International Programme Committee
David Androff
Global Coordinator
David Androff
David Androff is Professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University. He earned his Master's and Ph.D.in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Androff’s books include Routledge International Handbook on Social Development, Social Work, and the Sustainable Development Goals (2024), Refugee Solutions in the Age of Global Crisis: Human Rights, Integration, and Sustainable Development (Oxford University Press, 2022), and Practicing Rights: Human Rights-based Approaches to Social Work (Routledge, 2016). He served as the Senior Fulbright Scholar for Morocco and Spain for 2024 and 2025.
Rashmi Pandey
IASSW
Rashmi Pandey
Rashmi Pandey has over 20 years of experience managing national and international NGOs. She began her career in the development sector, working with street children in Mumbai. She later served as a Monitoring Officer at Magic Bus, an NGO focused on empowering underprivileged children through Sport for Development.
Since 2012, she has been serving as Executive Officer at International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), bringing more than a decade of experience in managing an international association. She oversees administration, accounts, the website, and social media platforms, and is actively involved in planning and coordinating the Kenya conference.
Carmita Alvarez
IASSW
Dr. Carmita Leonor Álvarez Santana
Dr. Carmita Leonor Álvarez Santana is an Ecuadorian academic, researcher and public servant, with a solid background in higher education, university management and social work. She has a Ph.D. in Local Development and Social Economy, and also has training in Educational Management, Curriculum Design, Local Development with a mention in SME Management and Economics, Economics and Territorial Development, as well as in Social Work. For 27 years he has taught at the Eloy Alfaro Lay University of Manabí, consolidating extensive academic experience and a firm commitment to professional training in the social field. She is director of the Regional Scientific Journal of Social Work and Social Sciences "Tejedora"; founding president of the National Association of Academic Units of Social Work of Ecuador (ANUATSE); and president of the Latin American Association of Teaching and Research in Social Work for the period 2025–2028. She currently serves as Academic Advisor of the Council of Higher Education; in addition, she is president of the Permanent Commission of Universities and Polytechnic Schools. Its management is focused on institutional strengthening and ensuring academic quality and the continuous development of the Ecuadorian higher education system.
Janestic Twikirize
IASSW - IPC CHAIR
Dr. Janestic Twikirize
Dr Janestic Twikirize is a Professor of Social Work at Makerere University, Uganda. She holds a PhD in Social Work and Social Development with a teaching experience of 25 years. She is the global Secretary of the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and previously served as the Vice President of the Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa. She is currently chairing the International Scientific Committee for the Biannual World Social Work and Social Development Conference that will take place in Nairobi in June under the theme: Harambee for sustainable shared futures. She has published mor that 60 scientific papers including seven (7) co-edited books in the areas of decolonisation and indigenisation of social work, and grassroots community development.
Chaime Marcuello-Servos
ICSW
David Androff
David Androff is Professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University. He earned his Master's and Ph.D.in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Androff’s books include Routledge International Handbook on Social Development, Social Work, and the Sustainable Development Goals (2024), Refugee Solutions in the Age of Global Crisis: Human Rights, Integration, and Sustainable Development (Oxford University Press, 2022), and Practicing Rights: Human Rights-based Approaches to Social Work (Routledge, 2016). He served as the Senior Fulbright Scholar for Morocco and Spain for 2024 and 2025.
Hilary Weaver
IFSW
Hilary Weaver
Hilary N. Weaver, DSW (Lakota) is President of the Indigenous and Tribal Social Work Educators’ Association and Global Indigenous Commissioner for IFSW. She was inducted as a Social Work Pioneer (2020), named Public Health Social Worker of the Year (2020) and received the American Indian Elder Award (2017). Dr. Weaver has presented her work regionally, nationally, and internationally including at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Her numerous publications include Trauma and Resilience in the Lives of Contemporary Native Americans: Reclaiming our Balance, Restoring our Wellbeing and the Routledge International Handbook of Indigenous Resilience.
