THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION - Key Persons

Adam Silver

Job Titles:

Commissioner, National Basketball Association Trustees
Commissioner, National Basketball Association, Board of Trustees

Adam Silver was unanimously elected NBA Commissioner on Feb. 1, 2014, by the NBA Board of Governors. Silver presides over a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, Women's National Basketball Association, NBA G League and NBA 2K League. He is dedicated to growing basketball around the world, embracing innovation and new technologies, increasing transparency and using basketball to bring people together and promote health and fitness. Silver was named SportsBusiness Journal's Executive of the Decade and has been ranked No. 1 on the publication's annual list of the 50 Most Influential People in Sports Business. He was also named to TIME's 100 Most Influential People, Fortune's World's 50 Greatest Leaders, and The Bloomberg 50, Bloomberg Businessweek's list of 50 people who defined global business. Additionally, Silver has earned Sports Executive of the Year honors at the Sports Business Awards and was named Sports Illustrated's Executive of the Year. Prior to becoming commissioner, Silver served as NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer for eight years. He has been instrumental to many of the league's signature achievements, including the negotiation of three collective bargaining agreements with the National Basketball Players Association; the development of the WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and the Basketball Africa League; the partnership with Turner Broadcasting to manage the NBA's digital assets; and the creation of NBA China. Before serving as the league's second-in-command, Silver spent more than eight years as President and COO, NBA Entertainment. Since joining the league in 1992, Silver has also held the positions of Senior VP & COO, NBA Entertainment; NBA Chief of Staff; and Special Assistant to the Commissioner. Silver was appointed to Duke University's Board of Trustees in 2015 and received the 2016 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Chicago Law School. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and The Business Council and serves as a Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. Before joining the NBA, Silver was a litigation associate at the New York law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, where he concentrated on media and antitrust cases. He also served as a law clerk to Federal District Court Judge Kimba Wood in New York City. Silver graduated from Duke University and the University of Chicago Law School.

Admiral James Stavridis

Admiral James Stavridis joined The Rockefeller Foundation Board of Trustees in 2018. He became Board Chair in June 2021.

Afsaneh Mashayekhi Beschloss

Job Titles:

Chairman of PBS Foundation
Founder and CEO of RockCreek
Founder and CEO, RockCreek Trustees
Founder and CEO, RockCreek, Board of Trustees

Afsaneh Mashayekhi Beschloss joined The Rockefeller Foundation board of trustees in 2022. Afsaneh Mashayekhi Beschloss is Founder and CEO of RockCreek. Previously, she was Managing Director and Partner at the Carlyle Group. She was Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer of the World Bank and worked at J.P. Morgan. Afsaneh has advised governments, central banks, and regulatory agencies on global public policy and financial policy as well as energy. She led the World Bank's energy investments and policy work on areas including sustainable investing, renewable energy, power, and infrastructure to reduce carbon emissions and founded its Natural Gas Group as a transitional fuel. Afsaneh is Chair of PBS Foundation, and trustee of the Institute for Advanced Study, World Resources Institute, Council on Foreign Relations, Global Alliance for Vaccines, Georgetown University, and Bretton Woods Committee. She was recognized by Carnegie Corporation in their Great Immigrants, Great Americans 2020 list, received the Institutional Investor Lifetime Achievement Award and the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award, and been listed among the "Most Powerful Women in Banking" by American Banker. Afsaneh holds an MPhil (Honors) in Economics from the University of Oxford, where she taught international trade and economic development. She is the co-author of The Economics of Natural Gas and author of numerous journal articles on energy, finance, renewable energy, and impact investing. "We know that access to creative capital fuels growth and spurs job opportunities in underserved and under-resourced communities globally, and at the same time, we know that the market won't deliver everywhere and for everyone. This is why I am thrilled to work alongside this incredible Board of Trustees at The Rockefeller Foundation, which is a true leader in using its philanthropic capital, convening power, and innovative partnerships to overcome those market barriers and reach communities all over the world and right here in the United States."

Agnes Binagwaho

Job Titles:

Vice Chancellor, the University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda, Board of Trustees

Alexander Danik

Job Titles:

CAIA / Manager, Investment Accounting, Investments Office

Alexandra Payne

Job Titles:

Senior Associate, Food Initiative

Alexis Feeney Tallman

Job Titles:

Director, Global Covid - 19 Response and Recovery, Health Initiative

Alyson Jones

Job Titles:

Financial Analyst, Investments Office

Amma Amin

Job Titles:

Fellow & Team Coordinator, Power & Climate and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet

Amy Matveyev

Job Titles:

Executive Assistant, Food Initiative

Ana Bento

Job Titles:

Director, Pandemic Prevention Institute

Andrew Sweet

Job Titles:

Vice President, Global Covid - 19 Response and Recovery, Health Initiative

Andrew Sweet joined The Rockefeller Foundation in July 2020. Previously, Andrew was an Associate Partner with Dalberg Advisors, a strategy and policy advisory firm. Andrew directed Dalberg's Johannesburg office for nearly four years before transitioning to the same role in San Francisco, where he focused on infrastructure, energy, and fragile states. Prior to Dalberg, Andrew was a presidential appointee at the United States Agency for International Development, serving as the Senior Advisor to the Administrator, helping to establish, manage, and implement presidential initiatives in food security and energy. Andrew began his career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, West Africa. Andrew holds an MA in International Relations from Syracuse University.

