Meet our Board
Our Board of Directors brings together global expertise in investment, media, technology, business and governance. It oversees MDIF’s strategic direction and ensures that our work remains aligned with our mission.
Adriaan Stoop (Vice-Chair)
Attorney, Bergh, Stoop & Sanders
Adriaan Stoop is a Bergh, Stoop & Sanders attorney based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In addition to his work as an attorney, Adriaan worked in the field of democratisation for various international organizations, including the OSCE and the EU. He was the chair of the electoral court in Kosovo in 2001 for the first parliamentary elections after the war, and from then on worked in several countries in Eastern Europe and Africa. Adriaan holds several board positions; he is, amongst others, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of NRC Media and Board Member of the European Press Prize.
Patrícia Campos Mello
Editor-at-Large and Columnist, Folha de São Paulo
Patrícia Campos Mello is Editor-at-Large and Columnist at Brazil’s Folha de São Paulo newspaper. She has more than 25 years’ experience covering international relations, technology and human rights, and has reported from more than 50 countries.
Patricia was awarded the Columbia University Maria Moors Cabot award, the International Press Freedom Award of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). She has also won the Vladimir Herzog Special Award for Democracy and Justice, the Gabriel Garcia Marquez Excellence Award, the International Committee of the Red Cross Prize for humanitarian journalism and the King of Spain Journalism Prize. Patricia was awarded the Ordre National du Mérite in 2021 and the Ordem of Rio Branco in 2023.
Patricia has covered influence operations and tech regulation in Brazil, India and the US since 2014. Her investigative reporting led to changes in electoral law in Brazil. She is also the author of the bestselling book “A máquina do ódio ” (Companhia das Letras) about authoritarianism, disinformation and freedom of the press.
Patricia was the Washington correspondent for the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper between 2006 and 2010. She covered the economic crisis in the USA, and the elections in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024. She also covered the 9/11 attacks in New York in 2001 and the war in Afghanistan in 2009. Patricia was the only Brazilian reporter to cover the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone in 2014 and 2015, and covered the Covid pandemic in Brazil, reporting from public hospitals and shelters for homeless people.
More recently she spent time in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Turkey, Lebanon and Kenya reporting on conflict and refugees. In 2024, she covered the Israeli attacks against Lebanon and the fall of Assad in Syria. In 2025, she reported on the war in Ukraine from three frontlines in the east of the country.
Patricia was an associate researcher at Columbia University in 2021/2022, working on a project about internet regulation and electoral disinformation. She is the author of “Lua de Mel em Kobane”, a book about Syrian refugees who resisted the Islamic State siege in Kobane.
Patrícia has a degree in journalism from the University of São Paulo (USP) and a Master’s from New York University.
Dao Nguyen
Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Advertising Products, The New York Times
Dao is Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Advertising Products at The New York Times. Prior to The Times, Dao served as CPTO / Publisher of BuzzFeed, a reinvention of the traditional title in which she led the company’s product, tech and data teams. During her 11-year stint at BuzzFeed, she also spent time running the growth, editorial, video, food, social, branded content, ad product and distribution, and news teams. She previously served as Chief Executive Officer of LeMonde.fr in Paris, and also worked at Dow Jones Ventures, Concrete Media, and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). Dao holds an Applied Math / Computer Science undergraduate degree from Harvard University.
Kerstin Mogull
Board Director and Angel Investor, Retired Media and Arts Executive (BBC / Tate)
Kerstin Mogull is a former Managing Director of Tate (encompassing Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool and Tate St. Ives). For six years, she was responsible for running the overall business, managing more than 1,000 staff and leading a range of capital projects, including the award-winning £260m extension to Tate Modern. From 2000 to 2012, she held senior roles at the BBC across policy, strategy, digital and operations, including Chief Operating Officer of BBC Future Media & Technology. Earlier, as BBC Director of Strategy, Kerstin led the planning for iPlayer, the BBC’s ground-breaking on-demand streaming service. Earlier in her career, Kerstin worked in strategy and digital in the airline industry.
Kerstin is currently a board member of ColArt Ltd (Lindengruppen) and a Council Member of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. She recently stepped down from the Board of Swedish media group Bonnier AB.
Kerstin holds degrees from the Stockholm School of Economics, L’Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (Paris) and Kellogg, Northwestern University (Chicago), where she was a Fulbright scholar.
Kerstin competes for Team GB in triathlon and is a European and World medalist in her age group.
Photo credit: Tate Photography – Tate Galleries, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65407803
Harlan Mandel
Chief Executive Officer, MDIF
Harlan Mandel has led MDIF as CEO since 2011, having joined the organization in 1998 as Deputy Managing Director. He has spent nearly three decades working with independent media and public-interest information businesses across emerging and frontier markets, helping them build the commercial strength they need to stay independent and better serve the public.
His work has combined investment and strategic support, including managing debt and equity investments in media companies in more than 50 countries across five continents. He has also designed and raised a range of impact investment vehicles to mobilize capital for the sector, including structured debt issuances, guaranteed debt facilities, private equity funds and Pluralis, an evergreen investment company, raising more than $200 million in investment capital.
