VESNA DE LA BORDE (President)

Vesna joined the MMEG Board in 2016. Following two terms as Board secretary and one as vice president, she was elected as president in June 2024. Vesna’s involvement with MMEG started in 2007 on MMEG’s US-Canada Program Selection Committee, which she chaired from 2008 to 2011. She has a background in translation, political science and international relations.

VIVIAN FAMILIAR (VICE PRESIDENT)

Vivian joined the MMEG Board in 2020, having served on the LAC Program Selection Committee since the program’s pilot launch in 2012. She was elected as vice-president in September 2024 and chairs the Board’s Program Advisory Committee. Vivian is an economist with a background in corporate banking and worked for Citibank Mexico.

laura burakreis (TREASURER)

Laura Burakreis joined the MMEG Board in 2022. She works on MMEG’s finance and investments, volunteer relations, and grantee impact. Laura is experienced in international investing and financial sector development.

MARINA PRIMORAC (SECRETARY)

Marina joined the MMEG Board in 2021, after serving on the US-Canada Program Selection Committee. Marina was elected as secretary in September 2022, renewed for a second term in September 2024. Marina works on MMEG’s Annual Report, website, and other communications. Marina was managing editor of the IMF’s Finance & Development magazine and advised the IMF’s philanthropic program.

MERUNISHA AHMID

Merunisha joined the MMEG Board in 2021. She chairs the Board’s Nominating Committee and also works on grantee impact studies and MMEG Talks. Merunisha worked at the International Finance Corporation, where she led the Insurance Services Group and Corporate Citizenship Facility and worked on advisory services in Africa.

DIANA CORBIN

Diana joined the MMEG Board in 2024 after serving on the South Africa Program Selection Committee since 2020 and on the France Program Selection Committee in 2022. Diana chairs the Board’s Fundraising Committee and serves on the Program Advisory Committee. Before retiring from the World Bank in 2019, Diana managed donor relations for trust funds in the extractives sector. In her spare time, she is an avid open water swimmer and beach lover in her native southern California.

CARMEN CRESPO DEL AMO

Carmen joined the MMEG Board in 2024 after serving on the LAC Program Selection Committee as a reader, then chair, from 2015 to 2021, and on the US-Canada Program Selection Committee as a reader, then co-chair, from 2017 to 2024. She serves on the Program Advisory Committee and also works on grantee impact studies and MMEG Talks. Carmen is a Spanish-licensed international lawyer in civil and common law and has worked as a professor, advisor, and CEO. Carmen is committed to advocating for the elderly, vulnerable people, and gender inclusiveness.

JOEL KOLKER

Joel joined the MMEG Board in 2024. He serves on the Finance Committee and the Fundraising Committee.  Joel was program manager of the World Bank’s Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership (GWSP) and has lived, worked, and led projects in over 35 countries, primarily in Africa and Asia. Prior to joining GWSP, Joel served as the Africa representative for the World Bank’s Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) and was the Africa coordinator for the World Bank Institute.

PRISCILLA R. LINN

Priscilla has been involved with MMEG since 1993, serving as president of the Board from 1996 to 2001. She rejoined the Board in 2019. Priscilla chairs virtual MMEG Talks and serves on the Fundraising Committee. She also manages contacts with recent grantees and WBFN’s worldwide outreach program. Priscilla was an exhibition developer and curator, focusing on the role of women in development and history.

Laura MacInnis

Laura joined the MMEG Board in 2022. She serves on the Nominating Committee. Laura produces MMEG’s newsletter and is MMEG’s communications liaison with the World Bank. Laura is deputy head of communications at the Global Environment Facility.

VENITHA PILLAY

Venitha joined the MMEG Board in 2024, after serving on the South Africa Program Selection Committee from 2019 to 2024 as a reader and Chair (2020 – 2023). She serves on the Program Advisory Committee and works on grantee impact studies. Venitha is a South African–born researcher and educationist specializing in gender and social inclusion. She is a committed feminist advocate and firmly believes education is a key tool for women’s socioeconomic freedom.

Robin SandenburgH

Robin joined the MMEG Board in 2022. She is the Board’s Arts & Crafts Market Liaison and Coordinator, and serves on the Fundraising Committee. During her career with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – in Egypt, India, Turkey, and Zimbabwe – she managed teams that assessed the environmental and social development impact of IFC investments.

MARILOU UY

Marilou joined the MMEG Board in 2022. She serves on the Finance Committee and the Fundraising Committee. Marilou is a senior fellow at the Global Policy Development Center and was previously director of the G-24 Secretariat.

Chiaki Yamamoto

Chiaki joined the MMEG Board in 2022. She manages MMEG’s grantee database and helps research potential MMEG Talks. Chiaki works on evaluation of development projects at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), following a career in international development at the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

Goran Zaric

Goran joined the MMEG Board in 2023. He serves on the Fundraising Committee and is MMEG’s liaison with the World Bank’s Community Connections Campaign (CCC) and with the World Bank group at large.  Goran works at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and is currently manager of the IFC’s reporting and analytics team, as well as serving as an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

MADELEINE DE KOCK

Madeleine was appointed as an advisor to the MMEG Board in June 2024, following her tenure as MMEG president from 2021 to 2024. Madeleine has been involved with MMEG since 2008, first as a Selection Committee member and chair (US-Canada and South Africa programs), and then as a Board member from 2015. On the MMEG Board, she has worked on fundraising, program advisory, marketing/branding, and communications. Madeleine has a nursing background, specializing in community health.

COLIN WARREN

Colin was appointed as an advisor to the MMEG Board in June 2024. He first joined the Board in 2013 and served as treasurer from 2013 to 2019, and from 2021 to 2024. In this position, he applied his experience in finance gained from his career with the World Bank Group. Colin is a long-time supporter of women’s education and has been a MMEG donor for many years.

Jette Renneberg Elkjaer

OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Jette joined the MMEG team in 2019, organizing the International Arts & Crafts Fair and serving on the US-Canada Selection Committee, which she co-chaired from 2020. She assumed the coordinator position in 2022. Jette has worked as an economist in Denmark and China and as Danish Cultural Attaché to the United States.

Marta González de la Peña Royo

COMMUNICATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Marta has led MMEG’s social media activities since joining the Board in 2018, taking advantage of her professional photography background. She resigned from the Board in May 2022 to take on the position of communications and social media coordinator.