The following members have been approved by the Board of Directors and will be presented to the BELRAG membership for approval to join the BELRAG Board of Directors for a maximum of two three-year terms beginning 1 July 2026:
Nevine Abdelkhalek, Rotary Club of El Tahrir, Egypt
Dr. Nevine Abdelkhalek holds a chartered manager status with the Chartered Management Institute in the UK. As well as a PhD in Human Resources and has a vast experience in the field of Education for Development and Continuing Educationas she started her career in Education through her postgraduate studies in Boston University and teaching in the Edward Devotion School in Brookline, Boston. She worked for over 25 years on development programs funded by the Canadian Fund, USAID, and the EU, which gave her firsthand experience of the actual needs of deprived communities in Egypt. Dr. Abdelkhalek was also the Team Leader that put together the foundation and the presidential decree of the Professional Academy for Teachers in 2008.
Dr. Abdelkhalek has held various positions in her career and is currently the Dean of the School of Continuing Education at Nile University. She served as Vice President of ECG Engineering Consultants Group in Egypt from 2008 to 2022. Member of the Board of Directors of Tea Computers, 2022 to date, and member of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Businessmen Association(EBA), 2022 to date.Among her achievements the design and development of the Professional Academy for Teachers and the initiation of two main sustainable projects; One in Upper Egypt in the field of Illiteracy “Eliminating the Sources of Illiteracy” and also University to Work (UTW) and School to Work (STW) Initiatives. She has also recently supported the launch of the UNICEF and Rotary District 2451 - Egypt - "Water for Life" Project, which has been implemented in Upper Egypt since 2013. Dr. Abdelkhalek was the organizing committee chair of the 1st Water Summit with the Rotary & UNICEF, under the Auspices of the Prime Minister, H. E. Eng. Ibrahim Mahlab, in June 2014, entitled "Water is Life”. Besides this, she was the organizing chair of the Egypt Tour of the greatest Meal to End Polio and End Polio Flame during the World Tour, and lit EndPolioNow on the Temple of Luxor. Among her achievements also the organization of the round table of Investment in Upper Egypt in Summer of 2015 focusing on Assiut and Sohag with the Egyptian Businessmen Association (EBA) as well as “Made in Egypt” Forum & Exhibition for Sohag Ethnic productswithRotary.
Dr. Abdelkhalek has always been known as the philanthropist among her family, friends, and colleagues from a very young age. She currently serves on the Consultancy Committee for the Green Economy of the Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU). She was selected twice as the Chair of the American University School of Continuing Education Advisory Board from 2009 to 2012 and from 2015 to 2018. At the same time, she has served as Treasurer of Hope Village for street children from 2008 to date. The chair of the Sustainability Committee of the Egyptian Businessmen Association (EBA) in Cairo for many years and still serving, and the chair of the Board of Trustees of The Egyptian European Organization for Training & Development (EEOTD)(2008–2016). Dr. AbdelKhalekhas served on the Board of Directors of BPW Emirates-Egypt as the club's General Secretary. In her capacity as EBASustainability committee chair, she organized the First Seminar on "Accessibility and its role in employment opportunities for citizens with disability" and the Economic Forum in Upper Egypt, entitled "Investment in Upper Egypt: Opportunities and Challenges." Besides this, Dr. Abdelkhalek supported the strategic plan and the organizational development of the Ministry of Urban Renewal &Informal Settlements in 2014–2015. She is also the charter chair of the Artificial Intelligence Rotary Fellowship (AIRF) (2024–2018) and the Founding General Secretary of Athar Mustadam NGO (2025todate)
Kakali "Koli" Banik, Rotary Club of Washington Global, USA
An accomplished international development executive, Koli brings 18 years of global education expertise spanning Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, with a specialized focus on systems strengthening, foundational literacy, and policy reform. As a Bureau-level technical expert, she has provided strategic oversight for the design and lifecycle management of complex USAID and Global Partnership for Education (GPE) portfolios valued at up to $100 million. Koli's operational acumen encompasses the entire project lifecycle, from executing rapid, high-yield project startups and staff recruitment to engineering sustainable, costed exit strategies in direct coordination with local authorities. Through targeted institutional capacity-building initiatives, such as the Transforming Teacher Education initiative in Zambia, she has successfully equipped Ministries of Education to design data-driven pre-primary programming, scale regional curriculum interventions, and formulate costed national sector plans.