In his role at MDIF, Harlan has served on the boards of media companies in Brazil, India, Malaysia, Poland and South Africa.
Before joining MDIF, Harlan was Deputy General Counsel of the Open Society Institute. Earlier, he practiced law at Morrison & Foerster, specializing in international litigation, intellectual property and new media law.
He holds a JD from Columbia Law School and a BA in International Relations and Asian Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Harlan is based in New York.
Catherine Gicheru
Founder and Director, Africa Women Journalism Project
Catherine Gicheru is the founder and director of the Africa Women Journalism Project (AWJP) and an International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Knight Fellow. The AWJP drives coverage of underreported gender, health and development issues affecting marginalised groups and works to strengthen the voices of women journalists by helping them to become innovators in their newsrooms. Catherine leads a team of journalists, mentors and data analysts in five African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda) who are producing smart, data-based storytelling with a special focus on COVID-19.
Catherine was the first woman bureau chief and first female news editor of the Nation Media Group and was the founding editor of The Star daily. She co-founded East Africa’s first budget and public finance fact-checking and verification initiative, PesaCheck. She is an advisory board member of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism Oxford, the Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications and the British Council’s First News Worldwide program. She is also a member of the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) Online Harassment Advisory Board. Catherine advised on the Open Society Foundations’ Fiscal Governance Program and the ICFJ’s State of Technology in Global Newsrooms survey. She is a jury member for the WAN-IFRA Africa Digital Media Awards and European Journalism Centre’s MoneyTrail, among others.
Catherine is a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, a Reuters Institute Journalism Fellow at Oxford University and a 1992 IWMF Courage in Journalism award winner.
Marc Da Costa
Co-Founder and Chairman, Enigma
Marc Da Costa is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Enigma, a data technology company helping to expand access to credit for small businesses. He holds a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from the University of California and his writing about technology and culture has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian and elsewhere. Marc is also a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has held fellowships at the National Science Foundation, Intel Labs, the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Columbia Journalism School.
Sheila Coronel (Chair)
Director, Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism, Professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Sheila Coronel is a Professor at the Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University,Toni Stabile Professor of Professional Practice in Investigative Journalism, and Director of the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism. She began her reporting career at the Philippine Panorama, reporting on human rights and politics, before joining the staff of the Manila Times as a political reporter. In 1989, Sheila co-founded the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, which trains journalists in investigative skills and has provided an environment for in-depth, groundbreaking reporting on issues such as the military, poverty and corruption. Sheila has also reported on Philippine politics for The New York Times and The Guardian, and has authored more than a dozen books. She has received numerous awards, including the 2003 Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and the Creative Communication Arts.
Meet our team
Part investment fund, part human rights organization, MDIF brings together expertise in investment, media and information businesses, and non-profit management. Our global team is united by a shared commitment to independent information and the values that guide our work.
With offices in New York, Prague and Belgrade and colleagues across the regions we serve, our global team is united by a shared commitment to independent information, the democracy it enables and the values that guide our work.
61
staff members
27
locations
23
nationalities
60%
identify as women
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Rajat Arora
Investment Director, Asia
Dara Ajala
Program Manager, West and East Africa
Oluwadara Ajala leads MDIF’s Amplify program work across West and East Africa, including the newly launched Amplify Kenya initiative. In this role, she works closely with independent media companies to understand their operational and strategic challenges, designing targeted capacity-building interventions that support innovation and long-term sustainability.
Prior to this, Dara served as Program Manager for MDIF’s Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP), where she played a key role in supporting cohort participants to test and implement new business strategies. Drawing on her expertise in program management, strategic business development and audience research, she worked alongside media partners to explore viable pathways to growth and resilience. Dara has nearly a decade of experience working across development, public health, communications, advocacy and media. Before joining MDIF in 2022, she worked with Nigeria Health Watch. Her academic background is in health sciences, with a degree in microbiology. She is based in Abuja, Nigeria, and speaks English and Yoruba.
Deji Adekunle
Program Director for West and East Africa
Deji is responsible for managing current and future clients, driving pipeline development, and leading Amplify programs in all countries between North and Southern Africa. Prior to his appointment as Program Director for West and East Africa, Deji led the execution of MDIF’s Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP) as its Program Director. He brings in over 15 years of experience and expertise working across journalism, media development, media innovation, consulting, tech and program/project management; alongside a deep understanding of the African Media Landscape. Before joining MDIF in 2022, he was the Director of Innovation, Verification and media Literacy at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID). His educational background is in Computer Science and Mathematics and includes a double honors degree in both fields. He is based in Abuja, Nigeria.
Matthew Ballini
Financial Planning & Grants Analyst
Matthew Ballini brings experience across finance, program operations and international development. Prior to MDIF, he worked at DAI Global, where he supported the financial and operational management of the company’s USAID-funded portfolio across Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq, with responsibilities spanning budgeting and forecasting, compliance, procurement and risk analysis.
