Team Category: Staff

Dr. Ayala Wineman is an economist whose work bridges rural development, food systems transformation, and food security. With extensive experience in agricultural and resource economics, she brings both academic rigor and real-world perspective to her role at the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF).

As a Research Scientist at GCNF, Ayala provides technical guidance on the design and analysis of the Global Survey of School Meal Programs. She contributes to survey development, ensures methodological soundness, and supports the interpretation and write-up of findings. She also advises on other data-focused initiatives at GCNF, helping to ensure the organization’s research is timely and robust.

In addition to her role at GCNF, Ayala is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. She holds both an MSc and PhD in Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics from Michigan State University. Her research relates broadly to rural development, food systems transformation, food environments, and food security primarily (but not only) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Outside of her academic work, Ayala enjoys international travel and hiking her splendid surroundings in western Washington State.

Yale Warner brings a persistent curiosity of data and patterns to his work at the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF). With academic distinction and deep interest in the intersections of food, education, and equity, Yale champions projects that require accuracy and thoughtful analysis.

As Project Officer at GCNF, Yale supports the analysis and reporting of school meal program data. He contributes to the production of country-specific reports and has played a key role in data cleaning and quality control for the Global Survey of School Meal Programs.

Yale’s academic research explored how home-grown school meal programs can support “decolonial development” and adaptation to climate change. He holds a BA in International Relations and Social Anthropology and a MSc in International Development from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

When not immersed in global data, Yale enjoys eggs.

Laurie Miller brings over two decades of experience in financial and operational leadership for mission-driven organizations. With a background in public accounting, corporate finance, and nonprofit management, she specializes in building strong financial systems that support sustainability, transparency, and impact.

As Financial Advisor to the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF), Laurie provides high-level guidance on financial planning, reporting, and compliance.

Laurie began her career as a CPA with an MBA, working in corporate Seattle before shifting to the nonprofit sector. She spent 16 years leading business operations at IslandWood, a center for experiential environmental science education, and later advised a group of sustainable startups in New Zealand focused on community benefit.

She is passionate about using financial tools to amplify social change and strengthen organizations that serve the public good.

Outside of work, Laurie enjoys exploring the outdoors and finding new ways to connect business with purpose, whether in the Pacific Northwest or across the globe.

Laurie Miller brings over two decades of experience in financial and operational leadership for mission-driven organizations. With a background in public accounting, corporate finance, and nonprofit management, she specializes in building strong financial systems that support sustainability, transparency, and impact.

As Financial Advisor to the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF), Laurie provides high-level guidance on financial planning, reporting, and compliance.

Laurie began her career as a CPA with an MBA, working in corporate Seattle before shifting to the nonprofit sector. She spent 16 years leading business operations at IslandWood, a center for experiential environmental science education, and later advised a group of sustainable startups in New Zealand focused on community benefit.

She is passionate about using financial tools to amplify social change and strengthen organizations that serve the public good.

Outside of work, Laurie enjoys exploring the outdoors and finding new ways to connect business with purpose, whether in the Pacific Northwest or across the globe.

Emily Fredenberg is an international development specialist, bringing more than a decade of experience in global food security and nutrition focused on program management, strategic communications, and cultivating partnerships.

At the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF), Emily drives the organization’s external voice, facilitates engagement with global partners, and serves as a key architect of GCNF’s collaborative approach to advancing sustainable school meal programs worldwide.

Prior to GCNF, Emily was at The Rockefeller Foundation where she managed a portfolio of grants supporting global food security and nutrition, including school feeding. Emily also spent six years with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Rwanda, Lebanon and Italy. During this time, she helped to launch and manage a national school meal program in partnership with the government of Lebanon and led WFP’s communications efforts to support the government of Rwanda expand its home-grown school meal program towards national coverage.

Emily holds dual master’s degrees in Public Administration and International Relations from Syracuse University.

When not at work, Emily can often be found hiking or skiing in the Alaskan mountains she calls home.

Heidi Kessler brings bold energy and nearly two decades of experience in childhood obesity prevention, behavioral economics, policy and systems change, stakeholder engagement, program development and evaluation, and capacity building – with a primary focus on school meal programs around the world.

Heidi serves as Deputy Director at the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF), where she manages day-to-day operations, human resources, and development while driving the strategy behind the Foundation’s two flagship initiatives: The Global Survey of School Meal Programs and the Global Child Nutrition Forum. She ensures these programs remain globally inclusive, evidence-driven, and action-oriented – supporting governments and their partners to share knowledge, identify needs, and scale solutions. She is equally passionate about building healthy, high functioning teams, identifying and executing efficiencies, leading through transitions, and prioritizing connection in the workplace while staying laser-focused on GCNF’s mission.

Prior to GCNF, Heidi held leadership roles at the Chef Ann Foundation, Cornell University’s Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition (BEN) Center, and Maine Health’s Let’s Go!, a multi-sector childhood obesity prevention program. Across these roles, Heidi shaped her philosophy of work: bold ideas, inclusive collaboration, and a sense of joy can coexist with deep dedication to improving nutrition for children.

Heidi holds a master’s degree in Nutrition, is a School Nutrition Specialist (SNS), is certified in food safety, and is trained in emergency response.

Outside of work, Heidi is a master gardener, herbalist, and forager who finds joy in the natural world and seasonal living.

Arlene Mitchell is a widely respected expert in school meal programs and food systems, known for her technical knowledge, strategic leadership, and decades of experience advancing global food security. She brings a unique blend of field-based expertise, policy acumen, and cross-sector collaboration to her work, with a career spanning multilateral institutions, government, and philanthropy.

As Executive Director of the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF), Arlene guides the organization’s strategy, partnerships, and mission to provide governments and partners with the tools and knowledge they need to implement and strengthen quality school meal programs.

Arlene has held senior roles in the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), where she led the global school feeding effort; at the U.S. Department of Agriculture where she managed international technical assistance and training activities; and at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she served as Deputy Director for Access and Markets. Earlier in her career, she was both a volunteer and staff member with the U.S. Peace Corps.

Outside of her global work, Arlene’s career has also included running a restaurant, owning a snack machine business, and providing in-home care.