Julie Shaw
Executive Director
Ms. Shaw 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 Thomson
Program and Administrative Manager
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 high-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.