Matthew holds an MSc in Finance from the University of Edinburgh and a dual major BA in Economics and Media & Society from Hobart College, with a minor in International Relations. His interests sit at the intersection of international development, media and finance, and he brings strong analytical, financial planning, and stakeholder management skills to his work.
Kristina Drača
Senior Legal Counsel, M&A
Kristina Drača is responsible for handling legal matters of MDIF. She uses her legal expertise to ensure the smooth execution of financial transactions and legal compliance. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, Kristina has worked in reputable law firms in Serbia, such as Karanović and Partners and Moravčević, Vojnović and Partners, where she offered comprehensive legal assistance to corporate clients. Her areas of expertise include project finance, crowd lending, restructuring, capital market operations, payment services and other corporate and finance matters. Her educational background is in law and includes an LLM degree from New York University School of Law. She is based in Belgrade, Serbia and speaks Serbian and English.
Pragya Chamria
Senior Investment Officer
Pragya Chamria is a Senior Investment Officer with over 15+ years of experience across private equity, venture capital, corporate finance, and advisory. She has invested in high-growth startups across consumer, technology, healthcare, AI-enabled platforms, media and sustainability in Asia and the Middle East. At MDIF she is responsible for investments across South Asia and she collaborates with founders to scale mission-driven, tech-enabled businesses. Previously, Pragya has held investing roles at Lightbox Venture Fund (US$400M) and Fulcrum Venture Fund (US$50M) in India where her work focused on new-age consumer and tech-led investments, and building deep expertise in investment evaluation, valuation leadership, and portfolio management. Pragya is an Executive Program Management graduate from Columbia Business School, USA, and holds a Bachelors degree in Commerce from Hansraj College, Delhi University.
Luciana Cardoso
Media Business Advisor
Luciana began her career at IBM, where she held a Project Management role for Latin America. She subsequently served as CPO at Estadão Newspaper in Brazil, leading the company’s digital transformation. Following that she joined Quartz as a Senior Product Manager, achieving significant results such as increasing readership and successfully launching a new podcast. Later, she held the position of Director of Product and Data at Grupo Bandeirantes in Brazil. Luciana’s career also includes her role as Vice President of the Executive Board at the News Product Alliance.
Ljubica Grozdanovska Dimishkovska
Program Manager, Western Balkans Fund
As Program Manager, Western Balkans Fund, Ljubica supports the Amplify Western Balkans Fund portfolio. Serving as a point of contact for WBF-supported media and Amplify clients, she coordinates and engage with them, builds trust-based relationships, provides on-going programmatic support and ensures effective implementation of programmatic activities and alignment with program objectives.
Ljubica brings more than a decade of national and regional experience in media development and sustainability, program management and strategic planning, as well as community building and strategic communications. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications, she has worked with national and international media outlets for more than 14 years.
Marcela Falquez
Senior Investment Officer for Latin America
Marcela is responsible for MDIF’s investment portfolio in Latin America. She brings over 15 years of experience in driving sustainable development in the Andean region through strategic private debt financing, portfolio management in impact investing funds, financial analysis and non-profit consulting in Latin America. Marcela holds expertise in debt capital financing, due diligence and structuring complex transactions for under served markets, along with proven success in business development, relationship management and customer engagement. Marcela is an Industrial Engineer with a Minor in Economics from Universidad de los Andes and postgraduate studies in Corporate Finance and Corporate Social Responsibility. She is based in Bogota, Colombia and speaks fluent English, Spanish, and intermediate French.
Marcin Gadzinski
Program Director for Europe
After 10 years of working in editorial, including Washington Correspondent and Editor for Poland’s iconic daily Gazeta Wyborcza and Editor-in-Chief of Sport.pl, Marcin became Digital Media Manager and Head of Business at the Sport.pl Group. As Managing Director for Gazeta.pl, one of the leading websites in Poland, he oversaw most of Agora’s digital brands, editorial, product, marketing and business teams. Marcin also has experience as a business consultant on leadership, digital transformation and high-performing teams.
Mayura Gangan
Senior Investment Officer
Mayura is responsible for South-East Asia investments. She comes from an investment banking and advisory background with more than 13 years of experience. Before joining MDIF, she worked in boutique investment banking firms, where she was responsible for end-to-end execution of transactions across various products, such as capital markets, private equity, structured debt and M&A. She holds a Bachelors of Engineering degree from India, and an MBA degree in Finance from Boston College, USA. She is based in Singapore.
Jana Havrdova
Operations Assistant
Andre Howson
Program Director, South Asia
As MDIF’s Program Director for South Asia, Andre Howson oversees all activities related to strengthening the business capacity, sustainability, and resilience of independent media across South Asia. He brings nearly two decades of experience in storytelling, media, and social impact across South Asia and the Middle East. Andre has worked as writer, creative director, and media consultant, and helped media ventures grow through compelling narratives and strategic content. Before joining MDIF, he held leadership roles across regional media operations, content production, and development communications, collaborating with global brands, international organizations, and local initiatives to strengthen storytelling ecosystems throughout the region. Andre also mentors early-stage media and startup teams and remains active in theatre and performance projects that explore social themes. He holds a BSc in Information Systems and Management from the University of London, and an MBA in International Business.
