WHO WE ARE

The SNN team comes from different backgrounds and disciplines, all
contributing their dedication and commitment to local and global goals

Meet Our Board Members

​Deborah Hines
Director and Board Member

Deborah Hines has over 30 years of experience in
field-level technical support, policy, strategy,
knowledge management, evaluation, and
diplomacy.

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Deborah started her career in Kenya working with communities on agro-forestry and clean energy solutions. Her over thirty years of experience includes field-level technical support, policy, strategy, knowledge management, evaluation and diplomacy.  Her career has included working with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), World Bank (Adaptation Fund and the GEF), Canadian Government, including Environment Canada and the Canadian Development Agency, US Agency for International Development, and assignments with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN and other bilateral and nongovernmental institutions in Africa, Latin American, the Middle East and Asia. A USA/Canadian national with a MF, and PhD level work in Natural Resource Economics (Duke University).
Deborah’s extensive experience includes working with communities on issues related to climate change, natural resource management, integrating the right to food and gender empowerment in sectoral policies, putting development actions in humanitarian assistance, and finding durable solutions for refugees and those in situations of displacement. She has taught university students and conducted research on endangered species management, gender empowerment, community-level food systems, and agro- and social forestry systems.

Veronica Alvarado
Board Member

Verónica Alvarado has more than 20 years of
experience in international development,
specializing in project formulation, monitoring,
evaluation, and integrated project
management.

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​Veronica has extensive experience in holistic management, incorporating climate change, biodiversity, ecosystem management, capacity building, food security and gender mainstreaming in
project design and implementation Verónica currently works for the United Nations World Food Programme in Peru. Her previous experience includes working for the United Nations Development
Programme and the Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation in Ecuador. Verónica holds a bachelor's degree in business administration, with specialized studies in program management.

Paula Milano
Treasurer & Board Member

Paula has worked internationally to help
women-focused nonprofits to develop strategic
and marketing plans, and accounting systems.

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Paula started her career working in the technology industry, assisting companies to develop and implement business solutions. During her 29 years in software technology, she founded and was CEO in two companies. As a trained business consultant, Paula is active in the nonprofit community to develop efficient business solutions, as well as working to support their mission of improving the lives of communities in need.   

She is a founding member of Women in Philanthropy Orange County, founding member and past chair of the Dean's Leadership Circle for the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine, and she has held positions on the board of directors in nonprofit organizations. 
 
Paula's awards include the National Association of Women Business Owners 2002 Remarkable Woman award and 2005 Outstanding Women in Technology and Life Science from the American Electronics Association.

Janelle Rasmussen
Board Member​

Janelle Rasmussen is the Director of International
Training at Montana State University (MSU), bringing over two decades of expertise in global
education.

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Janelle Rasmussen is the Director of International Training at Montana State University (MSU),
bringing over two decades of expertise in global education.

She manages a broad range of programs focused on international exchange and professional development. Among these are several U.S. State Department-funded initiatives, such as the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (FTEA) Program, and the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Student Leaders Program. Additionally, she provides strategic leadership to the Long-Term Education Administrators Program (LEAP), a prestigious initiative in collaboration with the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT).

With a commitment to innovation, Janelle is dedicated to continuously refining training programs that address critical global issues such as leadership development, climate change, human rights advocacy, community engagement, and gender equity. Her leadership extends beyond MSU as she partners with local, national, and international organizations to create transformative cross-cultural experiences. Her focus is on maximizing the impact of each program, empowering participants to drive positive change in their communities and beyond. In addition to her work at MSU, Janelle is an active leader in the global education community.

From 2016 to 2024, she served as one of three Representatives for NAFSA to the United Nations and currently co-chairs NAFSA’s U.N. Member Interest Group. These roles reflect her ongoing commitment to advancing education and leadership on a global scale.

William Vigil
Director and Board Member

William Vigil has more than 30 years of experience
in international development and a blend of on-
the-ground field experience with policy, planning,
and diplomatic efforts.

