WAM international

Deborah Burand - Co-Founder, Past President

Deborah Burand joined the faculty of the University of Michigan Law School in 2008, as a Clinical Assistant Professor, to direct the launch of the Law School’s International Transactions Clinic (ITC).  The ITC, the first clinic of its kind in the United States, provides pro bono legal support to the cross-border transactions of organizations working at the base of the economic pyramid. Deborah was appointed to be one of five topic leaders for the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI).  She co-led the Finance track, “Financing an Equitable Future,” at CGI’s annual meeting in September.  Prior to joining the law faculty at the University of Michigan, Deborah’s career has spanned, in nearly equal seven-year parts, senior management positions in the microfinance sector, senior internationally-focused legal and policy positions in the US government (US Treasury and US Federal Reserve Board), and an international corporate law practice (the global law firm Shearman & Sterling).  During her seven years in the microfinance sector, Deborah first served as the Director of Capital Markets for FINCA International, and then as the Executive Vice President, Strategic Services, of the Grameen Foundation.  She now sits on the investment committee of a microfinance investment fund managed by Deutsche Bank, and on the Advisory Council of MicroVest, a specialized fund investing in microfinance.  Deborah holds a law degree and a Master of Science of Foreign Service (MSFS) from Georgetown University

Michele Costello

Michele Costello is a Director at ABN AMRO Bank NV and leads the Portfolio Management NV team for corporate clients.  In this role, she manages a credit portfolio of US-based multinational clients and is responsible for a team of 14 professionals across various industry sub-portfolios.  Michele is an experienced debt professional, with a background in corporate, leveraged, syndicated and real estate finance.  Her interest in microfinance has led to various volunteer activities and affiliations with NY- area microfinance organizations, a role as outreach director for a microfinance renewable energy project in Haiti, a role as co-founder of a microfinance education company, and an Adjunct Professor position at Baruch College teaching a microfinance course.  Michele received an MBA in Finance and Economics from New York University Stern School of Business.

Amy Davis - Co-Founder, Past President

Amy Davis is the Associate Director of the International Housing Finance group at Habitat for Humanity International. Her work for Habitat focuses on product design, defining and implementing best practices in housing microfinance, and advising the global team in microfinance methodologies, market research and product development. Before taking on the post at HFHI, Amy was a consultant with the SEEP Network, Catholic Relief Services, FINCA International, IDEAS and Habitat for Humanity, performing diagnostics, evaluations, training and strategic planning. Prior to consulting, she was the Manager of the Microfinance Unit at Catholic Relief Services in Baltimore, and the Senior Technical Adviser for their West Africa Regional Office. Amy began her microfinance career with FINCA International as Program Manager in Uganda and Haiti. Additionally, she has facilitated workshops in the areas of leadership, change management, social performance metrics, client and impact assessment, market research, and new product development. Amy has over 15 years of microfinance experience and more than 20 years in international development, serving in residential posts overseas for 15 years, beginning as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal. Amy earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Political Science at Radford University in Virginia and studied International Development Management at American University in Washington, DC.

Kate Druschel Griffin

Kate Druschel Griffin is a microfinance professional with a regional focus on Asia.  She currently leads Grameen Foundation’s initiative to reach the world’s poorest people with access to reliable business opportunities and financial management tools.  She has also overseen programs in the Philippines, East Timor, and Indonesia, and led strategic expansion into China.  She is also an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).  Previously, Kate focused on microfinance policy and poverty measurement tools at the IRIS Center at the University of Maryland, where she provided technical assistance and program management on projects in financial sector regulation and microenterprise development.  A Mandarin Chinese speaker, Kate holds an MA in International Development from American University and a BA from Kenyon College.

Anne Folan - Co-Founder, Current President (2008 - 2010)

Anne Folan is an independent consultant focused on strategic communications, public relations, and knowledge management for clients primarily in the microfinance industry. Her clients include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mercy Corps, FINCA International, CGAP, Alternative Credit Technologies, the Social Performance Task Force, JMR Portfolio Management, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Haiti Democracy Project.  Before launching her own practice, Anne handled communications for FINCA International, managing their brand identity, designing strategic communications plans, producing all web and print publications, leading internal communications, and producing high-profile special events. Anne began her career at Island Press, the only nonprofit publishing house exclusively devoted to environmental issues. She holds a bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Jennifer Hansel

