PNYX - Action on Disaster Relief 2026

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Conference Chairs

Ronald Hugh Jackson
Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery Team (DRT) for Building Resilience
UNDP - UN Development Programme

Mr. Ronald Jackson leads the Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery Team (DRT) for Building Resilience within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Geneva, Switzerland. He serves on both the Crisis Bureau senior management team and the Global Policy Network management team. His appointment on May 1st, 2020 followed seven years of distinguished service as Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), where he elevated the organisation’s regional and global profile as a trusted partner for advancing a safer, more resilient Caribbean. During his tenure at CDEMA, Mr. Jackson oversaw regional coordination and response efforts for several major emergencies, including the 2013 Christmas Trough affecting Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent; Tropical Storm Erika in Dominica in 2015; Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which impacted nine CDEMA Participating States in 2017; Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas in 2019; and the regional response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Prior to joining CDEMA, he served in multiple senior roles within Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), including Director General, Deputy Director General, Senior Director for Preparedness and Operations, and Regional Coordinator for the southern parishes.

Mr. Jackson has contributed extensively to disaster risk management at national, regional, and international levels. He played a key role in developing the Guidelines for Child Friendly Disaster Management and Response, reinstating ODPEM’s Dedicated Communication Network, and revising the Emergency Welfare Plan. In recognition of his leadership in the aftermath of the January 2010 Haiti earthquake, he received a Certificate of Commendation from the Caribbean Community. He has also served on CDEMA’s Technical Advisory Committee, as President of the IDB Caribbean Policy Dialogue Forum, co chair of the Inter American Network for Disaster Management, and as a representative for CDEMA Member States on both the Hyogo Framework for Action Mid Term Review Committee and the Post 2015 HFA Committee.

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.

Keynote Speakers

Jimena Cuevas Portilla
Director of DRR, Sustainable Tourism, Caribbean Sea & the Environment
Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

Jimena Cuevas Portilla is currently the Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Tourism, Caribbean Sea, and the Environment at the Association of Caribbean States, where she is in charge of the Caribbean Sea Commission and the Special Committees on Sustainable Tourism and Disaster Risk Reduction, which contribute to strengthening the Greater Caribbean region. She has has worked on international cooperation projects focused on disaster risk reduction, strengthening community resilience, and research projects. She has specialized in developing knowledge products to promote collaborative work with different stakeholders and, based on these, to disseminate information and influence decision-makers, professionals, and the general public.

Workshop Hosts

Jose Alfredo Rodriguez
Regional Supply Chain Director
World Vision International

Speakers

Keisha Linton
Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator
Regional Security System (RSS)

Keisha Linton joined the Regional Security System Headquarters (RSS HQ) in September 2015 and currently serves as the Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator within the Operations and Plans Directorate. She works closely with Police, Fire and Military personnel across RSS Member States and CARICOM, overseeing humanitarian and emergency training and coordinating deployments in response to natural hazards. Keisha also collaborates with regional disaster agencies and represents RSS HQ at CDEMA’s Regional Coordination Centre and the Multi-National Caribbean Coordination Cell, where she previously served as Deputy Chairman.

With more than a decade of experience in disaster risk management, she has developed a strong interest in Occupational Safety and Health, contributing to the creation of the organization’s OSH committee, training programmes, and Risk Assessment Policy. She also leads business continuity planning to ensure RSS HQ remains operational during national emergencies. Keisha has completed courses at the National Defense University focused on Climate Change and Defense Education Pedagogy. She holds a Bachelor’s in International Relations from UWI Mona and a Master’s in Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management from the University of Leicester.

Kenisha Jeffrey-Isembert
Director
St. Lucia National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO)

Kenisha Jeffrey-Isembert is a dynamic and transformational leader and disaster management and resilience specialist. Mrs. Jeffrey-Isembert is the Director of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). As the Director of NEMO, Kenisha, works assiduously to coordinate the policies and programmes of the government of St. Lucia which are aimed at preventing, mitigating and relieving the impacts of disasters and emergencies on its people. Prior to her current post Kenisha worked as a Programme Development Officer for three years at NEMO and a Leading Fire Officer with the Saint Lucia Fire Service where she served for fourteen years. Kenisha is a proud recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship which she used to attain a Masters of Science in Disaster Management and Resilience with Merit at Coventry University in England, UK. Kenisha also holds a Master of Science in Public Sector Management with Distinction from The University of the West Indies, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management with Magna Cum Laude from Monroe College, and a Diploma in Global Leadership with Distinction from Coventry University.

