Our Board

USA for UNHCR is governed by an engaging and cohesive Board of Directors who share a commitment to the goals and objectives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). With an extensive knowledge base and various expertise our Board provides advice on policy, advocacy, fundraising and programming.

All Board members are independent.

Our Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is comprised of influential business leaders and philanthropists who are advising USA for UNHCR on new strategies, tactics and connections for breakthrough solutions and resources to address the global refugee crisis.

Advisory Council Co-Chairs

• Joe Gebbia, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Airbnb
• Jack Leslie, Chairman, Weber Shandwick
• Maureen White, Senior Fellow, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University

The Humanitarian Coalition

The Humanitarian Coalition is comprised of next generation philanthropists and business leaders who are working to further USA for UNHCR’s mission by helping raise funds and awareness. Coalition members from across the U.S. bring a wealth of passion, influence and connections that will help to empower refugees with hope and opportunity.

Humanitarian Coalition Members

• Beth Turner, Chair of the Humanitarian Coalition, General Partner, SV Angel
• Diana Al-Hadid, Artist 
• Steven Lee, Director, Bain Capital Ventures
• Brendan Lind, Co-Founder, Human Agency
• Theresa Preston-Werner, PhD, Founder and Managing Director, Preston-Werner Ventures
• Eloise Schlafly, Advisor, Moneta Group
• Scott Tranter, CEO, Øptimus
• Liberty Vittert, USA for UNHCR Board Member & Visiting Assistant Professor, Statistics, Harvard University

Anne-Marie Grey, Executive Director and CEO

Anne-Marie brings more than 30 years of fundraising and marketing experience – both in the United States and internationally – to USA for UNHCR. Appointed in September 2014 to lead the organization and enhance its programs and resources, Anne-Marie is committed to mobilizing efforts in support of the 79.5 million men, women and children that have been forced to flee their homes around the world.

Prior to joining USA for UNHCR, Anne-Marie worked with UNHCR, Save the Children, UNICEF and Share our Strength in a variety of leadership fundraising and marketing positions. Before returning to the United States, Anne-Marie lived in Australia, where she led marketing and development programs for the National Museum of Australia and held several roles at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.

Senior Leadership

• Yelena Bakaleva, Chief Financial Officer
• Lily Biswas, Director, Database Administration 
• Meridith Burkus, Director, Major Gifts & Planned Giving 
• Apryl Evans, Chief Human Resources Officer  
• Junia Geisler, Sr. Director, Communications 
• Rita Ko,  Director of the Hive
• Elizabeth Marks, Director, Community Fundraising
• Katie McNally, Director Donor Services and Gift Processing
• Ned McNeal, Principal Gifts Officer
• Elizabeth (Bette) Scott, Director, Program & Strategic Initiatives 
• Nick Slijepcevic, Director, Partnerships Account Management

The Hive

The Hive is USA for UNHCR’s innovation lab responsible for bringing data science, machine learning and new technologies into the organization’s operations to enhance fundraising for refugees. The Hive identifies and prototypes new solutions to support USA for UNHCR goals by:

• Functioning as the internal analytics backbone that enables USA for UNHCR to apply data science to its programming;
• Providing micro-targeting capabilities and model building expertise for novel means of donor segmentation and messaging; and
• Pursuing high-risk projects that use emerging technologies to provide unique perspectives on the refugee crisis, and reach new audiences with innovative and compelling content.

The Hive was recently honored with the 2019 ANA Genius Awards in the “Data and Analytics Growth” category and featured as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2017 in not-for-profit. The Hive is also supported by a Data Science Volunteer Team, a group of socially conscious technical and nontechnical volunteers as well as the Data Advisory Board, a group of data science industry experts.