Diego Jaime
Director of Operations
Diego was appointed Director of Operations in 2025, moving from his position as Principal Investment Officer in MDIF’s Investment Department, which he joined in 2022. As Director of Operations, Diego works at the intersection of strategy and performance, helping MDIF to navigate a period of dramatic and unpredictable change in the media industry. His focus includes strategic planning, organizational performance management, organizational effectiveness and cross-functional coordination. Diego also sits on MDIF’s Investment Committee.
Diego brings more than 15 years’ experience of structuring, managing and promoting investments and projects in Latin America, as well as a strong record of translating institutional goals into operational action, with Armilla Capital Fund and Aldea Proyectos.
Diego has an educational background in finance and holds a Masters of Public Administration from the London School of Economics. He is based in Bogotá, Colombia.
Nduku Kiteng’e
Program Officer, East Africa
Nduku Kiteng’e is a Program Officer supporting Amplify’s East Africa portfolio, currently working on Amplify Kenya and Ethiopia under the PIMHIE project in partnership with the BBC Media Action. She oversees program coordination, partner engagement, and delivery, ensuring alignment, learning, and effective implementation.
Nduku brings over a decade of experience in program management, stakeholder coordination, and systems-oriented development work across media, youth employment, and institutional strengthening initiatives. She has led complex, multi-stakeholder programs, including the establishment of regional networks, partner onboarding, and adaptive program design across African contexts.
Her work is grounded in a strong background in business, IT, and organizational development, with particular strengths in translating strategy into practical delivery, supporting localization efforts, and strengthening implementation systems. Nduku is passionate about building inclusive, sustainable programs that amplify local voices and strengthen institutional capacity across Africa.
Valér Kot
Senior Media Advisor
Valér Kot is responsible for digital strategy development and data-driven insights. With over 15 years’ experience in the publishing, tech and digital media industries, he brings expertise in evaluating digital publishing tech stacks, monetisation models and techniques, audience and competitive analysis, data and performance tracking, and UX/UI optimisation. Staying abreast of emerging trends in news publishing is a vital part of his role. Prior to joining MDIF in 2013, he worked at media companies Piano and Petit Press. He holds a Master of Arts degree in musicology and humanities. Based in Prague, the Czech Republic, he is fluent in Slovak and English, with a good understanding of most Slavic languages and a basic knowledge of French and German.
Grzegorz Kossakowski
Investment Director for Europe
Grzegorz is responsible for supervising investment portfolios in Europe and leading the MDIF European Investment Team. He uses his expertise in corporate finance and media management to effectively manage the European portfolio and support media partners in their further development. He started his career as an M&A and strategic consultant advising TMT companies in the CEE region, before serving as a C-level executive in several media outlets in Poland for more than 20 years. Before joining MDIF in 2023, he worked as CEO at Eurozet and previously as a member of the management board in Agora. His educational background is in finance and media management and includes an MBA at Manchester University, as well as media management programs at Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University). He is based in Warsaw, Poland and speaks Polish, English and basic German and Russian.
Michael Lee
Controller
Michael Lee is responsible for overseeing day-to-day financial activities, preparing financial statements in a timely manner and managing audits and taxes. He has extensive expertise in accounting, finance, auditing and tax. He has worked in retail, construction, information services and nonprofits for more than 30 years. Prior to joining MDIF in 2003, he worked as a Controller at The Kosciuszko Foundation. His educational background is in accounting and he holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from Baruch College. He is based in New York City and speaks English and Chinese (Cantonese).
Kristyna Machova
Operations and Programs Manager
Harlan Mandel
Chief Executive Officer, MDIF
Harlan Mandel has led MDIF as CEO since 2011, having joined the organization in 1998 as Deputy Managing Director. He has spent nearly three decades working with independent media and public-interest information businesses across emerging and frontier markets, helping them build the commercial strength they need to stay independent and better serve the public.
His work has combined investment and strategic support, including managing debt and equity investments in media companies in more than 50 countries across five continents. He has also designed and raised a range of impact investment vehicles to mobilize capital for the sector, including structured debt issuances, guaranteed debt facilities, private equity funds and Pluralis, an evergreen investment company, raising more than $200 million in investment capital.
In his role at MDIF, Harlan has served on the boards of media companies in Brazil, India, Malaysia, Poland and South Africa.
Before joining MDIF, Harlan was Deputy General Counsel of the Open Society Institute. Earlier, he practiced law at Morrison & Foerster, specializing in international litigation, intellectual property and new media law.
He holds a JD from Columbia Law School and a BA in International Relations and Asian Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Harlan is based in New York.
Lorena Macura
Senior Investment Officer
Lorena Macura is an investment professional with more than 20 years of emerging markets investment experience, with a focus on impact investing in Southeast Europe. Worked on more than 22 investment transactions in Southeast Europe and served on several portfolio company boards. Experienced in all stages of the investment process, fundraising, and collaboration with the global teams and DFIs. Mrs. Macura has joined MDIF in May 2024 as the Senior Investment Officer responsible for the MDIF investments in the Western Balkans. She obtained the BA and MBA degree in Finance from the University of Sheffield, UK with distinction.
