Liam Foran is PDI’s inaugural CEO.

He was previously a Special Advisor on Peace and Economics at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, and led the Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific desk at the World Economic Forum. His previous experience also includes working in diplomatic roles in West Africa, Asia and the Pacific; prior to that, he worked as a banker at JP Morgan and ING.

Liam holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva.

Liam co-founded PDI based on the idea that if people have inclusive and sustainable employment they are much less likely to engage in conflict. PDI aims to achieve this by bridging the gap between peace makers and the private sector.

Dr. Ian Wadley is PDI’s Executive Advisor.

Ian works as an independent consultant helping organisations in the government, non-profit, and business sectors to clarify strategy and align portfolios, accelerate learning and adaptation, measure impact. He previously led strategy, evaluation and learning at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva. He is a former Delegate with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Ian is also member of the Board of MSF Switzerland.

He is a qualified Australian lawyer and an accredited mediator with degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Murdoch University, and UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, including Fellowships with the Harvard Program on Negotiation, the Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial / Peace Scholar programmes, and the MacJannett Foundation.

Berta Argenté is PDI’s Venture Admissions, Gender and Acadamey Coordinator.

Berta joined PDI in 2018 as a consultant and is now the Venture Admissions, Gender and Acadamey Coordinator. Berta is focused on leading the admissions for the incubation program, developing and implementing a gender strategy and designing the PDI Academy.

Berta is also the founder of Blum Foundation, an impact-driven company builder that builds social businesses to create opportunities for disadvantaged women and youth.

Her previous experience includes business design and investment roles at leading Company Builders and social impact funds in Colombia, India and Spain.

She holds a BBA from ESADE Business School, a BSc in International Development from University of London & London School of Economics and is a Georgetown University GCL fellow.

Berta is passionate about women’s empowerment and leveraging business as a force for change.

Cristina joined PDI in 2022 as Lead Venture Developer. She is accountable of the correct implementation of the Incubation Program being the first line of contact of the Venture Developers and relevant on-field project stakeholders. Cristina is a key contributor to PDI’s mission enhancing internal communication, building methodology and partners relationships.

She previously worked as a marketing consultant at Fundacion Paraguaya in Paraguay and held roles in sustainability, packaging purchase and stock management in Danone SA in Barcelona, Spain, implementing sustainable policies and ensuring high service quality.

Cristina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from ESADE, where she also pursued studies in sustainability and corporate responsibility during an exchange program at UBC Vancouver. Her areas of interest include sustainable business practices and social impact initiatives.

Gabriel Gomes Couto is PDI’s Programme Coordinator for Climate and Conflict. Specialised in peace mediation, climate security, and environmental peacebuilding, Gabriel leads the development and operationalisation of the Climate-Resilient Entrepreneurship (CRE) programme, which develops sustainable sources of livelihood for hard-to-reach communities at the frontlines of both climate change and conflicts.

Gabriel holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Geneva Graduate Institute and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. He has experience conducting applied research on Climate Security in the Brazilian Amazon, as well as on the application of private diplomacy for the removal of obstacles to urgent climate action.

Santi joined PDI as a Venture Developer in 2024 and plays a key role in several initiatives. He leads incubation efforts in Moldova, assesses potential projects in conflict-affected countries and drives the development of PDI’s own chocolate brand.

He previously worked as a consultant for Roots 4 Sustainability in Medellín, Colombia. Following that, he joined Amazon in e-commerce account management, helping companies grow within the Amazon ecosystem, and later transitioned to Business Development for a startup, launching their marketplace in Spain.

Santi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from ESADE Business School, with an exchange program at Boston College, where he studied business philosophy and social impact.

Liliana Razo Rodríguez is Corporate Services Coordinator of PDI.

Liliana joined in 2023 and is focused in managing finances, organizational operations, and HR functions. She oversees financial transactions, budgeting, and reporting while ensuring compliance with regulations and optimizing costs. Liliana contributes to Geneva’s anchoring efforts through event coordination and strategic partnerships, aiming to enhance the organization’s presence and sustainability.

She established a career path in entrepreneurship & growth strategies, and public relations. She previously was the founder and positioned a unique natural beauty product, in both B2B and B2C markets, and established partnerships with over 50 retailers across Switzerland, France, Netherlands, and Austria.

She initiated her professional journey as a Finance and Commercial Consultant at a leading Franchise Consulting Firm with earlier roles as an executive assistant in public relations roles for French Multinational company and French Embassy.

