Our Team
Putri Widi Saraswati, MD, M.Sc
Co-founder, Director of Partnership, Collaboration, and Research
Putri (They/She) is an Indonesian SRHR/SGBV and global public health expert and practitioner who is also a medical doctor by training. They are an intersectional feminist who has been working in the space of SRHR and intersectional gender equity in health since 2014 – covering advocacy/activism, grass root, and global initiatives, healthcare service delivery, public education, campaign, research, training, and capacity building, public health, and monitoring and evaluation. They are also a strong advocate for the decolonization of global health and other components of the development sector, including in the SRHR space.
Alex Regan, MPH
Co-Founder, Director of Operations Management
In addition to co-founding RAISE, Alex Regan (She/Her) currently works as a Research Associate at the Institute for Health Policy (IHP) based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Prior to joining RAISE, Alex was a communications and administrative specialist and the secretary to the joint oversight committee for CARB-X, a global non-profit dedicated to addressing the health threat of drug-resistant bacteria.
She was previously a project manager at Emerge Global, where she led the design and launch of a pilot residential education and resource center for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Colombo, and a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Fellow in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Alex received her Master’s degree in Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health and her undergraduate degree from the College of the Holy Cross. She is the director of communications & administration at the Global Nursing Caucus.
Lauren Jacobson RN, M.Sc, APRN
Co-Founder, Director of Business Development and Strategy
Lauren (She/Her) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who prior to starting RAISE, gathered 9 years of experience in healthcare disciplines including nursing, consulting, writing, research, teaching, and operational management. Lauren has been working in SRHR, providing care to diverse patient populations since 2016 including forensic medical and psychological evaluation of asylum seekers. She is committed to gender equity, intersectional feminism, SRHR, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention, and mitigating its effects through addressing the structural root causes of gender inequality.
Lauren is an experienced global health researcher with demonstrated success in the management and coordination of international and multi-country consultancy assignments. She is fluent in English and Spanish and has intermediate Dutch skills. She has a Master’s degree in International Health and a certification in Tropical Medicine from the KIT Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Katie Williams, BA
Co-Founder, Director of Communications
Katie (She/Her) is a skilled communications specialist with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications that emphasizes photojournalism, complemented by a minor in community engagement. Her passion for novel storytelling techniques, such as multimedia, videography, and photography, stems from her belief that everyone has a story to tell. She uses her expertise to provide opportunities for individuals to share their experiences and perspectives, with the aim of promoting greater understanding, empathy, and inclusivity.
Katie is dedicated to amplifying diverse voices and experiences, which she sees as crucial to creating a more just and equitable society. Katie's commitment to providing accurate and reliable information to all individuals is further demonstrated by her collaboration with local non-profit organizations, where she has developed tailored communication strategies for their respective communities.