Dan Margoshes
Chief Financial Officer
Dan has extensive US and international experience in both the not-for-profit and commercial media sectors, where he managed strategic finance and operations including complex accounting, planning, tax and compliance. His previous not-for-profit experience includes CFO and senior leadership positions at an international membership organization, a social service agency and at Geller Advisors LLC, where he acted as a fractional CFO and Board-level advisor to a portfolio of private foundations, policy advocacy organizations and cultural institutions.
Before entering not-for-profit, Dan had a long career in the commercial media sector. He held several financial positions with the National Football League including Vice President, International Finance and CFO of NFL Europe in London, as well as previous positions with EMI Music and the Los Angeles Times.
Dan holds an MBA in Finance and Operations Management from Columbia Business School and a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.
Zoe McDonagh
Program Officer for Funding and Investor Relations
Zoe is part of the team managing funding and investor relations at MDIF. Previously, she was based at a philanthropic institution in Italy, where she worked mainly on international projects in the fields of impact entrepreneurship, data science and AI, and business acceleration. She also has experience in the teaching profession, both in the UK and Italy, as well as training programs for social entrepreneurs with the UN.
Zoe graduated in French and Italian Language and Literature from the University of Kent and holds a PGCE professional teaching qualification from the University of Portsmouth. She is based in Turin, Italy and speaks English, Italian and French.
Mayuri Mei Lin
Program Director, Southeast Asia
As MDIF’s Program Director for Southeast Asia, Mayuri Mei Lin helps in shaping the organization’s regional strategy and overseeing relationships with investment clients across the region. In this role she facilitates technical assistance, drives pipeline investments and works closely with MDIF’s investment and advisory teams to help independent media strengthen their operations and achieve long term sustainability. She brings over a decade of experience in journalism, from editorial and visual storytelling to product development and audience growth. Previously, as Senior Program Officer for Asia, Mayuri coordinated Amplify Asia, MDIF’s business capacity-building program supporting independent media in Southeast Asia. Her previous experiences include coordinating international media training programs at the City University of New York and leading the BBC World Service’s East Asia Visual Journalism hub, producing digital storytelling projects across the region. She holds a Master’s degree from New York University in journalism and digital innovation and is passionate about making news more sustainable, inclusive and accessible.
Jakub Młynarski
Senior Investment Analyst
Jakub is responsible for the analytical and financial modelling parts of the investment process, as well as building successful relations with MDIF’s current and prospective partners with a focus on professional reporting and a business approach to media. In the past he worked for EY and PwC in finance-related consulting in Luxembourg and Poland. Jakub studied finance & accounting in Warsaw and history in Groningen; he is also an accredited CFA charter holder.
Jelena Milosevic
Program Director for Southeast Europe
Jelena Milošević leads MDIF’s work in Southeast Europe, overseeing strategy, investments, and technical assistance for media across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Serbia.
As Director of the MDIF Western Balkans Fund, she has driven strategy, expanded investment opportunities, and strengthened technical assistance for media partners across the region. Building on this success, she now directs MDIF’s consolidated activities in these eight interconnected countries, focusing on client support, pipeline development, and continued leadership of the Western Balkans Fund and Amplify program.
Jelena brings more than two decades of media and business experience, including senior roles at B92 Serbia, Ringier Axel Springer Serbia, and the USAID Cardno project . Her academic background includes a BSc in Computer Science and an Executive MBA. Based in Belgrade, Serbia, she speaks Serbian, English and Russian.
Meredith Moloughney
Chief of Staff
Meredith joined MDIF in 2014 and currently holds the position of Chief of Staff, a role that sees her working across all departments within the organization to ensure the effectiveness of its staff, programs and overall efficiency. Prior to her appointment as Chief of Staff, she served as Administrative Director, working closely with the Finance team, and leading New York office operations. Before joining MDIF, Meredith spent time in sales and business-to-business marketing, but a desire to work in the not-for-profit space, specifically supporting press freedom, led her to MDIF. Meredith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business. She is based out of the New York City office.
Mohamed Nanabhay
Senior Advisor
In addition to sitting on MDIF’s Investment Committee, Mohamed is the Managing Partner of Mozilla Ventures, a first-of-its-kind impact venture fund that invests in early-stage startups pushing the internet — and the tech industry — in a better direction. He is a digital media practitioner, entrepreneur and strategist. As the Head of Online at Al Jazeera English he led the team that produced the award winning coverage of the Arab revolutions in 2011. Previously, he started Al Jazeera’s New Media department, and served as an advisor to the Director-General. In 2005 Mohamed founded QatarLiving.com (acquired in 2012), a listings and community website that quickly grew to be the largest site in Qatar. He also co-founded Signalnoi.se, a social analytics platform for newsrooms that won the Knight News Challenge, and he has been an active angel investor in a variety of digital start-ups.
