Eileen Neave Purkeypile’s work at CERI transforms the global vision of protecting childhood into reality. She brings a balanced approach to the CERI team, pairing her passion for big-picture thinking and storytelling with strategic implementation and systems. As Director of Marketing and Development, Eileen spearheads the organization’s brand strategy and cultivates partnerships to advance CERI’s mission.
Before joining CERI, Eileen served as Director of Global Child Development Operations for Feed the Children, an anti-hunger nonprofit. She began her work at CERI as a part-time consultant working to expand CERI’s reach. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a bachelor’s degree in Theology from Southwestern Adventist University.
Ian Anand Forber-Pratt makes CERI’s mission a reality, putting complex policies into action to protect childhood. Ian’s strengths for connection and collaboration make him essential in the long-term work of advocacy and growth at local, national and global levels. Before joining the CERI team, Ian worked in a number of industries, including social work and foster care, business and marketing consulting, and web production for an international newspaper. He received his Master in Social Work from Washington University. Ian’s background aligned with CERI’s work worldwide, and upon connecting with CERI leadership he was instantly drawn to the company’s mission and dedication to ethical practices.
Irina Rotaru’s passion and dedication for bettering children lives, stems from her volunteer days at CERI. Driven by her commitment to making an impact, Irina leads the CERI team in Moldova, with compassion, advocacy work, and providing a light to children’s lives.
Irina is a dynamic and compassionate individual whose career journey has been driven by an unshakable passion for working with nonprofits dedicated to improving the lives of children. Her work is a testament to the extraordinary impact a person can have when fueled by a deep commitment to change the world for the better.
Lilly Gossmann Montenegro is dedicated to protecting the children of Guatemala. She has a passion for supporting families and creating opportunities for them to care for their children at home.
Whether by coordinating adoptions, supporting foster families, or mobilizing the church to engage in community impact, Lilly has worked at all levels to help vulnerable children and families. She has worked for government and nongovernmental organizations including UNICEF, the Department of Social Welfare of Guatemala, and International Justice Mission. Lilly also teaches at Rafael Landivar University in Guatemala City in the Master’s in Childhood and Adolescence Management program.
Rukshan BernardLovell is the Deputy National Director in Sri Lanka and has over 17 years’ experience in various areas of the humanitarian field. He brings his passion and dedication for advocacy work.
Rukshan grew up in a war-torn district, where he experienced tense situations in his life. Thus, driving him to channel his experiences into meaningful action, by working for the International Labour Organization, where his passion began for supporting and advocating for the welfare of children and families. Rukshan has worked in eliminating child labor and with children in areas affected by conflict.
Ebenezer Dharshan Vijayaretnam - simply Dharshan to those who know him- leads the CERI team in Sri Lanka in enacting policies and programs that protect childhood and help children thrive. He brings a positive and patient attitude to his advocacy work with the local government on behalf of Sri Lankan children. Before joining the team at CERI, Dharshan worked for the National Christian Evangelical Alliance as a Team Leader—and later, Regional Manager—where he managed humanitarian efforts in the Batticaloa District and Eastern province. He worked closely with pastors and churches, with a focus on empowering families led by women and single mothers. Currently, Dharshan is studying to earn his Master’s in Social Work at the National Institute of Social Development and a post-graduate diploma in Child Protection and Child Rights at Colombo University.