John Mary Ssekate
IFSW
John Mary Ssekate
John Mary is a passionate professional Ugandan Social Worker (representing IFSW on IPC for the Joint Conference on Social Work, Education and social Development) John Mary has 10years experience in social work education, programing, and advocacy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Social Administration(Hons), Masters of Arts in Project Planning and Management (Social Projects) with additional post graduate professional certificates in Health and Migration, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Case Management for Children and Adolescents Exposed to Violence, Special Children’s Human Rights, Sign language, and International Certificate on Care and Support Systems for Social Workers by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), in collaboration with the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR).
John Mary has previously served as a social worker educator at Kampala International University and Africa Renewal University (2013 to 2016) National Capacity Building Officer 2017 to 2019, and National Coordinator 2020 to 2025 for the National Association of Social Workers of Uganda. John Mary has led a number of capacity building, advocacy, and mentorship and led organizing numerous national and regional social work learning event on IFSW calendar and system strengthening efforts aimed at promoting the social work profession. johnneeinug@gmail.com
John Mary’s interest is mainly in child protection, mental health and psychosocial support, Refugees and forced migration, environmental Justice and community engagement
Jorge Manuel Ferreira
ICSW
Jorge Manuel Ferreira
JORGE M. L. FERREIRA - PhD in Social Work, specialising in Social Work, Social Policy and Society. Full Professor in Social Work at Iscte – Lisbon University Institute. Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Policy. Vice-President of the Scientific Society for Social Work (until 2023). Vice-President of the International Association for Social Work. Director of the PhD Programme in Social Work. Full member of the ESPP Academic Board. Researcher at the Research Centre: CIES – IUL (Centre for Research and Sociological Studies – ISCTE – IUL. Research Areas: Theoretical Research (Epistemology, Social Work theory and the interdisciplinarity of knowledge) and Applied Research (Social Work practices in institutional, community and family contexts relating to children, families, adults in situations of social vulnerability, the social protection system and social policies), Social sustainability, Education. Author of numerous scientific publications and several papers presented at national and international seminars and conferences in the field of Social Work and Social Policy. Member of the international editorial board of several national and international Social Work journals.
Wilkins Ndege Muhingi
LOC
Dr. Wilkins Ndege Muhingi
Dr. Wilkins Ndege Muhingi is a distinguished award-winnng social work scholar, practitioner, and policy advocate. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, as well as an MSc. in Social Work (Medical Social Work) and a BSc. in Social Work and Healthcare (Medical Social Work) from St. Elizabeth University.
An award-winning researcher, Dr. Muhingi serves as a member of the Research Ethics Committee and sits on the boards of Stahili Foundation Kenya and Overflow Communities Kenya. He is also a peer reviewer and has published widely in reputable academic journals.
Recognized as a social work thought leader and influencer, he has helped advance social work legislation and professional regulation in Kenya. In 2026, he served on the International Planning Committee of the Global Social Work Conference, strengthening global professional collaboration and leadership in social development.
Lecturer – College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine,
Department of Rehabilitative Sciences
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Gidraph Wairire
LOC
Gidraph G. Wairire, PhD
Associate Professor and Chairman
Department of Sociology, Social Work and African Women Studies
University of Nairobi
Phylis Gacheke
LOC
Charles Mbugua
LOC
Sonia De Las Nieves Brito Rodriguez
IASSW
Davis Nyakundi
LOC
Davis Nyakundi
Davis Nyakundi is a Consulting Services Manager at WezaCare Solutions, a nonprofit consultancy specializing in strengthening child welfare systems through family and community-based care. He is a practicing social worker, author, and Master of Ceremonies, supporting Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs) and orphanages to transition into sustainable Child Welfare Programs (CWPs) that prioritize family-based reintegration and community support systems.
Lucía Gandolfi
IFSW - SPANISH TRANSLATOR
Lucía Gandolfi
Lucía Gandolfi has an extensive background in the field of Letters and Linguistics, with a focus on translation and interpretation in English, Spanish and Portuguese. As a member of the International Federation of Social Workers Secretariat, she supports multilingual communications and contributes to the coordination of international initiatives and events, including World Social Work Day and Joint World Conferences on Social Work and Social Development (SWSD) since 2020.