The Torchlight Collective elevates leading technical experts and advocates in global health, human rights, social movements, gender equality, and international development. We are advocates, researchers, policy wonks, creatives, human rights activists, community organizers, development professionals, writers, communicators, trainers, and journalists.
What brings us together is our shared vision of a world where all communities have access to the tools, financing, and resources they need to support their self-determination, upend global systems of oppression, and realize their health, wellbeing, and human rights.
BERGEN COOPER she/her
Bergen Cooper is the COO of The Torchlight Collective, and an executive manager, researcher, and advocate in the field of human rights, specializing in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). LEARN MORE
CAITLIN CHANDLER she / her
Caitlin Chandler is a journalist, writer, and recipient of a 2020 International Women’s Media Foundation Fund for Women Journalists. LEARN MORE
CECILIA GARCÍA RUIZ she / her
Ceci is a feminist and human rights advocate with over a decade of combined experience working in the civil society sector, the public sector and as an independent consultant to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality. LEARN MORE
DANIEL TOWNSEND he / his
Daniel is a strategy, policy and organizational development consultant. He is originally from Jamaica and began his career at Jamaica AIDS Support. LEARN MORE
EMMANUEL ADEBAYO he / his
Emmanuel is a researcher and a University lecturer with specific interest in Adolescent health and development. LEARN MORE
GÉNESIS LUIGI she / her
Génesis is a Venezuelan behavioral and social psychologist, as a feminist advocate, she specializes in sexual health and rights and reproductive justice. LEARN MORE
HEIDY ARAQUE she / her
Heidy is a human rights advocate with over 14 years’ experience listening to colleagues in the global south and learning alongside them. LEARN MORE
HUMPHRES EVELIA he / his
Humphres Evelia is freelance consultant with over fifteen years’ experience in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights research, programming, and advocacy in Kenya and the Eastern Africa region. LEARN MORE
KATHERINE (KAT) WATSON she / her
Katherine (Kat) is a qualified lawyer who thrives at the intersections of law, gender, sexuality and human rights. LEARN MORE
KATE MATHESON she / her
Kate is a social justice advocate with over fifteen years’ programmatic, research, and advocacy experience in gender and sexual health and rights across all global regions, in both development and humanitarian contexts. LEARN MORE
KAYOAYONAAZ KALYANWALA she / her
Kayonaaz is a writer and researcher who specialises in using communications for development passionate about enabling communities to voice their concerns and experiences to the world. LEARN MORE
LINDSAY MENARD-FREEMAN she / her
Lindsay is the Founder and CEO of The Torchlight Collective, bringing over a decade of activism, organizing, and forceful optimism to her work with young people and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). LEARN MORE
MARIJA JAKOVLEVIC she / her
Marija has 15 years of engagement connecting feminism, human & environmental rights, peacebuilding, social & solidarity economy and progressive philanthropy. LEARN MORE
MARISSA BILLOWITZ she / her
Marissa Billowitz is an accomplished senior-level professional with twenty years of experience in local and global non-profit and academic organizations. LEARN MORE
MATT MATASSA he / his
Matt Matassa has over 20 years of experience in designing, impending and measuring community engagement campaigns in the human development sector. LEARN MORE
MOHAMED HARBY he / his
Harby is an SRHR advocate combining a MSc in Global public health and policy and more than 7 years of professional technical experience in planning, implementation and evaluation of SRHR programmatic and advocacy projects. LEARN MORE
MWIKALI KIVUVANI she / her
Mwikali is a public health specialist that advocates for the sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR) of young people, women and marginalized groups at the national, regional and international levels. LEARN MORE
RADHIKA BIJOYINI GUPTA she / her
Radhika is a writer and researcher with an interest in environment, gender, land rights and sustainable lifestyles. LEARN MORE
SAMEER THAKUR he / his
Sameer brings over 25 years of varied experience in entrepreneurship, tech-transition, advocacy, branding, communication strategy and innovative impact research in the global south. LEARN MORE
SANNE THIJSSEN she / her
Sanne Thijssen is an independent consultant working on sexual and reproductive health and rights and meaningful youth participation. LEARN MORE
YEMURAI NYONI he / his
Yemurai Nyoni specializes in building youth advocacy and accountability networks in low and middle income countries, developing SRHR accountability and advocacy strategies, and facilitating meaningful youth engagement in decision-making on adolescent health. LEARN MORE
SARAH ZAMAN she / her
Sarah Zaman is a feminist activist, social sector researcher, development practioner and (adjunct) university lecturer. LEARN MORE