Matt Timblin is a strategic leader in global security and enterprise risk management, with over 20 years of experience supporting mission-driven organisations in complex and challenging environments. In his current role as senior director, global security and risk at Open Society Foundations, the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for rights, equity, and justice, he leads strategic security, risk and resilience initiatives across over 70 countries, shaping policy and culture to empower safe, inclusive operations.
His career spans roles at the BBC, Human Rights Watch, and other government and non-government organisations, where he has built and led globally distributed teams and crisis responses in Ukraine, Afghanistan, and during global health emergencies among other areas. He’s passionate about strengthening the accessibility and availability of safety and resilience resources to those working on the frontlines of social change.
Millie Edwards is the director of The Iris Project, a global initiative established in 2022 to empower young environmental leaders. In this role, she oversees the day-to-day operations, including managing the nominating partner network, facilitating the advisory panel, and coordinating the annual Iris Prize. Millie is a trained art psychotherapist and previously worked at Project Everyone, promoting the Sustainable Development Goals in over 160 countries. She is passionate about supporting youth-led environmental initiatives and bridging the funding gap for young climate activists.
Navdha Malhotra is a social impact consultant who partners with nonprofits, philanthropic organisations, and cultural groups on impact strategy, business development, and narrative change. Formerly the Global Head of Campaigns and Partnerships in India at Purpose, she has led award-winning initiatives on clean energy transitions, electric mobility, and sexual and reproductive health rights, reaching millions and shaping policy while building capacity for grassroots leaders. She specialises in designing participatory programmes that centre diverse and underrepresented voices, with a focus on climate action, gender equity, and civic engagement.
Jim Peacock is a strategic communications and philanthropy leader with over 25 years of experience advancing human rights, social justice, climate action, and tech accountability. He has held senior leadership roles across philanthropy, government, and the private sector. Jim has built and led global external affairs and strategic communications functions, shaping policy and advocacy interventions, strengthening organisational reputation, fostering partnerships, and guiding leaders through periods of uncertainty. He has extensive experience in risk and crisis management, helping organisations navigate complex challenges while ensuring safety, license to operate and trust are upheld.
Jim currently leads the global strategic communications function at Luminate, the foundation established by Pam and Pierre Omidyar, developing strategies and initiatives that advance work at the intersection of human rights, technology, and democracy across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.
Carolina Oliveira Beghelli is a human rights advocate and philanthropy strategist with over a decade of experience working alongside social justice movements across Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
She has supported the protection and collective care of human rights defenders through strategic funding, risk management, and international advocacy. Carolina has led efforts to strengthen movement-led responses to criminalisation and violence, and has collaborated with private donors, as well as the UN and the Inter-American human rights systems to advance accountability and systemic change.
She holds a master’s degree in transitional justice from the Geneva Academy and currently works at the intersection of business and human rights, resource mobilisation, and impact-driven storytelling.
Ashley Thomas has more than a decade of nonprofit and philanthropic experience supporting the rights of vulnerable groups and frontline activists and is passionate about fostering the resilience and wellbeing of individuals and movements working toward progressive social change.
As international human rights program officer at Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, she has led a grant-making portfolio of over $14 million USD focused on building a strong and resilient global human rights field. Through grant-making, she has helped resource holistic safety for human rights activists, communities, and a more enabling environment for activism around the world.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from The College of William & Mary, Virginia, and a master’s in International Affairs from The New School, New York, with a focus on governance and rights.
Nick Martlew is an adviser to Open Briefing. Nick is the strategy director of Digital Action, which builds coalitions to strengthen democratic rights in a digital age. He previously worked with Crisis Action for five years, including four as its UK Director. During this time, he led campaigns that helped secure asset freezes on war criminals, ceasefires in conflicts, and humanitarian access for hundreds of thousands of people trapped in war. Based on this experience, he wrote Creative Coalitions, a handbook for strategic conveners building campaign coalitions. Nick has previously led on campaigns with Oxfam, Save the Children, and consortia of NGOs working in Africa and the Middle East.
Livia Constantinescu is an adviser to Open Briefing. Livia has been a finance professional for the past 15 years. She is currently a senior portfolio manager with the Pictet Group, where she is head of the London discretionary portfolio management team. Previously, she was an investment strategist at J.P. Morgan and started her career as a merger arbitrage and special situations equity analyst. Livia completed the executive finance programme at Columbia Business School and holds a master’s in finance from London Business School as well as the first CFA UK qualification in ESG investing.
