Global Council Members Archives - World NGO Day - February 27

Merridee Book Joins World NGO Day Global Council as Executive Advisor

Vinícius Taddone — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:49:49 +0000

Coronado Island Film Festival CEO & Artistic Director from Southern California Joins International Advisory Body Advancing Recognition of the People, Stories and Impact Behind the Global Nonprofit Sector

California, USA — July 13, 2026

The Founder of World NGO Day today announced the appointment of Merridee Book, CEO & Artistic Director of the Coronado Island Film Festival, as an Executive Advisor to the World NGO Day Global Council.

Her appointment brings extensive experience in arts leadership, nonprofit development, cultural engagement and strategic partnerships to the international advisory body dedicated to strengthening recognition, collaboration and visibility across the global civil society community.

About Merridee Book

Merridee Book serves as CEO & Artistic Director of the Coronado Island Film Festival in California, where she leads efforts to celebrate cinema, creativity and meaningful storytelling through a respected Southern California cultural platform connecting filmmakers, artists, industry professionals and audiences.

Under her leadership, the festival has grown far beyond its Southern California roots into a truly international platform, screening critically acclaimed studio films alongside independent features and documentaries that shape cultural perceptions and narratives. Recent international standouts have included The Tale of Silyan, the animated feature Flow, Sugarcane, The Seed of the Sacred Fig and Shayda — reflecting the festival’s commitment to championing powerful stories from filmmakers around the world alongside emerging creative voices.

The Coronado Island Film Festival has grown into a vital cultural gathering within Southern California, creating a space where cinematic excellence, cultural exchange and community engagement intersect. Through screenings, educational initiatives and conversations around film and storytelling, the festival demonstrates the power of creative expression to connect communities and inspire dialogue.

Prior to joining the Coronado Island Film Festival, Book co-founded a diversified media company and went on to serve as Vice President of Development at the San Diego International Film Festival, where she contributed to nonprofit growth, fundraising, community engagement and organizational development within the arts and cultural sector.

Throughout her career, Book has worked at the intersection of media, arts, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, strategic partnerships and storytelling. Her experience reflects the important role cultural organizations play in strengthening communities, preserving narratives and creating opportunities for meaningful public engagement.

Why Her Appointment Matters

Storytelling has long been a powerful force in strengthening civil society. Across cultures and communities, stories help people understand challenges, recognize solutions and connect with individuals and organizations working to create positive change.

Merridee Book’s appointment reflects the growing importance of arts and culture in advancing the visibility and recognition of nonprofit organizations and community initiatives. Her background provides valuable insight into how storytelling, media and cultural engagement can help amplify the voices of organizations and individuals whose work often takes place beyond the public spotlight.

Through her role as Executive Advisor, Book will contribute to conversations around strategic communications, cultural leadership, nonprofit partnerships and public engagement, supporting World NGO Day’s broader mission of recognizing the people and organizations working to address social, humanitarian and community challenges around the world.

“Art and impact converge when a single story is given room to be seen. World NGO Day does something remarkably similar, uniting communities across 145 countries and countless languages around one shared purpose. Helping preserve that legacy means ensuring that the changemakers behind these organizations receive the recognition they deserve, because their work represents some of the most meaningful stories of our time.”

“Film and media have taught me that the most powerful stories are the ones that move people to act, and NGOs are where that action lives every single day. Serving as an Executive Advisor allows me to bring a storyteller’s perspective on narrative, visibility and recognition to a global community of changemakers whose work deserves greater attention.”

— Merridee Book

CEO & Artistic Director, Coronado Island Film Festival

“Civil society is built not only through action, but also through memory, recognition and the stories we preserve. The work of NGOs represents millions of individual acts of commitment, compassion and leadership that deserve to be documented and shared with the world. Merridee’s experience in arts, culture and storytelling brings an important perspective to the Global Council as we continue building greater visibility for the people behind nonprofit impact and preserving the history of those who serve communities globally.”

— Marcis Skadmanis

Founder of World NGO Day

About the World NGO Day Global Council

The World NGO Day Global Council is an international advisory body bringing together leaders from organizations, museums, arts institutions, philanthropy, education, technology, communications and business.

The Council exists to strengthen the global recognition, collaboration and long-term development of World NGO Day while supporting initiatives that advance awareness of civil society’s contribution worldwide.

The Global Council includes senior leaders from respected institutions and organizations, including the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois, USA; the Ulrich Museum of Art in Wichita, Kansas, USA; and the American Battlefield Trust in Washington, D.C., USA.

