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Earlier this year, the CHS Alliance launched an open call for new members of its Verification Advisory Panel (VAP). This came at a crucial moment for the Alliance, as we prepare to update the CHS Verification Scheme.  

We are pleased to announce the appointment of six new independent experts to the Panel. Their nomination, recently approved by the CHS Alliance Board, follows an open and highly competitive selection process that attracted a strong number of qualified applicants. Candidates were selected based on their experience in standards verification, audit, due diligence, and organisational accountability, as well as with regard to ensuring diversity across geography, gender, and professional background. 

With these new appointments, the Panel now includes 11 members in total. 

“We are truly excited to welcome these new members on board,” said Jordi Capdevila, Head of Quality Assurance at the CHS Alliance. “The selection process was especially competitive due to the high number of excellent applications. We are honoured to welcome such a range of experts and look forward to working together to strengthen the credibility and quality of the CHS Verification Scheme.” 

Existing Members of the Verification Advisory Panel 

The Verification Advisory Panel is chaired by Tim Boyes-Watson (Director, Fair Funding Solutions. Director of Resources, Systems and Culture at ADD International. Chief Financial Officer (Fractional) at Adeso) and includes: 

• Victoria Lyon Dean, Head of Quality Assurance, Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative (HQAI) 

• Merete Skjelsbæk, Director, Risk and Regulatory Advisory, KPMG Norway 

• Coleen Hemskerk, CHS Alliance Board Member & Humanitarian Director, Act Church of Sweden 

• Allan Calma, Global Humanitarian Coordinator & Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) Focal Point, Lutheran World Federation World Service 

New Members Joining the Verification Advisory Panel 

We welcome the following new appointments, who bring a strong and complementary mix of humanitarian practice, accountability and quality assurance. 

Isabelle Ginet-Kauders
Head of Investigations, Office of Internal Audit and Investigations, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Isabelle Ginet-Kauders is Head of Investigations at IFRC, with expertise in governance, safeguarding, and organisational assurance. A Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), she brings strong technical rigour and a pragmatic approach to strengthening accountability and transparency in humanitarian organisations. 

Angela Crack
Professor of Civil Society and Social Impact, University of Portsmouth (UK)
Angela Crack is Professor of Civil Society and Social Impact at the University of Portsmouth. Her research focuses on NGO accountability and self-regulation, working closely with civil society organisations worldwide to strengthen people-centred, accountable practice. She also serves on the Independent Review Panel of Accountable Now. 

Anyi Morales
Humanitarian Practitioner
Anyi Morales is a humanitarian practitioner with over 15 years’ experience in development and emergency programmes across Latin America. A sociologist with advanced degrees in Cooperation and Development and Rural Economics, she is committed to advancing quality, accountability, and the practical application of the Core Humanitarian Standard. 

Elissa Goucem
Independent Quality Assurance & Accountability Consultant
Elissa Goucem is an independent consultant specialising in quality assurance and accountability in the humanitarian and development sector. Formerly Head of Quality Assurance at HQAI, she led the development of CHS auditing methodologies and brings extensive experience supporting verification, learning, and performance improvement across regions. 

Simon Maina Waithaka
Humanitarian Accountability and Quality Assurance Specialist
Simon Maina Waithaka is a humanitarian accountability and quality assurance specialist with over 18 years of experience working with local and international NGOs. An independent auditor with HQAI, he is dedicated to strengthening due diligence, transparency, and learning within the sector. 

Frank Brinkschneider
Founder, Credible & Fair Consultancy, and Managing Director, Odonata Certification Services GmbH
Frank Brinkschneider is a senior sustainability leader with more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of sustainability, certification, and digital transformation. His career includes shaping early ESG report verification at KPMG and playing a pivotal role in designing and scaling the Fairtrade certification system at FLOCERT. 

What’s Next? 

The new Panel members will participate in an onboarding and induction process in January 2026 before formally joining their first VAP meeting shortly thereafter, contributing to a pivotal year for CHS verification and broader accountability efforts in the sector including the rollout of independent self-validation as a new modality. 

Engaging with the Verification Advisory Panel 

If you have questions about the CHS Verification Scheme please get in touch with us on verification@chsalliance.org.