Our Leadership
Leadership
Board of Directors
HE Kabine Komara (Guinea) - Board Chair
Guinea’s former Prime Minister is a well-known banker in the African continent and a former director at the African Export-Import Bank in Cairo, Egypt. Born and raised in Guinea, Mr. Komora studied management in Guinea’s capital Conakry, and then abroad in France, the United States and Egypt. He began his banking career at the Central Bank of Guinea and served as Assistant Director for Personnel in the Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée as well a as Director of the Alumina Company of Guinea Aluminum. Rising in business and government, he was appointed Guinea’s National Director for Investment, a Member of the National Treasurer Committee Council and the Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Planning and Finance. In December 2008 H.E. Komara was appointed Prime Minister of Guinea and chose not to affiliate with any political party, but instead served the people and country of Guinea directly with a level of dignity and decorum that was widely regarded nationally and throughout the world. Following his Prime Ministership H.E. Komara was High Commissioner of the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS) and authored a book that continues to serve as a key reference point on hydro diplomacy. Along with the Global Fairness Initiative, H.E. Komara serves on the Board of international foundations that address peace, security and environmental and water management.
Jan Jones Blackhurst (United States)
Jan Jones Blackhurst is Executive Vice President of Government Relations & Corporate Responsibility for Caesars Entertainment, Corp. In that capacity, she oversees all worldwide government affairs, corporate communications, community relations and corporate-social responsibility programs for the $9 billion corporation. Prior to joining Caesars in November 1999, Jones Blackhurst served two terms as Mayor of the City of Las Vegas. She was the city’s first woman chief executive, and among the most popular mayors in its history, having won reelection in 1995 by a 72 percent margin. While in office, Jones Blackhurst presided over an unprecedented period of economic, social and cultural expansion, one in which the city’s population increased 66 percent, making Las Vegas the fastest-growing major metropolitan area in America throughout much of the 1990s. Today, she is a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Women’s Leadership Board at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She sits on the board of directors of Nevada Public Radio, the Women’s Campaign Fund in Washington, D.C., and is a member of the Gaming Law Advisory Board at the UNLV Boyd School of Law. She is also a member of the Human Rights Campaign’s Federal Club and of Nevada Advocates for Planned Parenthood. In 2012 she was appointed the Vice Chair of the Clark County Public Education Foundation. Jones Blackhurst graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in English.
Anna Eliasson (United States)
Anna Eliasson Schamis (Washington DC) is a fundraising and marketing professional with nearly 20 years of experience in international policy, development and humanitarian issues. Previously, Anna served as Vice President of Development and External Relations at the Atlantic Council where she quadrupled the Council’s revenue and led a $25M fundraising campaign for the creation of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security. Anna has also served as development directors of both the Aspen Institute and Cornell University. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She served until recently as Vice Chair the Board of Directors of the United States Association for UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). She holds an A.B. from Harvard University and an M.A. and M.Phil. in political science from Columbia University.
Sarah Fox (United States)
Sarah Fox is internationally recognized for her work on labor issues in the United States and throughout the world. As Special Representative for International Labor Affairs at the US Department of State 2015 Ms. Fox led the Department’s effort to promote workers’ rights and improve economic security and working conditions for workers abroad; liaise with the global labor movement, U.S. and multinational companies, and other stakeholders on these issues; and, support and strengthen the labor diplomacy function at American embassies worldwide. In this role she was critical in ensuring that American foreign policy and programs advance internationally recognized labor rights and improve living standards across the globe.
Prior to her appointment to the State Department, Ms. Fox served as legal counsel to the AFL-CIO and as the AFL-CIO’s representative to the International Labor Organization (ILO). From 2010 to 2015, she was a member of the ILO Governing Body and of its Committee on Freedom of Association. She previously served in government from 1990 to 2000, first as Chief Democratic Labor Counsel to the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, on the staff of Senator Edward M. Kennedy (1990-1996), then by appointment of President Clinton as a Member of the National Labor Relations Board (1996-2000). Prior to that, she was counsel to the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union and was a reporter at the Courier-Express in Buffalo, NY, where she grew up. She is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School.
