Meet the team
Get to know the passionate changemakers driving Impact Hub Yerevan’s mission and creating a community of innovation and impact.
Team
Monica Shakhbandarian
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Monica Shakhbandarian
Financial Coordinator
Monica Shakhbandarian is an experienced professional with over six years of expertise in project management, real estate consulting, and business analytics. She previously served as a Project Manager in the Real Estate Management Department at Gazprombank, where she led large-scale office transformation initiatives. Monica has also held key roles at CBRE and Yandex Go, where she honed her skills in market analysis, B2B sales, and strategic consulting.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Higher School of Economics (HSE University) in Moscow and is fluent in Russian, English, and Armenian.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Higher School of Economics (HSE University) in Moscow and is fluent in Russian, English, and Armenian.
Mariam Movsisyan
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Mariam Movsisyan
Events Coordinator
Mariam started her career in finance, but soon realized her true passion lay elsewhere. Drawn to people, conversations, and creative collaboration, she found her way into event planning and marketing — and hasn’t looked back since.
She enjoys bringing people together, fostering meaningful connections, and adding a creative spark to everything she does. Her background in numbers gave her a unique perspective, but it was creativity and human connection that truly inspired her.
At Impact Hub, Mariam now does what she loves every day — organizing purposeful events, meeting inspiring individuals, and being part of a team that values community and impact. She finds joy in knowing her work helps others connect, learn, and grow.
She enjoys bringing people together, fostering meaningful connections, and adding a creative spark to everything she does. Her background in numbers gave her a unique perspective, but it was creativity and human connection that truly inspired her.
At Impact Hub, Mariam now does what she loves every day — organizing purposeful events, meeting inspiring individuals, and being part of a team that values community and impact. She finds joy in knowing her work helps others connect, learn, and grow.
Luiza Khachatryan
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Luiza Khachatryan
Financial Manager
Luiza Khachatryan is a skilled accountant and financial manager with over 10 years of experience in budgeting, financial planning, taxation, and grant management, particularly in support of SMEs. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Economy and Management of Enterprises from the Armenian State University of Economics.
Luiza has worked with the Investment Support Center (formerly SME Development National Center of Armenia), where she oversaw finances for international programs funded by USAID, GIZ, the European Commission, the UN, and others. She also played a key role in managing financial components of government COVID-19 support measures.
Currently, Luiza works as a Financial Manager at Impact Hub Armenia, where she continues to manage financial aspects, focusing on supporting social impact projects and enterprises that foster positive development in Armenia.
Shoushan Keshishian
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Shoushan Keshishian
Founding CEO of Hub Artsakh
Shoushan Keshishian, the Founding CEO of Hub Artsakh, brings a wealth of international experience and a profound commitment to post-war recovery. Originally hailing from Beirut, Lebanon, Shoushan lived and studied in the U.S., France, and the U.K before repatriating to Armenia in 2020. Her dedication to contributing to the rebuilding and development of Artsakh after the 2020 war prompted her to relocate to Stepanakert where Hub Artsakh was born.
As the organization’s CEO, she played a pivotal role in developing and implementing comprehensive programs tailored to the grassroots needs of the Artsakh community. Now based in Yerevan, Shoushan continues to run Hub Artsakh driven by a vision of fostering positive change and making a lasting impact on the lives of those affected by conflict. Shoushan is also a Programs Manager at Impact Hub Yerevan.
As the organization’s CEO, she played a pivotal role in developing and implementing comprehensive programs tailored to the grassroots needs of the Artsakh community. Now based in Yerevan, Shoushan continues to run Hub Artsakh driven by a vision of fostering positive change and making a lasting impact on the lives of those affected by conflict. Shoushan is also a Programs Manager at Impact Hub Yerevan.
Olga Maksimova
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Olga Maksimova
Financial and Impact Manager
Olga is the Financial and Impact Manager of Impact Hub Yerevan. She is an impact investment enthusiast with experience in piloting and developing social impact bonds in the sphere of young people's employability in Russia. Olga also has a solid experience in impact measurement and management thanks to her research and consulting background in charity, social entrepreneurship, and urban development.
