In 2006, something remarkable happened. It started with a few women, and then it grew. And it grew. And it grew. Today, WEA is a global alliance. We are advocates, entrepreneurs, cultural practitioners, trainers, technicians, artists, community organizers, who are banding together to ensure the long-term health of our planet.
WEA has a distributed network model whereby regional programs are guided by longtime WEA Alliance Leaders who draw from their lived experiences and dedicated activism to shape WEA’s regional priorities. Where possible, WEA Alliance Leaders collaborate across regions to create long-lasting impact, bridge strategies, and reciprocate learning and support. WEA’s leadership model is largely decentralized with a small U.S.-based team that coordinates communications, operations, fundraising, and programmatic direction. Since its founding, WEA has practiced and iterated a shared leadership structure, whereby authority, responsibility, and accountability is distributed across our organization, unleashing a unique creativity and diversity of approaches.
WEA is fiscally-sponsored by Earth Island Institute, placing us in a collective of mission-aligned organizations that share knowledge and build strength in community, rather than compete for funding. WEA’s Leadership Board provides overarching insights on our direction and evolution.
Melinda Kramer
Co-Founder, Co-Director
Kiya Leake
Program + Development Coordinator
Arielle Moinester
Program Strategist
Olanike Olugboji
Nigeria Program Lead
Kahea Pacheco
Co-Director
Sarita Pockell
Program + Alliance Designer
Saniy Amalia Priscila
Indonesia Program MEL Manager + Communications Coordinator
Leoni Rahmawati
Indonesia Program Outreach Coordinator + Movement Strategist
Beth Roach
U.S. Accelerator Program Lead
Tarita Roy Choudhury
Program + Operations Coordinator
Irma Sitompul
Indonesia Program Lead
Pandora Thomas
U.S. Accelerator Lead Facilitator + Program Designer
Grace Holske
Programs + Operations Intern
Hannah Méndez
Programs + Operations Intern
Rachel Roberts
Programs + Operations Intern
Emma Venarde
Programs + Operations Intern
We give thanks to the members of our team through the years– whose vision, tenacity, and brilliance are at the heart of WEA.
Maame Afon, Celia Alario, Nikila Badua, Stephanie Bernstein, Zach Behar, Ethan Boehme, Cath Brozena, Gemma Bulos, Heather Burbeau, Annie Burke, Jennifer Carter-Scott, Rucha Chitnis, Orli Cotel, Temra Costa, Angela Mooney D’Arcy, Nitin Das, Kath Delaney, Malia Everette, Sophie Fried, Stacey Frost, Maeanna Glenn, Nell Greenberg, Lisa Gurwitch, Eileen Harrington, Jan Hartsough, Paul Hawken, Sandra Hay, Nick Heldfond, Julia Butterfly Hill, Rachel Humphrey, Susan Kamprath, Arshinder Kaur, Rachael Sydney Knight, John Knox, Shannon Laliberte, Leah Lamb, Scott Leonard, Susan Ma, Angela Mason, Catriona MacGregor, Brittany McCormick, AJ Pell, Dave Phillips, Erica Priggen, Heidi Quante, Carole Roberts, Beth Robertson, Gaya Roshan, Ben Schick, Karly Sherwood, Caitlin Sislin, Reetu Sogani, Pandora Thomas, Joshua Vogelstein, Janet Wallace, Karri Winn, Earth Island Institute, WEA’s founding mothers, and all our devoted fellows, global peers, exchange participants, interns, and volunteers: WEA was built in your loving hands.
