We are Plan International; we work with children and girls in over 80 countries to help create a world where we are all equal. Our structure and governance bring together global coordination and local leadership, ensuring we deliver lasting change, remain accountable and stay grounded in the realities girls face every day.
How we are organised
Plan International operates through a global network that connects country-level work with regional and global support. This structure allows us to respond to local priorities while working together to achieve global impact.
Together, these parts of our organisation allow us to connect global strategy with local action.
Our leadership
Meet the people guiding Plan International’s global work and supporting teams across our network.
Our country offices lead all programme work within the countries where we operate. They work closely with communities and local partners to deliver programmes that reflect local priorities and needs.
Many country offices are branch offices of Plan International, Inc., without a separate governance structure, and are supported by regional hubs.
Programme units within each country office work directly with girls, children and communities, often based in the locations where programmes are delivered.
Regional hubs
Our 4 regional hubs in the Americas, Asia Pacific, West and Central Africa, and the Middle East, Eastern and Southern Africa, provide leadership, coordination and technical expertise across countries.
Regional hubs support country offices to deliver programmes effectively and share learning across regions. They are led by Regional Directors and operate as part of Plan International, Inc.
Liaison offices
We have 4 liaison offices, in Geneva, New York, Addis Ababa and Brussels to strengthen our engagement with global institutions and decision-makers. They help amplify the voices of girls and promote children’s rights at the international level.
Global hub
Our Global Hub, based in the United Kingdom, provides leadership, coordination and support across our global network. It works with regional hubs, country offices and national organisations to ensure alignment, shared standards and effective delivery of our work.
National organisations
Our national organisations are independent legal entities and members of Plan International’s global network.
They play a central role in governance, fundraising, advocacy and public engagement in their countries. They also contribute to global decision-making through the Members’ Assembly and help ensure strong accountability to donors and the public.
How we are governed
Our governance ensures that Plan International is accountable, transparent and guided by those who represent our global network. It defines how key decisions are made and how we are held responsible for our work.
Members’ Assembly
Our highest decision-making body is the Members’ Assembly, made up of representatives from our national organisations, along with youth representatives from countries where we work.
Board Oversight Committee: Tim Lo Surdo (Chair), Heikki Eidsvoll Holmås, Michele Lederberg and Lori Evans
Nominating and Governance Committee: Aoife Kelly Desmond, Patricia Faulkner, José Carlos Guerrero, Elham Binai, Claudia Halberkamp, Margarita Vargas, Meredith Niles and Susan Blankhart
It is chaired by Gunvor Kronman, who also chairs the International Board.
International Board
The International Board oversees the management of Plan International, ensuring that the organisation is well governed and delivers on its purpose.
It works closely with the leadership team, providing oversight, guidance and accountability, and is supported by committees focused on areas such as audit, programmes and people and culture.
Meet our board members
Gunvor Kronman (Chair)
Gunvor Kronman (Chair)
Gunvor joined the International Board as Vice Chair in November 2014 and became Chair of the International Board and Members’ Assembly in November 2020.
She has a wealth of experience in the field of international development, previously working for 16 years in the International Red Cross movement and serving on several humanitarian missions.
She has chaired the Development Policy Committee for 10 years, advising 3 Finnish governments on global issues, and has experience in child rights.
She has served as the vice chair of Crisis Management Initiative, an independent organisation that works to prevent and resolve violent conflicts and has held Board Memberships with UN Live and Friends of the UN, amongst others.
Gunvor is motivated by trying to make the world a better place by pushing for a better life for all children and especially girls, and for gender equality.
Madhukar Kamath (Vice Chair)
Madhukar Kamath (Vice Chair)
Madhukar Kamath is a marketing services professional, with over 4 decades of experience.
Madhukar is currently the Chair Emeritus of the DDB Mudra Group, a mentor for Interbrand India and the Chair of Multiplier Brand Solutions.
He has served as the Chair for the Advertising Standards Council of India, the Advertising Agencies Association of India and the Audit Bureau of Circulation. Madhukar helped to build MICA into India’s foremost Strategic Marketing and Communication Management and Business School and has also been conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Advertising Association of India.
He is a member Emeritus of the Board of Plan India and is committed to achieving the organisation’s ambition of all girls standing strong creating global change. Madhukar is a member of the Financial Audit Committee and the Programme Committee.
Axel Berger (Treasurer / Financial Audit Committee Chair)
Axel Berger (Treasurer / Financial Audit Committee Chair)
Axel Berger spent most of his professional career for the German arm of KPMG, the accounting firm, thereof 14 as managing partner of Cologne and Munich. He is also the former Vice-President of Financial Reporting Enforcement Panel.
He received an Honorary Doctor of the University of Eichstätt.
Axel has sat on the Board of Plan International Germany since 2004 and joined the International Board in 2017. Axel is a member of the Financial Audit Committee.
Rabia Garib (Programme Committee Chair)
Rabia Garib (Programme Committee Chair)
Rabia has been an entrepreneur in the area of technology media since 1999 and produces business-technology content for web, television and radio.
In 2007, she brought the world’s largest business-technology magazine, CIO, to Pakistan. She co-founded ToffeeTV in 2010 which develops local language content, making learning fun through animated songs and stories and producing e-learning content for several companies. ToffeeTV is now expanding into curriculum-aligned educational content.
In 2017, Rabia co-established The New Spaces, a website dedicated to AI, Fintech, IOT and Infosec content. Rabia was previously the head of the Pakistan chapter of Eisenhower Fellows.
She is the Chair of the Programme Committee and a member of the People and Culture Committee.
