LAURA E. POWERS Tulipwood Ln Jamesville, NY Tel. 240/

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1 6427 Tulipwood Ln Jamesville, NY Tel. 240/ SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS More than 25 years of experience in both scientific and management positions within and outside of the U.S. Government. Over 8 years of experience in science research and higher education, followed by 17 years of work within the USG, serving initially as a technical science advisor within the international humanitarian response context. More than 8 years of direct staff management. Overseas experience in both disaster response and chronic emergency settings. Excellent organizational, management, and representational skills. Expertise in strategic design and policy formulation. Strong writer with exceptional editing abilities. Experienced decision-maker in fast paced, complex environments. EXPERIENCE USAID S OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA) Washington, D.C. Senior Humanitarian Advisor, Support Relief Group (SRG) (December 2014 present) Provide support, as requested, to USAID/OFDA as a member of OFDA s surge roster. Currently activated to guide USAID/OFDA s Africa Division in strategic planning for FY17. This involves working with field- and HQ-based personnel, as well as the office s technical team, to design both regional and country strategies that will support the delivery of USG assistance while building the capacity of international partners to effectively implement programs overseas. I am also assisting the office s Preparedness, Strategic Planning, and Mitigation Division with designing a complete training series for disaster response within the agriculture and livestock sectors. GOAL USA New York, NY Director of Policy Initiatives (January 2015 October 2016) Provided leadership, strategic direction, technical capacity enhancement, and planning in support of GOAL USA s efforts on a global scale. Provided thought leadership to GOAL Global on resilience efforts, including production and dissemination of policy guidance, strategic planning, and project design. Created and managed a new technical team within GOAL USA for resilience programming, staffed by senior-level experts on climate change, environment and natural resources, disaster risk reduction, and conflict. Provided guidance on policy issues relating these technical areas to resilience efforts. Created policies and guidance documents for GOAL Global that described new ways of analyzing and assessing information at field level, and using this information to design 1

2 and adaptively manage programs on the ground. This included drafting and finalizing major technical guidance that is currently being used to guide all strategic thinking regarding country programs, directly linking resilience with humanitarian and development efforts. Worked with GOAL Global at the field level to secure major funding from donors for programming related to resilience and climate change. USAID S OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA) Washington, D.C. Senior Humanitarian Advisor, Humanitarian Policy and Global Engagement Division (October 2011 December 2014) Provided leadership and strategic vision to USAID related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policy and programming. Served as the primary contact for all USAID/OFDA DRR activities and programming related to USAID, the USG, and key international stakeholders. Served as the office s key advocate for resilience efforts within the Agency. Wrote and circulated key policy documents for USAID/OFDA related to DRR, including technical guidance for programming risk reduction efforts within various technical sectors, as well as the USAID/OFDA Disaster Risk Reduction Strategic Approach to guide USAID programming and reduce disaster risk. Represented USAID/OFDA at national and international meetings related to DRR, provided technical expertise to UN resolutions on risk reduction, and worked with European-based staff to liaise with donors and UN partners on risk reduction policies. Acting Team Leader, Technical Assistance Group (TAG) (January 2010 October 2011) Supervised a staff of nearly 20 scientists, mentoring new staff, and encouraging professional development of all members of the team. This also involved: serving as the OFDA point of contact for all technical issues related to disaster response and disaster risk reduction; management of the team budget; creation of work plans; evaluation of staff performance; participation on OFDA Senior Management Team (SMT) on behalf of TAG; representing OFDA at meetings and functions that require SMT presence in a technical capacity. Participated in strategic planning for the TAG Team, as well as for various regional teams when technical input is required. Worked with the team on Disaster Risk Reduction activities that required technical input. Provided input and leadership in policy planning and decision-making for issues related to technical areas, including environmental regulations and pharmaceutical regulations and waivers. Served as Response Manager for Libya Response Management Team, providing leadership to the USG response to the complex emergency inside and along the borders of Libya. 2

