Empowering young changemakers with global vision and grounded wisdom.
Coach Johanna Diwa-Acallar brings a powerful blend of intellect, diplomacy, and deep service to the global stage. With over 20 years of international experience, she stands at the forefront of global education, sustainability, peacebuilding, and capacity development, empowering youth, leaders, and nations to work together for a better world.
Currently serving as the Deputy Global Coordinator for Capacity Development at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, Coach Johanna leads transformative programs under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). She is a key force behind the global IOC Capacity Development Strategy, helping build inclusive systems of learning, leadership, and resilience across more than 150 member states.
With advanced degrees in International Relations, Education, and Human Sciences, Johanna has held prominent positions with global think tanks and UN institutions such as the United Nations University – Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) and UNITAR in Japan. She has worked with young leaders in post-conflict regions, designed sustainability science graduate programs, and facilitated regional partnerships across Asia and the Pacific.
Coach Johanna’s impact reaches from coastal communities to classrooms, and from the United Nations headquarters to grassroots initiatives. As a lead trainer and mentor, she has empowered over 700 young changemakers across 20+ countries, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, through peace and ocean leadership programs.
Beyond her professional achievements, she’s a proud Filipina scholar graduating cum laude in Philosophy from the University of the Philippines, and recipient of international fellowships from the Japanese government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her story is one of excellence, empathy, and cross-cultural connection.
She brings to MISSION POSSIBLE not only her global experience, but also her belief that young people are already powerful. With the right guidance and platforms, they can shape policies, protect the planet, and build peace from the inside out.
This October, Coach Johanna joins the MISSION POSSIBLE Youth Social Hackathon: Philippines Edition as one of six Pitching Coaches, helping students deliver ideas that resonate across borders and generations.
