We envision a global social impact sector that practices feminist leadership and sustains organisations embracing feminist principles and culture at all levels.
We work to equip individuals and institutions within the global social impact sector with feminist tools and strategies; mobilise and advocate for feminist leadership at all levels; and hold the sector accountable to parity and representation.
The FAIR SHARE Monitor and commitment focuses on increasing the number of women in leadership positions within the global social impact sector. When we say women, we mean everyone identifying as a woman - transgender, intersex, cisgender- from all corners of the world and no matter their journey towards leadership.
But this is only one piece of the puzzle needed to increase diversity among leadership. The future leadership teams of the sector should represent the diversity of their staff and the people they work with, bringing in leaders from all genders, races, ages, nationalities, economic and social backgrounds.
With FAIR SHARE we seek to contribute to a wider debate on diversity, inclusion and intersectionality, and ultimately open the doors for a new generation of leaders that change their organisations and the world.
Brita Fernandez Schmidt serves as the Executive Director of Women for Women International – UK and is the Senior Vice President for Global Partnerships (Global). She is responsible for the operation and management of Women for Women International in the UK and Europe. Alongside this, Brita also sits on the Board of Directors for Žene za Žene (Women for Women) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosova Women for Women International in Kosovo and Women for Women International (DE).
Brita Fernandez Schmidt is an advocate and promoter of women’s empowerment, women’s rights and equality. She frequently writes about the challenges women face all over the world in the context of poverty and conflict. Brita is a public speaker on these issues. She has lived and/or worked in over 16 countries spanning three continents.
Ingrid Srinath is the founder Director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Ashoka University, the first academic centre in South Asia to focus on these themes. She has been a passionate advocate for human rights, social justice and civil society for over 20 years leading organisations in India and around the world including CRY (Child Rights and You), CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, CHILDLINE India and Hivos India.
Malayah is a renowned expert and feminist leader who has delivered outstanding results in gender equality, women’s leadership development, HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. She most recently served as Secretary General of the World YWCA and has been part of the FAIR SHARE development from the very beginning.
Uygar is a civil society and environmental activist, and social entrepreneur. He has been the advisor to the Minister of State for Environment (1989-90); a Fulbright Scholar and a MacArthur Scholar; Assistant Professor and Chair of Environmental Science at Erciyes University (2000-2004); Environmental Specialist at the United Nations Development Program (2004-2006); Executive Director of TEMA Foundation (2006-2008), and Greenpeace Mediterranean (2008-2012).
Uygar was founding chairman of Doğa Derneği (BirdLife Partner) in 2002 and KusBank.org, the first citizen science and crowd-sourcing system in Turkey. He was also a founding and board member of the Civil Society Development Center, and served for two terms on the board of CIVICUS – World Alliance for Citizen Participation. He founded Change.org Turkey Chapter in 2012 and is still the Executive Director. He also founded Prosumer Economy Society, and Good4Trust.org – a prosumer economy system which he leads. Dr. Özesmi teaches sustainable energy at Kadir Has University and social entrepreneurship at Istanbul University, and has a daily radio program at Açık Radyo.
Until March 2018 Penny was Deputy Chief Executive at Oxfam GB where she led organisational change. Penny was Oxfam’s GB’s Programmes Director from 2006 – 2015 – strategic and operational lead of Oxfam’s programmes in over 60 countries. Penny combines operational and strategic leadership experience with an interest in organisational development and a life-long commitment to social justice. She was previously Programmes Director at VSO and has lived and worked in Sudan, Zimbabwe and Ghana.
Now an independent researcher, coach and consultant, Penny’s current interests includes the changing role of charities in our more polarised, digital age and why there are so few women leaders in the top organisational positions.
Burkhard has been the CEO of Save the Children International, Greenpeace Germany and terre des hommes Germany. He has co-founded and led the International Civil Society Centre and, most recently, initiated and co-founded FAIR SHARE. He has been Board Chair or Board Member of civil society organisations in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, India, Korea and Japan. Burkhard published The Hedgehog and the Beetle, a book on disruption and transformation in the civil society sector.