3 Acting Regional Coordinator, Southern, Western, and Northern Africa (SWAN) Team ( ) Provided leadership to the SWAN Team at OFDA and served as OFDA point of contact for all issues related to disaster response and mitigation within the region; responsible for a budget of more than $30 million; created work plans and evaluated staff performance; coordinated and communicated with senior management on behalf of team; participated in all team meetings requiring SWAN representation. Developed annual country and regional operational response plans. Assisted in preparation of briefing materials for Congressional testimony and for senior USAID staff. Agriculture Team Leader and Agriculture/Food Security Technical Specialist ( ) Provided technical assistance within OFDA for all issues related to agriculture, livestock, and food security, particularly as related to the science behind on-farm productivity. Using available data and knowledge of contexts, analyzed disaster potential; social and bio-physical vulnerability; hazards and risks; and prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response strategies for natural and human-caused disasters world-wide related to agriculture, livestock and food security issues in areas impacted by famine, droughts, storms, floods, pests, displaced persons, and civil strife. Traveled to disaster or potential disaster situations to conduct assessments, identify, monitor, and evaluate projects and provide technical assistance in disaster response and mitigation related to agriculture and natural resources. Participated on OFDA assessment teams and Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs); assisted USAID mission staff in areas hit by the effects of acute or long-term chronic disasters. Prepared technical guidelines for agriculture and livestock assessments, proposal preparation, and best practices for supporting agriculture and livestock in disaster contexts. Wrote handbooks, guidelines, position papers, briefing memoranda, talking points, instructional guides and promotional materials on behalf of OFDA, and participated in development of strategies related to the agriculture sector. Assisted in preparation of briefing materials for Congressional testimony and for senior staff related to agricultural issues. Collaborated with researchers and research/professional organizations to keep abreast of developments related to agricultural production. Applied research and professional knowledge to disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response. Provided leadership to Food Security Unit within the Technical Assistance Group of OFDA; managed global agriculture portfolio and mitigation budgets related to agriculture and livestock projects. Provided project management to achieve USAID and host country objectives in food security and agriculture. Coordinated agriculture activities under the auspices of the Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA)/OFDA/Technical Assistance Group (TAG) Division within USAID, collaborating with other bureaus, organizations, research centers, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Collaborated with technical staff of international organizations and agencies in areas related to agriculture. Served as main 3

4 technical point of contact with FAO and WFP. Coordinated programming with other USAID bureaus, including Food for Peace (FFP), the Africa Bureau, and the Bureau for Food Security. Developed annual work plans/budgets and activity implementation plans in accordance with OFDA's Strategy while assisting in OFDA policy formulation. Developed and maintained relationships with university departments and various outside associations, organizations and government agencies for the purpose of maintaining current knowledge and developing program content. Assisted in training of OFDA staff and affiliated personnel in the technical areas of livestock, agriculture, and food security. EASTERN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY Harrisonburg, VA Assistant Professor and Director of International Agriculture Program ( ) Directed International Agriculture program, including revision of curriculum, mentoring/advising students, supervision of independent research Taught courses in Biology as Inquiry, Biology and Nutrition, Food and Population, Plant Pest Management, Agroecology, Soil Science, Conservation Ecology, Horticulture, and Plant Physiology Co-authored Ecological Principles of Agriculture, a textbook aimed at undergraduate and graduate-level classes in Agroecology ( NATURAL RESOURCE ECOLOGY LABORATORY, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY Fort Collins, CO Post-doctoral Research Associate ( ) Conducted research on soil ecosystems in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica. Was responsible for field team preparedness, data collection and analysis, and general logistics involved in polar research preparation and implementation. Spent four austral summers at McMurdo Station, deploying to field sites as needed. Authored or coauthored numerous papers and presentations at national and international meetings. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NEMATOLOGY Gainesville, FL Graduate Assistant ( , 1992) As part of graduate studies at University of Florida, worked for the Department of Entomology and Nematology, which provided extension services to Florida growers, and conducted research related to plant parasites on forage grasses in the state. 4

5 PANAMERICAN SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF PLANT PROTECTION El Zamorano, Honduras Research Scientist ( ) While conducting doctoral research related to melon production in Honduras, worked for the Department of Plant Protection at the Panamerican School of Agriculture. EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, GAINESVILLE, FL Doctor of Philosophy. Major: Entomology and Nematology. Minor: Agronomy. Dissertation: Agroecology of multiple cropping systems in the semi-arid tropics of Honduras Master of Science. Major: Entomology and Nematology. Minor: Agronomy. Thesis: The mode of resistance in alyceclover (Alysicarpus spp.) to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) SIENA COLLEGE, LOUDONVILLE, NY Bachelor of Science in Biology,