Laurel Hanson

I am a former USAID and UN Official with cultivated expertise in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. I've led teams working on international development and humanitarian response in Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua and at the US Border with Mexico and worked to address some of the world's toughest policy problems at the United Nations in New York and Rome. Most recently I was working with the US Government at USAID, and I'm currently looking for my next opportunity to drive innovative climate and disaster risk reduction action through investing in scalable solutions. 

Laurel is a dynamic and results-oriented senior-level professional with over 10 years of experience in partnerships, fundraising, and program design and management for international development and humanitarian assistance programming. She has served with the US Government, United Nations, and various NGOs in program/portfolio management, policy, and partnerships-focused roles. She is fluent in Spanish and English.

Laurel's highest degree is a Master of Arts in Geography with a concentration in Disasters, Adaptation and Development from King's College London, for which she obtained academic distinction, the highest honor in the British grading system. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she majored in International Development and Spanish and minored in Business. She also holds a professional certificate in Disaster Risk Reduction from the Central European University.