Directors and Advisors
Board of Directors
Amber Chand
Amber Chand is the Founder and President of The Women’s Peace Collection, a mission-based enterprise that supports craftswomen in regions of conflict and post-conflict. A major focus of Amber’s work is to support peace-building initiatives in regions of conflict and offering craft as a symbolic expression for reconciliation.
Previously, Amber was one of the visionary co-founders behind Eziba, a multi channel retailer of handcrafted objects from around the world founded in 1999. During the company’s five- year history she was instrumental in creating and dramatically growing a socially responsible enterprise that directly contributed to the economic and cultural viability of artisan communities worldwide.
She is an active member of the Business Advisory Council for Women for Women International, a global organization supporting women in regions of conflict. She sits on the Board of the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, a philanthropic organization that grew out of the Beijing 1995 Conference. In 2006, she was invited to join the Wise Women Circle at the World Bank/IFC, an advisory group that offers support to micro craft enterprises around the world
Adam Ruderman
Adam Ruderman has been an entrepreneur for over 25 years, creating or helping to create 7 companies and organizations, mostly within the field of organic food and sustainable agriculture. All of the enterprises have had a social mission and a sense of purpose. His New York City restaurant and catering company, Herban Kitchen (1994-2004), provided healthy and tasty all-organic meals, educated the public about organic food and forged ties between local family farmers and the restaurant community.
Adam believes in the power of private enterprise to produce both financial and social returns, and to improve the world as part of the organizational mission. Adam believes that all organizations need to be responsible for their actions and create sustainable practices. Adam also believes that non-profit organizations must provide real value and create self-funding mechanisms that provide streams of revenue which insure their long-term survival.
Adam received his BA in Political Economy from Williams College, grew up in New York City, and now resides in Northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife, Katie, and sons, Jake (5) and Phineas (3).
Gwen Young
Gwen Young has worked as a Policy and Advocacy Officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. An alumna of Smith College, Harvard and the University of California Davis, Martin Luther King Jr School of Law, Ms. Young has pursued a career in humanitarian relief, international development, and human rights. Her career has encompassed a comprehensive array of international organizations including MSF, International Rescue Committee, ACCION International, CARE and the Harvard Institute for International Development. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Young spent over five years working with various nongovernmental organizations in strife-filled countries throughout Africa. As an attorney, Ms. Young has worked as a professional advocate for refugee and human rights in both corporate law settings and with the ICTY and the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego. She also worked as a Humanitarian Affairs Advisor for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) providing humanitarian law, human rights, and advocacy training in conflict ridden zones. Ms. Young has published in the field of international human rights and international criminal law. She is a member of a long list of international legal organizations and associations, including American Society of International Law and a several legal bars in California and Europe. Additionally, Ms. Young has spoken before the UN Commission on Human Rights on issues close to her heart.
Matou Coulibaly
Biography coming soon.
Daniel Da Hien
Biography coming soon.
Advisors in the US
Barbara Bonner
Fundraising and Institutional Advancement
A private consultant to nonprofits in the areas of fundraising, management and board strengthening, Barbara spent over 25 years managing and leading the fund raising efforts of cultural institutions in New York City and the Berkshire region.
Barbara served as Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA from 2006 to 2009 and before that as Vice President of Bennington College where she oversaw the planning, staffing and early implementation of a $100 million capital campaign. Before Bennington she held senior positions at The Cathedral Museum at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, The Asia Society, and the Museum of the City of New York. Additionally, she has served on many boards. In New York she was a trustee of the Erick Hawkins Dance Foundation, a member of the committee for The Dance Collection of Lincoln Center and chaired the board of Women in Development.
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