Liliana holds a bachelor’s in International Commerce from the ITESM University in Mexico City with a specialization in marketing and finance from ESC University in Rouen, France and a Certification as a Franchise Manager

Liliana is committed to making a difference by supporting sustainable development, economic empowerment, and environmentally friendly practices.

Oriol joined PDI in 2024 as a Finance Advisor. He holds a degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Non-Profit Direction and Management, with over 10 years of experience in financial management within the non-profit sector. He has worked with organizations such as Oxfam, Save the Children, and the Spanish Red Cross.

Oriol has extensive experience as a Finance and Business Manager in complex operational environments, including the Central African Republic, Haiti, and Mauritania. He also has broad experience supporting international operations from both regional and headquarters offices.

As a finance specialist, he is committed to managing resources transparently while ensuring compliance with internal corporate procedures, donor requirements and legal obligations. He is also passionate about optimizing resource efficiency, anticipating and mitigating financial risks, and supporting program managers in achieving organizational and project outcomes.

Paul Dziatkowiec advises PDI on its peace operations and strategy. He is a seasoned conflict mediator and diplomat.

Paul has been the Director of Mediation and Peace Support at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) since 2021, following a decade at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), an organisation that mediates in armed conflicts. He has led and participated in dialogue processes in diverse conflict settings including Ukraine, the Middle East, Nigeria, Myanmar, and the Caucasus, and for several years managed the Oslo Forum. Paul has also supported Track I mediation efforts.

Earlier, Paul was an Australian diplomat for over a decade, including in Africa as an acting Ambassador; the Middle East; and the Asia-Pacific as a peace monitor in Bougainville. He engaged in multilateral negotiations at the UN in Geneva, New York, and Nairobi, and he holds three Masters degrees.

Jean-Philippe joined PDI in 2024 as Executive Advisor. He has dedicated most of his career to the development of the “impact investing” field of which he is considered to be a global pioneer.

Jean-Philippe structured twelve impact funds and securities issuances, raised and invested over one and a half billion USD worth of private debt, venture capital and private equity in SMEs in emerging and frontier markets. After working at McKinsey & Co, the UN as well as for various NGOs, Jean-Philippe co-founded in 2001 BlueOrchard Finance (a pioneer commercial lender to Microfinance banks) and he then went on to found Bamboo Capital Partners in 2007 (another global impact investment asset manager).

Jean-Philippe now draws from his 25+ years of experience to keep pushing the boundaries of global impact investing.  He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and speaks fluent French, English and Spanish.

Carolina joined PDI in 2025 as a Field Project Developer in Colombia, where she is responsible for the effective implementation of the Incubation Program. She maintains a hands-on approach with incubated projects while strengthening PDI’s presence in the country.

Carolina holds a degree in Social Communication and Journalism from La Sabana University (Bogotá, Colombia), with master’s studies in Organizational Communication from Austral University (Buenos Aires, Argentina). With over a decade of experience in impact communication strategies, marketing, and advertising, she has specialized in directing, executing, and managing both business and social impact projects. Her strategic data analysis and team leadership skills have enabled organizations to optimize their decision-making processes and resource allocation.

Her business development experience led her to co-create a gender-focused audiovisual production company, where she has deepened her experience in community engagement and women’s empowerment, contributing to a more just and equitable society. Her strong commitment to human rights is reflected in her use of strategic communication as a tool for social transformation.

Dorothy Kwennah Toomann is a Liberian Gender Consultant and a Peace Activist. She works as Gender Consultant at the Development Education Network-Liberia (DEN-L). Previously, she worked as Gender Consultant with the Multi-Stakeholder Forest Governance and Accountability Project (MFGAP) in Liberia.

In 2020, she contested in Liberia’s Special Senatorial Elections as an Independent Candidate in Bong County. Prior to that, she served as Executive Director for DEN-L and in other positions. DEN-L is a national grassroots organization involved in community development, peacebuilding, gender, land rights and advocacy works since 1999.

Dorothy has long experience in rights-based and empowerment work in rural Liberia with women, youth and local communities including those that are marginalized. She served as one of the co-organizers of the Liberian Women’s Mass Action for Peace to advocate for an end to Liberia’s brutal civil war. Dorothy’s passion to serve humanity and her appreciation for nature are inspired by her value for diversity, interconnectedness, and social justice.
Dorothy holds Masters’ Degree in Development Studies from the Kimmage Development Studies Centre (KDSC) Dublin, Ireland and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Development Education at the same university. She has earned a number of diplomas and certificates in community development, organizational development, advocacy, peacebuilding, environmental and gender studies at national and international levels. Dorothy has participated in a number of global events including serving as co-facilitator for cross-cultural learning events in national and international levels.