Neil Boothby

Over the past thirty years, Dr. Boothby has held a number of senior positions in operational organizations, including as UNHCR’s Senior Coordinator for Refugee Children and Director of Children in Crisis for Save the Children. He also served in President Obama’s Administration as the US Government’s Special Adviser and Senior Coordinator to the USAID Administrator for Children in Adversity, where he led the development of the USG Action Plan for Children in Adversity, which was launched at the White House to guide the government's foreign assistance for vulnerable children in low- and middle-income countries.

As a university professor, Boothby’s research has focused on the long-term consequences of deprivation and danger on child development, and the comparative efficacy of interventions that aim to strengthen the capacities of families and communities to protect young children from harm. He has published extensively on risk and resilience among war and disaster affected children, and is also the recipient of a number of awards for his field work, including the International Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award for his work on child soldiers; the Mickey Leland Award for his work with refugee children; the United Nation's Golden Achievement Award for Excellence in the Social Sector; and the United States Agency for International Development Award for Outstanding Group Achievement for his intergovernmental leadership.