RVF President
Elena Rostropovich is an acclaimed musician and philanthropist whose work on behalf of the health and well-being of children in such diverse parts of the world as the post‑Soviet republics, the Middle East and Western Europe has gained wide recognition.
Chairman of the Board
Thomas Pickering served more than four decades as a U.S. diplomat. He was ambassador to the United Nations, the Russian Federation, India, Israel, and Jordan and holds the personal rank of Career Ambassador. He serves on the board of major companies and organizations and is committed to making the world a better place for future generations.
Board of Directors
Razan Al Shatti is a State Attorney in Kuwait with 21 years of experience. In her current senior role and profession as a legal counsellor, Ms. Al Shatti provides the State with legal opinions & revisions related to both local & international matters & contracts. With her vast network and passion for protecting and preserving families, Ms. Al Shatti looks forward to helping RVF fulfill its mission.
Edwin Asturias, MD is Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine specializing in infectious diseases as well as a Professor of Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health. He is passionate about making life-saving vaccines available to all children, especially the most vulnerable.
John Beyrle served as an American diplomat for more than three decades in foreign postings and domestic assignments focused on Central and Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Russia. He was twice appointed ambassador: to Bulgaria (2005-08) and to Russia (2008-12).
Monique Duroc-Danner is a philanthropist based in France. She is passionate about improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children and also works tirelessly on behalf of animal welfare.
Consuelo Duroc-Danner is a philanthropist serving on the boards of Inprint- Houston’s premier literary arts non-profit, the James Madison Council of the Library of Congress, and Project GRAD – a non-profit which supports young Houstonians finance and complete post-secondary degrees and facilitates employment.
Lubna Hussain has worked in media and communications for over 20 years with the biggest global networks including CNN, BBC, CBS, ABC, Vice News and Bloomberg. She most recently ran the Riyadh bureau for NBC News. She also hosted her own political talk show on Saudi TV called Bridges and wrote a column for the Kingdom’s biggest selling English newspaper, the Arab News. She is now a contributing editor to Harper’s Bazaar.
Natasha Lebedeva is an Emmy award-winning news producer with over two decades of experience. She currently works for NBC News in Washington, DC as their Senior Editorial Producer. She has done a broad range of domestic and international reporting, working at the highest levels of U.S. journalism.
Orin Levine, PhD is a seasoned executive leader and global health expert dedicated to reducing health inequities worldwide through innovative approaches and evidence-based advocacy. Over three decades, he has been instrumental in accelerating access to vaccines and life-saving interventions in low- and middle-income countries. Orin’s leadership roles span from academia to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and he currently serves on multiple influential health boards. He holds a Ph.D. in Infectious Diseases Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a B.A. in Management from Gettysburg College.
Catherine Mannick is an angel investor and former international lawyer, with 20 years of experience representing US clients in the former Soviet Union. She is currently a member of Launchpad Venture Group, a Boston area angel investor group focused on early-stage investments primarily in high tech and life sciences. She chairs the Advisory Board of the Davis Center.
J. Stephen Morrison, PhD is senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and director of its Global Health Policy Center. Dr. Morrison writes widely, has directed several high-level commissions, and is a frequent commentator on U.S. foreign policy, global health, Africa and foreign assistance. He served in the Clinton administration and as senior committee staff in the House of Representatives. He currently is an Associate Faculty Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and the 2020 James C. Schlesinger Distinguished Professor at the Miller Center, University of Virginia.
Ghassan Mustaklem is a founding partner of Omnipal and Arabco, leading pharmaceutical, agricultural and trading companies based in Ramallah. Born in Jerusalem and trained as a pharmacist, he also plays an active role as a member of the board of a number of charitable institutions and music associations.
Kimberly Nearing is the Managing Director, Head of Life Sciences at a global boutique investment firm. Kim has over 22 years of life sciences experience, including as a senior operations manager, investor, investment banker and consultant. She has previously held various management positions at Amgen, Merck, and IBM’s Healthcare Group and has extensive international business experience in the Greater China region and GCC countries.
Stanley Plotkin, MD is a global expert on vaccine development and research. His lifetime of work has led to profound reductions in morbidity and mortality throughout the world. He is emeritus professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, and he is a consultant to vaccine manufacturers, biotechnology firms, non-profits and governments. His book, “Vaccines”, is the standard reference on the subject.
RVF Staff
William P. Amoss – Executive Director
Mr. Amoss has guided the RVF’s evolution from its origin as a charity into a global development organization. A graduate of Yale University, he taught English as a second language in Europe and held management positions at an international shipping company before joining RVF. He is passionate about vocal music and speaks several foreign languages, including Russian, German, Dutch and French.
Kiija Manty Miller, MPH – Senior Project Officer
After studying International Studies and Russian at Macalester College and public health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Ms. Manty Miller found a perfect home at RVF, where she’s cultivated over 18 years of experience in program design, management and evaluation. She also manages RVF’s website, communications and online presence. She enjoys photography – in fact most of the photos you see on this site are hers.
Merle Nilk – Finance Director
Ms. Nilk has over 20 years of experience keeping non-profits in compliance and in the black. She is enthusiastic about RVF’s unique ability to create sustainable programs with tremendous impact. She is also a triathlete and completed the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.
Veronica Razuvaeva – Administrator
Growing up in Moscow, Ms. Razuvaeva was very well acquainted with the music of the world-renowned Maestro Rostropovich and Galina Vishnevskaya and was delighted to join their foundation for children’s health. With over 20 years of experience, she ensures that RVF is always in compliance with its grant-makers requirements. She is also a yoga enthusiast.
Wolfgang Rennert, MD, PhD – Medical Director
Dr. Rennert is a Professor of Pediatrics at Georgetown University with over 20 years of experience in global health. He received his medical training in Germany and lived and practiced in South Africa for many years. He is committed to promoting children’s health on a global scale and is excited about supporting RVF’s programs.