AFS Youth Assembly Global Leadership Council
Leaders with a demonstrated commitment to sustainability, representing organizations that deliver impact
Co-Founder of Chirimoya and Drs Schuster & Oxley
Helmut Schuster (Chair)
Dr. Helmut Schuster is the author of award winning career books and an impact investor. He is also the Co-Founder of ethically sourced ‘luxury basics’ brand Chirimoya, a start-up focused on reshaping the perception of luxury and sustainability in the fashion sector. He is an alumnus of AFS Intercultural Programs and has served in various capacities for most of his life, including as a Trustee of the organization and chairing the Strategy Committee.
Helmut is also an angel investor in a number of successful start-ups and is co-authoring the book ‘A Career Carol’, soon to be released by British publishing house Austin MacCauley. The book is aimed at GenZ and Young Millennials, providing career advice that is robust and easy to follow. Prior to his recent activities, he served on the Executive Committee of bp plc for 9 years and the Supervisory Board of bp Europa for 12 years. He is an economist and completed his education with a PhD from the University of Vienna, he also holds a post-graduate diploma in International Relations.
Throughout his professional life, Helmut has supported and mentored young people. In recent years, his interest and focus has shifted to young entrepreneurs in the for profit and not for profit space. He is deeply engaged in dialogue about generations at work and the benefits of multigenerational workplaces. The topic of sustainability is something he has explored over the years, with many investments focusing on start-ups with the potential to be gamechangers in this space.
Chief People Officer at ICBC Standard Bank
Nicki Auret
Nicki Auret, Chartered FCIPD, is a passionate, purposeful leader with over 30 years’ experience shaping people, culture and talent strategies across emerging and developed markets, through divestment and growth phases.
Senior HR Strategy and Operations roles in Professional Services, FMCG, Energy and Financial Services have contributed to her commercial outlook, regulatory risk appreciation and pragmatic business approach. A committed advocate for people-centred workplaces, she champions creating environments that enable performance, excellence, inclusion and belonging.
Nicki is a regular contributor to thought leadership and education programmes, inspired by the profession’s role in designing future-ready workplaces, expanding access to opportunity and supporting skills development through change.
Alongside her Executive responsibilities as Chief People Officer at ICBC Standard Bank, she serves on the Boards of a specialist climate impact fund, a tertiary education social enterprise, and a City of London livery company dedicated to professional fellowship, development and giving back through charity, pro bono work and mentoring.
Nicki holds a Post Graduate Diploma in HR Management, a Bachelor of Social Science degree, and regulatory and advisory certifications.
Minister of Information and Civic Education in Sierra Leone
Chernor Bah
Chernor Bah is the Minister of Information and Civic Education in Sierra Leone, responsible for government communications and public engagement.
He founded the Children’s Parliament of Sierra Leone and led youth participation initiatives at the United Nations, including the Voice of Children project and the Global Education First Initiative Youth Group. As a child, he testified before Sierra Leone’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission on behalf of young people affected by the war.
Chernor has served on United Nations high-level panels on global education and youth, peace, and security. He has advised and led initiatives at organizations such as UNICEF, the World Bank, the Population Council, the Nike Foundation, and the European Union.
As co-founder and former Co-CEO of Purposeful, he helped secure funding to support feminist and girls’ rights programs in multiple countries. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Lancet, BBC, and Al Jazeera among others. He has spoken at the UN General Assembly, the White House, and various universities around the world.
Regional Director for Southern Africa at the Tony Blair Institute
Jackie Chimhanzi
Jackie is a seasoned strategist with some 24 years’ experience in strategy – as both an academic and a practitioner. She is the Regional Director for Southern Africa at the Tony Blair Institute. She is passionate about Africa and is driven by a desire to see a better Africa, in her lifetime. She is a keen Africa-watcher and was recognised by Forbes Africa magazine as one of the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa in 2012 – women under 45 shaping the narrative of Africa’s rising. In 2020, she was featured on the “100 Most Reputable Africans” list and in 2019 and 2024, on the “100 Most Influential African Women” list.
She serves as a non-executive board member, Chair of the Transformation, Social & Ethics Committee and Audit & Risk Committee member of the AdvTech Group, a JSE-listed entity and Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. She is also the Chair of the Board’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Committee. She has served on the global board of the ONE Campaign and the ONE Campaign’s Africa Policy Advisory Board and was, formerly, a member of the World Economic Forum’s Africa Regional Strategy Group. She is a 2010 Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow.
Executive Vice President, People, Culture and Communications at bp
Kerry Dryburgh
Kerry leads people, culture and communications at bp. As a key enabler of business delivery, people and culture aims to create a culture of purpose, winning, and care, where empathetic leaders and dynamic teams work together to transform bp and reimagine energy for people and our planet.
