Biographies

Azmina Aboobaker

Azmina Aboobaker is the Director of Immigration at Meta. She manages a large team leading talent planning, immigration strategy and operations, and corporate compliance in multiple jurisdictions around the world. Prior to joining Meta, she practiced immigration law with a number of firms across the US and is an expert at building and managing agile and high-volume mobility programs to support business needs. Azmina has served as Chair of WERC’s Immigration Policy Forum and is a member of the Corporate Advisory Council. She’s also a frequent speaker at various industry-wide conferences.

Dick Burke

Dick Burke is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Envoy Global, a leading global corporate immigration services provider. Prior to joining Envoy in 2015, Burke served as President of Apartments.com, where he led the business to record numbers in customers, traffic and revenues culminating in its sale to CoStar Group in 2014 for $585M. Previously, Burke served as Senior Vice President of Administration and Corporate Development for Classified Ventures LLC. In this capacity, he oversaw Homegain.com, the company’s online real estate business. In addition, he led the company’s corporate services division, comprised of corporate technology, finance, legal, human resources, communications, facilities and corporate development. Earlier in his career, he practiced law at Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella P.C. and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Burke earned a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. He also holds a B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross. Burke was a national finalist for EY’s 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Ron Dunlap

Appointed as the Chief Executive Officer in July 2024, Ron Dunlap is at the helm of Graebel Companies, Inc., steering the company towards its mission and vision with a keen focus on relevance in the global communities the company serves. Under his leadership, Graebel is embracing a transformative era, marked by a strategic vision that aligns with the company's 75th anniversary. With a rich history at Graebel, including roles as President and Chief Operating Officer, Ron has been a cornerstone in the company’s growth and international expansion. His strategic initiatives have significantly enhanced organizational culture, performance, growth, and profitability. Notably, Ron has championed the development of industry-leading technology, enriching partner relations and opening new revenue channels. Ron’s leadership philosophy is deeply rooted in creating a duty of care culture, prioritizing values of truth, love and integrity. This approach extends to enhancing client and mobile employee experiences, ensuring that Graebel not only meets but anticipates and exceeds client needs. Prior to his tenure at Graebel, Ron brought nine years of diverse experience in global mobility, mastering roles across IT, operations, and client management after a career in the U.S. Air Force. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wichita State University and a master’s and doctorate in experimental psychology and statistics from Texas Tech University. As Graebel looks towards the world ahead, Ron's visionary leadership is set to propel the company to new heights of innovation and market leadership, continuing the legacy of excellence that has been a hallmark of Graebel’s journey.

Rita Hernandez

Rita Hernandez is the President and Founder of PremierDS, bringing more than 35 years of leadership in the relocation industry. She has redefined mobility services across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States, earning recognition for her commitment to service excellence and client care. Known for her integrity and ability to align client needs with flawless execution, Rita has set new standards in the industry while inspiring colleagues and peers through her dedication and vision.

Nidia Knight

Nidia Knight is the CHRO for Medical Services and Group General Manager – International HR at International SOS, the world’s leading medical and security services company. With over 20 years of global human capital experience, she has led teams across Portugal, UAE, China, Australia, Germany and Singapore, building deep expertise in international HR and cross-cultural leadership. In her dual role, Nidia oversees the global people strategy for Medical Services and leads a total employee population of 6,500, including 1,000 international assignees. She manages a large global team of HR and Global Mobility professionals, with Global Mobility sitting directly under her remit. Her team supports the recruitment and deployment of employees and medical experts in some of the world’s most remote and complex environments. As a member of the Executive Committee, Nidia drives strategic HR and global mobility initiatives aligned with business priorities. She is passionate about transformation and innovation, particularly in applying artificial intelligence to enhance workforce agility, employee experience and data-driven decision-making. Leading with empathy and a strong focus on employee engagement is central to her leadership approach. Widely recognised for her strategic acumen, operational excellence and commitment to mentoring emerging talent, Nidia continues to elevate the Global Mobility and HR profession across APAC and beyond through thought leadership and a future-focused approach to people and culture.

Dr. Elizabeth Kumbhari, J.D.

Elizabeth Kumbhari is President of Cultural Exchange at Vanteo, a premier partner for organizations navigating international hiring, global workforce mobility, and cultural exchange initiatives. In this role, she leads strategic efforts to connect talent and opportunity across borders, empowering companies and individuals to thrive in a globalized world through cultural exchanges.

Prior to joining Vanteo, Elizabeth was the Founder and Managing Attorney of Go Global Immigration, PLLC, a U.S. corporate immigration law firm. She also served as Vice President of Client Management for Americas Immigration at Newland Chase, and held multiple leadership roles at Amazon, most recently as Business Advisory Lead for Canada and Latin America.

Earlier in her career, Elizabeth was General Counsel and Vice President of Professional Exchange Programs at Cultural Vistas, where she oversaw one of the largest J-1 visa programs in the country. She also directed international offices at Long Island University and Northern Kentucky University, advancing global education and exchange.

Elizabeth holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Learning (EdD) from Vanderbilt University, where her research focused on the success factors of expatriate assignments at Global Fortune 500 companies. She also earned her Juris Doctor from Northern Kentucky University and is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Washington, D.C.

Outside of her professional work, Elizabeth is deeply engaged in nonprofit leadership. In addition to her role with WERC, she is Secretary of the Board at Global Ties US, a Board of Director for The Letter Project and a Contributing Author and Member of the Forbes Business Council.

