology platform that is tailored to the needs of the humanitarian sector and makes us re-think the concept of airdrops. Motto: reaching people anywhere.

Eduardo Gutiérrez
Technical Coordinator
USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)

Eduardo Gutiérrez Gaslin joined USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) in 2009 and currently serves as Technical Coordinator for the Regional Disaster Assistance Program in USAID-BHA/LAC. He holds a Masters degree in Education Science with emphasis in Educational Research and Administration. Prior to joining BHA, Eduardo amassed 29 years of teaching experience, serving 23 years as a volunteer firefighter.

Kevin Bostick
Director - Exercises & Coalition Affairs (J7/9)
SOUTHCOM - U.S. Southern Command (Dept. of Defense)

Mr. Bostick as the Director of Exercise and Coalition Affairs directorate serves as the Commander’s principal executive level advisor concerning civil-military operations, training, and exercises. He leads partnerships, exercises, civil-affairs operations, science and technology, and humanitarian assistance activities to improve U.S. Military Readiness, build partner capacity, and counter transregional/transnational threats to meet global challenges. Mr. Bostick works with the Headquarters staff, Interagency, and U.S. Embassies throughout SOUTHCOM Area of Responsibility. He manages $65M budget and executes the strategic direction, priorities, policies and guidance of SOUTHCOM Commander. Previously, Mr. Bostick served HQ AMC as Director, Operations and Readiness (2018-2020), Director, Current Operations (2017-2018), and Director, Logistics Integration (2015-2017), having previously served HQ FORSCOM as Deputy G-4 (2013-2014), Chief, Equipment Readiness Division (2010-2013), Chief, Logistics Integration Branch (2009-2010). He also served the First U.S. Army as Strategic Plans Officer (2005-2009) having also served HQ FORSCOM as Chief, Maintenance and Transformation Branch (2003-2005), and Inspector General (2001-2003).

Luis Bonilla Ortiz-Arrieta
Economic Affairs Officer
UNDRR - UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Luis Bonilla Ortiz-Arrieta serves as Economic Affairs Officer at the Regional Office for the Americas and The Caribbean of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). He is an Economist and Master in Latin American Social and Political Studies, specializing in resilience, sustainable development, and cities. Among other roles, Luis has served as Lead for Strategic Partnerships and Programs for the Global Resilient Cities Network, Director of TECHO International and was Advisor to the Forum of Ministers of Housing and Urban Development of Latin America and the Caribbean (MINURVI). He is a researcher at the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) and has been a consultant for international organizations such as EURsociAL+ and Oxfam. He was a member of the Expert Group for the Regional Action Plan for the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

Nora Guerten
Anticipatory Action Advisor
WFP - World Food Programme

Nora is the Regional Anticipatory Action Advisor of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Latin America and the Caribbean. She focuses on the set-up of anticipatory action systems, including early warning triggers and anticipatory action selection, as well as capacity building and support to institutionalisation. Prior to joining WFP, Nora worked as Anticipatory Action Specialist with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Italy, as Climate Risk Management Specialist with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Panama and the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT/CGIAR) in Vietnam and Colombia. She also worked with NGOs in the UK and India to mitigate flood and storm impacts, among others. Nora holds a master’s degree in climate change and risk management from the University of Exeter, UK.

Craig Ball (Panel Chair)
Sales Director
Butyl Products Ltd. & Logistica Humanitaria

Craig has been responsible for the global sales strategy for Butyl Products Group since 2012, with a particularly focus on the Humanitarian Aid sector as Butyl Products Group are one of the world’s leading manufacturers for WASH equipment with a core focus on water and wastewater storage and treatment. Craig has been instrumental with the company’s distributor development in Africa and Latin America and continues to strengthen the strategy to improve the availability of their manufactured and distributed items, to support the leading aid agencies with their humanitarian needs.

Luis Amaya
General Director
DGPC El Salvador - Civil Protection Directorate

Luis Alonso Amaya Durán holds a Master’s degree in Climate Change and Territorial Development Management, and a Bachelor’s in Nursing. He also possesses a Diploma in Disaster Preparedness and Response; in Risk Management and Public Investment; Emergency Health Administration and Climate Change, and implications for Security and Defense. He is an Alumni of the William J. Perry Center at the National Defense University in Washington and the Kobe Institute for Human Renewal. In 30 years of working life, Mr. Amaya has worked as an emergency nurse, emergency management technician, in humanitarian assistance logistics support, design, execution and evaluation of emergency response plans and disaster risk management. Since 2021, he has been the Director General of Civil Protection of El Salvador, has experience in consulting related to emergency preparedness and response, humanitarian logistics, and is a member of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC).

