EngenderHealth Board Announces Two New Members, New Chair
Sarah Cairns-Smith and Tom Georgis Join the Board;
Linda Rosenstock Begins Term as Board Chair
June 2, 2020 (Washington DC)—The Board of Directors of EngenderHealth met today and welcomed two new members to the Board. Sarah Cairns-Smith and Tom Georgis each brings broad expertise across multiple sectors that will help inform the organization’s approach as it executes its mission of implementing high-quality, gender-equitable programs that advance sexual and reproductive health and rights. The new Board members were welcomed as part of a Board meeting held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the meeting, the Board approved as its next Chair Dr. Linda Rosenstock, who has served on the board since 2013 and since 2017 as Chair of the Executive Committee. Outgoing Chair Robert D. Petty will remain on the Board, serving as Treasurer.
As incoming Chair, Rosenstock welcomed Cairns-Smith and Georgis to the Board: “The Board is committed to helping EngenderHealth reach for its vision of a gender-equal world where all people achieve their sexual and reproductive health and rights. With that vision as our guide, the Board needs bold, dedicated leaders like Sarah and Tom, who can help guide the organization into the future.”
Petty commented on the transition of the Chair, saying, “Linda has been such a valuable partner during my tenure as Chair. I am pleased to hand her the gavel, because I know Linda will lead the board with passion, energy, vision, and humility.”
The two new Board members are:
Sarah Cairns-Smith: Retired senior partner and managing director, and current senior advisor, for The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). At BCG, Cairns-Smith focused on innovation and organizational strategy in the private, public, and social sectors. She was a member of multiple global leadership teams and led the Scientist Network, a group of more than 500 life scientists. Her work has included a diverse array of international development and global health focus areas, including reproductive health. She has worked across every inhabited continent, with her global health and development work primarily focused on sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
Tom Georgis: Advisor and consultant to global renewable energy companies with more than 28 years of experience in the energy, technology, and government service sectors. Georgis has held senior executive positions with two technology start-ups and several global energy companies, including serving as CEO of SolarReserve, a solar power plant and technology company. He managed the development, financing, and construction of power plants in Australia, Chile, El Salvador, Nigeria, South Africa, and the United States. Georgis served nine years as a Naval Special Warfare Officer in the United States Navy.
Full bios of all Board members are available on the EngenderHealth website here.
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About EngenderHealth
EngenderHealth envisions a gender-equal world where all people achieve their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). To reach that vision, we implement high-quality, gender-equitable programs that advance SRHR, which we define broadly to include contraceptive counseling and services, maternal health, comprehensive sexuality education, gender-based violence prevention and counseling, comprehensive abortion care, and more. EngenderHealth collaborates with governments, private sector partners, international experts, and local organizations and communities in order to reach marginalized groups—including girls, women, and gender minorities; adolescents and youth; people with disabilities; economically disadvantaged groups; and rural and other hard-to-reach populations. www.engenderhealth.org