Keryn Mendes, GMS-T

Keryn Mendes is a globally recognized leader in strategic talent mobility with over 19 years of experience across technology, engineering, mining, aerospace, telecommunications, and government sectors. ​ Keryn has led transformative global mobility programs for iconic organizations such as Adobe, Ericsson, Rio Tinto and Boeing, aligning talent strategies with business growth, compliance, and employee experience, through purpose-driven leadership. ​Known for her disciplined, systems-oriented approach to governance, policy development, and operational excellence, Keryn has earned accolades including Global Mobility Champion of the Year, Top 100 Mobility Innovators, Top 250 Global Mobility Professional & Women Leaders in Mobility, and recognition as one of Relocate Global’s Think Women 40 Outstanding Global Women. ​She serves as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, leading regional and global transformation initiatives, and contributing to industry advancement through speaking engagements, publications, and leadership workshops across APAC, US and the Middle East. ​Keryn is a values-driven leader, who excels at systemizing complexity, connecting strategic dots across regions and functions, and delivering human-centric, innovative outcomes.

Nino Nelissen

Nino Nelissen has worked for more than 30 years as an expatriate tax specialist. First in two big 4 firms in Amsterdam, Washington DC and Tokyo, after which he founded  Executive Mobility Group (EMG). In EMG he oversees a combined offering of services in the area of immigration, tax, HR, Business Expansion, and Destination Services. In addition to being involved in employee relocation, Nino is involved in the GRIN community, a community that serves the interests of children that are GRIN patients, as well as their parents.

Anupam Singhal

Anupam Singhal is a seasoned leader with a distinguished career as a growth investor, operator, and advisor. As recently appointed President & CEO of WERC (formerly known as Worldwide ERC), he brings a wealth of experience, strategic vision, and a proven track record of driving organizational excellence. With a strong commitment to advancing the interests of the talent mobility community, Anupam has played a pivotal role in shaping the direction and resurgence of WERC, having served on its board of directors from 2020 to 2023, including as Chairman and Interim CEO in 2023. He is recognized for his ability to navigate complex challenges, foster collaboration, and drive innovation in an ever-evolving business landscape. Anupam brings with him a unique perspective and understanding of the complexities and nuances of global talent mobility, having spent several years in leadership roles within the industry, as well as outside it before assuming the role of President & CEO of WERC. With a reputation for driving results, Anupam is committed to leading WERC toward new heights, embracing emerging trends, and ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of the dynamic global talent mobility landscape. His leadership is marked by a dedication to excellence, innovation, transformation, and the advancement of the talent mobility profession on a global scale. Prior to WERC, Anupam was part of the executive leadership team at Topia, responsible for building and managing Topia’s strategic partner ecosystem, driving strategic top-line growth initiatives, and executing targeted M&A and corporate strategy. He previously co-founded and led Monaeo, an industry-leading, cloud-based, globally distributed workforce compliance tech company that Topia acquired in 2020. Before founding Monaeo, Anupam was a Principal at Silver Lake Partners, the world’s largest tech-focused private equity investment firm. He also worked at General Atlantic as a growth private equity investor and in mergers and acquisitions at Morgan Stanley. Anupam holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. degree from Carnegie Mellon and the London School of Economics. In his 20+ years investing in and helping build world-class global technology companies, he has been both an active business traveler and an expat having lived in, worked in, and traveled to more than 30 countries.

Linda Smith

Linda has been the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Sirva since April 2012. As CCO, she drove the company's global growth strategy. Most recently, she was named Sirva’s Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer expanding her responsibilities to align the company’s direction with changing market needs. Her commitment to understanding customers and the industry drives our ability to improve, change and grow our services and technology offerings. She has global leadership responsibility for market-facing teams including strategic services, business development, global marketing, and new product offerings.

She began her career at Xerox Corporation in Rochester NY, where she held marketing and sales roles of increasing responsibility, running businesses with a focus on Profit and Loss. Linda is accomplished in customer-driven approaches to business challenges that enable growth. She also had a distinguished career as Vice President of Global Services and Vice President of Field Sales Operations with Ricoh Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo.

Linda holds an MBA and a Bachelor’s in Business Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Rajiv Thadani

Rajiv is a global engagement lead for various technology clients in KPMG’s Bay Area office. He joined KPMG in 2001 having previously worked with Arthur Andersen. He has more than 25 years of experience providing a vast array of international tax and human resources services. Prior to relocating to the United States, Rajiv has had worked in Belgium, United Kingdom, and India, and is familiar with the tax and HR challenges that accompany the international assignments.

Mark J. Burchell, SGMS

With more than four decades of experience in the global relocation industry, Mark leads strategic growth for Arpin International. In his current role, Mark oversees Arpin's growth strategies, focusing on innovative products and services that match the needs of today’s policies and transferee choice. Mark is a dynamic, seasoned professional who specializes in building integrated, global teams to increase profitable market share. He is experienced in leading teams across multiple cultures, encouraging innovation to deliver exceptional, sustainable, long term customer experiences and relationships around the world. Mark relocated to the US for the first time in the early 90’s and then returned to his native London in 2007. Prior to joining Arpin, Mark spent a total of 17 years with Suddath and 10 years with Santa Fe Relocation Services in London, with global responsibility for sales and marketing. In addition to serving on the board of the WERC, Mark also is a member of the FIDI Quality Supervisory Board (one of the relocation industries leading trade associations).