Board of Directors

Sang Kwon Jung

President for Social and Economic Development
​Republic of Korea

Jackson Jonathan 'Kofi' Nyarko

President for Advocacy
​Ghana

Jayashree Parasheril Kunju

Director
India

José Ramirez, Jr

Chair
USA
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Zoica Bakirtzief da Silva Pereira

Vice-Chair
Brazil

Anwei Skinsnes Law

President for Heritage and Education
USA

Myungwoong Park

Director
​Republic of Korea​

Michael Chen

Treasurer
​China​

Maryse Legault

Director
​Canada

Yohanna Abdou

Director
​Niger

Staff 

Mary S. O’Friel

International Coordinator
​USA

Mary has been a part of IDEA for over 20 years. She initially served as Program Facilitator, supporting the establishment of people’s organizations, women’s empowerment initiatives, human rights efforts, leprosy heritage, program development and grant administration.
As International Coordinator she facilitates the planning, communications, development and financial operations. In this role she established the position of Global Network Coordinator, now held by a person with personal experience with Hansen’s disease. She also instituted IDEA’s Knowledge Sharing series, and launched an initiative to expand IDEA’s network to include individuals with lived experience with neglected tropical diseases.
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Mary holds a Masters in Health Care Administration and has worked in not-for-profit management for over 30 years. She has fostered children for ten years including two children in the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program.

Amar Bahador Timalsina

Global Network Coordinator
​Nepal

Amar is the first individual in this role. During his brief tenure, has strengthened the international network of individuals who have experienced Hansen’s disease, which now includes representation from 32 countries and 32 organizations of individuals with personal experience. Amar also facilitates IDEA’s Gatherings/Knowledge Sharing series, held every two weeks for individuals who have had the disease.

Originally from rural Nepal, Amar was diagnosed at age 10 with Hansen’s disease. This resulted in ostracism and discrimination by his classmates and school administrators, leading Amar to contemplate suicide. His parents, who had little money, initially took him to faith healers.
When that was unsuccessful, he was sent to Anandaban Hospital near Kathmandu for treatment, and was ultimately cured. Even after he was cured, Amar continued to experience discrimination. When he first married and his wife’s family learned he had at one time had leprosy, he was forced to divorce her.

Because of his childhood experience, Amar’s goal was to ensure that other children did not experience similar discrimination. He then founded a school in Kathmandu in 2007, which currently serves 400 children from Play Group to Grade 10.

As a young adult, Amar joined IDEA Nepal, later becoming General Secretary and eventually President. Recognized for his wisdom and leadership, he has been tapped to serve in several international advisory capacities including: IDEA Representative, Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy Leadership Team; Board Member, The Leprosy Mission International; and Member, Advisory Panel of Women and Men Affected by Leprosy, International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations.

Amar is married to Mim Kumari and they are the proud parents of Jenny and Bibek.