Ukraine Crisis Media Kit

Michael Messenger – President and CEO, World Vision Canada
Michael provides leadership to World Vision Canada’s relief, development and advocacy work, supporting the world’s most vulnerable children. His keen interest in the most fragile regions has taken him to countries such as South Sudan, Central African Republic and Afghanistan, where he has met children and families who were living on the margins.

Michael first joined World Vision in 1990 and was involved in early advocacy efforts in Canada and Geneva. In 1995, Michael moved to attend law school and then practiced law for nine years in Halifax.

As a partner at Cox & Palmer, he developed a broad litigation practice and served as chief counsel to a high-profile public inquiry on issues of youth justice. During this time, Michael was a member of the Board of Directors of World Vision Canada. He returned to a staff leadership role at World Vision in 2007, serving as Vice President for Public Affairs and Executive Vice President before assuming the role of President and CEO in 2015.

As President, Michael supports strategy realization, leadership development, and external engagement with key partners and stakeholders like media, churches, donors, other humanitarian organizations and government. Beyond his role in Canada, Michael plays a significant role in supporting international strategic initiatives with the World Vision Partnership.

Michael holds an undergraduate degree in economics from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, a J.D. in law from the University of Toronto, and an MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University. He has been involved with numerous non-profit and church boards.
 

Mihaela Nabăr – Executive Director, World Vision Romania
With almost 15 years of experience in World Vision, Mihaela has held several positions within the organization. Prior to taking up her current position, she was Director Grants & Acquisitions Management Department. World Vision Romania coordinates extensive programs in the area of education, through which the organization strives to ensure access to quality education for all children, no matter where they live, in urban or rural areas, and to prevent school dropout.

Mihaela Nabăr has extensive experience both in academia - she was a collaborating professor at the Faculty of European Studies at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca and a researcher at the same University, as well as in the institutional environment: she is an expert in accessing European funds, member of the Committee for the Coordination and Management of the EU Partnership Agreement and member of the Monitoring Committee of the Human Capital Operational Program within the Ministry for European Funds, member of the Advisory Board of the Romanian Coalition for Structural Funds, member of the EU Working Group negotiating the financial framework for Romania's Development Strategy and founding member of the Center for Political Studies and International Relations, Cluj Napoca.

Mihaela Nabăr holds a PhD in History of Economics and International Economic Relations from Babes-Bolyai University, a Master's degree from Marne-la-Valle University, Paris (specialization in political science) and Babes-Bolyai University (specialization in European comparative studies).
 

Mike Weickert – Director for Preparedness and Field Readiness, World Vision International
In this role, he leads large-scale disaster responses and works to strengthen the quality of humanitarian preparedness in WV. With more than 20 years working in disaster management, he has been involved in disaster responses in all regions of the world. Mike is also a part-time faculty at Humber College in Toronto, where he teaches a graduate course in humanitarian assistance in the International Development program.