Maddy Langemach
Disaster Response Manager
Heart to Heart International

Maddy Langemach is a disaster response professional with over eight years of hands-on experience deploying to post-disaster communities and spearheading response and recovery programs. With a degree in Emergency and Disaster Management and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) tailored to emergency and developing contexts, she is currently the Disaster Response Manager at Heart to Heart International (HHI). Maddy leads the coordination and operations of Emergency Medical Teams in collaboration with the World Health Organization and manages HHI’s active emergency responses in Ukraine, Türkiye, Syria, Israel, and Palestine. She is passionately committed to advocating for discussions about sustainable and community-driven disaster and humanitarian aid responses in the sector.

Paulo Nacif
Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs Regional Director
World Vision LAC

Graduated in Public Administration with a focus on Public Policy, Paulo worked on the complexity of the public policy agenda, project management, human rights policies, and innovation, working at the Government Secretariat of the Penitentiary Administration of Maranhao State, Brazil. Then, answering the call of the Humanitarian Imperative, Paulo joined humanitarian affairs and emergency responses in 2018, with the outbreak of the Venezuelan Migrant Crisis, leading the food security, distribution, infrastructure, and logistics of one of the shelters established at the edge of the country. The journey within World Vision began by leading the WASH sector in the emergency response to the pandemic in Brazil. Paulo then contributed as HEA Director of the Brazil country office. In addition to a brief deployment as Ukraine Crisis Response (UCR) Project Manager in 2022, Paulo became Director of UCR Romania Operations in February 2023. Overall response oversight was accompanied by external engagement and support to multinational strategies. With trainings such as LAC RDMT, GC OMGE, HEAT, Crisis Leadership Program, Project Management for Development, Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disasters, Paulo is a fruit of the institution's investment and advocates for the development of its teams and capacities as crucial for impactful work.

Dr. Philippe Dimitri Henrys
Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Coordinator
Haiti Ministry of Public Health & Population

Dr. Philippe Dimitri Henrys is the Emergency Medical Teams-Haiti Coordinator (EMT- Haiti) at the Ministry of Health, Haiti, building emergency and disaster preparedness and disaster response capacity. Dr. Henrys has a specialization in Emergency Medicine. He serves as the President of the Haitian Society for Disaster and Emergency Medicine. His background training also includes Project Management in Global Health from the University of Washington and Building a Better Response from the Humanitarian Academy of Harvard University. He has extensive experience working in emergency care access and disaster response. Throughout the years, he has been collaborating with significant actors in healthcare in Haiti such as the American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and the Pan-American Health Organization. He also works as a consultant for various organizations. Dr. Henrys’ work focuses on system building, capacity building, emergency care access, disaster preparedness, and response in limited-resource settings.

Jorge Ortiz (Panel Chair)
Director of International Sales
Western Shelter Systems

Involved in Disaster Management for over 15 years, Jorge started with the Department of Health in Puerto Rico as a Disaster Management Coordinator. He transitioned to Western Shelter Systems in 2012 where he has progressed from Regional Sales Manager to his current position. Jorge has deployed to over 12 different countries across Latin America in support of Shelter deployment for Disaster Management. Recently, he has been training disaster emergency management teams on the deployment of a Field Hospital in support of COVID-19 across the Caribbean.

Andres Cruz
Disaster Risk Reduction Program Manager LAC
Habitat for Humanity International

Andrés Cruz is a Colombian architect, specialist in natural resource management, environment, and disaster response with a master's degree in environmental management and assessment. He has more than 20 years of professional experience in risk reduction and disaster response projects, within large international cooperation programs for different donors in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Africa. Andrés has extensive experience working in disaster response and risk reduction projects with environmental approaches with agencies such as Habitat for Humanity International, PAHO, USAID, IOM, among others. He is recognized for the design and implementation of the risk reduction and disaster response strategy for Habitat for Humanity International and the strategic relationship with different regional actors in the Caribbean, as well as for the successful management to implement comprehensive responses focused on infrastructure. housing, water, sanitation, education, and health in natural disasters between 2016 and 2023 in the Caribbean and South America, armed conflict and floods in South Sudan, Somalia and Kenya in 2014 and Colombia between 2010 and 2015.

Esteban Maria Chala
National Director of Operations
Argentina Ministry of Security

Esteban María Chalá is an Argentinean, a Humanitarian Assistant and First Responder. He began his career as a Lifeguard and Instructor in the Argentine Red Cross, also as a Wood Badge in the Scouts of Argentina, and as a Firefighter Lieutenant Colonel. Esteban is the Founder and President of the CEPA Evacuation & First Aid Corps, with 11 subsidiaries in Argentina, plus its subsidiaries in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, for 21 years. He has previously worked in the coordination of humanitarian operations and logistics for the White Helmets Argentina for 14 years, in more than 45 international missions. He also worked for the Ministry of Defense as Director of Logistics & Operations, then as Municipal Director of Civil Protection of Mercedes province of Buenos Aires, and Director of Civil Defense of the province of Chubut, Argentine Republic, where he was responsible for emergencies and plans in risk management for each one. Esteban took over as National Director of Civil Protection Operations of the Argentine Republic, being responsible for national emergency operations and their plans, also as INSARAG Operational Focal Point in Argentina. He serves as President of the Federation of Emergencies & Humanitarian Assistance of the Argentine Republic (FEAHRA), with more than 200 national organizations on the subject.

