Gillian Caldwell

Gillian Caldwell is an American social entrepreneur, attorney, filmmaker, climate policy leader, and human rights advocate. She has served as Executive Director of WITNESS, Campaign Director of 1Sky, CEO of Global Witness, Co-Director of the Global Survival Network, and Chief Climate Officer of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Early life and education

Caldwell graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Social Sciences in 1988. She produced and directed the 1997 documentary Bought & Sold, which exposed international human trafficking networks and contributed to advocacy leading to the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000.

As Campaign Director of 1Sky from 2007 to 2010, Caldwell helped build a coalition of more than 600 organizations advocating for federal climate legislation. and has also been awarded the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. In August 2021, she was appointed Chief Climate Officer and Deputy Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Her tenure ended in December, 2024.

Recognition Caldwell received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship (2005–2007), the Tech Award for Human Rights (2003),

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