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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 counts on a highly qualified Board of Directors and Advisory Board whose experience and commitment make valuable contributions to the association.
The members of the two boards offer their services and time free of charge, as do the over 70 volunteers SwissABILITY relies on.
OPERATIONAL | DIRECTION | ADVISORY

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.

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.

Chiara Beneventi

Marketing e Fundraising

Chiara Beneventi is a professional with an international and multicultural background. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Communication, complemented by a one-year exchange program in Spain, and has lived and worked in England, Austria, Tanzania, Italy, and now Switzerland. This global experience has enabled her to develop an open-minded perspective and a strong sensitivity to different cultural and social contexts.

With many years of experience in fundraising, Chiara has worked with international NGOs and leading foundations, coordinating high-impact fundraising campaigns targeting private donors, managing complex databases, and developing strategic partnerships with companies, institutions, and foundations. Her ability to turn ambitious ideas and goals into concrete, measurable projects is one of her key strengths.

Driven by a passion for initiatives with strong social and sustainable impact, Chiara applies her expertise to inclusive and innovative projects. She enjoys working in teams and sees every challenge as an opportunity to grow, foster positive change, and make a tangible impact within the community.

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. In the 17 years leading up to his retirement, he focused on technical documentation, communication, and CE certification. As a managing director, department head and consultant, his expertise was 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. Today, he devotes most of his free time to volunteering.

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-Pellegrini

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.