Board of Directors
Contact the Global Board of Directors: board@whiteribbonalliance.org
Nafisa Al-Jaifi
A Pediatrician and Assistant Professor at Sana'a University in Yemen, Dr. Nafisa Hamoud Al-Jaifi initiated the WRA-affiliated National Safe Motherhood Alliance in Yemen and now serves as its Chair. She also currently serves as General Secretary for the Higher Council for Motherhood & Childhood and Vice Chairman of the Yemen Pediatric Association. Nafisa served as a member of the Yemeni delegation to the United Nations Committee on Child Rights. Previously, she worked as Director for the World Bank's Child Development Project. Nafisa's work has been recognized with an award from the President of Yemen for her contributions to the National Strategy for Childhood and Youth, and she recently received an award from the Ministry of Youth and Sports for her support of youth issues.
Arzu Rana Deuba
Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba is Founder and President of the WRA-affiliated Safe Motherhood Network Federation (SMNF) in Nepal, which has been successful in raising awareness about maternal mortality in Nepal and has seen significant progress in decreasing the maternal mortality ratio. Under her leadership, SMNF has grown from a group of 35 individuals and organizations to a Federation of 625 NGOs. As President of SMNF, Arzu took the lead in finalizing a bill on Safe Motherhood in Nepal. She also serves as a Board Member of the Poverty Alleviation Fund. Arzu has a Ph.D in organizational psychology from Punjab University. She has extensive fundraising experience with bilateral and multilateral donors as well as the national government and private sector in Nepal, including with the European Commission, UNFPA, DFID, USAID, ADRA, BNMT, and the Ministry of Health and Population.
Ronald Geary
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Jhpiego
Ronald F Geary, CPA, MBA is Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Jhpiego, a non-profit organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University and dedicated to innovating ways to save lives. Prior to joining Jhpiego, he was the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for CHF International, a non-profit organization with over $300 million in revenue. At CHF International, Ron led the design of a new financial accounting system and other systems in a period of rapid double-digit growth. Over a 30-year career, Ron has gained extensive international experience in capacity building for companies and non-profits in grants and contract management, as well as assessment, selection and implementation of accounting software. Ron’s work with government, international and domestic organizations has provided him with hands-on experience working with various organizations in over 25 countries.
Gwyneth Lewis
Director for International Maternal Health, Department of Health for England
A distinguished public health doctor, author and consistent vocal advocate for improvements in global maternal health, Gwyneth Lewis OBE has helped develop maternal death audits leading to safer motherhood programs in over 50 countries for many leading international organizations. She has over 34 years experience in clinical work, as well as policy development and managerial experience at the Department of Health for England, where she was until recently the Director for International Maternal Health. She is also the Director of International Research at the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit at the University of Oxford and has been the Director of the UK Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths for the past 23 years. She is a Fellow of both the Royal College and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and also of the Faculty of Public Health at the Royal College of Physicians. She has received a number of Doctorates from distinguished universities and is a visiting professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Midwifery at the University of Bournemouth. She is perhaps best known internationally for her work on the World Health Organization “Beyond the Numbers” program to review maternal deaths and disabilities to make pregnancy safer, which has been rolled out in over 64 countries. She has widespread Board experience and currently acts as an advisor to many international safe motherhood organizations as well as serving on the Board of the African Journal of Midwifery. In 2009, Queen Elizabeth II awarded Gwyneth the honor of Officer of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her contribution to national and international maternal health.
Sean O'Connor
Vice President, Special Giving, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Sean O'Connor currently serves as Vice President, Special Giving for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Previously, he was a partner at CCS Fundraising. Sean has 17 years of experience working with non-governmental organizations, academic medical centers, trade associations, private colleges, national museums and cultural institutions. He has worked with organizations on fundraising management, major gift training, organizational development, development assessments, and campaign planning and implementation. Among the organizations Sean has worked with are Wildlife Conservation Society, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, New York City Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, University del Valle Guatemala, The Nigeria Higher Education Foundation and A-HOME. Sean is a graduate of Holy Cross College.
Beatrice Rwakimari
Beatrice Rwakimari has served as a Member of Parliament in Uganda for ten years, until May 2011. She served as Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on HIV/AIDS and was a Member of the Parliamentary Social Services Committee, which oversees the Ministries of Health and Education. She was Publicity Secretary and Activist for the Advocacy Forum for Women Members of Parliament on Maternal Health which was very instrumental and vocal in bringing issues of maternal health on the agenda of Parliament and government as a whole. During the Inter Parliamentary Union meeting in Panana in April 2011 Beatrice was one of the Members of Parliament who lobbied the meeting to prioritize Maternal health in the over 150 National Parliaments in the world to be discussed in Uganda in April 2012. She is Founder and Director of ARISE, an NGO that focuses on improving reproductive health, preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS and malaria, and promoting good nutrition in the rural communities of Ntungamo District. Beatrice is a National Champion for safe motherhood in her country and has been in the forefront of lobbying government to increase funding for reproductive health especially safe motherhood. She is working with various organizations, including Rotary Clubs, to facilitate safe delivery in lower level health centers. For example, she has secured delivery beds and kits for more than twenty health centers in her District. She is a volunteer for Reproductive Health Uganda and a Director for Skills Gallery Consulting Group. Beatrice holds Masters Degrees in Public Health Leadership from Uganda Christian University and Public Administration and Management from Makerere University.
Theresa Shaver
Director, White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, Global Secretariat--Washington, DC USA
Theresa Shaver is a nurse-midwife and has over 20 years of experience in international health program management and implementation, focused primarily on maternal and reproductive health. She is currently the Director of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRA) Global Secretariat. As Director, Ms. Shaver serves as the spokesperson for the WRA, provides technical assistance in community mobilization, capacity building, advocacy and maternal health to WRA National Secretariats and members. She also leads all fundraising efforts and is responsible for WRA administrative and financial management. She has provided technical assistance and worked throughout Cambodia, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Malawi, Tanzania, Tajikistan, Vietnam, and Zambia.
Bradley Theobald
Bradley Theobald is a lawyer maintaining a general corporate advisory practice and has held senior posts within both UK and US firms. During his career, Bradley has acted for the governments of developing and G8 nations, multinational corporates, emerging and early-stage companies. He has recently established his own firm focused primarily upon working alongside research based organisations in the broader technology sectors.
As part of Bradley’s responsibilities with the US law firm Morrison & Foerster he held the post of European Pro Bono Co-Ordinator, a role which saw him take responsibility for the conduct and commissioning of the firms european pro bono efforts, whilst personally advising numerous Not for Profits in relation to a wide variety of commercial, strategic and governance issues.
Bradley is a Director and Trustee of a number of entities, including UK based charitable organisations.
