Our Team
Shannon Fernando-Rubera,
RN, MSN-FNP-C

Board of Directors

Leela Braganza, CPA
Leela Braganza has practiced accounting for more than 20 years, with specific experience in nonprofit accounting. She has served as Alabaster’s bookkeeper since 2015, and joined the Board to serve as Treasurer in 2018. She runs a private bookkeeping business and works at a tax firm doing individual, corporate and non-profit taxes.
Leela holds a Bachelor’s degree from Vanguard University of Southern California and is a CPA both in California and Washington. She currently lives in Washington with her husband and two children and enjoys playing guitar and spending time with her family.
Veena Fenn, RN, MS
Veena Fenn is a registered nurse with 10 years of experience in adult critical care. She traveled on her first outreach trip with Alabaster in 2013 and has returned every year since. Veena joined Alabaster’s board in 2015, allowing her to contribute to the overall strategy, in addition to the implementation, of healthcare and health education projects.
Driven by a longstanding desire to bring quality medical care to underserved communities in Africa, Veena has grown a deep commitment to Kenya and its people, and strives to provide quality nursing care to her patients. She also enjoys partnering with local providers and educating fellow team members on key areas of health and preventative medicine. Veena holds a Bachelor’s in Nursing from New York University and a Master’s in Science from Dartmouth College. She is a proud aunt of two and enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family.


Rini George, MA
For nearly two decades and through a range of professional roles, Rini has worked to enhance the capacities of nonprofits and small businesses to effectively achieve their goals. She currently oversees business development at 5 Fold Marketing Company, a vibrant, socially conscious marketing start-up. She has been an advocate for vulnerable populations since she was young, with a special interest in developing communities, alleviating poverty, and advocating for human rights. With a bachelor’s degree in International Development Studies from UCLA, and a master’s degree in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy & Management, Rini currently lives with her husband and two sons in Ohio.
Dr. Connie-Marie Lapadat MSN-FNPBC, MD/MBBS, Diploma IM
Dr. Connie-Marie Lapadat has practiced as a licensed Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner for more than 20 years and, in 2017, earned an MD/MBBS degree and Diploma in International Medicine. She currently serves as faculty at the University of Northern BC, where she teaches pediatrics, women’s and adult health in the MSN-FNP program, as well as at USC Keck School of Medicine.
At the age of 18, Connie decided to commit herself serving the most vulnerable communities, places where there is no existing care. This commitment has taken her to the Arctic Circle and rural villages in Africa, Mexico, Haiti and Panama to set up HIV and child health projects and clinics. She holds certificates in tropical medicine, palliative care, primary health care in developing countries, obstetrical nursing, ophthalmology, and HIV. In her spare time Connie competes internationally in Latin Dance competitions, rides motorcycle and instructs Zumba classes.


Ashantha Rubera
Tina Babajanians

Partner Organizations

Alliance for the Protection of Children
The Alliance for the Protection of Children takes a wholistic approach to helping and protecting children and young people to secure a better future. The nonprofit is supporting young mothers as well as their children and families through direct aid, psychosocial support, skills training and social connections. Alabaster began partnering with APC in 2020 during the COVID pandemic with dignity kits and food packs that help young mothers in their first several months of parenting.
Research Partners

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Arba Minch University

Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute
