Julie Shaw, Executive Director: has over 30 years professional leadership working with government, private sector, and civil society groups worldwide. Ms. Shaw was the founder, and for ten years, the Executive Director of Urgent Action Fund, in Boulder. During her tenure, UAF invented the “rapid response grant-making model”, co-founded and mentored the now independent, Urgent Action Fund-Africa in Kenya; and laid the groundwork for the establishment of Urgent Action Fund-Latin America, which was recently launched in Columbia. Prior to Urgent Action Fund, Ms. Shaw was the Senior Program Manager for The Global Fund for Women, in San Francisco, where she created and managed a donor circle on sex trafficking.
Suzanne Mieko Thomson, Associate Director: Born and raised in North Carolina, Ms. Thomson became interested in international development and nonprofit work after a summer in Tanzania. After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill, Ms. Thomson began her nonprofit career working with the homeless community and at-risk youth in Washington DC, coordinating her efforts between shelters, resource centers and community development organizations. After relocating to Colorado, Ms. Thomson gained a range of experience working for local businesses specializing in holistic living before joining the GEF team.
Fred Afwai, GEF Kenya Director: After graduating from Common Ground Theological Institute, Mr. Afwai founded the Candlelight Church and Primary School in the Matopeni community of Nairobi, Kenya. Mr. Afwai and his family also operate a safe house for orphaned children. As a community leader with strong ties to a wide range of schools, orphanages and neighborhood groups, he also works with numerous international nonprofit organizations. Mr. Afwai joined the GEF team in 2007 to help develop and manage pilot programs in Kenya.
