OUR TEAM
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Founded by Mr. Silviu Kondan and Ms. Rowena Symss, Kondan & Symss Consultancy Inc. is a Canadian-based international consulting firm that specializes in MEAL, project and programme management, research analysis and capacity-building. With a global portfolio spanning more than 30 countries, the firm delivers results-focused advisory services to international organizations, UN agencies, NGOs/CSOs and national authorities. The co-directors bring complementary strengths across the fields of migration governance, humanitarian assistance, diaspora engagement, civil society development, social policy and health systems research—grounding their work in evidence, equity and cross-sector collaboration.
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Kondan & Symss Consultancy Inc. – Co-Founders and Directors
Ms. Rowena Symss
Lead Consultant/Co-founder
Ms. Symss previously directed health-related capacity-building initiatives in Canada, particularly within primary care and professional education systems. As a Programme Coordinator at the College of Family Physicians of Canada, she led national projects on infectious disease prevention and social determinants of health, producing clinical guidelines, training tools and practitioner supports. Her work prioritized equitable health access for marginalized populations, including migrants with irregular status.
Prior to that, she served as a researcher and coordinator in global health programmes, bringing robust expertise in programme management, M&E, and applied research. Ms. Symss holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Global Health from the University of Toronto and is currently completing a Master of Science in Humanitarian Action at SOAS, University of London.
Mr. Silviu Kondan
Lead Consultant/Co-founder
Mr. Kondan previously served as a principal Municipal Planner with the Region of Waterloo in Canada (i.e., the faster growing municipal region in Canada), where he advised and supported a collective impact network of over 60 organizations working to advance the well-being of children, youth and families. His leadership extended to overseeing disaggregated data collection, delivering sector-wide capacity-building initiatives and addressing systemic issues related to social belonging and discrimination. He continues to co-chair several regional working groups on data, research and evaluation.
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Internationally, Mr. Kondan has worked with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, and numerous NGOs focused on human rights and minority inclusion. He holds a Master’s in Global Affairs and Ethnic Pluralism from the University of Toronto.
Expert Consultants
Mr. Joseph Okafor
Project Management and Migration Governance Professional
Mr. Joseph Okafor is a bilingual (English and French) project management professional based between Canada and Nigeria, with extensive experience in migration governance, cross-border coordination and stakeholder engagement. He has played a leading role in several initiatives under the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), including efforts to combat human trafficking, promote gender mainstreaming and improve institutional support for vulnerable migrants.
Mr. Okafor has also supported referral pathway development in Ghana and led fact-finding missions under the Niger-Nigeria cooperation project(s) to address issues around migration management, including trafficking in persons. His ability to bridge operational strategy with community-level coordination has been central to these efforts. He holds a BA in Foreign Languages and Literary Studies from the University of Nigeria and has recently completed his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Ms. Sarah Stern
Research and Administrative Coordinator
Ms. Sarah Stern is a bilingual (English and French) young professional who supports research, coordination and administrative functions at Kondan & Symss Consultancy Inc., contributing to research analysis, stakeholder coordination and leading data collection processes. With a background in migration, education and social inclusion, Ms. Stern has contributed to international research and discourse with institutions such as the International Development Research Centre, Public Services Procurement Canada, the Migration Policy Institute and the University of Toronto.
Her experience includes literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, thematic analysis and the production of policy briefs on topics including child protection, education access, labour exploitation and trafficking in persons. She has also served in editorial and community outreach roles focused on equity and inclusion. Ms. Stern holds an Honours BA in European Affairs and English Literature from the University of Toronto and is pursuing a Master’s in European and Eurasian Studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs.
Mr. Alberto Fabra
Public Policy and Municipal Social Integration Professional
Mr. Alberto Fabra is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Barcelona-based professional specializing in public policy analysis, MEAL and social inclusion programming. He currently serves as a researcher and project manager/evaluator at the Avedis Donabedian University Institute, while also contributing as a freelance consultant to Kondan & Symss Consultancy Inc., where he has supported final evaluations of regional migration management initiatives for IOM across Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. Mr. Fabra previously led the EU-funded Amunt! pilot programme—an employment and social inclusion initiative implemented by Barcelona City Council and the Ministry of Social Affairs—and coordinated research and knowledge management for the city’s broader Programa Làbora.
