Staff
  HQ STAFF
   
rc Rupak Chattopadhyay [President and CEO] has master's degrees in economics and political science from the University of Ottawa and the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) and did his doctoral work in political science at the University of Toronto. He was closely involved with the peace process in Sri Lanka and discussions on constitutional reforms in the Philippines in his previous capacity as Director Asia-Pacific programs. He was also a member of the Consultative Group on the Study of Intergovernmental Relations and Dispute Resolution Mechanisms, Inter-State Council, Government of India. He co-editor of the five-volume series covering the proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Federalism, entitled "Unity in Diversity: Learning from Each Other". He is also co-editor of "Dialogues on Diversity and Unity in Federal Countries" and "Finance and Governance of Capital Cities in Federal Systems".
   
missing Charles Cloutier [Vice President] Over the past 20 years, Charles has worked for various international/community development organizations such as the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, Oxfam Canada and CUSO. He was also Regional Director in the Outaouais for Transcontinental Media where he was responsible for the publication of 7 weekly community newspapers. He was a founding member of the Franco Ontarian theatre La Nouvelle Scene and sits on the Board of a Credit Union. Charles is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and University of Laval where he earned his Chartered Accountant designation. He is fluent in both French and English.
   
   
se Sheela Embounou [Head, Monitoring and Funder Relations] brings to the Forum over 20 years experience in program and financial management.  She was previously Senior Director for Finance and Operations at the Forum.  Prior to joining the Forum she worked for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Republic of Congo, Ghana and Kenya.  She graduated from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth majoring in Human Geography.  Her languages are English and French.
   
fk Felix Knüpling [Head, Programs and Partnerships]holds a Master's Degree in Political Science from Free University Berlin and a BA in International Relations from University of Kent (Canterbury). He was previously Director for Europe and Australia at the Forum. He has been with the German parliament - the Bundestag - for six years and also worked at the International Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO in Brussels. Felix has co-edited three books on federalism and has written several articles. He is fluent in German and English.
   
Dr. Brecht is a career diplomat and is on secondment from the German Foreign Office. He will support the Forum’s programs in South and East Asia. Dr. Brecht worked with the German Foreign Service since 1982 and had postings in Beijing, Rangoon, Santiago de Chile, Sydney, Paris. Most recently he was Germany’s Consul-General in Karachi, Pakistan. He has a PhD in law from the University of Tuebingen and speaks German, French and English. Dr. Brecht’s secondment constitutes part of Germany’s partnership contribution to the Forum of Federations. Dr. Brecht is Germany’s forth secondment to the Forum. He succeeds Joern Rhode (2007), Hans Gnodtke (2008), and Reinold Herber (2009-2011).
   
dc Diana Chebenova [Director, South America Programs and Partnerships-Maternity Leave] is responsible for the Forum's program in South America, and has worked on projects in Russia, Mexico and India. She has an MA in commerce from the University of Economics of Bratislava and an MA in international affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. Diana speaks Slovak, Czech, Spanish, English, Russian, and some Portuguese.
   
   
Forumfed Fauziah Pruner [Finance Officer]  joined the Forum of Federations in January 2009 is responsible for corporate accounting and financial reporting. She is a Certified General Accountant and has extensive experience in both private and public sectors.
   
missing Oludare Austin Ayeni [Finance Officer] has over 20 years professional experience in banking, credit administration and accounting. He holds a diploma in Business Management (OND) and a diploma in Banking and Finance (HND) from Nigeria. He also has a diploma in Accounting and a post graduate certificate in Accounting and Information Technology (Canada). He has worked at the Commercial Bank (Credit Lyonnais) and the Universal Trust Bank, both in Nigeria; and several NGO’s in Canada as a finance clerk, general accountant, revenue accountant and project accountant. He speaks both English and Yoruba.
   
Rosanne Beaudoin [Project Officer] has over 20 years of experience in Administration and Project work. Before joining the Forum, she worked in non-profit organizations which specialized in community and health services supporting various Directors, Managers and Committees. She speaks English and French.
 

 
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Rhonda Dumas [Project Officer] her past experience includes bookkeeping, conference planning and corporate travel. In her previous position, she was responsible for membership with a non-profit organization focusing on youth issues. She speaks English and French.
   

Phillip Gonzalez [Project Officer] has a Master’s degree in International Relations from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.  There he conducted his major research thesis on Globalisation and State autonomy.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from La Trobe University, Australia, completing a double major in politics and history.  Phillip has previously worked at the Canadian Foundation for the Americas as well as the Australian High Commission in Ottawa. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
   
 
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Chris Randall [Network Manager-Contractor] is a computer engineer who has been with the Forum of Federations since August 1999. He does system design and user support for the Forum. His languages are English and French.
   

Nabarun Roy   has a Ph.D. in Political Science with a concentration in International Politics from Carleton University, Ottawa. He did his M.A. in Politics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and his B.A. in History from Delhi University. He has taught courses and conducted workshops on International Relations at Carleton University. He worked for MANFORD Centre for Peace, New Delhi, and has provided research assistance to the membership of the Consultative Committee on External Affairs, Government of India. He has contributed to the Forum’s programs on resource management, internal markets, and metropolitan governance.  He is fluent in Bengali, English, and Hindi.
   
  ETHIOPIA-OFFICE
   
sh Shawn Houlihan [Senior Director-Africa] has an MA in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a BA and Master of Development Economics from Dalhousie University. He spent five years in Ethiopia (1993-1998) in governance and civil service reform. He also has extensive experience in Sudan, for Canada and for the United National Development Programme. He worked as a consultant for the Canadian International Development Agency on matters of governance, capacity development and conflict management, including on the Middle East, Horn of Africa, Pan Africa and Southern Africa. Shawn is currently based in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia.
   
