Member Highlight

How did you end up in grants management? 

I have a background that uniquely bridges high-level international diplomacy, including roles as a former Permanent Representative to United Nations in Geneva, USAID Policy Advisor, and Chair, Economic Affairs Committee African Union ECOSOCC, with Fortune 500 enterprise and strategy consulting for companies and academic appointments at four universities. These experiences and roles naturally lead me to grants management. 

What is your favorite or most impactful grant program you have been a part of and why? 

All my involvements in the global grants space have been impactful to me and those they serve. I am so proud and privileged to have been a part of them all.

What is your biggest work challenge and how do you manage it? 

Navigating the natural operational friction that occurs when anchoring rigid, technical compliance standards across expansive, decentralized global development portfolios. Throughout my career directing initiatives with multilateral agencies, I have found that regional teams and non-finance program staff frequently view necessary compliance structures as restrictive bureaucratic hurdles that slow down vital, on-the-ground mission delivery. To manage this challenge effectively, I approach compliance not as surveillance but as a service, implementing a repeatable, four-component grants management protocol that transforms compliance from a roadblock into a shared asset.

What NGMA member benefit has been most useful to you? 

The Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS) credentialing program and its aligned professional development resources have been most impactful to my practice.

How do you recharge after a long week at work? 

I genuinely enjoy spending my weekends diving into the latest academic journals, reading up on emerging developments in global trade finance, or exploring new methodologies at the intersection of business strategy and sustainability frameworks.