Kristiina Helenius (Finland)
Kristiina Helenius, who started her career as a news reporter, foreign correspondent, and social influencer based in Munich, Seoul, Paris, and Brussels, currently serves as CEO of the International Sanctions and Export Control Society, based in Washington, D.C. Previously, Helenius has served as CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Finland, Press Counselor at the Embassy of Finland in Washington, and CEO and partner of Miltton USA advising Nordic companies accessing the US market. As a journalist, Kristiina worked at the Finnish Broadcasting Company, where she was the first woman appointed as chief correspondent covering the EU, NATO, and the European Central Bank. Helenius has held numerous trustee positions including an executive board seat at AmChams-in-Europe, International Women's Forum DC, and the delegation of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. She is a founding member of the John Morton Centre of American Studies at the University of Turku, the school where she received her Master's in Economics and Business Administration.
Reema Nanavaty (India)
Reemaa Nanavaty has been working with self-employed informal women workers since 1984 when she joined the Self-Employed Women’s Association, the largest union of informal sector workers. In 1999, she was elected as SEWA’s General Secretary. Reemaben’s key focus has been to provide full employment & self-reliance to the 1.7 million members of SEWA, where she oversees 4813 self-help groups, 160 co-operatives and 15 economic federations across India and in 7 South Asian countries. She is a member of the Advisory Council on Gender of the World Bank Group. She also served as a member of International Labor Organization’s High Level Global Commission on Future of Work. She was the only commissioner representing the informal sector workers, self-employed workers and the rural workers union in the entire commission. She has also been invited as a member of the UN High-level Dialogue`s Technical Working Group on Energy Action to Advance Other SDGs. In 2013, she received the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India for her distinguished contribution in the area of Social Services.
Sandy Nathan (United States)
Sandy Nathan is the Managing Director, Operations at Humanity United (HU). Sandy leads the operations teams across the organization and helps ensure that leadership, infrastructure, policies, and culture are aligned with HU’s values. Prior to HU, she has served as CEO for Apodictic Consultants, providing strategic consulting to philanthropy, nonprofits and government. She was also the Executive Director for the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice in NYC and the Executive Director of Philanthropy Southwest, the oldest philanthropy serving organization in the country, with member foundations from over six states. Sandy has provided transitional and strategic leadership that enables organizations to successfully prepare for their next level of growth and reinvention. Prior to this, Sandy lead several community foundations including the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona in Tucson where she was chief strategist for grantmaking and community investment and oversaw the CFSA’s partner network, including the African American Initiative, the Alliance (LGBTQ) Fund, and the Latino Giving Circle. She served in a similar at the Marin Community Foundation and was CEO of the Richmond Children’s Foundation, where she oversaw place-based initiatives, and led the organization through a process of conversion to a community foundation. Sandy has a bachelor of arts in sociology from the University of San Diego, a master of arts in public administration from National University, and a doctor of philosophy in theology and Christian education. She also holds a certificate in nonprofit management from the Harvard Business School.
Rose Omamo (Kenya)
Rose Omamo is a mechanic by trade who worked in an assembly plant for nearly three decades. After experiencing the imbalance in gender representation in her union, which is 90% male, and seeing union negotiations that failed to take women into account, she decided to become more involved. Rose worked her way through the ranks and now serves as the General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Kenya Metal Workers, the first woman to hold this position. In addition, she was the National Chair of the Central Organization of Trade Unions - Kenya (Kenya’s equivalent of the AFL-CIO) Women’s Committee. Rose is known throughout Kenya as “Mama Union”. In 2019, Rose and helped make history by leading a landmark agreement to organize 5,600 workers in Kenya’s informal sector. This agreement was signed by the between the Metal Workers Union, and informal workers associations representing vendors, cleaners, autobody workers, and mechanics. Rose has been an outspoken leader on the need for gender representation and equality in the labor movement, and was a key worker representative in discussions on a treaty the ILO ratified in 2019 to address gender-based violence at work.
