Meet our 5 new board members
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People Powered members elect five global leaders to the board of directors
Five outstanding individuals have been elected to People Powered’s Board of Directors! Nominated and voted in by our members, this process reflects our commitment to participatory democracy—ensuring that the people closest to our mission have a voice in shaping our leadership.
These new board members bring a wealth of experience, unique perspectives, and a shared passion for participatory governance. Together, they embody the global spirit of People Powered, representing diverse regions and backgrounds.
At People Powered, we practice what we preach
This election wasn’t just about filling seats—it was about giving our members the chance to shape the future of our organization.
Here’s how it worked:
Through our annual People Powered Decides participatory planning and budgeting process, members nominated exceptional individuals that they believed could lead with purpose and vision.
Each nominee shared their qualifications, motivations, and ideas for the future, and participated in a video conversation with staff and current board members.
Our members then voted, ensuring the results reflected our global community's collective will.
The result? A board that’s diverse, innovative, and inspiring! Learn more about them below.
Meet our new board members!
Colombina Schaeffer (Chile)
Role: Acting Executive Director, Ciudadanía Inteligente.
Why she’s here: “I admire People Powered’s ability to unite civil society organizations globally while staying rooted in participatory values. I’m excited to contribute my experience and learn from this incredible community.”
What she brings: Expertise in participatory democracy, sustainability, and organizational development in Latin America.
Fun fact: Colombina has mentored leaders through our Climate Democracy Accelerator and is a published researcher on political ecology.
Donata Secondo (USA)
Role: Chief of Staff, Democracy Fund.
Why she’s here: “After years in US democracy work, I’m eager to reconnect with global democracy efforts and learn from People Powered’s inspiring network.”
What she brings: Strategic leadership, organizational learning, and experience in participatory budgeting.
Fun fact: Donata was part of the founding team of the Participatory Budgeting Project and is a systems thinker who loves connecting big ideas with real-world impact.
Learn more about Donata
Kudzaiishe Seti (Zimbabwe/South Africa)
Role: Climate Change and Environmental Protection Expert, Green Community Solutions
Why he’s here: “I want to amplify the voices of the youth, Black communities, and the Global South. People Powered gives me the platform to bring those insights into participatory democracy.”
What he brings: A strong background in climate action, community engagement, and fundraising in Southern Africa.
Fun fact: Kudzaiishe organized Zimbabwe’s first community-led climate policy after being awarded the best action plan in our Climate Democracy Accelerator.
Learn more about Kudzaiishe
Reema Patel (United Kingdom)
Role: Policy Lead, ESRC Digital Good Network and Director, Elgon Social
Why she’s here: “I believe participatory democracy is transformative. This role allows me to bring my experience in deliberative engagement and learn from People Powered’s global impact.”
What she brings: Deep expertise in public engagement, technology ethics, climate science, and global deliberative democracy projects.
Fun fact: Reema served as a mentor in our Digital Democracy Accelerator and co-founded the Ada Lovelace Institute and is passionate about AI governance in public policy.
Learn more about Reema
Srikanth Viswanathan (India)
Role: Chief Executive Officer, Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy.
Why he’s here: “Serving on People Powered's board offers a unique opportunity to bring South-South collaboration into focus. I look forward to contributing insights from Janaagraha's two decades of experience in participatory governance while learning from the global perspectives of People Powered's members.”
What he brings: Expertise in participatory budgeting, urban governance, and civic engagement, with a focus on scaling impactful initiatives and fostering international collaboration.
Fun fact: Srikanth is a chartered accountant and advocates for integrating financial accountability with participatory practices in urban planning.
Your turn: be part of the movement. Become a member and help shape the future of participatory democracy!