National Coordinating Coalition » Board of Directors

The NCC is governed by a seven (7) member Board of Directors, which comprises strong, multi-disciplinary leaders drawn from the civil society, governmental, and private sectors.

Volunteer Youth Corps Inc (VYC), through its cooperative agreement with USAID, has established a unit for the implementation of the Guyana Civil Society Leadership (GCSL) Project. The unit was integral in the development of a governance framework that resulted in the NCC being legally registered. In the interim, the GCSL unit is providing technical assistance to the NCC and its membership to establish a management structure with the aim of transitioning into a Secretariat by 2018. It is envisioned that the NCC will be working to acquire an Executive Director and an Administrative Officer for the Secretariat.

In accordance with good practice as a legitimate entity, a governance structure that addresses internal mechanisms for the functioning of the Board of Directors, Secretariat and membership of the NCC was established.

The By-Laws of the NCC sets out in detail processes which govern the following:

Process One

Name and Location of Head Quarters

Process Two

Affiliation and Purpose

Process Three

Membership

Process Four

Administration

Process Five

Meetings

Process Six

Financial Arrangements

Process Seven

Amendments

Board members elected through the first sitting of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the NCC held on 22nd January 2016 are:

Members Along With Biography
Mr. Dmitri Nicholson, Chairperson Dmitri Nicholson serves as the Chairperson of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc and has a long history of work in civil society, first as a volunteer and then a career in youth development. He is currently the Executive Director of Youth Challenge Guyana, a non profit organisation that focuses on youth development. His career spans across fifteen (15) years, leading a number of projects that improved the lives of youth and women. He is educated in the areas of Psychology and development and is also a member of the Guyana Reparations Committee.
Ms. Namela Baynes-Henry, Vice Chairperson Namela Baynes-Henry is the current Vice Chairperson of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. She is a Journalist and Human Rights Activist with over twenty-one (21) years’ experience in communications, media, research, community consulting and advocacy. Passionate about issues of social justice, she is a founding member of the Comforting Hearts and Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Her significant understanding of, and exposure to the Guyana, Caribbean and international environments is her motivation for completely utilizing her accumulated experience, skills and knowledge towards human development and social justice through networking, journalism and advocacy.
Ms. Merica George, Secretary Merica George is the incumbent Secretary of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. An avid volunteer for many years, she joined the workforce as a secondary teacher at the Academy Of Precious Ones teaching Principles of Business and Social Studies. After six (6) years of teaching, she embarked on an eleven (11) year career in the area of HIV/AIDS working as the Prevention Coordinator at Artistes In Direct Support where she coordinated behaviour change outreach programs specific to the needs of the LGBT community. Merica attended St. Joseph’s High School and the University of Guyana where she read for a Degree in Public Management.
Ms. Gloria Joseph, Treasurer Gloria Joseph is currently the Treasurer of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. She is the Executive Director/Project Coordinator of Lifeline Counselling Services where for the last six (6) years she has managed projects which are aimed at improving the mental health of persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. She claims that being in this current field of work has broadened her insight into many social issues. Her activism commenced through the motivation and encouragement of her mother whom she views as her greatest influence as she was very passionate about education, literacy and encouraging others to stretch beyond their potential; a quality that was, without a doubt, passed on to Gloria. She holds a degree in Business Management and has acquired extensive experience over the years in several other fields such as commercial banking.
Mr. Alex Foster, Director Alex Foster is one of the external Board Members of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. He is the President/ CEO of St. Francis Community Developers (SFCD) and an umbrella body of fifty-four (54) collaborating partners, Friends of St. Francis (FOSF). Alex has been instrumental in implementing scores of projects and programmes across Guyana while training over 10,000 residents through grassroots exposure/ experiences for economic empowerment. In 2006 the Commonwealth Secretariat named SFCD as one of the most successful and sustainable organisations in the Commonwealth. This is reflected in the publication, “St. Francis Community Developers – Making a Difference, 20 Years of Unbroken and Dedicated Service (1986-2006)” which is used as a template to be replicated globally. Alex’s philanthropy, dedication and grassroots service earned him numerous honours including, the Commonwealth Youth Service Awardee (three times winner which is a World Record), First Youth of the Year Award- Guyana, Youngest Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Rose Hall Town, Commonwealth International Youth Worker Award, Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year, Most Influential Young Social Entrepreneur in the World.
Mr. Trevor Benn, Director Trevor Benn is presently a board member of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. He is also the Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC); which he came to after serving for more than eleven (11) years at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Trevor has given over twenty (20) years of service to the Government of Guyana at various points and in different capacities, including as the Deputy Regional Executive Officer for Guyana’s most populous regions. He also has considerable experience in working with donor funded projects and has also been a very active member of civil society serving on many committees and boards, including the National Youth Commission, Caribbean Youth Environmental Network and Global Youth Action Network. He is a founding member of several national and regional youth organizations, most significantly GuyberNet: a highly successful Global Sustainable Development Information and Training Center.
Ms. Hazel Maxwell-Benn, Board Member Hazel Maxwell-Benn serves as a director on the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. She is also the Managing Director of Linden Care Foundation and held this post from its establishment in 2000. She is a registered nurse/midwife and nurse practitioner by profession. It is because of working in primary health care she recognised the first-hand need for a scale up in HIV prevention and care and support services at the community level. This was when the conscious decision was made to blaze the trail and respond to HIV/AIDS needs in communities in the bauxite mining region of Linden.
Mr. Travis Spellin, Board Member Travis Spellin currently serves as a board member of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. Given his experience in implementing HIV-related programmes, he intends to use this opportunity to advocate on behalf of persons affected and infected by HIV/AIDS and other social issues. He is prepared to bring knowledge to the decision making forum of the NCC for policy development which he foresees will be would be in line with the organization’s goals and objectives. Spellin also serves as the Account Manager at Comforting Hearts.

