Steven J. Bennett

Steven J. Bennett "is vice president and chief operating officer of Brookings. In this role, Mr. Bennett supervises the interaction between and among the Institution's research programs, and between the research and non-research sides of Brookings, promoting collaboration and interdisciplinary work. He also oversees human resources, information technology, building operations and security, conference services and the Brookings library. He received his bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and a Masters in Public Policy from Georgetown University.

"Prior to coming to Brookings in 2006, Bennett served as executive director for several nongovernmental organizations focusing on the nexus of trade and development. Most recently, he served as co-founder and executive director of the Global Fairness Initiative, an international leadership forum that drives globalization’s benefits to marginal and impoverished populations by advancing innovative models of economic engagement. At GFI, Bennett grew the organization into a healthy and stable NGO, and oversaw successful engagement processes in 13 countries on 4 continents. At GFI, Bennett also co-founded the Synapse Market Access Fund, a social venture financing tool designed to bridge the gaps between poor producers and markets and between micro-credit and commercial loans.

"From 1996-2003, Bennett served as executive director of Witness for Peace, where he directed all development and program work of an international program designed to educate U.S. citizens and lawmakers on the social and environmental impacts of bilateral and multilateral economic policies toward Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to that, he served as interim executive director and program director for National Neighbors, promoting growth and opportunity for poverty impacted urban neighborhoods. He has also served as an associate at the Center for National Policy. He has published in various periodicals on a range of subjects related to trade and development."


 * Director, Washington Office on Latin America
 * President, Latin America Working Group
 * Advisor, Global Fairness Initiative

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 * From 2003-2006, he served as co-founder and Executive Director of GFI.