Council members participate in their individual advisory capacities, contributing their professional expertise and experience across diverse sectors.

About World NGO Day

World NGO Day is observed annually on 27 February as an international day recognizing and celebrating the work of nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations around the world.

Officially launched in 2014, the awareness day is now celebrated in more than 145 countries, bringing together NGOs, communities and partners to recognize the vital role of civil society in addressing challenges from local to global levels.

World NGO Day highlights the contributions of nonprofit organizations, associations and foundations while honoring the dedication of their employees, volunteers and supporters. It promotes greater public awareness, collaboration and engagement in strengthening civil society and recognizing the people behind social impact worldwide.

World NGO Day Global Council – Media Relations

Vinícius Taddone, COO, Global Council

www.worldngoday.org

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World NGO Day Appoints 8 Leaders as Executive Advisors to Its Global Council

Vinícius Taddone — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:00:19 +0000

World NGO Day, the international awareness day observed annually on February 27 across more than 145 countries and endorsed by the European Union, UNESCO, UNDP, and the Council of Europe, has announced the appointment of eight Executive Advisors to its newly established Global Council.

The Global Council serves as the strategic advisory body for World NGO Day, uniting senior international leaders to advance the recognition of civil society, amplify the day’s global message, and preserve its long-term legacy. Together, the eight advisors bring complementary expertise from across five countries and multiple sectors — representing decades of leadership in nonprofit management, digital engagement, cultural stewardship, strategic communications, humanitarian innovation, and grassroots mobilization.

Princess Olatorera Majekodunmi-Oniru

Princess Olatorera Majekodunmi-Oniru is a Nigerian executive, entrepreneur, and civic leader with over two decades of experience spanning finance, technology, global trade, and pan-African development. Her career has taken her from General Electric and Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York, to the Central Bank of Nigeria, to Ericsson, where she served as Head of Sales Governance. She subsequently founded Olatorera Consultancy Limited and Dressmeoutlet.com, widely recognised as one of Africa's pioneering e-commerce platforms. She holds an MBA from Emory University, executive certifications from Harvard Kennedy School, Stockholm School of Economics, and IMD Switzerland, and is completing a Doctorate at New York University. In 2016, she was recognised in Forbes' Top 30 Under 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa. Her honours include the World Leadership Congress Award and the Commonwealth Leadership Award.

What excites me most is the opportunity to help amplify the extraordinary work of civil society organizations that are transforming lives every day, often without recognition. World NGO Day is more than a celebration; it is a global reminder that compassion, innovation, and service remain some of the world's greatest catalysts for progress. Preserving and elevating this legacy ensures that the impact of NGOs continues to inspire future generations across every continent.”

Laura Herrera

Laura Herrera is a strategic communications and cultural institution leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing mission-driven organizations through storytelling, public engagement, and institutional transformation. She currently serves as Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago — one of the world's largest science museums — overseeing enterprise marketing, communications, earned revenue strategy, digital engagement, and public affairs. Throughout her career, Laura has led nationally recognized brand and visibility campaigns, executive communications initiatives, and community-centered engagement strategies across the cultural and nonprofit sectors. She also advises nonprofits and cultural organizations on strategic communications, institutional positioning, and audience engagement.

Throughout my career, I've seen how mission-driven organizations help communities navigate change, foster understanding, and create opportunities for people to connect with something larger than themselves. What drew me to World NGO Day is its ability to bring visibility to the countless organizations working every day to strengthen civil society, often quietly and without recognition. At a time when trust, dialogue, and community engagement are more important than ever, I'm honored to contribute to a global effort that celebrates their impact and helps ensure their stories are seen, shared, and sustained for future generations.”

Vivian Zavataro

Vivian Zavataro is Executive and Creative Director of the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University, where she has launched major initiatives including the Ulrich Co-Lab — a multi-year curatorial experiment in shared authorship — and the Adopt-a-Sculpture: Art Matters Campaign. Previously Director and Chief Curator of the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art at the University of Nevada, Reno, her broader career includes roles at documenta in Kassel, the Nevada Museum of Art, SFMOMA, and the J. Paul Getty Foundation. Her exhibitions have been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Terra Foundation for American Art. In 2026, she was honoured with the American Alliance of Museums Mid-Career Professional Award. She holds master's degrees from the University of Amsterdam and the Zurich University of the Arts, and is pursuing her PhD at the University of Reading, United Kingdom.

