This month, Cadasta bids a heartfelt farewell to Board Member Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken, whose six years of service on our Board of Directors have left a lasting mark on our organization. 

Tosca is an internationally recognized expert with more than 30 years of experience in international development, civil society, and nonprofit leadership. Over the course of her career, she has worked with international NGOs, UN agencies, and the World Bank. She led the Transnational NGO (TNGO) Initiative at Syracuse University and now heads her own consulting practice, Five Oaks Consulting, where she advises nonprofits on leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and governance. 

Since joining Cadasta’s board in 2019, Tosca has been a source of invaluable strategic guidance and thought leadership. She played a key role in strengthening the Board’s governance and self-assessment processes, helping ensure Cadasta continues to meet the highest standards of accountability and effectiveness. Her expertise in nonprofit leadership and change management also enriched discussions on how technology and innovation can advance land and resource rights for communities worldwide. 

Cadasta President and CEO Amy Coughenour Betancourt reflected on Tosca’s contributions: 

“Tosca has been an extraordinary asset to Cadasta over the past six years. Her wisdom, candor, and deep knowledge of nonprofit leadership and governance strengthened our board and helped us grow as an organization. I am personally grateful for her partnership, her steady guidance, and her unwavering belief in Cadasta’s mission. We wish her the very best as she continues to shape and inspire the nonprofit sector.”

Beyond her governance role, Tosca has been an engaged and thoughtful voice in Cadasta’s broader mission to secure land and resource rights for communities around the world. Her insights on organizational growth and leadership helped position Cadasta as a stronger, more resilient organization at a pivotal time in our history. 

As Tosca steps down from the board, her influence will continue to resonate in Cadasta’s work. We are deeply grateful for her dedication, wisdom, and leadership, and look forward to seeing her continued contributions to the international development and nonprofit sectors through Five Oaks Consulting and beyond. 

From all of us at Cadasta, thank you, Tosca!