The Torchlight Collective elevates leading technical experts and advocates in global health, human rights, social movements, gender equality, and international development. We are advocates, researchers, policy wonks, creatives, human rights activists, community organizers, development professionals, writers, communicators, trainers, and journalists.
What brings us together is our shared vision of a world where all communities have access to the tools, financing, and resources they need to support their self-determination, upend global systems of oppression, and realize their health, wellbeing, and human rights.
ADEDAMOLA ADEBAYO
Adedamola is a design researcher specializing in adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health, and the intersection with climate change. LEARN MORE
BEATRICE OKECH
Beatrice Okech, a dynamic multi-hyphenate from Kenya, embodies a genuine commitment to catalyzing positive change through her diverse skill set. LEARN MORE
BERGEN COOPER
Bergen Cooper is the COO of The Torchlight Collective, and an executive manager, researcher, and advocate in the field of human rights, specializing in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). LEARN MORE
CAITLIN CHANDLER
Caitlin Chandler is a journalist, writer, and recipient of a 2020 International Women’s Media Foundation Fund for Women Journalists. LEARN MORE
CATHERINE KILFEDDER
Catherine is a project management specialist with nearly two decades of experience working in international development and human rights. She is passionate about sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice and has spent the past 15 years working in this area. LEARN MORE
CELESTE ABREVAYA
Celeste has a degree in Sociology from the University of Buenos Aires and is a specialist in Care Policies with a Gender Perspective from CLACSO. She has extensive experience in the planning and implementation of public policies on human rights, memory policies, human trafficking, violence and care. LEARN MORE
CHRISTINE SAYO
I have 14 years of experience in communications and advocacy departments of Nongovernmental Organizations nationally, regionally, and globally. I am a passionate professional who enjoys using various tools and channels to communicate and advocate for developmental issues. LEARN MORE
CLARISA REGEDE
Clarisa Regede is a human rights policy specialist with 9 years experience of working on diverse humanitarian issues in multi-cultural contexts. She is currently a policy consultant working with grassroots organisations in Southern Africa, building their capacity to solve SRHR community problems through efficient grant processes, prudent evidence-building, deliberate stakeholder engagement, and innovation. LEARN MORE
EMMANUEL ADEBAYO
Emmanuel is a researcher and a University lecturer with specific interest in Adolescent health and development. LEARN MORE
ENRICO GIANFRANCHI
Born in Italy, raised in Ghana, and currently residing in Mexico, Enrico seeks a culturally open and structurally sound way to communicate for a better world. His varied and ever-expanding cultural roots drive a profound curiosity around how identities are created and perceived as part of the contemporary human experience. LEARN MORE
ERICK MONTERROSAS
With over a decade of experience working with civil society organizations, philanthropic foundations, and academic institutions, Erick's expertise encompasses technical assistance and applied research on participatory methodologies, capacity building, public policy, advocacy, community feedback, organizational learning, and evaluation. LEARN MORE
GÉNESIS LUIGI
Génesis is a Venezuelan behavioral and social psychologist, as a feminist advocate, she specializes in sexual health and rights and reproductive justice. LEARN MORE
GILLIAN NIJKA
Gillian Njika is an independent contractor with 2 decades of experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and HIV prevention. Her technical expertise and skills include program management, research, and curriculum development. LEARN MORE
HEATHER BARCLAY
As a human rights and gender specialist with a legal background, Heather has extensive senior-level experience in the design, development, and implementation of high-level strategies. LEARN MORE
ISABELLA LEWIS
Isabella is a strategic, creative, delivery-focused Prince2 certified project manager, researcher, and facilitator with extensive experience in implementing strategic programmes, leading multi-region and multi-lingual engagement, and working across diverse communities. LEARN MORE
KATHERINE (KAT) WATSON
Katherine (Kat) is a qualified lawyer and researcher with over 15 years of experience. Kat has been a consultant since 2014 and was a founding member of The Torchlight Collective. LEARN MORE
KATE MATHESON
