Our Team
At Peace First, we believe in the power of collaboration and community. Meet the incredible individuals who have shaped Peace First into what it is today. Each member of our team brings unique talents, perspectives, and dedication to our mission of empowering young people to create a more just and peaceful world.
Our Board
Jonathan Mandle
Corrum Capital Management, Board Chair
Andrae Allen
Managing Director, BlackRock's Aladdin Product Group
A Erin Ruane
Board Executive
Hammed Kayode Alabi
Social Entrepreneur
Isaac Cudjoe
CEO, Peace First
Lavinya Stennett
CEO and Founder, The Black Curriculum
Melanie Habwe
Co-Chair of the Black Professionals Network for the Americas, BlackRock
Mohammad Sammour
Co-Founder MedeArts, Social Entrepreneur
Saumya Aggarwal
CEO and Co-Founder, Youth for Peace International
Winter BreeAnne Minisee
Social Impact Strategist
Our Staff
Dr. Isaac Cudjoe
CEO
I lead Peace First's global strategy and guide our team as they help accelerate and amplify the impact of young changemakers.
Nadia Posada
Chief of Staff
I partner with our CEO to keep Peace First aligned and accountable, from leading internal operations and supporting our Board, to overseeing how we communicate our work.
Erioluwa Adeyinka
Programs Director
I keep global projects on track and moving forward, connecting people, managing the details, and making sure the work we do actually reaches the communities it's meant for.
Amy Burns
Senior Finance Manager
I support Peace First with grant processing, accounts payable, expenses, and budgeting to help implement efficiency and accuracy in the finance team.
Tim Shephard
Finance Manager
I support payment processing, grant processing, and manage financial accounts for Peace First.
Philip Barton
Digital Strategy & Innovation Fellow
I help translate our vision and resources into a structured technical framework that enhances our offerings for changemakers.
Our Ambassadors
Luthando Sihle Jikajika
Growth Grantee
A photographer and filmmaker using creative practice to help teenagers in his South African neighbourhood reframe how they see themselves and tell their own stories.
Agness Lungu
Growth Grantee
A Software Engineer at Amazon and founder of Lulimi, a platform using AI to preserve and celebrate African languages for the people who speak them.
Fabris Mulindi
Growth Grantee
A refugee-turned-entrepreneur and artist from the DRC who founded SOLFA, bringing climate-smart agriculture, clean energy, and creative advocacy to refugee and rural communities across Africa.
Paul Amanor
Development Grantee
Founder of FEED, a Ghana-based organisation that has brought mobile literacy, storytelling, and learning to over 25,000 children and families in underserved communities.
Marwah Aryantha
Development Grantee
Founder of Bridges for Hope, a learning community in Indonesia equipping refugee youth with creative skills and future-ready opportunities through art and digital pathways.
Michelle Hemeryth
Development Grantee
Founder of Waina Power, an initiative in Belen equipping young women and adolescents with life skills, self-confidence, and tools for economic independence.
Shreyansh Srivastav
Devlopemnt Grantee
Co-founder of Adhigam, a nonprofit using storytelling, art, and experiential learning to help children and young people discover their voices and lead with confidence