Connie Collingsworth

Connie Collingsworth is an experienced board member with expertise in governance, risk management, executive compensation, and complex investments for publicly traded companies, private companies, and private equity funds. Her board experience includes leadership positions on public and private company boards as well as charitable organizations.

 

Collingsworth’s current board roles include Banner Corporation (NASDAQ: BANR) and Axxes Capital. She also serves as a Board Advisor to European private equity fund Planet First Partners, a Business Advisory Board Member to biotech company Ocugen (NASDAQ: OCGN), and a Strategic Advisor to venture fund LoudCapital.

 

Collingsworth is the former Chief Operating Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest private foundation in the world with over $65 billion in assets, distributing over $8.3 billion annually. During her 22-year tenure, she was responsible for managing and scaling the foundation’s business operations globally. She also served as Chief Legal Officer, advising Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett on governance, including creating the foundation’s Governing Board. She was the architect of the foundation’s IP philosophy and led the foundation’s work in collaborating with for-profit companies, including big pharma and companies in the biotech and ed-tech sectors.

 

Collingsworth holds a Master of Laws in International Business Studies from the University of Exeter, England, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska, and a Bachelor of Arts from Andrews University.