July 13, 2018
The Bank Information Center’s Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the appointment of Elana Berger as BIC’s Executive Director, effective immediately. Ms. Berger has been serving as Interim Executive Director for the past six months. “This was an easy decision for our Board. Elana has done a terrific job as the interim executive director; she has demonstrated the knowledge, leadership and vision to lead BIC into the future. We are very pleased that she has agreed to assume BIC’s helm permanently,” said David Hunter, Chair of the Board of Directors.
Prior to serving as BIC’s Interim Executive Director, Elana Berger was Director of BIC’s Social Inclusion and Accountability program, where among other things she led key components of BIC’s campaigns relating to the World Bank Safeguards Review. She has been instrumental in pushing the World Bank to take aggressive action in addressing gender-based violence, and is deeply committed to advocating for reforms that respect the rights of those most profoundly impacted by development activities.
Elana is a human rights lawyer with significant international experience. Immediately prior to joining BIC five years ago, Elana worked in Thailand at the Burma Partnership where she supported local civil society groups to report on human rights violations committed by the Burmese military. Previously, Elana worked for the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect where she led several campaigns to protect populations at risk of mass atrocities, and at the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, a branch of the International Labor Organization. Elana received her Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law and holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Maryland.
“I am deeply committed to continuing our work with communities and civil society around the world to further BIC’s mission of democratizing development finance,” said Elana. “For thirty years, BIC has played an important role in influencing development finance institutions and driving reform, and I am honored to lead the organization at a time when our work is more important than ever.”