Jennifer Hansel is a Learning Network Facilitator for the Economic Growth Department at QED Group, LLC.  She leads and facilitates, online and in-person, learning networks on: 1. Evaluation & Assessment of Poverty & Conflict/Fragility Interventions, and 2. Organizational Learning and the Value Chain Approach, as part of a grants program under a USAID $18 million Knowledge-Driven Microenterprise Development contract.  Previously, Jennifer worked for RTI International, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, The SEEP Network, and Institutional Shareholder Services.  Jennifer has coordinated and provided technical and administrative support to programs funded by USAID, MCC, and the Citi Foundation in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.  She is author or editor of 18 publications; she is published in the Microfinance and Enterprise Development Journal; and a paper she coauthored was presented at the United Nations in 2007.  Jennifer was a 2003–2004 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador from 2000–2002.  She holds a Master’s of Science degree in Poverty Reduction and Development Management.  While working full-time, Jennifer served as a Strategic Planning Consultant for Women Advancing Microfinance (WAM) International, co-drafting the 2006–2008 and 2009-2011 strategic plans and facilitating a workshop at the 2007 WAM International Policy Forum on Gender and Microfinance.

Priya Jaisinghani

Priya Jaisinghani has nearly 10 years of experience in private sector development and non-profit strategic analysis.  From 2005-2009, she served as Program Officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where she helped to launch a $1 billion Global Development Program.  Priya led the team responsible for the foundation’s strategy and entry in microfinance.  Today, the team commits $150+ million in annual grants.  She also directed the team’s entrance into core new areas of grant making, including setting a strategy for expanding insurance for the poor.  Prior to her experience at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Priya served as Development Officer in the South Asia Program of the United Nations Foundation.  She initiated the foundation’s first region-specific portfolio and managed a $3 million annual portfolio of projects in South Asia.  Additionally, she mobilized individuals and corporations, such as ICICI Bank, TATA, and American India Foundation, in support of UN projects in South Asia.  Priya received her Master in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Astrid Pregel

Astrid Pregel is the Senior Advisor, Strategic Integrated Strategies at the Canadian International Development Agency in Ottawa, Canada. She recently completed an assignment as Senior Advisor on Women and Economic Prosperity for the Ministry of the Status of Women in Canada. In her spare time Astrid also runs Feminomics Inc., a boutique consulting company focused on empowering women through their increased participation in the economy.  While writing a book called Feminomics: Unleashing the Economic Power of Women, Astrid is completing her doctorate degree in gender, leadership, entrepreneurship and the economy at Union Institute and University. During her twenty-five years in the Canadian foreign service, Astrid has been posted in Africa, India, Canada and the US, and has also worked with the Republic of Korea. She was the first woman to be appointed Canada’s Consul General to the South Eastern USA, resident in Atlanta, as well as to the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC to lead the development of Canada’s trade relationship with the United States, the largest in the world. Astrid is a member of a number of nonprofit boards and advisory committees focused on women's issues and works with governments, nonprofits, international institutions and private sector companies. She holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto.

Ruth-Anne Renaud

Ruth-Anne Renaud is Vice President of Interactive Marketing & Women’s Philanthropy at Opportunity International, a leading global provider of microfinance loans, savings, insurance and training to over 1.5 million people living in poverty.  Ruth-Anne is responsible for developing and executing fundraising strategies designed to cultivate women donors. She also works with the Women’s Opportunity Network (WON), a key constituent group within Opportunity International that champions raising funds for women’s needs, programs and leadership development.  Previously, Ruth-Anne served as Director of Marketing at Event 360, an industry leader in nonprofit organization event management.  Additionally, she has nearly 10 years of experience in marketing jobs at AT&T's business-communications-services division.  Ruth-Anne holds a bachelor's degree from Lafayette College.


Andrée Simon

Andrée Simon is the President & Chief Operating Officer of Women for Women International, an organization that provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency.  Andrée joined Women for Women after eight years at FINCA International, a network of 21 affiliates serving 700,000 clients across four continents. As Deputy Director of FINCA, Andrée provided strategic guidance to FINCA's network of affiliates and its management team, and managed the institutional strategy agenda with direct oversight over Planning, Strategy, Policy & Technical Assistance, and Research. She also developed critical initiatives on Risk Management and Corporate Governance in addition to acting as interim CFO on several occasions. Andrée oversaw FINCA’s presence in the Middle East, directly supervising programs in Afghanistan and Jordan. Prior to joining FINCA, Andrée served as a strategy consultant with Marakon Associates.  Andrée is a board member of several microfinance institutions around the globe. She is an adjunct professor of microfinance at Georgetown University and a frequent public speaker on microfinance and development.  Andrée received an undergraduate degree in International Relations from the University of Virginia. She holds an MA from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and an MBA in Finance from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. She speaks French, Spanish and Japanese.