Now she is managing program finances in Impact Hub Yerevan and Syunik and working under the establishment of operations of the first impact investment fund for social enterprises in Armenia, VIA Fund. Olga holds a Master's degree in Public Administration and she aspired to make a change at the governmental level and optimize public policy but she works for non-profits instead, in order to achieve a better impact. She is currently also working on her own well-tech venture which aims to make mental health and well-being more accessible and understandable.
Now she is managing program finances in Impact Hub Yerevan and Syunik and working under the establishment of operations of the first impact investment fund for social enterprises in Armenia, VIA Fund. Olga holds a Master's degree in Public Administration and she aspired to make a change at the governmental level and optimize public policy but she works for non-profits instead, in order to achieve a better impact. She is currently also working on her own well-tech venture which aims to make mental health and well-being more accessible and understandable.
Nairi Melkom Melkomian
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Nairi Melkom Melkomian
SIA Armenia Country Coordinator & Fellowship Manager
Nairi Melkom Melkomian is a project manager and community builder with a passion for turning ideas into action. She currently contributes to the development and implementation of impactful initiatives at Impact Hub Yerevan, where she serves as the Fellowship Manager and Country Coordinator of Social Impact Award Armenia, bringing together diverse voices to inspire positive change.
With over 15 years of experience in project management, Nairi has led and managed a wide range of local and international projects, focusing on youth engagement, community development, and driving meaningful social change.
With over 15 years of experience in project management, Nairi has led and managed a wide range of local and international projects, focusing on youth engagement, community development, and driving meaningful social change.
Diana Chobanyan
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Diana Chobanyan
Collaborate for Impact Program Manager
Diana Chobanyan is an established project management professional with a decade of experience in the social impact, innovation, and entrepreneurship spaces. She has served as the Executive Director of Armenian Progressive Youth (APY), the largest youth-led organization in Armenia, which inspires young people to deepen leadership skills, increase civic engagement, and act as change-makers. She has designed and implemented programs that provide entrepreneurship training and seed funding to build small businesses, tailored especially for displaced populations. Prior to APY, she co-founded EcoHub, where she worked to improve the socioeconomic integration of rural, marginalized youth and increase their engagement in the democratic process.
Diana is also an experienced international facilitator. She currently partners with both Ashoka and MitOst and has worked with the Peace Corps to empower young people across the world to bring change to their communities. A strong proponent of applying a systemic lens to achieve more just outcomes for society, Diana is committed to improving equity, democracy, and participation in Armenia.
At Impact Hub, Diana manages the EU-funded “Collaborate for Impact”. She enjoys traveling, listening to TED talks, and paying for unused gym memberships.
Diana is also an experienced international facilitator. She currently partners with both Ashoka and MitOst and has worked with the Peace Corps to empower young people across the world to bring change to their communities. A strong proponent of applying a systemic lens to achieve more just outcomes for society, Diana is committed to improving equity, democracy, and participation in Armenia.
At Impact Hub, Diana manages the EU-funded “Collaborate for Impact”. She enjoys traveling, listening to TED talks, and paying for unused gym memberships.
Aida Israelyan
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Aida Israelyan
Operations and Events Manager
Aida Israyelyan is the Operations and Events Manager at Impact Hub Yerevan, where she helps shape a vibrant and collaborative community. Passionate about cultivating meaningful connections, she is committed to fostering a high-quality environment where people feel inspired to engage and grow together.
With a background in psychology, Aida brings a deep understanding of people and relationships to her work—skills that are essential in community building and event management. Her foundation in graphic design adds a creative edge to her organizational expertise, allowing her to craft thoughtful and impactful experiences across a wide range of events.
Outside of work, Aida enjoys editing photos and takes pride in curating unique and expressive looks for each day. Music is a constant companion and source of inspiration in her daily life.
With a background in psychology, Aida brings a deep understanding of people and relationships to her work—skills that are essential in community building and event management. Her foundation in graphic design adds a creative edge to her organizational expertise, allowing her to craft thoughtful and impactful experiences across a wide range of events.