Mohamed is a member of the Board of Directors of Global Voices Online and the Mozilla Foundation. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Social Media. He received his undergraduate degree in Computer Science at the University of the Witwatersrand and a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Cambridge. Mohamed is based in Johannesburg.
Jeanette Nuñez
Assistant to CEO
Jeanette Nuñez is responsible for managing the CEO’s schedule, everyday operations for the New York office and events logistics. She coordinates with building management and handles office-related projects and activities for efficient facilities and office operations. She plans meetings, conferences and special events for the MDIF team, maximising the effectiveness of the company’s staff and processes. Jeanette has more than a decade of experience in supporting C-level executives. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation as a resourceful and creative leader, multi-tasking across a broad spectrum of responsibilities to ensure executives can optimize their time and energy in the most positive way possible.
Before joining MDIF in 2019, she worked at Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church and The Council of Bishops. Jeanette has an associate degree in office administration and is a certified event planner. She is based in New York, USA and speaks Spanish and English.
Anna Pagul
Accountant
Anna Pagul is responsible for assisting the Controller with the day-to-day, monthly and year-end operations of the Accounting Department. She manages the processing of cash and PRI receipts, the recording of revenue and receivables. She reviews all vendor invoices and employees expense reports and ensures compliance with company policies and required approvals prior to input into the GL system. Before joining MDIF in 2003, Anna had worked with Risk Waters Group, a British-based publishing company. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration at Baruch College. She is based in New York City and speaks English and Russian.
Marija Petrovic
Administrative Assistant
Marija works in the representative office in Belgrade as an administrative assistant and is responsible for supporting the local team. She has extensive experience working in supporting roles across banking, media, and legal sectors. Before joining MDIF, she worked for the BBC News and Current Affairs in Serbia as a team assistant. She holds BA degree in Arabic language and literature and speaks English and German.
Bojana Pavlovic
Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate & Regulatory Affairs.
Bojana is a member of the MDIF Legal team, based in Belgrade, Serbia. She provides legal support at all levels of MDIF’s operations, including investments, compliance and various legal challenges in different jurisdictions.
Bojana is a team player, contributing to MDIF’s mission by providing expert legal advice aimed at business-oriented support and process acceleration. Before joining MDIF, Bojana practiced law for more than 13 years. Her diverse experience includes practicing law at a leading Balkan regional law firm, working in the UAE as legal counsel in a construction and architecture company, and working as legal business partner at pharmaceutical company Hemofarm, a member of STADA group.
Elena Popovic
Secretary and General Counsel
Elena Popovic is primarily responsible for general oversight of legal support to MDIF and MDIF’s governance and compliance. Holding a law degree from the University of Belgrade and LLM from New York University School of Law, Elena is an attorney admitted to the New York State Bar, with over 25 years of experience of M&A, private equity and commercial law in multiple legal systems. She is responsible for overseeing all the legal work of MDIF and its funds, including analysis of legal and political risks and FDI protection mechanisms. Before joining MDIF, Elena’s experience included managing a legal task force for the former Yugoslavia at the Open Society Institute in New York; private commercial practice in Belgrade; and managing the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia (of which she is also a co-founder). Elena also managed the Serbian Center for Anti-War Action. Elena is currently based in Belgrade.
Hillary Puckett
Administrative Assistant
Hillary is the administrative assistant for the finance team. In addition to supporting the finance team, she is a certified notary, which she uses to support the legal team. She has worked as an administrative assistant in the fashion and non-profit industries for more than eight years. Before joining MDIF in 2019, she worked at Seventh House PR as the executive assistant to the president. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA. She is based in New York City.
Bilal Randeree
Chief Program Officer
Reporting to the CEO, Bilal, as the Chief Program Officer, has the ultimate responsibility for the programmatic direction of MDIF investments and effective design, budgeting, fundraising and implementation of all Amplify programs and any other special programs. He is also responsible for the implementation of global strategy and coordination of all program related activities, managing the work of Regional Program Directors and directly managing relationships with clients and pipeline in the Middle East.
Sourabh Ratnaparkhi
External Accountant
With a background in Finance and Accounting, Sourabh comes in with experience across various Non Profit as well as Asset Management, Family Office and Logistics organizations. Currently based in New York, he is fluent in English, Hindi and Marathi.
Joanna Różycka-Iwan
Chief Investment Officer
Joanna Rozycka-Iwan is a seasoned expert in impact investment, consulting, and financial management, bringing almost two decades of experience to the forefront of media and sustainable finance. Since joining MDIF in 2012, Joanna managed a diverse portfolio of debt and equity impact investments across Central and Southeast Europe and South and Southeast Asia, playing a pivotal role in executing significant media deals in recent years.
As Chief Investment Officer, she oversees MDIF’s global portfolio and investment strategy, while actively serving on the Supervisory Boards of several investee companies, including BFM, PTWP, Wirtualna Polska and Josh Talks (previously Gremi Media, Eurozet and Petit Press). Joanna excels in shaping strategic priorities, performance monitoring, and financial management, driving impactful change within the organizations she supports.