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​William is a Nicaraguan/Australian national and has an MA in Economic Development (The American University, Washington, DC), with more than thirty years of experience in international development and a blend of on-the-ground field experience with policy, planning and diplomatic efforts. He has worked with the UN World Food Programme in Africa, Latin America and Rome, with the Canadian Government, the European Union, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), UNDP, and UNICEF, and has served with the Nicaraguan government as technical national counterpart to the UN system, and in diplomatic posts  in Managua,  Washington, and New York as acting Representative of Nicaragua to the U.N.
​William has supported the LAC region as well as Eastern and Southern African countries in disaster preparedness and emergency response, including conducting, simulations, disaster assessments, and incorporating new technologies in emergency response. William took early retirement from the United Nations in late 2019. His last post was Country Director for the World Food Programme in the Dominican Republic. He is affiliated with several professional organizations such as the Social Advisory Group of FUNIDES (Nicaragua), Associate of the Inter-American Dialogue (Washington, DC) and Rain Barrel Associates (New York).

Susan Higgins
Board Member

Susan Higgins is a water resources
management and policy professional with 35
years of experience.

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Susan Higgins has a 35-year background in water resources management and policy. In her current work with the Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity and Montana, she facilitates connections between health researchers and rural communities in Montana, and works with a team assessing the impacts of climate change on human health. She also served as a water planner for the State of Montana and as Program Director for The Tributary Fund where she facilitated research activities and exchanges in Mongolia, Bhutan and Montana.
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A trained facilitator, Sue has been actively engaged in water planning and natural resources facilitation and has co-authored guides for educators and landowners on topics such as wetlands management and streambank stabilization. She was a consultant for the Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent and the Montana National Drought Resiliency Project. A past board member to the Society for Conservation Biology’s Working Group on Religion and Conservation Biology she and a colleague developed best practices for scientists conducting research internationally in faith and indigenous communities. She holds a BS in biology and an MS in natural resources management. Sue lives in Bozeman, Montana with her family.

Hélène Papper
Board Member​

Hélène is a conflict and post-conflict strategist
and leader with extensive experience in
diplomacy, advocacy, and communications.

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Dr. Henry Vega is a trade and development specialist with a deep understanding of market access, food security, and international agriculture. His work focuses on removing trade barriers, strengthening supply chains, and advancing climate-smart food systems to foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Henry has led policy analysis and strategy development across agricultural trade, transportation, food safety, biotechnology, and economic resilience. He has worked in Bolivia, Canada, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Rwanda, United States, Uganda, and Venezuela, supporting governments, development agencies, and private sector partners in enhancing trade facilitation, standards compliance, and value chain development.

An agronomist by training, Henry studied in the United States as a Fulbright scholar, earning a Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Clemson University and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from George Mason University, specializing in Regional Development & Transportation and Global & International Systems.

As a Board Member at South North Nexus, Henry bridges research, policy, and real-world implementation, ensuring that evidence-based solutions drive practical impact for communities worldwide.

OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS

We are extremely thankful to all of our community partners who help us
achieve our vision of listening locally and contributing globally.

• Colombia: La Asociación de Kalema, Fundación Social Tierra de Indios
• Montana: Bienvinidos a Gallatin Valley
• Nicaragua: CALPI (Centro de Asistencia Legal a Pueblos Indígenas)
• Kenya: BLEC, Inclusive Concepts
• Mongolia: BioRegions International
• Mexico: Huerto Awilum, Jesucristo es la Respuesta, El Buen Samaritana, COESPO (Comisión Estatal de Población)
  

Together, we can do more!

SNN gives priority to long-term relations and strategically working with a range of stakeholders to address the
pressing problems we face – climate, migratory, environmental, social, and economic.

Understanding and responding to these interrelated risks is an urgent
priority that requires united and complementary efforts.