Yolanda P. Alim

Yolanda Peloquero Alim is a seasoned cooperative development leader and international consultant with over 35 years of experience in financial management, governance, and enterprise strengthening. She has worked with leading institutions such as the World Council of Credit Unions  (WOCCU - Afghanistan), Cooperative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF Canada - Myanmar), and VICTO National Cooperative Federation (VICTO National - Philippines), where she held senior and supervisory roles mainly in the areas of finance, competence building and advisory services.

Her expertise spans cooperative and social enterprise development, financial literacy and entrepreneurship training, systems design and internal controls, project/program monitoring and strategic planning and operations review. She has successfully led projects on financial inclusion, gender empowerment, and institutional sustainability, designing of computerized monitoring and reporting systems, establishing savings-based enterprises, and mentoring cooperative leaders and staff across Asia.

As Country Manager of the MyFINANCE Project in Myanmar, she directed initiatives funded by LIFT-Myanmar/UNOPS, building scalable township savings and credit cooperatives strengthening linkages with government and private sectors. As a Technical Advisor in Afghanistan, she spearheaded the organization & development of Islamic Investment and Finance Cooperatives under USAID-funded programs ensuring long-term sustainability.

In the Philippines, she has been a driving force in mainstreaming gender advocacy, enhancing cooperative policies and ensuring compliance with regulatory and audit standards. Her work as a trainer, mentor, and advisor has empowered countless cooperative leaders, staff, and communities to achieve financial resilience and operational excellence.

She brings a unique blend of values-driven leadership, and international exposure, making her a trusted partner in advancing organization’s sustainability and innovation.

Mary Jane Tuares

Mary Jane Tuares has thirty years of experience in conducting enterprise development training, workshops and lectures in different fora. She is also into consulting and mentoring sessions for enterprise, organization and project development, and facilitation of local economic development training-workshops for local government units (LGUs).

Jane is a consultant on enterprise and organizational development. She is a trainer/facilitator on business-related modules/trainings, small business counselors' courses (SBCCs), project management, value chain development workshops, local economic development workshops and monitoring and evaluation. Likewise, she also conducts external evaluation, baseline/endline and impact studies among NGOs and NGAs.

Jane is a Licensed CEFE Trainer in the Philippines since 1995 and Mentor of the DTI-KMME program. She os a member of Association of Development Facilitators and Enterprise Counselors (ADFEC), Inc. and currently a member of the Board of Trustees.

Dam Vertido

Executive Director, Mindanao Land Acquisition Housing and Development Foundation (Mindanao Land)

Dam Vertido brings 11 years of resettlement experience, seven years of people-driven development work with poverty, conflict, and disaster-affected communities.