ernesto rey moreno

Chair of the Board

Ernesto Rey Moreno

Ernesto ReyMoreno is the founder and CEO of Empresas REYMORENO, as well as the founder, president, and CEO of Andar_Es GLOBAL MOBILITY. Empresas REYMORENO, based in Colombia, began operations in 1978 in the telecommunications sector and is currently focused on developing projects in Smart Cities and Artificial Inteligent, integrating sustainability, efficiency, and resource optimization. Meanwhile, Andar_Es GLOBAL MOBILITY, headquartered in Spain, supports Latin Americans and global citizens in their international mobility projects, helping them establish subsidiaries, expand their markets, and invest in Europe.

In the social leadership sphere, Ernesto has been a Board of Trustees (BoT) member of AFS International and was honored to be appointed Chair of the Board in November 2024. He previously served as a board member and president of AFS Colombia and was key to found ALEI AFS is an NGO with over 100 years of history and more than 50,000 active volunteers worldwide.

Regarding his academic background, Ernesto studied Art History in Rome, Italy (1977-1978), earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá, 1983), and pursued Philosophy studies at Universidad Nacional de Colombia (1983-1985). He also holds a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Management from the Telecommunications Executive Management Institute of Canada (TEMIC, 1998). Since August 2021, he has been residing in Spain, where he graduated with honors from MBIT School in Madrid with a Master’s Degree in Data Science, October 2024. He is currently pursuing a second Masters Degree in Artificial Intelligence, also at MBIT School.

lennart

Vice Chair of the Board

Lennart D’hulst

Lennart D’hulst is Learning & Development Expert at NMBS, the Belgian railways company. He previously worked as the Expert HR Manager at the same company, and as Project Manager at Bpost (Belgian’s largest parcel delivery company). At the beginning of his career Lennart was a staff member of AFS Belgium Flanders and also the European Federation for Intercultural Learning, the umbrella organization for AFS in Europe. Lennart obtained his master degree in International Relations at Ghent University, Belgium and is a certified project and change manager.  He is an AFS alumnus to South Africa, still an active AFS volunteer in Belgium Flanders.

headshot Obst copy 2

Ex Officio member of the Board

Daniel Obst

Daniel is President & CEO of AFS Intercultural Programs, a global network of 55 member organizations with more than 32,000 volunteers and programs in 99 countries. Under Daniel’s leadership, the 100+-year-old organization has developed a transformative new global strategy focused on three mission-driven impact goals: developing active global citizens, globalizing schools and other institutions and expanding access to intercultural education to young people in underserved communities. In 2021, Daniel led the integration of the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation (FAF) and its flagship program, The Youth Assembly, into AFS.

Before joining AFS in 2016, Daniel was Deputy Vice President of International Partnerships at the Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York, one of the largest and oldest not-for-profit organizations in the field of international educational exchange and development training. At IIE, Daniel provided strategic leadership in the creation and implementation of international academic partnerships and IIE initiatives, including IIE’s 5-year Generation Study Abroad initiative which seeks to double the number of American students who study abroad by the end of the decade. Daniel oversaw all the activities of IIE’s network of 1,400 member institutions, IIE’s publications and higher education services, IIE’s Center for International Partnerships in Higher Education. He also led IIE’s strategic communications team.

Daniel co-edited several publications, including “Developing Strategic International Partnerships”​, “Global Perspectives on International Joint and Double Degree Programs”​ and “Innovation Through Education: Building the Knowledge Economy in the Middle East”​. In 2013, Daniel was appointed to serve on the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO. He serves on the Advisory Council of Diversity Abroad. Daniel has a B.A. in International Relations from the George Washington University (USA) and holds a Master’s degree in European Studies from the London School of Economics (UK).

sq dana

Dana Al-Anzy

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).

1. Yasmin recent pix

Yasmin Ahmad Merican

Yasmin Ahmad Merican is a marketing strategist, brand builder and business transformation practitioner. A former Ernst & Young (EY) global consulting partner, she is interested in the impact of today’s communications processes and technologies on leadership and institutional behaviors. Passionate about building stronger competencies in sustainable goodwill management through better knowledge and governance, she is also author of the ‘The Right to Brand’ (2013), case studying brand building opportunities and challenges in emerging markets. In 2006, she supported the drafting of Malaysia’s nation brand blueprint and contributed towards the country’s successful positioning as a preferred tourist destination between 2000 and 2015. Today, she serves as the Deputy Chair and Governor with the Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance and Chairs the advisory panel on national corruption prevention. She holds an MBA in Strategic Marketing (Distinction) from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. An AFS alumna and former partner director of AFS Malaysia, Yasmin initiated the first multinational exchanges with Japan and the Asia-Pacific in collaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of Education.

