David Sunderland

Chair

David has 25 years of experience coordinating strategy, policy, planning and performance, and administration, in various paid and voluntary capacities, including for five United Nations organizations and various civil society organizations.

He has been a Quaker for a similar period, strongly inspired by the testimonies of equality, integrity and simplicity, and is an active member of Geneva Friends Meeting.  He has had broad international and cross-cultural experience, and is British and (since 2019) French.

David has lived in the Geneva region since 2009 and as a founder of Plenna is excited and optimistic about its potential.

Elina Viitaniemi

Vice-Chair

Elina is the Director of Cancer Support Switzerland, an association providing counselling and various support services to individuals and families affected by cancer. She also worked for 13 years on global health in the UN system, including on partnerships, country support and connecting innovative health technologies to country needs.

As a volunteer at La Maison de Tara in Geneva, Elina has been trained to accompany people at the end of life. She believes in the importance of an open and inclusive approach to discussing and dealing with end of life and is happy to pursue this work further with Plenna.

Roz Coleman

Secretary

Roz is a UK/French medical doctor, with a Masters degree in public health. She worked as a clinician in South Africa and Gambia. and was also at UNAIDS for eight years in prevention, data management and policy. She is now in a team researching the use of cannabis to improve quality of life for people with dementia. 

As part of a professional realignment, Roz now volunteers with an organization supporting people affected by a cancer diagnosis as well as accompanying people at the end of life. She is excited to bring her insights and experience to help in shaping Plenna. 

Jane Royston

Committee Member

Jane is a high-tech entrepreneur and retired professor of entrepreneurship and innovation. She currently serves on the Swiss Science Council and the board of directors of an IT company, as well as the boards of a number of charities.

Her actions and strong sense of social justice are influenced by her Quaker values. She is Swiss and French and spends her time between the Swiss Alps and the Greek seas.

Mary Ungoed-Thomas

Editor/Writer

Mary trained as a book editor at Which? and was editing and project managing there for eight years. For Together mental health charity she has been both Publishing Manager and a volunteer peer supporter. 

She has worked for charitable organizations including Synergy Dance Outreach, Change Grow Live (supporting clients with drug and alcohol addictions), the UK Council on Deafness and Macmillan Cancer Support. She was a freelance web writer for Search Sciences LLP, and has given her time to a couple of UK helplines. 

She is delighted to have the opportunity to use her skills to help develop Plenna.