Emira Woods

Emira Woods is a global justice strategist and advocate focused on people and the planet. She brings an intersectional lens to her work as an environmentalist and political activist specializing in social impact and innovation.

Emira uses her skills to advance human dignity and social justice.

As the Executive Director of Green Leadership Trust, Emira works at the nexus of race, governance, and climate justice. Green Leadership Trust strengthens environmental organizations and foundations by building more diverse, equitable, and inclusive governing boards and senior leadership across the sector. Together, we are building a more just and sustainable world.

Prior to this role, Emira served as Senior Advisor at the Shine Campaign, a community of practice with philanthropists, faith and values-driven agencies catalyzing investment in women-led, community based renewable energy initiatives around the world. Committed to feminist leadership, Emira established Shine’s Energy Access Women Leadership Council. She also worked to co-create and manage Shine’s Energy Access COVID Recovery Fund.

Emira previously worked in the private sector as Director of Social Impact at ThoughtWorks, a global technology firm. Her work forged strategic relationships linking social movements to innovative technology, funding, policymakers and other resources. Originally from Liberia, Emira led ThoughtWorks’ efforts to bring more robust technology solutions to the Ebola crisis and other global social impact initiatives.

Ms. Woods worked for 11 years as a public scholar and Director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the progressive think tank, The Institute for Policy Studies. She remains an Associate Fellow of the Institute, providing thought leadership on issues related to peace, justice, and the environment. Emira has also served as Africa Program Officer at Oxfam America and Manager of Development Policy and Practice at InterAction, the U.S. network of international development and humanitarian organizations.

Emira is a trusted advisor and Board Member to many organizations and initiatives. She is currently a Trustee of two trailblazing foundations – the Wallace Global Fund and the Janelia Fund, where she is Vice-Chair. Emira is honored to be Ambassador for Africans Rising for Justice, Peace, and Dignity, a network of African social movements working to build peace, seek justice and manifest dignity on the African continent and throughout the diaspora. In addition, she serves as a Mentor at the Fighters’ Table supporting feminist leadership in Black and Brown communities. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Association of Concerned Africa Scholars and is a board committee member of ActionAid International.

Ms. Woods is an analyst on CNN’s One World with Zain Asher. She also is a regular commentator on Voice of America, BBC and National Public Radio, among others. Emira is widely published on a range of issues from climate change, trade and investment to U.S. military policy. Ms. Woods completed her undergraduate studies in Political Science at Columbia University and her graduate studies in Political Economy and Government at Harvard.