About Us
Fostering dialogues to consolidate a progressive agenda, CAF facilitates spaces to design solutions to critical issues of our times. We aim to promote multilevel cooperation and in-depth, structural-oriented analyses of global challenges.
As opposed to cynical, panicked, and pessimistic accounts of our world’s dysfunctions, CAF seeks alternative narratives and constructive proposals that address root causes, not only the symptoms. We are driven by the vision of an empowered, cosmopolitan, and democratic global citizenry, conscious of a common ground that unites and overcomes differences.
In a time of noise, we focus on the existential questions humanity faces: ever-increasing inequalities, environmental collapse, the social impact of technology, and the rise of neo-fascist/xenophobic policies.
Our Events
Each year, our efforts focus on two main encounters of different formats, both aimed at shaping feasible and transformative solutions to worldwide issues – the OCTAGON and CAF’s flagship, the Annual Forum. Other year-round gatherings include seminars, academic collaborations, conferences, and courses.
Focusing on dialogue, science, and social development, CAF also supports a wide range of projects as a strategy to support an independent platform for innovation and research, fostering collaborative relationships with organizations worldwide.
Projects and Collaborations
The Forum supports long term projects as a strategy to develop a solid platform for digital citizenship and research, which also provides the opportunity to build collaborative relationships with several organisations worldwide. These projects thrive thanks to the participation and/or support of the United Nations, the European Commission, the Spanish National Research Council, University Carlos III of Madrid, ANUDI, European Alternatives, Google Labs, BBC News Labs, the Technical University of Madrid, Berkeley University and others.
Advisory Board
Ayo Obe
ADVISOR
Ayo Obe is a legal practitioner and partner in the Lagos-based law firm, OgunsolaShonibare. Ms. Obe chairs the Board of Trustees of the Gorée Institute (Senegal) and is Co-Vice Chair of the Brussels-based International Crisis Group.
Celso Amorim
ADVISOR
Celso Amorim is a former Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. He served on panels of the UN Security Council and was named the «world’s best foreign minister» by Foreign Policy magazine.
Eduardo Barcesat
ADVISOR
Eduardo Barcesat is a constitutionalist lawyer, professor at the University of Buenos Aires, Advisor to the Presidency of the Chamber of Deputies of the Argentine Nation and Human Rights Advisor of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO).
Emad Shahin
ADVISOR
Emad Shahin is Dean of the College of Islamic Studies (CIS), Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation and a Senior Fellow at Georgetown University. He formerly served as Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Politics.
Guillaume Long
ADVISOR
Guillaume Long is a French-Ecuatorian politician and academic, who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador, as well as Minister of Culture and Heritage and Coordinating Minister of Knowledge and Human Talent under the Correa government.
Herta Däubler-Gmelin
ADVISOR
Herta Däubler-Gmelin is a German lawyer, academic and Social Democratic politician who served as Germany’s Minister of Justice and as a member of the Bundestag. She continues to practice law, as well as teaches political science at the Free University of Berlin.
Javier Solana
ADVISOR
Javier Solana is a Spanish physicist and former Secretary General of NATO. Solana currently serves as Chairman of the Aspen Institute in Spain, and has held a number of positions in the Spanish government, including Minister of Culture and Minister of Education and Science.
John Ralston Saul
ADVISOR
John Ralston Saul is an award-winning essayist and novelist. A long-time champion of freedom of expression, he served as President of PEN International and has written extensively, with his most renowned work considered to be «The Unconscious Civilization.»
Pedro Brieger
ADVISOR
Pedro Brieger is an Argentinian academic and journalist with expertise in international politics. He is Professor of Sociology of the Middle East at the University of Buenos Aires. A writer, commentator and producer of various radio and television programs, he has authored various books, and currently serves as Director of NODAL, a web portal for Latin American and Caribbean News.
Board of Directors
Wadah Khanfar
CHAIRMAN & CO-FOUNDER
Wadah Khanfar is the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Common Action Forum. Former Director-General of the Al Jazeera Network, he was named one of the «Young Global Leaders» in the 2008’s World Economic Forum and was first in Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers of 2011.
Rafael Heiber
DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN & CO-FOUNDER
Rafael Heiber is the Co-Founder and Deputy-Chairman of the Common Action Forum. Geographer and Climatologist with a MSc in Territorial Planning and a PhD in Sociology, his expertise includes the political links between technology, space and citizenship. He participates in academic activities and publishes in the international media.
Arlene Clemesha
MEMBER OF THE BOARD
Arlene Clemesha is a renowned historian and professor at the Centre of Arab Studies at São Paulo University. A regular TV news commentator, she is an expert in civil society relations between Brazil and the Middle East and was a member of the Coordination Committee of the UN International Coordinating Network on Palestine (ICNP-UN).
Bilaal Hoosein
MEMBER OF THE BOARD
Bilaal Hoosein is current Director of Programmes for Al Jazeera English. With a background in political science, he has nearly two decades of experience as a journalist, producer and an international broadcast market sales and acquisitions expert.
