Election of your new Board of Directors and Office Holders

At our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 9, 2026, the available seats on the Board of Directors and Office Holders will be elected by our members.

Every member of ISCA is encouraged to review the nominees below so that you can make an informed vote at the AGM to elect the members who you believe will be best for the association. You can read their profiles and click to watch short videos, their CV, and other professional information.

How voting will work

ISCA members are eligible to attend the virtual online AGM and vote to have their say in who governs our association.

Each member will vote for one (1) candidate for each office holder position. This year, it is just the Treasurer position.

Each member will vote for two (2) candidates for Ordinary Board positions. The two (2) candidates receiving the most votes will be elected as Directors.

Meet the nominees

Listed in alphabetical order.

Nominees for Treasurer

Heather McGregor (she/her)

United Arab Emirates

I am honoured to stand for election as Treasurer of the International Social Capital Association. I have been actively involved in ISCA for a number of years and served on the board for the last 2 years..... Read more

Professor Dame Heather McGregor DBE FRSE CGMA

I am honoured to stand for election as Treasurer of the International Social Capital Association.

I have been actively involved in ISCA for a number of years and served on the board for the last 2 years. I have seen firsthand the value that the Association brings in connecting scholars, practitioners and policymakers who share an interest in advancing understanding of social capital. Most recently, I have had the privilege of leading the organisation of the Social Capital 2026 Conference and am continuing my service through membership of the steering committee for the 2027 conference. These roles have given me a detailed understanding of the Association's operations, ambitions and opportunities for growth.

My professional background combines senior leadership, governance and financial expertise. I am Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai and have previously served as Executive Dean of Edinburgh Business School. Before entering higher education, I spent many years in investment banking and financial services, advising organisations on strategic and financial matters.

I am a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Throughout my career I have held responsibility for the stewardship of substantial budgets, financial planning, risk management, governance and organisational sustainability. I currently oversee financial performance and strategic planning within a complex international university operating across multiple jurisdictions.

As Treasurer, I would bring both financial expertise and a strong commitment to the continued success of ISCA. I believe the Association is well positioned to strengthen its global reach, broaden membership engagement and ensure that its finances support its mission for years to come. I would be delighted to contribute my experience and energy to achieving those goals.

I would be grateful for your support.

Nominees for Ordinary Director

You will be asked to vote for the two (2) people whom you would like to form the Board of Directors.

NAJMUL HODA
(he/him)

India

I am pleased to stand as a candidate for Ordinary Director of the International Social Capital Association (ISCA). As a Founder Member, my commitment to the association's community, intellectual growth, and global reach is rooted in active engagement from its inception... Read more

NAJMUL HODA

I am pleased to stand as a candidate for Ordinary Director of the International Social Capital Association (ISCA). As a Founder Member, my commitment to the association's community, intellectual growth, and global reach is rooted in active engagement from its inception. My academic background is in business and management education, with research focused on Islamic finance, entrepreneurship, and social capital, alongside a developing inquiry into financial behavior. Within this broader agenda, social capital represents a core research stream. I co-edited Social Capital in the Age of Online Networking (IGI Global, 2023, Scopus-indexed) and have published peer-reviewed studies on digital networking, online social capital, and financial capabilities in journals such as Sustainability and JAFEB. Most recently, I presented my conceptual work on translating social capital into financial capacity at the Social Capital 2026 conference. Beyond research, I bring practical administrative and institution-building experience. As Director of the Imam Al-Albani Institute of Management, Business and Islamic Finance, and through previous leadership at Sahulat Microfinance Society, I have drafted governance policies, managed research programs, and directed cross-functional initiatives. Having also served on academic quality and accreditation processes at Umm Al-Qura University in Saudi Arabia, I understand the steady operational labor required of an effective board.
If selected to serve, my contribution to ISCA will focus on three areas:
Scholarly & Publishing Support: Bringing my editorial and peer-reviewer experience to support ISCA’s publications, research initiatives, and early-career scholars.
Global Outreach: Leveraging my networks across South Asia and the GCC to broaden ISCA’s geographic representation and institutional connections.
Interdisciplinary Integration: Connecting social capital concepts with emerging work in financial behavior, entrepreneurship, and community-based finance.
I am prepared to dedicate 3–4 hours per week to support ISCA’s board and committee work.

Alex Petric
(he/him)

Canada

Having been an ISCA member since 2022, I have actively engaged with the association through webinars and in-person conferences, and I am grateful for ISCA’s role in advancing and convening social capital research. Read more

Alex Petric

Having been an ISCA member since 2022, I have actively engaged with the association through webinars and in-person conferences, and I am grateful for ISCA’s role in advancing and convening social capital research. I am eager to build on my involvement to date and to contribute further to the association’s growth and development. Locally, I helped organize a lecture by ISCA President Tristan Claridge at the University of Waterloo, and this experience deepened my appreciation for ISCA’s mission and strengthened my commitment to its work.

I am currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Urban Planning, with research focused on the relationship between the built environment, urban policy, and the creation and maintenance of social capital. Beyond academia, I have organizational experience from student-run and community-based initiatives where I worked with teams to manage meetings, record minutes, plan events, and navigate challenges. As a published academic with direct experience in the peer-review process, I believe that I am well-positioned to contribute to ISCA’s publication efforts and to support the association’s broader organizational goals.

If elected to the Board of Directors, I would be honoured to apply my skills in the service of ISCA’s mission, and to help strengthen the community of scholars and practitioners dedicated to the study and application of social capital. Thank you for considering me as a candidate.

