Built for This Moment: A Conversation with PQMD’s Board Chair on Our Role in a Changing World
By Elizabeth Ashbourne, PQMD Executive Director
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to speak at PQMD’s annual General Membership Meeting (GMM), an event which brings together our members for a candid conversation about the state of our collective work and the role we can play together through PQMD’s unique coalition, and an event which always leaves me both grounded and inspired. The landscape of global health and development continues to shift in unpredictable ways, and my attempt to summarize that landscape in ten minutes or less was no small task! But what stuck with me most this year was the sense that despite the turbulence, there is a very real opportunity for organizations like PQMD to lead with clarity and purpose. The trust this organization has earned over two and a half decades is not something we take for granted. It’s what enables us to bring people together in moments like this.
After I shared my remarks, I turned to our Board Chair, Kavita Sood-Isaacs, for her reflections. Kavita brings a unique perspective from the private sector, as a leader at Baxter International, and from her experience working in the global health and development space. I wanted to continue our conversation here – offering a glimpse into the questions we’re thinking through and the optimism we still hold.
EJ: Kavita, I think we both acknowledged in our remarks that this is a uniquely challenging time for global health. With massive swings in funding, shifting donor priorities, and questions about sustainability, it can feel like we’re standing on a Bosu ball trying to stay upright. And yet – there’s opportunity. What gives you hope right now?
Kavita: Honestly, it’s the strength and resilience of this network. PQMD is 25 years strong, and the partnerships we’ve built over that time are more valuable than ever. I’m continually inspired by how our members are adapting, innovating, and showing up for one another to increase healthcare access, drive supply chain solutions for medicine delivery and respond to disasters around the world. This isn’t just about surviving uncertainty – it’s about seizing the moment to drive real impact, especially when it comes to access to medicine and health equity.
EJ: Yes! That’s something I try to continually emphasize how well-positioned PQMD is to support members right now. The chaos in traditional funding streams doesn’t mean the work stops. If anything, it means we need each other more. And I think that’s where PQMD really shines – providing a trusted platform for collaboration, partnership, and shared learning.
Kavita: Exactly. That’s why we structured this year’s General Membership Meeting around three pillars: Insights, Connections, and Engagement Opportunities. Our aim was to share thought leadership, amplify member voices, and make it easy for people to plug in to the innovative conversations and programming PQMD is planning for the second half of the year. We’re not just reflecting on where we’ve been – we’re actively building what comes next.
EJ: And we’re doing that amid stark realities. In my remarks, I mentioned the potential 62% cut to U.S. development assistance. That kind of contraction is jarring – not just for what it means today, but for what it might mean for sustainability and long-term health systems strengthening. But there are bright spots. Some high-impact U.S. programs have been reinstated. Development Banks are holding strong. And critically, we’re seeing the private sector and philanthropy stepping in to explore and establish new models of partnership.
Kavita: Personally, I think we are stepping forward with ‘quiet courage’ and that’s why I say there’s no better time to be part of PQMD. Quiet courage doesn’t mean to be quiet or resolved in our actions but to persevere by putting one foot in front of the other. We bring together the companies, nonprofits, and leading global entities thinking about how to drive change for better health for all. We’re not just reacting – we’re preparing. We’re evolving.
EJ: So what are your top line recommendations for PQMD members and non-members looking to make a difference?
Kavita: I’d say: stay connected, get engaged, and speak up. We’re only as strong as our collective voice. Whether you’re involved in humanitarian relief, disaster response, or systems-level innovation, there’s a place for your perspective in this conversation. And as a Board, we’re committed to ensuring PQMD continues to be a valuable and inclusive space for collaboration.
There’s no doubt the road ahead will be complex. But there’s also no doubt in my mind that PQMD is fit for purpose in this moment – and that our members will continue to lead the way in delivering on the promise of access to health for all.
Learn more about PQMD membership!
More about the blog series and the author
I started this monthly blog series to (hopefully) spark discussion around the challenges and opportunities to delivering global healthcare and access to medicines in our current environment. PQMD facilitates collaboration among its member organizations and seeks to continuously support the delivery of high-quality donations of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and services to communities in need. Members have the opportunity to exchange and share their knowledge and experience with providing medicines and medical services to the people who need them most, in the US and around the globe.
The series will be informed by my more than 25 years of experience in leading, planning, and implementing national and global programs in communities and countries worldwide. I’ve worked in the private sector, public / development sector, NGO, FBO and local organizations, along with living in countries during war time, peace time, in extreme poverty, and with great wealth. I’ve led CEO roundtables at global forums and community leadership circles sitting in the grass under a tree. I’ve managed large scale foundation relations, international and local corporate partnerships, organizational design, communications, outreach and education campaigns, and small- and large-scale coalition building around public and private sector management. My specialties include public-private partnerships in global health, environmental, education, and social development.
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