Lisa K. Walker, PhD

Experience

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  Department of Health and Human Services

  Jan 2003 - Jan 2004

  International Health Officer

  Managed $12M in foreign assistance for USG non-proliferation efforts in the former Soviet Union, strengthening civilian public health capacity and facilitating technology transfer.Oversaw grants process, including evaluating proposals, coordinating technical reviews, and compiling funding. Monitored grants and conducted site visits using Russian and English.Monitored developments in public health policy and administration in Eurasia; prepared time-sensitive briefing materials to the Office of the Secretary and OGHA. Show less

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  NIH

  Aug 2005 - Aug 2006

  DeWitt Stetten Jr. Memorial Fellow in the History of Biomedical Sciences and Technology

  Conducted original research in the history of vaccine development and virus research at NIH's NIAID/Laboratory of Infectious Disease and on U.S.-Soviet health exchanges, while completing post-doctoral residential fellowship in the history of biomedical sciences and technology. Wrote and edited articles and outreach materials for the Office of NIH History and the NIH Office of Communications for relevant internal and external audiences.

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  Independent

  Oct 2008 - Dec 2010

  Independent researcher in the history of biomedicine and public health

  Designed, researched, & wrote articles and book manuscript on history of Soviet public health.Established close working relations with scholars and health officials to obtain access to state archives in Russia and Tajikistan; interpreted complex systems to find and collect data.Published peer-reviewed scholarly articles and attended conferences to present innovative research findings on how the Soviet health system managed disease.

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  Save the Children

  Jan 2011 - Jun 2011

  Communications and Business Development Specialist

  Responsible for business development, including proposals to USAID and ECHO.Researched and wrote in-depth needs assessments on education reform and food security.Conducted reporting and ensured compliance for post-emergency youth engagement project in Kyrgyzstan; compiled and edited external reporting to Office of Transition Initiatives, USAID.

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  Independent Consultant

  May 2012 - Feb 2013

  Consultant: program design and evaluation

  Delivered high quality analysis, program tools and assessments to NGOs. Assignments included monitoring & evaluation tools for Save the Children youth livelihoods project in Indonesia; labor market assessment that informed the design of IYF livelihoods project in Egypt.

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  American Red Cross

  Feb 2013 - Oct 2016

  - Managed $2.5M cross-sectoral portfolio of projects in community-based health, disaster risk reduction, and organizational development, implemented locally by 7 National Societies. - Responsible for ARC’s overseas field delegation, including all operations, programming, and finances, in 6 countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Armenia, Ukraine, and Belarus.- Supervised a staff of 7 employees in 3 ARC offices. Managed capacity-building activity for national staff at ARC and local implementing organizations.- Served as the official regional representative of the American Red Cross in Europe and Central Asia, skillfully coordinating with stakeholders and leadership throughout the RCRC movement, national governments, and in partner organizations.- Provided strategic direction and leadership, managing a process of scenario planning and strategic re-orientation for ARC’s Eurasia region. Show less - Successfully managed a portfolio of regional and country-based projects in community health and disaster risk reduction through a transition in leadership and shift in strategy. Facilitated partnerships and contract agreements between American Red Cross and National Society partners. Coordinated all aspects of grants, including programmatic, risk management, budget, monitoring & evaluation, and administration.- Successfully managed American Red Cross response to 2014 Ukraine crisis. Advised ARC leadership on strategy and interagency relations. Provided key strategic and operational support to innovative cash-transfer relief pilot that assisted 1,000 displaced households.- Provided interim leadership, serving as acting Health and Programs Technical Advisor for Eurasia (Aug 2013 – Jan 2014).- Served as coordinator for all ARC disaster response for East Europe and Eurasia. Show less

  • Senior Program Officer for Europe and Eurasia

    May 2015 - Oct 2016

  • Program Officer for Europe and Eurasia

    Feb 2013 - Apr 2015
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  USAID

  Oct 2016 - Jul 2018

  Special Assistant on Health Security, Communications, and Information Management

  - Managed USAID/Cambodia’s $3M Global Health Security Agenda portfolio, successfully coordinating multiple internal and external participants and stakeholders to ensure progress toward Cambodia’s targets within the context of overall global strategy and roadmap.- Designed and implemented a new outreach strategy and improved communications practice for the Office of Public Health and Education at USAID/Cambodia), significantly raising visibility on social media.- Applied strong communication and collaboration skills to resolve issues and delays in internal process, including the finalization of a new Office strategy for health and nutrition.- Worked with senior level management, advising both Office and Mission leadership to provide high-quality strategic and technical guidance documents and communications materials. Show less

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  Independent Consultant

  Aug 2018 - Nov 2019

  Consultant: Strategic planning, analysis, communications & reporting
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  U.S. Department of State

  Nov 2019 - Feb 2022

  Humanitarian Program Specialist

  - Focal point for key U.S. government institutional relationships and policy objectives in migration and refugee affairs. Promoted and strengthened partnership with UNHCR.- Represented the U.S. government in bilateral relationships and multilateral fora, working in close collaboration with international organization and multilateral partners, bilateral donors, and civil society actors to ensure U.S. policy priorities were clearly communicated. Facilitated strategic cooperation with partners to ensure effective international response to forced displacement, to improve cooperation among humanitarian and development actors, and to meet relevant international strategic targets.- Provided strategic direction and leadership, contributing analytical reports and briefing memos on developments in humanitarian activity and in the governance of key multilateral institutions. Analyzed and reported information on developments in Europe, as the primary liaison on this region with all Geneva-based humanitarian organizations.- Supported effective partner programming and management, promoting effective and efficient delivery of lifesaving assistance through financial and diplomatic support to Geneva-based humanitarian organizations, with a focus on UNHCR. Monitored and provided feedback and strategic guidance to major international organization partners on their activity, with focus on refugee health, child protection, education, and statelessness. Show less

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  International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC

  Mar 2022 - Apr 2023

  Consultant: Grant manager for USAID Global Health funding

  - Coordinated management of a multi-year, multi-country grant from USAID’s Bureau of Global Health to support IFRC's community-based health programming, including building pandemic preparedness and resilience and response to health emergencies. Primarily responsible for programmatic coordination of Red Cross Red Crescent Movement COVID-19 response and vaccination support activity funded by USAID Bureau of Global Health.- Led results reporting to USAID and monitored IFRC compliance with funding requirements and implementation of funded activity. Worked closely with IFRC colleagues in multiple departments and lines of work, at HQ and region and country level, primarily Finance and Programs and Operations delegates, to ensure IFRC’s programmatic and reporting compliance.- Advised on key issues affecting program implementation and results to ensure activity funded by USAID was strategically aligned with IFRC strategic priorities and flagship initiatives. Coordinated program development, in consideration of evolving needs, IFRC and national society capacity, and USAID/USG strategic priorities for COVID and health security.- Provided technical and programmatic oversight, coordinated monthly and quarterly reporting to USAID, monitoring and evaluation, and led on development of statements of work and workplans for IFRC’s activity that originated at country and regional levels. Led on IFRC’s program communication with USAID Washington on award management and performance. Show less

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  Independent Consultant

  Apr 2023 - Dec 2023

  Consultant: Strategic planning, analysis, communications & reporting

  - Short-term consulting assignments in global health and U.S. public health, for international NGOs and academic public health researchers.- Assignments included: technical advising for HIV/AIDS and Health Systems Strengthening proposals to USAID; technical support on peer-reviewed publications of original research on tobacco use and control in the U.S.

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  U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration

  Nov 2023 - now

  Health Policy Analyst