OUR LEADERSHIP
Meet the Team
Eileen Koff
President & CEO
Eileen is a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO), and founder of To The Next Level, a professional organizing business based in Cary, NC. Beginning in 2008, following a visit to Entebbe, Uganda and the nearby fishing communities, she was exposed to the real needs of children living in Africa, and began supporting twelve young children--enhancing their home life conditions, providing clothing, tuition for schools and solar lanterns for studies. This led her to subsequently found, lead and support with her husband Wayne, the Peace Island Children’s Center (PICC).
Wayne C. Koff
Chairman
Wayne is Chairman of MyImmunome, Inc., a biotech company focused on improving health by profiling the human immune system. Formerly, he was President and CEO of the Human Immunome Project (previously the Human Vaccines Project); and was Chief Scientific Officer for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, where he led R&D to develop and test HIV vaccines, and built labs and clinics in Africa for HIV diagnosis, prevention and treatment. He co-founded the PICC with his wife, Eileen.
Bonnie Bender
Board Member
Bonnie is an independent consultant working on a wide variety of global public health issues. She has lived and worked in Africa for most of her career, most recently in Kenya as the African Regional Director for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. In that capacity, she led a portfolio of health research and HIV/AIDS programs, including work within Ugandan fishing communities to identify health issues and support local partners to improve health outcomes.
Jan de Bont
Senior Advisor Proj. Mgmt.
Jan, a certified project manager, has dedicated over 20 years to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative in Uganda. He supports research organizations in East and West Africa and played a pivotal role in identifying vulnerable Lake Victoria fishing communities. Jan is dedicated to finding innovative solutions for the challenges faced by these marginalized populations.
Linn Dorin
Board Member
Linn is the Chief Operating Officer of Global Health Strategies (GHS) and the founder and CEO of Global Finance Strategies—a subsidiary of GHS that provides financial, strategic and operational counsel for NGOs, donors, governments and private sector companies. A seasoned operations and finance executive, most recently she was the Chief Administrative Officer at Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and CFO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). During her 14 years at IAVI, Linn supported the development of a $5M/year nonprofit into a complex, $100M/year product-development partnership—with operations in Africa, India, Europe and elsewhere. Prior to IAVI, Linn spent five years at Morgan Stanley, becoming one of the youngest vice presidents in its history. Linn has a Masters in Public Administration from Columbia University.
Pontiano Kaleebu
Board Member
Pontiano serves as the Director of Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), the country's largest Government Research Institution. Additionally, he heads the MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit. This Unit is one of the UKRI/MRC-UK Units located outside the UK, affiliated with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where he holds a professorship in immunovirology. Pontiano's diverse background includes leading the UVRI-IAVI HIV Vaccine Program and conducting research concerning Lake Victoria's fisherfolk communities.
Ian
Koff
Board Member
With two decades of experience in the creative industry, Ian has developed a passion and flair for crafting persuasive messaging and emotion-driven content that moves people AND the needle. His expertise lies in translating complex products and services into compelling value propositions that resonate with audiences—driving brand awareness, engagement and revenue.
Ian works with clients across diverse industries, including technology, healthcare, customer experience, home improvement, real estate and more—and has proudly partnered with The Child Creativity Lab, Gen Next, Lifebox, The Human Immunome Project, Miracles for Kids, Making Lives Better with Alorica and other notable non-profit organizations.
Leslie Nielsen
Board Member
Since 1999, Leslie has been based in Uganda, working as a registered nurse and project manager. Her career centers around serving marginalized groups. Currently the Director of African Partnerships at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, she collaborates with research teams, policymakers, and civil society to address health issues in Ugandan fishing communities, especially for women, children, and adolescents.
Amy K. Rwakihembo
Board Member
Amy is a seasoned professional in International Development with 24 years of experience. She excels in securing funding for projects across Africa and Asia. With a background at CARE USA, Marie Stopes Uganda, VSO, and more, she's now the Director of Partnerships, Advocacy, and Communications at Living Goods. Amy holds a BA in Diplomacy and World Affairs, along with a Nonprofit Leadership and Strategic Management certification.
Sabrina Welsh
Board Member
Sabrina is a seasoned Senior Clinical Operations professional, amassing more than 13 years of expertise in the realm of early vaccine development, particularly for HIV and emerging infectious diseases. Her journey led her to Pfizer in 2021, where she continues to excel. Prior to that, in her role as Director of Programs and Operations at the Human Vaccines Project, Sabrina orchestrated clinical and lab operations, generating impactful data to combat public health concerns. Her dedication extended to collaborating closely with the fishing communities around Uganda's Lake Victoria.
EMPOWER A BRIGHTER FUTURE
