Executive Director

Liz Bernstein is the founding Director of the Nobel Women’s Initiative. Previously, Liz served as Coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) from 1998 through 2004. Liz participated in the campaign since it began in the early 1990s. She lived in Thailand and Cambodia for 10 years (1986-1996), where she worked with local advocacy organizations on various peace, justice and policy issues. She co-founded the Coalition for Peace and Reconciliation and helped found the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines. She also coordinated Make Poverty History Canada in 2005. Liz currently lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Liz can be reached at lbernstein@nobelwomensinitiative.org.

Tel: +1.613.569.8400 ext. 111
Fax: +1.613.691.1419

Manager, Policy and Advocacy

Diana previously worked with Nonviolence International Southeast Asia promoting nonviolent action for social change and assisting human rights defenders in the region in developing their advocacy strategies. This led her to establish the Working Group on Justice for Peace promoting political rights and access to justice through international advocacy within the conflict area of Southern Thailand. As a passionate peace activist, she has been engaged in global initiatives to stop disappearances and campaigns to control arms; and has conducted extensive research on small arms proliferation in conflict areas, the impact of conflict on women’s security and nonviolence in Burma. Diana holds a MA in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford with a research focus on women, peace and security.

Diana can be reached at dsarosi@nobelwomensinitiative.org.

Tel: +1.613.569.8400 ext. 112
Fax: +1.613.691.1419

Manager, Media and Communications

Rachel Vincent is the Manager of Media and Communications for Nobel Women’s Initiative. She joined the team in April 2008. Rachel started her career as a radio journalist, working for six years in Canada, the US and Mexico, including hosting an afternoon radio program in Mexico City. She left journalism to be the head of communications for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, based in Montreal. For the last 16 years, Rachel has turned her in-depth undersanding of media towards advising NGO’s and others on how to communicate their messages most effectively through media. She has worked as a senior communications advisor, speechwriter and media strategist for not-for-profit groups and governments on international and social justice issues, environment and health. Rachel also volunteers for the Canadian Centre for International Justice (CCIJ), and is an active mother of three and stepmother of two.

Rachel can be reached at rvincent@nobelwomensinitiative.org.

Tel: +1.613.569.8400 ext. 113
Fax: +1.613.691.1419

Coordinator, Online Media and Outreach

Kimberley MacKenzie is the Online Media and Outreach Coordinator for the Nobel Women’s Initiative. Prior to this she worked for five years at the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization. There she was the founding Coordinator of the Public Education Program, responsible for devising and implementing public education, cross cultural training, advocacy, and communications strategies and programming for the organization. She studied Political Science and has a passion for travel and learning languages.

Kim can be reached at kmackenzie@nobelwomensinitiative.org.

Tel: +1.613.569.8400 ext. 114
Fax: +1.613.691.1419

Coordinator, Events and Operations

Lesley Hoyles is the Coordinator of Events and Operations with the Nobel Women’s Initiative. She holds a BA with a major in Women’s Studies from the University of British Columbia, and a Certificate in Event Management from Algonquin College. Prior to joining the Nobel Women’s Initiative team in June 2010, she worked for a number of non-profit organizations, including Planned Parenthood Toronto and Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa. Lesley is passionate about women’s rights and reproductive rights. She is also a musician and a cyclist.

Lesley can be reached at lhoyles@nobelwomensinitiative.org.

Tel: +1.613.569.8400 ext. 116
Fax: +1.613.691.1419

Coordinator, International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict

Yee was born in Burma and fled the country at the age of 7. She immigrated to Canada as a government sponsored UN Convention refugee. Prior to joining the Nobel Women’s Initiative, Yee worked with various grassroots community based organizations including the Burmese Women’s Union, Mae Tao’s Clinic’s Committee on Protection and Promotion of Children’s Rights, Social Action for Women and the Women’s League of Burma. She was one of the coordinators of the Open School Campaign in 1999 and has authored several advocacy reports including “Caught between Two Hells” which highlighted the plight of illegal migrant workers from Burma in Thailand and China. Yee has an undergraduate degree in Criminology and Women’s Studies from Simon Fraser University and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law with a concentration in International Law.

Yee can be reached at yhtun@stoprapeinconflict.org.

Tel: +1.613.569.8400 ext. 118
Fax: +1.613.691.1419