Outside of work, Aida enjoys editing photos and takes pride in curating unique and expressive looks for each day. Music is a constant companion and source of inspiration in her daily life.
Anasheh Haghverdian
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Anasheh Haghverdian
Program Manager
Anasheh Haghverdian is a Program Manager in large-scale socio-economic development and international donor-funded initiatives. She currently manages the Three4ResilientArmenia project at Impact Hub Yerevan, a multi-year, EU-funded program focused on the economic empowerment and integration of refugees and host communities. Working within a multi-stakeholder consortium alongside Armenian Caritas and the IRIS Business Incubator, Anasheh coordinates comprehensive program delivery, including capacity building training, pre-acceleration & acceleration programs, creative sector integration, the disbursement of substantial entrepreneurial sub-grants, and much more.
Also, as a specialist in grant compliance and M&E, Anasheh oversees the project's Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP). She successfully implemented a rigorous monitoring framework to verify asset procurement, validate reported outputs, and apply adaptive management strategies to help beneficiaries navigate operational challenges. This builds on her previous success as Fellowships Manager at Impact Hub Yerevan, where she designed incubation programs and guided entrepreneurs through mentorship and targeted workshops, facilitated entrepreneurial growth programs, and network building.
Her earlier roles include managing critical project aspects, including cost, design, and lifecycle execution, as a Project Manager in the construction sector for ARTSHEN and the Tumo Creative Center.
Anasheh reinforced her strategic management expertise with a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the American University of Armenia. Passionate about creating unique cultures that foster resilience and business growth.
Also, as a specialist in grant compliance and M&E, Anasheh oversees the project's Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP). She successfully implemented a rigorous monitoring framework to verify asset procurement, validate reported outputs, and apply adaptive management strategies to help beneficiaries navigate operational challenges. This builds on her previous success as Fellowships Manager at Impact Hub Yerevan, where she designed incubation programs and guided entrepreneurs through mentorship and targeted workshops, facilitated entrepreneurial growth programs, and network building.
Her earlier roles include managing critical project aspects, including cost, design, and lifecycle execution, as a Project Manager in the construction sector for ARTSHEN and the Tumo Creative Center.
Anasheh reinforced her strategic management expertise with a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the American University of Armenia. Passionate about creating unique cultures that foster resilience and business growth.
Angela Hassassian
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Angela Hassassian
Communications Manager
A Cambridge, Massachusetts native, Angela moved to Armenia in 2005, earning her MA in Political Science and International Relations from the American University of Armenia. Angela Hassassian is a Strategic Communications professional with over 12 years of experience and a multidisciplinary background, ranging from educational centers like TUMO to tech startups like Lionsharp, which allows her to craft nuanced, high-impact stories for a global audience.
Specialist in 'Strategic Visibility,' Angela ensures that complex, multi-donor programs meet the highest international standards of reporting and engagement. Her expertise spans digital architecture, performance marketing, and creative production. Angela is also an English-language reporter and a professional voice-over artist. She believes in the power of mission-driven storytelling to move the needle on social issues and is a dedicated advocate for the Armenian innovation ecosystem.
At Impact Hub Yerevan Angela has spearheaded communications and donor compliance for 11+ simultaneous incubation and acceleration programs, managing high-stakes requirements for partners including the European Union, ACBA Federation, and Ucom.
While she is often found managing high-level stakeholder relations or website transformations, she remains a photographer at heart, visually documenting the human impact of Impact Hub’s work. An animal lover and writer, Angela’s career is fueled by a pride in selectively partnering with organizations that contribute to the betterment of Armenia.
Specialist in 'Strategic Visibility,' Angela ensures that complex, multi-donor programs meet the highest international standards of reporting and engagement. Her expertise spans digital architecture, performance marketing, and creative production. Angela is also an English-language reporter and a professional voice-over artist. She believes in the power of mission-driven storytelling to move the needle on social issues and is a dedicated advocate for the Armenian innovation ecosystem.
At Impact Hub Yerevan Angela has spearheaded communications and donor compliance for 11+ simultaneous incubation and acceleration programs, managing high-stakes requirements for partners including the European Union, ACBA Federation, and Ucom.
