Public Relation
Ato Desaalegne Hailu
Desaalegne Hailu Mazengiya is a nationally respected figure in Ethiopia’s arts and civic landscape, serving as a Founding Executive Board Member and PR Head of the Ethiopian Professional Associations Alliance (EPAA). With a professional journey spanning more than two decades, Desaalegne brings deep expertise in creative leadership, alliance building, policy advocacy, humanitarian service, and public communication.
He was the initiator and main advocate of Ethiopia’s first National Film Policy, a historic achievement acknowledged by UNESCO as a best-practice framework in African creative industry governance. He has presented pioneering research on the importance of professional alliances in national development, notably at the Ethiopian Civil Society Forum (ECSF), where he helped shape the formation and strategic direction of EPAA.
His service record includes appointments to prestigious national bodies including the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (Art Advisory Board), the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and the National Heritage Restitution Committee. His leadership extends into humanitarian work as an Executive Member of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians (GARE), through which he coordinated $6.4 million in humanitarian assistance for displaced and war-affected Ethiopians.
Desaalegne is also the Founder & CEO of Bethlehem Ze-Ethiopia Humanity and Charitable Works Foundation, and a well-known actor and filmmaker who has appeared in more than 50 films and served as a mentor and educator for Ethiopian youth in arts and media.
His multifaceted leadership reflects EPAA’s mission: uniting Ethiopian professionals to build a more ethical, creative, and inclusive society.