Introducing our three programme managers
The Bernard van Leer Foundation is pleased to introduce our three programme managers for the three new issue areas around which our grantmaking is now based: Strengthening the Care Environment, Successful Transitions: The Continuum from Home to School, and Social Inclusion and Respect for Diversity.
Jacqueline Hayden has joined the foundation as programme manager for Social Inclusion and Respect for Diversity. Dr Hayden has worked in the development of early childhood programmes at local, state and national levels within several continents. She is author of numerous publications on cross cultural issues in early childhood education, service and program development, health promotion and policy analyses. Most recently she was Director of Child and Youth Studies and Professor at the Research Centre for Social Justice and Social Change, University of Western Sydney, Australia.
The new manager of the Strengthening the Care Environment programme is Luis Pereira, whose life ambition is to protect, promote and realise international human rights and the rights of children in particular. Of Indian nationality, he holds a Masters degree in International Relations (Fletcher School, Tufts University) and has over 20 years experience in child-focussed development in Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa.
The Successful Transitions programme is managed by Liana Gertsch, formerly Director of Programme Development and Management at the Bernard van Leer Foundation, a post she has held since 2002. Prior to that, Liana was Programme Specialist in the Asia Desk at the Foundation, responsible for developing BvLF's programme in India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Her academic background is in South Asia Studies, Politics and Development, and the ethics of aid.
The foundation's executive director, Peter Laugharn, said: “I am delighted to have such a strong team in place as the Bernard van Leer Foundation moves forward with this new structure of organising our practice, knowledge and policy advocacy efforts to improve opportunities for disadvantaged children.”