Previously Kerry held a series of senior HR positions across bp. For a while, Kerry was both group chief talent officer, integrating talent activities throughout the company, and head of HR for the upstream, leading the people transformation agenda. Kerry also ran HR in bp’s shipping, integrated supply and trading and corporate functions teams. Before joining bp, Kerry was HR director at Honeywell International Inc, the American Fortune 100 engineering and aerospace conglomerate, and while at BT plc, the FTSE 100 communications company, Kerry led end-to-end HR teams at the beginning of the mobile and internet technology boom helping to set up new operations and working out of Italy, Asia, and the UK.
Kerry advocates publicly on matters of diversity, equity and inclusion, social mobility, education and health and wellbeing. She is one of the Commissioners leading on the Levelling Up Goals; aiming to set out clear objectives for the UK’s Levelling Up challenge, spearheaded by Rt Hon Justine Greening. She was also a non-executive director of the United Kingdom’s Strategic Command, which managed joint capabilities in support of the three armed services (Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force). Kerry holds an MBA from Henley Business School, UK and a Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management from the University of Suffolk, UK. In her spare time, she enjoys keeping fit and interior design.
President and CEO, AFS Intercultural Programs
Daniel Obst
Daniel is President & CEO of AFS Intercultural Programs, a global not-for-profit, non-governmental organization with operations in more than 50 countries. AFS provides study abroad, volunteer and intercultural learning opportunities around the world. Under Daniel’s leadership, the 100+-year-old organization has developed a transformative new global strategy focused on developing active global citizens. In 2021, Daniel led the integration of the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation and its annual Youth Assembly into AFS.
Before joining AFS in 2016, Daniel served as Deputy Vice President for International Partnerships at the Institute of International Education (IIE) where he provided strategic leadership for many groundbreaking IIE initiatives. Daniel led the launch of Generation Study Abroad, which mobilized 700 international partner organizations to help double the number of U.S. students who study abroad. Under his leadership, partners pledged more than $185 million to support study abroad. He was also responsible for all the activities of IIE’s network of 1,500 member institutions, IIE’s Center for International Partnerships in Higher Education, and the strategic communications team.
Prior to joining IIE, Daniel worked as Producer and Director of Product Development at the tech start-up iAgora.com, an online community for young internationals who live, work and study abroad. Daniel has a B.A. in International Relations from the George Washington University (USA) and holds a Master’s degree in European Studies from the London School of Economics (UK). He has served on numerous boards, including on the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.
Vice President Sustainability Communications and Programs at DHL Group
Christoph Selig
Christoph Selig has been responsible for DHL Group’s global Corporate Citizenship portfolio as Vice President since 2020. He studied Geography and Social Sciences in Bonn and Dublin and holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship.
With 30 years of experience at the intersection of politics, business, and civil society, Christoph began his career in the German Bundestag and the Federal Foreign Office. He joined DHL Group as a public affairs professional in 2001 and moved to the corporate headquarters in 2009 to focus on education initiatives. In 2024, DHL Group was recognized as a pioneer among DAX companies for its social engagement.
Christoph is a trustee of the DHL UK Foundation, a member of Save the Children Germany e.V., and First Chairman of We Help Each Other e.V. He serves on the Board of Directors of IAVE and is a member of the B4SI Steering Group. He regularly speaks on Corporate Citizenship and corporate responsibility in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2024, 2025 and 2026, he was part of the German delegation to the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York.
CEO & Founder at ExpectAI
Anand Verma
Anand Verma is the Founder and CEO of Expect AI, SME Superintelligence- a pioneering impact company headquartered in London and built to serve the world. At the intersection of artificial intelligence and sustainability, Expect AI empowers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow profits while cutting carbon emissions—unlocking the untapped potential of public data and AI.
Before launching Expect AI, he was the Founder and CEO of Brilliant Basics, a globally acclaimed product design and innovation studio. He also co-founded Mesmerise, an AI-powered spatial computing company focused on enterprise immersive technology, which was later acquired. He previously served as one of the youngest Presidents and CEOs at Interpublic Group (IPG), where he led Mediabrands Ventures, overseeing digital innovation and M&A initiatives. Prior to that, he held senior executive roles at Publicis Sapient leading Financial Services, Media and Healthcare businesses.
He is a member of YPO – Young President’s Organisation. He also sits on the advisory board of AFS Youth Assembly and Regenerative Alliance.
The Youth Advisory Council
AFS Intercultural Programs has appointed eight outstanding young leaders to serve on the Youth Advisory Council, representing youth voices from their respective regions at the global stage.
These young leaders are committed to sustainable development in their communities and the world at large. The Youth Advisory Council will advise the Youth Assembly organizing team on the planning of the conference, including program development and agenda setting as well as recommendations on engaging youth in action and impact.