After an incredible nine years of leadership and growth, we announce that our CEO, Julia Anderson, will be stepping down from her position, effective May 2, 2025. Julia’s tenure has been marked by remarkable achievements and milestones that have shaped the very foundation of CanWaCH, its mission and its impact both in Canada and around the world.
Over the past nine years, we have seen tremendous evolution in our collective capacity to deliver impactful women and children’s health programming, reaching the most marginalized populations here in Canada and around the world. Julia has been a steadfast leader, guiding our efforts and strengthening our impact as an organization and as a community.
One of Julia’s most notable accomplishments was her leadership in securing the Thrive Agenda, a $1.4 billion year-over-year investment in women’s and children’s health and rights. This monumental achievement has paved the way for continued progress in our sector, and its legacy will last for years to come.
Julia’s work also led to the creation of a unique organization, one rooted in rich partnerships, driven by evidence, and powered by the collective strength of our members. She contributed to building CanWaCH from the ground up, with unwavering focus and dedication, supported by a world-class secretariat and board of directors.
We will deeply miss Julia’s leadership, and we are excited for her as she embarks on a new professional chapter, moving to Washington DC to undertake a role with the Gates Foundation. We bid her farewell in the weeks to come, confident that her new role will continue to make an impact in improving rights and well-being for women and children around the world.
We are pleased to announce that while the Board conducts a global search for our next CEO, the Board has appointed Charmaine Crockett as Interim CEO. Charmaine has been with CanWaCH since its inception, worked across all of CanWaCH’s key priority areas and both understands — and is known by — our stakeholders. She has consistently demonstrated excellence in everything she undertakes and has the Board’s full confidence to lead CanWaCH in the important months to come.
We will have more news to share regarding an appropriate ‘send-off’ for Julia in the weeks to come. Please join us in thanking Julia for her outstanding service and leadership and in welcoming Charmaine to her new role.
Sincerely, Onome Ako
On behalf of the CanWaCH Board of Directors
