Board Of Directors
INERELA+ is governed by a board of directors from across Africa who were elected based on their HIV related experience and commitment as religious leaders to eradicating discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV).
Sergio Rodrigo Bueno Montealegre
INERELA+ Board Chair from 13 August 2021
Business Administrator of University Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca, Bogotá-Colombia with a Master’s in public health degree from University of El Salvador (UES).
Currently a student at the Latin American Biblical University – Levelling Plan in Theological Sciences 2020 – to date. Also Anglican Centre for Theological Education, Costa Rican Episcopal Church – Diploma program in Anglican Ministry 2017 – 2019
Sergio Rodrigo Montealegre is Colombian and Salvadorian citizen who currently resides in Costa Rica.
· He has been living with HIV since 1994
· Sergio’s extensive experience in HIV issues has been well developed over 24 years of which 17 years’ were with Global Fund projects.
· His key areas of expertise are in prevention, human rights, monitoring and evaluation and resource mobilization
· His visionary perspective has earned him the opportunity of working with MSM, Sex Workers, Transgenders and PLHIV.
· Besides working on commissioned Projects with the Secretariat of Central American Social Integration (SISCA) and HIVOS, Sergio engages himself as a Lay Minister at the Congregation of the Ascension – Costa Rican Episcopal Church.
· He is licensed to officiate, administer the chalice and preach since 2017.
· Coordinator of the Diocesan Planning Committee since 2020
· He offers his Advisory services for the Planning of the Province of IARCA since 2019.( The province includes five dioceses: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama.)
Sergio is fluent in Spanish, plus a working knowledge of English
Professor Mbulelo Dyasi
Vice Chair
Bachelor of Theology 2009, Ordination Certificate for Priest from Twelve Apostolic Church in Christ and Gospel Church of Power Ministries 2010. Accredited facilitator, assessor and moderator , master trainer since 2011– INERELA+ Board Vice – Chair
Prior to being appointed INERELA+ board Vice Chair Professor Mbulelo Dyasi has been serving as a Director of Social Services at Azali Health Care;
Professor Mbulelo has amassed a great deal of experience whilst covering issues gender-based violence, men health, and HIV prevention in the media
He has been a passionate Patron and Ambassador for the following:
2015: Secretariat of #Takuwani Riime Campaign championed by Deputy President of South Africa.
2017: #NoExcuse Campaign Ambassador championed by ABInBev.
2019: UNESCO Let’s Talk Regional Patron for East Africa and SADC.
2019: #MenChampioningChange Patron
Board Membership Roles
2016: National Family Foundation of South Africa(Patron and President
2016-2022: SANERELA+ Board of Director, National Executive Committee Chairperson
2019: Council Member: Christ the Lamb Theological Seminary
2019: Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ at Fortress of Hope Church International
2020: Board of Directors – Federation of Christian Universities and Colleges.
2020: Board member and President of SA Pentecost Bishops Council
2021-2022: Deputy Chairperson of Faith Based Children Protection Movement.
2020-2024: Chairperson: Omega Church Broadcasting Network – Southern Africa.
Sadhviji Bhagawati Saraswati
PhD in Psychology- A renowned spiritual leader, author and motivational speaker based in Rishikesh, India. Originally from Los Angeles and a graduate of Stanford University, Sadhviji has been ordained into the sacred order of Sanyas by her guru HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and has been living at Parmarth Niketan Ashram for the past twenty-five years.
Sadhviji serves as:
- Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, an international interfaith organization dedicated to clean water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH) which was launched by UNICEF.
- President of Divine Shakti Foundation, Sadhviji has been instrumental in this foundation which runs free schools, vocational training programs and empowerment programs.
- Director of the world-famous International Yoga Festival at Parmarth which has been covered in Time Magazine, CNN, New York Times and other prestigious publications and has been addressed by both the Prime Minister and Vice President of India.
- She serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on Religion Along with being a spiritual leader she also serves on the Steering Committee for Partnership for Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) an international body comprising the governments of twelve countries (including United States, UK, and Germany), the United Nations, the World Bank, the African Union, and the world’s renowned faith based organizations
- She was a creative Managing Editor for the monumental project of the 11-volume Encyclopaedia of Hinduism.
- Sadhviji oversees a variety of humanitarian projects, teaches meditation, lectures, writes, counsels individuals and families.
She is a famous and unique female voice of spiritual leadership throughout India and the world. She has been awarded the opportunity to speak at several United Nations events, including with the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, and at many high-level international conferences and summits.
Sheik/Imam Famba Ali Hemedi (DRC)
Graduate Islamic Theology – EINDHOVEN in the Netherlands (1994)
Graduate of the Islamic Economics – Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt (1999)
·Sheik Famba Hemedi is the Honorary President of the National Permanent Theological Council and Moufti of the DR Congo
· He also serves as the Principal Imam of Kinshasa in the greater Islamic Community of DRC
·Vast experience in religious (Islamic) teaching in Islamic teaching institutions in Kinshasa and Ecuador (DR Congo)
· Sheik Hemedi has served as a member of the board for INERELA+ Congo since 2006
·He joins INERELA+ board with years of expertise in championing Civil Society/Faith sector health related Projects
·He has also focused a lot in negotiations and resource mobilization for civil society organizations in West and Central Africa.
Dr Sue Purcell Gilpin
Medical M.B.Ch.B. (Medicine and Surgery) 1971 – 1976
University of Washington, Seattle USA
Haematology speciality (1975)
Dr Sue Purcell Gilpin is a physician whose career includes years of working in diverse settings responding to a wide variety of medical and social issues.
