Our Team
Executive Board
PRESIDENT/EDITOR OF REFLEXIONS MAGAZINE: DR. ESTHER TAN
Esther is the Senior Medical Officer and Head of the Public Health section of the Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health at the United Nations, New York. Originally from Singapore and a convert from Protestantism to the Catholic faith, she enjoys reading, the arts and spending quality time with her friends and family. Her favorite Saints are St John of the Cross and Blessed Anna Maria Taigi. Esther looks forward to growing and deepening the Catholic community of the United Nations through formation and fellowship!
VICE-PRESIDENT: GUENTHER GROSS
Guenther is a Senior Programme Management Officer in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the United Nations in New York. He was raised in Austria by a loving catholic family and strengthened his faith through visits to Medjugorje in the 1990s. He enjoys quality time with his family and friends, going out for a hike or ski trip on the weekends and spending quiet time in prayer and reflection. His favorite saint is St. Therese of Lisieux. Guenther looks forward to growing the Catholic community of the United Nations through formation of faith and volunteer work.
SECRETARY/TREASURER: NICOLE HUNT
Nicole works as Senior Statistics Assistant in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the United Nations Headquarters in NYC. She hails from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, was raised by a loving family who gave her a firm Catholic foundation, and feels blessed by the opportunity to grow in faith through the work of the UNSRC Catholic Club. She enjoys music, sports, volunteer work, and spending quiet time in prayer and reflection.
Office Bearer
ROSARY CHAIR: TINA COLACO
Tina hails from Bombay, India, a cradle Catholic, now settled in Trumbull, CT. She enjoys attending mass and is a committed guardian at St. Theresa’s perpetual adoration chapel. She prays the rosary regularly and truly believes in its efficacy.
SPEAKER SERIES CHAIR/ASSISTANT EDITOR OF REFLEXIONS MAGAZINE: CHARISSA VILLAMAYOR
Charissa works as an Administrative Officer at the Executive Office of the Secretary-General at the United Nations in New York. She was born and raised in the Philippines by a devoted Catholic family. Her faith was strengthened when she went to a silent retreat in her 20s and God clearly spoke to her to fulfill her ‘Call to Family, Community and Participation’ for the glory of God. She’s an active member of the Women’s Cornerstone in New Jersey who have been sharing the same spirituality and faith with other women. Her family and friends have asked her a lot of times to pray for them, as she prays every single time there’s an opportunity, including the rosary, personal journaling, and church visit. Her favorite saint is St. Jude Thaddeus, “The Patron Saint of the Impossible.” Charissa looks forward to knowing each one’s faith journey through their personal stories.
Liaison Officers Outside UNHQ
NAIROBI - WALTER MATOKE
Walter is a Programme Assistant at the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa in Nairobi, speaking eight languages, including English, Kiswahili, French, and Italian. Raised in a strictly Catholic family in rural Kenya, he attended a minor seminary and the Consolata Missionary Seminary, where he spent seven years discerning his vocation. His path changed in 1997 during theology studies in the DR Congo amid conflict and Ebola, after which he became a lay missionary. Married with three children, Walter raises them in the Catholic faith until they can make their own choices. His favorite saint is Augustine of Hippo, and he values reading his "Confessions." Walter looks forward to contributing to the UN Catholic community through his work and service.
For further information regarding the UN staff Catholics in Nairobi, please reach out to Walter at w.matoke@unesco.org or contact him directly at +254 724 727 822.