Updates from the field
Shai Fund Announces Nadine Maenza as Senior Advisor
Bringing expertise in global advocacy to advance religious freedom for all
August 27, 2025 | by McKenzie Hood
(Washington, D.C. — August 27 ,2025) Shai Fund is pleased to announce the appointment of Nadine Maenza as Senior Advisor, strengthening the organization’s advocacy for religious freedom and the protection of vulnerable communities around the world.
Maenza is a recognized leader in international religious freedom with more than two decades of experience advancing policies that defend persecuted minorities and promote inclusive governance. She previously served as Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and currently serves as Co-Chair of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable and Chair of the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE).
Her work has taken her repeatedly to the frontlines in Syria and Iraq, where she has championed the rights of Christians, Druze, Alawites, Yezidis, Kurds, and other ethnoreligious groups to live safely and freely in their ancestral homelands. Maenza has been a consistent advocate for multifaith dialogue and constitutional guarantees that uphold equal citizenship for all communities.
“By combining immediate relief with long-term investment in communities, Shai Fund is on the ground doing the real work,” said Nadine Maenza, Senior Advisor at Shai Fund. “This approach has made them one of the few organizations able to work effectively across religious and ethnic lines. I am honored to join their mission to ensure that every person, regardless of belief, can live with safety and dignity in their own land.”
Her appointment formalizes a collaboration grounded in shared convictions: that peace and stability cannot exist without justice, representation, and the protection of fundamental human rights.
“Nadine’s leadership in the field of religious freedom is extraordinary,” said Charmaine Hedding, President of Shai Fund. “Her understanding of the region and her compassion for persecuted communities are unparalleled. Together, we will continue to strengthen religious freedom and help rebuild lives in some of the world’s most fragile regions.”
With Nadine’s partnership, Shai Fund will continue expanding its reach into hard-to-access regions affected by conflict and persecution to deliver practical aid, restore livelihoods, and advance religious freedom for all.
For media inquiries, contact McKenzie Hood, Advocacy and Partnerships Manager, at [email protected].