Annie Rubin

Job Titles:

Digital and Social Media Senior Associate, Communications, Policy and Advocacy
Social Media Community Management Associate

As Social Media Community Management Associate, Annie Rubin contributes to the digital face and voice of the Foundation. She works on engaging The Rockefeller Foundation's digital community through brand advocacy and moderating of online conversations. Previously, Annie Rubin managed social media for the International Peace Institute (IPI), where she wrote policy pieces on Women, Peace, and Security, Humanitarian Affairs, and Sustainable Development. In addition to her experience in digital media, Annie completed an internship in the UN Department of Peace Operations working on preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse. Annie Rubin holds a Bachelor's degree from McGill University in Hispanic Studies and Political Science, where she studied Spanish, French, German, and Russian.

Ashley Chang - Managing Director

Job Titles:

Managing Director
Communications, Policy and Advocacy /
Managing Director for Media Relations, Communications, Policy and Advocacy

Ashley Chang is Managing Director on the Communications, Policy & Advocacy team, where she leads media relations and serves as Foundation spokesperson. She previously served as Communications Director for Media Relations after joining the Foundation in December 2019 as Program Influence Director for the global Power & Climate and U.S. Equity & Economic Opportunity teams.

Ashvin Dayal

Job Titles:

Foundation in 2008 As Its Asia Managing Director
Senior Vice President - Power & Climate at the Rockefeller Foundation, Padma Shri
Senior Vice President, Power & Climate and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet

Ashvin Dayal leads The Rockefeller Foundation's Power & Climate program, aimed at scaling up energy access and accelerating an inclusive energy transition in emerging markets. Over more than a decade with the Foundation, Ashvin has overseen investments in urban climate change resilience and distributed renewable energy, including leading the establishment of local dedicated platforms to expand clean energy access such as Smart Power India and Smart Power Myanmar. Most recently, he led the creation of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, a multi-billion-dollar effort supported by major philanthropies, development investors and specialized energy organizations aimed at advancing transformational projects on distributed renewable electrification, grid-tied renewables, and fossil fuel transitions in 80+ energy-poor nations. Ashvin joined the Foundation in 2008 as its Asia Managing Director, running its regional office in Bangkok. From there he led the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network, a nine-year partnership that equipped over 50 Asian cities to better cope with climate change impacts. He also oversaw the Foundation's global Inclusive Economies portfolio, a policy and research effort to advance development and impact investments that drive more broadly shared prosperity. Before joining the Foundation, he held a range of senior leadership roles over 15 years with Oxfam in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. This included leading its largest-ever relief and recovery effort in the aftermath of the 2004 Asian Tsunami, and the creation of Oxfam India. In addition to his experience in Asia, he spent several years working in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, supporting post-conflict reconstruction and economic development programs in Bosnia, Yemen, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories. He holds a bachelor's degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, and a master's degree from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins.

Baani Anand

Job Titles:

Finance
Manager

Bernadette Gitau

Job Titles:

Director of Operations, Power & Climate and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet

Betty Kibaara

Job Titles:

Director in the Food Initiative
Director, Food Initiative

Betty Kibaara is a Director in the Food Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation, Africa Region Office. At the Foundation, Betty leads the Foundations investments in transforming food systems specifically investments in innovations on smart food markets for the future, increasing access to nutritious foods through instructional procurement. What is more, she is also advancing insect-based feed for improved nutrition. Betty led the implementation of the YieldWise Initiative to reduce food loss in Maize (Tanzania), Mangoes (Kenya) and Cassava and Tomato value chains to improve livelihoods for the smallholder farmers. She serves as the regional champion for the Foundations initiatives in strengthening food security, agribusiness, and resilience to the devastating effects of climate change to enable real, sustainable, and equitable economic growth. Betty Chairs the Technical Working Group that is working towards the re-export of the Kenyan Mangoes to the EU and UK. Betty firmly believes that there is no food system transformation without transformation of the fresh produce markets in Africa". Before joining the Rockefeller Foundation in 2009, Betty worked as a Research Fellow at the Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton University. Ms. Kibaara holds a Master of Science degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, USA and a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management, Egerton University, Kenya.

Catherine Gachanja

Job Titles:

Executive Assistant, Africa Regional Office

Chanel Herrera

Job Titles:

Executive Assistant, U.S. Equity and Economic Opportunity Initiative

Charlanne Burke

Job Titles:

Director, Integrated Operations, Health Initiative

Charlanne Burke joined the Rockefeller Foundation in 1991. As Associate Director, she assists in developing strategic direction and providing administrative oversight for select Foundation initiatives. She is currently working on initiatives devoted to strengthening disease surveillance networks in southeast Asia and Africa, and improving the lives of workers in America. Prior to joining the Rockefeller Foundation, Dr. Burke served in the Peace Corps in Lesotho, Southern Africa. She also has worked as an adjunct assistant professor of anthropology in the City University of New York (CUNY) system. Dr. Burke received a bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego, a master's degree in education from Teachers College, and a Ph.D. from Columbia University.