Jozef Merkx
Representative a.i. UNHCR Multi-Country Office Panama
UNHCR - UN Refugee Agency

Mr. Merkx joined UNHCR over 32 years ago in San Jose, Costa Rica. He has since worked for UNHCR in a number of field locations including Nicaragua, Mozambique, Uganda, Ecuador, Iraq, Colombia and also at UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva. Mr. Merkx has held several functions most of which were in the area of programming, refugee and IDP protection, repatriations and emergency management. He also undertook specific missions to Haiti, El Salvador, Afghanistan and Turkey. Before arriving to Panama, Mr. Merkx was UNHCR’s Representative in Colombia. Mr. Merkx graduated with a Master in Anthropology and Post-Graduate in Economics in Amsterdam, and he did a Visiting Fellowship in the Refugee Study Centre at the University of Oxford. He speaks English, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese.

Lt Col Keith Maren
Deputy Commander
Joint Task Force-Bravo

Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Keith Maren is the Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force-Bravo, United States Southern Command, Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. As Deputy Commander, he leads more than 700 Airmen, Soldiers, Marines, and civilians conducting and supporting USSOUTHCOM operations, activities, and investments across all domains in support of U.S. Government agencies and partner nations in the CENTAM region providing crisis response, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, and global health engagement capabilities. Lt Col Maren is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy where he earned his commission as a communications officer into the U. S. Air Force. He has been assigned to numerous joint and operational positions to include organizations such as the National Airborne Operations Center, 1st Combat Communications Squadron, Air Force Global Strike Command, and the Defense Information Systems Agency. His service also includes missions in direct support to NATO, the SECDEF, and POTUS.

Dora Mejia (Panel Chair)
VP Sales EEM LATAM
Speedcast

Dora has been at the forefront of SpeedCast's sales leadership in Latin America since early 2016, following SpeedCast's acquisition of Newcom International. Her journey with NewCom began in 2004, contributing significantly to the company's growth and establishing it as a major player in the global communications industry. With over 15 years of experience in integrated global telecommunications, Dora brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Prior to her tenure at NewCom, she spent three years at Verestar, where she played a pivotal role in overseeing terrestrial network optimization and product development for the teleport operator's offices in Europe and the U.S. Her responsibilities included managing the engineering team, overseeing pricing, and leading vendor negotiations. Before her time at Verestar, Dora successfully operated her own telecommunications consulting firm, specializing in helping companies optimize their communication solutions. Dora's career began in Colombia with the Carvajal Group, where she held a key role in budget planning, vendor negotiations, and the implementation of satellite and IP networks. Her diverse experiences contribute to her dynamic leadership in the telecommunications industry.

Ms Angeles Ayala
Undersecretary
COMTELCA

Mrs. Ayala has a degree in International Business from the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico, she also has a master’s degree in Technology Administration from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), both are the highest study houses in said City. She has more than 16 years of experience in the telecommunications and information technology sector. She was part of the international team of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation of Mexico, which led the work of the Mexican Administration in forums and specialized International Organizations in the sector, such as the Mesoamerica Project, and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). During the last three years in the entity, she supervised the satellite coordination of Mexico together with the Radiocommunications Office of the International Telecommunications Union; Also, she was participating in the works of the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL) for the OAS’s, in which she served as co-rapporteur in the Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Response Working Group. From 2022, Ms. Angeles Ayala Correa is Deputy Secretary of the Regional Technical Telecommunications Commission (COMTELCA) in Central America.

Brendan Harvey
Executive Director
Help.NGO

Brendan Harvey is the Executive Director of Help.NGO. Founded in 2010, Help.NGO is an international Non-Governmental Organization specializing in emergency response, preparedness, risk mitigation, and prevention. Help.NGO works to increase the capacity of national and international organizations through strategic guidance, training, and technical expertise that enables local actors to respond efficiently and effectively to a variety of crises. With global hubs in the United States, Europe (Gdansk, Poland), and Asia/Pacific (Manila, Philippines) and operations across the globe, Help.NGO leverages cutting-edge technical solutions and subject matter expertise to improve national and international disaster response mechanisms. Since beginning as a volunteer with Help.NGO in 2010, Brendan has responded to over 15 crises on 5 continents. He received a BA in Social Anthropology from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, an MPhil in Philosophy from the Centre for Modern European Philosophy (CRMEP), Kingston University, and an international diploma in humanitarian assistance (IDHA) from Fordham University. He was born, raised, and currently lives in New York City.

