Oxfam America is honored to announce Smita Singh as its new Chair of the Board of Directors. Ms. Singh transitions to the role after six years on the board and will succeed Joe Loughrey, as he ends his five-year term as Board Chair.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to help steer Oxfam in its vitally important work. Having sat on the board for the past several years, I have seen the incredible impact that Oxfam has made around the world. It is a privilege to take on this leadership role at a time when Oxfam’s work to end poverty, hunger, and injustice is more important than ever,” said Ms. Singh.
Ms. Singh has dedicated her career to finding sustainable solutions to poverty and supporting international development efforts. She was the founding director of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation's Global Development Program, where she helped critical programs, including the Think Tank Initiative, the Transparency and Accountability Initiative, the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation, the Open Government Partnership, and the partnership for Quality Education in Developing Countries. She also worked on programs designed to better measure the effectiveness of development interventions and to reform and modernize development assistance policy and practices.
“I am thrilled to see Smita transition to this important role and help lead Oxfam in its mission to end the injustice of poverty. With her depth of experience, knowledge, and passion, she will be an invaluable advocate in our field,” said Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America.
Prior to the Hewlett Foundation, Ms. Singh was a scholar at the Harvard Academy of International and Area Studies, researching the comparative political economy of developing countries. She has also worked for the Commission on National and Community Service (now the Corporation for National Service), where she created programs and funding strategies for dispersing grants to community service and service-learning projects at over 200 colleges and universities. She has also worked for ABC News “Nightline” and with community-based women’s organizations in India.
In addition to Oxfam America, Ms. Singh currently sits on the governing boards of several nonprofits, including the Natural Resource Governance Institute, Twaweza, The International Budget Partnership and the Center for Global Development. She is a member of the Aspen Strategy Group and served on President Obama’s Global Development Council.
Outgoing Chair Joe Loughrey said, “It’s been an honor to serve Oxfam America as Board Chair. I am humbled to pass this role to someone as capable and committed to Oxfam’s mission as Smita, and I know she will accomplish great things as Oxfam America's new Board Chair.”