While she is often found managing high-level stakeholder relations or website transformations, she remains a photographer at heart, visually documenting the human impact of Impact Hub’s work. An animal lover and writer, Angela’s career is fueled by a pride in selectively partnering with organizations that contribute to the betterment of Armenia.
Tijay Jeghelian
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Tijay Jeghelian
Programs Director
Tijay is a dynamic leader with over 15 years of experience in program and portfolio management, stakeholder engagement, and business strategy. As Director of Programs, she oversees the development and execution of entrepreneurial programs across various growth stages—Ideation, Incubation, Acceleration, and Scaling. She leads a team of program managers across multiple Impact Hubs in Armenia, ensuring alignment, efficiency, and impact across all initiatives.
With a background in Sales & Marketing and Brand Awareness, particularly in the hospitality industry, Tijay has a proven track record of driving business growth, increasing visibility, and fostering partnerships. She holds a BS in Business Management with a focus on Hospitality and an MBA from AUA.
Beyond Impact Hub, she serves as the President of the Tourism Support Center Foundation, leading the Tourism Innovation Academy program. Passionate about innovation and problem-solving, Tijay is committed to empowering businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources and strategies they need to succeed.
With a background in Sales & Marketing and Brand Awareness, particularly in the hospitality industry, Tijay has a proven track record of driving business growth, increasing visibility, and fostering partnerships. She holds a BS in Business Management with a focus on Hospitality and an MBA from AUA.
Beyond Impact Hub, she serves as the President of the Tourism Support Center Foundation, leading the Tourism Innovation Academy program. Passionate about innovation and problem-solving, Tijay is committed to empowering businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources and strategies they need to succeed.
Tatev Mantoian
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Tatev Mantoian
Operations Director
Tatev manages all operations and space at Impact Hub, including membership onboarding, databases, and space. She's also managing the bright community of Impact Hub Yerevan.
Prior to joining the Hub, Tatev has worked in the field of education for several years, driven by the importance of empowering the young generation with knowledge and skills. She has been a part of the team at Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, founding and managing the Dilijan branch, later joining the Koghb Foundation to serve the development of the bordering village.
During her free time, she enjoys cooking, experimenting with coffee, and binge-watching Friends for the 43rd time.
Prior to joining the Hub, Tatev has worked in the field of education for several years, driven by the importance of empowering the young generation with knowledge and skills. She has been a part of the team at Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, founding and managing the Dilijan branch, later joining the Koghb Foundation to serve the development of the bordering village.
During her free time, she enjoys cooking, experimenting with coffee, and binge-watching Friends for the 43rd time.
Arpa Hacopian
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Arpa Hacopian
Program Coordinator
Arpa is a cultural and creative program manager with a strong background in design, arts management, and cultural leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Interior Design from the University of Tehran and an MBA in Design from the Yerevan State Fine Art Academy, and is an alumna of the U.S. State Department's IVLP program. She also completed a Digital Marketing extension program at the American University of Armenia (AUA).
Her professional experience spans over two decades across leading cultural institutions, including ACCEA, the History Museum of Armenia.
She started working with Impact Hub Yerevan in 2019.
Within the Armenian regional hubs-Impact Hub Syunik and Impact Hub Gyumri-Arpa worked as an Operations Manager. She is currently working at Impact Hub Yerevan as a Project Manager.
Board Members
Ani Baboomian
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Ani Baboomian
Board Member
Ani is the Board Member of Impact Hub Yerevan, and Program Manager at Impact Hub Global. While in her twenties, she was coordinating construction crews in post-soviet Armenia, a strictly men-only industry, a challenge in adaptability and leadership that really shaped her. The collective effort contributed to building the "Tumo Centre for Creative Technologies" in Yerevan, a non-profit landmark project providing free education, and fostering skills and creativity at the intersection of art and technology.
Ani holds a Master's degree in "Project and Enterprise Management" from "University College London" (UCL), which opened up doors for her to move beyond the world of construction into the new territory of social innovation.
