Team
Senior Management
Dr Caroline Varin
CEO and Co-founder
Caroline Varin is CEO and co-founder of Professors Without Borders. She has led the charity since 2016, overseeing its expansion, the creation of the Think Tank and Prowibo Online. In addition, she has published seven books on international security and recently on the use of games in higher education. She was senior lecturer in International Relations & Law at Regent’s University, and has taught at Richmond University and the London School of Economics.
Caroline holds a PhD in International Relations and an MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics, an LLM in International Law from the Universita di Bologna, Italy, and a BA in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania. She recently completed an MBA in Educational Leadership at Tampere University, Finland.
Emily Bastable
Co-Head of Programmes
Emily is currently pursuing a PhD in Education and the University of Southampton in Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise using student-centred participatory research methods. Emily obtained her fellowship with Advance HE in 2024, has served a two-year term on the Quality Assurance Agency’s Student Strategic Advisory Committee, she has also recently been elected to the Reaching, Advancing and Inspiring Student Engagement (RAISE) Network Committee. In her first year volunteering with us, she coordinated Prowibo’s first visit to Ghana- teaching AI literacy to faculty staff and communication skills to first year students and is looking forward to shaping the year of programmes.
Dr Bob Eckhart
Co-Head of Programmes
Bob is currently a University Lecturer at the Pedagogical State University “Ion Creanga” in Moldova, after serving as a Fulbright Scholar there from 2022-24. He is training teachers and teaching courses in communicative competence while researching the impact of social media/YouTube/multiplayer video games on language acquisition. In the 2019-20 academic year, Bob was a Guest Lecturer at the Sorbonne-Nouvelle (U of Paris III) and a visiting instructor at Xidian University and Hunan Agricultural University. Before that, he completed two other Fulbright grants. The first was a Fulbright Scholar grant at Minsk State Linguistics University in 2018 as a Visiting Professor in the Teacher Training Institute. The second was a Fulbright Specialist grant in 2019 with Belarusian State University, in the Economics and Management Department, teaching Professional Language and Communication. His career started on the faculty of the English Department at Ohio State University in 1995 and he retired from there as a member of the senior international staff in 2015.
Rachel Warnick
Head of NGO Excellence & Training
Rachel is a recognized thought leader in innovative, non-formal, and lifelong learning. She brings a special focus on Africa, on youth, and on gender-transformative education, fostering essential, transferable skills that bridge the gap to meaningful employment and entrepreneurship.
Having worked and lived in 24 countries across four continents, Rachel’s global approach drives educational equity, accessibility, and engagement through initiatives that equip individuals with the skills needed to succeed in an evolving world. As a respected speaker, she shares her insights at international conferences and forums, advancing dialogues around the future of education and youth empowerment.
Rachel also spent fifteen years in the finance, energy, and humanitarian sectors, most notably with Goldman Sachs and the UNHCR. She holds an MSc in International Management from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). She is a National Geographic Certified Educator, a Teach SDGs Ambassador, and works with the African Union and UN organisations on a pan-African environmental initiative. She was honoured with the 2022 NGO Whisperer Social Impact Fellow of the Year Award.
Victor Cebotari
Director of Cooperation & Development
Victor currently serves as the Strategic Advisor for Academic Affairs at the University of Luxembourg. Previously, he was at the forefront of child education and development policy at the UNICEF Office of Research and Foresight. Additionally, Victor was a lecturer and researcher at Maastricht University and the United Nations University (UNU-MERIT) in the Netherlands.
Victor holds a PhD in Social Protection from Maastricht University and an MSc in Social Policy Analysis from KU Leuven. As a certified instructor in Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Victor is a longstanding advocate for transformative, inclusive, and innovative education.
Irené Muhire
Chief Technology Officer
Irené Muhire is a seasoned technology leader with over 10 years of experience. Renowned for his strategic vision and leadership, he previously excelled as IT consultant and as Manager at a startup called Hailo/taxi. Where he led a migration project to ensure a seamless transition of all driver and passengers data from one application to another, including high-profile clients such as MPs and CEOs. His ability to achieve all service level agreements while focusing on outcomes that improve users experience earned him the prestigious Justies Award from the Ministry of Justice for exceptional performance under pressure.