I joined because I believe deeply in the intersection of culture, civic life, and global solidarity, and because the Council offered an opportunity to bring my expertise in museology and cultural engagement to a context where those skills are not typically applied. The potential I see in World NGO Day is immense: it already connects people across 145 countries, across languages, across vastly different civic landscapes. What it needs now is a framework for capturing, sharing, and building on that collective energy, which I can help with.”

Joseph Galliano-Doig MBE

Joseph Galliano-Doig MBE is the founder, former CEO and now Director Emeritus of Queer Britain, the UK's national LGBTQ+ Museum. Before founding Queer Britain, Joseph was the editor of Gay Times magazine, International Ambassador Manager for the animal welfare charity, World Animal Protection and Major Donor Lead for Help Musicians. His commitment to mentoring and resilient individuals led to the creation of Dear Me: A Letter to My Sixteen-Year-Old Self, a book series that has raised significant funds for charities such as the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Doctors Without Borders. In recognition of his contributions to heritage, charity, and diversity, he was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List. He received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from London South Bank University in 2022. Under his leadership, Queer Britain evolved from a concept into a popular national museum, opening its doors in London’s King’s Cross in May 2022.

I am thrilled to be joining the World NGO Day Advisory Board. If we are to support democracy, freedom and equality, we must shine a light on the brilliant organisations doing the tough but vital work of keeping civil society functioning and developing. We need this more urgently than ever.”

Lawrence Swiader

Lawrence Swiader has spent his career studying the intersection of technology, media, and education in service of improving people's lives. As Chief Digital Officer at the American Battlefield Trust, he oversees more than 20 apps, websites, AR and VR experiences, digital marketing, and social media. He also conceived and manages the traveling exhibition American Revolution Experience, which has toured the United States for over two years. Formerly, he created the Bedsider.org program — a digital behavior change intervention proven in a peer-reviewed study to reduce unplanned pregnancy rates among young adults. At the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, he used technology to teach Holocaust history and motivate action against contemporary genocide, partnering with Google on a landmark mapping initiative focused on Darfur and producing programs such as one about about the after-effects of the Rwandan genocide in Congo featuring Angelina Jolie, then UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

The aspect of World NGO Day that excites me the most is the opportunity to shine a light on the work of people who work in the NGO space that the general public doesn't think about. Raising awareness to all NGOs, and even what an NGO is is a helpful reminder to all of the positive work that happens in the space.”

Chris Stevenson

Chris Stevenson is a senior marketing, communications, and creative leader with over 20 years of award-winning experience working with mission-driven organizations, cultural institutions, and global NGOs. He currently leads global communications and content strategy at the United Nations Global Compact — the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative. Previously, he served as Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Strategy at Film at Lincoln Center and Director of Communications at MaRS Discovery District, North America's largest urban tech innovation hub. He is also the founder of Mashup Creative Strategy, whose clients have included Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the United Nations Refugee Agency, Habitat for Humanity, and Compute Ontario. A triple citizen of Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, Chris is based in New York City.

As someone who has worked with a wide variety of NGOs and nonprofits across sectors, this role presents an interesting opportunity to think on a more macro level about the power and possibility of the collective contributions of these organizations.”

Leena Zittling

Leena Zittling was among the early champions who helped establish and build relationships for World NGO Day in Finland, supporting the organization of the first introductory World NGO Day event in Finland, held at the British Ambassador's residence in 2012, and assisting with advocacy efforts with the Permanent Delegation of Finland to UNESCO in Paris. She brings over 35 years of experience in senior management across the private sector and international NGOs, having served as President, board member, and member of international advisory groups within innovation-, competitiveness-, and entrepreneurship-focused organizations. She has been a keynote speaker on cluster management at European Commission events, an editor-in-chief of an international cluster magazine, and a conference director at numerous international congresses. She is currently a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Eastern Finland, focused on welfare management.

The role of NGOs, especially in fostering the holistic welfare of the population, is recognised. I am inspired to build bridges between organizations and people — to see how previously unknown people around the world find each other to share a common interest that nurtures a passion to change the world and leave a cultural legacy for future generations. That's why the World NGO Day Council. My motto is 'I stand humble so that you can lean.”