Cheryl Figueroa

Job Titles:

Executive Assistant, Food Initiative

Chianda Njogu

Job Titles:

Senior Associate, Power & Climate and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet

Chun Lai

Job Titles:

Chief Investment Officer, Investments Office
Foundation in 1996 As an Investment Associate

As the Chief Investment Officer, Chun Lai is responsible for managing The Rockefeller Foundation's $4.8 billion endowment. Chun joined the Foundation in 1996 as an Investment Associate. Over his long career at the Foundation, he held roles across multiple asset classes and functional areas, including overseeing research and asset allocation, managing the Real Assets and Fixed Income portfolios, and building and managing the Hedge Funds portfolio. Before assuming the CIO role in 2019, he was the Deputy CIO for 9 years, overseeing portfolio management, asset allocation, and investment research. He started his investment career at the State of Connecticut Retirement and Trust Funds from 1992 to 1996. Prior to coming to the U.S., he was an aeronautics engineer in China. Chun has a bachelor's degree of engineering from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and an MBA in Finance from the University of Connecticut. He serves on the Investment Committee of the William Penn Foundation. He also holds the CFA (chartered financial analyst) designation from the CFA Institute.

Ciara Coleman

Job Titles:

Manager, U.S. Equity and Economic Opportunity Initiative

Cindy Shiung

Job Titles:

Manager of Investment Operations, Investments Office

Claire Eboi

Job Titles:

Human Resources Manager, Power & Climate and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet

Clare Boland

Job Titles:

Managing Director, Power & Climate and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet

Connie Oatts

Job Titles:

Associate / Analyst, Pandemic Prevention Institute

Daniel McKenna

Job Titles:

Summer Intern, Food Initiative

Danielle Geanacopoulos

Job Titles:

Managing Director for Government Relations, Communications, Policy and Advocacy

Danielle Goonan

Job Titles:

Managing Director, U.S. Equity and Economic Opportunity Initiative

David Carollo

Job Titles:

Director, Pandemic Prevention Institute

David Mitchell

Job Titles:

Managing Director, Innovation, Health Initiative

Davina Dukuly

Job Titles:

Manager, Communications, Policy and Advocacy

Dawn Duncan

Job Titles:

Executive Assistant / Team Coordinator, Pandemic Prevention Institute

Deepali Khanna

Job Titles:

Vice - President, Asia Regional Office

Dennis Waweru Nderitu

Job Titles:

Manager, Energy Systems, Power & Climate and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet

Devon Baker

Job Titles:

Executive Assistant / Team Coordinator, Human Resources

Devon Klatell

Job Titles:

Vice President, USA, Food Initiative

Diana Johnson

Job Titles:

Manager, Food Initiative

Dominick Impemba - CFO, Treasurer

Job Titles:

Chief Financial Officer
Finance
Treasurer

Douglass Coyle

Job Titles:

Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Investments Office

Dr. Bruce Gellin

Job Titles:

Chief of Global Public Health Strategy, Pandemic Prevention Institute

Bruce Gellin, MD, MPH, is the Chief of Global Public Health Strategy for The Rockefeller Foundation's pandemic prevention institute. In this role, he advances the development and execution of the strategic vision for global public health and pandemic prevention work. He is a key member of the team building a pandemic prevention institute that aims to avert future pandemics by identifying and responding to the earliest alerts of a disease outbreak and stopping it in the first 100 days. One of the world's premier vaccine and infectious disease experts, Dr. Gellin brings extensive experience and expertise in global public health to his role at the Foundation. Previously, Dr. Gellin served as Warren Weaver Fellow at the Foundation from 1991-1992, working on several projects including the launch of the Children's Vaccine Initiative to ensure children throughout the world are immunized. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held numerous positions leading and advising on global immunization, strategic policy development, and pandemic preparedness and response at national, multinational, non-governmental, and institutional organizations and entities. He has led key federal vaccine initiatives, including developing the National Vaccine Plan at HHS, creating the HHS's first pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan, and representing the U.S. government on the research and development focus of the Decade of Vaccines Collaboration. He continues to carry this work forward as a member of the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine Consensus Study on Global Influenza Vaccination Coordination. At a global level, he has consulted as a technical expert to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and serves as a key advisor to the WHO on global immunization and vaccination. His work with the WHO includes advising on influenza vaccines and vaccine hesitancy issues, chairing the WHO's Global Action Plan for Influenza Vaccines Advisory Group, and serving as a member of both the WHO Expert Advisory Group on SAGE Evaluation and the WHO Working Group on Influenza Preparedness and Response. Dr. Gellin has spent decades driving forward critical work to protect the lives of millions across the country and globe from the threat of infectious diseases through effective, equitable vaccination and immunization strategies. Most recently, he served as the inaugural President of Global Immunization at the Sabin Vaccine Institute and is currently a member of the COVAX Independent Allocation of Vaccines Group.