Board of Advisory

Our Professional

Board of Advisor

Jon Bormet

With over 15 years of leadership experience in urban-focused international programs, Jon Bormet has served as a Team Leader and Senior Technical/Administrative Manager, working extensively in Asia and significantly across Africa. An entrepreneurial urban management practitioner, Jon brings a unique blend of domestic expertise as a former city manager for 15 years and international experience collaborating with cities in over 25 countries to enhance citizens’ quality of life.

Jon possesses a holistic understanding of complex systems, enabling him to assess problems, evaluate options, and implement sustainable, realistic solutions. His expertise spans working with local partners, subcontractors, grantees, donors, and host country representatives, ensuring seamless coordination in managing multi-faceted projects. With a proven track record in delivering excellence on USAID and World Bank-funded initiatives, Jon excels at uniting diverse teams of local and international staff, consultants, and stakeholders to achieve program success.

30 Years Experience in Social Development
USA

Dr Aidan Gromoll

Aidan Gromoll, MD, a pediatrician from Wisconsin, USA, volunteers full-time delivering medical care to populations affected by war, poverty, famine, violence and natural disasters. After completing her pediatric residency, she worked as a pediatrician in Illinois, USA until 2013 when she opted to leave her position to volunteer in resource poor settings. She initially participated in several short-term missions in Haiti. She has spent the last nine years providing care for refugees, migrants, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable communities in Germany, France, Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia, Iraqi Kurdistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Lebanon, Honduras. She is currently leading a medical project in Ukraine.

Experienced Humanitarian Specialist
USA

Amina Baha

Amina Baha, an Afghan-American leader and advocate, brings extensive experience in healthcare IT, refugee resettlement, and public policy to the Center for Global Dialogue and Leadership. A Hubert H. Humphrey Public Policy Fellow, she combines technical expertise with a deep commitment to social justice, driving initiatives that empower marginalized communities. As the founder of a nonprofit supporting Afghan refugees, Amina has helped families rebuild their lives in the U.S., emphasizing access to resources, economic empowerment, and policy advocacy. Her efforts include organizing community bazaars that provide economic opportunities and promote self-sufficiency for immigrants and refugees.

A passionate advocate for women’s rights, Amina addresses gender-based violence by creating safe spaces, challenging cultural stigmas, and supporting survivors in reclaiming independence. She serves on the University of Minnesota Mobile Clinic Community Advisory Board, ensuring healthcare access for underrepresented groups. Although not elected in a past public office campaign, Amina continues to champion equity and inclusion through advocacy, community engagement, and policy work, aligning with the CGDL’s mission to promote sustainable development and amplify underrepresented voices.

Public Policy and Women Rights Expert
USA

Vivien Gyuris

Over 15 Years Experience Education Policy and Program Management.
Hungary

A Hungarian development professional with over 15 years of experience in education policy and education program management, with a particular focus on inclusion in education (refugee, disability, digital, youth). Has a skill set in education policy analysis, program management, cluster coordination, education in emergencies, and M&E. She has worked with the World Bank, UNICEF, Roma Education Fund, Council of Europe, and the International Forums of Inclusion Practitioners. Doctoral candidate at the University of Glasgow in Education Policy, with a Dissertation study on refugee students’ school inclusion in Hungary and Finland with a focus on trauma-informed teaching practices. Also a certified evaluator of development programs and a member of the International and European Development Evaluation Associations (IDEAS & EPDET).

Over 15 Years Experience Education Policy and Program Management.
Hungary

Ambassador Ismat Jahan

Former Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Bangladesh

Ambassador Jahan is a retired diplomat of Bangladesh. During her 40 years diplomatic service she held major positions in the country’s Foreign Ministry and Missions abroad including as:

• Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union with concurrent accreditation to Luxembourg (August 2009-August 2016).
• Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York (2007-2009), non-resident Ambassador to Chile and Peru.
• Ambassador to the Netherlands (2005-2007), concurrently accredited to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Poland.

Ms. Jahan joined the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in September 2016 and served as the Organization’s Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the to the European Union till April 2024.

As a career diplomat Ms. Jahan also served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Bangladesh Mission to UN, Geneva and in the Bangladesh High Commission, New Delhi. Earlier she was also a Director in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Specialized in multilateral diplomacy and international policy making Ms. Jahan focused on human rights and humanitarian issues; socio-economic development and poverty reduction; climate change and environment, disarmament and women’s empowerment, inter-religious dialogue and peaceful coexistence . During her postings in New York and Geneva she had actively contributed to the multilateral process through participation in many complex negotiations and drafting exercises at the UN level. During her tenure with the OIC she represented the OIC and at the relevant bodies of the European Commission and the European Parliament.