OUR TEAM
The SwissABILITY operational team has many years of experience in the field of development cooperation and, more specifically, in physical rehabilitation in developing countries.
SwissABILITY can count on a highly qualified Board of Directors and Advisory Board whose experience and commitment make valuable contributions to the association.
The members of these two boards offer their services and time free of charge, as do the over 70 volunteers SwissABILITY can rely on.
THE OPERATIONAL TEAM
Roberto Agosta
Executive Director
In the more than 3 decades Roberto Agosta has been involved in International Cooperation and Development, his work has taken to him to more than 20 African nations, 12 of which he lived on the continent.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Studies from the University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii and a Masters in Humanitarian Management from the Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) and a certificate in Advanced Studies from SUPSI in Cooperation and Development.
In 2012, he created the social enterprise SwissLeg to promote an innovative prosthetic solution introduced in the Middle East and Africa, which in 2016 became the non-profit association, SwissLimbs, of which Roberto was it’s Executive Director. In 2022, he founded the SwissABILITY Association with the aim of expanding its work in rehabilitation, cooperation and development
Roberto is also a board member of “Soccorso d’Inverno Ticino”, that offers practical help to the poor in Switzerland who are usually unrecognized.
Nicole Rossi
Regional director
Nicole holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Geneva. In addition, she obtained a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Cooperation and Development and a CAS in Project Management from SUPSI (University of Applied Sciences of Italian Switzerland).
After working in politics and journalism, she began working in the field of Cooperation and Development for Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Association as Communications and Events Officer, and for SwissLimbs Association as Operations Officer, focusing on fundraising, communications and events.
In 2022 Nicole became the Regional Director of SwissABILITY. Her responsibilities include the creation and planning of new projects as well as the implementation and management of these and other projects in the field. She is also responsible for fundraising, events and media relations and communications.
Alessandra Aries
Program Manager
Alessandra holds a Bachelor’s in Linguistic Sciences for International Relations from UCSC in Milan and a Master’s in International Organization from Leiden University, in the Netherlands She also holds a postgraduate Diploma in Design for International Cooperation, a CAS in Cooperation and Development at SUPSI and has completed several courses in the humanitarian and gender equality fields.
In 2019, she participated as a volunteer on a humanitarian mission to Zanzibar, Tanzania. In 2020 Alessandra wrote her thesis to obtain her degree from the Centro di Accoglienza Straordinaria di migranti in Varese,Italy.
In 2021, Alessandra began working in the field of International Cooperation first as an intern and then as a Project Manager at the SwissLimbs Association. In October 2022, she started a new path as Program Manager at SwissABILITY.
Marnie-Jane Agosta
Office Manager
Over the past two decades, Marnie-Jane has worked and traveled extensively across Southern Africa, including five years spent living in Mozambique. Her work included assisting teams establish and maintain community development projects with an international missionary organization.
She has developed an on-line program that trains over 70 Mozambicans in fund-raising strategies, enabling them to economically launch and sustain their social empowerment initiatives. The project includes the creation and management of a series of on-line videos and various interactive social media platforms that facilitate individual understanding. Each year she travels back to Mozambique to present the material in person to a group of workers active in serving their local communities.
Marnie-Jane was born in England and raised in South Africa. She is married to a Swiss national and has lived in Ticino since 2010.
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tomislav Matiević
President
Tomislav Matiević is a manager and consultant with over 35 years of experience gained during his work in universities and companies in Switzerland, Germany and Italy. For 20 years he headed the technical and production departments of Swiss companies specializing in the development and production of machinery and production plants. Over the past 15 years, he adapted his focus to technical documentation, communication and CE certification. As CEO, department head and consultant, his experience is sought after by small and large companies alike.
Tomislav holds a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and a postgraduate degree in Business Administration from the ETH Zurich. He is also a CE certified specialist.
For more than a decade, Tomislav has actively contributed to humanitarian projects, consistently leveraging his resources and technical expertise to make a meaningful impact.
Dr. Julian Lair
Vice-president
Dr. Lair is an orthopedic surgeon. Originally from Austria, he now lives in Italy. He began his career as an orthopedic technician, before pursuing medical studies in Innsbruck, becoming a specialist surgeon in the sector. He currently collaborates with private and public facilities in South Tyrol, with a particular focus on pediatric orthopedic surgery and hip and knee prostheses.
Julian has been actively involved in Africa for several years, collaborating as a volunteer with various orthopedic centers and offering his skills as a technical consultant and trainer of professionals on site.
Paola Eicher-Pallegrini
Member
Paola Eicher-Pellegrini is a Swiss professional with a strong commitment to the humanitarian and non-profit sectors, as well as significant experience in the hospitality industry. She is currently director of Soccorso d’Inverno Ticino, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support to people in need in Ticino.
Her dedication to improving the lives of others also extends to her role in Metro Ministries Romania, where she serves as a committee member and coordinates activities aimed at helping Romani communities, particularly children and youth in the urban suburbs of Transylvania. In addition to her work in the humanitarian sector, Paola is also involved as director of VCH Hotels Schweiz. She is recognized for her ability to combine business management with a deep sense of social responsibility, pursuing initiatives that have a tangible impact.
Riccardo Ronchi
Member
Riccardo Ronchi is a supply chain and purchasing professional with more than 20 years of experience in large, publicly traded multinational companies operating in highly regulated industries. For the past 15 years, he has worked as purchasing director at ConvaTec, a UK-based medical device manufacturer where he oversees external manufacturing operations and manages the introduction of new products. Riccardo is a creative problem solver with strong analytical skills, excellent influencing skills, and an energetic entrepreneurial spirit.
Riccardo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Colorado (USA) and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Instituto de Empresa (ES). His desire to excel does not limit him to the world of industry, but he has a strong wish to make his skills available to the non-profit world by volunteering at SwissABILITY.
THE ADVISORY BOARD
Augusto Zambaldo
Physiotherapist
Augusto Zambaldo is a physiotherapist with more than thirty years of experience in International Cooperation & Development. His academic background includes studies in law, physiotherapy and a course in Program Planning and Management.
He started his professional experience as a physiotherapist with people who have severe disabilities in Ghana and then moved to Kenya and Malawi. Since 1995, he has held various leadership and management roles in healthcare facilities in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo. For the past 10 years he has been based in Tanzania, where he serves as the Project Coordinator at the Iringa Regional Referral Hospital.
Izzy Cumming-Bruce
Director of Development
Izzy brings a decade of expertise in fundraising, program design, and delivery, both in the UK and internationally, with a focus on supporting individuals with disabilities, as well as women and girls. She has extensive experience of working in Central America, East Africa and India. She is the Director of Development of the UK based charity WONDER Foundation, which focuses on education for women and girls. In addition, she a member of the steering committee of Hope Health Action, an international NGO dedicated to health and disability care.