Maria Moita
Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean
IOM - International Organization for Migration

Maria Moita has served as Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean since 2024, based in Panama. In this role, she works closely with governments and key partners across the region to keep migration at the center of public policy discussions and to promote cooperation in addressing the challenges and opportunities related to human mobility. With more than two decades of experience in the humanitarian and development fields, Maria previously worked in Asia and the Pacific, where she contributed to strengthening preparedness, response, and recovery capacities in countries affected by conflict and disasters. She also advanced strategic programme management, partnerships, resource mobilization, and advocacy efforts. Maria has led IOM operations in some of the world’s most complex contexts, including Afghanistan, where she directed the organization’s efforts to protect and assist people affected by crises. Her leadership has been characterized by a strong commitment to the safety, dignity, and resilience of displaced communities.

Pedro Ignacio Cabello
Executive Deputy Director
Argentina Federal Emergency Agency (AFE) Ministry of National Security

Ignacio Cabello is a public official with extensive experience in risk management, social development, and public administration. As Executive Deputy Director of the AFE, he coordinates efforts across national, provincial, and municipal levels to strengthen disaster prevention, response, and recovery. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at the Secretariat of Social Development of Vicente López, where he led initiatives focused on youth inclusion, public awareness, and local governance. He is a lawyer graduated from Universidad Siglo XXI, holds diplomas in public management from Universidad de San Andrés and Universidad de San Isidro, and has participated in national and international seminars on civil protection and complex emergencies. His career reflects a strong commitment to public safety, risk reduction, and the sustainable development of communities.

Amelia Hoover
Lead - Global Disaster Response
GlobalGiving

Amelia Hoover is the Lead of Global Disaster Response at GlobalGiving, where she oversees a portfolio of more than 20 active crisis responses mobilizing tens of millions of dollars each year in flexible funding to support locally led, community-based crisis response efforts worldwide. She brings over 15 years of experience in emergency response, with deep expertise spanning climate-exacerbated natural disasters, public health emergencies, and crises in conflict settings. Her background includes more than eight years in American Red Cross disaster response, leading AmeriCares’ response during the first year of the war in Ukraine, leading analysts in the CDC Foundation emergency response unit, and leading field teams on the ground in a diverse range of disaster contexts in the US and abroad, with a continued focus on transforming the humanitarian sector through a focus on flexible funding and local-led emergency response.

Armando Samayoa Cervantes
Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean
Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF)

With a Major in International Relations, Armando has gained professional experience across several sec-tors, including the academic - as exchanges coordinator, the governmental sector - in rural development, the Civil Society - taking part in the foundation of a local Humanitarian NGO in Mexico, and the International Non-Governmental sector. Wanting to gain specialization in Humanitarian Action, he took the European Commission Joint European Master’s degree in International Humanitarian action from 2010 to 2012. He also has a diploma on the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination methodology, obtained in 2015. Armando joined TSF in 2013 where he works on project management and representation activities. He has also taken part in several Emergency Responses, such as the Niger Food Insecurity Crisis in 2013, Guatemala Food Insecurity crises from 2015 to 2018, Haiti Hurricane in 2016, Ecuador Earthquake in 2016, the Caribbean Hurricanes in 2017 and 2019 and most recently the response to Hurricane Otis in South Mexico. Armando is TSF’s Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean since 2014 where he has integrate TSF in the Regional Response Mechanism as well as developing its response to the Latin America migratory movement.

Jonathan Alexander
Consultant
Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

Jonathan Alexander is a Consultant with the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in the Directorate for Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Tourism, the Caribbean Sea and the Environment. He supports the design and implementation of regional initiatives focused on disaster risk reduction, coastal resilience, and the sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems in the Greater Caribbean. Jonathan contributes to project development, technical reporting, intergovernmental coordination, and stakeholder engagement aligned with regional and global frameworks. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Climate Studies with a concentration in Coastlines at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French, Jonathan brings a strong background in diplomacy, research, and cross-cultural communication to regional climate and disaster risk dialogues.

