Alex joined SEEP in 2019 as Executive Director. In this capacity, he supports SEEP’s committed and talented team in the execution of programs and initiatives, keeping focus on innovation and transformation of the SEEP Network, building on its proud history and current work.
Prior to joining SEEP, Alex served as the Chief Innovation Officer at CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, a 6000+ global network of civil society organizations and activists. He led key initiatives at the intersection of data, technology, and civil society advocacy and strengthening. Prior to this, Alex worked at Counterpart International, where he held a variety of leadership positions for more than a decade, including overseeing the organization’s $60-million programs portfolio in more than 25 countries, partnering with 3,400 organizations, as its Vice President of Programmes.
Born in Iran, he and his family have benefited first-hand from the important role citizen action and community organizations play in improving lives especially at times of crisis. Alex spent a good part of his adult life in Armenia—his ancestral homeland—where he worked with and learned from local leaders as they forged a new path after independence from the Soviet Union. He is passionate about figuring out how human beings can have a louder, more powerful voice and unhindered agency in what happens to their lives and in their communities; he firmly believes to never ask for permission when what’s at stake is ensuring human dignity.
Mashal supports the development and implementation of SEEP’s digital communications, including outreach and advocacy campaigns, social media, the SEEP blog and partner relations. In addition, she explores and manages platforms conducive to learning for SEEP events. Prior to joining SEEP, Mashal lent research and editing support to a variety of books and publications in international politics at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, where she also received her Master’s degree in International Affairs. She has experience working in consular affairs with the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad and received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Lahore University of Management Sciences. Mashal is an avid photographer and an occasional stand-up comedian.
Jonathan is the point person on all things membership. He is a social innovation practitioner and is passionate about design thinking and catalyzing social change through collaborative innovation and data.
Jonathan joined the SEEP Network in 2021 as Lead on Network Advancement and Innovation. In this capacity, he supports a data-driven and member-led approach to innovate, test, and build on the network’s added value to global development. Jonathan is also involved in co-designing membership benefits, co-creating an ecosystem for members to collaborate and learn from each other, and deepening member engagement in the network.
Jonathan has a blend of experience in network design and co-creating multi-stakeholder networks for the purposes of collaboration, serving the civil society sector with CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the inter-governmental sector with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Fabiola Diaz is the Program Manager for Women's Economic Empowerment & Savings Groups. In this role, she is responsible for managing the Women’s Economic Empowerment Global Learning Forum and the Mastercard Foundation Savings Portfolio Partnership. She works with senior management to cultivate strategic alliances and support learning initiative design and implementation in the thematic areas of Women’s Economic Empowerment and Financial Inclusion through Savings Groups. Prior to joining SEEP, Fabiola worked at RESULTS Educational Fund as a Program Manager for the Microcredit Summit Campaign advocating for financial inclusion to improve the lives of the poor. She is originally from Venezuela and holds a BS and MS in Economics and Latin American Studies from the University of Cologne, Germany. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and German.
Mbayang Diouf Diop is the Director of Finance at the SEEP Network. She is responsible for the financial, accounting and administrative operations of the organization, and is a certified public accountant with more than 15 years of experience in non-profit financial management. She has a proven track record of driving sustainable growth in partnership with senior industry board members, is conversant in all aspects of operations and grant management, and has successfully led the preparation of multiple organization-wide audits. Prior to assuming the position of SEEP’s Director of Finance, Mbayang served several non-profits in the DC area. Mbayang has a deep interest in women economic empowerment in developing countries. Like Kofi Annan, she believes that “there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”
As Officer for Learning & Programs, Bri works to enable innovative and effective learning opportunities and methods across SEEP programming through Peer Learning Groups, conferences, trainings and webinars. Since joining SEEP in 2016, she supports several ongoing initiatives focused on learning and collaboration within Women’s Economic Empowerment and financial inclusion through Savings Groups, including coordination of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Working Group.
Bri graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in Political Science and Spanish, and a minor in Chinese Language and Culture. She speaks English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
As a key member of the programs team, Mwango supports global programs and events across SEEP’s four practice areas: Women’s Economic Empowerment, Resilient Markets, Savings Groups and Responsible Finance in her role as Program Assistant, Global Communications and Events.
With over 5 years of working experience with international development organizations, including KFHIZ and UNCDF, prior to joining the SEEP Network, Mwango worked in areas of financial inclusion and child development supporting key programs through knowledge management and communications.
Mwango is Zambian and holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Zambia.
David Panetta leads the SEEP Network's program portfolio, including Women's Economic Empowerment, Resilient Markets, Savings Groups, and Responsible Finance practice areas.
He is a certified Project Management Professional®, with 17 years’ experience in international development, specialized in financial inclusion, market systems development, and collaborative learning.
David has led the development of economic empowerment programs in over 20 countries – working with the Aga Khan Foundation, DFID, Plan International, Mercy Corps, VSL Associates, World Vision, and over one hundred local NGOs and governments.
David is based in Montreal, Canada – and has previously lived in Bangladesh, Colombia and Spain. He has a Master’s in Economics from McGill University and is fluent in English, French, and Spanish.
As the Program Assistant, Programs and Network Advancement, Caroline Smith supports member engagement and digital communications. Prior to joining SEEP, Caroline worked in foreign policy and advocacy as a Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellow at Win Without War. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BPhil in International Area Studies (Conflict Resolution) and Political Science, as well as a minor in Turkish. She speaks English, Arabic, and Turkish and enjoys practicing her basic French skills.
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