Board

David Conner serves as the Board Chair of Groundswell International and is Senior Director of Talent Development for Duke University’s Office of Alumni Engagement and Development. In this role, he is responsible for developing, championing, and executing training and professional development strategies, processes, and activities on behalf of Duke’s university-wide alumni and development community. A native of Pittsburgh, Dave completed both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Wheaton College … [Read more...] about David Conner

Bhadra Sheela Durgabakshi serves as the Vice Chair of Groundswell International and also serves on its Program Committee. Bhadra has over 25 years of experience in international development. She has retired from the World Bank in budgeting and finance and has worked extensively in the Africa Region. Bhadra lived in Mozambique for two years, where she became interested in community development using sustainable solutions with locally grown products. Bhadra holds an M.Sc in Management with a … [Read more...] about Bhadra Durgabakshi

Andrea Bohn is the Treasurer of Groundswell International and the project manager for the USAID funded Feed the Future Innovation Lab on Livestock Systems implemented by the University of Florida. With fifteen years of experience implementing agricultural development projects, Andrea designs responsive projects and manages the long-term and daily requirements that ensure these projects thrive. Through her ability to coordinate activities and connect actors, research for development initiatives … [Read more...] about Andrea Bohn

Tim LaSalle champions his science-based hope for a regenerative food system that will mitigate climate change by sequestering 100% of the current emissions and provide the most robust ecologically regenerative method to feeding a growing world population.  Tim is currently the Co-founder and Co-director of the Regenerative Agriculture Initiative at Chico State University. LaSalle previously served as the first CEO of Rodale Institute, Executive Director of the Northwest Earth Institute, … [Read more...] about Tim LaSalle

Fatou Batta serves as Groundswell International’s Board Liaison for West Africa. Fatou is one of Groundswell’s co-founders and also the founder of Association Nourrir Sans Détruire (ANSD), Groundswell’s local partner in Burkina Faso. Until 2009, Fatou worked for over 15 years as the World Neighbors’ Area Representative for West Africa, overseeing all aspects of strategy, programs and management for the region. Prior to joining World Neighbors, she held several positions with the government of … [Read more...] about Fatou Batta

Cantave Jean-Baptiste serves as Groundswell International’s Board Liaison for Latin America and the Caribbean. Cantave is a Haitian agronomist and rural development practitioner with over 30 years of experience supporting rural development, agriculture and sustainability, as well as strengthening peasant organizations. He is also the Executive Director of Partenariat pour le Développement Local (PDL), Groundswell’s partner organization in Haiti. Before creating PDL, Cantave worked with Caritas … [Read more...] about Cantave Jean-Baptiste