Leadership
Leadership
The foundation’s leaders come from a broad range of backgrounds and have a diversity of expertise and experience that spans science and technology, medicine, public policy, education, communications, law, and business. Our leaders are guided by the foundation’s mission to create a world in which every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life.
We are governed by a board of trustees, which in 2022 was expanded to include the CEO and five independent experts. The members of the board contribute diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and expertise to help guide and strengthen the foundation's governance, strategic direction, operations, financial planning, and overall performance. Click here to meet our board.
Meet our leaders
Bill Gates
Co-chair, Board Member
As co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates shapes and approves foundation strategies, advocates for the foundation’s issues, and sets the organization’s overall direction.
Melinda French Gates
Co-chair, Board Member
As co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda French Gates shapes and approves the foundation’s strategies, reviews results, and sets the organization’s overall direction.
Mark Suzman
CEO, Board Member
Mark Suzman leads the foundation's efforts to promote equity for all people around the world.
Ashish Dhawan
Board Member
Ashish Dhawan is the founder and CEO of the Convergence Foundation (TCF), which is focused on accelerating India’s economic growth and development. He is also the chairperson of Ashoka University.
Helene D. Gayle
Board Member
Dr. Helene D. Gayle serves as the 11th president of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Strive Masiyiwa
Board Member
Strive Masiyiwa is a Zimbabwean based in London and an international business leader.
Minouche Shafik
Board Member
Baroness Nemat (Minouche) Shafik is a leading economist, whose career spans public policy and academia.
Tom Tierney
Board Member
Tom Tierney co-founded The Bridgespan Group, an independent global nonprofit focused on helping philanthropists and nonprofit leaders achieve breakthrough results.
More about our work
Our work
Learn about where we work around the globe and the programs we’ve created to address urgent issues in global health, global development, and education.
committed grants
We’ve funded thousands of projects, large and small. Our database includes payments made and committed from 1994 onward.