His experience spans data-driven programme design, operational planning and both qualitative and quantitative evaluation methodologies, including advanced statistical analysis. Moreover, he has also managed social integration projects in the Global South through Engineers Without Borders. Mr. Fabra holds a Master’s in Globalization, Cooperation and Development, a Master’s in Sociology and Demography, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science and Sociology at Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
Ms. DoÄŸu ErdoÄŸan GülbaÅŸ
Humanitarian and Development Programming Professional
Ms. DoÄŸu ErdoÄŸan GülbaÅŸ brings nearly 20 years of experience in humanitarian response, protection and development programming, with over a decade dedicated to supporting Syrian refugees and host communities in Türkiye. Her work has focused on enhancing access to education, healthcare and legal rights; expanding vocational education and labour market opportunities; and promoting social cohesion and youth empowerment in schools and community centers.
Most recently, she served as Project Manager for the Sened Association, coordinating emergency response efforts across six provinces following the 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquakes, including managing teams, resources and multi-stakeholder coordination. Previously, she held senior roles at GIZ Türkiye, where she contributed to national strategies on technical education, career orientation and crisis response. Her work is grounded in community engagement, protection principles and multisectoral partnerships. Ms. GülbaÅŸ holds degrees in philosophy and computer programming, and is fluent in Turkish and English, with working knowledge of German.
Mr. Agron Ajazi
Governance, Migration and Community Development Professional
Mr. Agron Ajazi is a multilingual Pristina-based senior consultant with over 20 years of experience in governance reform, return and reintegration, cross-border cooperation and sustainable community development across Kosovo. He has led strategic programmes for a range of international and national partners, including the EU, IOM, UNDP, UNOPS, GIZ and the Government of Kosovo. As Programme Manager for the EU-funded Return and Reintegration Programme implemented by IOM, Mr. Ajazi coordinated support to over 860 displaced families and 21 municipal infrastructure projects, overseeing phases III to V of the programme and managing a EUR 24 million portfolio.
His recent work includes developing project proposals and needs assessments for local governance bodies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and leading technical design for cross-border environmental and emergency preparedness initiatives. Mr. Ajazi holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy and is currently completing his master’s in the same field at the University of Pristina.
Ms. Asmaa Nureldin
Gender Mainstreaming and Economic Empowerment Professional
Ms. Asmaa Noureldin is a Cairo-based bilingual (English and Arabic) senior specialist with over 15 years of experience advancing gender equity, economic rights and employment inclusion across the MENA region. She applies feminist and participatory methodologies to the design and delivery of evaluations, impact assessments and research for leading international agencies including the European Commission, ILO, World Bank, GIZ, ETF and Save the Children. For example, Ms. Noureldin has led evaluations in Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Palestine and Lebanon, applying approaches such as Realistic Evaluation, Contribution Analysis and Process Tracing.
She is known for her ability to create inclusive, trauma-sensitive spaces for data collection and co-analysis, using adult learning and facilitation strategies that foster voice and power-sharing. A frequent advisor to government ministries, she also supported labor market assessments, TVET curriculum design and private sector partnerships across national and subnational levels. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics, a postgraduate diploma in International Development from Denmark and certifications in feminist evaluation and entrepreneurship education.
Ms. Roberta Romano
Senior Migration Policy and Humanitarian Affairs Professional
Ms. Roberta Romano is a seasoned expert in migration, displacement and conflict prevention, with over 20 years of experience across humanitarian, development and international migration policy domains. She has held numerous high-impact roles with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), including as a Migration Policy and Research Expert, where she led technical advisory work for IOM Geneva, IOM Washington DC., and IOM Rome. Her portfolio includes developing global policy dialogues, diaspora engagement frameworks and strategic donor approaches to strengthen humanitarian programming. More specifically, from 2017 to 2022, Ms. Romano served as National Migration Policy Officer for IOM Washington DC, where she expanded the diaspora engagement portfolio, managed institutional partnerships, and helped shape policy across crisis migration and development settings.
She previously held field-based roles in Sudan and Uganda, coordinating protection and stabilization efforts. Ms. Romano holds advanced degrees in Political Science, Human Rights and Conflict Management, and is currently completing a Master of Theological Studies at Duke University. She is fluent in English and Italian, with working proficiency in French and Spanish.
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