How we're run

Alice Usanase specializes in business development, corporate strategy design & implementation, and resources mobilization across emerging markets. Alice currently is the Head of Country Relations Department at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), overseeing AFC’s origination and coverage activities, country membership, and equity raise program. Under her leadership, the Corporation has doubled its country members – expanding from West Africa to a pan-African representation, including shareholder diversification, and raised more than US$800MM of new capital. Prior to joining AFC, Alice was a Project Manager at the World Bank Group focusing on implementing regional industrialization and export policy programs. Alice joined WaterAid America's Board of Directors in March 2023.

Anand Parekh, MD is a Chief Medical Advisor at the Washington, DC Bipartisan Policy Center focused on aging, prevention, and global health.

Prior to joining BPC, he completed a decade of service at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As deputy assistant secretary for health from 2008 to 2015, he developed and implemented national initiatives focused on prevention, wellness and care management.

Christina is the SVP, Total Rewards at Mastercard where she is responsible for designing and delivering compensation and benefit programs that directly support the wellbeing of employees across the globe.  She has led significant efforts relating to gender equality and inclusion across diverse geographies.  Christina has over 15 years of experience as a leader in Human Resources specializing in multinational organizations.  Through extensive international travel, she has developed a passion to improve the lives of others in a sustainable manner.

Desmond FitzGerald began his investment career in 1966 at J. P. Morgan after graduating from Harvard College. In 2005, he co-founded Holyoke Partners, a Fund of Hedge Funds as a Managing Principal.  In 2005, he established the Hope for Poor Children Foundation, which he serves as President and is a Trustee of the Aquaya Institute and Helen Keller International, before joining the WaterAid America Board in March 2011.

Farzaneh is the founder of Lexicon Advisory and has over 20 years of experience advising on complex transactions, governance and compliance. She was the General Counsel for International Transactions & Compliance at Honeywell and supported its businesses across multiple industries where she managed a global team located across four continents. Prior to that, she was Honeywell’s General Counsel for the Middle East and Africa and began her career at Allen & Overy working in the London and Dubai offices. She is fluent in five languages and has extensive on-ground experience in many of the countries in which WaterAid operates. Farzaneh joined WaterAid America's board in 2024.

Kiki is executive vice president of Market Development for Mastercard Latin America and Caribbean. She oversees the region's corporate strategy and market transformation, and business development efforts with fintech partners, merchant relationships, digital partners, government engagement, and payment service providers. With over 15 years' experience in the payments industry, she specializes in digital product innovation, business partnerships, and driving financial inclusion. Her passions include advocating for gender balance efforts and promoting inclusive growth. Kiki joined WaterAid America's board in 2022. 

Marc Robert became a WaterAid America Board member in 2012 and served as board chair from 2014-2022. He is a partner of Water Asset Management LLC , an investment partnership focused on investing globally in companies and resources that ensure water availability and quality and has spent over 25 years in the equity investment industry. Prior to joining Water Asset Management LLC, he was managing director at Morgan Stanley in New York and London. He is also the board chair of St. David’s School, a private boys K-8 school in New York City.

Marc Zimmer holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland and an M.B.A in International Finance and German from Thunderbird School of Global Management. Marc has over 20 years of experience in sales and operations and currently serves as a Client Services Executive with Cisco Systems. He has served on the Aguayuda Board of Directors since April 2013, to help those in need of WASH solutions.

Nam Hee, currently serving as Board Treasurer, has 12 years of investment banking experience in New York and Hong Kong.  Until 2013, she was a Director in the Investment Banking Division of Barclays Bank in Hong Kong where she advised corporate clients on fixed income products.  Nam Hee started her career in the Public Finance division of Lehman Brothers in New York where she managed debt issuance for US municipal governments secured by water, sewer, and utility system revenues. She received her Bachelor of Science in Mathematical and Computational Sciences from Stanford University and a Masters in China Development Studies from University of Hong Kong. Nam Hee joined the WaterAid America Board in 2018.

