Our Team

MANON KONINGSTEIN

With a European Masters Degree in Intercultural Communications and a profound interest in gender-sensitive Participatory Communication tools, my passion, heart and soul is in everything we do at Sivin. 

I noticed a need for more bottom-up communication tools, a new and innovative way to include the actual target groups. It is from here that in March of 2016 I took the step to start Sivin Communications. 

I have given various presentations, participated in webinars and radio interviews, explaining the approach I take with Sivin. And the majority of the year I work remotely with a flexible office on the road. Meeting new people, facing new challenges and continuously learning teaches me to be continuously creative an flexible in everything I do.

I have lived for over nine years in Latin America and am currently based in Southern Spain and speak fluent Dutch, English and Spanish. Furthermore have I worked in South and Central America, Asia, East and West Africa and in my free time I like to surf, camp and go on long distance cycle touring trips.

Besides running Sivin Communications, have I worked as the Director of Communications for WeForest, and am I currently engaged as the Communications Manager of EcoAgriculture Partners.

I write about remote working on my blog: TheNonmad and am currently setting up a surf therapy project in Portugal called ´Be the Waves of Change´.

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HEVERTON MIRA

Our social media star, Heverton specialized in supervising operations on social networks, google and can help you achieve your social objectives. Furthermore, he supports your visual needs in the form of graphic design, animated video creation and infographics.

Heverton has collaborated with Sivin Communications on the creation of infographics and animated videos for UNICEF South East Asia and Thailand, as well as UNICEF Indonesia. Furthermore, is he supporting the social media management of Progreso Foundation. Heverton is a Brazilian national, but based in Spain and speaks Portuguese and Spanish.

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DAVE KRAMER

With a Master’s degree in public policy and undergraduate degree in English literature, I’ve dedicated my career to what I call the “Why Not? Principle” – trying to push the boundaries of conventional thinking and advice, all in the interest of building bridges between communities and experiencing people and places for myself without following a recipe or going “by the book.”

Through my fifteen-year career in international development, I’ve become convinced of both the power of questions and the need to empower those without a voice to do more than just participate in the issues that affect their lives. Rather than simply be consulted or included, it’s essential for marginalized groups to have the tools and respect to drive change themselves.

At EcoLogic Development Fund, I supervised the production of a participatory project manual, worked to shift the organization’s work to a grander scale (landscape rather than village-level), and spearheaded research on empowerment. I bring years of experience in partnership development, fundraising, project management and evaluation, team building, and process facilitation. 

While not working on Sivin and other projects, I enjoy exploring Austin, Texas with my family by getting outside to hike or run on trails, or swim in Austin’s many fantastic natural springs. I’m also studying up on Colombian slang and cuisine in preparation for my eventual return to living full time in Colombia.

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Pool of Freelancers

GILLIAN GRIFFIN

Gillian has over ten years of experience creating visual and written narratives, bringing a keen sense of creativity and attention to detail to every project that she works on. 

With a background in International Development and a wealth of experience living and working across the globe, Gillian brings a unique perspective to the work that she does. With an MA in Globalization and International Development, Gillian has worked in Ottawa with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA, now Global Affairs Canada), as well as development organizations in East and West Africa. She understands the development landscape and has the creative knack to translate the complex ideas and concepts inherent to the industry into digestible and thought-provoking content.   

Through her fieldwork and travels, Gillian uncovered a natural ability to engage with under-served communities, and applies her aptitude for storytelling as a tool for breaking down social and cultural barriers. She is currently based outside Toronto, Canada, working as a freelance communications professional, specializing in visual storytelling for non-profits and social enterprise.

RICARDO LEON

Ricardo is a filmmaker born in Venezuela, strengthened in Colombia and  based in Copenhagen, Denmark. When it

comes to storytelling ideas, he has just one rule “Keep it simple”.

He speaks fluent Spanish and English and is proficient in Danish. 

Together with Ricardo we have worked on creating a short video showing the compilation of Zimbabwean female farmer video diaries for OXFAM the Netherlands. 

VANESSA MACEDO

Vanessa Macedo is a participatory video facilitator based in Berlin. She was born in New Jersey-USA, of a Colombian mother and a Brazilian father.

She graduated from her Masters in Documentary Filmmaking in Melbourne, Australia where she made a few short documentaries around social justice topics and climate change. She also has a Masters in Expressive Arts in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding.

In Berlin, she has been working with refugees, migrants, and diverse communities using photography and video as a form of empowerment and also as a way for them to tell their stories and express themselves. She was also part of an online series as a director and videographer where stereotypical or unbalanced views of refugees were being countered by challenging notions of representation and having newcomers both in front and behind the camera tell their stories their way.

ALFONSO ALVARADO

Peru-based, Alfonso is our technical genius and expert in coding and web development especially for Communication for Development related projects. Currently, he is working with us on the development of an online community platform for water-related projects for the Youth Water Network. 

HEVERTON MIRA

Heverton is a Brazilian-born, Spain-based Traffic and Content Manager.

Through the management of paid online ads he is in charge of sponsored campaigns on Facebook, Google, Instagram, YouTube, Waze and other networks.

Using specialized research and pilots, Heverton is able to direct the ads and content to your target audience and this way, bring direct results in visibility, engagement and action. 

ARIS SANJAYA

Aris is our video and animation specialist, from and based in Java, Indonesia. I started my career as a videographer in 2009 at YCM Films, a production house located in Bogor, West-Java, Indonesia. During that time, I created a few films. One of them became the second winner of a competition video in Germany.
At the end of 2010, I joined CIFOR, the Center for International Forestry Research in Bogor, and started a career as a freelance Videographer and Video Editor. Currently, I work as a video specialist with various organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP), UNDP, IAFCP/AUSAID program,
Market Development Facility (MDF) Timor Leste, Qatar Charity and
The Nature Conservancy. Besides editing videos I am also specialized in illustration and animation.

ANNA SWAGERMAN

Engaged, creative and enthusiastic. Working on the basis of intuition, trust and curiosity, with a colourful mix of skills in psychology, filming and writing. From the Netherlands, based in Berlin, often on the move.