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OUR TEAM
Our philanthropic team is headed by Wendelin Zellmayer with the overall responsibility for the strategy and results of the organisation. Wendelin works in close collaboration with our Board of Directors and an extended network of partners. Our funding programs are managed by highly experienced program managers who collaborate closely with expert grant reviewers and our Advisory Board.
WENDELIN ZELLMAYER
Foundations Director and CEO of Rising Tide GmbH
Wendelin leads the management of the foundation and its subsidiaries. Together with the Board, he is responsible for effective grant management strategies and systems that are aligned with the foundation's vision. In addition, he nurtures the ongoing dialogue with external communities.
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As CEO, he guarantees that the organization complies with relevant laws and follows the highest standards of business ethics and good governance. Together with the Board, he is responsible for the competent and forward-looking management of business risks.
ALEXANDRE ALENCAR
Senior Scientific Program Manager
Alexandre is responsible for our cancer research program. Before joining Rising Tide he was a program manager at the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation. In this role, he worked in close collaboration with the local affiliates as well as patient associations and actively contributed to several communication platforms.
Alexandre was responsible for the design and management of health care system improvement projects and patient training for bleeding disorders in Europe, Brazil, India and South-East Asia.
Throughout his career, Alexandre has acquired several years
of project management experience in data capture using electronic patient reported outcomes -ePROs and corporate foundations.
Alexandre completed his internal medicine studies in Sao Paulo, Brazil and then moved to Canada for further studies in the field of data management. He has been living and working in Switzerland for 16 years.
ISABELLE HIRS-SCHALLER
Senior Program Manager
Isabelle is responsible for our Freedom in Practice grant program.
She studied Business and International Affairs and Governance at the University of St.Gallen and has a passion for the work of social entrepreneurs, NGOs and their impact.
Isabelle has worked for different NGOs in Argentina, India and South Africa. She supported their activities on the ground and also lead various project evaluations.
At the beginning of her career she held a position with the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
in Geneva.
Over the past years, Isabelle worked in management consulting, supporting public and private organizations in the fields of sustainability and corporate responsibility management. In her last position she headed the sustainability services practice of KPMG Switzerland. Isabelle is an advisory board member of the Swiss fintech start-up YOVA, specialized in
impact investing.
VALERIE BEHAN BSC PHD
Scientific Program Manager
Valerie is responsible for jointly leading the cancer research program.
In her last position, she managed the emerging technology portfolio of medical devices and life science technologies for cancer applications.
Before joining Rising Tide, Valerie helped coordinate a major European grant that was instrumental in the creation of a stem cell manufacturing facility for clinical trials. Valerie has over 10 years’ experience leading and developing research programs.
She has over 50 peer-reviewed publications, 80 conference proceedings and has been an invited member of a number of International Grant Evaluation Committees, Scientific Conference Committees and Journal Review Committees.