Staff

As our Executive Director, Erika Castellanos spearheads trans and gender diverse advocacy worldwide, partnering with global organizations to address social justice, inequality, decriminalization, and access to healthcare.

Erika joined GATE in 2017 as Director of Programs and, after serving as Interim for one year, was appointed GATE’s Executive Director in 2023. At GATE, Erika secures vital resources to support our trans and gender diverse communities worldwide, with her strategic leadership and fundraising efforts securing sustainable funding for our communities around the world. Her commitment to driving innovation to advance the global trans movement enables GATE to achieve tangible progress toward equality and justice for all.

She began her career in the early 1990s, volunteering at a hospice in southern Mexico, providing dignified care to palliative clients at a time when treatment options were limited. After discovering that she was HIV-positive in 1995, she became active in advocating for treatment access and countering stigma in healthcare, founding Belize’s first HIV network and co-establishing its national trans organization. 

Specifically advocating for trans rights with an intersectional perspective, she has contributed to regional networks including REDCA+, REDLA+, CRN+, and REDLACTRANS. She became Vice Chair of GNP+ in 2015, and in 2018 became the first openly trans member of the Global Fund Board as the Communities Delegation representative.

When she’s not busy changing the world, Erika finds solace in cooking, crocheting, and spending time with her husband, two children, and two furry dogs.

Cori has been our Director of Finance and Operations since 2016, as she has a natural talent for making complex systems feel simple and approachable.

Known for her supportive approach, at GATE, she often spots challenges before they arise. Whether she is improving spreadsheets, designing data models or creating easy-to-navigate templates, Cori provides us with tools and systems to prepare us for success. 

Ultimately, she works to make GATE stronger and strengthen our capacity in advancing trans and gender diverse rights across the globe.Cori holds a Degree in Business, a Master’s in Global Affairs, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

In her spare time, she is learning how to play golf and musky fish.

From overseeing GATE’s communications to planning fundraising campaigns, supporting engagement with donors and ensuring alignment with GATE’s mission, Naomhán leads GATE’s public presence. By transforming data into engaging stories to inform our communities and donors, he supports GATE’s efforts to advance equality for all.

Naomhán holds a BA in International Media and Communication Studies from the University of Nottingham and an MSc in Marketing from Ulster University. His previous experience includes social media communications and campaign filmmaking and photography for various NGOs and arts festivals.

As a trans activist, he collaboratively founded and ran the European Trans and Intersex Summer Camp, founded Non-Binary Northern Ireland, co-led the Northern Irish gender recognition campaign to reform the UK Gender Recognition Act, co-founded Transgender NI and collaborated with TENI in their work to introduce non-binary legal gender recognition to the Republic of Ireland.

In his spare time, you’ll find Naomhán playing traditional Irish music on his fiddle, participating in triathlons, and exploring the beautiful landscape of Ireland.

As the Health Lead at GATE since 2023, Anil’s work involves listening to the trans community’s needs and priorities on health issues, using community-led research to support the development of trans-specific health guidelines and policies,  and supporting international, national and local organizations in adopting them. 

Anil holds a Degree in Psychology and has worked for 15 years in the fields of gender equality, HIV, access to healthcare and human rights, organizations including the South African Commission on Gender Equality, AIDS Law Project, the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society.

Prior to joinin GATE Anil worked at Gender Dynamix on various projects aimed at extending access to health rights for trans and gender diverse community members in Southern Africa and is a co-author of the South African Gender Affirming Healthcare Guidelines. 

Anil is based in South Africa, and is the proud parent of two children. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, growing indigenous plants and writing children’s fiction. 

Currently serving as our Human Rights Lead since 2022, Levan has been advancing international advocacy on anti-gender movements and strengthening trans and gender diverse leadership worldwide. They lead human rights research, capacity-strengthening initiatives and support trans-led organizations in responding to structural inequalities and human rights violations.

Prior to joining GATE, Levan served as the Executive Director at Equality Movement, one of the largest LGBTQI organizations in the Caucasian region, for a period of four years.  

As part of their activism, Levan has won strategic cases in the European Court of Human Rights and the Georgian Constitutional Court, organized the largest and the first-ever LGBTQI public demonstrations (IDAHOT) in Tbilisi; organized an international campaign with HRC and AllOut, and pushed the Georgian government to establish a human rights department within the police forces; and organized a series of queer events – HOROOM – one of the most important safe spaces for mobilization, education, and empowerment of the LGBTQI community in Georgia.

They are a graduate of the Social Justice and Human Rights MA program at Arizona State University and the Gender Studies MA program at Central European University. Levan has extensive experience in the LGBTQI and feminist movements in the Eurasia region, spanning over nine years.

In their spare time, Levan loves listening to music and reading about new ideas in the scientific and philosophy fields.