Sally Painter (United States)
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Blue Star Strategies LLC, Ms. Painters has over 27 years of experience advising corporations, governments, NGOs and multilaterals on international investment opportunities, poverty reduction and on foreign and security policy issues. She has served as a founder of the US Committee on NATO, as Executive Director of the Business Coalition for US-China Trade -- where she helped secure passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China, as a Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Commerce in the Clinton Administration, and as the Director of International at Tenneco Inc., a fortune 500 company. Ms. Painter has received numerous awards for her work, including The Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit from the Republic of Hungary and The Minister of Defense’s Award for Distinction from the Republic of Latvia. Ms. Painter has an extensive track record working with Central Europe on security and policy issues, including successfully representing many of these countries on their NATO and EU bids as well as a Visa Equity Coalition of seven countries where legislation was passed in the U.S. Congress which allowed their citizens to enter the US visa-free.
Aivis Ronis (Latvia)
Ambassador Ronis is currently an independent business and NATO consultant. Mr. Ronis has served with distinction in the Latvian diplomatic service since its re-establishment in 1991 after Latvia restored its full independence. His civil service to Latvia has included multiple leadership positions within government including as Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Transportation Minister, and Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs. He has also had a robust careering representing Latvia as a diplomat in the Foreign Service, holding positions as Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador to Mexico, and Ambassador to Turkey, as well Latvia's Ambassador to NATO in Brussels. Ambassador Ronis has worked actively in Latvia’s private sector since his government service, and serves as a consultant to multiple companies and organizations representing Latvia’s interests and promoting investment and engagement in Latvia’s public and private sector. Early in his career Ronis was a TV journalist and a Latvia youth chess champion.
Lamia Senousi (Egypt)
LLamia Senousi is the Chief Communications Officer at Systemiq, based in London, UK. Prior to joining Systemiq, Lamia was the Managing Director of communications and events at C40 Cities, and prior to that the Global Director of Communications, Public Affairs & Events at the London Business School, where she oversaw a team of public relations, communications, events and government affairs experts in London, New York, Dubai and Hong Kong. Lamia also served as a Global Communications and Strategic Partnership Lead at EY (formerly Ernst & Young), where she worked under the former Secretary of State for Finance in Spain and led the development and implementation of a global communications and partnership agenda for the Global Climate Change & Sustainability Practice.
Previously, she worked at Deloitte, LLP in London and PR Newswire. She was also the Campaign Manager & Election Agent in 2015 for the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Cities of Westminster and London. Lamia has served in a advisory roles globally and is fluent in Egyptian Arabic, Danish, English, and German.
Nik Slingsby (United Kingdom)
Nik Slingsby works as a lawyer and helps the Legal Action for Women Network which provides free legal service for low income women advising on domestic abuse and parental custody issues. He is also involved in the People to People Project building accommodation and sanitation facilities for refugees in Calais. He has a degree in Mandarin Chinese and Economics and has spent a number of years living and working in Asia.
He was the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Cities of Westminster and London in 2015 and Chairman of the Westminster Constituency Labour Party.
Zohreh Tabatabai (Iran)
Zohreh Tabatabai is a familiar face in the diplomatic and global business arenas, having spent many years in high profile positions in the United Nations (UN) system. As the chief coordinator of the UN’s Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, she created new strategies for assembling publicprivate partnerships to assure the success of the event, and she coordinated the activities of more than 100 heads of state who travelled to New York to participate. During her 20 years at UN headquarters, Ms. Tabatabai also served as Focal Point for Women and as Chief of the Public Services Section. Throughout her tenure, she pioneered methods for bringing in outside partners to work on extending the UN’s visibility and effectiveness across a broad range of initiatives. In the year 2000 Ms. Tabatabai moved to Geneva to take up the post of Director of Communication and Public Information at the International Labour Organization, the Geneva-based UN agency that promotes rights at work. Upon leaving the United Nations System, she created a communications and marketing company with special emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). She undertakes various CSR projects for a number of Global companies. Ms. Tabatabai currently serves on the boards of a number of non-governmental organizations, non-profit institutions and charitable foundations.