Before her tenure at MDIF, Joanna advised companies at Deloitte and Crido Taxand, where she successfully secured over EUR 150 million in financing for a wide array of projects spanning innovation, environmental protection, intermodal transport and renewable energy.
A dedicated professional, Joanna has been a member of ACCA since 2014 and earned her FCCA designation in 2019. She is also a proud alumna of the Leadership Academy for Poland (2021). Based in Warsaw, she holds an MA in Corporate Finance from SGH Warsaw School of Economics and an MA in International Relations from Warsaw University.
Zhibek Ruslanova
Project Manager, Media Advisory Services
Zhibek is a Project Manager at MDIF’s Media Advisory Services. Prior to joining MDIF, Zhibek served as a Program Officer at Prague Civil Society Centre, an organization that supports civil society and independent media across Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Global Ethics from the University of Leicester, UK. Zhibek speaks English, Czech and Russian.
Patrice Schneider
Chief Strategy Officer
Patrice started his publishing career as a journalist reporting from conflicts in Central Asia at the end of the 1980s. Before joining MDIF in 2002, within the AOL Time Warner Group he served as Managing Director of Netscape Europe overseeing its eight European websites: UK, Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Denmark and Sweden. In 1998, before joining AOL Time Warner, Patrice was a Senior Adviser for the World Economic Forum (The Davos summit). From 1994 to 1998 he was Deputy Managing Director at Hachette Filipacchi Medias – the leading French publishing group and owner of Elle, Paris Match and other internationally renowned magazines. Previously Patrice served as Director at the World Association of Newspapers in Paris. He is a graduate of the Institut d’études politiques (Sciences Po) in Strasbourg and McGill University in Montreal. Patrice is based in Paris.
Dusan Simeunovic
IT Systems & Support Specialist
Dusan is an IT Systems & Support Specialist. With a strong background in administration and technical support, he ensures smooth and reliable IT operations across the organization. Before joining MDIF, he developed and maintained IT systems for a regional company in the Balkans. He holds a BSc in Information Technology and is based in Belgrade, Serbia.
Yacine Simporé
Principal Investment Officer
Yacine Simporé is MDIF’s Principal Investment Officer for Africa, responsible for investments across the continent. She brings extensive experience in impact investment and business strategy across Africa. Before joining MDIF, she worked at Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), one of Africa’s leading impact funds, where she led investment transactions, structured blended finance mechanisms and co-led the launch of Inua Capital, Uganda’s first gender-lens SME fund. Through Kerawa Partners, the advisory practice she founded in 2024, she supported entrepreneurs and financial institutions in developing financing solutions for Africa’s creative and cultural industries. She also brings direct experience in the media sector, having begun her career as a journalist at the New York Amsterdam News and served on the board of Africultures, a pan-African media dedicated to African literary and cultural expression. Yacine holds a Bachelor’s in Social Economics and Sciences and a Master’s in International Development from Sciences Po Paris.
Magdalena Skrzypek
Director of Communications and Impact
As Director of Communications and Impact, Magda leads MDIF’s communications and impact functions. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on delivery: owning MDIF’s communications strategy, impact methodology, brand and institutional narrative, while also leading the day-to-day work across content, channels and reporting.
Magda stepped into the role from her position as Impact and Communications Manager.
Before joining MDIF in 2017, she worked in communications and editorial roles across the agency, media, non-profit and intergovernmental sectors. She studied at Aarhus University and the University of Amsterdam, holding a joint master’s degree in Journalism, Media and Globalization, with a specialism in Media and Politics. Originally from Poland, she is based in Berlin, Germany and speaks Polish, English and German.
Janusz Slupek
Investment Officer
Janusz is responsible for working with portfolio companies, monitoring performance and advising on strategy and identified challenges. His expertise covers the whole investment cycle from deal origination through execution as well as portfolio management and internal and external reporting. He uses his expertise in analyses and business planning to increase the value of the fund’s investments.
Janusz has worked in the impact investing sector for more than 15 years. He is based in Poland and speaks Polish, English and Russian.
Ana Soffietto
Program Director for Latin America
Ana Soffietto is responsible for MDIF’s portfolio in Latin America, strengthening relationships within the media ecosystem in the region and developing strategic initiatives. Before joining MDIF, she was Head of Product at Grupo Octubre, one of Argentina’s largest media companies, where she oversaw product strategy and audience research and founded its first interactive and data team. Ana has also worked as a consultant and coach in media, technology and audience development for programs such as GNI Startups Lab Hispanoamérica for Google and Sembramedia, Product Inmersion for Small Newsrooms for CUNY and Impulso Local for Meta, Adepa y Dosunos.
Since the beginning of her career, she has been passionate about the intersection between journalism, communication and technology. This led her to participate as co-founder and co-director of MediaChicas, a non-profit organization with the mission of bridging the digital gender gap. Ana was a professional fellow at the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in 2019. She is a journalist with a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Buenos Aires. Ana is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina and speaks Spanish and English.