Paralleling her operational leadership is a distinguished 10-year track record in Early Childhood Development (ECD) research and multi-sectoral liaison specialization. A published researcher and a founding advocate for the USAID/LEGO Foundation partnership, Koli is a recognized expert in integrating Learning Through Play (LtP) pedagogy, gender equity, and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into national teacher professional development frameworks. Her ability to foster cross-sectoral alignment is demonstrated by over 15 years of experience coordinating holistic child-development initiatives across Ministries of Education, Finance, Health, and Social Welfare. Furthermore, she has advanced global sector knowledge by spearheading the Global Community of Practice for Pre-Primary and leading the "Together for Early Childhood Evidence" (T4ECE) program, facilitating critical peer-to-peer data exchange among international researchers, practitioners, and government officials.
Aparna Bryani, Rotary Club of Calcutta Mahanagar, India
Aparna Biyani is the Chief Executive Officer of India Humanity Foundation, where she leads initiatives focused on literacy, health, and social empowerment. She completed her schooling at La Martiniere, Calcutta, India, and graduated from Calcutta University in 1997. Aparna completed the GNIIT program in Software Development and Systems Management from NIIT and began her professional journey as a corporate trainer.
A Microsoft Certified Professional and Microsoft Certified Systems Developer (MCSD), Aparna later founded MindEdge Solutions, delivering projects in software development, digital marketing, and now focuses on AI-based customized solutions for SMEs. Guided by a strong commitment to service, she joined India Humanity Foundation and currently serves as its CEO.
She is associated with Rotary Calcutta Mahanagar and has been actively involved in child and adult literacy initiatives, blood donation drives, and programs for empowering girls, including cervical cancer vaccination campaigns. Aparna is married to Rtn. Manish Biyani and they are blessed with two sons. A music lover, she is also a trained vocalist in Hindustani Classical Music.
She believes that “A life well lived is one that uplifts others through mindful service.”
Beatrice Nguo, Rotary Club of Nairobi Karengata, Kenya
Beatrice Nguo is a seasoned Program Management and Implementation Specialist with over 20 years of experience leading and delivering impactful projects across education, health, and women’s empowerment sectors.
She brings deep expertise in managing multi-sectoral programs, complemented by significant global exposure working with diverse, geographically dispersed teams across multiple time zones.
Beatrice holds a Master of Arts in Sociology (Community Development) and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Beatrice is a passionate Rotarian and currently serves as the Immediate Past President (IPP) of the Rotary Club of Nairobi Karengata. During her presidency in the Rotary Year 2024–2025, her strong commitment to education shaped the club’s strategic focus and impact.
Under her leadership, the club of 45 Rotarians delivered several high-impact community projects, including:
✅ Construction of 2 new classrooms at a rural primary school, expanding learning opportunities for children
✅ Establishment of a fully equipped Science Laboratory and Library at a high school in Kibera, Kenya’s largest informal settlement
✅ Distribution of over 4,500 school textbooks to six underserved schools
✅ Provision of 200+ mobility devices (White Canes) to support visually impaired individuals in Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties
✅ Strengthening partnerships with private sector firms and international Rotary Clubs, significantly expanding the club's reach and resources
These initiatives have led to tangible results: improved academic performance, increased student enrollment, and a notable shift in students’ attitudes toward education.
Beatrice continues to champion transformative community initiatives and is driven by a personal mission to create sustainable change through purpose-driven leadership and collaboration.