Liz Bernstein
Executive Director

Liz Bernstein is the founding Director of the Nobel Women's Initiative. Previously, Liz served as Coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) from 1998 through 2004. Liz participated in the campaign since it began in the early 1990s. She lived in Thailand and Cambodia for 10 years (1986-1996), where she worked with local advocacy organizations on various peace, justice and policy issues. She co-founded the Coalition for Peace and Reconciliation and helped found the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines. She also coordinated Make Poverty History Canada in 2005. Liz currently lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Liz can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tel: +1.613.569.8400 ext. 111
Fax: +1.613.563.0682

Demetri Lopez is the Manager of Events and Operations for the Nobel Women's Initiative. Demetri joined NWI upon its founding in early 2006. Previously, she studied and lived in the Middle East before moving to Houston, Texas in 2000 to complete her studies. She is a graduate of the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston, where she studied political social work. Demetri has worked as a public health policy analyst for a member of the Texas Legislature and is currently an active volunteer in the Greater Texas PeaceJam affiliate.

Demetri is based at the Nobel Women's Initiative office at the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tel: +1.713.743.8119
Fax: +1.713.743.8149

Erin Simpson
Manager, Policy and Advocacy

Erin Simpson is the Manager of Policy and Advocacy for the Nobel Women's Initiative. She joined the NWI team in August 2007 as a consultant for the Darfur project. Earlier, Erin worked as a policy advisor to the leader of Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP). Before joining the NDP, Erin worked for three years developing the peace and conflict advocacy program at the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC). Previously, she coordinated the Americas Policy Group of the CCIC. Erin volunteers on the board of a local Ottawa women's shelter and is committed to various women's activist projects.

Erin can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tel: +1.613.569.8400 ext. 112
Fax: +1.613.563.0682

Rachel Vincent
Manager, Media and Communications

Rachel Vincent is the Manager of Media and Communications for Nobel Women's Initiative. Rachel started her career as a radio journalist working in Canada and Mexico. Since 1994, she has worked as a senior communications advisor with not-for-profit groups and governments on international issues, environment and health. She also volunteers for the Canadian Centre for International Justice (CCIJ), and is an active Quaker and mother of three.

Rachel can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tel: +1.613.569.8400 ext. 113
Fax: +1.613.563.0682

Kathy Goodwin is a Graduate Assistant for the Nobel Women's Initiative Houston Office. Kathy is a first-year graduate student at the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work. Kathy graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelors of Arts in psychology and creative writing, with a focus in women's studies. Kathy organized the National Organization for Women at UH, where she served as President for three years. She just finished her first year of law school and, following graduation, plans to begin a career in public interest work, integrating the two fields of law and social work.

Kathy is based at the Nobel Women's Initiative office at the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tel: +1.713.743.8792
Fax: +1.713.743.8149

(NWI Staff Liz Bernstein, Erin Simpson, Demetri Lopez)