Leticia Goncalves
Disaster Risk Financing Consultant (Regional Advisor)
WFP - World Food Programme

Letícia Gontijo Furst Gonçalves is the Regional Risk Financing Advisor at the World Food Programme (WFP), where she provides technical support to Country Offices across Latin America and the Caribbean in the design and implementation of innovative risk financing instruments for extreme events. Since 2020, she has contributed to strengthening linkages between inclusive insurance, disaster risk reduction (DRR), shock-responsive social protection, and resilience at the micro, meso, and macro levels. With more than 20 years of experience in the insurance sector, including over a decade dedicated to climate and inclusive insurance, she brings deep technical knowledge and practical experience to her role. Her academic background includes studies in law, strategic business management, and conflict transformation, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Territory, Risk and Public Policy at the University of Coimbra (Portugal).

Luis Amaya
Director General
El Salvador Directorate General of Civil Protection, Disaster Prevention & Mitigation (DGPC)

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).

Dr. Ana Rivière Cinnamond
PAHO/WHO Representative in Panama
PAHO/WHO - Pan American Health Organization

Dr. Ana Rivière Cinnamond has served as the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Representative in Panama since August 2022. A Spanish national, she holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, a specialization in Food Hygiene from AgroParisTech in Paris, a Master’s in International Health Policy from the London School of Economics, and a PhD in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Dr. Rivière Cinnamond has held technical and leadership roles across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America with FAO, WHO, and PAHO. Her work has spanned crisis response, animal and human health systems, epidemic-prone disease analysis, and pandemic preparedness. She has contributed to responses to H5N1, H1N1, dengue, cholera, plague, and COVID-19, and has led regional initiatives on data analysis, risk assessment, and disease modelling. She brings more than two decades of multidisciplinary experience in global health and emergency response.

Farida (Frida) Gadzhimirzaeva
Regional Director - Central America
Action Against Hunger

Farida Gadzhimirzaeva (Frida) is the Regional Director for Action Against Hunger in Central America, leading strategic oversight across Guatemala and Honduras to ensure program quality, operational excellence, and organizational readiness for effective humanitarian and development responses. She previously held senior roles with Norwegian Refugee Council and has worked in conflict and post-conflict settings across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Before joining the humanitarian sector, Frida worked in Washington, DC with leading policy organizations, including the Atlantic Council and the Truman National Security Project / Center for National Policy. At Truman, she advised senior leadership on institutional strategy and public–private partnership development focused on issues such as immigration and climate change. At the Atlantic Council, she managed high-level stakeholder communications across donors, U.S. government counterparts, and international partners, including engagement with the European Union and NATO. Frida holds a B.A. in International Relations and Economics and an M.A. in International Policy and Development from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California.

Dr. Horace Cox
Director Surveillance, Disease Prevention & Control
CARPHA - Caribbean Public Health Agency

Dr. Cox is a mid-career professional serving in the capacity of Director Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at the Caribbean Public Health Agency. Horace offers more than a decade of national, regional and international technical, senior management, research, and leadership experience gained through navigating situations requiring health diplomacy, strategic planning and resource mobilization. His interests are in networking closely with medical, public health, academic and other key stakeholders in applying and evaluating evidence-based approaches for the achievement of measurable gains of sustainable development.

Krystal Garvin
CEO
Global Response Medicine (GRM)

Alejandro Arias
Regional LAC Manager - Housing Disaster Resilience & Recovery
Habitat for Humanity

Alejandro is Honduran with a background in the emergency response field operations and project management development with emphasis in DRR and Climate Change, with more than 20 years of professional experience in Honduras and around the LAC Region. Graduated from the Catholic University in Honduras, he has a degree in environmental engineering, and a master's degree in Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management from the National University of Honduras, with a specialization in Humanitarian Leadership from the Deakin University in Melbourne/Australia. Alejandro’s previous experiences include; Country Program Manager (American Red Cross), Regional Advisor in Emergencies (CRS), Humanitarian Regional Coordinator (CARE), National Humanitarian Coordinator (WV Honduras), and has played many different roles in emergencies across the region (Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Mozambique) such as WASH Advisor, General Manager, Deputy of Response. He brings experiences as a consultant with UNDP, UNICEF, IOM, UNHCR and INGOs with a strong understanding of humanitarian system and donor relationships.