Anwar joined GATE in 2023 as the Movement Building Lead. On a daily basis, he coordinates the membership structure and helps expand movement-building initiatives while fostering meaningful engagement, networking, and collaboration among trans-led organizations worldwide. He also supports the development of essential tools and resources that contribute to GATE’s Learning Hub, well informing and strengthening the capacity of trans-led organizations.

Before joining GATE, Anwar lived in Berlin, Germany, where he worked for the Center for Intersectional Justice (CIJ), and Transgender Europe (TGEU) and held a wide range of positions from Community Building intern to acting co-Director. The core of his expertise lies in community and capacity building, organizational development, and cross-movement engagement.

Their ongoing engagements with the International Trans Fund and American Jewish World Service reflect their deep commitment to participatory grantmaking and amplifying the voices of grassroots movementsPrior to working in the nonprofit sector, Anwar worked as a child and youth worker, primarily serving children from working-class backgrounds and those of migrant descent.

Anwar is fluent in French and English, and has a decent level of German and Moroccan dialect. In his spare time, he loves spending time with his kid and niblings, and volunteering at grassroots groups.

Andreo Gustavo is our Communications Officer, bringing years of experience in structural and cultural consulting for SOGIESC inclusion through gender-sensitive communications to GATE since 2023. From website content creation to data analytics, supporting with publications proofreading and design, or ensuring technical assistance at webinars and meetings, Andreo also coordinates GATE’s social media channels and is responsible for crafting almost every post you see!

He also plays an important role in the daily lives of Portuguese trans people, having founded the first Portuguese digital platform for sexual and gender diversity inclusion called TransParente. Andreo is fluent in English and Portuguese, can communicate well in Spanish, and understands a bit of French. He finds pleasure in going to the beach to watch the sea and feel the breeze. From time to time, going for walks in nature and receiving a nice massage always gives him a restful feeling.

Andreo holds a Masters in Humanitarian Action, Cooperation and Development but used to play CSI while taking his Forensic and Criminal Sciences degree. His previous working experience ranges from health (Portuguese translation of SOC-8 from WPATH – World Professional Association for Transgender Health), communications (Communications Consultant at UNICEF -NYHQ), persons with disabilities (Personal Assistant), and HIV/AIDS (Project Assistant).

Joining GATE in 2024, Adriana serves as our Finance Officer, bringing expertise in grant management activities. Her day-to-day work at GATE involves supporting our Director of Finance in running GATE’s finances smoothly, ensuring that every grant GATE provides to our members is managed precisely and that every dollar supports trans and gender diverse communities worldwide.

Originally from South Africa, she graduated in Accounting Sciences, Business Administration, and Program Management in 2009. Adriana transitioned to the non-profit sector in 2018, where she gained specialized expertise in financial and grant management.

Adriana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting Sciences and Business Administration and certifications in Program Management Foundations and Program Management with a focus on Monitoring and Evaluation.

As a feminist, she is dedicated to advancing justice and equality, believing that every individual deserves the right to self-determination regardless of their identity.

When she’s not busy making sense of spreadsheets and reports, you’ll find Adriana lost in a good book, cooking something delicious, or cherishing time with her loved ones. 

Aisia joined GATE in March 2025 as our Movement Building Officer. 

Her day-to-day work involves supporting the Movement Building Lead in reviewing applications from potential new members, sending them opportunities through our App, and ensuring that the needs of our trans community are being heard and met. 

Prior to joining GATE this year as Movement Building Officer, she worked for Amnesty International, the Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN), and Youth LEAD, leading studies and campaigns on transgender youth inclusion in healthcare, gender equality, and digital safety.

She also previously coordinated national and regional programs on sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV, and youth empowerment, including roles at the International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP) and LoveYourself Inc.

Aisia is a licensed psychometrician and holds a master’s degree in Gender and Peacebuilding from the United Nations-mandated University for Peace.

Outside of work, she enjoys writing and pursuing creative outlets in cozy coffee shops

Best joined GATE in June 2025 as our Human Rights Officer. 

Bringing expertise in grassroots organizing and international advocacy, especially at multilateral spaces, Best’s day-to-day role at GATE means putting advocacy into action: engaging with the UN, implementing advocacy strategies with partners, conducting research on human rights violations, documenting good practices, and developing advocacy materials such as policy briefs, submissions, and evidence-based reports to advance human rights for trans and gender diverse communities.

Regarding her education and professional background, Best holds an MA in Education, Gender, and International Development from University College London, supported by a Chevening Scholarship. One of her main previous working experiences was serving as a Public Information Assistant Consultant at the UN Headquarters.In Thailand, she founded the Young Pride Foundation, a trans youth-led organization that promotes LGBTQ+ youth rights and inclusive education, and has led initiatives such as Chiang Mai Pride, Youth Pride Thailand, and Elderly Pride Thailand. Best also serves as an Executive Board Member of ILGA Asia and ILGA World.

She brings years of experience advocating for LGBTIQ+ communities at multilateral spaces, including the United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity campaign.