With a background from IT consultancy, startups to cyber security sectors, Irené brings a unique blend of tech insight and product management expertise. His experience as a senior product manager and senior consultant has equipped him to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and drive innovative and deliver user based solutions. Irené enjoys fostering a culture of innovation and aligning technical strategies with business objectives to propel organisational growth.
Tenzin Bowe
Senior Operations Manager
Tenzin is a lifelong learner with a keen interest in process improvement. While he is a self-described generalist, he works primarily in the communications and business development fields. In practice, this involves a mix of project management, digital marketing, and market research.
Tenzin started as an intern at Professors Without Borders in 2021, in his current capacity as Operations Manager he works with all departments to increase organisational efficiency and harmonise messaging. Tenzin also works as a business analyst at epi[x], an epidemiological software start-up. He graduated from Richmond, The American International University with a BA (Hons) in International Relations and a minor in Philosophy.
Nicola De Caires
Administrative Manager
Nicola de Caires’ journey began with a passion for business and a belief in what’s possible when vision is paired with action. After studying business and accounting, she launched her first venture at just 22, a nightclub that marked the start of a dynamic entrepreneurial path. Her career spans corporate leadership in the hospitality industry and the founding, scaling, and successful exit of multiple businesses, including a modelling training school, consultancy, and manufacturing ventures. Each experience deepened her belief in adaptability, resilience, and purpose-led leadership.
Nicola was drawn to Professors Without Borders because of its heart-led mission to Educate, Inspire, and Empower. She has seen how the relationships between the organisation, its partners, and volunteer professors create an environment where individuals grow in confidence, purpose, and possibility. Passionate about personal growth, Nicola believes that when people follow what truly inspires them, they unlock their potential, and in doing so, create meaningful change for themselves and those around them.
Naimullah Aziz
Operations Assistant
Na’im is an educator and digital creative who grew up in a small town with limited resources. From early on, he learned to adapt by combining creativity, analytical thinking, and persistence in his work. These experiences shaped his resilience and sparked a desire to create meaningful impact through storytelling and technology.
He currently serves as an Operations Assistant at PROWIBO, working closely with and supporting the Senior Operations Manager, in system improvements, internal communication, and day-to-day operational coordination. Being part of PROWIBO has been a meaningful chapter in his journey, one where he feels trusted and valued, and is grateful for the opportunity to rebuild his confidence while contributing to a mission he truly believes in.
Volunteers
Basak Celik
Business Development
Basak is an executive with nearly 20 years of experience in digital transformation, business development, and social impact within complex international environments. She has held leadership roles in marketing, societal engagement, and business development at companies such as Accenture and Sodexo, as well as in corporate foundations. Working directly with executive committees, general management, and key partners, she has led multicultural teams, launched multi-million-euro initiatives, and supported sustainable, innovative, and meaningful transformations.
A graduate of the TRIUM Global Executive MBA program (HEC Paris, LSE, NYU Stern), Basak combines strategic vision with operational rigor to lead projects with strong business and societal impact. She has driven the global deployment of CRM tools across 60+ countries, designed client offerings aligned with ESG criteria, and structured engaging philanthropy policies on a global scale.
Artemis Chaikali
Grants Volunteer
Artemis Chaikali is an English Literature undergraduate at the University of Warwick with a strong passion for writing, research, and education. Through extensive volunteer experience—including roles at an Oxfam Bookshop, a Social Grocery, and an on-campus nursery—she has developed excellent communication and organisational skills. Her background in academic research, essay writing, and editorial work has strengthened her attention to detail and her ability to craft compelling narratives.
Artemis is passionate about supporting global education initiatives and sees grant writing as an opportunity to apply her writing expertise to secure funding for impactful projects. Her strong analytical skills, combined with a deep commitment to nonprofit work, enable her to identify funding opportunities and craft persuasive grant proposals. Aspiring to enter the publishing or nonprofit sector, she views this role as a key step in developing essential skills for her future career.
