Chair
Denise Scotto, Esq., International Federation of Women in Legal Careers (FIFCJ)
Denise Scotto is an attorney at law, international policy advisor, public speaker, interfaith minister & leader of a variety of committees both in professional bar associations, NGOs and organizations affiliated with the greater UN community, including the Values Caucus at the UN, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, the International Day of Peace Committee at the UN. She is the Founding Chair of many international committees including the International Day of Yoga Committee at the UN where she combines her international advocacy with her decades-long practice of meditation and personal connection to diverse yoga masters & spiritual leaders promoting the UN Charter and its various goals, human rights and human dignity, a culture of peace and non violence and various UN Days.
Denise is also Trustee (Member of the Board of Directors) of the All Faiths Seminary International and has been an Officer of the Source of Synergy Foundation for over a decade, a Member of its Evolutionary Leaders Circle where she collaborates with other thought leaders to bring a spiritual perspective to the mission of the UN and its working methods, to uplift the greater UN community and to elevate the legal professional and the administration of justice.
In her role as Chair of the IDY Committee, Denise spearheaded an online yoga journal which emphasized the underlying values of yoga-unity, dignity, respect, acceptance, tolerance, inclusion, solidarity, friendship, harmony, peace and non violence-and how these values underpin the work of the UN, its Mission and Goals and how they create a better world for everyone and this precious planet. She has served as MC for the official UN International Day of Yoga Observance at the UN including where the Hon. Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, attended and where we set the Guinness World Book of Records for the largest and most diverse group of people engaging in a collective yoga session. Denise also served as the International Co-Chair of the C20 India 2023 Working Group on Human Rights as Human Values where she organized a series of high level held virtual meetings to bring a global and values based perspective to the work of the G20.
With her legal skills and management background, Denise served the United Nations as a UN staff person and was actively involved in inter-governmental processes promoting equality, social inclusion and social and sustainable development. She also was involved in UN Security Council Resolutions relating to the situation of civilians in war and armed conflict. She organized high-level panels and special events with heads of state, UN Goodwill Ambassadors, and civil society actors. Within private and public sectors, she has influenced the development of government policies, national and local legislation and education relating to civic participation and engagement. As a staff person, Denise continues to serve on the Executive Committee of the UN Staff Recreation Council Enlightenment Society and the Feng Shui Group.
Vice Chair
Gayatri Nariane, Brahma Kumaris at the United Nations
Gayatri Naraine is an author, speaker, and practicing Raja Yogi. She considers herself a student of lifelong learning. The pure intent in the service that she does is focused on ‘deep work,’ that is cultivating inner spiritual strengths and integrating them into practical lifestyle changes.
Gayatri is the representative of the Brahma Kumaris to the United Nations. In this capacity her main interest is on transformation as a spiritual and universal phenomenon with a focus to the Sustainable Development Agenda. She is advisor in the development of “impACT,” an outreach project for young adults, and also serves as consultant to the Shiv Shakti Approach at the UN Headquarters.
Gayatri serves as the Vice-Chair of the International Day of Yoga Committee at the UN. She studied public administration in the UK and worked at the University of Guyana. She was born in Guyana and has been living in New York City since 1978. Her publications include “Something Beyond Greatness – Conversation between a Man of Science and a Woman of God;” and “The Story of Immortality: A Return to Self-Sovereignty;” “Living Values: A Guidebook;” and “Visions of a Better World.”
Secretary
Denis Licul, Yoga in Daily Life & Sri Swami Madhavananda World Peace Council
Denis Licul (Kripadevi) is a multifaceted professional—an artist-ceramicist, art teacher, yoga aspirant and instructor, and life coach. Her journey into yoga began in her early thirties in her native Croatia, driven by a quest for a deeper meaning and purpose in life. In 1995, she became a disciple of HH Vishwaguru Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, a renowned yoga master, author of Yoga In Daily Life (YIDL), founder of Sri Swami Madhavananda World Peace Council (SSMWPC), and a dedicated advocate for world peace.
In 2006, Denis and her husband Doriano Miletic (Dayapuri), along with a few friends, established a New York branch of Yoga in Daily Life as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. She serves as the General Secretary of SSMWPC and represents both YIDL-US and SSMWPC at the United Nations, where these NGOs hold special consultative status with ECOSOC. She serves as a board member of the International Day of Yoga Committee at the United Nations. In 2021, she co-founded Global Yoga Voices, an online Toastmasters speaking club aimed at helping members craft and share their messages on a global scale.
Denis passionately promotes yoga as a universal, accessible, and transformative practice that restores inner balance and fosters a holistic, sustainable lifestyle in harmony with nature. Her work and life are deeply rooted in the principles of Advaita Vedanta, emphasizing the innate human divinity and interconnectedness of all existence.
Treasurer
Padmini Murthy, MD, American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
Dr. Padmini (Mini) Murthy is a globally recognized health professional in her roles as a physician and public health expert. She is Professor and Global Health Director at New York Medical College School of Health Sciences and Practice; USA and Chair of the International Health Section of American Public Health Association; and Global Health Lead for the American Medical Women’s Association along with serving as their NGO representative to the United Nations in New York.
