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Who
We Are

Our Story

Over the past two decades since Dalberg was established, the group of mission-led enterprises has partnered with and served communities, governments, foundations, non-profits, multilaterals and companies to build a more sustainable and inclusive world. 

 

Through this work, it became clear that the accumulated expertise, networks, experience, and insights could be extended to build system-wide solutions to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Dalberg Catalyst aims to bring to life a portfolio of systems solutions and initiatives to meet this goal. We build on the foundation of the Dalberg Group’s 20+ years of experience, while maintaining independence in our governance, finance, and operations.

Our Supporters

Dalberg Catalyst is an independent entity funded entirely by donors. We rely on the support of like-minded partners who share our values and are excited to create agenda-shaping, collaborative action that leads to meaningful, systemic, and lasting changes in the world.

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Our major funders have been invaluable partners in driving forward transformative change.

We also benefit from the contributions of global citizens like you. Your support can help us prevent the next pandemic, reshape our relationship with nature, and pave the way for an inclusive, climate-smart economy.

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Our People

Board of Directors

Initiative Leads

Dan Tuttle

Director of Health, Stupski Foundation

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USA

Sonila Cook

Executive Chair, Dalberg Catalyst

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India | USA

Mariah Levin

Executive Director, beVisioneers

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USA | Switzerland

Tim Hanstad

Vice-Chair, Chandler Foundation; Co-Founder, Landesa & Catalyst Now

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USA | India

Leadership Team

Jordan Fabyanske is a senior executive and entrepreneurial leader in the field of social change. As Chief Executive Officer, Jorden enables and accelerates Dalberg Catalyst’s programmatic impact in co-creation with our current and emerging initiative leads. Previously a Partner at Dalberg Advisors and head of the Dalberg Group’s operations globally, Jordan co-led the firm’s Inclusive Economic Growth service line and Systems Change community of practice, advising leading actors in global development—including foundations, governments, multilateral organizations, NGOs and corporations—on matters of policy, strategy, organizational effectiveness, multi-stakeholder initiatives, and scaling social impact. Jordan holds a Master’s degree in international business from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. When he is not nudging his friends and colleagues to think in terms of systemic, visionary change, Jordan can be found hiking or canoeing with his wife and two children in Minnesota.
Jordan Fabyanske

Chief Executive Officer

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USA

Sonila Cook is the Executive Chair of Dalberg Catalyst, where she works closely with the leadership team to advance bold, collaborative strategies for systems change. From 2020 to 2025, she served as the organization’s founding CEO, shaping its mission and early growth. A practitioner of systems change and a global coalition-builder, Sonila’s work centers on problems that transcend sectors and call for joint leadership from multiple types of actors. She spearheaded the creation of Preventing Pandemics at the Source, a groundbreaking initiative that brings together leading health and conservation actors to address the root causes of pandemics. Before leading Dalberg Catalyst, Sonila was a Partner at Dalberg Advisors. She joined the firm’s founding team in 2003 and played a pivotal role in its growth—launching the Environment Practice, directing the New York office, and advising leading governments, multilaterals, nonprofits, companies, and foundations on strategies to confront pressing global challenges. Her clients included the Rockefeller Foundation, UNDP, Human Rights Watch, New York City Government, Swiss Re, Unilever, and the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery. Prior to Dalberg, Sonila worked for McKinsey & Company. She holds an MBA from Columbia University and an AB in Economics from Harvard University. She has spoken at various fora including the World Economic Forum and the Council on Foreign Relations, and her perspectives have appeared in publications such as The Guardian, The Lancet, and Stanford Social Innovation Review. She also serves on the Board of the Rainforest Alliance and previously served on Dalberg’s Board of Trustees.
Sonila Cook

Executive Chair

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India | USA

Chris S. Devairakkam is the Chief Operating Officer for Dalberg Catalyst based in Virginia, USA. Christopher comes with extensive experience and exposure in the not-for-profit Organizations. Starting with Public Accounting at Deloitte in India and few years with Corporates, Chris had served in several senior leadership roles in India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and USA. On his various roles Chris had travelled extensively across the globe to more than 60 countries. Chris had pioneered number of initiatives including audit automation, comparative cost analysis for nonprofits, establishing internal Shared Services and marketing programs. He had been instrumental in starting leadership programs and simplifying operations through technological solutions. Prior to joining Dalberg, Chris worked at World Vision International as a Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific based in Singapore. Chris also had worked at Institute for War and Peace Reporting, as a CFO in Washington DC. He serves on the Boards of both nonprofits and others. Chris is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from MK University in India. He is a Certified Internal Auditor from the Institute of Internal Auditors, USA. He also completed his certification on Digital Business Strategy from MIT, Sloan School of Management. Chris is passionate about developing leaders and Teams and helping others unleash their potential.
Chris Devairakkam

Chief Operating Officer

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India | USA

Orchestrators in Residence

Jamie Drummond is a serial advocacy entrepreneur who was global strategist for Jubilee 2000 Drop the Debt and co-founded DATA.org and ONE.org – which went on to help cancel over $100b in developing country debt and drive a deal to double smart aid for African nations along with trade and transparency improvements. He has helped drive advocacy strategies that have raised 100s of billions for global health in particularly helping ensure access to ARVs, anti-malarial medications, vaccines and other key interventions are more equitably shared in the poorest communities. With a white label platform called “Sharing Strategies” he is currently working with major foundations, MDBs, think tanks, IOs and CSO south and north to catalyze a series of new campaigns and partnerships to “crack the crises” of covid, inequality ecology and climate and help accelerate the SDG Decade of Action and Delivery despite heavy headwinds
Jamie Drummond
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UK
James Mwangi is Founder of Climate Action Platform – Africa (CAP-A), a not-for-profit organisation that aims to help Africa achieve broad-based economic growth through climate action leadership. Prior to founding CAP-A, James served as Executive Director of the Dalberg Group, a global collection of impact-driven businesses that work to build a more inclusive and sustainable world where all people, everywhere, can reach their fullest potential. James joined Dalberg as a founding member in 2002, started Dalberg’s first Africa office (Johannesburg) in 2007, and subsequently served as Global Managing Partner of Dalberg’s consulting business, guiding the formalization of its structure and governance as a global firm. From 2014, James has served as Executive Director of the Dalberg Group, supporting the growth of new businesses and coordinating the efforts of all Dalberg entities in pursuit of a shared mission. He led the acquisition or incubation of several integral elements of the Dalberg Group which today operates from locations in more than 25 countries around the world, employing over 500 professionals. James holds a degree in economics from Harvard University and is a 2009 Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow of the African Leadership Institute, a 2013 Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and a 2021 Yale World Fellow. He currently serves on the boards of the Skoll Foundation, One Acre Fund, Old Mutual Limited, The Global Centre for Pluralism and the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority.
James Mwangi
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Kenya

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Background image: NASA, Qadisiyah, Baghdad, Iraq.

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© 2024 by Dalberg Catalyst

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Dalberg Catalyst is a 501(c)(3) public charity, independent of the other Dalberg entities. Tax ID: 81-2108637

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