Who we are
SAAF staff team
Phonsina Archane
Andre Deponti
Luis Gonzalez
Laura Gutierrez
Aung Htoo
Laura Hurley
Hanna Lindley-Jones
Maïté Matos Ichaso
Heidi Schroffel
SAAF board
CO-CHAIR: Génesis Luigi
Consultant
Position on the board
Génesis is a Venezuelan psychologist, and a sexual and reproductive health and rights advocate. With a background in behavioural and social psychology, she has five years experience in the non-profit sector through project management and technical advice for organisations aimed at improving the health of women and young people. She has been awarded highly competitive fellowships from Women Deliver and Atlas Corps in their leadership programs. Her work has been featured in international media including Al Jazeera, Ms. Magazine, and News Deeply, where she was named in 2017 as one of the “9 Experts to Watch on Family Planning”.
“I wanted to join the SAAF board to use my expertise to support organisations that work for the right to decide and make abortion accessible and free from stigma within the healthcare sector.”
co-chair: Mamello Makhele
She Decides Leader
Position on the board
Mamello is a registered nurse-midwife dedicated to improving healthcare service delivery in the rural areas of Lesotho, where there is a high maternal mortality rate. Mamello left her job at the biggest hospital in the country to join a community clinic where she believes her impact can be the greatest. Her passion for improving the healthcare system and empowering young women to take control of their health led her to start an adolescent corner, which she has incorporated into the clinic.
Mamello is a SheDecides leader in Lesotho, where she contributed towards the development and the inclusivity of the SADC SRHR strategy on sexual health. She is also a member of SAFAIDS Youth Advocacy and Accountability, where she advocates for the up-scaling of the prevention of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions among sexually active adolescents. As a gender and maternal health advocate, Mamello has represented Lesotho on various international platforms, including the International Conference on Population and Development held in Kenya and the virtual 65th Commission on the Status of Women held in New York. She has also received recognition as an African Hero in Global Health, Education and Development in 2021 by the Bill Gates Ventures in Washington D.C.
“When women are denied access to safe abortion, they face risk to their health and dignity. I am honoured to be part of SAAF, where we can all amplify our voices to advance social justice in all circumstances.”
Kelly Blanchard
President, Ibis Reproductive Health
Position on the board
Kelly provides overall strategic leadership for Ibis, a research organisation with partnerships in more than 30 countries. Before joining Ibis, Kelly worked at the Population Council and was a Fulbright Scholar in Ghana. Kelly’s research has focused on improving contraception and abortion technologies; expanding access to and quality of abortion services; and documenting the impact of policies on reproductive health. She believes research can catalyse change and that partnerships with advocates, healthcare providers, and policymakers can ensure research questions are relevant and the findings will lead to real change.
“SAAF provides critical resources for innovative work to improve access to safe abortion. It is an honor to be part of one of a very few funding organisations focused on abortion rights and services, and helping to build grassroots organisation that can improve access to high-quality information and care.”
Eugenia López Uribe
Regional Director of IPPF Americas and the Caribbean
Position on the board
Eugenia is a queer feminist and a passionate advocate for reproductive justice. She has worked with rural and indigenous people, youth, LGBTIQ+ populations, sex workers and women with HIV. She funded DECIDIR: youth coalition of sexual citizenship that focussed on abortion, and the first abortion fund of Latin America, the Abortion Fund for Social Justice: MARIA, in Mexico. She has worked to expand access to abortion for the last 25 years in Latin America.
“I am honoured to serve on the Board of SAAF. Access to safe, free and legal abortion has always been in my heart. I know that abortion is a social justice demand that can equalize women and pregnant people to fulfil their human rights. I am committed to amplify the investment in the local collectives, groups and grassroots organizations where most of the innovation to expand access to abortion is catalysed.”
Marevic Parcon
Executive Director, WGNRR
Position on the board
Marevic is the Executive Director of the Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR), a Global South-based network that connects and strengthens movements for sexual & reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and justice. She has been an activist for over three decades and has a strong background in grassroots activism. She has extensive experience in movement strengthening for SRHR and justice and has helped establish abortion advocacy networks in eight countries, including the Philippines.
"SAAF provides resources to where they are most needed. My organization is a grantee of SAAF, and I am deeply honored to represent Global South safe abortion rights activists on the Board."
Rawan Raad
Operations and Development Manger, TAYF
Position on the board
Rawan Raad is a medical student and women's rights activist, with an immense passion for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), bodily autonomy, and meaningful and inclusive youth participation. Over the past 5 years, Rawan designed and implemented several high-impact national projects and initiatives across Sudan with a focus on health systems, SRHR, and meaningful and inclusive youth engagement.
“I take great pride and honor in serving as a SAAF board member. SAAF is one of the few global funds committed and focused on enabling and supporting grassroots organisations to build momentum towards de-stigmatizing, promoting, and increasing access to safe abortion.”
SAAF donor partners
SAAF is currently supported by four government donors and an anonymous donor.
