Our Leadership

At Women First, our team is highly dedicated to the organization’s mission of advancing the rights of women and girls. We are a diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds, located globally - contributing our skills, expertise and passion to the work we do.

Click on team members to learn more.

 

Emily Forhman, Executive Director, Based in the US

Ana Pecova, Director of Advancement, Based in Mexico

Evaline Franks, Senior Manager, Program Operations, Based in the US

Olive Nazziwa, Program Associate, Based in Uganda

Aditi Padiyar, Program Officer, Based in India

Winnie Watera, Program Officer, Based in Uganda

Sneha Tatapudy, Senior Manager Partnerships and Strategic Communications, Based in the US

Rosanne Licata, Executive Assistant and Liaison to the Board of Directors, Based in the US

 
 

 

Regional Program Advisory Council

At Women First, we are committed to centering the expertise of people who understand the lived realities and challenges of the communities we partner with. Women First’s regional advisors, comprising non-profit leaders, rights-based activists and academics, bring this expertise to our grantmaking decisions through close collaboration with our Programs staff.

Dr. Dorothy Masinde

Peggy Mativo

Agnes Mirembe

Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi

 

 

Board

Women First is governed by an international Board of Directors who bring perspectives from across the world. Our work is guided by their decades of experience in the field of women's empowerment, international development, business and nonprofit governance - and their conviction that the empowerment of women and girls is critical for creating lasting and meaningful impact.

Katherine D’Urso, President

Kate Landon, Executive Vice President

Jennifer Huff, Secretary

Mary McGovern, Treasurer

Tracy Tse Betz

Daniela Boateng

Gabriel Yomi Dabiri

Sarah Greyez

Julie Hobbs

Betsy Kavetas

Natasha McCabe

Esther Ngumbi

Katherine Plichta

Neha Raval

Raji Shrie

Noelle Silberbauer

Shelby Bottoms Taffet