GFI Welcomes Sandra Nathan and Sharon Waxman to the Board of Directors

GFI Welcomes Sandra Nathan and Sharon Waxman to the Board of Directors

Created: Saturday, 08 June 2024 01:24

GFI WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS
SANDY NATHAN AND SHARON WAXMAN

The Global Fairness Initiative (GFI) is pleased to welcome philanthropy and non-profit trailblazer Sandy Nathan, and former President of the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and longtime worker advocate Sharon Waxman to the GFI Board Directors. Sharon and Sandy have spent their careers empowering workers and building systems that reduce vulnerability and strengthen human rights. GFI’s newest Directors join an exceptional group of peers representing government, civil society, labor, and private industry on the GFI Board.

"It is my honor to welcome Sandy and Sharon to the GFI Board,” said HE Kabine Komara, former Prime Minister of Guinea and GFI Board Chair. “They have both contributed so much to improving the living and working livelihoods for working people and I look forward working alongside them to help strengthen GFI’s mission to create a more just, sustainable future for workers everywhere.”

Ms. Nathan is a Managing Director at Humanity United, a leading US Foundation working on issues of peace, freedom and human rights globally. She has extensive experience in international and community-focused philanthropy, and has led multiple foundations, non-profits and public sector initiatives throughout the United States. Ms. Waxman has provided leadership for some of the most important worker protection organizations in the world, including the FLA, the US State Department‘s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Throughout her career she has innovated programs and practices that have been widely adopted by public and private sector actors to ensure worker livelihoods are decent, safe and secure. “Sharon and Sandy have been champions of economic justice and worker empowerment throughout their careers and they have lived the values we strive for at GFI.” said Global Fairness Initiative Founder and President Karen Tramontano. “They understand who we are and what we do, and we are thrilled to have them join the exceptional group of leaders on the GFI Board.”

The Global Fairness Initiative is an international NGO that works to create a more equitable, sustainable approach to economic development, and to make our global economy work for those who need it most − the world’s working poor. For nearly twenty year GFI has steadily built a track record of success through innovative programs to reduce poverty, enfranchise informal communities, and advance human rights and livelihoods around the world.

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.

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. .