She started working with Impact Hub Yerevan in 2015 when the first activities started. What makes her excited is to see social innovators coming to Hub with ideas and graduating as they become operational and grow. Her passion, skills, and experience come together when designing, developing, and implementing meaningful projects. Being part of the Impact Hub network, gave her the opportunity to focus on the long-term impact of such projects.
Ani holds a Master's degree in "Project and Enterprise Management" from "University College London" (UCL), which opened up doors for her to move beyond the world of construction into the new territory of social innovation.
She started working with Impact Hub Yerevan in 2015 when the first activities started. What makes her excited is to see social innovators coming to Hub with ideas and graduating as they become operational and grow. Her passion, skills, and experience come together when designing, developing, and implementing meaningful projects. Being part of the Impact Hub network, gave her the opportunity to focus on the long-term impact of such projects.
Nazareth Seferian
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Nazareth Seferian
Board Member
Nazareth Seferian has been working in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) since 2008. He managed sustainability projects at Orange Armenia for four years before shifting to a career as an independent consultant, working in several countries. In addition to consulting for corporations, he has also been working with tech and non-tech startups to help them develop their vision and strategy, as well as increasing their social impact.
Since 2015, he has worked with more than 100 non-profit organisations seeking to transform into social enterprises, as well as the donor organisations that have supported the growing field of social entrepreneurship in the region. He has taught in both formal and non-formal settings, running sessions on a range of business topics such as entrepreneurial thinking, organizational behavior, and impact measurement.
Nazareth holds an Executive MBA from the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin and a post-graduate certificate in sustainable business from the University of Cambridge. Nazareth is married with three children and, besides his main work in sustainability, has also translated several pieces of literature from Armenian to English.
Since 2015, he has worked with more than 100 non-profit organisations seeking to transform into social enterprises, as well as the donor organisations that have supported the growing field of social entrepreneurship in the region. He has taught in both formal and non-formal settings, running sessions on a range of business topics such as entrepreneurial thinking, organizational behavior, and impact measurement.
Nazareth holds an Executive MBA from the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin and a post-graduate certificate in sustainable business from the University of Cambridge. Nazareth is married with three children and, besides his main work in sustainability, has also translated several pieces of literature from Armenian to English.
Audrey Selian
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Audrey Selian
Co-Founder & Board Member
Audrey Selian serves as Director of the Artha Initiative associated with Rianta Capital Zurich, a philanthropic program tied to an investment advisory to a single family office and has been active in the impact investing sector since 2006. She is also an advisor to Halloran Philanthropies, and sits on the advisory committees of the Global Impact Hub, as well as on the investment committee and boards of several impact funds and non-profit organizations.
Artha is focused on social investment in rural enterprise in India, with a concentration on the agriculture, livelihoods and small-scale renewable energy sectors. Audrey founded the Artha Platform, an online impact investment community designed to tackle the economics of due diligence around high impact, small scale SME opportunities in India. This platform has recently been spun into a separate entity called Artha Networks Inc (ANI), designed to license the core technology to support similar networks beyond India. She has a particular interest in small sustainable businesses in emerging markets, and has focused on building a portfolio and helping find ways to galvanize like-minded ‘impact’ investors working in “BoP” markets.
Audrey has work experience with the ITU at the United Nations, sub-contracting to USAID, and prior to that in management consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers; her entrepreneurial experience includes several years spent in business development, marketing and sales at an NSF-funded software technology start-up. She holds a PhD in Technology Policy & Development Studies from The Fletcher School, as well as degrees and fellowships from The London School of Economics, Wellesley College, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Artha is focused on social investment in rural enterprise in India, with a concentration on the agriculture, livelihoods and small-scale renewable energy sectors. Audrey founded the Artha Platform, an online impact investment community designed to tackle the economics of due diligence around high impact, small scale SME opportunities in India. This platform has recently been spun into a separate entity called Artha Networks Inc (ANI), designed to license the core technology to support similar networks beyond India. She has a particular interest in small sustainable businesses in emerging markets, and has focused on building a portfolio and helping find ways to galvanize like-minded ‘impact’ investors working in “BoP” markets.
