MPact’s team is a reflection of our commitment to upholding a diverse global perspective on issues concerning the health and human rights of gay and bisexual men. Our staff of experts in the field are primarily headquartered in Oakland, California but our work extends to 62 countries around the globe.
MPact is led by an international Board of Directors and a collegially appointed Steering Committee of globally recognized advocates and HIV and AIDS professionals representing every major region of the world, the majority of whom are ages 29 and under.
George Ayala, PsyD
Executive Director | contact@mpactglobal.org
Dr. Ayala has worked in the non-profit HIV/AIDS sector managing multi-million dollar budgets and supervising large, interdisciplinary teams of professionals for over 20 years. A clinical psychologist by training, Dr. Ayala has conducted HIV social science and intervention research since 1996. His research has mainly focused on understanding the mechanisms through which social discrimination affects the risk for HIV among gay men of color in the U.S.
Nadia Rafif
Director of Policy | nrafif@mpactglobal.org
Nadia comes to the MPact from her post as Executive Director of Association de Lutte Contre le Sida (ALCS) in Marrakech, Morocco, where she led the development of numerous regional projects across the Middle East and North Africa. Nadia will work with MPact constituents, staff, and leadership to advance MSM health and human rights through high-level advocacy, strategic policy analysis, and capacity building for grassroots advocates and organizations working with gay and bisexual men.
Mohan Sundararaj, MBBS, MPH
Director of Public Health Programs | msundararaj@mpactglobal.org
A trained physician with a master’s degree in Public Health, Mohan is responsible for providing technical input to local public health programs targeting marginalized communities and developing responses to in-country capacity needs. He transitioned into this role from the MPact policy team where he advanced policy initiatives and provided support to the MPact Transgender Reference Group.
Sonya Arreola, PhD MPH
Sr. Research and Programs Advisor | sarreola@mpactglobal.org
Dr. Arreola has extensive experience leading community based participatory research projects (CBPR); disseminating results across multiple mediums and audiences; and using findings to advocate for the needs of marginalized communities. Currently, Dr. Arreola’s research at MPact focuses on uncovering the individual, environmental and social determinants of sexual health among gay men and other men who have sex with men.
Omar Baños
Senior Technical Advisor | obanos@mpactglobal.org
Omar Baños has worked in HIV prevention, treatment education, policy, and capacity development in Latin America for more than 12 years. As the Policy Initiatives Field Manager, Omar works to develop, plan, and implement capacity building trainings and advocacy campaigns, as well as represent the MPact consistently and appropriately with international and regional networks worldwide.
Lily May Catanes, MBA
Director of Operations & Finance | lcatanes@mpactglobal.org
With foundations in international business, leadership, and marketing, Lily brings experience ranging from event, project, and office management to bookkeeping and instructional design for online education and training. At MPact, she monitors administrative, financial, and reporting requirements outlined by funders.
Angel Fabian
Advocacy Coordinator, Fijate Bien | afabian@mpactglobal.org
Angel is an immigrant, curander@, two-spirit/queer, Zapotec@/Xican@ activist and organizer whose life experience has enabled him to connect, advocate with/for, uplift and celebrate community members from all walks of life. Angel has a doctorate in medicine and masters in non-profit administration. With a 20-year history of progressive policy, advocacy, and management experience across a range of public health settings, including community-based organizations, community health centers and public health departments, Angel brings a strong and unwavering history as an Latinx HIV/AIDS advocate.
Sherrie Hicks
Sr. Accountant | shicks@mpactglobal.org
Sherrie brings twelve years of non-profit accounting experience supporting domestic and international locations. Sherrie’s IT accounting work has included implementation of Electronic Health Records of Dental Clinic records and accounting software conversion and customized Crystal Reports. She also worked in the private sector for a CPA and accounting companies. Sherrie has an accounting degree from Rose State University and an active member of National Association of Black Accountants and California CPA Associations. At MPact, Sherrie plays a vital role in budgeting, financial reporting, cost and productivity analysis, and in the preparation of our regular financial statements.
Stephen Leonelli, MPP
Sr. Policy Advisor | sleonelli@mpactglobal.org
Stephen Leonelli is a human rights policy analyst and community organizer. Since 2005, Stephen has participated in various anti-violence, LGBTI rights, and HIV justice movements in the USA and China. He also has experience in regional-level analyses of LGBTI rights and program design with ILGA-Europe and UNDP’s Being LGBTI in Asia initiative. At MPact, Stephen focuses on the inclusion of key populations within the 2030 Agenda framework and human rights mechanisms. He holds a master in public policy degree and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
Johnasies McGraw
Operations & Contracts Manager | jmcgraw@mpactglobal.org
Johnasies has worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade primarily in area of neighborhood and community development. He’s held a variety of operations and program coordination roles while working at the grassroots level with community based groups. He will provide support to the MPact Operations staff, Board of Directors, and steering committee members as the Operations and Board Coordinator.
Greg Tartaglione
Sr. Communications Officer | gtartaglione@mpactglobal.org
At MPact, Greg works to implement the organization’s strategic vision and unique voice in the ever-shifting landscape of sexual health and human rights. Greg brings their experience in social marketing, content creation, graphic design, and brand development to advocate for sexual health and rights around the world. Outside of work, they perform in drag as Mama Celeste and are the co-founder of Oaklash: The Bay Area Drag and Queer Performance Festival.
Johnny Tohme
MS, Community Mobilization Manager | jtohme@mpactglobal.org
Johnny comes to MPact from directing M-Coalition (the first network of MSM & HIV activists in the MENA region) in Beirut, Lebanon. Started as an LGBT rights activist, he’s a clinical psychology graduate who worked in sexual health service delivery, community behavioral research and community organizing. As part of the policy department, Johnny will be working on the consortium of MSM and Transgender networks, the youth reference group of MPact and will be involved with the programs departments.