Dr. Laté Lawson-Lartego
Chief Innovation Officer, aGILE
"With billions of lives on the fringe here in the US and around the world, there is no better time to double down on our efforts at Oxfam to make this world a better place for everyone and preserve our planet. I am committed to using policy, advocacy, campaign, ground-up innovative solutions, and to standing shoulder to shoulder with marginalized people and our allies in the front line to tackle systemic inequality and the injustice of poverty."
Dr. Laté Lawson-Lartego currently serves as Oxfam America's Chief Innovation Officer for aGILE. With over 20 years of experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors, Laté also directs Oxfam's food systems work that fights for inclusive, resilient sustainable and healthy food systems for all. He leads key program operations, while also serving as vice-chair of Oxfam’s West Africa Governance Group.
Before joining Oxfam, he spent 17 years with CARE International in various capacities in country, regional and global roles. His most recent global roles with CARE were Director of the Economic Development Unit and Sr. Director for Food & Nutrition Security Department in the US. While with CARE, he and his team pioneered CARE’s first Market Engagement & Value Chain Development strategy and implementation, enabling CARE to impact over 10 million people, especially women.
Dr. Lawson-Lartego earned a Doctoral Degree in Business Administration at Georgia State University in the US, with focus on innovative business strategies and value co-creation between Business and Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP). He also earned two Master's degrees in Economics & Business from University of Lomé in Togo and Social & Rural Development from Reading University in the UK.