Chris Bessenecker

Chris Bessenecker is an international public health and development specialist with over 30 years of experience addressing global poverty. His career began as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Honduras, and he has since worked with organizations like UNICEF, International Rescue Committee, and Project Concern International in roles ranging from research investigator to vice president of programs. Chris has also led disaster response efforts, including during the Rwandan genocide, the Asian Tsunami, and the Haiti Earthquake. For the past decade, he has focused on improving community resilience, particularly among pastoral communities in East Africa, by integrating satellite and mobile technology for better herd and pasture management. Currently, Chris is the Senior Director of Innovation at Global Communities, where he drives the organization’s innovation strategy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Sociology and a Master of Public Health. In 2001, he took a 2.5-year break to sail 14,000 nautical miles across the Pacific in a traditional wooden vessel. He resides in San Diego, California.