Karol Arámbula (México) has worked on numerous projects, programmes and movement-building initiatives with the United Nations (UN) and other stakeholders in +15 countries. She has represented intergovernmental entities, the private sector and civil society in +400 high-level UN processes related to sustainable development, human rights, peacebuilding and civic space. She possesses +10 years of expertise in the design and implementation mechanisms of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognized by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, the UN SDG Action Campaign and the UN Volunteers Programme. In 2014, she founded MY World Mexico: Hub of Action for Sustainable Development, which has now impacted on +100 million people across Mexico and Latin America thanks to +2 million actions, +10,000 organizations, +100,00 volunteers and +100 campaigns. She has also participated in +170 public speaking engagements at the national and international levels. Karol also possesses significant field experience in conflict and post-conflict settings with the UN in North Africa and South America, with solid competence in working with former combatants, civilian, military and police personnel. Karol has +20 years of first-hand volunteering experience, campaigning, mobilization and activism in developing countries and has served as Board of CIVICUS, the UN-Mandated Major Group for Children and Youth and Pax Tecum Global Consultancy.

James O’Brien is the Executive Director of the International Forum for Volunteering in Development (Forum). Prior to joining Forum, he spent nine years in various roles with VSO, most recently as Global Leadership Manager and Country Representative for Ireland. He has served as Coordinator of the Volunteer Groups Alliance and Chair of the Post-2015 Volunteering Working Group, and worked with Better Care Network and Lumos on child protection and responsible volunteering. He is the Chair of University College Dublin Volunteers Overseas.

Mei is an advisor to the UN Disaster and Risk Reduction (UNDRR) program advocating on behalf of volunteers and volunteer involving organizations. Mei was also appointed to and serves on the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism. She has consulted and trained in 37 countries and is a champion for the role volunteers play in creating, leading and sustaining change. Globally she helped develop Pro Vobis, the national volunteer center in Romania and worked in the United Arab Emirates to develop its first national volunteer program, Takatof. Mei most recently led Volunteer Engagement at United Way Worldwide. Prior to her work at United Way Worldwide, Mei served as Senior Vice President at the Points of Light Foundation and as Vice President for the United Way of San Diego County. Mei is an active volunteer serving on a variety of boards and is an accompanist for local schools and music programs. She also performs regularly with the Annapolis Chorale and Cantori.

Sam Fankuchen is Founder & CEO of Golden, the most award-winning volunteer management software in the world and most popular volunteering apps. He was the first person to major in Social Entrepreneurship at Stanford, and wrote his Masters thesis on recruiting, retaining, and optimizing the lifetime value of volunteers while at the Stanford d.School. He is Technology Editor of Engage Journal, Executive Judge at the Anthem and Webby Awards, and Advisor to numerous institutions across sectors, including Giving Tuesday, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Greater Giving Summit, family offices, and technology startups.

Laura, originally from Colombia, has lived in Chile for the past 8 years and is now based in the U.S. after completing her Executive MPA at NYU and UCL (London). She has worked for 16 years in volunteer organizations. At TECHO, she mobilized more than 10,000 volunteers and expanded the organization's reach nationwide. At the Jesuit Immigration Service, she coordinated strategic partnerships with local governments and private sectors and pioneered innovative projects with immigrants. For the past 7 years, she has worked for America Solidaria coordinating strategic partnerships throughout Latin America, developing innovative fundraising strategies, and raising millions in funds for impactful projects in the region. As a multilingual advocate, Laura excels in leading multicultural teams, bringing together diverse perspectives to achieve meaningful impact. Her expertise in strategic planning, partnerships, volunteer engagement, and fundraising has enabled transformative projects that improve housing in slums, enhance youth engagement, and support immigrants.

Maryrose is a Kenyan lady based in Malawi. She received her Masters in the US and has extensive global experience with organizations like PATH (Kenya), VSO and ChildFund International in Mozambique, Action Aid in Bangladesh. At the United Nations, Maryrose managed the United Nations Volunteers program in Malawi. She currently serves with the NGO Gender Coordination Network in Malawi, where, while working with the National Youth Council, researching mental youth literacy with Queen Mary University of London, and mentoring youth, she coordinated the first and the second VNR reports. Maryrose is a positive thinker who enjoys traveling when time allows.

Teng Yun is Chairman of VOW CENTER (China), a senior certified trainer of China Volunteer Service, special instructor of Charity Education Center of Beijing Normal University, initiator of Northeast China Youth Public Welfare Development Forum, visiting scholar of IVLP non-profit organizations at the US Department of State, and visiting scholar of youth social organizations invited by the Russian Ministry of Science and Education. He has successively served as the executive director of the China Youth Volunteer Association, the secretary-general of the Liaoning Youth Volunteer Association, and the director of the Dalian Youth Volunteer Service Center. In 2021, he compiled and published the "Liaoning Province Youth Volunteer Service Training Outline," and in 2023, he wrote the report "The Status Quo and Development Strategy of China's Volunteer Service Organizations," which was selected into the Blue Book of Political System Reform of the National Academy of Administration of China.

In addition to serving as the representative for volunteers at the United Nations as coordinator of the Volunteer Groups Alliance, David is also Director of Learning and Leadership Programs at the League of American Orchestras in New York City. He is a former Treasurer and North American Representative of the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE), and Board President of the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration as well as Volunteer Alexandria. From 2000-2007, he served as a Senior Director at the Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network in the U.S. Also as a BoardSource Certified Governance consultant, David has expertise in NGO responsibilities and exceptional practices, fundraising, leadership and partnership development, outcomes measurement, strategic planning, and volunteer management. His clients have included local, state, national, and international organizations, and he was a Senior Governance Consultant for BoardSource for 13 years, including 5 years full-time on staff from 2007-2012.