How we're run

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.

Andrew Towle has spent his professional life creating value for some of the world’s  best-known CPG companies, including Procter & Gamble,  Heinz, Georgia-Pacific, and  Kellogg’s. He was the CEO of private equity-owned Urnex Brands, which was successfully sold in 2017. Andrew is currently a partner at NGN Investment Partners.

Towle grew up in India and Thailand and experienced first hand the many issues that WaterAid is committed to resolving. He has extensively lived and travelled globally. He joined the WaterAid America Board in 2018.

Charlotte recently joined Bridgestone Americas, where she is Director of Corporate Development, having led investments in environmental and industrial services as part of the KKR Global Impact fund. Prior to joining KKR, Charlotte worked at The Boston Consulting Group in Houston, Texas. Having grown up between Louisiana and Thailand, Charlotte is deeply interested in issues surrounding water conservation and the nexus between environmental sustainability and economic development particularly as it relates to promoting solutions for vulnerable populations. Charlotte received her BA in Geosciences from Princeton University. 

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.

James Hunt is a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Tocqueville Asset Management, where he serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee and lead portfolio manager for the firm's International and Global strategies. Prior to Tocqueville, he spent 10 years as an executive in corporate finance at Lehman Brothers and Dillon Read, advising  corporations and governments globally on privatizations, mergers and acquisitions and capital raising transactions.

James also serves on the Board of World Connect, a not for profit focused on locally led development initiatives in the global south.

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 the WaterAid Americas Board in 2022. 

Kit Krugman built and leads the Organization & Culture Design at co:collective, a creative & strategic transformation consultancy. Kit helps leaders build innovative organizations at scale: she has worked with start ups, non-profits and large organizations like IBM, LinkedIn, and Microsoft on future of work initiatives, community, culture and org design. Kit is also the former Global Executive Director of WIN: Women in Innovation and a vocal advocate, speaker and writer on topics of gender equity, diversity, inclusion and leading systemic change. Kit holds a masters in Organizational Psychology & Change Leadership from Columbia University, and a B.A. in Literature and Studio Art from Yale University.

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 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. 
 

Paolo Belfiglio is a Managing Director in Legal in the Commodities and Global Markets group of Macquarie. Paolo has been with Macquarie in New York since 2007, and has previously lived and worked in Sydney and London. Paolo joined the WaterAid America board in 2020.

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.

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.

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.

Managing Director of Development

Margaret was thrilled to bring her enthusiasm and experience to WaterAid to connect with philanthropic champions who share the core belief that access to clean water is a human right. She finds it both a pleasure and a privilege to partner with philanthropists who want to make a measurable, sustainable impact in the fight against extreme poverty.  Margaret joined WaterAid in 2020, having previously worked at the Sibley Hospital Foundation of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Population Services International (PSI), Children’s National Medical Center, and Bread for the World.

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 of Programs

Bringing 28+ years of international experience in humanitarian and operations management and planning, Elena Tiffert-Vaughan joined WaterAid America in 2021 to create impact by designing strategic, innovative, and high-quality WASH programs around the world. With experience working in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East with organizations including WaterAid UK, Save the Children, Oxfam, Christian Aid and Medical Aid for Palestinians, Elena’s particular interests are program strategy, program design and development, emergency preparedness, response and recovery, and how to integrate accountability to disaster affected communities. Elena holds an MBA from Oxford Brookes University and works fluently in English and Spanish (with a working proficiency in Portuguese, and while learning French).

Director, Grants and Compliance

Born in Senegal, Romain serves as Director of Grants & 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.