We are proud to welcome to our Board of Directors a group of five women who have dedicated their careers to the advancement of women and girls. Our new Board members represent the best of this network: bold leadership and the coming together of diverse voices from various industries in support of gender equity.
Melanie Brown
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Senior Program Officer, US Policy, Advocacy & Communications
Melanie brings over a decade of experience in US philanthropy, and is currently an Atlantic Fellow in Social and Economic Equity at the London School of Economics, where her current project focuses on the contributions of Black women working in, and leading, philanthropic foundations and movements. Melanie has written and spoken extensively about the importance of centering racial and gender justice in grantmaking strategies. She joins the WFN Board after having served on the Boards of the YWCA Center for Race and Gender Equity, Women of Color for Reproductive Justice and Funders’ Collaborative for Youth Organizing In New York City.
Antoinette Klatzsky
Eileen Fisher Leadership Institute, Executive Director
Antoinette brings experience in engaging corporations in key initiatives to direct more funds to women’s groups and movements supporting gender equity. A passionate advocate for systemic social change, Antoinette co-created the Eileen Fisher Leadership Institute, promoting leadership in young women through self-empowerment, connection with others and activism in their communities. Antoinette serves as the Co-Chair on the boards of both the Westchester Women’s Agenda and Theater of the Oppressed NYC.
Jill Nowak
Missouri Foundation for Health, Chief Financial Officer
Jill is the first woman CFO at the Missouri Foundation for Health, where she has implemented several women and family-friendly policies. She often volunteers as a financial literacy mentor for women through the YWCA. Jill encourages forward thinking and new ideas, having served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Foundation of St Louis, where she was instrumental in moving the foundation forward from all-volunteer to a fully staffed organization making strides in improving the lives of women and girls in the St. Louis community.
Paulette Senior
Canadian Women’s Foundation, President & CEO
Paulette is deeply passionate and committed to the quest for intersectional gender equality and justice, having been at the forefront of social justice movements throughout her career. Paulette has served in numerous Boards, most recently as Chair of the Women’s College Hospital. Working with all levels of government, Paulette has advocated on issues around poverty, housing, violence against women, immigration, and social justice. She has led, managed, and operated shelters, employment programs, and housing programs. As president and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, she leads a network convener and builder in the women’s sector across Canada.
Michelle Zych
Women’s Fund of Omaha, Executive Director
Michelle brings years of experience in philanthropy and women’s leadership. She currently serves as founding chair of the Women’s Funds Circle, a diverse network of professional women who support the mission of the Women’s Fund of Omaha while creating a space where they can build authentic relationships with one another. She has served on the Boards of the Junior League of Omaha and Omaha Rotary Foundations, and has worked as Regional Development Director for Planned Parenthood. She was recently named president-elect of the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, which serves to strengthen the collective voice, leadership and capacity of nonprofit organizations throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa.