The Geneva Centre is composed of a plurinational staff from France, Switzerland, Belarus, United Arab Emirates and Finland.
Umesh Palwankar, a national of Switzerland, joined the Geneva Centre in December 2018 as Researcher-Planner. He was later appointed Executive Director. His responsibilities include defining the strategic objectives of the Centre, guiding and supervising their implementation by the Centre’s staff, promoting the Centre’s mission and activities with external interlocutors, and developing and consolidating partnerships.
Born in Italy and brought up in both French and Italian cultures, Ms Tiziana Loschi joined the Geneva Centre in July 2019 to support and assist, under the supervision of the Executive Director, the general work of the Geneva Centre and its team members, including managing the administrative and financial operations of the Centre and organizing conferences and other events held by the Centre.
A national of the United Arab Emirates, Ms Alia Fares joined the Geneva Centre in September 2020 as a Training Specialist.
She designs training programs and activities for students and professionals in the field of human rights. The core purpose of these training programs is to provide such stakeholders with increased expertise, thereby promoting national capacity building.
She designs training programs and activities for students and professionals in the field of human rights. The core purpose of these training programs is to provide such stakeholders with increased expertise, thereby promoting national capacity building.
A national of Italy, Catia joined the Geneva Centre in March 2023, as Project and Information Officer. In this capacity, she assists with the organization, coordination and implementation of the Centre’s activities. She conducts research related to programs, prepares publications and follows and reports on the sessions of the Human Rights Council.
Imane, a French national born in France and hailing from an Arab background, joined the Geneva Centre in April 2023. As a Project and Information Officer, she is responsible for planning, organization and development of the Centre’s activities. She conducts research related to the Centre’s areas of focus, prepares publications, and facilitates partnerships with the UN system, civil society, academia, and consulting experts.