Krishna Desai
Finance Volunteer
Krishna has a strong track record of driving impact through strategic initiatives at the intersection of finance and education. She has a Master’s in Education and International Development from University College London and eight years of experience in the environmental and educational sectors.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, she transitioned to the education sector with seven years of corporate finance experience. Krishna has led corporate advisory, fundraising and operational management in her previous roles at BDO India and Fourth Partner Energy (renewable energy start-up). She brings pertinent skills in scaling impact initiatives, while…
building relationships with international investors and managing organisational change for a start-up. As a teacher with the Teach for India fellowship, she worked directly with eighty students in a low-resource Mumbai school during the Covid-19 pandemic. She drove significant improvements in student engagement and curriculum development, while sustaining meaningful relationships with community stakeholders. Deeply aware of education systems in low-resource contexts, Krishna is committed to developing holistic education through her work in fundraising and programme support.
Joining Professors Without Borders as a Fundraising Volunteer, Krishna is excited to combine skills in fundraising and donor engagement with her firsthand experience of low-resource educational contexts, to support the organisation’s mission of access to quality education.
Afina Emas
Comms Volunteer
Afina is a digital marketing professional who loves helping purpose-driven brands grow. She
has worked with organizations across Asia-Pacific and the US, including green startups, SaaS companies, NGOs, education, and publishing. She enjoys building complete digital
ecosystems, from strategy and ads to content creation and community engagement, always combining creativity, empathy, and clear results.
Afina believes her skills can serve a bigger purpose, especially in education. She has seen
how a strong digital presence can open doors to life-changing academic opportunities, which
is why she feels connected to Professor Without Borders’ mission. With a curious mindset and positive energy, she supports organizations in reaching and inspiring more people through digital platforms.
Corina Maller
Grants Volunteer
Corina is a scientist from Austria with a PhD in Chemistry and Pharmacy. After spending the past 10 years studying and conducting research at universities in Austria, Germany, Serbia, and the United States, she’s excited to step out of the lab and support Prowibo’s mission.
Education has always played a central role in Corina’s life, and she’s deeply committed to making it accessible to others. She still feels a sense of wonder every day as she learns how things work and is constantly reminded of how much there is still to discover. That curiosity is something she believes everyone deserves the chance to experience, no matter where they are in the world.
With extensive experience in scholarship applications, academic writing, and peer review, Corina has developed a strong ability to work independently and communicate complex ideas clearly. At Prowibo, she is trying to put those skills to work to help secure funding that opens doors for learners everywhere – and she’s proud to be part of a team that believes in the power of education to change lives.
Lise Mouschang
Project Lead
Lise is a passionate advocate for education and social impact, with experience collaborating
with educational NGOs and student-led initiatives. She has played a key role in mentoring
and outreach programs, working to expand access to higher education for underrepresented
students. Now, she brings her dedication to education, policy, and community development to
Professors Without Borders, where she strives to create meaningful change on a global scale.
Lise holds an MSt in Global and Imperial History from the University of Oxford, an MSc in
Development Studies from the London School of Economics and a BA in European Politics
from King’s College London.
Oluseyi Adebayo James Sodiya
Project Lead
Oluseyi Adebayo James Sodiya is a seasoned project and product management professional with over two decades of experience in the IT, telecommunications, e-commerce, and digital technology industries. He has adeptly led numerous projects to successful completion, continually driving innovation and efficiency.
Oluseyi holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Architecture and boasts an array of certifications in project management, occupational health and safety, UX design, product management, and generative AI, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Currently, he hosts the “360Seconds Podcast” on YouTube and other social media platforms, where he dives into the latest in technology and innovation. Additionally, Oluseyi pens a weekly op-ed column titled “Tech Talk with Oluseyi” on www.skydaily.ng, sharing insights on the tech ecosystem.
In his leisure time, Oluseyi enjoys reading, researching, and ideating new concepts, as well as watching movies and spending quality time with his wife and children. A DIY enthusiast, he relishes hands-on projects and believes that AI is poised to revolutionize the way we work and live.