Zafar Iqbal

Zafar Iqbal was among the early figures who helped establish and build relationships for World NGO Day in Pakistan. Thanks to his active role, the day now brings together thousands of NGO leaders and supporters — from the corporate sector to government institutions — through conferences, exhibitions, fairs, awards, and panel discussions held across multiple Pakistani cities. Founder and Chairman of The NGO World Foundation, he has worked in the humanitarian and development sector since 2002. In 2009 he founded The NGO World as a pioneering social media networking platform to connect civil society organizations. His initiatives include the ZEST Education Projects for out-of-school children and Barkat for Sustainable Livelihoods. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the first Honorary Medal by the Secretariat of the global World NGO Day initiative.

I joined the World NGO Day Global Council because I strongly believe in the power of collaboration and collective action. Since 2014, I have actively promoted World NGO Day in Pakistan and witnessed how this platform can unite organizations, encourage dialogue, and amplify social impact worldwide."

About World NGO Day

World NGO Day is observed annually on February 27, founded in 2009 by Latvian-British lawyer and philanthropist Marcis Skadmanis and formally launched on February 27, 2014 in Helsinki, Finland, with the support of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and representatives of the United Nations, UNESCO, and the European Union. Celebrated in more than 145 countries across all six inhabited continents, it honors the work of more than 10 million NGOs and over one billion civil society supporters worldwide.

The World NGO Day Global Council: worldngoday.org/council/our-people/

Media Contact: Vinícius Taddone, COO – World NGO Day Global Council | worldngoday.org

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World NGO Day Names First Global Council Members, Honouring Early Supporters

Vinícius Taddone — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:43:47 +0000

World NGO Day is proud to announce the appointment of its first two Executive Advisors to the newly established Global Council. This international advisory body is dedicated to supporting the global awareness day, observed annually on 27 February, and its flagship initiatives.

The appointments of Mrs. Leena Zittling (Finland) and Mr. Zafar Iqbal (Pakistan) mark a significant milestone in formalizing the movement’s leadership. The title of Executive Advisor is a distinguished, high-level honorary role, served on a voluntary basis to ensure the Council’s absolute independence and neutrality.

Honoring the Legacy in Finland - Mrs. Leena Zittling

Mrs. Leena Zittling played a pivotal role in the formative years of World NGO Day. Her diplomatic and strategic contributions were instrumental in establishing the movement’s early footprint in Europe. Notably, she supported the organization of the first introductory World NGO Day event in Finland, held at the British Ambassador’s residence in 2012. Furthermore, Mrs. Zittling led vital advocacy efforts with the Permanent Delegation of Finland to UNESCO in Paris, helping to garner international recognition for the importance of the non-profit sector.

More info: worldngoday.org/council/leena-zittling/

Expanding the Impact in Pakistan - Mr. Zafar Iqbal

Mr. Zafar Iqbal has been a driving force for World NGO Day in Pakistan since its inception. Through his tireless leadership and relationship-building, the day has evolved into a cornerstone of the Pakistani civic calendar. Today, World NGO Day in Pakistan brings together thousands of NGO leaders, government officials, and corporate partners. From high-profile conferences and exhibitions to awards and panel discussions, Mr. Iqbal’s efforts have created a vibrant platform for collaboration and advocacy across various cities.

More info: worldngoday.org/council/zafar-iqbal/

The Future of the Global Council

The Global Council serves as a strategic pillar for World NGO Day, ensuring the global day and its movement remains a powerful voice for the millions of NGO employees and volunteers worldwide. By appointing leaders who have been “in the room” since the early days, World NGO Day seeks to preserve its founding legacy while looking toward a modernized future.

“The appointment of our first Executive Advisors is a testament to the enduring spirit of World NGO Day,” said Marcis Skadmanis, Head of the Global Council. “Both Mrs. Zittling and Mr. Iqbal embody the dedication and cross-sector collaboration that our movement stands for.”

Coming Soon: New Voices and Creative Expression

Following this announcement, World NGO Day will soon share exciting news regarding additional Executive Advisors. This upcoming cohort will bring together influential leaders from the worlds of media, culture, and creative expression. These appointments aim to amplify the movement’s voice through storytelling and cultural influence, ensuring the vital work of NGOs remains at the forefront of global public consciousness.

About World NGO Day

World NGO Day, observed on 27 February, is an international day dedicated to recognizing, celebrating, and honoring all non-governmental and non-profit organizations, and the people behind them that contribute to society all year round. It was officially recognized by the IX Baltic Sea NGO Forum of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in 2010 and first marked by the UN, EU leaders, and international organizations in 2014.

Media Contact:

Vinícius Taddone, Executive Advisor and COO

Global Council of World NGO Day

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