Roberto Cabrera
Recovery Director
Guatemala National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED)

Roberto Cabrera is the Director of Recovery at Guatemala’s National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (SE-CONRED), where he leads national strategies to transition from emergency response to resilient recovery. His work integrates infrastructure rehabilitation with risk-informed territorial planning, advancing the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, particularly Priority 4 on “Build Back Better.” Under his leadership, recovery efforts in Guatemala go beyond restoring damaged infrastructure, focusing instead on strengthening public systems, embedding risk management into critical infrastructure investment, and ensuring equitable access to housing, water, energy, and essential community services. With more than 30 years of experience in public health, food security, humanitarian coordination, and territorial planning, Cabrera has shaped recovery frameworks that link structural resilience with social protection, environmental sustainability, and community participation. He has contributed to major emergency responses, including Tropical Storm Agatha–Pacaya, Tropical Depression 13-E, the Cambray II landslide, and the Fuego volcano eruption. Today, he drives a national agenda for resilient recovery that reduces vulnerabilities, strengthens territorial governance, and promotes sustainable development across Guatemala.

Holda Alvarez de Marré
Executive Director
Panama Regional Logistics Center for Humanitarian Assistance (CLRAH)

Holda Alvarez de Marré, a lawyer specialized in civil, commercial, immigration and family matters, graduated from the University of Santa María La Antigua, has distinguished herself in the international sector, holding important positions in the public and international sector. Promoting and developing important legislations on health and education for the Republic of Panama. Holda has also promoted and developed public procurement regulations in government agencies and participated in the design and implementation of action plans against drugs, as well as on refugees related issues. Currently, Mrs. Alvarez de Marré is the Executive Director of the Regional Logistics Center for Humanitarian Assistance, the first woman to hold this position.

Jorge Ortiz
International Sales Director
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. In the past, he trained disaster emergency management teams on the deployment of a Field Hospital in support of COVID-19 across the Caribbean. Most recently, he has been participating in table tops exercises and field practice deployment exercises with Search and Rescue Teams across United States and Latin America. These exercises allows the disaster response teams to organize, prepare, and become more efficient while using their Camps when disaster strikes.

Jose Alfredo Rodriguez
Regional Supply Chain Director
World Vision International

Omar Smith Gallardo
Director General
Panama SINAPROC - National Civil Protection System

Mr. Omar Smith Gallardo is a Risk Management Professional specializing in prevention, safety, emergency preparedness, and disaster response, with over 25 years of experience. This includes but is not limited to rescue operations, search and recovery, emergency preparedness and response planning, inter-institutional coordination, and risk management consulting in the development of National Emergency and Disaster Response Plans - SINAPROC, Risk Prevention Manuals in Hard-to-Reach Areas for Teachers - SINAPROC-MEDUCA (Ministry of Education), Emergency Operations Centers (COE) - CEPREDENAC, and the Emergency Operations Center Operations Manual - SINAPROC – CEPREDENAC. Mr. Smith led the team responsible for establishing the Regional Operations Center in Colón, and has served as a Health and Environmental Safety Coordinator and Supervisor. Additionally consulting on Wilderness Safety in Hiking and Kayaking. Mr. Smith has also served as a University lecturer at Universidad Especializada de las Américas, teaching courses for Medical Emergency and Disaster Technicians, and Bachelor's Degree students.