Ms. Ore Sofekun is the CEO of Foothold Advisors, a business advisory and consulting firm. She has over 25 years’ experience spanning: Funds Management, Venture Capital, Investment Banking, Consulting, and Manufacturing. She is a past President of the Fund Managers Association of Nigeria and has served on several Nigerian Capital Market committees. Ore holds a Doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Alumni Association of The International School Ibadan and of Cycology Cycling Club. 
 

With over 17 years of experience across capital markets and portfolio management, Rashmi is currently Managing Director and a Portfolio Manager with J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.  Rashmi holds an M.B.A. from The Wharton School, with a concentration in Finance and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania with a major in Economics, Philosophy, and Political Science.

Roya is an experienced counsel in areas of corporate compliance, strategy and general commercial counseling. Roya, currently based in the Bay Area, holds an undergraduate degree from the prestigious Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, a masters from The School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, and a JD/ LLM from the Duke University School of Law. Roya joined the WaterAid America Board in 2018 and currently serves as board Secretary.

Sally is a consultant and adviser with over three decades of executive experience in the United Nations Development Program that included senior policy-making positions as well as leading UN system development activities in Philippines, Costa Rica and Argentina.  Following retirement from UNDP, Sally engaged in consultancies with organizations including the MacArthur Foundation, Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, and UN Women, is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Asia Society, and actively supports a number of nonprofit and environmental organizations.  Sally holds a B.A. from Smith College and an M.A. in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Samuel Feinstein is Partner, Private Equity at Apollo, with focus on investments in the chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors. He currently serves on the board of directors of WaterAid America, Covis Pharma, Kem One, Univar Solutions, Vacuumshmelze and WR Grace, and formerly served on the board of directors of CEVA Logistics, Hexion, Momentive Performance Materials, Pinnacle Agriculture Holdings, Taminco Global Chemicals and VECTRA Co. Prior to joining Apollo in 2007, Samuel was a member of the Investment Banking Group at Morgan Stanley.

Sarah is President of TMX Datalinx, where she leads the growth of the information services division of TMX Group which provides a broad spectrum of real-time and historical data solutions to clients around the world. Ms. Ryerson's key areas of focus will include developing new products, implementing enhanced commercial models and expanding the business into new markets.  Previously, Ms. Ryerson led strategy and sales operations for Google Canada and before that, spent 8 years at McKinsey & Company as a strategy consultant.  Ms. Ryerson is a graduate of Princeton University and holds an MBA, Strategic Management from Wharton Business School.

Chief of Staff

Katherine joined WaterAid in 2009 despite training in Classical Trumpet at the University of Indiana. She is the intersection of finance, admin, operations and marketing. 

Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships and Philanthrophy

Sarah has an MA from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and a BA in History from Columbia College and joined WaterAid in 2007. 

Director of Marketing and Engagement

Emily has a masters in journalism from the University of Maryland and a BA in American Studies from Wesleyan University. She has worked as a writer and content strategist for numerous publishers and NGOs. She joined WaterAid in 2017.

Director of Policy and Advocacy

Elizabeth joined WaterAid in 2020, where she brings more than a decade of experience leading advocacy on Capitol Hill for international development funding and policy. Prior to coming to WaterAid, Elizabeth served as Senior Policy Advocate at CARE, where she covered numerous portfolios.

Chief Financial Officer

James joined WaterAid Australia in 2017 and moved to the New York team in 2020. He has 15+ years’ experience working in NGO, corporate and government sectors in finance, corporate services and audits. James spent eight years in NGO senior management and five as a director and treasurer on the boards of several non-profits. He holds a MBA/Law and is a Chartered Accountant with the ICAA.

Director, Awards & Compliance

Born in Senegal, Romain serves as Director of Awards & Compliance having joined WaterAid America in 2012. Working seamlessly in French and English, Romain leads and supports the management of restricted funding, and sets the award management and compliance framework in support of WaterAid’s mission and programs globally. Romain holds degrees from Polytechnique Montréal with a Master's Degree in Water quality and treatment and from Ecole des Mines d'Alès.