Advisors
Majeks Walker
Strategic Advisor & Co-founder
Majeks Walker has taught and practised law since 2004. He has an LLM from UCL (Banking Law, Conflict of Law, Corporate Law and Law of Foreign Investment in Emerging Economies), and a Certificate in Law Teaching. He was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 2006 and is a qualified SPP Mediator.
Majeks has taught law at Kaplan, and the University of Greenwich. He has also taught Criminology and Psychology at the Royal Holloway University of London. He currently lectures law at undergraduate and postgraduate level at the University of Westminster, and at Regent’s University London.
He is a seasoned corporate trainer and provides advice and training to many multinational companies and sovereign states on various legal issues. Majeks also does a range of philanthropic work, including helping to give a voice to those that cannot afford legal representation.
Rana Cömertpay
Strategic Advisor
Rana Cömertpay is a Research Associate at LISER with a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Luxembourg, as well as a bachelor’s and master’s degree from HEC-ULg, University of Liège. Her work focuses on impact evaluation and policy analysis in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in education, labor, and migration economics. At LISER’s Development Policy Impact Analysis Unit, she evaluates policies in Africa in collaboration with J-PAL Europe, LuxDev, and the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Her research has been published in leading journals, including the Journal of Development Economics. Rana has taught a range of subjects, including econometrics, macroeconomics, and development economics, at institutions such as the University of Luxembourg and the Université des Sciences Sociales et de Gestion de Bamako in Mali. Fluent in English, French, and Turkish, she is committed to using data-driven insights to address global inequalities, particularly for women and youth.
Karen Fermor
Strategic Advisor
Karen has over 25 years’ of fundraising experience. With a background in libraries, publishing and education, her involvement in the charity sector began through volunteering in her local community. She co-founded and ran local charities and community groups, learning to write bids and organise events as she went.
Since then, Karen has worked in fundraising and grant assessing for mental health, literacy, arts, and human rights charities, often with a focus on children and young people. She also worked on a freelance basis, predominantly for charities working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Based in London, she is now the Trust Fundraiser at Children and Families Across Borders, a charity dedicated to protecting and reuniting children who have become separated from their families.
Karen continues to be closely involved with her community, advising on fundraising and mentoring aspiring fundraisers. Her qualifications include a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and a MA in Participatory and Community Arts.
Lucile Flamand
Strategic Advisor
A French citizen domiciled in the UK, Lucile joined Bibby Financial Services (BFS) as Chief Strategic Development Officer in January 2021 where she heads up the Strategy, Innovation, Marketing and Transformation function. Prior to BFS, Lucile was the Head of the Financial Services practice at Clarasys, a management consultancy, where she drove transformation & strategic plans for a wide range of organisations, from financial services to the not-for-profit sector.
Passionate about social impact, Lucile is connected to multiple organisations and is involved in high-level professional mentoring and other women-centred socio-political initiatives. Within BFS, she drives an initiative looking to close the gender funding gap for small and medium enterprises and is a strong advocate for active inclusion within the business world.
She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science & European Affairs from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Lyon, France and has a keen interest in modern and contemporary art.
Eva Halper
Strategic Advisor
With her strong background in education, sustainable development, and philanthropy, throughout her career, Eva Halper has successfully fostered impactful partnerships between corporate and non-profit sectors.
Eva began her career in education, teaching children and adults. During her 7 years in China, Eva had the opportunity to work for an international development agency, funding grass roots projects throughout China. After moving to the UK, Eva continued to work in the not for profit sector, focusing on cross sector partnerships to address critical social and environmental issues before entering the corporate sector.
Skilled in guiding initiatives from strategic planning to on-the-ground execution, for the past 15 years, Eva led two flagship programs for the foundation of an international Swiss bank: a global education initiative – a grant program supporting organizations working on girls’ education – and an international skills-based volunteering program for the bank’s employees.
Eva has lived and worked in diverse locations such as Australia, France, Canada, China, Hong Kong, and the UK. She is fluent in English, French, and Polish, with intermediate proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. Education remains her passion.
Richard Huston
Strategic Advisor
to help the organisation navigate technological opportunities and challenges in pursuit of its mission to expand educational access globally.
