Elizabeth Blackney

Blackney with Dr. Denis Mukwege, looking at a display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Blackney amid presenters at the 2019 Women Deliver Conference in Vancouver, Canada.

Blue skies behind the United Nations Headquarters Building in New York City, NY.

Blackney delivering a keynote speech on stage at a BlogHer Conference in New York City.i

Photo of Dr. Denis Mukwege with Bill Gates, both men in suits and smiling for the camera.

Photo by Blackney taken on the West Colonnade at the White House featuring Dr. Denis Mukwege walking with a member of the White House Medical Team.

Thousands of handcrafted ceramic bones lay on the grass before the United States Capitol for the One Million Bones installation commemorating genocide victims and Survivors.

Blackney onstage with Josh Rogin as panelists for the Act for Sudan conference in 2013 at George Mason University.

Photo of Elizabeth Blackney on the red carpet taking a photo of Dr. Denis Mukwege at the 2016 TIME 100 Honorees Dinner.

Elizabeth Blackney, a trailblazing servant leader and a storyteller, has made a profound impact in the realm of strategic media and crisis communications, reshaping global narratives with her unique insights and strategies. Currently, as the dynamic Executive Director of The Cook Foundation and the Founding Director of the Fine Arts Museum of Gloucester, Elizabeth continues to champion art as a transformative force in communities, integrating her deep commitment to human rights, geopolitics, and philanthropy.

Her leadership and governance expertise are hallmarks of her career, marked by a collaborative and inclusive approach. This style has been pivotal in guiding high-profile thought leaders, corporate clients, advocacy organizations, and civil society leaders in the Sudans, Morocco, and the Democratic Republic of Congo through complex reputational challenges, emphasizing the transformative power of art and public access to it in community development and engagement.

Elizabeth's role in elevating Dr. Denis Mukwege's mission against sexual violence in conflict zones, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, remains a cornerstone of her career. Her efforts in this area not only contributed to the visibility of Survivors of Sexualized Violence in Conflict on the world's stage but also to Dr. Mukwege’s Nobel Peace Prize recognition - showcasing her commitment and ability to drive meaningful change through inclusive dialogue and strategic narrative-building with frontline leaders, Survivors, and through collaboration with numerous stakeholders.

At The Cook Foundation and the Fine Arts Museum of Gloucester, Elizabeth applies her expertise in fostering environments that value diverse voices, collaborative efforts, and the arts as a medium for societal change and cultural expression. Her work in these roles reflects her belief in the arts as a catalyst for community transformation and her commitment to inclusive, transformative leadership.

A survivor of sexual violence, an advocate, mother, and writer, Elizabeth is also a respected speaker, sharing her insights and experiences at prestigious forums worldwide. She leads Survivor Circles, helping Survivors and Advocates navigate and create healthy workplaces. She previously served as a founding Board Member and US Director of the France-based Legacy Forum and is CoFounder of Women’s HQ, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that serves sexualized and domestic violence Survivors living in and transitioning from shelters. She previously served as the Chief Communications Officer at Every Woman Treaty. She has been a guest speaker at the World Bank, Women Deliver (2019), BlogHer (2015), Dartmouth College, George Washington University, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, and World Vision, among others. She travels from Washington, DC.

Inquiries: elizabeth@girlhq.org

Elizabeth Blackney

Servant Leader. Survivor. Storyteller.