GEPS Place
1441 Broadway, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10018
United States
Gender Priority Strategy (GEPS) is led by a distinguished Global Governing Council comprising ambassadors, First Ladies, UN representatives, and renowned gender equality advocates from across continents. This leadership structure ensures that GEPS maintains the highest standards of excellence while remaining responsive to the diverse needs of women worldwide.
The GEPS Global Governing Council provides strategic oversight, policy guidance, and international advocacy for the organization. Council members bring extensive experience in diplomacy, policy development, research, advocacy, and grassroots mobilization—ensuring that GEPS operates effectively at all levels from local communities to international forums.
H.E. Ambassador Dr. Devon Bannister - Global Chair / Governing Council
Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Devon Bannister serves as Global Chair of the GEPS Governing Council, providing overall strategic leadership and governance for Gender Priority Strategy worldwide. As Global Chair, Ambassador Bannister leads the Council in setting strategic direction, establishing partnerships with governments and international organizations, and ensuring GEPS' programs maintain the highest standards of excellence and impact.
Ambassador Prof. Ada JUNI Menakaya - UN Representative / Global Coordinator
Ambassador Professor Ada JUNI Menakaya serves as UN Representative and Global Coordinator for GEPS. In this pivotal role, she coordinates GEPS' global initiatives and represents the organization at United Nations forums and international conferences. Professor Menakaya brings extensive experience in gender advocacy, having worked for 30 years at grassroots and international levels addressing gender issues confronting women worldwide. Her leadership ensures GEPS maintains strong connections with UN Women and the Commission on Status of Women.
H.E. Ann Marie Davis - First Lady of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas
First Lady Ann Marie Davis brings unique insights from her work advancing women's issues in the Caribbean region. Her leadership demonstrates the critical role of First Ladies in championing gender equality at the highest levels of government and society. She supports GEPS' comprehensive PEARS framework, bringing attention to the specific challenges facing women in small island developing states.
H.E. Ambassador Sophia Tesfamariam Yohannes - Permanent Representative to the UN for Eritrea
Ambassador Yohannes has been instrumental in connecting GEPS with UN Women and the Commission on Status of Women, helping to ensure that GEPS' advocacy aligns with and supports international frameworks for gender equality and women's rights. Her diplomatic experience at the UN brings critical international perspective to GEPS' work, bridging grassroots gender advocacy with high-level international policy discussions.
Dr. Padmini Murthy - Member Global Ambassador Governing Council
Dr. Padmini Murthy brings extensive expertise in global health, women's rights, and international development. Her work spans academic research, policy advocacy, and grassroots implementation. She contributes to GEPS' research and solutions development, ensuring that evidence-based approaches inform all programs and policies. Dr. Murthy is particularly committed to addressing health disparities affecting women globally.
H.E. Dr. Demetria Sherman - Member Governing Council
Dr. Demetria Sherman contributes expertise in education, leadership development, and women's empowerment to guide GEPS' strategic direction. She plays a key role in GEPS' executive education programs, helping to design curriculum and certification courses that build capacity for gender advocacy and leadership among women worldwide.
H.E. Amb. Dr. Mrs. Alanyingi Uduak Sylva - Executive Global Ambassador / Chairperson GEPS Africa
Ambassador Dr. Mrs. Alanyingi Uduak Sylva leads all GEPS initiatives across the African continent as Executive Global Ambassador and Chairperson of GEPS Africa. She coordinates regional programs and builds strategic partnerships with African governments and organizations, addressing unique gender challenges facing African women including the feminization of poverty, limited access to education, and barriers to political participation.
Ambassador Nadine Grigsby - Program Coordinator
Ambassador Nadine Grigsby oversees the implementation of all GEPS programs globally, including Gender Priority Strategy Education (GPSE), Gender World Initiative, EMPTISTORY of Esteemed Women, Gender Priority Strategy Accelerator, International Days Observance, and Community Leadership Development programs. Her organizational expertise ensures GEPS' diverse portfolio runs smoothly and achieves measurable results.
H.E. Ambassador Dr. Osita Aniemeka, FMSc - GEPS Special Envoy
Ambassador Dr. Osita Aniemeka represents GEPS at high-level diplomatic forums and builds strategic partnerships with governments and international organizations. His diplomatic credentials facilitate GEPS' engagement with policymakers worldwide, and he champions the importance of male allies in the gender equality movement.
Hon. Chris Nonyelum - Representative, Africa
Honorable Chris Nonyelum serves as GEPS Representative for Africa, working closely with the Chairperson GEPS Africa to implement programs and build partnerships across the continent. He focuses on grassroots mobilization and community engagement, ensuring African women's voices inform GEPS' strategies.
Ibeh Sucex Emeka - Regional Coordinator, Africa
Ibeh Sucex Emeka manages day-to-day operations of GEPS programs across the African continent, facilitating training workshops, coordinating executive education programs, supporting research initiatives, and mobilizing communities for advocacy campaigns. He is instrumental in implementing GEPS' Hunger Solutions initiative in African communities.
H.E. Ambassador Dr. Charles Ntiamoh Mensah - Global Director, Media and Public Relations
Ambassador Dr. Charles Ntiamoh Mensah manages all communications, media relations, and public engagement for GEPS worldwide. He oversees digital presence, social media campaigns, press relations, and public communications, ensuring that GEPS' message—Women for Women by Women—reaches diverse audiences through strategic communications.
The GEPS Global Governing Council and Ambassadors represent decades of combined experience in gender equality work. Together, we have traveled locally and globally, speaking, making presentations, advocating for women's rights, and participating in policy formulations. Yet we recognize that the solutions to gender issues are yet to be fully realized.
Our girls and younger generations are becoming more disorganized every day, while our middle-aged women are increasingly self-introspective, and our older women are constantly in tears and speechless about the feminization of poverty in the land. We are thus losing our significance, and the time has come for us to bring order to our issues.
Through our collective leadership, GEPS stands up for women's priorities and drives Policy, Education, Advocacy, and Research (PEARS) to Solutions. We are Women for Women by Women! Let's stand together in Solidarity, Strength, and Substance! Let's drive our PEARS together for generations to come! Let's guarantee that our legacy will be remembered!
GEPS welcomes partnerships with leaders, organizations, and institutions committed to advancing gender equality. To learn more about working with our Global Governing Council or becoming part of our ambassador network, contact us at geps@genderprioritystrategy.net or firstladiesunforum@gmail.com.