Ms. British A. Robinson serves as the Coordinator for Prosper Africa, a Presidential, national security initiative aimed at strengthening the strategic and economic partnership between the U.S. and countries throughout Africa by creating new jobs, diversifying global supply chains, and investing in the continent’s infrastructure and digital transformation.
By catalyzing two-way trade and investment flows, Robinson and her Prosper Africa team support deal-sourcing to vetting, bringing on new limited partners, and creating new tools to help de-risk transactions. She collaborates closely with the White House National Security Council and the 17 participating U.S. federal agencies, including USAID, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Commerce, to forge true partnerships with businesses, investors and government leaders to tackle challenges like climate change, energy transition, poverty and food insecurity.
Robinson is a visionary leader, with decades of experience in retail banking, private wealth management, corporate social responsibility, global public health, education, and government policy. She launched her career at Citibank, where Robinson spearheaded global, public-private alliances and facilitated corporate collaborations with the world’s leading organizations.
After her career in retail banking, Robinson worked for more than a decade with the Jesuit Conference/Jesuit Refugee Services rising to the position as the Director of the Office of Social and International Ministries. As Director, she became known as a social impact champion, managing a multimillion-dollar national program of socially responsible investing across the U.S.
Robinson brings years of government experience to Prosper Africa, she previously served as Deputy Coordinator/Director of Private Sector Engagement for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) at the U.S. Department of State, where she oversaw innovative partnerships with businesses and investors to strengthen the world’s largest global health program by any nation devoted to addressing HIV/AIDS. During her tenure at the State Department, she also held a special assignment as Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, establishing and managing alliances and partnerships that advanced the rights of women and girls around the world.
Most recently, Robinson served as President and CEO of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Prior to that, she was the founding CEO of the Women’s Heart Alliance. Her extensive leadership experience also includes service as Senior Vice President of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives at Women for Women International and Vice President of Global Strategy and Programs at Susan G. Komen.
Robinson was recognized for her distinguished career and decades of service and was named to Forbes’ 50 Over 50 for Impact list – a list of entrepreneurs and changemakers helping to make the world a better, more equitable place.
She serves as a Senior Advisor for Concordia; as a member of the XPRIZE Racial Equity Alliance Brain Trust; on the boards of the Women’s Foreign Policy Group, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, and Leadership Roundtable; on the advisory council of the Inter-American Foundation; and on the advisory boards of Arlington Partners International and Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens.
Robinson holds a master’s degree in government from Johns Hopkins University, a bachelor’s degree in public policy and business administration from George Washington University, an honorary doctorate from Fairfield University, and an honorary doctorate in international affairs from the American University.