Article 3 Advisors

Darian Weltman Swig, Founder and President, is deeply engaged in the field of international human rights and the discipline of strategic philanthropy.  Darian’s life experience has been shaped by extensive global travel with NGO led missions to refugee camps, migrant centers, landmine/de-mining fields and clinics, post man-made and natural disaster crises locations, as well as post-genocide reconciliation and reintegration facilities and communities.  Darian dedicates her time and resources – personally and professionally – to promoting universal human rights.

Article 3 Advisors, a human rights philanthropic consultancy, is the culmination of Darian’s extensive experience in human rights related causes and projects.  Darian believes that effective philanthropy has the potential to narrow the gap between pressing humanitarian needs and government responses to those needs, thereby increasing human dignity.

Prior to A3A, Darian worked for over a decade in the field of international protocol and consular corps relations, specializing in dignitary coordination and head of state visits. Darian possesses a professional perspective of the importance of strengthening diplomacy, fostering cultural understanding and prioritizing peace-building measures as a means to realizing human security and sustainable peace.

Darian currently serves on the International Board of Human Rights Watch (HRW) as well as the Fund for Global Human Rights and The Philanthropy Workshop West (founding board member).  She also serves on the advisory boards of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University, the Human Rights Center at the University of California, the Coalition for the Criminal Court and the HRW Africa Advisory Committee.  In addition, she is a member of International Human Rights Funders Group, Global Philanthropy Forum, Clinton Global Initiative and The Philanthropy Workshop West (TPWW).  Darian is a past trustee of the World Affairs Council, Commonwealth Club, USA for UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) and a founding board member of Genocide Intervention Network.

Darian holds dual master’s degrees in Political Science and International Area studies with an emphasis on human rights and mass atrocity crimes from the University of California at Berkeley (Rotary Center for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution).  She is also an early and ardent supporter of advancing the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) framework.

Born in Germany, Darian resides in San Francisco, California (USA).

         

David Keller, Chief Solutions Officer, is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. Additionally he earned an AS degree in Electrical Engineering from Mission College. He worked in a variety of industries including medical services, heavy manufacturing and social services, before settling into a career in high-tech in Silicon Valley. He worked at increasing levels of responsibilities at ROLM Corporation from 1979-1989 and at Cisco Systems from 1989-2002. His work experiences included manufacturing management, process and systems engineering, product development and strategic development.

David established a family foundation in 2002 and since that time has been actively engaged in strategic philanthropy. While recognizing that there are no easy answers and more then one approach, Human Rights, as the cornerstone of peace and justice as well as political, social and economic development has emerged as the primary focus.  The Keller family foundation leverages its resources and optimizes impact by supporting preeminent and innovative human rights organizations and social entrepreneurs who protect and expand human rights and bring to justice the world’s most significant human rights abusers.

David serves on a number of advisory boards including The Philanthropy Workshop West, Human Rights Watch: California Committee North, Global Philanthropy Forum and Legacy Venture.

David is neither a pessimist who complains about the wind nor an optimist who expects it to change but a realist who adjusts his sail.

The world can be very dark; fear, hatred, ignorance, greed and cruelty are pervasive characteristics. Yet, “the arc of history is long, but bends towards justice”, resonates and grounds David’s world-view with hope, along with the passion, challenge and opportunity to make a difference.

   

Amanda Padilla, Project Manager, is passionate about advancing human rights, especially the rights of women and girls. Through her work at Article 3 Advisors she has had the opportunity to work on projects focused on advancing human rights and the responsibility to protect.  Additionally she is an artist in San Francisco that creates work heavily based in concepts of humanity.  Recently she participated in the Sketchbook Project where she created collages reflecting gender imbalances in different cultural institutions. Her art and her professional work have both been influenced by her international travel and her genuine belief that universal human rights should be a given, not a luxury.

Prior to A3A, Amanda worked as the Chief Advisor of Communications for the City of San Antonio- District 10 where she served an elderly constituency. In 2009, she received her M.A. in International Politics with an emphasis on Human Rights from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Shortly after earning her M.A. she returned to the San Francisco Bay Area where she now resides.

Currently, Amanda serves on the Women’s Community Clinic Advisory Council and is a member of the One World Children’s Fund book club.