Marcelo Montesinos
Regional Director for the O'Higgins Region
SENAPRED Chile - National Service for Disaster Prevention & Response

Marcelo Montesinos De Ugarte is a retired colonel of the Chilean Army. During his last years in the National Defence, he served as focal point in matters of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Head of the unit in charge of planning, coordinating and directing the support of the Armed Forces in emergency and disaster operations. To this end, his long field experience in humanitarian aid and civil protection operations in different disasters that occurred throughout the country stands out. Mr Montesinops is a Master in Disaster Risk Management (GRD) and Master in Logistics Systems Engineering (E). He also holds Diplomas in Disaster Risk Management, Security and Defence, Disaster Risk Reduction and Public Management, Telecommunications Systems and Project Formulation and Administration. At the international level, he completed the “Disaster Management” Diploma at the UME Emergency Academy in Madrid, Spain. Currently, Mr Montesinops works as SENAPRED's Regional Director of the O'Higgins Region.

Kendall Sanchez (Panel Chair)
Go Help Americas Coordinator
DHL

Kendall Sanchez is an outstanding professional and the Disaster Response Team (DRT) Coordinator for the Americas at DHL Group. With unwavering dedication, Kendall leads the coordination and execution of the program for the training and development of DHL Disaster Response Teams (DRTs). Her work extends further, encompassing the Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD) programs, where he plays an essential role in ensuring that airports are prepared to deal with disasters in the region. An active participant in GARD's training seminars, Kendall works closely with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in the Americas. Its aim is to equip airport staff with the essential knowledge and skills to manage logistical demands in the immediate aftermath of a sudden natural disaster. Kendall has taken her experience and expertise to different corners of the region, delivering seminars at key airports in countries such as Peru, Costa Rica, and Honduras. Kendall Sanchez's dedication and leadership in disaster response have established him as a key figure in promoting preparedness and response capacity to humanitarian challenges in the Americas.

Alberto Sierra
Executive Director
CLRAH - Regional Logistics Center for Humanitarian Assistance; Panama

Mr. Sierra has a bachelor´s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Banking and Finances from the Latina University of Panamá. He also has a Masters´ degree in Maritime Business Management in Logistics and Transportation and Executive Master´s Degree from INCAE Business School. He has occupied management positions in renowned national as well as international companies. At present, Mr. Sierra is the Executive Director at the Regional Logistics Center for Humanitarian Assistance, where he coordinates actions to strengthen humanitarian logistics operations of the National Civic Protection System of Panama (SINAPROC), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), all located within the Center.

Francisco Quesada
UNHRD Manager
UNHRD - UN Humanitarian Response Depot / WFP

Mr. Francisco Quesada has a degree in Law and Mater in International Cooperation for Development. Since December 2015, he has served as Manager of the UNHRD Panama, most recently completing a 5 month mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo supporting WHO during the ebola outbreak (Dec 2018 - May 2019). Previously, Mr. Quesada has worked as Advisor of the Cabinet of the Secretary General of International Development in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain; Advisor on International Development of the Popular Party Group at the Spanish Parliament; Director of the NGO Kivuvu; Project Manager and expatriate in Humanismo y Democracia Foundation; Project and Logistics Manager in the NGO Action Against Hunger, Volunteer in NGO Manos Unidas; Independent Consultant in the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Editor Assistant in the newsletter Eurosur in Brussels; Assistant at the Information and Communication Department in IBF in Brussels; and Internship at Directorate General X - Multimedia Library at the European Commission in Brussels.

Gabriela Cifuentes
Supply Chain Regional Head LAC and the Caribbean
Save The Children International

Gabriela Cifuentes is Regional Head of Supply Chain for Latinamerica and the Caribbean at Save the Children, working to drive supply chain efficiency at all Latin American countries. Before Save the Children she has contributed significantly to organizations such as WORLD VISION, USAID, GLOBAL FUND, and UNOPS in UNITED NATIONS, with extensive experience in the Supply Chain and Management Sector. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations with specialization in International Organizations and Foreign Trade, as well as a master's degree in Customs and International Trade Management, actually she also is professor at Panamerican Business School and is based in Guatemala.

Stephany Murillo
Manager - Logistics Unit
IFRC - International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies

Stephany is a distinguished professional currently serving as the Regional Logistics Manager for the Americas at IFRC. With over 13 years of experience in humanitarian supply chain management, she holds a Master's degree in Supply Chain Management. Since joining IFRC in 2010, she has played a key role in responding to complex operations in various regions, including the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Her extensive knowledge and commitment make her a valuable contributor to the IFRC team.