Honouring a Chapter and Welcoming What’s Next: Updates from the Youth Leadership Board

The Youth Leadership Board (YLB) has always been more than a governance space. It is a collective of young leaders who bring vision, challenge thinking, and help shape the direction of YOURS and the Global Youth Coalition.

As the YLB continues to evolve, we take a moment to honour the contributions of three members who are closing their chapter on the Board, while also welcoming new voices who will help carry this work forward.

After several years of dedicated service, we say thank you to Deepanshu Gupta, Oliva Nalwadda, and Estiara Ellizar for the leadership, commitment, and energy they brought to the Youth Leadership Board.

  • Deepanshu Gupta

    Over five years on the YLB, Deep played a key role in shaping conversations around youth leadership and advocacy. His creativity, presence, and ability to connect with audiences — whether in formal spaces or on global stages — helped amplify youth voices and push our work forward. His contributions have left a lasting mark on the direction of YOURS’ work and the spirit of the community.

  • Oliva Nalwadda

    Oliva’s journey with YOURS reflects the power of youth leadership in action. From first engaging with road safety through youth development spaces, she went on to represent young people on global stages, including ministerial-level moments. Her energy, openness to learning, and strong commitment to youth participation helped strengthen how the organisation approaches inclusive leadership.

  • Estiara Ellizar

    For four years, Esti brought vision, consistency, and a strong implementation mindset to the YLB. Beyond ideas, she helped turn plans into action and inspired fellow Board members through her leadership. From global events to deep strategic conversations, her contributions have shaped key moments in the organisation’s journey and strengthened the culture of accountability within the YLB.

We are deeply grateful to Deep, Oliva, and Esti for everything they have given to the YLB and to the wider YOURS community. While their time on the Board comes to a close, their impact continues to guide the work ahead.

Welcoming new members to the Youth Leadership Board

As we close one chapter, we are excited to welcome three new members to the Youth Leadership Board, bringing fresh perspectives, regional expertise, and a shared commitment to safer and more sustainable mobility.

  • Ulfi Puarada (Indonesia)

    Ulfi is a sustainable transport and road safety practitioner with a strong focus on GEDSI and inclusive mobility. She holds a Master of Advanced Engineering from Monash University and works on school road safety, gender mainstreaming in transport, and community-led walkability initiatives across Asia. Her experience bridges technical expertise and community-based action.

  • Michelle Lorena Gaibor Tobón (Ecuador)

    Michelle is a Project Coordinator at the Movidana Foundation and a Political Science graduate specialised in sustainable mobility and road safety. Since 2021, she has contributed to Ecuador’s first local road safety policy and has led programmes impacting multiple cities nationwide, bringing strong policy and implementation experience to the Board.

  • Gustavo H. N. Dalle Cort (Brazil)

    Gustavo is a final-semester medical student at the Federal University of Paraná and a global health advocate. He serves as Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues at International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) and as National President of IFMSA Brazil. His work focuses on public health, human rights, medical education, and reproductive health, combining leadership, research, and youth-led advocacy to strengthen health systems and equity.

Their addition strengthens the YLB’s diversity of perspectives and reinforces the Board’s role in guiding youth-led change across regions. Alongside continuing members, Luke van Wyk, Salman Khan, Yasmine Al Moghrabi, Valeria Carrión Moreno, Ray Adrian Macalalag, Olufunke Afesojaye, the Youth Leadership Board remains a critical space for shaping vision, accountability, and youth participation within YOURS.

As the YLB enters this next phase, we celebrate both continuity and renewal, grounded in a shared commitment to enabling young people to lead the transformation of road safety and mobility systems worldwide


Melisa Perez