I am an International Relations (IR) professional, a Project Management expert and a volunteering enthusiast. As a proud Ethiopian, witnessing a prosperous Africa and contributing towards realizing this goal are two of my top dreams.

Educated in Addis Ababa in the field of IR, I was able to experience cultures and ideas from the different corners of the African continent, under the roof of a private university which has the most diverse student body in the country.

I recently joined PEP-Africa, People Empowering People– Africa, an organization working in 10 countries in Africa, helping over 1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. Serving as the Country Lead, I am currently spearheading the establishment of the Ethiopian office, with a plan of focus on Civil Societies.

This won’t be my first time representing an institution on a global platform. Last April, I travelled to Toronto, Canada, representing Juventus Unida en Accion, one of the UNEP-accredited NGOs, at the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4). I had a chance to participate in a crucial side event, the Global Youth Coalition on Plastic Pollution led by the Executive Director of UNEP Ms Inger Andersen. I was also fortunate to have networked with high-level interlocutors including the Canadian Environment and Climate change minister.

I developed my leadership and management skills while previously serving at DHL World Wide Express Ethiopia, as a Service point advisor and Team Leader. During the past couple of years, I was endowed with dealing with a diverse set of clients and management of assets while working as Deputy Manager at WM Property Management.

Inclusivity is one of the values I strive to uphold and as a consequence, I worked as a Project Officer at the Network of Organizations for the Visually Impaired and the Blind(NOVIB), gaining experience in shedding light on issues that unfortunately do not receive the attention they deserve in the global South.

Volunteerism is also one of my passions. I competed at DHL’s Got Heart global 2023 competition, becoming an African regional winner with a reward of 28000 Euros that was donated to the local foundation where I volunteer.

I’m also an entrepreneur and established KEON, an Ethiopian leather products shop. I manufacture and sell high-end leather bags. I was able to expand KEON’s product reach, selling to customers in other African countries. I am proud to have been able to place my brand and an Ethiopian product across the continent.

I am a believer of locally brewed ideas based on our social values with a global and big-pictured touch. I continue to get inspiration from different sources in shaping my career and goals. Currently, the combined influence of my identity, education, profession and passion has resulted in me eyeing a future career in regional and multilateral institutions, bringing the voice of civil societies to global platforms and decision-making.