Renata Ávila
MEMBER OF THE BOARD
Renata Ávila is a human rights lawyer and digital rights advocate. Avila sits on the International Board of Creative Commons, is a Steering Committee Member of the Information Society Advisory Council for the OECD and is a Coordinating Collective Member of DiEM25.
Sami Zeidan
MEMBER OF THE BOARD
Sami Zeidan is an award-winning Senior Presenter with Al Jazeera English. He has worked with a number of the largest broadcasters in the world, interviewing several legendary world leaders, including Nelson Mandela, as well as reporting high-profile events.
Thembisa Fakude
MEMBER OF THE BOARD
Thembisa Fakude is a Researcher at the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies as well as a contributor and analyst for several newspapers. He is former Bureau Chief of the Channel’s Media Network in Southern Africa and former Chairperson of the Foreign Correspondents Association of Southern Africa (FCSA).
Fernando
Ron-Martín
SECRETARY OF THE BOARD
Fernando Ron-Martín has been practicing law in Madrid since 1989, leading his firm in civil rights defense, including obtaining a UN Resolution condemning Spain for violation of the economic, cultural and social right to housing.
Daniela Expósito
LEGAL ASSISTANT
Daniela Expósito works as legal and academically offers professional practices in social research and advisory. Her expertise is Public Administrative Law, International Law of Human Rights and Environmental Law.
Thematic Clusters
Andrés Lomeña
ALTERNATIVE ECONOMY
Andrés Lomeña holds degrees in Journalism and Literary Theory, as well as a PhD in Sociology. He teaches philosophy and published Ficcionologia (2016), El Periodista de partículas (2017), Rescoldos Mentales (2018) and the script of the award-winning short-movie Psicopolis. He writes for the Huffington Post.
Colleen Boland
DIVERSITY & IDENTITIES
Colleen Boland holds a PhD in Sociology of Migration at the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. She formerly worked as a Managing Editor of an international public health quarterly at Johns Hopkins University, USA. She obtained her MA in Middle East Politics from SOAS, University of London.
David Adler
POLITICS OF INTERNATIONALISM
David Adler is a political economist and the General Coordinator of the Progressive International. He is a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford and a Fulbright García-Robles Fellow at the Colegio de México.
Fernanda Ribeiro
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Fernanda Ribeiro is a Chevening Fellow and currently works for the United Nations in Genève. She holds an MA in International Peace and Security from King’s College London and an MA in International Public Law and Administration from the École Nationale d’Administration.
Gaspard Estrada
GEOPOLITICS & DEMOSCOPY
Gaspard Estrada is Director of the Political Observatory of Latin America and the Caribbean at Sciences Po, France. His research focuses on political communication and electoral campaigns. In addition to academic publication, he is a regular contributor in the international press.
Mi You
MEDIA ARTS & TECHNOLOGY
Mi You is a curator at Academy of Media Arts Cologne, where she lectures on media theory with a social-political approach. With a PhD in Art and Media Studies, she is Fellow at Zentrum Paul Klee Fellow (Switzerland) and Independent Curators International (USA). Mi is also a member of the Academy of Arts of the World.
Patricio Cabello
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
Patricio Cabello is Researcher at the Center for Advanced Research in Education at the University of Chile. He holds his PhD and MAs in Anthropology and Social Research Methods. Leading several projects, he has consulted for UNESCO and UNICEF.
Renata Ávila
LAWFARE & CIVIL RIGHTS
RenataÁvila is a human rights lawyer and digital rights advocate. Avila sits on the International Board of Creative Commons, is a Steering Committee Member of the Information Society Advisory Council for the OECD and is a Coordinating Collective Member of DiEM25.
Executive Team
Nicci Enchmarch
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Nicola Enchmarch is the Managing Director of CAF. She has a wealth of commercial and Not for Profit experience acquired over 20+ years in business and management consultancy roles across multiple industry sectors within the UK, New Zealand, Europe and the MENA region. Nicola holds a BRS in Environmental Studies and continues to maintain an active interest within this field.
Tristán Torrejón
PROGRAM MANAGER
Tristán Torrejón has a degree in Literary Theory from the Complutense University of Madrid and a master’s degree in Cultural Management from the Carlos III University. With extensive experience in the organization of forums and high-level conferences, he was a program assistant at the diplomatic cultural center Casa de América.
Irene López
PROJECTS MANAGER
Irene López has a degree in International Relations and a Master’s in Human Rights. She has worked as chief of staff, analyst and consultant for political parties in both Spain and Ecuador. She served as an international aid worker in refugee camps and headed political advocacy at various organizations.
Mercedes Bellavista
LOGISTICS MANAGER
Mercedes Bellavista has performed several roles, such as manager’s assistant, executive secretary, as well as project manager. She worked with international companies, consulting firms and foundations in Spain, Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom.