Neinel Zani Estapanians is an Iranian-Armenian from Los Angeles, California, who has worked as a people-oriented interdisciplinary researcher advocating for sustainable, informed, and culturally sensitive developmental initiatives within Armenian communities.

Her educational training is in Anthropology and Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Neinel Zani’s primary academic and professional focus has been studying the impacts of crises and the effectiveness of our collective humanitarian response to emergencies in Armenia.

She has extensive experience working with various Armenian community-based and charitable organizations. As the director of a nonprofit organization operating in Armenia post-war, she observed difficulties arose from disconnects between nonprofits, local Armenian and Diaspora communities, and government agencies.

With a desire to improve communications and the infrastructure necessary for effective resource distribution, she joined the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and is working on the collaboration, mobilization, and implementation of humanitarian initiatives in Armenia.

iGorts Placement: Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.