Connectors
Meet the 2021 Class of +SocialGood Connectors
Through a public application and vetting process, the United Nations Foundation selects Connectors to serve as +SocialGood ambassadors for two-year terms. In 2019, we received more than 500 applications, and announced 13 Connectors. They come from a diversity of backgrounds and countries from Kenya to Spain, and focus on a broad spectrum of challenges from climate change to gender equality. However, they are all united by a common vision and purpose: to leverage the power of technology and digital connectivity to drive progress and connect with other like-minded leaders.
+SocialGood Connectors are bold visionaries who are tackling the most critical challenges of our time through the lens of new media and technology. They build networks, convene conversations, and bring together the relevant stakeholders — including entrepreneurs, academic institutions, governments, and the private sector — and ideas necessary to tackle global issues. The +SocialGood Connectors plan meet-ups in their home communities, as well as forge connections with the global social good movement in order to share lessons learned and adopt the best solutions to drive positive social change.
Abraham Ologundudu • Nigeria
Abraham Ologundudu is the co-founder and executive director of Social Good Lagos, a local chapter of +SocialGood that brings together professionals and thought leaders who are dedicated to using new media and digital technologies to enhance social good initiatives through partnerships, collaborations, and innovation. He passionately creates platforms to inspire local action and innovation towards the SDGs.
Alejandra Acosta • Spain
Alejandra Acosta is a social worker and entrepreneur who specializes in gender equity. She is the founder of Break The Silence, a non-profit that fights against human trafficking in Spain. She is a past TEDx speaker and is passionate about social justice and sustainability.
Ashley Bass • United States
Ashley Bass is a design and technology advocate who supports and develops K-16 education and city-wide programs for underserved communities. Her mission is to work in the area of education within urban public sectors: to help create, develop, and maintain programs and initiatives for social good.
Clarisse Joy Mañabat • Philippines
Clary loves to listen and create deep and powerful conversations, especially in the social good context. As a youth volunteer, she mentors and creates opportunities for the youth to highlight and develop their leadership. She is also the Storyteller of Conversations to the World and Founder of Online Ukay Redesigned for SDGs, a closet passion project created to raise awareness about SDGs and help marginalized communities.
David Connor • United Kingdom
David Connor is the Founder of 2030hub, the world’s first recognized UN Local2030 Hub. His mission is to stimulate business and city-level social good through entrepreneurship, communications and collaboration. Other successes include the creation of the charitable foundation at Everton Football Club and managing the England amputee football squad. David is also a UK B Leader, supporting B Corp growth and certification to encourage businesses to measure what matters.
Federico Restrepo Sierra • Colombia
Founder of Energía Vectorial, StartUp focused on the decarbonizing mobility by accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; and of Impact Hub Medellín, innovation laboratory focused in Entrepreneurship and Sustainability. He currently leads Impacto2030, an Incubation and Acceleration program for businesses with Impact on SDG.
Henriette Weber • Denmark
Henriette Weber is an award winning entrepreneur, author, communicator, and movement builder. Currently building her own NGO called ‘Shout Your Impact’ where she empowers women to be the change they want to see in the world. She’s also implementing the SDGs on a daily basis through her work advising global impact startups.
James Da Costa • United Kingdom
James Da Costa is a social entrepreneur, the co-founder of Mandala Group, which builds mobile applications in rural India and Kenya for underserved communities, and a Regional Director at the Hult Prize Foundation, the world’s largest student impact entrepreneurship platform.
Nashilongo Gervasius • Namibia
Nashilongo Gervasius is a digital consultant, a knowledge society specialist, media lecturer, communication specialist, and ICT4Dev analyst who is invested in the development narrative of Africa.
She is committed to upholding Africa’s position as the new frontier for digital media, technology and innovation. She is a founder of NamTshuwe Digital a social enterprise and she is also a co-founder of the Internet Society Namibia Chapter and the Digital Foundation of Namibia.
Neeshad Shafi • Qatar
Neeshad Shafi is an environmentalist, educator, and social change advocate based in Doha, Qatar. He is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCMQ), the first and only registered, independent, non-profit, youth-led environmental association in the State of Qatar. Neeshad was named in the Apolitical’s List of World’s 100 Most Influential People in Climate Policy 2019 and he is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers community, CoalitionWILD, and Youth Climate Lab.
Philip Ogola • Kenya
Philip Ogola is an online networker known as “The Digital Humanitarian.” Using his platform, he works to raise awareness about local disasters and the need for mental health support.
Priyanka Jaisinghani • United States
Priyanka Jaisinghani is a social entrepreneur, journalist, and advocate with a passion for making an impact. As the co-founder of a global mentorship program, GirlzFTW, she works to connect high school and college girls to inspiring mentors. She is also driving impact through her work as Managing Editor of Conscious Magazine and as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shaper community.
Swarnima Shrestha • Nepal
Swarnima Shrestha is a communication and development Specialist with experience of working at the grassroots as well as strategic level with organizations like UNICEF, UNCDF, IANGEL, and Practical Action among others. She has a master’s degree in Development Communications and English Literature. Passionate about women’s empowerment and quality education, she has co-founded an NGO to support the education of marginalized children in the remote part of Nepal. Currently, she is a Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist at Swisscontact Nepal.