Hannah Neuser
Strategic Advisor
Hannah supports Prowibo with organisational development and other HR-related topics. She has previously worked in People Operations at Google. She enjoys working on process improvements, employee experience, as well as learning & development. Through her background in Academia and Applied Linguistics, she has developed a passion for equal opportunity in education, as well as learning & development in professional settings and how these enable intercultural exchange across nations. Hannah holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from Stockholm University, as well as an MA in English Linguistics from UCL.
Titus Ayodele
Country Coordinator – Nigeria
Titus Ayodele practices accountancy in London. He is an administrator of human and capital assets. He seats as director in some companies and as non-executive director in others. Holds a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance; a Master’s degree in Corporate Governance and Leadership.
Titus is a community interest individual. He is the secretary general, of Efon Alaaye UK and Europe Association, when he was a member of the non-profit Junior Chamber International he displayed his accounting prowess to service to humanity; In Rotary International he brings his knowledge in business and his leadership skills to supporting humanitarian services. Titus strives to completion in any task he is assigned. Titus coordinated Prowibo’s first programme in Nigeria at University of Lagos in 2022.
Richard Adams
Strategic Advisor
Richard is currently Head of Digital Architecture at LNER & Consultant lead architect at GBR, leading the design of the new national rail retail system. He is an emergent technologist, artist, educator & thinker; transformation specialist & true polymath.
He has managed parallel senior careers in education & enterprise/emerging tech and has taught and written curriculum at every level of education; writing music as well as writing and producing a large body of computer and traditional art works. He has been a consultant enterprise transformation architect and transformation manager at companies such the BBC, BSkyB, Aviva Plc, Proximus (Brussels), Microsoft Studios and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Richard is a Fine Art Grad & proud of it. It gives him a unique & innovative view on deep tech. In education he was a school HoD, founded a university Digital Arts dept, creating 2 under & 2 post graduate degrees in computing and creativity. Also taught at the London College of Fashion & Birkbeck College, held 3 external examinerships, held a Visiting Prof. at the Uni. of Salford & a Senior Fellowship at the Uni. of Lincoln. He worked with Marc Lewis to get the School of Communication Arts off the ground, as Principal; a radical work-focussed college of creativity and now the UK’s most successful new advertising school. He has taught at & designed curriculum for every phase of education from 7 to 70 years of age. Starting as a painter, he is an exhibiting artist (computer art exploring trauma;), and has worked with tech & art for 30 years. He’s spoken at many conferences around the world; a member of the Soc of Authors, FRSA & BAFTA. He was co-producer of the TECHnique podcast about technology & art practice. A published author of one book on interactive advertising and contributor of several chapters to others. Some key achievements include: Head of Digital Architecture, Partner in own digital agency, Creative Director, interactive TV, Technical Director, Working computer artist for 30 years, Founding HoD of Digital Arts at London College of Music (TVU/UWL), Co-founder & Principal School of Communication Arts, Senior Fellow University of Lincoln, Visiting Professor, Digital Media, Salford, External Examiner – various universities, Published author, Regular International Speaker.
Gabriel Ng
Strategic Advisor
Gabriel Ng is passionate about understanding and increasing the social impact of organisations. He currently is a Social Impact Manager at Big Society Capital, the UK’s impact investing wholesaler. At BSC, he is responsible for impact measurement and management, as well as both investment analysis and ongoing portfolio management.
Gabriel moved from Hong Kong to the UK to study law at the University of Cambridge (Trinity Hall). After graduating, he practised as a solicitor, working in London and New York for Shearman & Sterling for five years specialising in UK and cross-border corporate tax. His previous clients include Anglo American, Citi, Liberty Global, and Intercontinental Exchange.
In 2016, he decided he wanted a career with social impact at its core, and so began a dual MBA/MPA at New York University. Over the course of the three-year degree, he completed fellowships at the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law and in Microsoft’s human rights team, as well as consulting projects for Concern Worldwide US and the UN World Food Programme in Malawi. He has also assisted on and published several research papers with the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights. Finally, he oversaw the inaugural investment of the NYU Impact Investing Fund into Sapient, a Philly-based start-up that reduces greenhouse gas emissions through energy use management.