Members Along With Biography

Mr. Dmitri Nicholson, Chairperson

Dmitri Nicholson serves as the Chairperson of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc and has a long history of work in civil society, first as a volunteer and then a career in youth development. He is currently the Executive Director of Youth Challenge Guyana, a non profit organisation that focuses on youth development. His career spans across fifteen (15) years, leading a number of projects that improved the lives of youth and women. He is educated in the areas of Psychology and development and is also a member of the Guyana Reparations Committee.

Ms. Namela Baynes-Henry, Vice Chairperson

Namela Baynes-Henry is the current Vice Chairperson of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. She is a Journalist and Human Rights Activist with over twenty-one (21) years’ experience in communications, media, research, community consulting and advocacy. Passionate about issues of social justice, she is a founding member of the Comforting Hearts and Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Her significant understanding of, and exposure to the Guyana, Caribbean and international environments is her motivation for completely utilizing her accumulated experience, skills and knowledge towards human development and social justice through networking, journalism and advocacy.

Ms. Merica George, Secretary

Merica George is the incumbent Secretary of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. An avid volunteer for many years, she joined the workforce as a secondary teacher at the Academy Of Precious Ones teaching Principles of Business and Social Studies. After six (6) years of teaching, she embarked on an eleven (11) year career in the area of HIV/AIDS working as the Prevention Coordinator at Artistes In Direct Support where she coordinated behaviour change outreach programs specific to the needs of the LGBT community. Merica attended St. Joseph’s High School and the University of Guyana where she read for a Degree in Public Management.

Ms. Gloria Joseph, Treasurer

Gloria Joseph is currently the Treasurer of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. She is the Executive Director/Project Coordinator of Lifeline Counselling Services where for the last six (6) years she has managed projects which are aimed at improving the mental health of persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. She claims that being in this current field of work has broadened her insight into many social issues. Her activism commenced through the motivation and encouragement of her mother whom she views as her greatest influence as she was very passionate about education, literacy and encouraging others to stretch beyond their potential; a quality that was, without a doubt, passed on to Gloria. She holds a degree in Business Management and has acquired extensive experience over the years in several other fields such as commercial banking.

Mr. Alex Foster, Director

Alex Foster is one of the external Board Members of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. He is the President/ CEO of St. Francis Community Developers (SFCD) and an umbrella body of fifty-four (54) collaborating partners, Friends of St. Francis (FOSF). Alex has been instrumental in implementing scores of projects and programmes across Guyana while training over 10,000 residents through grassroots exposure/ experiences for economic empowerment. In 2006 the Commonwealth Secretariat named SFCD as one of the most successful and sustainable organisations in the Commonwealth. This is reflected in the publication, “St. Francis Community Developers – Making a Difference, 20 Years of Unbroken and Dedicated Service (1986-2006)” which is used as a template to be replicated globally. Alex’s philanthropy, dedication and grassroots service earned him numerous honours including, the Commonwealth Youth Service Awardee (three times winner which is a World Record), First Youth of the Year Award- Guyana, Youngest Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Rose Hall Town, Commonwealth International Youth Worker Award, Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year, Most Influential Young Social Entrepreneur in the World.

Mr. Trevor Benn, Director

Trevor Benn is presently a board member of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. He is also the Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC); which he came to after serving for more than eleven (11) years at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Trevor has given over twenty (20) years of service to the Government of Guyana at various points and in different capacities, including as the Deputy Regional Executive Officer for Guyana’s most populous regions. He also has considerable experience in working with donor funded projects and has also been a very active member of civil society serving on many committees and boards, including the National Youth Commission, Caribbean Youth Environmental Network and Global Youth Action Network. He is a founding member of several national and regional youth organizations, most significantly GuyberNet: a highly successful Global Sustainable Development Information and Training Center.

Ms. Hazel Maxwell-Benn, Board Member

Hazel Maxwell-Benn serves as a director on the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. She is also the Managing Director of Linden Care Foundation and held this post from its establishment in 2000. She is a registered nurse/midwife and nurse practitioner by profession. It is because of working in primary health care she recognised the first-hand need for a scale up in HIV prevention and care and support services at the community level. This was when the conscious decision was made to blaze the trail and respond to HIV/AIDS needs in communities in the bauxite mining region of Linden.

Mr. Travis Spellin, Board Member

Travis Spellin currently serves as a board member of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. Given his experience in implementing HIV-related programmes, he intends to use this opportunity to advocate on behalf of persons affected and infected by HIV/AIDS and other social issues. He is prepared to bring knowledge to the decision making forum of the NCC for policy development which he foresees will be would be in line with the organization’s goals and objectives. Spellin also serves as the Account Manager at Comforting Hearts.

In accordance with section 4 (9) of the By-Laws, four (4) committees have been established to overlook the inner workings of the board. These committees are Executive, Governance, Audit & Finance and Working Group Committees. The Working Group committees include program development and management, fundraising and other forms of resource mobilization, public relations and advocacy.