06/18/2025
We are thrilled to share that IDEA International has named new board leadership: Zoica Bakirtzief as Chair and Jayashree P Kunju as Vice Chair:
The International Association for Integration, Dignity and Economic Advancement (IDEA International), the global advocacy organization led by and for persons affected by leprosy (Hansen’s disease), proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Zoica Bakirtzief as Chair of the Board of Directors and Ms. Jayashree Parasheril Kunju as Vice Chair.
Founded in 1994, IDEA International is a global network dedicated to the human rights, dignity, economic advancement and social participation of people who have experienced leprosy. The organization is unique in being led by individuals with lived experience, and its mission is rooted in the belief that people affected by Hansen’s disease must be at the forefront of advocacy, policy, and change.
Dr. Zoica Bakirtzief brings decades of academic, scientific, and lived experience to her role as Chair. A native of Brazil and a psychologist by training, Dr. Bakirtzief was one of the founders of IDEA. She is one of the co-creators of the Participation Scale, a widely used tool to assess social participation restrictions based on WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. A two-time survivor of Hansen’s disease, her diagnosis in 2003 and again in 2018 profoundly deepened her commitment to advocacy, equity, and global health.
Dr. Bakirtzief’s post-doctoral research at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil—supported by ILEP member organizations—focused on building family and individual resilience through participatory methods. She has played a pivotal role in founding several nonprofit organizations and inclusive vocational associations for persons with disabilities. She is also an Ashoka Fellow and a recipient of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s International Leadership Fellowship. Her scholarship has been published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Global Health, and Leprosy Review.
“It is an honor to serve as Chair of IDEA International at this crucial moment for the global movement,” said Dr. Bakirtzief. “IDEA was founded on the principle that those directly affected by leprosy must be leaders in shaping the future. My journey with the disease has taught me that inclusion, resilience, and rights-based leadership are not just goals—they are necessities.”
Joining her as Vice Chair is Ms. Jayashree Parasheril Kunju, a Chartered Accountant and seasoned business consultant based in Bangalore, India. With over 33 years of experience in finance, administration, and training, she brings a unique blend of business acumen and deep personal commitment to the cause. Ms. Kunju is also a survivor of leprosy, having been diagnosed in 1983. Her recovery inspired her lifelong dedication to supporting others affected by the disease.
Ms. Kunju is a founding trustee of the Global Leprosy Alliance for Zero Stigma (GLAZ) and serves on the General Body and Finance Subcommittee of Lepra Society, India. She also played a significant role in the NIHR-funded RIGHT Project, a five-country research initiative led by the University of Birmingham that focused on mitigating the social and psychological impacts of leprosy-related ulcers through community engagement.
Her co-authorship of the 2020 ILEP/NNN Guides on Stigma and Mental Well-being underscores her longstanding commitment to integrating mental health and dignity in the fight against stigma.
“I am deeply humbled by this appointment,” Ms. Kunju shared. “As someone who has experienced both the pain and the healing journey of leprosy, I understand the urgent need for compassionate leadership, community involvement, and structural change. IDEA International is the embodiment of these values.”
To read the full press release, visit:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-Sr9J9W_0flF3mnzyErxdtkfhBcvj2ck/view?usp=sharing
