Global Impact Partners
Bashan Impact Solutions works with a trusted network of Global Impact Partners - independent advisors and specialists based in countries around the world who bring deep local insight and practical expertise.
These partners are experienced operators who understand how work actually gets done in complex environments. They bring on-the-ground perspective, strong local relationships, and the ability to translate strategy into approaches that are realistic and effective in context.
Together, we provide leaders with both a global perspective and grounded, in-country insight -ensuring that strategies are not only well designed, but workable, credible, and built to hold.
Dr. Ruba Abu Hussein
Dr. Ruba Abu Hussein is a senior economic reform and development specialist with more than 18 years of experience managing high‑impact portfolios across government, USAID, and the private sector. She leads regional economic programs focused on tourism, investment climate reform, competitiveness, and inclusive growth. With a doctorate in public financial management and multiple professional certifications, she is recognized for advancing fiscal reform, digital transformation, and private‑sector‑led development in Jordan and the wider region.
Riaz Ahmed
Riaz Ahmed is a marketing and sales professional from Kashmir, specializing in business development, customer engagement, and market outreach. He works as a management sales officer, where he supports sales strategy, client relationship building, and product promotion across diverse customer segments. Passionate about professional growth and cross‑cultural communication, Riaz brings a fresh perspective rooted in resilience, adaptability, and a deep understanding of community‑driven commerce in the Himalayan region.
Ayat Al Tawil
Ayat Al Tawil is a strategic economic development advisor with more than 12 years of experience aligning growth initiatives with government priorities and private sector dynamics in emerging markets. She specializes in market systems development, MSME growth, access to finance, and workforce development, translating policy into practical strategies. Ayat has managed large-scale portfolios and worked with senior stakeholders to ensure programs are aligned and positioned for long-term performance.
Elizabeth Bellardo
Elizabeth Bellardo is a crisis management and humanitarian policy specialist with more than 20 years of leadership experience responding to emergencies in Sudan, Haiti, Myanmar, Iraq, and beyond. She has advised the White House, National Security Council, and multiple U.S. agencies, and has represented the U.S. on international boards of UN agencies and nonprofit organizations. She now leads Good Work Endeavors, a consulting and executive leadership coaching practice.
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Katie Byrne Plowman
Katie Byrne Plowman is a strategist specializing in sustainability transformation across wellness, lifestyle, and workplace sectors. Through her consultancy, KT Consultancy, she helps organizations integrate social and environmental responsibility into strategy and operations. She also leads the Sustainable Wellness Group, advancing global accreditation and education standards. Her work with initiatives such as World Wellness Weekend and the Sustainable Beauty Coalition reflects her commitment to building purpose‑driven, high‑performing organizations.
Gonzalo “Gonzo” Garcia
Gonzalo “Gonzo” Garcia is a global environmental and risk management leader with 37 years of experience in the energy sector. During his career with Chevron, he held senior roles in incident command, environmental remediation, government affairs, and enterprise risk management. He led environmental, social, and reputation risk efforts in the company’s Center of Excellence and has trained teams worldwide on governance, performance accountability, and responsible operations. He currently resides in Kailua‑Kona, Hawai‘i, where he remains active in community leadership.
Prakash Gnyawali
Prakash Gnyawali is a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) specialist with more than 20 years of experience designing and overseeing results‑based systems across governance, natural resources management, agriculture, disaster risk management, health, and education. He has led MEL initiatives for USAID/Nepal and programs funded by major bilateral donors, advancing data quality, evaluation rigor, and learning cultures across diverse portfolios. Prakash holds a Master’s in Sociology and brings advanced expertise in digital MEL tools.
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Dr. Brendan Halloran
Dr. Brendan Halloran is a global expert in governance, systems change, and adaptive learning with over 15 years of experience advising governments, donors, and civil society on complex development challenges. He has held strategic roles with USAID, the International Budget Partnership, and the Transparency and Accountability Initiative, and has led multi‑country programs supporting community‑driven reform, service delivery, and inclusive governance. His work emphasizes coalition‑building, facilitation, and evidence‑based strategy.
John Holder
John Holder is an urban planner and former U.S. diplomat with over a decade of experience in grants management, policy analysis, and community development across Africa, Latin America, and the United States. With a background in environmental conservation and Peace Corps service, he specializes in partnership building, program oversight, and the integration of cost‑effective, community‑driven solutions in complex operating environments. He is currently based between Geneva and San Diego.
