About Us

We are a nonprofit founded in 2018 in Europe and the US, building on the world's significant progress towards a stronger and more resilient future.

Our Purpose

Now, more than ever, we are at a place where we need to be strategic and efficient to ensure that the incredible progress made in global health does not backslide.

We are not on track to reach global goals on immunization, malaria or neglected tropical diseases goals and the essential programs addressing these diseases are at risk due to massive funding cuts. The global goals are not arbitrary. Almost 600,000 people died of malaria in 2023, with the majority of deaths occurring in children under age 5. 1 billion people are affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which have devastating health, social and economic consequences. Millions of children are missing essential childhood vaccinations, leaving them vulnerable to devastating preventable diseases.

Where do we come in?

Bridges to Development is a small, nimble organization founded in 2018 by a group of global health experts who want to do development differently. Our expertise lies in multilateral partnerships, strategy development, program implementation, new product development and project management – skills that were honed over decades in senior roles with the largest global health organisations. With a proven track record in community engagement, public health innovation, and stakeholder collaboration, Bridges brings technical expertise, contextual knowledge, and global networks needed to help address complex global health challenges and ultimately ensure that interventions reach the communities that need them and that those communities are left more resilient.

Our Team

Bridges is led by a team of experienced professionals who have demonstrated commitment and delivered solutions to global problems throughout their careers, leveraging experience in diverse organizations such as Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, The Global Fund and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The team

Managing Partner

Julie
Jacobson

Managing Partner

Alan
Brooks

Partner

Sarah
Churchill

Finance and Operations

Cathy
Grebert

Project Coordinator

Nicole
Vecchio

Collaborators

Caroline
Pensotti

Margaret
Baker

Edda
Magnus

Eelco
Szabo

George
Taleo

Ruwan
Demel

Moses
Kas

Bridges’ Internship Program

Isreal
Wuresah

Nikita
Kubal

Bridges is committed to investing in the next generation of health, education, and sustainable development leaders. Launched in 2019, our internship program is designed for students and young professionals on their way to impactful and fulfilling careers. Below are our interns listed by their year of participation.

“It was during my time at Bridges that I truly came to understand what meaningful collaboration looks like. At Bridges, we did not simply divide tasks. We co-created. We exchanged ideas, refined each other’s thoughts, and developed outputs together in real time. That depth of teamwork and shared ownership was entirely new to me.”

Amy Nwoku, 2024 Intern

Board Members

Board members oversee and support the work of Bridges. They bring extensive public and private expertise through decades of work in global development, and hands on experience from local implementation to leading global organizations.

Board Co-Chair

Amélie
Baudot