Maria oversees CESR’s programmatic work and team and leads our collaborative efforts to advance a Rights-Based Economy. Her experience of working over the last fifteen years on the right to education, privatization, and tax justice in various countries is invaluable for our efforts to build bridges between movements and groups working on human rights, economic and climate justice. Before joining our team, Maria coordinated the Tax and Education Alliance, a partnership of international and regional tax justice and education constituencies. The Alliance aims to make a transformative breakthrough in the domestic financing of public education through progressive tax reforms and builds members’ capacities to undertake collaborative research and advocacy. Maria has previously worked for ActionAid International, the Right to Education Project, Human Rights Watch, and the Universities of London (Birkbeck) Roehampton, and Bielefeld. She holds a Ph.D. in Education and Human Development from Bielefeld University, an MSc in Human Rights from the London School of Economics,  an LLM in Fundamental Rights from Universidad Carlos III, and a Diploma in Education from UC Berkeley.

Marianna oversees CESR’s programmatic strategy and leads efforts to advance a Rights-Based Economy. With over two decades of experience as a lawyer, researcher, and activist, Marianna has worked to bridge grassroots realities with global policy advocacy in areas like gender justice, economic inequality, and human rights. Before joining CESR, Marianna served as Global Advocacy and Development Policy Manager at ACT Alliance, leading global campaigns addressing inequality and injustice. She has also worked as a consultant for organizations such as CONCORD Europe and the ACT Alliance Gender Justice Programme. She previously served as a Strategic Adviser for Women’s Rights, Power, and Poverty at Christian Aid. Marianna holds a Postdoctoral Certificate from the Center for Human Rights at the University of Coimbra, a PhD in Development Studies from Birkbeck, University of London, and a postgraduate certificate in International Human Rights Law from Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. She also earned an LL.M. from Cornell Law School and an LL.B. from Cândido Mendes.

Laura guides CESR's financial strategies. Her expertise spans across strategic planning, financial management, and operational efficiency, ensuring the organization's sustainable financial growth and robust framework. Laura's background includes key roles such as Finance and Operations Director at Liberty (National Council for Civil Liberties), and earlier positions at Rice Search Partners Ltd. and Rice & Dore Associates Ltd., where she led business administration efforts. Working on a freelance basis for CESR, she applies her vast experience to enhance our mission, focusing on financial health.

With more than 15 years as a human rights advocate, Mahinour’s work focuses on utilizing international human rights law as a practical tool to decode how the current global economic model produces intersectional injustices and to find, together with partners, inspiring pathways for change. Her passion lies in building bridges and creating cross-field strategies with social movements, CSOs, and decision-makers to mobilize collective power through a rights-based agenda to transform the global economic system towards a de-colonial, green, and gender-just economy that works for the people and the planet. Before joining CESR, Mahinour worked at several human rights organizations on debt and development issues, tax, and environmental justice on the national and regional levels in the SWANA region. She also worked as Senior Programs & Research Officer at the Law & Society Research Unit at American University Cairo, where she helped build the Unit’s strategy and oversaw the implementation of its work on law, society, and human rights in post-revolutionary Egypt. She holds a BA in political science and an MA in international human rights law from the same university.

Martha’s work bridges economic justice, gender justice, and human rights. She focuses on advancing gender equality in global tax policy, sovereign debt, and corporate accountability through rigorous research and advocacy. Central to her role is promoting feminist, rights-based alternatives and holding powerful actors accountable for perpetuating inequality. With a Master’s in Economics from North West University, South Africa, Martha is a macroeconomic expert on trade, investor behavior, and savings and investment. She brings extensive experience in socio-economic rights advocacy. At Ndifuna Ukwazi, she used budget analysis to push for equitable access to basic services and affordable housing. At Isandla Institute, she promoted the right to decent shelter, and at Open Society Foundations, her work spanned fiscal justice, trade, and sustainable livelihoods. At CESR, Martha drives our gender justice agenda. She works to dismantle systems that perpetuate gender inequality and discrimination. At the same time, she promotes transformative policies to build systems rooted in dignity and equality for all.

Auska manages CESR’s communications strategies and leads the development of narratives and messaging to drive systemic change. Her work connects diverse allies across the globe to the vision of a Rights-Based Economy. Working at the intersection of storytelling and strategy, she leverages the power of communication to challenge dominant economic narratives, build consensus, and inspire action. Before joining CESR, Auska served as General Coordinator and Communications Manager at the NGO Ciudadanía Inteligente, where she developed campaigns to support civic engagement and democratic reform across Latin America. Her work focused on mobilizing diverse audiences and crafting communication strategies that connected grassroots movements with policy change. She also worked as a researcher on journalism and media practices for Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and TVN. Earlier in her career, she reported on complex social and political issues, amplifying on-the-ground stories for Radio Cooperativa. Auska holds an MPhil in Sociology of Media and Culture from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Democracy and Comparative Politics from University College London, and a BA in Journalism (Universidad Católica de Chile).

Peninnah leads CESR’s work advancing linkages between climate justice, human rights, and economic policies. She particularly looks at climate finance from a reparations framework. She also contributes to CESR’s broader programmatic efforts, including advancing a rights-based economy, fiscal justice, and equitable global economic governance. With over seven years of experience in trade, investment, and fiscal policy, she has led policy research, advocacy campaigns, and reform efforts aimed at improving governance, transparency, and accountability in trade, debt, and climate finance. Before joining CESR, Peninnah held key roles at SEATINI Uganda and Uganda Debt Network, where she managed complex projects and authored policy briefs and articles addressing socio-economic challenges affecting marginalized communities. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from Uganda Christian University, a Master of Arts in International Trade Policy and Law from Uganda Martyrs University, and postgraduate certifications in Project Planning and Management (Uganda Management Institute) as well as Project Monitoring and Evaluation (Makerere University).

Rebecca manages CESR’s development plan, ensuring we secure the resources needed to advance economic and social rights. She strengthens CESR’s fundraising efforts through cultivating relationships with funders and aligning resources with CESR’s mission. Rebecca also oversees our monitoring, learning, and evaluation framework, helping us measure our impact, refine its strategies, and stay accountable to our goals and stakeholders. Her work integrates resource development with organizational learning, ensuring we continue to innovate and adapt in the face of systemic injustice. Rebecca holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, with a minor in English, from SUNY Albany, and a Master’s degree in Sociology from Brooklyn College’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, where her studies focused on gender and social justice. She also holds a certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation from New York University. Her academic background and professional experience inform her approach to fundraising, data-driven learning, and fostering strong relationships with CESR’s allies and supporters.

Eunice oversees CESR’s financial and operational systems, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and accountability across the organization. With over 10 years of experience as a grants, finance, and operations specialist, Eunices has managed complex financial portfolios, multi-currency and multi-year grants, and provided strategic insights to guide decision-making. She holds a Master’s degree in Development Finance from KCA University, a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Banking from Moi University, and certifications in Project Management, Grant Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Accountability and Learning. In addition to financial expertise, Eunice plays a key role in recruitment, onboarding, and providing logistical support for staff, contributing to CESR’s overall effectiveness in advancing a Rights-Based Economy.