Anahit, Sagar, Agness, Carla and Eduardo are just starting their mandate as the new members of the IHS Alumni International Board 2025-2027. This diverse team of very driven alumni volunteers will come together to strengthen the global IHS alumni community. Representing different countries, sectors, and areas of expertise, board members serve as a bridge between IHS and its alumni network—supporting engagement, collaboration, and knowledge exchange. Together with the IHS Alumni Relations Office, the board helps shape alumni initiatives, connect graduates across regions, and create opportunities for continued professional and personal development.
We are proud to introduce the current members of the board below.
Anahit Hovhannisyan - President
Born and raised in Armenia, and currently based in Rotterdam, Anahit is an urban designer specialising in sustainable city development. Her work is shaped by a diverse and multidisciplinary background in architecture and urban planning, and grounded in a deep commitment to building more inclusive, resilient, and future-proof cities.
Anahit earned her Master’s degree in Architecture at the National University of Architecture and Construction and served as an urban planning advisor at the Ministry of Urban Development of Armenia. Her passion for inclusive and sustainable urban development led her to the Netherlands, where she graduated with an MSc in Urban Management and Development at IHS, Erasmus University Rotterdam, in 2017. She is currently part of the international team at KCAP, a leading architecture and urbanism firm in Rotterdam. At KCAP, she works across a wide range of projects—spanning large-scale urban strategies, architectural design, public space, and landscape interventions. She is particularly valued for her ability to navigate complexity, translate visions into spatial concepts, and apply a strong design narrative to topics such as climate resilience, nature-inclusivity, water safety, and circularity.
In addition to her work in the Netherlands, Anahit actively contributes to the professional discourse in Armenia by sharing her experience through lectures, summer schools, and participation in urban development events.
In her role as IHS Alumni President, Anahit aims to foster a more vibrant and connected alumni network—one that encourages dialogue, learning, and collaboration across regions and generations. She is passionate about creating a space where alumni can exchange knowledge, share opportunities, and contribute collectively to shaping more sustainable and inclusive cities worldwide.
Beyond her work in urbanism, Anahit draws from her artistic background. She played violin for many years in Armenia’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra—an experience that shaped her creative discipline and continues to inspire her design approach.
Sagar Jayaramulu - Vice-president
Sagar comes from India and is currently living in Rotterdam. He is an urban development professional with an interdisciplinary background in architecture, planning, and policy research. He holds a Master’s in Urban Management and Development from IHS, Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he specialised in Urban Housing and Land Justice (you can read about Sagar's thesis research in Chennai, India here).
His work focuses on informal settlement upgrading, housing justice, and community-led development across India, sub-Saharan Africa, and the MENA region.
Currently, Sagar serves as Project Team Co-Coordinator with Shelter Centre, a Geneva-based humanitarian NGO. He is part of a collaborative initiative with the Urban Housing Practitioners Hub – Middle East & North Africa (UHPH-MENA) and Habitat for Humanity International, examining the state of adequate housing in Jordan. In parallel, he leads Cities and Housing initiatives at Habitat Forum (INHAF), advancing inclusive, people-centric urban housing practices in India.
Agness Mwila - Community Builder
Agness is a friendly, honest, and results-oriented individual with a strong commitment to service and a passion for working with and supporting people. With 17 years of experience in Local Government, she currently serves as the Director of Housing and Social Services at a municipality in her home country, Zambia. Her work is grounded in the core values of dignity, empathy, service, and social justice—principles that guide not only her leadership style but also her daily interactions with others.
Throughout her career, Agness has remained dedicated to uplifting individuals and communities by empowering women, men, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups to recognize their value, access opportunities, and build fulfilling lives. Her work focuses on building systems that serve with compassion, particularly through housing initiatives, social protection, and community-based support. She believes deeply in the impact of being heard, respected, and supported—especially during times of vulnerability.
She brings a people-centered perspective to her work, one that thoughtfully balances policy with purpose and structure with heart. She is committed to contributing meaningfully to a future where professionals in housing and urban development are not only technically skilled but also guided by empathy and care. Her dedication to service is not just professional—it is a lifelong mission.
At IHS, she was part of the Master’s in Urban Management and Development class of 2014 and the short course on Land Management and Informal Settlements Regularization. She has also participated in refresher courses on the topics of land and vulnerable communities.
Carla Robb - Community Builder
Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Carla is passionate about actively pursuing social justice - namely joining forces with like-minded inclusivity enthusiasts to provide equal opportunity for all. Carla has a background in architecture, urban design and - management, with over 10 years of work experience in the sustainable urban development field in South Africa. Her areas of expertise include urban design and planning, project management, urban management, stakeholder engagements, and research by design.
Before moving to the Netherlands, she worked in both the private and public sector. She believes in co-design practices, to ensure all stakeholders have a voice, and to broaden the reach of stakeholder engagements. She set out to achieve evidence-based solutions in her work.
Carla now works at Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) in the Sustainable Urban Mobility and Safety department, where she runs several programmes focusing on sustainable mobility initiatives and climate neutrality in cities across Europe. She is also responsible for heading up a knowledge line in the effective and most sustainable use of space, with a key focus on creating liveable and resilient cities and regions.
Driven by a strong passion for trail running, you can often find Carla conquering the mountains in countries bordering the Netherlands. She also participates in the local waste management initiatives and community gardens.
Eduardo Zdanowicz - Communication Coordinator
Originally from Brazil, Eduardo participated in the IHS-Science Without Borders one-year Programme on "Urban Management and Development: Sustainable Urbanism" in 2013. He has also previously served on the Alumni Board during an earlier mandate.
With over 7 years of experience in digital marketing, Eduardo has a strong background in branding, digital strategy, content management, and event planning — both online and in-person. He has managed social media platforms, led paid media campaigns, and coordinated influencer marketing efforts, always with a performance-driven and results-oriented approach. Eduardo currently works in the marketing team at Impact Hub São Paulo, where he supports projects focused on inclusive economic development, climate action, and the creation of collaborative and innovative environments that foster social and environmental impact.
He also brings solid international experience. He worked for over four years at Nuffic Neso Brazil, the Netherlands Education Support Office, promoting Dutch higher education and fostering partnerships between Brazilian and Dutch institutions. In addition, he has held professional roles in the Netherlands and the United States in marketing, sales, and customer success.
Collaborative, strategic, and passionate about inclusive development and human-centered technology, Eduardo looks forward to contributing to the IHS global alumni network through impactful communication and engagement.
We wish them all best of luck and milestones to be proud of during their term!