Forum of Federations Teshome  Mekonnen [Program Advisor] has a M.A in Peace and Security Studies from the joint program of United Nation University of Peace and Addis Ababa University Institute for Peace and Security Studies. Also, he has a B.A in Geography from Addis Ababa University. Teshome has 14 years professional work experience in the area of governance, peace building, conflict management, and federalism. Since March 2010, he is working as Program Advisor at the Forum’s Ethiopia Country Office.
   
Forum of Federations Martha Sahlou [Administration Officer] Has a BA in Business Management and Diploma in Computer Science and Accounting. Martha served as an Auditor, database Administrator, IT core staff member and trainer on Microsoft applications for the Office of Auditor General in Ethiopia. She was nominated by AFROSAI-E as a trainer of IT Audit for English speaking African countries and took IT Audit trainings in Zimbabwe, Lesotho and South Africa.  She also worked as Admin Assistant /Accountant position for ACE Project (CIDA funded Canadian project), and as Admin Assistant and Intranet Guru Team for Engender Health Ethiopia Office. She has been working as a Project Administrator for Forum’s Ethiopia Country Office.
   
Forum of Federations Meron Girma [Administration Assistant] has a BA in Economics from Alpha University and is currently studying for her MA in Social Work at Indragandi University, India. Meron has about three years of experiences in both international and local NGO such as EngenderHealth and PHE Ethiopia respectively. She joined the Forum’s Ethiopia Office as Admin Assistance, and assists in planning and organizing activities of the Office.
   
Forum of Federations Endale Girma [Facilitator] has a Diploma in Auto-mechanics and close to ten years of work experience. He renders safe and timely transportation services and assists with logistical tasks at the Forum’s Ethiopia Country Office.
   
  NEPAL-OFFICE
   

Anju Lamichhane [Program Manager, Nepal Country Office] holds Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Tribhuwan University, Nepal. Before joining the Forum she worked with Public International Law and Policy Group (PILPG-Nepal) for three years as Program Officer, where she managed the program and closely worked with the Member of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal. She also holds a Diploma from University of Fribourg, Switzerland on Federalism, Decentralization and Diversity. Her paper on "Federalism and State Restructuring in Nepal'' was selected for top 10 best student's paper. She also volunteered with United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) as Long Term Observer during the Constituent Assembly Election of Nepal held in April 10, 2008.
   
   
   
 

ADVISORS
 
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George Anderson [President Emeritus and Senior Adviser (Consultant)] George R.M. Anderson has been President and CEO of the Forum of Federations  2005-2011.  He served over thirty years in Canada’s federal public service, where his positions included Deputy Minister of Natural Resources (2002-2005) and Deputy Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs in the Cabinet office (1996-2002)  He held assistant deputy minister level positions in the energy, finance and foreign ministries.  He has degrees in political science from Queen’s University and Oxford University, and a diploma from the École nationale d'administration in Paris.  He was a fellow at Harvard University's Center for International Affairs in 1992-93.   He is the author of Federalism: An Introduction (Oxford University Press: 2008) and is a trustee of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
   
missing Reinold Herber [Senior Program  Advisor, Europe (Consultant)] joined the Forum on Aug. 1, 2008. He is on a three-year secondment from the German Foreign Service, where he worked since 2002. Previously, Mr. Herber worked at the Press and Information Office of the German Federal Government. At the Forum, he is working on planning and research projects, co-editing the German edition of Federations Magazine and co-ordinating Global Dialogue and the Young Professionals Program.  Mr. Herber has a PhD and a diploma in economics from the University of Cologne. He taught political science at the Universities of Bonn and Trier, Germany. He was involved in a number of research projects of the EU, World Bank and IMF, mainly in Eastern Europe. He speaks German and English.
 

 
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Udo Jude Ilo [Senior Program Adviser, Nigeria (Consultant)] was senior programs officer at the Nigerian Bar Association, research assistant at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law in London, and secretariat co-ordinator for the Nigerian Coalition on the Death Penalty Abolition, among other appointments. He has a Master of Laws degree from Central European University in Budapest, a Barrister at Law from the Nigerian Law School and an LLB from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

 
dp David Parks [Senior Program Advisor, Latin America (Consultant)] He has an MA in international development. Before joining the Forum, he worked in Mexico, developed alternative energy projects in Cuba and also worked with fair trade coffee producers in Central America. His languages are English and Spanish.
 

 
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Leslie Seidle [Senior Program Advisor (Consultant)] previously held a number of senior positions in the Government of Canada, including director general of Strategic Policy and Research, Intergovernmental Affairs in the Privy Council Office (1996-2002). He was the senior research coordinator for the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing (1990-91). He is the author of Rethinking the Delivery of Public Services to Citizens (1995) and numerous articles on electoral reform, citizen participation, constitutional reform, public management and political finance. Dr. Seidle has edited/co-edited 13 books, including Immigrant Integration in Federal Countries (McGill-Queen’s University Press, forthcoming 2012) and Belonging? Diversity, Recognition and Shared Citizenship in Canada (IRPP, 2007).
   

Mr Dalbir Singh [Senior Program Advisor, India (Consultant)] is member of National Task Force on Local Governance & Decentralization and Secretary General of Foundation for Policy & Governance. He was previously Chairman of the Board of Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi. He was also a member of Consultative Group for Conflict Resolution, Govt. of India. Mr. Singh holds honours degrees in law & commerce from Delhi University and Masters in Business Administration. As National Secretary of Indian National Congress has handled responsibilities of North East India, Communication & Information, in addition to association with numerous nation al level Committees of the Party relating to Policy, Planning, strategy, Logistic Management, Coordination of National & provincial elections.