Leadership

Ani Gurtsishvili is the Canada Program Associate for the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. In this role, she provides critical programmatic, administrative, data management, convening, and special project support across the Fund’s team.

Ani first began working with the Fund team as an intern in September 2022 with a focus to provide research, analysis and team coordination support to Canada Strategy and Programs team. Prior to the Fund, Ani held another internship at WES where she provided critical support to the program delivery and integration team utilizing Salesforce.

Ani holds a bachelor’s degree in IT & Business Systems Analytics from York University, where she graduated with Honours.

As a first-generation immigrant, Ani is dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion in her work, with a strong commitment to empowering communities.

Abby Frias is Senior Grants Associate at the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. In this role, she provides funding administrative, data management, and special project support through all stages of the Fund’s grantmaking operations in the U.S. and Canada. Abby also supports the Fund team in adopting trust-based philanthropy practices and centering equity in how we fund.

Abby most recently worked on the WES Mariam Assefa Fund team in summer 2021 as an intern focused on grants management and communications. She also interned at the City of Worcester’s Executive Office on Diversity and Inclusion. She is from Worcester, Massachusetts and received her Bachelor of Arts in Government with double minors in Justice and Peace Studies and African American Studies from Georgetown University. Following graduation, Abby worked in community development through AmeriCorps. She loves working with non-profit organizations, grassroots organizations, and local government at the intersection of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and immigrant justice. Her favorite part of being on the Fund team is learning and seeing the real impact of grantmaking, impact investing, and partnerships in immigrant communities.

Lauren Crain is the Director for U.S. Strategy and Programs at the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. Lauren develops grantmaking strategies that support economic mobility and integration for immigrants and refugees. She works closely with the Fund’s U.S. grantee partners to make connections across the workforce development, adult education, and immigrant integration ecosystems to champion and amplify their work. 

Lauren has over 10 years of experience working in international human rights, higher education, and migration, including at the Aspen Institute and Scholars at Risk. She earned a BA in politics from New York University and an MA in Middle Eastern studies from Columbia University.  

Lauren is passionate about addressing systemic and intersectional barriers that limit opportunity for individuals, and looks to build bridges that will create more just, democratic, and resilient institutions and communities. 

Nomzana Augustin is the Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships at the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. She drives the Fund’s external partnerships, strategy, and initiatives with funders and other external and internal stakeholders.  

Previously, Zana led and supported economic development and equity-focused initiatives and programs at Save the Children, FHI360, and Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT).  

As a first-generation immigrant, Zana brings a profound understanding of the needs and solutions required to integrate and support immigrants and refugees, especially for those living with intersectional identities. 

Monica Munn joined WES in 2019, bringing over a decade of experience leading social impact and economic development initiatives in the philanthropic, social enterprise, and private sectors. Monica oversees WES’ social impact and philanthropic initiatives, including the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, funding partnerships, and corporate philanthropy. Previously, Monica held several positions at the Rockefeller Foundation and worked at Next Street, a social enterprise that drives equitable economic and community development. She currently serves on the steering committee of the Workforce Matters Funders Network.

Marina Nuri is the Director for Canada Strategy and Programs at the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. She leads the Fund’s grantmaking in Canada.  

Prior to joining the Fund, Marina spent several years designing and managing international development programs across Africa. Before that, she spent eight years in management consulting with Accenture, advising both private sector and social impact organizations on strategy and operations. Marina has an MBA from the University of Oxford, Said Business School. 

Having worked across the world and seen the value that diversity and economic opportunity brings to workplaces and communities, Marina is passionate about driving racial equity and justice and advancing opportunities for all. 

Zenia Dacio-Mesina is the Senior Grants Manager at the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, leading the pre- and post-award administration of the Fund’s grants and impact investments in the U.S. and Canada. 

Zenia has over 10 years of experience in grantmaking operations in public charities and previously worked in non-profits and NGOs focused on environmental issues and international development in the U.S. and the Philippines. Zenia holds a BA in environmental science from Otterbein College (now University) in Ohio and she holds a master’s degree in International Development and Social Change from Clark University in Massachusetts. 

Zenia views philanthropy as a partnership between funder and grantee and is passionate about improving the Fund’s grantmaking processes so that they are respectful and responsive to the needs of Fund applicants and partners. Please feel free to contact Zenia if you have any feedback!