She has shown her commitment to communities by working on a large scale, mobilizing communities around primary health care, HIV awareness communication and response. Her other community involvements saw her actively promoting the first community-based orphan care with psychosocial support.
In her professional career Dr Sue served as the Southern Africa Regional Coordinator for the World Council of Churches (WCC) HIV & AIDS programme (EHAIA) 2002 – 2014 initially working in 11 countries in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.
In 2015 she assumed responsibility for the Health & Healing Department of the WCC in Geneva, coordinating relations and joint activities with the WHO and other UN agencies, facilitating collaboration between these agencies and the multiple global Church Health Associations, Ecumenical Health and Pharmaceutical networks and other health related agencies.
She promoted the collaborative response to Ebola, to ensure the responses of the faith community were recognised and included in international, national and regional plans.
In addition to undertaking mapping studies in many countries, she has authored three books on HIV&AIDS, HIV competence and the faith communities’ response, which have been translated into several languages.
Currently she is an independent Consultant and has undertaken research and documentary work on faith based responses to HIV issues and Covid-19 for PEPFAR, UNAIDS and other International organisations. Her association with INERELA+ spans many years.
Reverend Jide Macaulay
Law Degree, Masters Degree in Theology, Post-graduate certificate in Pastoral Theology Reverend Jide Macaulay is the Founder and CEO of House of Rainbow CIC who is an open gay British-Nigerian born in London.
A Christian minister since 1998 and HIV Positive Activist Jide joined the INERELA+ board in May 2018 and was re- elected at the June 2021 AGM to serve his second term. He is an inspirational leader who has strived to use his knowledge and experience in his ministry on inclusion and reconciliation of sexuality, spirituality, and human rights. He has gained notable board experience by sitting on the Board of Trustees at Kaleidoscope Trust UK, Chairperson INERELA+ Europe, Patron at Report Out, Vice Chair One Voice Network. HIV. Hi service includes working as a mentor at Positive East,
Jide has been recognised numerous times during his career. In 2021 he was a nominee of the British LGBT Award . and he was also among the Top 10 ten people for his outstanding contribution to LGBT+ Life.
He is a 2014 nOSCARS Award recepient. In 2017 and 2018 Jide served as a Volunteer Chaplain at Mildmay HIV Hospital and Volunteer Champion at Africa Children’s Charity
Liz Guantai
Liz Guantai holds a Master of Laws from the University of Cape Town and a Post-graduate qualification in Human Rights Law and Sustainable Development from the University of Antwerp. She is a Development Specialist from Nairobi, Kenya whose career reflects a track record of protecting vulnerable people and advocacy for access to social-economic rights. She been significantly involved in working with movement Organisations notably INERELA+ Kenya in the promotion of human rights, ending Gender Based Violence and access to justice. Liz was selected as a UN Women Global Champion for Women Economic Empowerment in 2015 and a Women Deliver Young Leader in 2020 following her contribution to the rights of women and girls in Kenya. Among the achievements recognized was her role in leading a community outreach and social media campaign in May 2020 on access to menstrual health for disadvantaged girls during the covid-19 pandemic.
She currently supports programs in economic empowerment, peacebuilding and security in Kenya and the Africa Great Lakes Region. She is passionate about writing. She contributes to Ananke and Girls Globe Magazines on human rights and gender equality issues. Liz is also a Global South staff partner for the US-based Social Movement Technologies, where she offers her services by training and campaign support of social movement organisations to build progressive power in the digital age. She is an alumni of the African Presidential Leadership Program and has been recognised as a youth leader.
Bishop Ephraim Disi Mbewe
Evangelism and Church Planting Diploma 1992- 1993 from International School of Evangelism in Ikega, Lagos Nigeria. Certificate of Biblical Studies 1998 from Evangelical Bible College of Malawi(EBCoM), Trained as Level 2 Channels of Hope Facilitator Arusha, Tanzania 2006, Advanced leadership training at HAGGAI Institute in Maui, Hawaai 1999
Bishop Ephraim Disi Mbewe has been a part-time lecturer at the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi (2000 – 2015). His leadership and devotion to pastoral work for years improved the future for countless individuals for generations to come. Disi Mbewe a life- long resident of Malawi has enjoyed a highly successful and distinguished professional career in improving the lives of the disadvantaged people. Being one of the founding members of INERELA+ he has been active in a variety of philanthropic work throughout the region. He served as Bishop of the Brethren in Christ Church from 1995 – 2008. In recognition to his outstanding professional and civic accomplishments Bishop Mbewe was named the Tearfund HIV Champion 2009 – 2011
His influential role as a leader has assisted in shaping a number of organisations. Bishop Disi Mbewe remains committed to a number of organizations that align with his passion to assist the vulnerable and making the world a better place. He served as Southern and Luso Africa Regional Coordinator for INERELA+ (then ANERELA+ 2004 – 2010)
He has served in multiple boards among them:
- Board Member in the African Network of Religious Leaders Living and/or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS(ANERELA+) )2002 -2004)
- National Aids Commission of Malawi Board (2015 -2018)
Nasrin Amla
INERELA+ Board Treasurer
Nasrin is a savvy financial expert who resides in South Africa. She leverages professional exposure, career progression, and knowledge building gained over a 22-year professional career, marked by substantial development and success.
She has a solid track record in planning and oversight of annual company audits, annual internal audits as well as any specific audits required by funders. She has been serving on the INERELA+ board since October 2012.Currently she is working at the University of Pretoria Department of Finance.