Better World Campaign Staff
Peter Yeo, executive director
Peter Yeo joined the Better World Campaign (BWC) as executive director in February 2009 with more than 20 years of legislative, analytical, and management experience, including senior roles on Capitol Hill and at the State Department. Prior to directing the activities of BWC, Peter served for 10 years as the deputy staff director at the House Foreign Affairs Committee chaired by Representatives Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Howard Berman (D-CA).
He has worked on a broad range of foreign policy and foreign aid issues. He led the successful negotiations for the landmark HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003, commonly known as PEPFAR, as well as the successful $50 billion reauthorization of that law in 2008. He also shepherded into law several measures dealing with China, Tibet, Burma, and East Timor.
Prior to his work with the Committee, he served as a deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. State Department during the second Clinton Administration, where he led the negotiations around repayment of the U.S. arrears to the United Nations and was part of the U.S. delegation to the climate negotiations in Kyoto.
Peter holds a bachelor's degree in East Asian Studies from Wesleyan University as well as a master's degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard University.
Mike Beard, director
Mike Beard joined the Better World Campaign in April 2009. Prior to joining the UN Foundation, Beard worked for five years under Congresswoman Jackie Speier and the late Congressman Tom Lantos. As senior legislative assistant to Congresswoman Speier, he managed a diverse portfolio including foreign affairs, and worked on the Financial Services and Oversight and Government Reform committees. Previously, Mike worked with both the personal and Foreign Affairs Committee staffs in the office of Congressman Tom Lantos.
Mike holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego. He began his career in Washington as an intern in the office of Congressman Bob Filner.
Jordie Hannum, deputy director
Jordie Hannum joined the Better World Campaign in April 2008 and supports its legislative and advocacy efforts. Before coming to BWC, Jordie worked as a policy analyst for the Council of State Governments. Prior to this, he worked on the Wesley Clark presidential campaign and as a legislative aide to Congresswoman Constance Morella.
Jordie received his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania (1998), and his master's in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University (2005).
Minh-Thu Pham, public policy director
Before joining BWC in May 2009, Minh-Thu was chief of staff in the United Nations Office of the Special Envoy for Malaria. She also served for several years in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General at the UN as a policy advisor on peace-building and UN reform. She worked previously for the UN Foundation as a public affairs officer and has field experience in Ethiopia, Bosnia, and Vietnam working on refugee, education, and post-conflict issues.
Minh-Thu has her master's degree in Public Affairs from Princeton and her bachelor's in History from Duke University. She is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the board of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families.
Heather Wong, communications director
Heather Wong joined the Better World Campaign as communication director in August 2009. Prior to joining BWC, Heather served as spokesperson for international affairs and terrorism and financial intelligence issues at the U.S. Department of Treasury. She also spent several years on Capitol Hill, working as press secretary to the House Financial Services Committee and in the office of Chairman Barney Frank, where she worked to develop and implement media strategies dealing with the financial crisis.
Heather has also held roles as communications director to Representative Zoe Lofgren and the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, and as deputy press secretary to the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. She began her career on California Governor Gray Davis' re-election campaign, and has also spent time working in the non-profit sector at the American Red Cross.
Heather holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master's in Politics and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Erin Dunne, online communications officer
Erin Dunne joined the Better World Campaign in October 2011 as the online communications officer. Prior to joining BWC, Erin worked in online media communications for various democratic congressional offices and campaigns at DCS Politics. She specialized in constituent e-mail campaigns, Congressional websites and social media strategies. Erin started her career in Washington with internships at both CNN’s Washington Bureau reporting on Capitol Hill topics and in the office of United States Senator Jeff Merkley.
Erin received her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Political Science from Loyola University New Orleans in 2009.
Chandrima Das, policy and research manager
Before joining BWC in June 2009, Chandrima worked at the United States Institute of Peace as a consultant and research assistant writing training curriculums on negotiating, mediation, and conflict resolution. She has also worked for CHF International in South Sudan as a program associate working on basic services programs and combating gender based violence.
Chandrima has a master's degree in Peace Operations from George Mason University. She received her bachelor's in Political Science from Syracuse University.
Ryan Kehmna, legislative associate
Ryan Kehmna joined the Better World Campaign in April 2011 to help support its legislative and advocacy efforts. Before joining BWC, Ryan worked as a Legislative Correspondent and subsequently as a Legislative Aide and Speechwriter for U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd. Prior to this, Ryan served as an intern in Senator Dodd’s office.
Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and Spanish from The George Washington University in 2007.