Audrey has work experience with the ITU at the United Nations, sub-contracting to USAID, and prior to that in management consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers; her entrepreneurial experience includes several years spent in business development, marketing and sales at an NSF-funded software technology start-up. She holds a PhD in Technology Policy & Development Studies from The Fletcher School, as well as degrees and fellowships from The London School of Economics, Wellesley College, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Vahe Keushguerian
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Vahe Keushguerian
Co-Founder
Vahe Keushguerian is the Co-Founder of Impact Hub Yerevan.
Born in Homs, Syria, Vahe grew up in Beirut. After living in the Bay Area and Tuscany, he moved to Armenia in 2009, recognizing the opportunity for growth. Vahe has been largely involved in revolutionizing the wine industry within the country in both quality and culture. He is the Founder & CEO of WineWorks, a custom-crush incubator that produces wine for 14 leading Armenian wine brands. In 2015, he Co-Founded EVN Wine Academy, to actualize education in the wine sector. And he is the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of EVN Report.
Born in Homs, Syria, Vahe grew up in Beirut. After living in the Bay Area and Tuscany, he moved to Armenia in 2009, recognizing the opportunity for growth. Vahe has been largely involved in revolutionizing the wine industry within the country in both quality and culture. He is the Founder & CEO of WineWorks, a custom-crush incubator that produces wine for 14 leading Armenian wine brands. In 2015, he Co-Founded EVN Wine Academy, to actualize education in the wine sector. And he is the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of EVN Report.
Raffi Kassarjian
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Raffi Kassarjian
Co-founder & Board Member
Raffi Kassarjian is Advisor to the CEO of Monitis. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, IoT at TeamViewer GmbH, and CEO of Monitis. Before joining TeamViewer, Raffi served as the Head of Product Management, Marketing and Retail Banking Services for Converse Bank. Raffi also served as CEO of iCON Communications, Armenia’s first broadband wireless service provider, acquired by UCom in 2011. Prior to moving to Armenia, Raffi served as Vice President and General Manager at Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO), where he launched the company's first internet service. Raffi was also a Senior Manager in the Strategic Services Group at Accenture. Raffi is Chairman of the Board of Repat Armenia Foundation, and holds Board positions at Impact Hub Yerevan and EVN Report. Raffi has a BA in International Relations and MBA from Stanford University.
Raffi moved to Armenia in 2008 and held the positions of Chief Commercial Officer and then Chief Executive Officer of iCON Communications, one of the pioneer wireless internet service providers in the country. Before moving to Armenia, Raffi was Vice President and General Manager at Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FIC), one of the leading solution providers in predictive analytics for financial services, telecommunications and retail. Prior to Fair Isaac, he was a Senior Manager at Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting). Raffi is also Chairman of Repat Armenia Foundation, and an adjunct Lecturer at the American University of Armenia.
Raffi moved to Armenia in 2008 and held the positions of Chief Commercial Officer and then Chief Executive Officer of iCON Communications, one of the pioneer wireless internet service providers in the country. Before moving to Armenia, Raffi was Vice President and General Manager at Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FIC), one of the leading solution providers in predictive analytics for financial services, telecommunications and retail. Prior to Fair Isaac, he was a Senior Manager at Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting). Raffi is also Chairman of Repat Armenia Foundation, and an adjunct Lecturer at the American University of Armenia.
Sara Anjargolian
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Sara Anjargolian
Co-Founder & Board Member
Sara Anjargolian was born in London, grew up in California, and has lived and worked in Armenia for over 12 years. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Policy and received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Berkeley Law School.
During her legal career in the U.S. she served as trial lawyer with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. and Deputy City Attorney/Policy Advisor to the Los Angeles City Attorney. Anjargolian co-founded Impact Hub Yerevan in 2014 and served as its CEO for over 5 years until joining the Republic of Armenia's post-Velvet revolution government in 2019.
