May 26, 2015 New York, NY – The Rainforest Alliance announces Anika Rahman has joined the organization as Vice President of Development, based out of the New York City headquarters. In this role, Rahman will oversee the development team in creating and implementing long and short-term strategies that support the Rainforest Alliance’s mission. A Bangladeshi-American lawyer with a distinguished career as a leader for human rights and social justice, Ms. Rahman’s expertise has been focused on women, health and economic development.
Previously Ms. Rahman served as President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, the President of Friends for United Nations Population Fund (INFPA) and the founding Director of the International Legal Programs at the Center for Reproductive Rights. Earlier in her career, Rahman practiced law for a New York based law firm. She specializes in strategic planning, philanthropy diversification, advocacy and policy, nonprofit governance and brand promotion. A prominent authority on human rights and social justice, Ms. Rahman speaks and writes frequently on a range of issues.
“Anika brings with her a diverse and dynamic career as an advocate for human rights and the advancement of economic development,” said Ana Paula Taverse, Executive Vice President for the Rainforest Alliance. “We are thrilled to have her onboard to help champion our mission as we work not only to address critical environmental issues but also to ensure sustainable livelihoods for communities around the globe.”
Ms. Rahman earned her Bachelor of Arts from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and her Juris Doctorate from Columbia Law School. A recipient of the prestigious Lawrence A. Wien Prize for Social Responsibility from Columbia Law School and the 2009 Women’s eNew “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” award (2002), Anika is also a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
The Rainforest Alliance is a global nonprofit that works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers. From large multinational corporations to small, community-based cooperatives, businesses and consumers worldwide are involved in the Rainforest Alliance’s efforts to bring responsibly produced goods and services to a global marketplace where the demand for sustainability is growing steadily. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.
