UWC-USA is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2021 Giulio Regeni Alumni Impact Award. The award was established to recognize UWC-USA alumni whose life and work reflect the UWC mission on local, regional, or national stages. Nominated by their peers, these alumni are truly living the mission in their work and daily lives.
Anna Wieslander ‘87 (Sweden) serves as director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council and heads the AC office in Stockholm. The Atlantic Council is a non-partisan American think tank on foreign policy. She is also the chairwoman of the Institute for Security and Development Policy, a Stockholm-based think tank with a focus on Central Asia and Asia. Anna also serves as secretary general of the Swedish Defence Association, a non-political NGO that for almost 130 years has promoted knowledge on defense and security among the Swedish public.
Jessica Horn ‘97 (Fiji) is a women’s rights and gender equality expert, and a dynamic speaker, trainer, and facilitator. She has worked for two decades supporting activist organizations, donors, and the UN to deepen analysis, shape policy and funding, and refine interventions to defend women’s rights to health, bodily autonomy, and freedom from violence; to build activist leadership and strengthen social movements; and develop strategies for building feminist futures. This includes over fifteen years in philanthropy as a grant maker, in donor governance and advisory roles, and as grants assessor and evaluator.
Ruben Ayala ‘92 (Panama) currently serves as Operation Smile’s Chief Medical Officer. He is also the current President of the Permanent Council of the Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anesthesia Care, represents Operation Smile at the Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery, the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative for Emergency and Essential Surgical Care, and the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Ruben leads Operation Smile’s global health policy efforts promoting access to safe, timely, and effective surgical care to under-served communities around the world.