PRABHAKAR REDDY TADA
(he/him)

India

I am contesting for the position of ‘Director’ in ISCA to contribute to the goals of the Association and promote the discipline of ‘Social Capital’ among Social Scientists and others... Read more

PRABHAKAR REDDY TADA

Dear Friends,
I am contesting for the position of ‘Director’ in ISCA to contribute to the goals of the Association and promote the discipline of ‘Social Capital’ among Social Scientists and others. As a policy researcher for the last 28 years with UN Agencies (UNDP, UN Women, UNICEF), Universities, INGOs and the Government of India, my experience is very useful to the ISCA in promoting research and dissemination of Social Capital- given its significance and policy relevance- across various institutions, including the UN, in different countries.

I have documented the emergence of ‘Social Capital’ while poverty reduction efforts were going on in Andhra Pradesh, India, during 2003 and captured the functioning of Networks of Women (SHGs) and their growth & empowerment as a political force to reckon with. I strongly believe in policy research and scholarly writing that would enable governments to design appropriate policies that result in a better and cohesive society.

Further, developing peer relationships and forging new alliances is my strength and encouraging new researchers from India in the process of working is my plan. I am a team player, a hardcore researcher and possess the quality of adapting to change and new roles. Open-minded and willing to listen to new research output, and able to publish in refereed journals and books independently.

Kindly cast your precious vote on 9 September 2026 and enable me to work for the events, AGM, extraordinary meetings and promotion of ISCA at a global level.

Looking forward to meeting you in Dubai in March 2027,

Thanking you in advance,
Best wishes,

Prof. Tada Prabhakar Reddy,
Social Policy Expert, UNICEF, EAPRO, Bangkok and ROSA, Nepal
Former Advisor to the Government of Telangana, Hyderabad, India
Email: rprabhakara04@gmail.com; Ph: 9650469933

Mara Sintejudeanu
(she/her)

Ireland

My name is Mara Sintejudeanu and I am a Lecturer in Supply Chain Management at ATU, Ireland. My interest in social capital developed more formally when I moved to Ireland for my doctoral studies. Read more

Mara Sintejudeanu

My name is Mara Sintejudeanu and I am a Lecturer in Supply Chain Management at ATU, Ireland.

My interest in social capital developed more formally when I moved to Ireland for my doctoral studies. Arriving alone in a country where I did not know anybody, I became consciously aware, for the first time, how much we rely on our social networks. Back home, surrounded by family and friends, I had never given it much thought. I had taken those relationships and the social capital embedded them, for granted. The loneliness and the difficulty of finding my footing and accessing information when I first arrived to Ireland, were what ultimately drew me to study social capital theory and apply it in the analysis and interpretation of my PhD data.

My PhD at University of Galway, Ireland, examined governance, management control and social capital in mandated hospital networks and my research has been published in Accounting Forum (ABS 3), with further work under review at Public Management Review. This research has given me a deep understanding of how trust, networks and reciprocity influence institutions.

Beyond research, I am actively involved in the social capital community. I chaired the Health and Wellbeing stream at the 2026 Social Capital Conference, and I am delighted to have been invited to chair it again next year. I have completed the Aurora leadership programme for women in higher education and hold Advance HE Fellowship. I addition, I contribute to several European research projects and supervise PhD candidates.

I believe in the mission of the Institute and I would welcome the opportunity to contribute to its growth by raising its research profile and strengthening collaboration among members. I would be grateful for your vote and thank you for reading.

Yours sincerely,
Mara Sintejudeanu

Shupikai Zebron
(she/her)

Zimbabwe

I am Dr. Shupikai Zebron, a Senior Lecturer in Counselling at the Zimbabwe Open University, professional counsellor, researcher, and community development advocate... Read more

Shupikai Zebron

I am Dr. Shupikai Zebron, a Senior Lecturer in Counselling at the Zimbabwe Open University, professional counsellor, researcher, and community development advocate. I am seeking your support for election as Director of the International Social Capital Association (ISCA).

Throughout my career, I have been committed to advancing education, research, mental health, gender equality, and community empowerment. My work has focused on strengthening social capital through transformative education, professional capacity building, and culturally responsive approaches that value local knowledge and lived experiences. I have served in various leadership and governance roles within professional associations, academic institutions, and community organizations, experiences that have strengthened my ability to collaborate, lead strategically, and promote inclusive development.
As a Director of ISCA, I will champion greater global engagement, support innovative research, and foster partnerships that connect scholars, practitioners, and communities across diverse contexts. I am particularly passionate about ensuring that voices from Africa and other underrepresented regions contribute meaningfully to global conversations on social capital, resilience, and sustainable development.
I believe that strong relationships, collaboration, and shared knowledge are the foundations of thriving communities. My commitment is to serve with integrity, transparency, professionalism, and a genuine dedication to advancing ISCA’s mission.
I respectfully ask for your vote and support. Together, we can strengthen social capital, expand opportunities for collaboration, and create lasting positive impact for individuals, communities, and societies worldwide.
Vote for Dr. Shupikai Zebron: Building Connections, Empowering Communities, Transforming Futures.

Nomination Process

The Nomination Committee established a robust and transparent process for accepting and reviewing nominations for the Board of Directors. More details about the process can be found here.

Six submissions were received in 2026. Following the review process by the Nomination Committee, only four of the nominees are eligible for election.

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