Violeta Palma Pérez
UNHRD Panama Hub Manager
UNHRD - UN Humanitarian Response Depot / WFP

Violeta leads the UNHRD Hub in Panama and works closely with the global UNHRD Network. She brings more than 20 years of experience with WFP, building a strong career in Supply Chain. Before joining UNHRD Panama, she served as Head of Procurement in the WFP Uganda Country Office and previously held the same role in the Ethiopia Country Office. She has also worked as a Logistics Officer in the WFP Sudan Country Office and at WFP Headquarters. Her professional background covers a wide range of supply chain functions, including procurement, logistics contracting, and commodity accounting. A national of Spain, Violeta holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Statistics and Operations Research.

Dr. Abner Jiménez
Project Coordinator
GIZ - Central America

Dr. Abner Jiménez is a specialist in land planning, holding a PhD in Geographic Information Technologies. He brings more than 20 years of experience in natural resources monitoring through remote sensing, GIS, and field-based information systems, within international cooperation contexts. Since 2010, he has worked with GIZ in technical and coordination roles, integrating geospatial intelligence into decision-making for environmental governance, territorial planning, and resilience-building. Between 2021 and 2024, he coordinated the Urban Resilience Project, leading multi-stakeholder processes focused on risk-informed planning, vulnerability reduction, and institutional capacity strengthening. His professional trajectory includes collaboration with public institutions, academia, and development partners, with a strong focus on linking science, technology, and policy to improve risk management and climate resilience.

Alejandro Herrera
Deputy Secretary
COMTELCA (Regional Technical Telecommunications Commission)

Alejandro Herrera Mojica is the Deputy Secretary of the Regional Technical Commission of Telecommunications (COMTELCA). A Telecommunications Engineer with master’s degrees in Telecommunications Engineering and Business Administration, he brings over 15 years of experience in regulation, network management, and public policy development within the ICT sector. He has held senior positions at Panama’s National Public Services Authority (ASEP), leading major initiatives on regulatory modernization, spectrum valuation, number portability, and service quality improvement. He actively engages in international forums such as ITU, CITEL, and REGULATEL, fostering digital inclusion and regional cooperation across the Americas.

Alex Lozán
Innovation Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean
WFP - World Food Programme

Alex Lozan is a Regional Innovation Advisor with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Latin America and the Caribbean. He supports Country Offices across the region in advancing food security, nutrition, and emergency response through the design and scale-up of digital tools, data systems, and innovation models. His work includes collaborating closely with governments and partners to co-create solutions that improve programme efficiency, strengthen accountability, and enhance operational impact. With a background in strategy and emerging technologies, Alex specializes in turning complex challenges and new ideas into practical, scalable, and user-centered solutions that deliver results in real-world humanitarian contexts.

Dr. Juan Cesario Sala Rosario
Executive Director
Dominican Civil Defense

Mr. Juan Salas serves as the Executive Director of Civil Defense, and the President of the National Emergency Commission. Currently, he is conducting research leading to a PhD in Environmental Sciences at the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Dominican Republic. He holds a Master's Degree in Higher Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Advertising with a major in Creativity and Management from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), 2004. In addition, he holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law from the University of the Third Age, 2020. Mr. Salas’ professional life has been characterized by a combination of training and experience, having participated in trade delegations, business fairs, conferences and seminars in Asia, the United States, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Juan Salas’ previous positions include former Pro Tempore CEPREDENAC Presidency (2021 – 2022), and current Pro Tempore Presidency CEPREDENAC (2025), a regional organization that works on the implementation of Risk Management policies aimed at saving the lives of more than 60 million people.

Eng. Paulino Alonso
Deputy Director of Instrumentation & Communications
Mexico National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED)

Eng. Paulino Alonso Rivera serves as Deputy Director of Instrumentation and Communications at the Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (CENAPRED), Mexico. Mr. Alonso has more than 25 years of experience in monitoring systems, telecommunications, and early-warning technologies for natural hazards. He has represented Mexico as a delegate and rapporteur before the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and CITEL, contributing technical guidance on emergency and early-warning systems. He has also taken part in specialized committees on regulatory frameworks and alert-system analysis, including the Mexico City Alert Committee, and has recently contributed to the technical groups responsible for deploying the CellBroadcast System. Mr. Alonso actively participates in regional forums and international initiatives on ICTs for disaster risk reduction and multi-hazard early-warning systems, strengthening technical cooperation across Latin America.