Hibak Kalfan is the Executive Director of Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR). NEAR is a network of southern local and national NGOs who have come together to reshape the global response to economic, human and environmental threats. Kalfan has more than 12 years’ experience and worked with several stakeholders in the Humanitarian, Media, Development and Government sectors in the Horn of Africa and Middle East. Kalfan began her career as the founder of The African Future (2007), a non-profit organization hoping to improve the education and healthcare in Somalia. She has since held several senior positions within Internews, World Bank Group, ACTED, Relief International among others.