Who we are

Avinash Ramessur

Senior Program Manager

Avinash is the head of the REPAIR Implementation Unit. He is an expert and program coordinator in green finance, climate and disaster risk financing, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation. His career spans senior advisory roles for the World Bank, UNDP, UNRCO, UNEP, UN Global Compact and the CADRI Consortium. He has worked on integrating early warning systems, capacity building, and developing strategic partnerships to enhance resilience. He was also the program coordinator of SUNREF, the French Development Agency’s (AFD) green finance program.

Jaya Sreekeessoon

Deputy Program Manager

Jaya is an experienced Advisory Consulting and Risk professional with over 17 years of experience leading large-scale, complex transformation programs across national, regional, and international contexts. Her expertise spans digital and emerging technology transformation, program management, risk and compliance, business process re-engineering, operational assessments, control design and implementation, digital strategy and roadmap development, monitoring and evaluation, performance management, and blockchain adoption

Alex Julian

Disaster Risk Financing Expert

Alex is an international development professional, with an academic background in economics and development economics, and over 15 years of experience as a project manager and economist, with extensive experience working in the Asia-Pacific region.  He specialises in public sector management and governance, with expertise in public financial management, disaster risk finance and insurance, investment climate and trade, and financial sector development

Simon Young

Parametric Insurance Expert

Simon is a highly experienced disaster risk and resilience consultant, specialising in the technical design of macro to micro level pre-arranged, trigger-based disaster risk financing solutions, and the development, implementation, and management of operational and financial aspects of innovative parametric risk transfer mechanisms and institutions

Aumashvini Gobin

Program Management Officer

Aumashvini is a sustainability and disaster risk management professional with a technical background in civil and energy engineering. She brings cross-sectoral experience from both public and private institutions, with a strong focus on climate resilience, climate finance, and post-disaster recovery, particularly within the context of small island developing states such as Mauritius

Ali-Subratullah Wadaan

Country Focal Point (Comoros)

Ali holds a master’s in business economics from the University of Tours in France. He started his career in the energy sector in Brussels with Engie where he worked as a support portfolio manager for thermal assets across Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands

Hugo Ramiandrisoa

Country Focal Point (Madagascar)

With over 20 years of experience in strategy, institutional reform, and development consulting across Africa, Hugo has led or contributed to more than 60 technical assistance missions across sectors such as finance, health, private sector development, climate resilience, and governance

Fidel João

Country Focal Point (Mozambique)

Fidel has worked in project management, development finance and climate change. He has been engaged in international development supporting financial inclusion, agriculture and SMEs in Mozambique. The projects he has been involved in include fostering agribusiness, natural resource management, and the solidarity economy (cooperative business). He has collaborated with multiple stakeholders, namely Mozambican Government institutions, private companies, NGOs and international organizations

Shannon Bernhardt

Environmental and Social Specialist

Shannon Bernhardt is a seasoned sustainability and program management professional with over a decade of experience across Southern Africa, specialising in environmental and social governance (ESG), stakeholder engagement, and conflict management

Nicholas Rainer

Communications Specialist

After more than a decade working as a journalist in Mauritius and Seychelles covering issues related to climate change, inequality and geopolitics, Nicholas transitioned to development communication with a focus on the Indian Ocean and sub-Saharan regions

Roman Shynkarenko

Disaster Risk Management Specialist

Roman is an international disaster risk management and agricultural insurance expert with over 15 years of experience developing climate-resilient financial solutions across four continents. Based in Sydney, Australia, he specializes in disaster risk assessment, agricultural policy analysis, and the application of satellite remote sensing for disaster risk management and agricultural insurance

Paul Murphy

Multi-Hazard Preparedness and Emergency Response Specialist

Paul has 20 years of varied and detailed strategic, operational and technical experience spanning multiple countries and complex emergencies. This included researching and developing 3 national disaster plans and building governmental capability. Paul has 15 years’ experience as a fire and rescue service strategic and training academy commander, and eight years military service.

Venetia Bellers

Disaster Risk Management Specialist

Venetia has worked internationally since 1999 in the management of humanitarian responses, disaster risk management and emergency preparedness programs at national, regional, and global levels in both government and non-government sectors in over 30 countries, with an emphasis on first phase humanitarian response, real-time strategic program reviews, preparedness and operational training.

Patricia Delaney

Social and Gender Inclusion Specialist

Patti has worked for more than 25 years as a technical expert and capacity builder at the intersection of development and international emergency preparedness. She has successfully supported the design and implementation of crisis management systems and disaster mitigation and preparedness for natural disasters, conflict and post-conflict settings, as well as outbreaks and health emergencies.

Borja Cuervo Alonso

Public Health Specialist

Borja is a Public Health Specialist with over 20 years of experience as an implementer, advisor, and evaluator supporting Ministries of Health across 26 countries in East and Southern Africa, North Africa, and Latin America to strengthen health system resilience against climate change and epidemics.