She has worked with UN Ambassadors and UN Missions to promote women’s health globally with local effort in India, Malawi, Suriname, Grenada, Liberia and Nepal. During the COVID crisis in 2020/2021 Dr Murthy spearheaded efforts joining NGOs together to provide relief to India, Italy, and the Navajo Nation. She has been interviewed by Yahoo, CNN, sky news and other media channels. She has made over 350 presentations nationally and internationally, is widely published, is the author and editor of Women’s Global Health and Human Rights as well as Technology and Global Public Health. Her other books include Mini’s Musings and Glorious Global Ganesh. She is currently working on her 5th book on Women Achievers.
Dr. Murthy has been the recipient of numerous national and international awards, some of them are: First Indian born American in over 75 years to receive the Elizabeth Blackwell for her work in promoting women’s health globally; Recipient Sojourner Truth Pin given to those women who excel in community service; Recipient of Jerusha Jirad Oration recognizing her work.
Communications & Social Media
Jean Trudel, Fondation Dr Julien
Jean Trudel, a Montrealer by adoption since 1981 after returning from a ten year trip to 15 countries, much of his professional career was spent in talent management and as an award winning Producer/Director.
In 2004 while doing research for a documentary film, Jean learned of the existence of the United Nations International Day of Peace. This resulted in the creation of the Montreal NGO Cercle de Paix.
Since then he became deeply involved at the United Nations and global level as he continues to assist in furthering initiatives related to peace education and global citizenship. Until recently, he managed social media communication for #PeaceDay mainly on Facebook, Twitter.
Jean presently serves on various committees within the greater community, such as: the IDP NGO Committee at the U.N. and the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous People.
Member at Large
Shakuntala (Molly) Roopan
Shakuntala (Molly) Roopan is a graduate of Pace University with a degree in Psychology. She worked for a premiere insurance company as an underwriter for several years prior to becoming a stay at home mom when her daughter was born. Her son soon followed and she never looked back as she put full efforts into raising her children.
She is an avid reader and enjoys books relating to eastern philosophy, especially Vedanta. She practices yoga and meditation on a daily basis and tries to incorporate these practices in her daily life, both on the physical level as well as the spiritual aspect. She is currently a Member at Large, Executive Committee of the International Day of Yoga Committee at the UN, and enjoys participating in various activities.
Member at Large
Aishwarya (Aishu) Narasimhadevara
Aishwarya Narasimhadevara, MA, has a Master’s Degree in International Development from the University of Kent-Brussels School of International Studies in Brussels, Belgium. She has always wished to make a difference in society. She has been a long time advocate from when she was young on projects concerning education in the field of International Development. She has been involved with various non-government organizations working in the areas of education, culture and the environment. Traveling is a passion of hers and she enjoys taking photos, and practicing karate.
Member at Large
Rev. Shannon Marie Winters, MS
Shannon Marie Winters, MS, is an ordained interfaith-interspiritual minister, co-founder of the Light on Light Publications, and instrumental in the founding of Light on Light Press. As a scientific communications executive, Shannon also serves as Managing Editor, Light on Light Publications, including The Convergence, Conscious Business, and Light on Light e-magazines. She is author of Joy Alchemy®, co-author of Ervin Laszlo’s Our Sacred Mission: Learning to Dance with Mother Earth, and co-editor of Universal Principles and Action Steps.
Past Treasurer
Robert Perry
Ram Chandra Mission/Heartfulness Institute
Past Member at Large
Johanna Sterbin
International Federation of Women Lawyers
Advisory Board Member
Alfredo Sfeir-Younis
Alfredo Sfeir-Younis (Dzambling Cho Tab Khen) is a citizen of Chile, President and Founder of The Zambuling Institute for Human Transformation, and devotes his entire life to healing the planet for world peace.
An environmental economist, he holds a Masters and a Doctorate Degree from the University of Wisconsin, with a vast trajectory in international economic and environmental affairs, with nearly 30 years’ career at The World Bank-WB (Former Director). In 1996 Sfeir-Younis became the WB Special Representative to The United Nations, New York and Geneva.
His spiritual name given by his Teacher HH. Lama Gangchen Tulku Rimpoche was Dzambling Cho Tab Khen, World Healer.
Former Executive Vice-President and now The Chancellor for The Republic of Chile of the International Association of Educators for World Peace. Also, a Mayan Priest (Maya Kitche, Guatemala) for nearly three decades, by the name of Kamalbe. He is the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation. A former candidate to the Presidency of Chile (2013) under a Green Party Platform, and to the Senate (2017) under the Liberal Party Platform. A well-recognized public speaker and lecturer, with many books and articles published, nationally and internationally. His last books: Conscious Sustainability Leadership (with Dr. Marco Tavanti) and Towards a Planetary Society (with Dr. Uriel Escobar).
Dzambling Cho Tab Khen has received many awards, including: Lifetime Ambassador of Peace (2001), World Healer Award (2002), The Messenger of Peace (2002), Social Corporate Responsibility Award (2003), The 2003 Peace, Merci and Tolerance Award IAEWP (2003), The Person of The Year, World Ass. of Retired Persons, NYC (2004), Cho Tab Khen Zambuling-World Healer (2005), The Diamond Peace Award 2005 (Graz, Austria), The Peace, Mercy and Tolerance Award, World Ass. Educators for Peace, and Doctorate in Science, International Free University for Alternative Medicine.
He is sharing a new paradigm for change and transformation in this new millennium, to benefit all human beings, sentient beings and nature.