Board Members

IFCO Board and Officers

Following the International Foster Care Organisation's Annual General Meeting held on the 14th of July in Victoria, BC, Canada the new Officers / Board members are:

President:
Volodymyr Kuzmynskyy (President) – Ukraine  president@ifco.info

Volodymyr Kuzminskyy, formerly the Country Director of EveryChild Ukraine, holds a PhD in Planning, Management and Regulation of Economy as well as a Master’s Degree in the Management of Organizations. He has been a pivotal player at the forefront of reforms in children’s policy, social services and the introduction of foster care in Ukraine over the past 8 years.  His key experience is in advising Government and NGOs in policy and services development in the child welfare sphere.  Drawing on his experience as a senior manager within a high profile NGO, he is skilled and experienced as a strategies development and capacity building specialist with wide experience of project management, including managing contracts from the EU and DFID and developing M&E system.  Volodymyr is the author of more than 20 publications addressing contemporary issues in social and economic fields.  He is married with a daughter.

Vice President:
Jean Kennedy (Vice President) – Ireland   youth@ifco.info

Jean Anne is the co-ordinator of Power4Youth, the European youth in care network. She was a founding member and has been actively advocating for listening to youth- their involvement and consultation on issues that affect their lives- for over a decade. Her involvement in IFCO started out as a youth delegate in 1999 and she has presented plenaries, workshops, programmes and presentations at IFCO Conferences and other forums many times since, joining the Board of Directors in 2009 and becoming Vice-President in 2011. As a young person whose parents are foster carers, she advocates for emphasising the positives aspects of alternative care while trying to overcome the negatives. Her personal interest in the success of foster care and positive outcomes for all stakeholders has shaped her career path. She holds an Honours Degree in Sociology and English and a Masters degree in Social Research (Sociology).

Jean Anne has also published works on topics such as Alternative Care in Ireland, Ethnic Groups, Community Responses to Drugs, Youth with Fewer Opportunities and Care Experience, and Youth Participation in Foster Care and Training. Her passion lies in engaging young people directly and her contribution and focus in IFCO, including as Chairperson of the IFCO Youth Committee, means that she facilitates youth programmes for IFCO and IFCO members in many countries. Most importantly, she likes good food with good company, singing and playing guitar and is great at making a cup of tea and listening! :-)

Administrative Secretary:
Nicole Herbert (Administrative Secretary) – Canada   sec@ifco.info

Nicole is an Alumni of foster care who has spent the past 18 years working with young people in and from the child welfare system. She previously sat on the Board of Directors for the National Youth in Care Network and spent 13 years working for the Federation of British Columbia Youth in Care Networks. Nicole has been involved with IFCO since coordinating the youth component of IFCO Vancouver in 1997, co-presenting a keynote at IFCO Melbourne in 1999, and facilitating a youth participation workshop at IFCO Cork in 2000. With a passion for meaningful engagement, education and advocacy, she enjoys writing, developing resources, facilitating training and event planning. No stranger to organizational and political change, her extensive experience in community and Network development has honed her leadership skills in the area of inclusive, effective and accountable decision-making processes.

Treasurer:
John Hulskamp (Treasurer) – Australia   treasurer@ifco.info

My background in matters financial in the non-profit sector, extend to being a volunteer treasurer of several local historical societies, and as a paid financial worker for a self-help support group, and the Mental Health Legal Health Centre. My foster care involvement has been most active in Melbourne, where my late wife and I fostered many children in need. We have had a successful long-term placement who has now begun University studies. I have worked on committees relating to foster care, and I have just completed a three year term with a local Post Placement Support Service, as their volunteer treasurer. My expertise in numbers, problem solving and a wisdom with money matters comes from my long engineering education background. I did serve the IFCO Board during a leaner financial period (from 2003 – 2009), with successful outcomes.

Chris Gardiner – Czech Republic  camp@ifco.info

• 1972 – 1989:  London foster parent
• 1974: Convenor / founder member / Chair NFCA UK
• 1981 onwards: IFCO Founder member.   IFCO Board Member (Treasurer, Company Secretary, Youth Committee Mentor, Conference Co-organiser (5 times) & President (two terms).  Active IFCO volunteer - Chairs the Communications, Advocacy, Membership & Promotions Committee.
• 1997 – 2000: UNICEF Programme  Manager  + established the work of The European Children's Trust in Ukraine. 

2000 onwards: (not all current)

• Early retirement / part-time trainer on Foster Care & Child Development projects (several countries) 
• Steering group member of the European Quality4Children Project (IFCO / FICE / SOS) 
• Member of the Advisory Group of the Better Care Network
• Member of NGO Group which drafted UN Guidelines for Children in Alternative Care
• Co-founder Czech web resource www.vzd.cz  
• Co-Chair of Eurochild's Working Group on Children in Alternative Care / adviser to European Children’s Rights Project for Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Frank Keating – Ireland
My wife and I live in rural Ireland and have been fostering for almost 20years. We have nine children, four of whom are in long-term foster care and are aged 17, 13, 10 and 7 years respectively.  In addition we have seven grandchildren, two of whom are fostered and are also siblings to two of our foster children. (You go figure it out.) Professional Experience and Qualifications: I hold a B.Soc.Sc. Degree, a Masters Degree in Social Work and a Dip. in Forensic Psychology. Having worked as a Social Work Manager I am currently the Course Leader on The B.A. in Applied Social Studies in Social Care in Waterford Institute of Technology.  As part of my brief I am currently working on developing a B.A. in Foster Care.  I have worked with a number of voluntary organisations nationally and internationally and am a Director of the I.F.C.A.