Helene founded FAIR SHARE of Women Leaders e.V. two years ago and has been leading the setup of the initiative on a voluntary basis since then. Before that she served as the Deputy Executive Director at the International Civil Society Centre where she led and managed the development from a start-up phase to a mid-sized organisation. In this capacity she also worked closely with the top leadership of the largest internationally operating civil society organisations on issues such as governance, accountability and cooperation. She lives in Berlin, Germany and has two sons.
Carolin is the Project Manager at FAIR SHARE, leading the coordination of the FAIR SHARE campaign in Germany. She has 15 years of experience in working for NGOs and brings in expertise in the management of national and international projects and the consultation of its respective civil society actors.
Before joining FAIR SHARE, Carolin worked as a project manager for the German Digital Opportunities Foundation and the Berlin Institute for Comparative Social Research. Her thematic focus lies on gender, migration and inclusion issues, for which she has continuously researched and published.
She holds a master’s degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology (Freie Universität Berlin, Germany) and a Postgraduate Master of European Studies (Humboldt Universität Berlin.
Lea is a Project Manager at FAIR SHARE and responsible for Communications and the Digitalization of the FAIR SHARE Monitor.
Thanks to her work for the European Youth Parliament and the Schwarzkopf Foundation Young Europe she has more than 8 years of experience in political education, capacity building and youth empowerment. Most recently, she worked as a Consultant for Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility.
Lea holds a Master’s degree in International Relations (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Universität Potsdam) and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and French Studies (Martin-Luther-Universität Halle Wittenberg, Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès).
Lisa is a Junior Associate, who assists the Executive Director with the management of the FAIR SHARE Monitor and the development of future international strategies.
Lisa has worked as a project assistant at a Berlin-based NGO that seeks to promote the Global Action Program on Education for Sustainable Development. Here, she incorporated an intersectional, anti-racist and environmental approach in her work. Furthermore, Lisa gained work experience on gender mainstreaming during her time at the GIZ in the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Lisa completed her Bachelor’s degree in African Studies at the University of Leipzig before moving to the Netherlands for her Masters in International Relations and International Organisations at the University of Groningen. She enjoyed applying post-colonial or post-development theories on the topics of international development and international climate and environmental governance.
Sophia Seawell is a Project Associate at FAIR SHARE. She is responsible for the communications of the international campaign and supporting the Executive Director with fundraising projects.
Sophia comes to FAIR SHARE from international feminist fund Mama Cash, where she developed a social media strategy, managed all social media channels and produced online written as well as audiovisual content.
Outside of her role at Mama Cash, Sophia was involved with developing and facilitating workshops on safety and inclusion in nightlife with Stichting SexMatters. She also moderated events and kept her passion for writing alive as a freelance writer and journalist.
Sophia holds a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University in Gender and Sexuality Studies as well as a Research Master’s degree from Utrecht University in Gender and Ethnicity Studies.
Alyssa is a recent graduate with a passion for reducing inequalities and empowering women and girls. She has previously worked on projects in Europe relating to the protection of civic rights and the creation of resilient civil societies, but is currently volunteering with local nonprofits at home in Alberta, Canada. To Alyssa, volunteering for FAIR SHARE means an opportunity to help advance a feminist agenda- one that echoes equality, inclusion, and empowerment. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Alberta and spent a semester studying at the National University of Singapore.
Orlaith Hendron holds a degree in Politics from The Queen’s Univeristy of Belfast and has 10 years experience in feminist and LGBTQI* grassroots activism. She was the Women’s Sector Lobbyist for Northern Ireland and has five years experience in Digital Communications and Marketing in Berlin. Orlaith was also the elected Chair of the International LGBTQI Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO) for two years and has been active in the REPEAL campaign in Ireland and with fundraising activities from Berlin for the Abortion Support Network in London. Her main interests are in intersectional feminist online campaigning and grassroots activism.
Beyza Sel holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Hacettepe University and is particularly interested in women’s empowerment and children’s rights. She worked on a project related to gender-based violence in the EU for the General Directorate on Status of Women in the Ministry of Family and Social Policies in Turkey. She has also worked as a journalist in a leading Turkish newspaper and is planning to study a master’s degree in communications and media in Germany.
Serafina Serra holds a Master of Arts in Languages and Civilizations of Asia and Africa (University of Turin), with a focus on postcolonial Hindi literature.
After her studies, she worked mainly in the social and cultural field, improving her skills of project design and project management.
She’s driven by whatever involves creativity and a meaningful social impact.
