Advisory Board
The JINA Alliance Advisory Board reflects our value for expertise, education and experience. Each member of the Advisory Board has a unique background, deep understanding of their field, and professional recognition. We draw upon the diversity of thought they provide to guide, supplement and promote the work of JINA Alliance.
Raam Emami
Ramin is an Iranian musician, writer, actor and podcast host. He started his career in the music underground of Tehran, where he dared to defy artistic repression, and paved the way for a new generation of artists. He has been featured in the New York Times, MTV, Billboard, NPR, CNN, VICE, NME and Vanity Fair. In 2018, Ramin’s father, Kavous Seyed Emami, a prominent environmentalist, was arrested in Iran on false charges of espionage, and later killed. Ramin has a podcast in Persian called "Masty o Rasty," with over 40 million streams, and is currently on a theatre tour titled "Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World."
Vikram Gudi
Vikram Gudi is a music business executive with a 16-year career, who combines industry expertise with social purpose. He founded Elephant Music in 2012 and has since established it as a global entity, with an extensive library of music for movie and TV trailers and a roster of 50 composers it represents worldwide. He is also the co-founder of Split Music and the founder of the nonprofit LILA, which works for better representation of South Asians in the UK music industry.
Mersedeh Shahinkar
Mersedeh Shahinkar is a renowned human rights activist whose advocacy work spans Europe and the U.S. She is a survivor of intentional blinding during the Woman Life Freedom protests in 2022, a recipient of the 2023 EU Sakharov Prize, and winner of the 2023 National Endowment for Democracy Award. Her guidance addresses the human rights violations of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its threats to global security.
Hasina Jalal
Hasina is a university lecturer, political science scholar, and dedicated advocate for women's rights and democracy in Afghanistan. With over a decade of experience in activism, policy advocacy, civil society engagement, and academic research, she has been a prominent voice in the fight for gender equality. In 2014, she was elected by public vote to receive the N-Peace Award from the UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Office and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advisor on the University for Peace.
Nazila Duran
Nazila Duran is an award winning architect who has worked with renowned architects in Los Angeles, Japan, New York and San Francisco on prominent cultural and historically significant projects. In the latter part of her career, Nazila focused on aviation & transportation, including completing the design of the Boston International Terminal, JFK Terminal 4 and New York Moynihan Station (Penn Station). Her connection to JINA Alliance stems from her humanitarian and educational support for artistry and scholarship. She is the founder of the nonprofit "An Embassy Without a Country" Scholarship Foundation, which continues the conceptual work of her late husband Sergio Duran, an accomplished architect, academic and artist, who explored the questions of belonging and the role of identity.
Hassan Masood
Hassan Masood is a professional with 10 years of experience working primarily in USAID grants compliance, project implementation and management, as well as competitive procurement. In addition, he has won academic awards for his research on the usage of drones in Pakistan's tribal areas.
Donya Ziraksari
Originally from Iran and a Baha'i religious refugee, Donya Ziraksari is a multifaceted and deeply committed advocate for human rights with a focus on ending religious persecution of minorities. Her many achievements include: President of the nonprofit Equal Human Rights Org, creating the film "The Ticket" which received international acclaim, authoring her personal memoir "Tehran to Miami," all while serving as a project manager for major corporations. Her nonprofit Equal Human Rights Org also has launched The Payam Scholarship program for students, based on the legacy, professional pursuits and ethical standing of her late brother.
Dr. Farshid Ghavasiyeh
Dr. Ghavasiyeh is a psychotherapist specializing in refugee trauma therapy, family/marriage counseling, and is the co-founder of Self-Care Centers. He focuses on helping individuals and families recover from the effects of displacement, migration and crisis. Dr. Ghavasieh was imprisoned and tortured as a social activist in Iran and brings a deep personal understanding to his work. He combines his clinical expertise with his commitment to social justice, and has been honored by former President Obama for his work helping children affected by war and violence. He also represents the family of Javidnam Maria Ghavasiyeh, who was killed during the Woman Life Freedom protests in Iran.
Keyvan Samadi
Keyvan Samadi is a human rights activist focused on religious and ethnic minority rights, freedom of expression and Internet freedom. He is the founder of the Red Sun Medical Network, a board member of Kurdish Human Rights Organization (Kurdpa) and a senior digital advisor at Safe Activism. He is also a former political prisoner in Iran, and a writer committed to social justice.
Poriya Ebrahimi
Poriya Ebrahimi is a survivor of political violence and torture for several years in Iranian prison, due to his political dissidence, activism and writings. After escaping Iran, he experienced the worst aspects of refugee treatment in Turkiye, exacerbated by the authorities' knowledge of his political advocacy in Iran. Today, Poriya lives in Europe, where he continues his advocacy for an Iran with human rights for all. He provides guidance on research, testimonials, the "lived experience," refugees and human rights related to Iran.
Zahra Rasti
With a diverse background in teaching and research, she brings a rich skill set and a dedication to innovative design and social justice to the academic community, and she views architecture as a driving force for change. In addition to her scholarly work, Zahra founded the nonprofit organization VOICE (Visual Outputs for Inclusive Change and Environments), where she advocates for social and environmental justice, particularly in conflict-affected areas. Zahra holds a master degree from Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Finland, and studied at Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences, Germany.
Sai [name withheld]
Sai withholds his last name due to his prominence as a Burmese multmedia artist and human rights advocate, and risks to his personal connections. Nevertheless, his global activism and human rights advocacy has been highly recognized. He was a Charles Wallace Burma Trust Fellow at Goldsmiths University of London, and has been featured in Time Magazine, openDemocracy, Emergent Art Space and Artnet. His exhibitions include "Please Enjoy Our Tragedies" (Goldsmiths, University of London, 2022), and he has curated "Testimonies From Beyond" (Myanmar Peace Museum, May 2025). His forthcoming major exhibition is called "Mapping the Global Oppression" and runs from July through October at the Bangkok Art and Cultural Center. It will feature exhibits on seven oppressed peoples: Hong Kong, Iran, Myanmar, Russia, Syia, Tibet and Uyghur.