Debbie Simpson
Debbie Simpson
Debbie Simpson’s career has been marked by her passions for diversity, change and growth. Winner of Consulting Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2018 Women Leaders in Consulting, Debbie has been recognised for her role in Boston Consulting Group’s continued excellence, as well as prior contributions to PwC, also known as PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Her experience as a global financial and operations leader began first as a partner at PwC, and then at BCG, a $10 billion business, where she worked for 20 years before retiring in June 2021. Debbie was a member of the BCG executive committee for 12 years, serving as chief financial officer and as the head of global functions. She was a critical leader in driving BCG’s continued growth and development as a leading management consultancy and its evolution into a digital leader in the marketplace.
Debbie helped BCG grow tenfold over her career and deepen its global footprint, now with more than 20,000 partners and staff located in over 90 cities and more than 50 countries. She received the President’s Award at BCG in 2016 for her instrumental role in building the digital ventures unit, and continues to support the digital ventures and green ventures teams as an advisor.
Debbie also brings experience on for profit and not-for-profit boards, where she has assumed leadership roles on audit and finance committees as well as supporting compensation, strategy and development efforts.
Debbie received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University and her master’s degree in business from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management. Debbie is the former CFO and head of functions at Boston Consulting Group and a Board member at Cross Country Consulting and Ceres.
She sits on the Board of Plan International USA. She is a member of the Financial Audit Committee.
Chido Cleopatra Mpemba
Chido Cleopatra Mpemba
Chido is a pan-African thought leader and trailblazing public servant, recently appointed as Special Advisor on Youth and Women to H.E. Mahmoud Youssif, Chairperson of the African Union. She is the first woman and youngest person appointed to his cabinet, where she contributes directly to shaping the continent’s highest policy and strategic decisions.
Previously, Chido served as the Special Envoy on Youth and the youngest diplomat in the Cabinet of former AUC Chairperson H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat. In this role, she spearheaded the Make Africa Digital Campaign, which has driven digital transformation across 9 countries and equipped over 4,000 youth with future-ready digital skills.
She currently serves as Co-Chair at the World Health Organisation, where she led a coalition of ministers and experts in passing a historic resolution on social connection at the 78th World Health Assembly, an unprecedented global commitment to promoting mental and physical wellbeing.
Chido’s voice has shaped conversations on innovation, equity and youth empowerment through influential platforms and publications, including the World Economic Forum, United Nations, Devex, World Bank and Google. A former private sector professional with Standard Chartered Bank, she continues to champion cross-sectoral partnerships that unlock transformative opportunities for Africa’s next generation.
Her work has earned her global recognition in campaigns such as the End Malaria Campaign alongside David Beckham and Meta’s Africa’s Rising Stars, in acknowledgment of her leadership in advancing both Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She is a member of the Programme Committee.
John Kerr
John Kerr
John is Chairman of Kin and Carta plc, a digital transformation-consulting firm. He was previously Chief Operating Officer and then CEO of Deloitte Consulting, the leading global consultancy with revenues of $20bn.
He has operated in over 30 countries around the world and has extensive experience working with global clients in a wide range of sectors. He is an advisor and board member to a number of companies.
John is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and a graduate of the University of Strathclyde.
He is a member of the Board of Plan International UK and joined the International Board in January 2025. He sits on the Financial Audit Committee.
He enjoys art, wine and music, he skis, plays tennis, supports Chelsea FC and Scotland in every sport. He is married and has 5 children.
Rachel Samrén (People and Culture Committee Chair)
Rachel Samrén (People and Culture Committee Chair)
Rachel joined the International Board in 2024 bringing in-depth understanding of the trisector relationship between business, government and civil society from her career as an external affairs, governance and risk executive with 25 years’ experience across the telecommunications, strategic intelligence, and financial services sectors in publicly traded, private, NGO and government JV entities.
A corporate diplomacy and responsible business expert, Rachel has managed stakeholder relations, regulatory affairs, sustainability and crisis situations on behalf of corporate and non-profit entities internationally and in the global south in particular.
Involvement in the telecom sector has provided Rachel with thorough insights into the positive enablement effect, as well as the risks, of technology, making her a passionate advocate for the responsible use of technology and for digital and financial inclusion of women and girls specifically.
She is the Chair of the People and Culture Committee and a member of the Programme Committee.
Mark De Smedt
Mark De Smedt
Mark has over 30 years experience in marketing, operations and human resources at Apple and Citigroup.
He moved to the Adecco Group in 2013 where he was on the Executive Committee until 2019.
Mark is currently on the Boards of the Copus Group and SD Worx.
He is passionate about people and supporting young entrepreneurs.
Mark is a member of the People and Culture Committee.
Ikufumi Tomimoto
Ikufumi Tomimoto
Tomi is a Professor of the Faculty of Economics and Advisor to the Vice President of International Cooperation of Yamaguchi University in Japan.
He worked for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from 1974 to 2010 and served as a Director of JICA in its Paris, Vienna, Washington DC and Bangkok offices.
He is an expert in the fields of International Public Management and Development Cooperation.
Tomi serves on the Board of Plan Japan and is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals and Plan International’s Purpose. He is a member of the Programme Committee.
Legal and regulatory information
We are a not for profit corporation registered in the State of New York, U.S.A.
Our constitutional documents set out how we are governed and how decisions are made:
Our registered office is located on the 15th floor, 228 East 45th Street, New York NY 10017, U.S.A.
Related pages
Accountability: Policies and Commitments
Our policies and commitments explain how we safeguard children, act with integrity and remain accountable for our impact with girls and communities worldwide.
Global Girls Foundation appoints Dr. Phaedria Marie St. Hilaire as Global Ambassador
Global Girls Foundation advances girls’ rights and gender equality within Plan International by mobilising influence, funding, and strategic partnerships.
We use functional cookies to make this site work. We’d also like to set optional cookies to measure site usage, personalise content and tailor advertising to your interests. To choose which cookies to enable, click on Settings. For information about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice.
