Our People
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Founder of AHA Foundation
Ayaan’s journey began in Somalia in 1969 where, as a young girl, she was subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). From very early on, she questioned the subjugation of women she saw all around her; while listening to a sermon on the many ways women should be obedient to their husbands, she couldn't resist asking, "Must our husbands obey us too?"
Ayaan has shown great courage, risking her life to expose the violence she sees around her. But she has done more than speak out. Ayaan has connected her life experiences, and the attention she garnered, to the AHA Foundation. She took action to protect women and girls from the violence she - and so many others - faced.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is currently a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and founder of the AHA Foundation. Prior to joining the Hoover Institution, she was a Fellow at the Belfer Center’s Future of Diplomacy Project at Harvard University, and a Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. Read more
Our Team
Amanda Parker
Interim Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer
Amanda Parker is the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Director of AHA Foundation. Ms. Parker oversees AHA’s women’s rights programs. She develops federal and state policy proposals to protect women and girls from harmful cultural practices, recently working with Michigan to put in place the most comprehensive anti-female genital mutilation (FGM) legislation in the country. She has facilitated trainings on honor violence, FGM, forced marriage, and child marriage for more than 3,000 professionals likely to encounter cases, and has supported survivors of these abuses to help them find protection and the services they need.
Oluwadamilola Alabi
Chicago North Side Program Coordinator
Oluwadamilola has a master’s degree in public health from Northern Illinois University and a background in health administration. As a student intern in Nigeria, she facilitated health talks on female genital mutilation, nutrition, and hygiene to pregnant and nursing mothers at a community health clinic. In Chicago, Oluwadamilola worked as the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Service Coordinator at Southview Care before joining the AHA team in 2020 as the Program Coordinator of AHA’s federally funded WE STOP FGM/C Chicago North Side program. Since joining the team, Oluwadamilola has also become one of AHA’s leads on FGM training nationally.
Natalie Arroyo
Marketing and Data Manager
Natalie is a passionate human rights and gender equality advocate with a Business Administration degree from Texas State University. She joined the AHA Foundation in 2018, working in various roles that showcased her creativity, passion, and dedication towards ending gender-based violence. Her focus has been on raising awareness of human rights abuses in the United States, and she is committed to educating people and empowering them to take action.
Michele Hanash
Director of Policy and Women's Programs
Michele is an experienced attorney and women’s and children’s rights advocate. As the Director of Policy and Women’s Programs, Michele leads the foundation’s advocacy efforts and women’s rights programs. Michele is passionate about ending gender-based violence.
Susanna McIntyre
Development Associate
Susanna is a passionate advocate for free expression and critical thinking, with a focus on eradicating harmful traditional practices. She earned her BA in Psychology from the University of San Francisco and later worked within UCSF's Radiology Department. Over the past three years, Susanna has been a prominent volunteer for a non-profit aiding individuals leaving their religions, particularly ex-Muslims. At AHA, she is not only inspired by the foundation's impactful policy work and professional training endeavors but is also actively involved in building relationships with donors and supporters who share AHA's vision.
Lisa Brett
Senior Consultant
Lisa helped found the UK’s National FGM Centre and chaired their advisory board before moving to Washington DC in 2017.
Having initially studied Electronics, Lisa worked in manufacturing before joining Voluntary Service Overseas in 1989 to become a teacher in a Nigeria. Lisa first became familiar with the practice of FGM teaching girls in Nigeria.
Returning to England, Lisa worked for the national charity Victim Support, where she sat on several international project steering groups and worked with the European Commission on projects to support victims of violence and abuse.
Lisa also became involved in local politics, which resulted in her being elected to the UK’s Local Government Association, a powerful cross-party Westminster lobby group. Here she became Deputy Chair of the Safer, Stronger Communities Board where she helped found the National FGM Centre.
Lisa currently supports the AHA Foundation’s activities in tackling FGM, forced marriage and honor based violence.
Sean Callaghan
Senior Researcher
Sean brings over 30 years’ worth of experience in international development, having worked extensively in Africa, the Middle East, the United States, and Europe. His work over the past decade has focused almost exclusively on gender-based violence and gender justice. For the past five years he has co-led a research institute focused on FGM/C in Africa and consulted on FGM/C in the diaspora context. Sean has also lectured on community development and social justice at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the UK and the U.S. Currently, he is facilitating a number of research partnerships for universities in both countries. He is pursuing a PhD at the University of Leicester, where his research explores FGM/C in diaspora communities.
Karla Pincott
Communications Advisor
Karla has more than 30 years of experience in media and communications, including with major media brands and universities. She is passionate about raising awareness of, and putting a stop to, gender-based violence. As an AHA advisor, she helps envision, edit, and draft messaging and copy for various pieces of AHA's communications portfolio.
Golbon Marandiz
Data Analyst Intern
Golbon joined AHA Foundation as an intern in 2024. She is a student in Seattle, WA, and is pursuing her bachelor's degree in data and cybersecurity, having already earned an Associate’s degree in Business Administration from Bellevue College. Golbon's family fled the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2001 due to religious persecution and gender apartheid, which led to her unwavering commitment to liberty. She is a passionate advocate for freedom of speech, religion, the internet, and the free market's role in women's liberation.
Rivka Nathan
Development Intern
Rivka is dedicated to empowerment through education and freedom of choice, particularly in addressing issues affecting women. Despite being a third-generation American, she was raised in a deeply religious and restrictive environment and understands the devastating impact of harmful, outdated practices such as forced underage marriage, female genital mutilation/cutting, and honor violence. Rivka has previously worked in Femtech, where she focused on expanding access to care for women in the cervical cancer space and supporting Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) in their forensic exam process, using technology. She holds degrees in Education and Written Communication and now brings her background and expertise to her role as Development Intern. Rivka passionately supports AHA's efforts in preventing gender-based violence, particularly female genital mutilation, and is fully aligned with AHA’s values and pivotal work in every realm.