Barrett Profile photo

Martyn Barrett

Martyn Barrett is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Surrey, UK. His primary research interests are focused on young people’s intercultural, democratic and global competences, the role of education in promoting the competences required for living in culturally diverse democratic societies and in a globalised world, and young people’s political and civic engagement and active global citizenship. Although he was originally trained as a psychologist, he has a very strong commitment to multidisciplinary research, and over the years he has worked with educationists, sociologists, anthropologists, political scientists and policy analysts.

He has been working as an expert for the Council of Europe since 2006, and from 2013-2018 he led the Council of Europe expert group that developed the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC). He has also worked as an expert for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), helping to develop the conceptual framework and assessments of global competence that took place in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018.

Martyn is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, and he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Psychology by the University of Chichester in the UK in October 2022 “in recognition of his outstanding impact on the education of children and young people and the inspiration his work continues to give across many cultures.” Further details about Martyn may be obtained from his homepage at www.martynbarrett.com.

sq noris

Noris Bello de Acosta

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.

Screenshot 2023-11-14 at 18.06.25

Matteo Biancolini

Matteo Biancolini is an Independent Financial Advisor and Entrepreneur. After receiving a Master’s degree in Finance and Risk Management he specialized in the areas of wealth management, financial planning and financial portfolio investment for private investors and corporations. After many years working in the independent advisory field Matteo has launched a startup called Investitore Strategico and a Research and Study Center on economy and financial markets, where he leads a team of analysts that help people manage and invest their money with the digital help and support of independent financial advisors. His main skills range from financial markets analysis, personal financial planning, financial portfolio investments, wealth management and business model creation.

A life long volunteer since his study abroad with AFS from Italy to the USA in 2003, Matteo is also a former board member and Chair of AFS Intercultura from 2017 to 2023, where he learned new skills in scholarships and fundraising, alongside volunteer’s development and engagement area.

Eloise Dolan Feb 2021

Eloise Dolan

A global education enthusiast and practitioner, Eloise is an AFS alumna (studied abroad in France, 2010), volunteer, former national AFS Australia board member, international qualified trainer, and currently chairs the Board of Trustees Education committee, committed to raising AFS’ profile as a global education organization.

Her professional life is dedicated to global engagement. She is currently an Advisor at the Australian International Trade and Investment Commission, working with international clients to facilitate foreign investment opportunities to support Australia’s net zero ambitions. Eloise’s work has a strong Asia Pacific focus. She has lived in and worked with the region for many years. Prior to her current role she was Strategic Advisor in Singapore to Victoria’s Commissioner to Southeast Asia, and before this led Asia Society Australia’s (ASA) programming; connecting Asia and Australia at the nexus of business and foreign policy. Passionate about youth engagement and global citizenship education, Eloise pioneered ASA’s ‘Generation Asia’ pillar of work, comprising research, partnerships, programs, and the National Gen A Emerging Leaders Forum, founded by Eloise in 2020.

Eloise was awarded the prestigious Tony Adams Rising Star Award during the 2022 Australia International Education Conference (AIEC). She was also nominated as the 2021 Young Woman to Watch by Young Australians in International Affairs.

td_photo

Tolga Dorken

Tolga Dorken is the founding partner of ID Turkiye AS, a technical and project management consultancy firm focusing on accessibility of buildings and public spaces for people with disabilities. He holds a B.Sc. degree in Civil Engineering (METU, Turkey), M.Sc. degree in International Project Management (ESCP, France) and has over 20 years of management experience in the construction industry. Tolga is an AFS exchange program alumnus (from Turkey to the USA 1994-1995). An active AFS volunteer since his exchange year, he is a former board chair of TKV/AFS Turkey.

Amalie-Ferdinand_NEW

Amalie Ferdinand

Amalie Ferdinand is Trade Union Consultant, focusing on the field of teachers’ working conditions. Currently, she works for the Union of Education Denmark, with a focus on negotiations, working conditions and individual and collective agreements. Amalie previously worked as a consultant for the Organisations of Public Employees—Denmark and The Central Organisation of Industrial Employees in Denmark. Amalie is an AFS volunteer in Denmark and a former Board Chair of AFS Denmark. Amalie is an AFS exchange program alumna to Guatemala. Amalie received her Master Degree from Roskilde University during which time she studied a semester in Mexico.

wendy k

Wendy Kuran

Wendy Kuran is Special Advisor to the Provost at Duke University, where she co-leads the development of Duke’s bridging-divides initiative on Pluralism, Free Inquiry, and Belonging. She also has a global role as Senior Director for Global Partnerships and Innovation. Wendy previously served as Associate Vice President of Development for Duke Kunshan University (DKU), a start-up university in China. Before that, she was Associate Dean for Centers and Global Corporate Relations at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. Prior to her transition to academia, she pursued a 25-year career in the health care industry, holding senior-executive positions at UnitedHealthcare, PacifiCare Health Systems and St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, CA.

Wendy earned her A.B. in English Magna cum laude from Princeton University and her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Throughout her career, Wendy has been a board member and consultant for a broad array of nonprofit organizations.

Wendy is an AFS alumna from the flagship study abroad program in Finland and parent to an alum from the program to Chile. She served on the AFS-USA Board from 2019-2025, including a term as Chair.

Filipa+low+reso-3 copy

Filipa Santos

Filipa Santos is an international corporate lawyer and privacy professional with over 20 years of experience working across Europe and Asia. Dual‑qualified in Portugal and Macau, she has built a career advising multinational organizations on legal strategy, data protection, governance, and regulatory compliance. Filipa currently serves as the Regional Data Protection Officer for JAPAC at the L’Occitane Group, where she leads privacy strategy across 22 markets and supports senior leadership in navigating complex and fast‑evolving regulatory landscapes.

Filipa’s connection to AFS spans over two decades. An alumna of the AFS Year Program (Portugal–USA, 1999–2000), she has remained an active volunteer and served in multiple volunteer leadership roles, from Hosting Coordinator and Chapter President in Lisbon to Chair of the Board of AFS Portugal, and more recently, as a Board Member of AFS Hong Kong. Filipa is deeply committed to advancing intercultural learning, global citizenship, youth empowerment, and the mission and values of AFS.

sq cristian

Cristian Vera

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.

wantoe

Wantoe Wantoe

Wantoe T. Wantoe has dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of women and children and has emerged as one of Liberia and Africa’s leading advocates for global sustainability and youth development. Currently, Wantoe serves as a Steering Member on the United Nations Department of Global Communication Youth Steering Committee.

In 2013, Wantoe was appointed as the youth representative to Liberia’s Independent National Human Rights Commission. In 2014, he took on the vital task of documenting the violations committed against 785 orphaned and neglected children during the Ebola outbreak, as a member of the Liberia National Children and Youth Advisory Board. Wantoe is a certified 2019 Obama Foundation Leadership Asset and Dialogue Alumni, as well as a recipient of the 2019 Princess Diana Award. In 2018, he was honored as the Global Young Voices SDGs Champion Winner, and in 2020, he received the Friend of Humanity Distinguished Alumni Award at the Youth Assembly. He further received the Frédéric Ozanam Award in 2021. Wantoe was named one of eight ‘Young Pacesetters for African Development’ by the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network in June 2022, during the Africa Day celebrations at the United Nations Trustee Chambers.

Wantoe earned a Master Degree in Public Policy from the University of Oxford. He is an alumnus of the AFS Youth Assembly.

Roman Wuellner3

Roman Wuellner

Roman Wüllner is a seasoned finance executive and transformation leader with more than 20 years of experience in multinational corporations across Europe. He currently serves as Senior Finance Director for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland at Haleon, a global consumer health company, where he leads a diverse finance team and oversees all financial and statutory responsibilities across multiple entities.

Throughout his career, Roman has focused on strategic transformation, financial governance, and people-centered leadership. He has a proven track record of building high-performing teams, driving growth, and guiding organizations through change. Before joining Haleon, he held senior finance and leadership roles at Mars Inc. and Procter & Gamble.

An AFS alumnus from Germany to the United States (1994/95) and long-term volunteer, Roman is deeply committed to intercultural learning and global citizenship. He has served on the Supervisory Board of AFS Germany for nearly a decade, helping to guide the organization through significant transformation and growth.