Deputy Director, Gates Foundation 

Jennifer Okwudili is Deputy Director in the Office of the President for Global Policy & Advocacy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She advises foundation leaders on advocacy strategy, political risk, and external engagement, contributing to the foundation’s presence in major international policy and philanthropic spaces. Previously, she led policy and advocacy work in the Gender Equality Division and advanced domestic education efforts at the foundation. Before joining, Jennifer held roles with the New York City Department of Education and D.C. Public Schools and worked as a policy researcher for think tanks including the Center for an Urban Future and the Center for Social Justice. A Praxis Fellow, AmeriCorps alum, and member of the Education Pioneers network, she also serves on the board of the Tahirih Justice Center and is a Salzburg Global Fellow. She holds degrees from Georgetown and Columbia Universities.