Myrna McNitt – USA
I am a life member of IFCO and the chair of the Training, Conferences and Projects Committee. I worked for over 25 years in child protection/ juvenile justice in Michigan. I was a social worker in Kenya and the UK in foster care and child protection and now a professor of social work for Dominican University in Chicago, teaching social work in our globally focused program. I have worked for IFCO by providing training in Kosovo where I wrote curriculum to train trainers in developing foster care. In 2009 I promoted IFCO in St. Maartens and for a Russian delegation in Chicago. I am currently volunteering for IFCO in Azerbaijan to deinstitutionalize children to foster care.  I participated in writing proposals for funding in South Africa, European Commission, and UNICEF. My goal for IFCO is to support IFCO achieve its mission of promoting family based solutions for children, by supporting board development, and positive consultancy and project work for developing nations.  I have been a foster parent and currently am a kinship provider for my nephew.

Chris Rayment – United Kingdom
Before joining Oxford Policy Management (OPM) as a consultant in January 2009, I worked with EveryChild for almost 10 years. My time at EveryChild was focused on supporting colleagues in over 10 countries of Eastern Europe and the FSU on the development of policies, strategies and practical services for children separated from, or at risk of separation from, their families. The importance of foster care in its many forms continues to feature prominently in my work and my involvement with IFCO over the years has been very motivating. As a senior manager with a regional remit and now a consultant with a global remit, I have represented and advocated for the best interests of children at many levels and worked with a wide range of government and NGO actors. My experience as a father is something that continues to inspire my passion for children and their need for and right to family care.

Elayn Sammon – Zimbabwe
Originally from Ireland, currently working in the child protection sector in Zimbabwe and with 17 years previous experience in Asia, central and eastern Europe and former Soviet Union, I have a specific interest in the care and support of children, including children with disabilities, in families and communities. I have worked with government sector, non-government organisations and within the UN to develop specialist services for identification, reintegration and alternative care for children separated from family and primary caregivers including children living in residential care, in child only households, in detention, living on the street, or on the move (irregular child migration). I have been involved in baseline operational research to inform development of national programmes and systems that offers comprehensive and holistic services for children and which address the underlying causes for separation. I have been a member of IFCO since 2000 and have served on the Board since July 2009. 

Britta Scholin – Sweden
Britta Schölin has been social worker since 1969 and psychotherapist since 1995. For the first five years she worked in the local social government with focus on children.  Then she turned to primary school for children between 7-16 years and stayed there for 15 years.  After ten years work in child psychiatry she turned over to be a family care consultant for children in foster homes and their foster parents in assignment of the social welfare authorities. Today she works as social welfare consultant supporting foster parents. Britta is active in two associations, Forum for Family Care and the Federation for strengthening support for foster families. She works hard to get in contact with the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and other authorities trying to change the situation for children in Sweden to the better. She is chairman for an IFCO network group. Britta is born in Congo Brazzaville.

Donna Scott – Australia
My husband and I have been foster carers since 2003.  Since then we have had over 100 children share our home – some for only a few days, others will be with us for a lifetime. Currently I am Vice Chairperson of Connecting Foster Carers – SA, the peak body for all Alternative Carers in South Australia.  Prior to this, I held the position of Treasurer for 4 years.  I am also the key Events Manager, and enjoy arranging events that enable Carers and Children/Young People to enjoy life enriching experiences.  These have included such varying things as National Conferences through to taking children camping amongst Africa animals. For the past 5 years I have been involved in bringing together all parties of the care team to consider ways to benefit children in care.  I am passionate about seeing best outcomes for young people and respect given to the people who love, nurture, heal and care for these children.

Stephen Ucembe – Kenya
I grew up as an orphan in an orphanage. I am a social worker by profession. I have 6 years experience; 4 years in an institution and 2 years in a community based program supporting people infected and affected with HIV/AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children and child headed families. My past has been my inspiration and working with families, children and communities has been my profession and passion. I am also working through advocacy, awareness and regular practice to ensure that children grow up in a family and not children homes.  Youth who have gone through care have experienced and are continuing to experience myriad challenges ranging from psychological, social and economical in their daily encounters; it’s my vision and mission to continue promoting support, care and protection to this category of youths. IFCO’s mission and vision lies in line with my aspirations. I am willing and hoping that with concerted efforts, knowledge and experience we will give these children and youths a better life today and tomorrow.

Mamoru Watanabe – Japan
I am a foster care giver and son of foster care givers. Also, I am on the staff of an organisation which named The Anne Funds Project. The organisation is Not for Profit, works with children in out-of-home care, young people and foster care givers in Japan. In contrast to other regions such as Western Europe, North America, and Oceania, out-of-home care, especially family-based, has not developed yet in many Asian countries including an economic giant Japan. My main aim of nominating to the Board is to contribute to IFCO networking in order to enhance the quality of out-of-home care standard in Asian region.

Robert Weatherby – USA
I am a Licensed Social Worker, International trainer, foster carer and biological parent. I have been a part of IFCO since 2001 when I was introduced to the world of international fostering and joined the membership. Although I had been a foster parent for four years at that time, I had not been aware of the need on the international level. Since that time I have become more involved in IFCO through attending trainings and being a trainer. It has been a great learning experience. I have integrated much of what I have learned through IFCO into my practice. I believe that IFCO has provided me with a broader perspective on fostering. I am sure that my 20 plus years of working with children in care will be a benefit to IFCO. I have the time and energy to commit to IFCO.

Edwin Dundas – Sierra Leone
I am the founder and Coordinator for the Youth in Development and Peace Building Organisation in Sierra Leone. I have a First Degree in Project and Development Studies. I am a Sierra Leonean. I have worked over 4 years in supporting orphans and vulnerable children and child-headed families as my organisation is working through advocacy, awareness and regular practice to ensure that children grow up in a family. I became an IFCO member in April 2011 and as part of my contribution I will bring a positive outcome in the welfare of fostering.