Karen Tramontano (United States)
Karen A. Tramontano is the Founder of the Global Fairness Initiative (GFI), a non-profit organization working to promote a more equitable, sustainable approach to globalization to ensure its benefits reach all people, including the working poor. Before founding GFI, Ms. Tramontano served as Deputy Chief of Staff to President Clinton and counselor to two Chiefs of Staff, Erskine Bowles and John Podesta. Ms. Tramontano's White House portfolio encompassed a wide range of issues, including international trade, transatlantic relations, as well as economic and financial issues involving the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments. She played a major role in shaping policy concerning the WTO, OECD and other multi-lateral institutions, while handling public policy issues involving the World Bank and the IMF. Other specific accomplishments include spearheading the successful White House initiative to bring the Child Labor Convention into law and leading the team that developed the Comprehensive Steel Plan to rationalize global steel production. Additionally, she managed many of President Clinton's international trips, including his visits to India, Pakistan, and Viet Nam. In 2001, she served as Chief of Staff for President Clinton's transition, where she established his office and presence in New York.
Ms. Tramontano is currently the CEO and co-founder of Blue Star Strategies, LLC, which provides corporate, institutional and public sector clients with results-oriented strategies. Prior to founding Blue Star Strategies, she was a Principal at Dutko Worldwide, where she developed comprehensive multi-level government advocacy strategies for complex global issues. Ms. Tramontano also currently serves as Senior Advisor to Guy Ryder, Director General of the International Labor Organization in Geneva, is on the Board of the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law School. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Catholic University Law School and a B.A. from Boston College, and is a frequent commentator for Bloomberg News.
Sharon Waxman (United States)
Sharon Waxman was President and CEO of the Fair Labor Association (FLA) from 2016 to 2024 where she oversaw development of award-winning living wage tools, expanded human rights due diligence programs, and increased the presence of the FLA to 13 countries on five continents with over 200 member organizations. Prior to the FLA Sharon served as VP for Public Policy and Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and led a global team working on human rights issues affecting displaced persons globally. She also served as Deputy to the Undersecretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights and oversaw five Bureaus and two Ambassadorial offices, including the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, and the Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons. For more than a decade, Sharon served as Senior National Security Advisor to U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA). Earlier in her career in the Congress she was Associate Staff to the Senate Appropriations Committee and developed funding strategies for development and foreign assistance programs. Sharon has served on the Board of the US Global Leadership Coalition, the Nespresso Sustainability Advisory Board, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Sharon received her Masters of International Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Emeritus Board Chairs
William J. Clinton (Former President, United States)
GFI Founding Board Chair 2004-2008
Bill Clinton served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001, an era in which the U.S. enjoyed more peace and prosperity than at any other time in its history. Since leaving office, President Clinton has continued his work on many of the issues that defined his administration, including world trade, the economic empowerment of the poor, and the fight against AIDS around the world. His active involvement in issues of public concern is evident in his work of various foundations and organizations such as the Clinton Presidential Foundation.
José María Figures (Former President, Costa Rica)
GFI Board Chair 2008-2013
José María Figures served as President of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998. He was the youngest President of a Central American country in modern times. During his tenure he created a comprehensive Sustainable Development strategy through investment in human development and the implementation of innovative environmental policies. Prior to serving as President he was Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Trade (1987-1988) and Minister of Agriculture (1988-1990). Has also served as President of the Carbon War Room and has been a leading voice behind the Paris Accords and international climate cooperation.
HE Danilo Türk (Slovenia)
Dr. Danilo Türk served as President of the Republic of Slovenia from 2007 to 2012. Dr. Türk was the first the Slovenian Permanent Representative to the United Nations and served as non-permanent member of the Security Council as well as a member of UN Human Rights Committee. Later he was appointed UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs before returning to Slovenia where in 2007 he was elected as the third President of Republic of Slovenia where he served until 2012. A former professor and director of the Institute for International Law of the University of Ljubljana, Dr. Türk served on the Constitutional Commission of the Slovenian National Assembly co-wrote the human rights chapter of the 1991 Slovenian Constitution.
