Helene Madonick is the interim-director for Gender Equality. In this role, she is responsible for the successful implementation and management of the Gender Equality strategy and portfolio of investments.

Prior to this role, Helene was the director of the Gates Foundation’s legal team where she managed legal services for the operations of the foundation’s global regional offices. Helene joined the foundation in 2007 and until 2016 was responsible for the Global Health Division’s legal services. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute.

Prior to joining the foundation, Helene was a partner at the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Arnold & Porter. In her 21 years there, she represented pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotech companies on a wide range of issues in both the United States and internationally, including regulatory, litigation, product safety matters, alternative dispute resolution, and risk management. She also served as secretary-treasurer of the Arnold & Porter Foundation.

Helene received her B.A. from Tufts University and J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.