Molina Talleyrand
People & Culture Manager
Molina joined MDIF in 2025 as People & Culture Manager, where she supports the organization’s diverse, international team by implementing HR strategies that strengthen talent development, compliance, performance management and people operations, ensuring that MDIF’s internal systems align with its mission and long-term goals. She works across departments to build trust and promote engagement.
She brings over a decade of Human Resources experience across financial services, consulting, high-growth environments, global and mission-driven organizations. Before joining MDIF, she held senior HR leadership roles advising executive teams on organizational design, people operations, employee relations, HR technology implementation and change management.
Molina holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management from Pennsylvania State University. She is a member of HRCI and holds the PHR designation and is also a member of SHRM. She is based out of the New York City office.
Patricia Torres-Burd
Managing Director, Media Advisory Services
Patricia Torres-Burd is responsible for managing Media Advisory Services and its portfolio and partner technical assistance and venture support, focusing on sustainability across all areas of media operations. She uses her expertise in media development, launch and operations to work with MDIF’s supported projects as their needs develop across their operational, audience reach and measurement, engagement and product considerations. She has worked internationally in all aspects of media, including television, radio and digital news for more than 25 years. Before joining MDIF in 2018, she held executive management positions at CME, SBS, Telemundo and UBC. Her educational background is in media and includes a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas. She is based in Prague, Czech Republic and speaks English, Spanish, French and moderate Romanian and Slovene.
Grace Thu
Program Director, Amplify Asia
Grace Thu is the Program Director for MDIF’s Amplify Asia Program. She leads the implementation of all Amplify Asia program activities to strengthen the business capacity, sustainability, and resilience of independent media across South and Southeast Asia. Grace has also co-edited and contributed to several MDIF publications, including The Business of Independent Media in Post-Coup Myanmar, Inclusion is Good for Business, and Myanmar Media’s Response to COVID-19. With more than 12 years of experience in the media and media development sector, she has worked as a TV and radio producer, presenter, interpreter and researcher focusing on journalism and freedom of expression at a wide range of international and local organizations including BBC Media Action, BBC World Service, BBC Two, Channel 4 UK, Radio Free Asia, UNDP, PEN Myanmar and PEN America.
Dhyanesh Vaishnav
Communications Officer
Dhyanesh is part of the Strategy and Communications team producing external communications, reporting to funders and investors, and carrying out research. With a postgraduate degree in Global Media and Communications from the University of London, Dhyanesh has experience of working in journalism and social impact communications. Currently based in London, Dhyanesh was born and raised in India and speaks English, Hindi and Gujarati.
Nenad Vucetic
IT Director
Nenad is a technology executive with experience in IT strategy, infrastructure, and enterprise systems. Over the past decade, he has held senior roles including CTO, IT Director, IT Manager, and Solution Architect, leading complex digital transformation initiatives across multiple sectors. He has worked with organizations such as STADA, Fujitsu (GDC), Galenika and BDO, delivering scalable solutions for companies ranging from 50 to over 20,000+ employees. Nenad holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Nolwazi Tusini
Program Director for Southern Africa
Nolwazi is responsible for managing current and future clients, driving pipeline development and leading Amplify programs in South and Southern Africa, including Angola, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. Nolwazi is an award-winning broadcast journalist, queer feminist, social justice activist and writer. Before joining MDIF, she served as Acting Co-Director as well as Communications and Media manager at Iranti, a human rights advocacy organisation. With more than a decade of experience as a broadcast journalist crafting radio and TV shows covering news and current affairs, she has led editorial teams at eNCA, 702, Power 98.7, and The Big Debate SA. Nolwazi is a senior Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity with Columbia University in New York and the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, and a Global Atlantic Fellow. She is also a Ruth First Scholar.
Max von Abendroth
Senior Advisor Europe & Germany
Max von Abendroth is part of MDIF’s global Strategy & Outreach team with a particular focus on MDIF activities in Europe and Germany. With 18 years of experience in EU public affairs, he is the former Executive Director of Dafne (2017 – 2022), the European umbrella organisation of philanthropy, representing 10,000 public benefit foundations. Previously, Max was the Executive Director of EMMA, the European Magazine Media Association, representing the interest of 15,000 press publishers across Europe vis-à-vis the EU. He is Board member at Europe’s Media Lab (Belgium) and Trustee at Alliance Publishing Trust (UK). Max studied economics and business administration at Universität Witten/Herdecke (Germany).
Oleksandra Volkova
Administrative Assistant
Sibahle Zuma
Program Assistant, Amplify South Africa
Sibahle Zuma is a Program Assistant at MDIF’s Amplify South Africa project. Prior to joining MDIF, Sibahle served in various roles, including as a Research, Communications, and Campaign Assistant at Amnesty International, Program Assistant at CIVICUS, and Campaign Assistant at Crisis Action. She holds a degree in law and political science from the University of Cape Town and the University of Kwa Zulu-Natal respectively. Sibahle is passionate about supporting initiatives that promote social justice and media development.