Charles Lyons is a distinguished global leader with over 25 years of executive experience in global health, child welfare, and international development. He has played a pivotal role in philanthropy, nonprofit management, and policy advocacy, particularly in pediatric HIV/AIDS prevention, foreign aid strategy, and child rights protection.
As the President and CEO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Lyons led efforts to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, expanded treatment access for mothers and children, and strengthened global health systems. His leadership has significantly contributed to advancing HIV/AIDS interventions and public health equity worldwide.
Lyons has held senior leadership roles at major international organizations, including serving as Senior Director for Special Initiatives at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, he led fundraising and advocacy efforts to support children’s rights, health, and education programs worldwide. He also co-chaired The Global Standing Group of National Committees for UNICEF, influencing UNICEF’s global strategic direction.
His extensive engagement in global policy and governance includes serving as Head of the U.S. Delegation to the UNICEF Executive Board as appointed by President Obama, a Board Member at The GAVI Fund, and a member of the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA) of USAID. Additionally, he has served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Director of UNICEF and played a key role in the 1990 UN World Summit for Children, shaping international child rights advocacy.
Currently, he is also a Board Member at GoodWeave International, an organization working to eliminate child labor in global supply chains.
Lyons holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Carleton College, where he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2024. He has also attended Harvard Business School’s Executive Program and studied political economy at the New School for Social Research, equipping him with expertise in political economy, international relations, and nonprofit leadership.