Rebecca Reichmann Tavares has served as President and CEO of Brazil Foundation since 2019. Previously she worked under the United Nations Secretary General as interim Executive Coordinator of the Every Woman Every Child initiative.
A UN diplomat and philanthropy professional, she served as Regional Representative of UN Women in Latin America and South Asia for nine years where she lead UN teams to strengthen governance and civil society in Afghanistan, India, Bhutan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka (2013-2017) and in Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and Argentina (2009-2013).
Dr. Tavares is an inspirational leader with strong policy development and change management skills honed in complex settings. She has led corporate strategic planning, restructuring and board development in philanthropic, private sector and multilateral institutions on three continents, including two major emerging economies (Brazil and India). Dr. Tavares raised over $28 million for UN programs and managed grant portfolios of $35 million. Her previous career in international philanthropy and development spans the Ford Foundation, ACCION International, the San Diego Foundation and consultancies with over a dozen other international organizations, firms and foundations, including the MacArthur and Levi Strauss Foundations.
A native Californian, Dr. Tavares graduated from Yale University and holds a doctorate in Education from Harvard University. She has spoken and published widely on Women, Peace & Security, gender policies, race in Brazil, reproductive health and rights and microfinance in Latin America and South Asia. Dr. Tavares serves on the Boards of Directors of Fundo Baobá and Diplomats Without Borders. She is a member of the International Advisory Board of UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy and a member of the World Economic Forum Global Futures Council on Sustainable Tourism. In 2019, Dr. Tavares received the Yale Women Impact Award.