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George S. Kara’a
George S. Kara’a is a governance and public sector reform expert with 20 years of experience advancing institutional modernization, rule of law, and good governance across the Middle East. As the Democracy and Governance Technical Director at USAID/Jordan, he led national anti‑corruption, digital transformation, gender equality, and public administration reforms. He is recognized for his strategic leadership, legal expertise, and ability to drive complex policy and systems change.​​​​​​​
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Anna Karmandarian
Anna Karmandarian is a monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning specialist with more than 15 years of experience supporting complex, multi-sector development programs. She has expertise in designing and implementing performance and learning frameworks for U.S. foreign assistance projects. Working across Jordan, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, Anna is known for applying adaptive learning approaches that strengthen data-informed decision-making and ensure alignment with donor and national priorities.
Gerardo Llanes
​Gerardo Llanes is an international marketing and business development executive with more than 25 years of experience strengthening global brands and tourism destinations. He has held senior roles with Coca-Cola and Kellogg Company across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean, leading major product launches and multi-country operations. Gerardo later founded BrandsLab, advising multinational companies on branding and market strategy. He also served as Chief Marketing Officer of the Mexico Tourism Board and held executive positions developing Yas Island in the UAE and leading sales and marketing for Visit Florida. Most recently, he served as Country Manager for the Americas for Saudi Tourism, guiding the Kingdom’s entry into the North American market and expanding its global visibility.
Ani Manukyan
Ani Manukyan is a social reform and governance specialist with 25 years of experience leading complex development initiatives with USAID and the United Nations. She helps companies and organizations strengthen ethical compliance, mitigate political risk, and build social systems that enable sustainable growth. Ani is known for her ability to forge high‑level partnerships across governments, civil society, and the private sector, and she has managed major portfolios in education, inclusive governance, and social protection.
Malina Mirkhail
Malina Mirkhail is a democracy, governance, and human rights professional with more than a decade of experience managing programs in public sector reform, humanitarian assistance, and electoral support. She brings deep expertise in policy guidance, strategic planning, and cross-sector coordination, and contributed to several elections in Afghanistan, and supported Papua New Guinea’s electoral commission. Malina holds advanced degrees in global diplomacy and business administration.
Isaiah Olatunbosun
Isaiah Olatunbosun is a peacebuilding and human rights researcher specializing in conflict analysis and governance in Nigeria. He has published on separatist movements, state‑building, and Nigeria’s political landscape. Isaiah has contributed to community‑based peace initiatives and currently supports the African Network of Critical Security Scholars as Community Engagement Officer.
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Dani Roziewski
Dani Roziewski is a senior international development professional with more than 30 years of experience in program management, strategic planning, procurement, performance monitoring, evaluation, and organizational development. At USAID’s Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Bureau, she led major budget and strategy functions, managed multimillion‑dollar portfolios, and built systems and teams that strengthened global operations. She is an experienced trainer, facilitator, and advisor with deep expertise across Africa and Latin America.
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Chris Seek
Chris Seek is a sustainable tourism and destination development specialist with more than 20 years of experience advising governments, communities, and industry partners. As CEO of Solimar International, he has supported national strategies, protected area management, and destination stewardship efforts across more than 60 countries. His work focuses on practical, market-informed solutions that strengthen visitor economies while safeguarding cultural and natural assets. Chris also owns and operates the Inn and Tavern at Meander in Virginia, giving him firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges facing small tourism enterprises.
Claire Sneed
Claire Sneed is a peace and security specialist and founder of CultureBridge Partners, with extensive experience in conflict resolution, organizational development, and global team leadership. She previously served as Director of Peacebuilding and Governance at Q2 Impact and as the Women, Peace, and Security Program Lead for the U.S. Department of Defense. Earlier, she spent a decade at the U.S. Department of State supporting conflict stabilization missions worldwide. She brings deep experience designing gender‑inclusive strategies and leading multicultural teams.
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Andrea Sternberg
Andrea Sternberg is a global development leader with over 20 years of experience designing and managing cross‑sector strategies across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Most recently the Deputy Director of USAID/Mozambique’s Integrated Health Office, she oversaw one of the agency’s largest portfolios, spanning HIV, maternal and child health, global health security, and systems strengthening. Andrea is known for her diplomatic leadership, operational vision, and ability to drive measurable, inclusive results in complex settings.
Dr. Marina Vardanyan
Dr. Marina Vardanyan is an environmental and climate specialist with extensive experience designing and leading energy, water resources, and natural resource management programs across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Asia. She has served in senior advisory roles with USAID Missions in Vietnam, Moldova, and Armenia, guiding multimillion‑dollar initiatives in clean energy, environmental governance, and climate resilience. She brings deep expertise in environmental compliance, impact assessment, policy development, and cross‑sector coordination.