Benefit from a full range of professional expertise
About Us
Principal Consultant
Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken has dedicated her three-decade career to international development and civil society issues. For nearly 16 years she managed, and eventually led the Transnational NGO Initiative (TNGO Initiative) at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, USA, where her focus was on the governance, leadership and effectiveness of international civil society organizations.
Tosca has done extensive work with mid-sized to large INGOs helping to direct customized leadership development, including executive coaching. Her work extends to change leadership and management, including organizational level evaluations.
Her experience is deeply rooted in the world of INGOs, including 16 years as an international development practitioner. She worked at the European Center for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) in the Netherlands, served as UN District Electoral Supervisor in Cambodia during the UNTAC peacekeeping operation, and worked with UNDP and the NGO PACT in Cambodia (1992-1994).Her experience also includes positions at the World Bank both in Washington DC and in Hanoi, Vietnam.
While at the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington DC, Tosca was in charge of mainstreaming the use of public participation practices in the Bank’s South and East Asia programs. At the Bank in Vietnam, Tosca had the responsibility of heading the Social Development Team. You can review her full professional CV. Today Tosca leads a strategic alliance of NGO professionals through Five Oaks Consulting.
Resources to find the right solution.
With Five Oaks Consulting, you benefit from access to a full range of professional expertise that includes decades of international development and social justice experience. We understand the views, mindset and culture of transnational NGOs, as well as other CSOs and what it takes to optimize their organizational assets.
Our practice as thought leaders includes vast experience working inside and with think tanks, the United Nations, the World Bank, and academia, along with a wide range of NGOs.
Each challenge we take on for all of our clients is grounded in rigorous, empirically researched frameworks and strategies that have been thoroughly researched, tested and validated across the public (government and non-government) and private sectors. Our partners especially appreciate our reputation for honesty and integrity.
Work with us and you get a whole world of experience.
Ramesh Singh
Consultant
Ramesh Singh is an INGO practitioner turned freelance consultant and advisor. Ramesh has depth of passion, experience, sense and curiosity about INGO architecture, governance, strategy and accountability systems and issues. He has worked in/from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
Barney Tallack
Consultant
Barney is a strategy person who acutely understands INGOs’ organizational dynamics, including their politics and DNA. His collaborative skills make him a pleasure to work with. Barney focuses on INGO strategy development, horizon scanning, governance and organizational change processes.
Gabrielle Watson
Consultant
Gabrielle is a values-driven planner, facilitator and evaluator committed to strategic learning on the part of NGO “doers.” She brings her Quaker sensibilities to the task of helping organizations, coalitions and their funders reflect on what works, what doesn’t, and why in order to drive strategic choices.
Carlisle Levine
Consultant
Carlisle Levine has key skills in the area of policy, advocacy and campaign evaluation. Carlisle has worked in international development and peacebuilding for 25 years and in evaluation for 18 years. She is a skilled facilitator and trainer with expertise in building staff evaluation capacity and developing M&E and knowledge sharing systems. Her website is www.blesolutions.com.
Pauline Alvarez-Martin
Consultant
Pauline is an Associate Integral coach and organizational development and change “enabler”, who draws on 30 years of experience as senior leader in international development NGOs and women’s human rights organizations. Her approach is grounded in her program experience while living and working in Latin America and in her strong values on gender and human rights which shine throughout her work.
Minoli de Bresser
Consultant
Minoli is a poverty reduction and social inclusion specialist who has worked for some 30 years in the Asia Pacific and African regions, largely for the United Nations. She has a passion for designing and evaluating development programs through poverty reduction, social inclusion and gender equality lenses.
Bruce Dayton
Consultant
Bruce is dedicated to helping INGOs to better understand conflicts and crises, and to develop strategies to deal with them more constructively. He serves as Executive Director of the School for International Training’s CONTACT Peacebuilding Program in the US, and heads its Master’s degree program for mid-career NGO practitioners in Peace and Justice Leadership.