about us

For over 30 years, Oddny's most fulfilling work has been showing compassion and calling others to care for and help the youngest victims of war. Oddny is an accomplished writer, public speaker, and columnist with a Master of Arts in Transformational Development who applies her talent to supporting children marginalized by conflict and oppression.

Steve has dedicated his life to helping children in war-torn communities. For more than 3 decades he has worked to deliver relief, aid, and programs to support families uprooted by war in SE Asia, the Middle East, and Ukraine. He has a Master’s Degree in Transformational Development, is an EMT, and loves his team, ethos and work the The Novi Community is doing to help children

After living for a year in Ukraine supporting the development of Novi’s programs for children and teens he has moved back to his home in Michigan to manage the growth of Novi’s work in the USA. Jon is passionate about reaching children in hard to access places and helping them laugh, play, and experience childhood as they should..

Sasha has 20 years of experience working in relief and development, with a talent for building thriving grassroots communities that care for people in need. He leads with a personable warmth, and a commitment to action and accountability. Sasha holds an M.A. in International Law. Sasha manages Novi Ukraine, a government registered NGO with a large cohort of volunteers.

Iryna leads the development of NoviSets, working closely with psychologists, partners, and manufacturers to adapt, test, and improve the sets. She oversees sourcing, assembly, and feedback systems to ensure quality and impact. Iryna also manages Novi Ukraine's social media profiles, spreading awareness and success stories from our work with children affected by trauma.

Lyudmyla leads the development and growth of Novi's programs and presence in Ukraine. She works closely with our partners across Ukraine to make sure they have the support and assistance they need and to see how best we can assist them. She also helps with coordinating large programs such as summer camps and teenager clubs sponsored by Novi.

Shelby brings over ten years of administrative experience to her role as finance and administration coordinator. She is also an accomplished musician who keeps the team humming upbeat lyrics. With a passion for systems and service, she supports the Novi team's mission to bring hope and restoration to the lives of children affected by war.

With a background in social care and a heart for serving others, Line is passionate about creating hope for children and young people affected by war and conflict. Through storytelling, social media, and program development, she helps grow Novi’s reach so more children can receive the support they need. She also enjoys developing new initiatives and finding creative ways to expand Novi’s impact, helping the organization reach even more children and young people in need.
Creative, compassionate, and solution-oriented, she believes meaningful work is about using her strengths to make a real difference in the lives of others.

With 25 years working in executive human resource management, Tammy brings a multi-cultural perspective to the relationship between people and results. She has a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology.

Julie has managed her family business for 30 years. She brings a value for creating practical systems for long-term success and stability.

Stephen is a senior scientist with more than two decades of experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research, helping advance new medicines from discovery through clinical development. Alongside his scientific career, Stephen has dedicated years to serving children and families through nonprofit board leadership, STEM education, special needs ministry, and community outreach. He is passionate about mentorship, service, and creating opportunities for vulnerable children.

Mary Beth has 30 years experience in pastoral ministry in many congregations. She was a school chaplain for 11 years and most recently she worked with the Women in Ministry Initiative at Princeton Theological Seminary. She holds an MDiv, from Princeton Theological Seminary and is passionate about helping vulnerable people.

Spencer is the Chief Revenue Officer at LinkIt Education. He began his career as a teacher before moving into leadership roles in education technology and humanitarian assistance. He has worked with organizations like Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Illuminate Education, and Partners Relief & Development. Kerrigan holds a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Trinity Western University.