Kate is a social justice advocate with over fifteen years’ programmatic, research, and advocacy experience in gender and sexual health and rights across all global regions, in both development and humanitarian contexts. LEARN MORE
KAYOAYONAAZ KALYANWALA
Kayonaaz is a writer and researcher who specialises in using communications for development passionate about enabling communities to voice their concerns and experiences to the world. LEARN MORE
LINDSAY MENARD-FREEMAN
Lindsay is the Founder and CEO of The Torchlight Collective, bringing over a decade of activism, organizing, and forceful optimism to her work with young people and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). LEARN MORE
LOWRI DAVIES
Lowri Davies is a seasoned professional with 8 years of experience in the international development and humanitarian sectors, specializing in research, evidence, and impact. Her career is marked by significant contributions in program management, partnership development, and both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. LEARN MORE
MADHU JAGDEESHAN
I am a queer feminist who for more than 15 years has been working on the politics of resource justice. I have over a decade of work experience in research and feminist Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), specifically focusing on qualitative and participatory methodologies. LEARN MORE
MARGHERITA SGORBISSA
Margherita Sgorbissa is a Southern European, queer, and working-class-born senior consultant in the social justice and impact space. She has a background in Culture, Communication & Gender Studies. LEARN MORE
MARIANA PALUMBO
I am a sociologist from the University of Buenos Aires. At the University of Buenos Aires, I completed a Master's degree in Social Science Research. I hold a PhD in Social Sciences (UBA) with a scholarship from the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas). LEARN MORE
MARIJA JAKOVLEVIC
Marija has 15 years of engagement connecting feminism, human & environmental rights, peacebuilding, social & solidarity economy and progressive philanthropy. LEARN MORE
MARISSA BILLOWITZ
Marissa Billowitz is an accomplished senior-level professional with twenty years of experience in local and global non-profit and academic organizations. LEARN MORE
MOHAMED HARBY
Harby is an SRHR advocate combining a MSc in Global public health and policy and more than 7 years of professional technical experience in planning, implementation and evaluation of SRHR programmatic and advocacy projects. LEARN MORE
MWIKALI KIVUVANI
Mwikali is a public health specialist that advocates for the sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR) of young people, women and marginalized groups at the national, regional and international levels. LEARN MORE
OLAOLUWA ABAGUN
Olaoluwa (Ola) Abagun is a Nigerian human rights lawyer, an unapologetic feminist, and an ardent advocate for youth-led change-making. She is the Executive Director of ATHENA Network - a global feminist collective that advances gender equality and human rights in the global response to HIV/AIDS.. LEARN MORE
RADHIKA BIJOYINI GUPTA
Radhika is a writer and researcher with an interest in environment, gender, land rights and sustainable lifestyles. LEARN MORE
RICARDO BARUCH
Ricardo is an activist and researcher from Mexico with extensive experience in sexual and reproductive rights, HIV and STIs, LGBT+ health, drug policy, and harm reduction in Latin America and beyond. Ricardo has been part of many local and international organizations where he coordinated projects, led advocacy efforts, and conducted qualitative and quantitative research. LEARN MORE
SANNE THIJSSEN
Sanne Thijssen is an independent consultant working on sexual and reproductive health and rights and meaningful youth participation. LEARN MORE
SHARAF BOBORAKHIMOV
Sharaf Boborakhimov is an independent consultant in the development and humanitarian sectors with over 8 years of experience across the Global South, including in Afghanistan, Argentina, Bulgaria, Jordan, the Philippines, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Ukraine. LEARN MORE
SOPHIE BAUMGARTNER
Sophie is a talented project manager and researcher with nearly two decades of experience in international development. She leverages a robust background in global health, emphasizing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equity, and reproductive justice. LEARN MORE
YEMURAI NYONI
Yemurai Nyoni specializes in building youth advocacy and accountability networks in low and middle income countries, developing SRHR accountability and advocacy strategies, and facilitating meaningful youth engagement in decision-making on adolescent health. LEARN MORE
SARAH ZAMAN
Sarah Zaman is a feminist activist, social sector researcher, development practioner and (adjunct) university lecturer. LEARN MORE