She also served on the Impact Hub Global Board of Directors for several years. Anjargolian’s tenure in Armenia has included a Fulbright scholarship, lecturing at the American University of Armenia, and working as a multimedia journalist focused on social impact projects. Anjargolian is the former Head of Office/Chief of Staff at the Republic of Armenia’s Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs within the Prime Minister's Office, a position she held for over 2 years. During her service, most notably, she designed, implemented, and institutionalized the iGorts fellowship - a program that invites 50 Diaspora professionals annually to serve for one year within the Republic of Armenia government.
Anjargolian currently works as a senior advisor on public sector initiatives in Armenia as well as a consultant with both international organizations working in Armenia as well as local nonprofit initiatives.
During her legal career in the U.S. she served as trial lawyer with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. and Deputy City Attorney/Policy Advisor to the Los Angeles City Attorney. Anjargolian co-founded Impact Hub Yerevan in 2014 and served as its CEO for over 5 years until joining the Republic of Armenia's post-Velvet revolution government in 2019.
She also served on the Impact Hub Global Board of Directors for several years. Anjargolian’s tenure in Armenia has included a Fulbright scholarship, lecturing at the American University of Armenia, and working as a multimedia journalist focused on social impact projects. Anjargolian is the former Head of Office/Chief of Staff at the Republic of Armenia’s Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs within the Prime Minister's Office, a position she held for over 2 years. During her service, most notably, she designed, implemented, and institutionalized the iGorts fellowship - a program that invites 50 Diaspora professionals annually to serve for one year within the Republic of Armenia government.
Anjargolian currently works as a senior advisor on public sector initiatives in Armenia as well as a consultant with both international organizations working in Armenia as well as local nonprofit initiatives.
Narineh Mirzaeian
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Narineh Mirzaeian
Co-founder & Board Member
Narineh Mirzaeian is a Los Angeles based designer whose work focuses on the development of ideas integrating design and advanced fabrication techniques. Through a multidisciplinary practice she engages in design work at multiple scales, across a range of disciplines to study and cultivate works of spatial and material interest.
Prior to establishing her own practice she was an Architectural Associate at Gehry Partners for nine years where she played a key role on numerous projects completed and under construction internationally. During her time at Gehry Partners, Narineh was project leader for an array of projects guidingdesign efforts from concept to construction. Previous to her tenure at Gehry Partners, she was designer and project manager at Graft, an architectural collaborative based in Los Angeles, Berlin and Shanghai.
Narineh holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Southern California and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of California, Los Angeles where her thesis project was published as part of LA Now Volume 3, garnering numerous awards, including the prestigious P/A Award Grand Prize. She has previously taught design courses at the Southern California Institute of Architecture and Woodbury University and is currently design facultyin the Department of Architecture and Urban Design at UCLA. Her work has been published and exhibited widely. Narineh’s interests led her to partake in a Land and Culture campaign in Armenia from 1996 – 1998 where she lived in various villages and contributed to the reconstruction efforts of a school and 13th century monastic complex. This engagement with the land and culture of her ancestral home planted the seed and she continues to travel to Armenia on a regular basis to lecture, teach and to dream up new projects with like minded individuals.
Prior to establishing her own practice she was an Architectural Associate at Gehry Partners for nine years where she played a key role on numerous projects completed and under construction internationally. During her time at Gehry Partners, Narineh was project leader for an array of projects guidingdesign efforts from concept to construction. Previous to her tenure at Gehry Partners, she was designer and project manager at Graft, an architectural collaborative based in Los Angeles, Berlin and Shanghai.
Narineh holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Southern California and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of California, Los Angeles where her thesis project was published as part of LA Now Volume 3, garnering numerous awards, including the prestigious P/A Award Grand Prize. She has previously taught design courses at the Southern California Institute of Architecture and Woodbury University and is currently design facultyin the Department of Architecture and Urban Design at UCLA. Her work has been published and exhibited widely. Narineh’s interests led her to partake in a Land and Culture campaign in Armenia from 1996 – 1998 where she lived in various villages and contributed to the reconstruction efforts of a school and 13th century monastic complex. This engagement with the land and culture of her ancestral home planted the seed and she continues to travel to Armenia on a regular basis to lecture, teach and to dream up new projects with like minded individuals.