Global Flying Hospitals' International CEO - Kelly Barker
Kelly M. Barker
When building the new paradigm for humanitarian medical care, and specifically one that can address the UN's Millenium Goals, the Board of Global Flying Hospitals was facing an unusual challenge. This was in engaging an international CEO to help lead the organization forward and build growth during the difficult financial crisis that's rocked the world. And such a person to fulfill this role had to have a set of unusual skills, expertise and experience. Kelly Barker was the Board's obvious choice.
The first of the criteria had to be a person from the corporate world, not from normal NGO and charity arenas, so that a vibrant and hard-nosed attitude could be engaged in our world of rapid geopolitical change. Such a person would have to familiar and comfortable with corporate sponsorship, academe, medical colleges and the world's health organizations.
The next required strong international experience, because Global Flying Hospital vision is for multiple fund-raising centers in many countries, that embrace differing languages and cultures. This ruled out many, who have strong skills, yet their experience relates only to one or two countries. Barker, with her Middle East, European and American background, fulfilled this. She is an American who has lived on an international platform for many years.
The third required a person who had a heart and empathy for suffering for people in developing countries. and even more importantly, understood the very special needs of women covered in the MDG. Those "hidden" women numbering some three million suffering from Fistulas from childbirth injury. Those living in such dire poverty that they cannot even obtain treatment for their babies and children. And those millions of little girls who must undergo the horror of female genital mutilation, that produces life-long-suffering. She demonstrated this by the many years of personal support of orphans in West Africa and even entire families in Pakistan and other countries.
Fourth called for a person who can not only could build teams, but to build alliances, include all key players and cast a wide net in recruiting people with the best skill sets. To under-gird the criteria was the need to have a person without an out-sized ego, pride-trips or power-hungry. the Board believed a female was more suitable choice in this area, where Boeing 747 and other heavy aircraft were involved.
Kelly Barker filled all these requirements to align Global Flying Hospitals with the MDG and also demonstrated an inordinate measure of innovation and creativity. She is the Iron Butterfly of Global Flying Hospitals.
Kelly Barker is a vibrant, friendly, motivational person who works 24/7, a multi-tasker and an extremely high-energy international woman who has shaped the passionate vision of Global Flying Hospitals. She is a vibrant CEO who is leading the organization that's re-writing the humanitarian medical care and training paradigm for the developing countries in our ailing world. And one that truly understands the needs for the UN's Millennium Goals.
Read more about Kelly at the UN's Millennium Goals
Ms. Barker in the Millennium Goals Photo Competition
The first of the criteria had to be a person from the corporate world, not from normal NGO and charity arenas, so that a vibrant and hard-nosed attitude could be engaged in our world of rapid geopolitical change. Such a person would have to familiar and comfortable with corporate sponsorship, academe, medical colleges and the world's health organizations.
The next required strong international experience, because Global Flying Hospital vision is for multiple fund-raising centers in many countries, that embrace differing languages and cultures. This ruled out many, who have strong skills, yet their experience relates only to one or two countries. Barker, with her Middle East, European and American background, fulfilled this. She is an American who has lived on an international platform for many years.
The third required a person who had a heart and empathy for suffering for people in developing countries. and even more importantly, understood the very special needs of women covered in the MDG. Those "hidden" women numbering some three million suffering from Fistulas from childbirth injury. Those living in such dire poverty that they cannot even obtain treatment for their babies and children. And those millions of little girls who must undergo the horror of female genital mutilation, that produces life-long-suffering. She demonstrated this by the many years of personal support of orphans in West Africa and even entire families in Pakistan and other countries.
Fourth called for a person who can not only could build teams, but to build alliances, include all key players and cast a wide net in recruiting people with the best skill sets. To under-gird the criteria was the need to have a person without an out-sized ego, pride-trips or power-hungry. the Board believed a female was more suitable choice in this area, where Boeing 747 and other heavy aircraft were involved.
Kelly Barker filled all these requirements to align Global Flying Hospitals with the MDG and also demonstrated an inordinate measure of innovation and creativity. She is the Iron Butterfly of Global Flying Hospitals.
Kelly Barker is a vibrant, friendly, motivational person who works 24/7, a multi-tasker and an extremely high-energy international woman who has shaped the passionate vision of Global Flying Hospitals. She is a vibrant CEO who is leading the organization that's re-writing the humanitarian medical care and training paradigm for the developing countries in our ailing world. And one that truly understands the needs for the UN's Millennium Goals.
Read more about Kelly at the UN's Millennium Goals
Ms. Barker in the Millennium Goals Photo Competition
