Meet the team

The people behind the engine of Report for Impact.

Preethi Nallu is a researcher, filmmaker, and advocacy specialist, and the executive director and co-founder of Report for the World, a global service program supporting specialized journalists at public-interest outlets in 28 countries on issues such as climate, governance, health, migration, and education.

Born in Iran and raised in India, with a career spanning 16 countries, she has reported on and led campaigns around human rights and development—covering refugee movements and returns, media innovation and reform, and gender and children’s rights. Over 15 years, she has reported for mainstream outlets, managed independent platforms, and led multimedia advocacy for the UN; she later joined International Media Support (IMS) as an advocacy adviser and collaborations lead, co-editing IMS’s Mediabridge after a successful pilot.

Her work with Al Jazeera English and Refugees Deeply has earned two Webby Awards, an Amnesty Human Rights Reporting Award, and a Migration Media Award, and her film “Norway’s Afghan Sons” is long listed for the One World Media Awards.

Peter Matjašič
Network & Development Lead

Innovative European civil society and non-profit leader with more than 15 years driving impact in journalism, activism, and strategic philanthropy. Now Network Director at Reference Circle, Peter previously guided growth and transnational newsroom cohesion as Executive Director of Investigate Europe and advanced civic engagement through senior grant-making roles at the Open Society Initiative for Europe. His advocacy includes championing whistleblower protections, anti-SLAPP work, and pioneering pan-European campaigns for abortion rights (“My Voice, My Choice”).

As former President of the European Youth Forum and an Obama Foundation Europe Leader, Peter combines deep sector expertise with a skill for building collaborative, multicultural teams. Originally from Slovenia, now based in Barcelona, and fluent in eight languages, he excels in remote environments and values inclusive, participatory decision-making. Peter’s leadership is defined by bridge-building, integrity, and a belief that solidarity and collective action power democratic progress and resilient public-interest media.

Miguel García
Latin America Manager

Colombian journalist, producer, and podcaster Miguel García has spent his career highlighting the resilience, struggle, and hope of communities that often go unnoticed. In his work, he has sought to give a voice to ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, always believing in collaborative work and the power of journalism to connect the local with the global. García comes to Report for the World, channeling that passion to strengthen the media in Latin America.

In his years of experience, he has collaborated with various media outlets, organizations, and agencies in Colombia. In the Latin American context, he contributed to the coordination of International Media Support’s (IMS) Mediabridge project. Miguel is a strategic communications consultant and has worked for government agencies and NGOs. He has served as global communications officer for the People’s Health Movement. Miguel has been an advocate for freedom of the press, human rights, and the right to health.

Alis Okonji-Bownds
Africa Program Manager

Alis is a science communications and development consultant from Kenya with 10+ years of experience supporting organisations in telling their stories, building partnerships, and shaping meaningful public conversations at the intersection of science and policy.

She has worked across Africa and beyond with agricultural research institutions, international disability alliances, academia and environmental programs, making complex ideas clear and actionable. As the founder of ABComms, she supports development agencies, NGOs, and governments to turn evidence into stories that inspire action.

Alis has a Master’s in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where she conducted research on food security and famine in South Sudan. Her work is grounded in a simple conviction: a better future depends on healthy people and a healthy planet. Her secret talent is whistling.

Omar Rajaratnam
South Asia Program Manager

Omar is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Factum. He specializes in supporting the incubation, acceleration and relaunching of digital media start-ups in Sri Lanka and Asia, creation of public interest content for marginalized communities and supporting business viability of start-ups. He has also served as lead trainer on multiple initiatives regarding critical consumption of content. He was formerly Sri Lanka’s Country Manager for International Media Support Denmark and previously the Head of Media at the US Embassy to Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Neil Innes
Communications Consultant

Neil Innes is a UK-born, Australia-trained filmmaker turned audio and film producer whose first love is storytelling—on screen, in audio, and in conversation. Though he doesn’t call himself a reporter, he’s built a career crafting long-form, emotionally resonant podcasts and films that make complex, under-covered issues feel human and actionable.

At Report for the World and Report for Impact, Neil wants to use his background and networks to amplify local journalists’ work, connect stories to the communities they’re meant for, and help independent, community-rooted reporting thrive. Guided by a belief in local storytelling over flashy news delivery, his memorable work includes pandemic-era podcasts like Passport and MisInfonation, projects that deepened his commitment to conversations that shift perspectives and spark connection.