Meet the Team

Major Victoria Edmonds was born in Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where she learned the culture and traditions of her own heritage, the Tuscarora Nations of Native Americans.

Victoria has served in numerous corps appointments including the New York Harlem Temple Corps. She has served in Divisional Headquarters appointments, as well as the League of Mercy/Community Care Secretary and Chaplain for the Women's Shelters in New York City. She has also served in the Caribbean, along with her husband, with responsibilities for all the Virgin Islands both British and American.

Prior to becoming an officer in The Salvation Army, Victoria served 10 years in the United States Navy. The major has an Associates Degree in Library Science, a Bachelors Degree in Organizational Management and a Masters in Intercultural Studies. Victoria currently represents The Salvation Army at all levels of United Nations engagements and on NGO Committees. She serves on NGO Executive Committees and is Vice-Chair of the Working Group on Girls.

General André Cox was born in 1954 whilst his Salvation Army officer parents were serving in Zimbabwe. The fact that he was born in Africa to an English father and Swiss mother makes him feel at home when working in different cultural settings.

Commissioned and ordained: as a Salvation Army officer in 1979. In a career spanning four decades, he served in Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Finland, South Africa, the United Kingdom. This varied journey cemented his belief that: The Salvation Army must always be a force for good, a force for change and a force for positive transformation in society.

Elected: as the 20th General of The Salvation Army in August 2013.

Awards: Dr.h.c (UCES – Buenos Aires) - July 2016. Dr.h.c (Université William Booth Kinshasa) - July 2018

Now living in retirement in Switzerland, he continues his calling and vocation as a Salvation Army officer.

Major Jacob Kinyua is an officer of the Kenya East Territory. He grew up in a Christian family which impacted his life greatly and led to his conviction to choose Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. Jacob is married to Major Agnes Kinyua and is blessed with two beautiful children: Gloria and Chris.

Jacob was commissioned as an officer of The Salvation Army in November 2004 – Preparers of the Way Session. He has served in four different corps appointments in both the Kenya West and East Territories, five years as the Education Officer in the Officers’ Training College followed by an appointment to SALT College Africa as the Business Administrator. He is currently serving as the Training Principal of the Kenya East Training College located in Thika.

Jacob holds a Bachelor of Theology degree from Kenya Methodist University and is currently working on the final stages of his Master of Arts in Religious Studies. His thesis focuses on the role of religion as a vehicle for disabled persons’ education.

One of the delights of his present life is to work alongside other Christians who are seeking justice together.

Markus Hofer was born in Portugal, where his parents were serving as Salvation Army officers before moving to Switzerland. He’s been an active member in the Army, serving in the worship team, the youth group, and leadership council in his current Corps in Geneva.

In addition to his role with the ISJC, Markus has been the Communications and Advocacy Officer for the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) at the United Nations in Geneva since February 2022, representing global Evangelicals within key UN human rights mechanisms.

Markus holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Geneva. He has also completed several academic programs in international law and visual studies.

Beyond advocacy and communications, he is also a passionate filmmaker. In 2015, he co-founded an audiovisual production company in Geneva.

Christine was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and is a Salvationist from the USA Eastern Territory. Following her graduation from Roberts Wesleyan College, Christine worked for the state as a representative to the Dekalb County Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children and as a licensed Foster and Adoptive parent trainer.

Following state certification, she began working independently for private foster care and adoption agencies specializing in the placement of children with special needs.

Christine moved to New York City in 2002, where she began working as the GAINS (Greater Academic Incentives to Nurture Success) Coordinator for The Salvation Army. Following a period home with her two children, Eliza and Hudson, Christine returned to work independently providing resources and consultation for organizations working with at-risk youth. Christine joined the ISJC team in July of 2019 and is thrilled to be Seeking Justice Together.

Kayla Calvo graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public and Nonprofit Administration and a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Technology and Information Management.

Kayla has been connected to the ISJC since she was 13 years old when she became a Salvation Army Girl Advocate to the UN Working Group on Girls. She attended the Commission on the Status of Women where she spoke on ‘Violence Against the Girl Child’.

Kayla was then invited to speak on the topic of ‘Fulfilling the Rights of Indigenous Children’ as part of the celebration for the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2012. She continues to be involved with the Working Group on Girls as the Youth Representative for The Salvation Army.

Kayla is currently preparing to travel back to South Korea to work for the Korean Ministry of Education as an English Teacher.