Elizabeth Ellis

Director Board

Lizz is CEO of iDE, a global effort that spans offices in 14 countries, encompasses 4 social enterprises, employs over 1,000 people directly, and indirectly enables many more through our market-based approaches in agriculture; water, sanitation, and hygiene; and finance. She leads the global iDE team to growth through strong management, business development leadership, and a commitment to financial integrity. “iDE brings the best in development, combining impact and value for money with an entrepreneurial approach that empowers the rural poor.”

A seasoned expert in gender, monitoring and evaluation, finance, and economic growth, Lizz has over 20 years of experience with designing solutions for challenging markets in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Lizz speaks French and Moroccan Arabic, and has a working knowledge of Spanish. Lizz has travelled and worked in more than 22 countries. She specializes in leading innovative multi-cultural teams to financial growth and impact effectiveness. She holds a master’s degree with a specialization in international non-profit management from Rutgers University and a BA in History and Global Development Studies from Grinnell College, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, and has been consistently recognized for her passionate commitment to developing those she works with. She is also on the Hydrologic Social Enterprise and iDE UK Board of Trustees.