The AFS Board of Trustees is excited to welcome three new members: Cristian Vera (Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Americas Region at DHL), Dana Al Anzy (Head of Strategic Partnerships at the Education Above All Foundation) and Noris Bello (Managing Partner at Bello & Diaz Ingenieros Consultores, SRL). They will serve three-year terms, contributing their expertise and leadership to support AFS’s mission of developing Active Global Citizens.
Three new members were also added to the AFS Partner Director Representatives, who work in conjunction with our Board of Trustees: Andrea Franzoi (Intercultura/AFS Italy), Juan Medici (AFS Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil) and Lisa Droessler (AFS Switzerland).
“We are excited to welcome the new members to the AFS Board of Trustees,” said Daniel Obst, AFS President and CEO. “Their deep commitment to our mission, combined with their unique skills and experiences, will be invaluable as we continue to prepare the next generation of leaders to thrive in a globally interconnected world. Their insights will help us navigate the evolving needs of today’s youth and the importance of global education in our complex societies.”
AFS remains committed to expanding the reach and impact of intercultural education. The AFS Board’s leadership will be pivotal as AFS works to adapt to new challenges and seize opportunities for growth and impact in the coming years.
For more information about AFS Intercultural Programs and its Board of Trustees, please click here.
Cristian Vera is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and leadership roles. Currently, he serves as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Americas Region at DHL, where he has worked for the past 17 years. Cristian Vera holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, an Executive Management Program certificate from IPADE Business School, and a degree in Industrial Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. His extensive international experience spans the United States, Latin America, Africa, and beyond, making him a highly accomplished leader in global sales and marketing strategy. Cristian is an alumnus of AFS study abroad programs.
Dana Al-Anzy is the Head of Strategic Partnerships at the Education Above All Foundation. She brings experience from her work with UNHCR, both at the HQ in Geneva and at the Zaatari Refugee Camp. Since 2018, she has served as Qatar’s Youth Ambassador to the AFS Youth Assembly, where she has facilitated the participation of over 70 Qatari delegates. A firm believer in the transformative power of civil society and education, Dana has collaborated with numerous UN agencies and foundations on sustainability projects focused on education access, refugee empowerment, and youth advocacy. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and an Executive Certificate in Advocacy in International Affairs from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Most recently, she graduated with an MSc in Social and Public Communication, specializing in Behavioral Science, from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Noris Bello de Acosta is a Civil Engineer with a postgraduate degree in administration. She has been the co-owner of the firm Constructora Acosta-Bello, SRL for 28 years, taking on both technical and managerial roles in construction, design, and consulting projects. She is also a Managing Partner at Bello & Diaz Ingenieros Consultores, SRL, a firm dedicated to civil project consulting. Noris has been involved with AFS since 2011 as a sending family and host family, and she joined the volunteer program in 2012, continuing her involvement to this day. She has served in nearly every volunteer role, including family interviewer, mentor, member of the Ethics and Discipline Council, event organizer, and conflict mediator. She also served as the President of the local committee in Santo Domingo from 2014-2015, achieving significant organizational development for the team.
Lisa Droessler serves as the Partner Director of AFS Intercultural Programs Switzerland, a role she has held since June 2021. Based in Zurich, she leads the organization’s efforts to promote intercultural education and global citizenship, building on her extensive background in strategy and management. With her diverse experience across industries, Lisa brings a valuable perspective to AFS’s mission of fostering intercultural understanding. Lisa holds an MA in International Affairs and Governance from the University of St.Gallen, Switzerland, and an MA in European Affairs from Sciences Po, France. Lisa was an AFS exchange student in the USA.
Andrea Franzoi has been the Secretary General of Intercultura (Italian Partner of AFS Intercultural Programs) since 2017. Andrea served as the Volunteer Manager at Intercultura since 2009, and was a life-long volunteer for AFS since his study abroad program in 1996 to Germany. He is former Board member for Intercultura and former Board member and Vice Chair for EFIL, the European Federation for Intercultural learning. He served as a co-opted member of AFS Partner Director Representatives in 2018-2019. Before joining AFS as a staff member, Andrea worked in journalism and public relations. He holds a master’s degree in Political Science at the University of Bologna and an executive master in Management of International Organizations at SDA Bocconi in Milan.
Juan Medici is the Partner Director of AFS Argentina and Uruguay, as well as AFS Brazil. He previously served as the Finance Director of AFS Argentina, a board member of the Sentio Global Education Network, and a teacher of Corporate Finance at Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Juan also has experience working in the private sector, including for Coopers & Lybrand (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers), Johnson & Johnson, and CNP Assurances. Juan is an AFS Alumnus. Juan has a Master’s Degree in Finance from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (UTDT) and a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE).